EPISODE · Jul 26, 2022 · 17 MIN
Shark Week 2022
from Elevator Talk With Michelle · host Michelle
For the time that is ours to share, I want to talk about: Shark Week 2022. If you’re new to the phenomenon, you may find yourself wondering why any channel, would dedicate itself to a single kind of animal for an entire week? Because sharks are cool, that’s why. Sharks are one of the most varied groups of animals on Earth, with itty bitty sharks you could hold in your hand all the way up to the biggest sharks in the world. Sharks are also one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet, not least of all because it’s hard for humans to venture terribly far into their underwater territories. Advances in technology are letting scientists and thrill-seekers alike get closer than ever before, and as a result, we’re learning more about these elusive creatures. It also must be said that a big part of Shark Week’s enjoyment comes from watching sharks eat stuff, Shark Week takes all of that into consideration and delivers programming that plays to all of those urges by putting sharks center stage. To its credit, The Discovery Channel isn’t just looking to titillate, though; it also wants to educate viewers about threats to shark habitats, correct misinformation about sharks being “manhunters,” and explore what makes them special. While the programming may have some hyperbolic episode-naming going on, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s good science backing it up. You likely don’t have time to take in everything that’s happening during Shark Week (but if you do, enjoy!). This year’s celebration of sharks began July 24 and will wrap up on the 30th. This will be the 34th installment of the programming event, meaning you likely know people who’ve only ever known a world that had Shark Week in it. Not to be confused with NatGeo's SharkFest, Shark Week is the OG when it comes to pro-shark weeks of observance. This year’s master of ceremonies is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. So you can see how huge sharks are, "The Rock" can bench roughly 450lbs and a great white can weigh ten times that much. That’s the kind of stuff you learn on Shark Week. Shark Week began as a marketing ploy to get people to watch the Discovery Channel mid-summer, a somewhat tongue-in-cheek play on the fear of sharks at the beach. Since then, Shark Week has become a legitimate phenomenon that’s earned a place in cultural vernacular. From mentions on 30 Rock to t-shirts and references in movies, Shark Week has arguably done more to raise the shark's profile than anything else since "Jaws." More than 30 million viewers tune in each year and celebrities from Guy Fieri to Rob Gronkowski show up to feed, gawk, and generally marvel at sharks. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Shark Week programming features some of the most beautiful locations in the world, like Turks and Caicos, the Azores, the Bahamas, and South Africa. Contact Me: Please be sure to check out my website at: http://www.michelleismakingithappen.com/ Email Me: [email protected]
What this episode covers
For the time that is ours to share, I want to talk about: Shark Week 2022. If you’re new to the phenomenon, you may find yourself wondering why any channel, would dedicate itself to a single kind of animal for an entire week? Because sharks are cool, that’s why. Sharks are one of the most varied groups of animals on Earth, with itty bitty sharks you could hold in your hand all the way up to the biggest sharks in the world. Sharks are also one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet, not least of all because it’s hard for humans to venture terribly far into their underwater territories. Advances in technology are letting scientists and thrill-seekers alike get closer than ever before, and as a result, we’re learning more about these elusive creatures. It also must be said that a big part of Shark Week’s enjoyment comes from watching sharks eat stuff, Shark Week takes all of that into consideration and delivers programming that plays to all of those urges by putting sharks center stage. To its credit, The Discovery Channel isn’t just looking to titillate, though; it also wants to educate viewers about threats to shark habitats, correct misinformation about sharks being “manhunters,” and explore what makes them special. While the programming may have some hyperbolic episode-naming going on, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s good science backing it up. You likely don’t have time to take in everything that’s happening during Shark Week (but if you do, enjoy!). This year’s celebration of sharks began July 24 and will wrap up on the 30th. This will be the 34th installment of the programming event, meaning you likely know people who’ve only ever known a world that had Shark Week in it. Not to be confused with NatGeo's SharkFest, Shark Week is the OG when it comes to pro-shark weeks of observance. This year’s master of ceremonies is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. So you can see how huge sharks are, "The Rock" can bench roughly 450lbs and a great white can weigh ten times that much. That’s the kind of stuff you learn on Shark Week. Shark Week began as a marketing ploy to get people to watch the Discovery Channel mid-summer, a somewhat tongue-in-cheek play on the fear of sharks at the beach. Since then, Shark Week has become a legitimate phenomenon that’s earned a place in cultural vernacular. From mentions on 30 Rock to t-shirts and references in movies, Shark Week has arguably done more to raise the shark's profile than anything else since "Jaws." More than 30 million viewers tune in each year and celebrities from Guy Fieri to Rob Gronkowski show up to feed, gawk, and generally marvel at sharks. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Shark Week programming features some of the most beautiful locations in the world, like Turks and Caicos, the Azores, the Bahamas, and South Africa. Contact Me: Please be sure to check out my website at: http://www.michelleismakingithappen.com/ Email Me: [email protected]
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Shark Week 2022
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