With the explosion of infographics and big data, maps aren’t just about geography anymore. They can tell us all kinds of things about the human experience. National Geographic Channel’s new series “The Big Picture With Kal Penn” is all about finding the unexpected — and sometimes surprising — realities in both the world at large and our own backyard, revealed by crunching the numbers and finding new ways to visualize data. Host and producer Kal Penn is taking viewers on a journey to understand how things like money, sex, food, sports and crime influence our daily lives. Exploring and generating infographics from information banks and data analyses, we investigate different themes through the mapping of new data, the creative visualization of information, and in-depth personal stories with fascinating characters.

The two-part special “Manson Speaks: Inside the Mind of a Madman” presents a new theory on Manson’s motives that does not align with the “Helter Skelter” theory he was prosecuted under; brings forth eye witnesses who are speaking publicly about Manson for the first time; and makes contact with the only convicted Manson Family killer who is currently out of prison and living under a pseudonym.The special also examines 26 hours of exclusive never-before-broadcast phone conversations with Manson that may change the scope of his crimes, almost five decades later.

Bringing audiences inside the work of one man who has truly seen it all in his 25 years on the job – Graham Hetrick. A seasoned coroner in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, this eight part series features an inside look at shocking murder cases and complex forensic investigations: while detectives search for clues among the living, Hetrick uncovers the secrets of the dead.

Banged Up Abroad is a British documentary/docudrama television series created by Bart Layton that was produced for Channel 5 and that premiered in March 2006. Most episodes feature stories of people who have been arrested while travelling abroad, usually for trying to smuggle illegal drugs, although some episodes feature people who were kidnapped or captured while travelling or living in any other country. Some episodes have featured real-life stories that first became well-known when they were the subject of a film: films that have been “re-made” in this way include Midnight Express, Goodfellas, The Devil’s Double, Argo, and, to a lesser extent, Casino and Mr Nice.

Liz Bonnin sets out to explore how animals meet, mate and in some cases form lifelong relationships, shining a light on the extraordinary emotions that it seems animals are capable of.

In The Wonder List with Bill Weir, storyteller Bill Weir and renowned filmmaker Philip Bloom go on a quest to tell the untold stories of extraordinary people, places, cultures and creatures that are at a crossroads.

Hosted and executive produced by Grammy and NAACP Image Award winner Ice-T (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), the series spotlights shocking true stories involving sex, money, murder – or a fatal cocktail of all three. Told through in-depth interviews, reenactments and archival footage, each hour-long episode delves into an edgy mystery filled with expert detective work, unexpected turns and stunning revelations.

From crippling payday loans to cars that cheat emissions tests, this investigative series exposes brazen acts of corporate greed and corruption.

Most Haunted is a British paranormal mystery documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May, 2002 and ended on 21 July, 2010. Led by Yvette Fielding, the programme investigated purported paranormal activity in many locations in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and other countries. It was produced by Antix Productions and broadcast on the satellite and cable channels Living TV, Livingit, and Channel One. In the United States it was broadcast on the Travel Channel.

A dramatization of Nelson Mandela’s struggle to overturn apartheid in South Africa.

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A Vicar’s Life goes behind the scenes of the lives of country vicars at the heart of the rural community in the stunning Herefordshire countryside. From opening fêtes to marrying local couples, vicars are knitted into the fabric of country life, acting as a pillar of support in times of crisis and personal sorrow.

Each episode features stories from across the county giving a closer perspective on rural life, as seen through the eyes of the church. Village fetes, shooting drives, and local issues – all served up with a heavy dose of humour, charity, and inspiring local leadership.