Big, Bigger, Biggest
| Big, Bigger, Biggest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by | Carlo Massarella |
| Narrated by | John Michie |
| Theme music composer |
Alasdair Reid Rohan Stevenson |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 20 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Ian Duncan (Series 1 & 2)[1] Carlo Massarella (Series 3)[2] |
| Running time |
45 minutes 1 hour (inc. commercials) |
| Production company(s) | Windfall Films |
| Distributor |
National Geographic Channel SBS Kompas TV |
| Broadcast | |
| Original run | 1 April 2008 – 2 August 2011 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Monster Moves |
| External links | |
| Production website | |
Big, Bigger, Biggest is a British documentary television series which began airing in 2008. A total 20 episodes have been produced across 3 seasons.[3]
Format
Each episode explores the engineering breakthroughs that have made it possible to develop the largest structures of today. Throughout the course of the episode, viewers are introduced to generally 4-7 landmark inventions that have enabled the engineers of today to construct the world's biggest structures. Footage of the construction of the world's biggest structure of its kind is accompanied by computer generated imagery which often has an element of black humor. This imagery shows the size of the object in meters, the various designs that may have been considered as well as what could happen if the engineers made a mistake, complete with animated figures running in panic.
It is also available on DVD:[4]
- Season 1 – 208 minutes - 1 DVD - PAL 16:9 Widescreen
- Season 2 – 520 minutes[5] - 3 DVDs - PAL
- Season 3 – 270 minutes - 2 DVDs - PAL 16:9 Widescreen[6]
Episodes
Series 1 (2008)
| # | Title | Original air date | Australian air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Skyscraper" | 1 April 2008[3] | 27 November 2010[7] |
| 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[3] | 20 November 2010[8] |
| 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" | 4 October 2008[3] | 6 November 2010[9] |
| This episode reveals how several suspension bridge breakthroughs made it possible to construct the 2-mile (3.2 km) long Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. | |||
| 4 | "Airport" | 28 October 2008[3] | 13 November 2010[10] |
| The London 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. | |||
Series 2 (2009)
| # | Title | Original air date | Australian air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Tunnel" | 28 July 2009[3] | 15 January 2011[11] |
| The world's longest tunnel at 57 kilometres (35 mi) in length is the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. | |||
| 2 | "Submarine" | 4 August 2009[3] | 4 December 2010[12] |
| The biggest submarine in the U.S. Navy is the USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) at 171 metres (561 ft) in length. | |||
| 3 | "Aircraft" | 11 August 2009[3] | 29 January 2011[13] |
| The Antonov An-124 is one of the largest aircraft in the world with the ability to carry 50 family-sized cars. | |||
| 4 | "Oil Rig" | 18 August 2009[3] | 5 February 2011[14] |
| The Perdido oil platform is located in an area of water that is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) deep. | |||
| 5 | "Ferris Wheel" | 29 September 2009[3] | 19 February 2011[15] |
| The tallest ferris wheel in the world was the Singapore Flyer (at the time of this airing), standing 165 metres (541 ft) high. | |||
| 6 | "Space Station" | 8 September 2009[3] | 18 December 2010[16] |
| This episode reveals the technological inventions that made the construction of the International Space Station possible. | |||
| 7 | "Dam" | 15 September 2009[3] | 11 December 2010[17] |
| The largest hydroelectric dam is the Three Gorges Dam in China. | |||
| 8 | "Cruise Liner" | 1 September 2009[3] | 8 January 2011[18] |
| MS Independence of the Seas is a 160,000-metric-ton (160,000-long-ton; 180,000-short-ton) cruise liner. | |||
| 9 | "Dome" | 25 August 2009[3] | 12 February 2011[19] |
| The world's largest dome roof is located on Ōita Stadium in Japan. | |||
| 10 | "Telescope" | 22 September 2009[3] | 22 January 2011[20] |
| The Large Binocular Telescope would not have been possible if it weren't for a variety of breakthroughs in the construction of telescope. | |||
Series 3 (2011)
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Canal" | 5 July 2011[3] |
| Features the Panama Canal expansion project. Explores the technological development of canals including the Briare Canal, Bridgewater Canal and Manchester Ship Canal | ||
| 2 | "Icebreaker" | 19 July 2011[3] |
| Building the Timofey Guzhenko | ||
| 3 | "Metro" | 12 July 2011[3] |
| Expansion of the London Underground including New York and Paris underground. | ||
| 4 | "Prison" | 2 August 2011[3] |
| Building the most advanced prison in the USA - the North Branch Correctional Institution | ||
| 5 | "Tower" | 26 July 2011[3] |
| Canton Tower, the world's tallest tower (currently 2nd tallest). | ||
| 6 | "Train" | 2 August 2011[3] |
| Building the fastest wheeled train the SNCF AGV, although the overall record is held by a Japanese Maglev (non-wheeled) train | ||
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.windfallfilms.com/show/1055/Big-Bigger-Biggest-Series-2.aspx
- ↑ http://www.windfallfilms.com/show/1930/Big-Bigger-Biggest-Series-3.aspx
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 ""Big, Bigger, Biggest" (2008) - Episode list". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ↑ "SBS Schedule". SBS. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.