National Geographic Channel Archives - Channel Guide Magazine

National Geographic’s ‘Genius: Picasso’: Alex Rich Talks Playing the Artist as a Young Man

April 16, 2018 Lori Acken Comments Off

Last year, National Geographic’s anthology series Genius earned 10 wide-ranging Emmy nominations for its stunning inaugural outing, which explored Albert Einstein’s personal and professional evolution. The series returns this month to spotlight another enigmatic intellect: prolific Spanish artist and proud bohemian Pablo Picasso. Like its predecessor, Genius: Picasso features two actors in the titular role — GLOW’s Alex Rich and movie star Antonio Banderas, this time — to capture the freethinker’s nine-decade life, a vast and colorful canvas of shifting personal and political alliances, fraught romances and astoundingly disparate artistic styles. Banderas’ connection to Picasso traces back to his youth […]

Long Road Home National Geographic Jason Ritter

The Long Road Home: We’re On Set As Martha Raddatz’s Moving Tale Of Military Sacrifice Comes To National Geographic

October 30, 2017 Lori Acken Comments Off

It’s 1am on a stifling, central Texas June night and a life-or-death battle is being waged in a remote area of the sprawling Fort Hood military base. Fifteen soldiers hunker down in an open-sided tactical vehicle that is no match for their assailants’ firepower. Some fire frantically into the hostile darkness. Others bellow from the pain of fresh wounds. And one, their leader, does his best to mitigate chaos. No, war hasn’t come stateside. Nor is this an elaborate training exercise. Instead, I’m in the midst of a rending, pivotal moment on the set of National Geographic’s event series The […]

‘The Story Of Us With Morgan Freeman’: Nat Geo Expands Freeman’s “Story” Franchise From God to Man

October 3, 2017 Lori Acken 1

Several years ago, Morgan Freeman and his producing partners Lori McCreary and James Younger traveled the globe to explore the uniting power of faith for National Geographic’s smart and intensely moving The Story of God With Morgan Freeman, which bowed in 2016. Critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated, the series debuted a shorter second season last January, even as the group was already at work on another approach to spotlighting global unity in a time where we can’t even get along with our neighbors. “Story of God felt so eye-opening to all of us,” Younger explains. “Then we realized that religion is […]

“Diana: In Her Own Words”: Nat Geo Gives The Doomed Princess Her Say

August 11, 2017 Lori Acken Comments Off

Odds are good that — even 20 years later — you recall exactly where you were when you found out Diana, Princess of Wales, had died of injuries sustained in a horrific car crash on August 31, 1997. Whether you considered Diana the very picture of a modern monarchy, an example of unimaginable grace in the face of infidelity, a fearless humanitarian or just another obsession of the tabloid press, the 36-year-old beauty made an impression. An impression that keeps her memory alive decades after her death. While this month is rife with Diana specials and documentaries, only one tells […]

Walter Isaacson on Genius, National Geographic’s ‘Genius’ and the Power of Imagination

May 17, 2017 Lori Acken 1

Fans of Walter Isaacson’s exhaustive biographies know two things when they pick up his latest. One, it won’t be a quick read. And two, every moment will be worth it, as heroes of science and technology become irresistible in their humanity as much as their exceptional minds. The latter inspired filmmakers Gigi Pritzker, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to choose Isaacson’s 2008 book Einstein: His Life and Universe as the launching point for their National Geographic series Genius — a series they hope will spark the imagination and wonder of viewers of all ages. And take the scary out of science, […]

National Geographic’s ‘Genius’: Meet the Two Mrs. Einsteins

April 24, 2017 Lori Acken Comments Off

• RELATED: ‘Genius’ — Geoffrey Rush Plays A Deliciously Human Einstein on Nat Geo • RELATED: ‘Genius’ — Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Flynn Talk Playing Einstein on National Geographic Framed by a monitor on the Prague set of National Geographic Channel’s Genius, Emily Watson’s face is a mask of quiet fury. Portraying Elsa Einstein, Albert’s first cousin and longtime lover, she is newly aware that his impending fame will expose the truth of their adulterous relationship. “Do anything,” she seethes, “to get free of Mileva.” They say that behind every great man, there is a great woman. In Einstein’s case, there were […]

‘Genius’: Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Flynn Talk Playing Einstein on National Geographic

April 7, 2017 Lori Acken Comments Off

Geoffrey Rush done up as Einstein and killing time on bench outside the enormous Prague soundstage where National Geographic’s Genius filmed begs an instant double take. For actor/musician Johnny Flynn, embodying the younger Albert proved a bit more challenging. • RELATED: ‘Genius’: Geoffrey Rush Plays A Deliciously Human Einstein on National Geographic • RELATED: National Geographic’s ‘Genius’: Meet the Two Mrs. Einsteins! “All the footage that exists of him is after he came to America,” Flynn explains of the man he calls “quite maverick and punk.” “The exciting thing about the potential in this show is to create an idea of […]

Geoffrey Rush as Albert Einstein in Nat Geo's Genius

‘Genius’: Geoffrey Rush Plays A Deliciously Human Einstein on Nat Geo

March 31, 2017 Lori Acken Comments Off

Think “genius” and your next thought is probably “Einstein.” Think “Einstein” and your next thought is probably “E=mc2.” And after that? For most of us, not too much. National Geographic, in conjunction with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment, aims to change that with Season 1 of its planned anthology series Genius, which profiles the German-born physicist. • RELATED: We talk Einstein with ‘Genius’ stars Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Flynn • RELATED: National Geographic’s ‘Genius’: Meet the Two Mrs. Einsteins! The true genius of Genius is how it turns its source material, Walter Isaacson’s 700-page Einstein: His Life and […]

Katie Couric talks National Geographic Channel’s moving Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric

February 3, 2017 Lori Acken 1

Any kid would be lucky to have a mom like Vanessa Ford. For Ford’s five-year-old daughter Ellie, it’s very literally a life-changer. Warm and outgoing, with a wide smile and infectious laugh, Vanessa — a Washington D.C. science teacher and mom of two — sits across from me in a Pasadena hotel suite. On her right is Ron Ford Jr., Ellie’s dad and Vanessa’s equally engaging husband, who goes by JR. On her left is longtime TV journalist Katie Couric. And we’re gathered to talk about Ellie and the more than 1.4 million Americans like her who are opening the nation’s eyes to new ideas […]

The Story of God returns to Nat Geo tonight. We talk with Morgan Freeman

January 16, 2017 Lori Acken 1

Nat Geo’s Emmy-nominated The Story of God With Morgan Freeman premieres its second season tonight at 9/8CT — and a 9-year-old boy steals the show. In the Season 2 opener, Freeman treks to suburban Minnesota to meet Jalue Dorjee, his parents and teachers, and to spend some time with the boy many Tibetan Buddhists — and the Dalai Lama himself — believe is the eighth reincarnation of guru Takshem Neuden Dorjee. Freeman looks on as Jalue plays backyard soccer with his pals, memorizes complex religious texts and delivers his first public speech — in traditional robes and sneakers. He asks Jalue if he brushes his sparkling white […]