Could YOU do it? Think about it: nearly one million people pass through Grand Central Terminal each day; 14,000 vessels navigate the Panama Canal every year; and 145 behind-the-scenes technicians keep audiences dazzled – and performers alive – during Cirque du Soleil’s “O” on the Las Vegas strip. But who shoulders these pulse-pounding responsibilities? And, just how do they make their deadlines? Premiering on Discovery Channel with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, May 8 at 8 and 9 p.m. ET/9 and 10 p.m. PT, NERVE CENTER offers an all-access pass revealing how some of the world’s most iconic – not to mention biggest and busiest – places keep ticking 24/7. The original six-part Canadian series opens with “Grand Central Terminal” at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT, followed by “Cirque du Soleil: O” at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT; the series continues with back-to-back presentations on Sun., May 29 and Sun., June 12 (schedule below).
NERVE CENTER begins at the high-pressure moment of peak operations. Meet the key personnel that drive the momentum from behind the scenes, then see over the course of a working day how everything interconnects seamlessly – and sometimes not so seamlessly – to deliver the goods.
Episode descriptions from the world premiere broadcast of NERVE CENTER include:
NERVE CENTER: “Grand Central Terminal NYC”
Sunday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT
Take a never-before-seen tour of one of the biggest train stations on the planet – Grand Central Terminal – famous the world over as an enduring symbol of New York City. Discover how the Grand Central crack (and sometimes cranky) staff manages… as nearly one million people a day pass through the terminal! In the city that never sleeps, the Grand Central team oversees 643 km of track and 110 stations spread across the New York metropolitan area and beyond. Every weekday morning at 8:40 a.m. – rush hour is at its peak, and, that’s where we begin…
NERVE CENTER: “Cirque du Soleil: O, Las Vegas”
Sunday, May 8 at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
Since its inaugural performance, Cirque du Soleil’s “O” has enthralled spectators from across the globe. And, while the stage production itself is spectacular – what proves truly breathtaking happens outside the view of the audience. While 85 performers risk their lives performing over a 1.3 million-gallon pool, 145 technicians work tirelessly to ensure that everyone is safe and secure right up until the final act – the death-defying “cerceaux” – which pushes the performers and technicians to peak capacity.
Also this season on NERVE CENTER, discover how one of the largest canals in the world moves nearly 14,000 vessels a year between Pacific and Atlantic, shaving 12,800 km off what would otherwise be a two-week voyage on “Panama Canal”; visit one of the busiest airports in the world at its most strained capacity on “Atlanta International Airport”; suit up with one of the busiest all-hazards agencies in the U.S. on “DC Fire and Emergency Services”; and, finally take a 24-hour ride through the most significant gateway in North America – the “Port of Los Angeles”. *Scheduling Note: Airing in back-to-back presentations, NERVE CENTRE continues with Episode 3 “Panama Canal” and Episode 4 “Atlanta National Airport” on Sun., May 29 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT; Episode 5 “DC Fire and Emergency Services” and Episode 6 “Port of Los Angeles” will air on Sun., June 12 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. and 9 p.m. PT.
NERVE CENTER is produced by Exploration Production Inc. (EPI) in association with Discovery Channel Canada.
