Do not adjust your television set. What you are seeing — the rebranding of Discovery Home Channel as Planet Green — is perfectly normal. Actually, it’s better than normal; it’s making “green” normal.
Beginning at 6 p.m. EDT tomorrow, some 50 million homes will be introduced to 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming as the 24/7 Planet Green network launches. Here’s a look at the lineup:
Premiering in June
Alter Eco
The Show Formerly Known As The Green Life is billed as a makeover series wherein Adrian Grenier and "his entourage" help everyday folk go green. And yes, I’ve already put in my app as an “everyday folk.” Premieres June 4 at 10 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Mondays at 9.
Greensburg
I have a feeling Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t in Kansas anymore. But he was — exec-producing this 13-part documentary on a small town rebuilding green after being destroyed by a tornado last year. The name of said town? Greensburg, natch. Premieres June 15 at 9 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Sundays at 8.
G Word
Unrelated to The L Word, this daily news-ish series will be hosted by MTV news correspondent SuChin Pak and CBS News science/tech correspondent Daniel Sieberg, and feature eco-minded experts from a variety of fields. Premieres June 4 at 7:30 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Monday-Thursday at 7.
Wa$ted
This daily series plays up the going-green-means-saving-green angle by rewarding households for "cleaning up their act" following a household efficiency audit. Cash bonuses reflect the savings they’ll earn after a year of upkeep. It may not pay out like The Price Is Right, but you can’t go wrong with the educational concept. Premieres June 4 at 8 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Monday-Thursday at 8.
Renovation Nation
Emmy Award-winning host Steve Thomas (of This Old House) embarks on a series of eco-renovations across the country. We’d have named it This Green House … and That Green House … and That One Over There. Premieres June 4 at 9:30 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Monday-Thursday at 6.
Hollywood Green with Maria Menounos
This weekly series is red-carpet reviews — only greener, and without the shrillness of the Rivers duo. Hosted by Maria Menounos in partnership with Access Hollywood, it promises to be the go-to show for green goss. Premieres June 4 at 6 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Thursdays at 9.
Supper Club with Tom Bergeron
From Dancing to dining with the stars, Tom Bergeron will share a green meal each week with four special guests from celebs to biz folk to pundits of all stripes. Premieres June 4 at 7 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Thursdays at 10.
Stuff Happens
"Science Guy" Bill Nye explores the before-and-after life cycle of all the stuff we use and abuse. Premieres June 4 at 8:30 p.m. (ET); full series premiere TBD.
Mean Green Machines
It’s American Chopper meets MythBusters meets Celebrity Death Match as green machines take on gas guzzlers in this high-octane series. Premieres June 4 at 9 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Tuesdays at 9.
World’s Greenest Homes
MTV Cribs goes green in this series profiling unique eco-dwellings most of us will only ever drool over. Premieres June 6 at 6 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Fridays at 6:30.
Greenovate
The housing market may be in a slump, but green is always a good gimmick for homeowners hoping to sell — or so says this weekly series from the producers of TLC’s Flip That House. Premieres June 6 at 7 p.m. (ET); regular time slot Friday and Saturday evenings.
Other shows in the works
Emeril Green
Bam! TV chef Emeril Lagasse kicks it up a notch with a series focused on cooking healthy meals with organic, locally grown ingredients (bought at Whole Foods where the show is taped, of course).
Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs. Tommy Lee
It’s a rap ‘n’ roll rumble as hip-hopper Luda and rocker Lee compete for the greenest tour. They’re a motley crew, for sure, but do they have eco-cred?
Living with Ed
Our lovable pal Ed Begley, Jr., brings his take on Green Acres to the Planet Green.
Wrecklamation
Dubbed "recycling on steroids," this series follows a demolition auctioneer as she hosts bidding wars for everything inside a soon-to-be-demo’d home. The show then tracks down the bricks and bathtubs as they’re reincarnated after the carnage.
To sum all that up, here’s your Wednesday night (or mine, at least):
6 p.m.: Hollywood Green with Maria Menounos
7 p.m.: Supper Club with Tom Bergeron
7:30 p.m.: G Word
8 p.m.: Wa$ted
8:30 p.m.: Stuff Happens
9 p.m.: Mean Green Machines
9:30 p.m.: Renovation Nation
10 p.m.: Alter Eco
Find your Planet Green cable channel here.
