Documentary Channel Takes an "American Road Trip:" A Coast-to-Coast Excursion Featuring an Eclectic Blend of Documentaries That Explore Some of the Most Interesting, Unexamined Corners of America

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This July, Documentary Channel (DOC) hits the road on a month-long "American Road Trip."  Starting on the East Coast and traveling to the West, Documentary Channel makes an unconventional pit stop every weekend premiering a unique array of eclectic films as American as apple pie.

The journey begins on Saturday, July 2 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) with "A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour" and continues throughout the country, culminating on Saturday, July 30 (8 p.m. ET/PT) with the premiere of the Los Angeles set "Firestorm."  With stops in New York City, New Mexico and even the Appalachian Trail, "American Road Trip" is an entertaining, sometimes quirky, and always inspiring look at the extraordinary people and places that make up this remarkable country we call home.  

PREMIERE SCHEDULE

• "A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour" on Saturday, July 2 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "The Hip Hop Project" on Saturday, July 2 (9 p.m. ET/PT)
• "Trail Angels" on Saturday, July 9 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "Our Time" on Saturday, July 16 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "A Million Spokes" on Sunday, July 17 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "Gathering Remnants" on Saturday, July 23 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "Firestorm" on Saturday, July 30 (8 p.m. ET/PT)

FILM SYNOPSES

"A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour" (July 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT) -- A deliciously unexpected film that takes a mouth-watering road trip to some of Connecticut's most unique hot dog stands.  From steamed to grilled, and even deep-fried, Connecticut is a hot dog paradise sure to please even the toughest connoisseur.  Highlighting the history, house specialties and local hot dog culture, "A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour" is an entertaining examination of a true American favorite.

"The Hip Hop Project" (July 2, 8 p.m. ET/PT) – From executive producers Queen Latifah and Bruce Willis, "The Hip Hop Project" is the dynamic and inspirational story of a group of New York City teenagers who transform their life stories into powerful works of art using hip hop as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery.

"Trail Angels" (July 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT) – An inspiring portrait of unsung heroes who have made it their quest to help the seasonal "thru hikers" of the often treacherous Appalachian Trail, a pilgrimage of five million footsteps. "Trail Angels" follows five working class Americans who have embraced The Golden Rule in spite of the sacrifices it often requires.  For those willing to go the distance, a community based on kindness and simplicity emerges from the backwoods of America.

"Our Time" (July 16, 8 p.m. ET/PT) – Four recent college graduates embark on a cross-country journey in the quest to find answers about their generation.  Making their way through 48 states in an RV, the four young men talk to their peers about growing up, 9/11, race, the Internet, careers, sex, love, and the American dream, meeting a wide cross-section of young Americans from every walk of life.  "Our Time" culminates with the historic 2008 Presidential election where America's youth finally stand up to make their voices heard.  

"A Million Spokes" (July 17, 8 p.m. ET/PT) – "A Million Spokes" is a feature-length documentary filmed during the 2009 annual RAGBRAI © bicycle tour.  The largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the word, RAGBRAI © takes place in Iowa over seven days in July were thousands of bicyclists descend on the state to partake in an adventure that is singular in its ability to attract rich and unique group of characters each there for different reasons but all up for the challenge.  

"Gathering Remnants" (July 23, 8 p.m. ET/PT) – A raw, no-holds-barred look into the lives of five real life cowboys, granting access to the inner-workings of their minds as they reveal their personalities, quirks, and most intimate beliefs.  "Gathering Remnants" explores the grueling hardships of the American cowboy – a cultural icon that has been celebrated as a symbol of freedom, hard work, and heartland values but for whom reality expands far beyond the romantic notions of Hollywood.  

"Firestorm" (July 30, 8 p.m. ET/PT) -- Every minute in the United States an ambulance gets turned away from an emergency room because hospitals are simply too full to take any more patients.  In Los Angeles, where the wait time for some ERs is as long as 48 hours, the entire 911 system is being challenged in some very alarming ways.  "Firestorm" follows Los Angeles Fire Department Station 65 in South Los Angeles, a neighborhood with a largely uninsured and undereducated population.  With resources shrinking and need on the rise the brave paramedics of the LAFD have been forced to become virtual "doctors in a box' as they struggle to save the lives of those in their community.

The Documentary Channel is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267).  

About Documentary Channel®:  Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA's first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and the independent documentary filmmaker, providing viewers with round-the-clock opportunities to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres.  For more information on DOC, visit the network website at www.documentarychannel.com, in addition to www.facebook.com/DocumentaryChannel or www.twitter.com/doc_channel.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ashley Sandberg
Triple 7 Public Relations, LLC
347.735.6480 | [email protected]

SOURCE Documentary Channel