Preparing for all types of doomsday scenarios

(Published Sept. 21, PDI-Entertainment)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

For some people, the end of the world is nigh. There are also those who not only believe it; they’re also preparing for it!

The National Geographic series “Doomsday Preppers” focuses on Americans anticipating different catastrophic scenarios that, they believe, will drastically alter life as we know it. The people featured on the show have contingency plans for nearly everything, whether it’s an upheaval in the form of an electromagnetic pulse or global chaos caused by financial collapse.

Launched at the Best Western Premier F1 Hotel in Taguig last week, the show illustrates how far some “preppers” would go. The first episode, “I Hope I Am Crazy,” screened during the event, shows varying theories on how the world might end. Ways to store and preserve food are detailed by the featured doomsday planners.

Jude Turcuato, Fox International Channels territory director for the Philippines, told the Inquirer that the program was timely, 2012 being believed by certain groups to be the year that the world would end.

Future episodes tackle the possibility of pandemics, bomb attacks, and massive earthquakes.

“Each hour-long episode features three to four groups,” Turcuato said, “and each one believes the end is going to happen in a different way. So there are dozens of scenarios.”

He added that the new show fits into the channel’s new direction. “National Geographic is now focusing on personalities and characters while telling stories of real people — unlike before when it was [perceivably] stoic and aloof.”

“Doomsday Preppers” airs Mondays, 9 p.m.

‘Green Lantern’

The adventures of the ring-wielding DC Comics superhero come to the small screen with “Green Lantern: The Animated Series,” airing Saturdays, 5:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

‘Undercover Boss’

High-ranking executives or owners of companies disguise themselves as new employees in the reality show “Undercover Boss,” airing Sundays, 8 p.m., and Mondays, 10 a.m., on Talk TV.

‘The New Normal’

Airing Sundays, 8:30 p.m. on 2nd Avenue, “The New Normal” stars Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells as a gay couple hoping to have a child of their own. The show is created by Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “Nip/Tuck”).