Big, Bigger, Biggest

Last updated

Big, Bigger, Biggest
Big, Bigger, Biggest logo.png
Genre Documentary
Created byCarlo Massarella
Narrated by John Michie
Theme music composerAlasdair Reid
Rohan Stevenson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerIan Duncan (Series 1 & 2) [1] Carlo Massarella (Series 3) [2]
Running time45–50 minutes 1 hour (inc. commercials)
Production companiesWindfall Films
SBS
Kompas TV
Release
Original network Five [3]
National Geographic Channel
Original release1 April 2008 (2008-04-01) 
2 August 2011 (2011-08-02)
Related
Monster Moves

Big, Bigger, Biggest is a British documentary television series which began airing in 2008. A total of 20 episodes have been produced across three series. [4]

Contents

Format

Each episode explores the engineering breakthroughs that have made it possible to develop the largest structures of today. Episodes describe the landmark inventions that have enabled the engineers of today to construct the world's biggest structures, including computer generated imagery. The imagery shows the size of the object in meters, the various designs that were considered, and what might have happened if the engineers had made a mistake, complete with animated figures running in panic.

It is also available on DVD: [5]

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired (U.S. and E.U.)Originally aired (Australia)
First airedLast airedFirst airedLast aired
141 April 200828 October 20086 November 201027 November 2010
21028 July 200929 September 20094 December 201012 February 2011
365 July 20119 August 2011N/AN/A

Series 1 (2008)

#TitleOriginal (Five) air dateAlt air dateSBS air date
1"Skyscraper"1 April 2008 (2008-04-01) [4] 1 April 2008 [4] 27 November 2010 [8]
This episode looks at the history of skyscraper breakthroughs, culminating in the construction of the 828-metre (2,717 ft) tall Burj Dubai (now Burj Khalifa). The other buildings discussed are the Equitable Life Building, the Flatiron Building, the United Nations Headquarters, the original World Trade Center towers, the Sears Tower and Taipei 101.
2"Aircraft Carrier"15 April 2008 (2008-04-15) [9] 15 April 2008 [4] 20 November 2010 [10]
One of the largest warships in the world, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), would not have been possible if it weren't for seven landmark inventions. The other aircraft carriers discussed were USS North Carolina, HMS Ark Royal, USS Hornet, USS Midway, USS Forrestal and USS Enterprise.
3"Bridge"8 April 2008 (2008-04-08) [11] 17 April 2008 [12] 6 November 2010 [13]
This episode reveals how several suspension bridge breakthroughs (The Iron Bridge, Menai Bridge, Niagara Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge) made it possible to construct the 2-mile (3.2 km) long Akashi Kaikyō Bridge.
4"Airport"25 March 2008 (2008-03-25) [14] 28 October 2008 [4] 13 November 2010 [15]
Heathrow Airport is the busiest international airport in the world. This episode follows the construction of Terminal 5, an additional terminal to cater for an additional 30 million passengers, and contributions of its forerunners - Croydon, Gatwick, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Love Field, Atlanta International (actually the busiest international airport in the world) and Los Angeles International.

Series 2 (2009)

