| Nature | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Theme music composer | Alex Lasarenko[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 43 |
| No. of episodes | 653(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Production company | WNET |
| Original release | |
| Network | PBS |
| Release | October 10, 1982 (1982-10-10) – present |
Nature is a wildlifetelevision program produced byThirteen/WNETNew York. It has been distributed toUnited Statespublic television stations by thePBS television service since its debut on October 10, 1982. Some episodes may appear in syndication on many PBS member stations around the United States. This series currently airs on Wednesday on PBS.[2][3]
It is a weekly one-hour program that consists of documentaries about various animals and ecosystems. The on-camera host of the first season wasDonald Johanson, with voice-over narration byGeorge Page. Starting with the 1983 season, Page became both the on-camera host and the narrator until the series' 19th season in 2000. Since then,Academy Award winnerF. Murray Abraham has frequently narrated episodes, as has ecologistChris Morgan.Nature has close ties with the UK seriesNatural World, broadcast byBBC Two.[4]
The program uses a silhouette of acamel thorn tree as its logo.
Nature has been nominated for 22Emmy Awards, winning 8 during its longevity. In 1986, host George Page was nominated for best Outstanding Individual Achievements in Informational Programming. In 1988 and 1989, it won two Emmy Awards for best Outstanding Informational Series. In 2000, it was nominated for best Outstanding Main Title Design. The episode "Silence of the Bees" won aPeabody Award in 2007.[5]
Nature received the Stibitz-Wilson Award from theAmerican Computer & Robotics Museum[6] in 2023. The award was accepted by executive producer Fred Kaufman, series producer Bill Murphy, and series editor Janet Hess.
Nature has received generally positive reviews from television critics. Linda Stasi ofNew York Post called it, "A wonderful, remarkable show. Don’t miss it."[7] David Bianculli ofTV Worth Watching called the miniseries "Attenborough's Life Stories", "Beautiful and inspiring."[8] Kaitlin Milligan ofBroadway World wrote, "Awe-inspiring."[9]
Three issues of aNaturecomic book were produced from 2006–2008. They were full-color corollaries to on-air episodes like "Silence of the Bees," "In the Valley of the Wolves," and "The Beauty of Ugly."Nature Comics was targeted at pre-teens and teenagers as an educational tool, and was distributed for free to museums, schools, and nature centers.
Nature Comics featured the talents of a number of notable cartoonists, includingJosh Neufeld,Rick Veitch,Lauren Weinstein, andThomas Yeates. The series was edited by David Reisman.
Nature Comics #2 was given anAssociation of Educational Publishers 2008 Distinguished Achievement Award (in the Specialized Audience Instruction/Graphic Novel category).[10]
Nature Comics #1 (2006) — related episodes: "Christmas in Yellowstone" (Season 23), "Penguins of the Antarctic" (Season 23), and "Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History" (Season 23)
Nature Comics #2 (2007) — related episodes: "Silence of the Bees" (Season 24), "In the Valley of the Wolves" (Season 24), and "The Beauty of Ugly" (Season 24)
The Unexpected World of Nature (a.k.a.Nature Comics #3) (2008) — related episodes:"The Dragon Chronicles" (Season 25),"The Wolf That Changed America" (Season 25), and "Frogs: The Thin Green Line" (Season 25)
| Documentaries |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Drama |
| |
| Music and fine arts |
| |
| History |
| |
| News and public affairs |
| |
| Personalities | ||
| How-to and special interest |
| |
| Science and nature | ||
| Networks | ||
| Major stations |
| |
| Former |
| |
| Related | ||
| ||