Travel Channel Weekly Programming Highlights

All times ET/PT unless otherwise noted.

Week of October 2, 2011

Series Premieres

MADE IN AMERICA                                                   TV- G

Ever wonder what a sports car and a jellybean have in common? They're both made in America! Each week, “Made In America” travels from city to city to find out how some of the most iconic products in the world are made. From padlocks and doughnuts to sneakers and motorcycle, host George Motz, explores the workshops, labs and factories that crank out some of the most ingenious products this country has to offer.

Cadillac, Sub Zero, & Maglite

Premiering Tuesday, October 4 at 8:00PM

In this episode, George heads to Lansing, Michigan, which is home of one of America's fastest production cars, the Cadillac CTS V. At Sub Zero in Madison, Wis. he learns that these refrigerators are more than just beauty. They are full of brains. Finally, he heads to Ontario, Calif., to build the world's most indestructible flashlight, the Maglite

Gibson Guitars, Crayola & La-Z-Boy

Premiering Tuesday, October 4 at 8:30PM

In Nashville, Tenn., George builds his favorite guitar, the Gibson Les Paul. At Crayola in   Easton, Pa., he learns how you make all those crazy colored crayons. Finally, he marries comfort and style at the La-Z-Boy factory in Siloam Springs, Ark.

MYSTERIES AT THE MUSEUM                       TV-PG

In “Mysteries at the Museum,” viewers join host Don Wildman each week on a journey across the United States, going deep into the vaults of the nation’s most revered institutions and unearthing wondrous treasures from the past – often strange and curious remnants of the momentous events that have shaped our history. Behind each extraordinary artifact is yet another story to be told and secret to be revealed – tales brimming with scandal, mystery, murder and intrigue. From Washington D.C.’s Spy Museum, where an unassuming black umbrella conceals a Russian assassin’s poison pellets, to the University of New Hampshire Library’s collection where a tattered purple dress provides alleged evidence of America’s first alien abduction. These are the places where the diverse history of our country is on display.

Siamese Twins, Assassin Umbrella, Capone Haunted Cell

Premiering Tuesday, October 4 at 9:00PM

The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, Pa. is home to the Death Cast of Change and Eng, the original Siamese twins. These celebrated brothers desperately wanted to live apart. But would a surgery to separate them cut their lives short? A simple black umbrella is on display at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. What role did this object play in the bizarre assassination of a BBC journalist? During his sentence at Eastern State Penitentiary, mobster Al Capone suffered unstoppable bouts of anguish. Was the cell of this legendary criminal haunted?

OFF LIMITS                                                     TV-PG

In “Off Limits,” explorer Don Wildman is back on a quest into the forbidden, hidden and unseen spaces across America with seven all new episodes.  With a take-no-prisoners approach, he’ll unearth the truths of our past and find their secret connections to our future, as he investigates sites off the grid.  Locations include a yellow submarine sunk in the Coney Island Creek; the most famous beachfront resort that once served as the location for the Elvis Presley film “Blue Hawaii,” now rotting away from neglect; and the crumbling ruins of an elaborate castle fortress once the home of the biggest arms dealer in the world.  Wildman’s “Off Limits” explorations cross the country from New York City to Boston, Hawaii, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis.

Secrets of New York Islands

Premiering Tuesday, October 4 at 10:00PM

New York City is home to over 8 million people, and nearly 50 million more visitors come to the Big Apple each year. But while most all swarm around Manhattan, the city is full of other islands -the forgotten staging grounds for the city's strange and lesser known past. Don's escaping the hustle and bustle of "the big island" to uncover the amazing stories hidden on New York's other islands: the lost islands of New York City.

MAKING MONSTERS                                                         TV-PG

In “Making Monsters,” viewers meet Ed and Marsha Edmunds, co-owners of Distortions Unlimited, the Mom and Pop monster making shop located in downtown Greeley, Colo., and Jordu Schell, a monster-making veteran from Hollywood. Ed and Marsha have led the charge of the animatronics business for the last 30 years. Their unusual animatronics, monster creations, and haunted house designs are mainstays of the dark amusement industry. Jordu is Ed’s right-hand man, bringing Ed’s twisted creations to life.  Based in Los Angeles, he is a renowned sculptor, best known for his work on James Cameron’s Avatar.  From 8-foot Godzilla-like moving monsters and green-gook spitting aliens to guffawing Santa Clauses, their creative and lifelike animatronics populate the country’s most popular haunted houses, amusement rides, parties, and private events.

It’s Not Easy Making Monsters

Premiering Sunday, October 2 at 8:00PM

Ed and his crew struggle to produce enough new products for the annual Transworld tradeshow, the premiere outlet for selling monsters in the Haunt Industry. The pressure mounts when Monster Mini Golf, one of Distortions' largest customers, purchases two Evil Trees. Without sculptor Jordu, the team would not have finished this massive workload on time. When the Evil Trees are damaged during shipping, the crew has to improvise to prevent Monster Mini Golf from losing business.

Ongoing Series

MAN VS. FOOD NATION                                                                 TV-PG

Wednesday, October 5 at 9:00PM

St. Paul

In St. Paul, Minn., Adam heads to Punch Pizza where he'll get to taste an authentic margherita pizza pie. Punch Pizza is the only place in St. Paul that is certified with the Verace Pizza Napoletana stamp of approval. This is given to pizzerias by an official association who work to protect the authenticity of the original Naples pizza recipe. Then Adam stops by The Rack Shack to try out the Hobo - a skillet filled with meat, a smoked baked potato and every BBQ side on the menu, which includes a special BBQ sour cream, corn bake, home-style beans, The Rack Shack's signature jalapeno mac and cheese, blue cheese bacon coleslaw and topped with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. After sampling those Twin City treats, Adam will guide the challenger, Jon Wolf, through the Lucy Challenge at Tin Cup's. The challenger has 45 minutes to finish two - one-pound spicy Juicy Lucy's, plus two pounds of fries! If Jon succeeds he'll win a t-shirt plus a spot on the wall of fame!

TRUCK STOP, MISSOURI                                                              TV-PG

Thursday, October 6 at 9:00PM

Midway’s Melting

Joe discovers that a dog has been relieving itself on the exterior of the diner and it has caused significant damage. So, he decides to build a dog park to create a better place for the four-legged Midway patrons to take care of business.  Joe also has to deal with another bathroom issue when Carl, a traveling salesman, makes a huge mess while trying to sell Joe a new bathroom-cleaning machine.  Meanwhile, Geno and Ben are kept busy trying to sell drinks in the wake of a c-store cooler malfunction. The sweltering Missouri heat makes this task much more uncomfortable than the two expected. Finally, Joe decides to embrace the heat with some new summer menu items.

GHOST ADVENTURES  V                                                               TV-PG

Friday, October 7 at 9:00PM

Casa De Estudillo - Old town San Diego

Zak, Nick and Aaron enter into a multi-part lockdown in Old Town San Diego to investigate the raucous spirits from wild parties dating back almost two centuries ago. Their lockdown consists of two major buildings in Old Town San Diego: the Cosmo Hotel and La Casa De Estudillo.

THE DEAD FILES                                                                            TV-PG

Friday, October 7 at 10:00PM

Terror in the Shadows – Acampo, Calif.

Amy and Steve investigate claims that terrifying phantoms have tortured a northern California family for generations. Still frightened from her own past experiences with deadly shadow figures, Amy takes a horrifying walk through their home while Steve uncovers eyewitness accounts of phantoms, possessions, haunted sleepwalking and unexplained physical attacks. Both investigations lead to shocking discoveries of family secrets and revelations of long-buried trauma.