# Title Original air date SBS air date
1"Tunnel"28 July 2009 (2009-07-28) [4] 15 January 2011 [16]
The world's longest tunnel at 57 kilometres (35 mi) in length is the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. The episode lists Thames Tunnel, Box Tunnel, Mersey Railway Tunnel, Simplon Tunnel and Channel Tunnel as its predecessors.
2"Submarine"4 August 2009 (2009-08-04) [4] 4 December 2010 [17]
The biggest submarine in the U.S. Navy is the USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) at 171 metres (561 ft) in length. Her predecessors explored in the episode are Turtle, H. L. Hunley, U-66, USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and USS George Washington (SSBN-598).
3"Aircraft"11 August 2009 (2009-08-11) [4] 29 January 2011 [18]
The Antonov An-124 is one of the largest aircraft in the world with the ability to carry 50 family-sized cars. The episode also discusses Sikorsky Ilya Muromets, Junkers G.38, Boeing Clipper, Messerschmitt Gigant and Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.
4"Oil Rig"18 August 2009 (2009-08-18) [4] 5 February 2011 [19]
The Perdido oil platform is located in an area of water that is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) deep. From first offshore drilling at Grand Lake through Grand Isle platform and Beryl Alpha platform to Cognac platform and Auger, the episode follows the evolution of oil-drilling platforms.
5"Ferris Wheel"25 August 2009 (2009-08-25) [4] 19 February 2011 [20]
The tallest Ferris wheel in the world was the Singapore Flyer (at the time of this airing), standing 165 metres (541 ft) high. From the original Ferris Wheel, followed by Earls Court Gigantic, London Eye and Star of Nanchang, the episode explores technical breakthroughs related to growth of Ferris wheels.
6"Space Station"1 September 2009 (2009-09-01) [4] 18 December 2010 [21]
This episode reveals the technological inventions – Salyut 1, Skylab, Apollo–Soyuz, Mir – that made the construction of the International Space Station possible.
7"Dam"8 September 2009 (2009-09-08) [4] 11 December 2010 [22]
The world's first hydroelectric power station, Debdon Dam, followed by Marèges Dam, Hoover Dam, Grand Coulee Dam and Krasnoyarsk Dam, led to construction of the largest hydroelectric dam – the Three Gorges Dam in China.
8"Cruise Liner"15 September 2009 (2009-09-15) [4] 8 January 2011 [23]
Independence of the Seas is a 160,000-metric-ton (160,000-long-ton; 180,000-short-ton) cruise liner, succeeding Great Western, SS Great Britain, Conte di Savoia, SS Normandie and Queen Mary.
9"Dome"22 September 2009 (2009-09-22) [4] 12 February 2011 [24]
The dome roof evolution is explored via Pantheon, Florence Cathedral, West Baden Hotel, Astrodome, Georgia Dome and the Ōita Stadium.
10"Telescope"29 September 2009 (2009-09-29) [4] 22 January 2011 [25]
The Large Binocular Telescope would not have been possible if it weren't for a variety of breakthroughs in the construction of telescope: Newton's reflector, Parsons' telescope, Hooker telescope, Hale Telescope and Bolshoi telescope.

Series 3 (2011)

#TitleOriginal air date
1"Canal"5 July 2011 (2011-07-05) [4]
Features the Panama Canal expansion project. Explores the technological development of canals including the Briare Canal, Bridgewater Canal and Manchester Ship Canal
2"Icebreaker"12 July 2011 (2011-07-12) [4]
Starting from Eisbrecher I  [ de; fi ], through Lenin and Polarstern to building the Timofey Guzhenko .
3"Metro"19 July 2011 (2011-07-19) [4]
From City and South London Railway to New York City Subway, Paris Métro and finally London Underground again.
4"Prison"26 July 2011 (2011-07-26) [4]
From Tower of London to Eastern State Penitentiary, Alcatraz and building the most advanced prison in the USA - the North Branch Correctional Institution
5"Tower"2 August 2011 (2011-08-02) [4]
Washington Monument, Eiffel Tower and CN Tower made possible building of Canton Tower, the world's tallest tower (currently 2nd tallest).
6"Train"9 August 2011 (2011-08-09) [4]
From Rocket and Mallard to Shinkansen and building the fastest wheeled train, the SNCF TGV

Related Research Articles

<i>Ikki Tousen</i> Japanese multimedia franchise

Ikki Tousen, also known as Battle Vixens in North America, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūji Shiozaki. Loosely based on the classic 14th century Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the series revolves around an all-out turf war in the Kantō region of Japan where fighters known as Tōshi from seven schools battle for supremacy. The story centers on Hakufu Sonsaku, a fighter who transfers to Nanyo Academy, one of the seven schools involved in the turf war.

<i>Ruby Gloom</i> Canadian TV series

Ruby Gloom is a Canadian animated television series based on the Mighty Fine apparel line of the same name created by illustrator Martin Hsu. The series premiered on October 15, 2006 on YTV and ended on June 1, 2008. 40 episodes were produced by Nelvana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5Star</span> British digital television channel

5Star is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global, which is grouped under Paramount Networks UK & Australia division. It originally launched as the female-orientated Five Life on 15 October 2006, and was relaunched as Fiver on 28 April 2008 with a revised version of the same concept. The channel later re-branded as 5star on 7 March 2011, and later to its current name on 11 February 2016. The network focuses on documentaries, comedy and drama, with a range of original content such as Rich Kids Go Skint and Young, Dumb & Banged Up in the Sun, along with some American and Australian imports.

<i>Inspector George Gently</i> Television series

Inspector George Gently is a 2008 British television crime drama series produced by Company Pictures for BBC One, set in the 1960s and loosely based on some of the Inspector Gently novels written by Alan Hunter. The series stars Martin Shaw as the eponymous inspector and Lee Ingleby as Detective Sergeant John Bacchus, with Simon Hubbard and Lisa McGrillis in supporting roles as police constables in the fictitious North East Constabulary.

