DOCUMENTARY special interest TV

The life stories of various historical figures and celebrities are told.

POV, a cinema term for "point of view," is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. Since 1988, POV has presented more than 300 of the best, boldest, and most innovative documentaries to PBS audiences across the country.

Amazing series primarily using Errol Morris' invention the Interrotron for unusual people to tell their outré stories directly into the camera to the viewer. Almost every half-hour documentary episode focused on 1 person, especially scientists, criminals, cranks, plus everyday folks in strange circumstances. First season seen on Bravo, second on IFC. Having a roaming crew at the ready led Morris to start filming his Academy Award winning documentary on Robert McNamara, "The Fog of War." Some subjects came from Morris' back-file, others were newly uncovered. First season included the autistic woman scientist who designs humane slaughterhouses (Temple Grandin, "Stairway to Heaven"), the parrot whose testimony in a trial exonerated a man wrongly accused of murdering his owner, the ex-lobster fisherman devoted to being the first to see a live giant squid ("Eyeball to Eyeball"), and a serial killer groupie. Second season had some 2 parters such as a haunted passenger who landed a crashing jet liner, also the dot.com entrepreneur who believes first mate Gilligan is the new messiah ! Errol Morris hoped to continue "First Person," but funding was unavailable.

Bear Grylls travels the world in search of challenges to his survival skills.

Food will tell the unknown stories of innovation and rivalries behind food industry tycoons Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, Henry Heinz, C.W. Post, the McDonald brothers and more.

Chef's Table goes inside the lives and kitchens of six of the world's most renowned international chefs. Each episode focuses on a single chef and their unique look at their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary heaven.

Chef's Table, French edition, goes inside the lives and kitchens of some of the world's most renowned French chefs. Each episode focuses on a single chef and their unique look at their lives, talents and passion from their piece of culinary heaven.

Anthony Bourdain visits countries, delving into their political issues as well as indigenous food and culture.

Two friends leave their routine lives, travel to stunning remote places, make friends, experience triumphs and setbacks on their journey of self-discovery through real-life adventures.

A Bite of China is the quintessential TV series on all things Chinese cuisine, from its rich history to the rarest dishes and wildest ingredients.

Spanning over 50 years from 1905, the docudrama chronicles the rise of the original five families that formed the modern American Mafia, including Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel.

Documentary film about the Italian Mafia and their organized crime activities in USA, mainly New York, between the '60's to mid '90's. Well documented with plenty of interviews and original footage. Story told by ex-members of Mafia, FBI agents and prosecutors at that time, cops and journalists. It explains how they functioned, the rule of silence called Omerta, which five families ruled New York and how; and also how the FBI and US government managed to dismantle them after 30 years of the crime syndicate being untouchable. Listen to what Rudy Giuliani, Joseph D. Pistone aka 'Donnie Brasco' and many others had to say about it.

A look at the street gangs of El Salvador. The Documentary Film follows Ross as he meets gang members, accompanies the police on raids and experiences the everyday tragedies of gang-life.

The effects on Britains economic and political power brought by unscrupulous, reckless gamblers from the notorious gambling club in the 60s - the Clermont Club.

A Cleveland grandfather is brought to trial in Israel, accused of being the infamous German death camp guard known as Ivan the Terrible.

Henry Lee Lucas was known as America's most prolific serial killer, admitting to hundreds of murders, but, as DNA results contradict his confessions, will they expose the biggest criminal justice hoax in U.S. history?

A look inside the mind of serial killer Ted Bundy, featuring interviews with him on death row.

A chronicle of the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile murder trial exposed the extent of American racial tensions, revealing a fractured and divided nation.

Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki examines the complicated life of reclusive real estate icon Robert Durst, the key suspect in a series of unsolved crimes.

Dr. Michael Baden examines four intriguing crimes that were solved with the help of forensic science in this 11th 'Autopsy' film.

A group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of himself killing kittens.

A series featuring detailed accounts on how notable crimes and diseases were solved through forensic science.

After his arrest at age 16, Kalief Browder fought the system and prevailed, despite unthinkable circumstances. He became an American hero.

Explore the true stories of America's covert operations told firsthand by the agents who lived them, while getting unprecedented access to the riveting and secret world of espionage.

Television series that documents how various everyday products are made.