—New 3-Part Series Explores Prehistoric Life Across the Western U.S.—
This summer, PREHISTORIC ROAD TRIP takes viewers on an epic adventure through dinosaur country to search for mysterious creatures and bizarre ecosystems that have shaped Earth as we know it. With the intrepid Emily Graslie as host and guide, the series travels thousands of miles to visit some of the most active and dynamic fossil sites in the world.
Revealing the amazing wonders preserved beneath our feet, the three-part series combines science, culture, and history for an unforgettable expedition through hundreds of millions of years.
In the series, Emily hits the road, heading to the heart of America’s fossil country – the Northern Great Plains – for a fun and fascinating journey to explore 2.5 billion years of our planet’s history.
Crossing the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming, she examines the fossils of diverse prehistoric creatures and plants and introduces some of the people who helped bring these ancient discoveries to light.
Each episode turns back the pages of the past to examine different eras along Earth’s geologic timeline, focusing on the geology, ecology, and environment.
On this immersive adventure, Graslie uncovers and discovers the history of North American dinosaurs and other fascinating prehistoric creatures, including ancient fishes, mammoths, and early mammals.
Filmed using state-of-the-art drone technology and featuring dynamic illustration graphics, the series brings this now-extinct world to life.
“I am thrilled that I get to share my love of nature, history, paleontology, and – in general – really old, really dead stuff with the PBS audience,” said Graslie. “And this is an incredible opportunity for me to revisit my home state of South Dakota, where I grew up exploring the great outdoors as a kid.”
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: “Welcome to Fossil Country” airs Wednesday, June 17 at 10 p.m. & Sunday, June 21 at 3 p.m. on KPBS TV + June 21 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Travel with Emily through billions of years of Earth’s history to meet some of its earliest life forms, from primitive bacteria to giant reptiles and many surprising creatures in between.
Episode 2: “We Dig Dinosaurs” airs Wednesday, June 24 at 10 p.m. & Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. on KPBS TV + June 28 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Cruise with Emily into the Cretaceous, when astonishing creatures like T. rex dominated the planet. But what happened to these tremendous animals? And how did other life forms survive an apocalyptic asteroid crash into Earth 66 million years ago?
Episode 3: “Tiny Teeth, Fearsome Beasts” airs Wednesday, July 1 at 10 p.m. & Sunday, July 5 at 3 p.m. on KPBS TV + July 5 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 - Join Emily as she continues her adventure, discovering surprising truths hidden in the fossil record. Meanwhile, scientists studying our planet’s past are revealing clues about its future.
A CELEBRATION OF TRAILBLAZING WOMEN
Join KPBS’s summer-long celebration of women trailblazers in honor of the women’s vote centennial, featuring special programming commemorating U.S. women’s suffrage, the feminist movement and modern-day changemakers.
Watch On Your Schedule:
With the PBS Video App, you can stream your favorite and local station shows. Download it for free on your favorite device. The app allows you to catch up on recent episodes and discover award-winning shows.
Join The Conversation:
Emily Graslie is on Instagram. Follow @Ehmee on Twitter.
PBS is on Facebook and Instagram. Follow @PBS on Twitter.
Credits:
A production of WTTW Chicago. The host, writer and executive producer is Emily Graslie. The director is Ally Gimbel. Geoffrey Baer and Ally Gimbel are executive producers for WTTW Chicago. Erin E. O’Flaherty is the Executive in Charge for PBS.