<i>The Big Bang Theory</i> American television sitcom (2007–2019)

The Big Bang Theory is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series, along with Steven Molaro. The three of them also served as head writers. It aired on CBS from September 24, 2007, to May 16, 2019, running for 12 seasons and 279 episodes.

Who Do You Think You Are? is an Australian television documentary reality genealogy series, part of the international franchise and an adaptation of the original British series on BBC of the same name, airing on SBS. SBS first aired six episodes of the BBC series in late 2007, followed by six Australian episodes beginning 13 January 2008 and then six more from the original BBC version. Each episode profiles a celebrity tracing their family tree and is narrated by Richard Mellick.

<i>Naruto: Shippuden</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the Naruto: Shippuden anime series is directed by Hayato Date, and produced by Pierrot and TV Tokyo. They are based on Part II for Masashi Kishimoto's manga series. The season is set two and a half years later, with Naruto Uzumaki and his team rescuing Gaara from the criminal organization Akatsuki. The first season aired from February to October 2007 on TV Tokyo. It was also released on DVD in Japan over eight discs between August 1, 2007, and March 5, 2008, under the name Kazekage Rescue. There is also a special feature included with the seventh Naruto: Shippuden compilation DVD based on the second ending of the series called Hurricane! "Konoha Academy" Chronicles.

<i>Naruto: Shippuden</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the Naruto: Shippuden anime series is directed by Hayato Date, and produced by Pierrot and TV Tokyo. They are based on Part II for Masashi Kishimoto's manga series. Titled Long-Awaited Reunion, the season follows Naruto Uzumaki and his friends attempting to reason with Sasuke Uchiha. The second season aired from November 2007 to April 2008 on TV Tokyo. It was also released on DVD in Japan over five discs between April 8 and August 8, 2008 by Aniplex.

<i>Naruto: Shippuden</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the Naruto: Shippuden anime series is directed by Hayato Date, and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. They are based on Part II for Masashi Kishimoto's manga series. The third season aired from April to August 2008 on TV Tokyo. Titled in Japan Twelve Guardian Ninja, the anime only season follows Naruto Uzumaki attempting to protect Asuma Sarutobi's monk named Sora and defeat Team Furido. It is also the first season to be produced in 16:9 widescreen, instead of 4:3, which was the aspect ratio of all previous seasons.

<i>Glee</i> (season 2) 2010–11 season of American musical comedy-drama

The second season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee originally aired between September 21, 2010, and May 24, 2011, on Fox in the United States. The 22-episode season was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Ryan Murphy Television, with executive producers Dante Di Loreto and series co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, with the other series co-creator, Ian Brennan, as co-executive producer.

<i>Monster Moves</i> British TV series or programme

Monster Moves is a British documentary television series which began airing in 2005. A total 31 episodes have been produced across 6 seasons so far.

Adult Swim in Australia was an adult-oriented free-to-air television block that was last aired from Saturday and Sunday nights on 9Go!. It was originally a separate network that shared channel space with Cartoon Network, starting in 2002 until 31 December 2007.

References

  1. Big Bigger Biggest - Series 2 - Windfall Films
  2. Big Bigger Biggest - Series 3 - Windfall Films
  3. "Five reveals secrets of T5 in superstructure series". Broadcast. 22 February 2008. p. 6. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ""Big, Bigger, Biggest" (2008) - Episode list". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  5. Madman Entertainment
  6. Big, Bigger, Biggest - Series 2 - DVD - Madman Entertainment
  7. SBS TV | SBS Radio | SBS On Demand, news, sport, food, movies
  8. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  9. Chater, David (12 April 2008). "TV Choice;Main Channels;Tuesday 15;Television;TV & Radio". The Times. pp. –49. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  11. Chater, David (5 April 2008). "TV Choice;Tuesday 8 Main channels;Television;TV & Radio". The Times. pp. –49. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  12. SHATTUCK, KATHRYN (17 April 2008). "WHAT'S ON TONIGHT". The New York Times (Late Edition - Final ed.). p. 10. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  14. Pratt, Steve (25 March 2008). "Plane sailing?". The Northern Echo. p. 21. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  15. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  16. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  17. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  18. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  19. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  20. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  21. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  22. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  23. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  24. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  25. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.