And with a scientific sheen. Who could resist? This isn’t gawking. It’s educational.
“Science of Dwarfism” and “Science of Gigantism” air back-to-back Monday on National Geographic Channel, which is hot on the heels of its Discovery Channel predecessor, taking the real world much more seriously these days than Discovery’s one-time documentary showcase seems to. (“Survivorman”? “Dirty Jobs”? “Cash Cab”? Come on.)
“Science of Dwarfism” (Monday at 9 p.m.) looks at both common and uncommon types of extremely short stature by profiling “extraordinary humans.” But the show also explains the genetic mutations and medical reasons why dwarfism occurs and how it physically affects their lives.
“Science of Gigantism” (Monday at 10 p.m.) explores the physiology and health problems of people with an extremely tall and large “superstructure.” Shaquille O’Neal would be a shrimp next to one 7-feet-8 man profiled here, alongside other “giants.”
This is such a hot/cool subject that ABC is airing its own related report on “20/20” tonight (Friday at 10 p.m., ABC/7).
Watch fascinating video previews online.
NatGeo photo: The Campbell family's mother, father and daughter all have different kinds of dwarfism.