The Hot Zone: Anthrax
Channel: National Geographic Channel (DStv 181 / StarSat 220)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Drama, Thriller, True Crime, Miniseries
In a limited series that depicts the plight and eventual triumph over a deadly threat, The Hot Zone: Anthrax takes place in 2001, when the United States was rocked by another unprecedented act of terrorism.
Letters containing anthrax were sent to unsuspecting victims in Florida, Washington DC, and New York.
The anonymous assault claimed five lives and caused panic throughout the US.
Despite many false leads, a team of FBI agents and scientists slowly closed in on a shocking prime suspect.
While many of us can remember the breaking news headlines and widespread fear that arose during the anthrax attacks, there are many layers to this chilling and unbelievable crime story that have not yet been told.
The Hot Zone: Anthrax, inspired by true events, follows parallel stories of Matthew Ryker (Daniel Dae Kim, Hawaii Five-0) and Dr. Bruce Ivins (Tony Goldwyn, The Fixer).
Ryker, an FBI agent with a specialty in microbiology, risks his career to convince his superiors of the unthinkable just three weeks after the 9/11 attacks: the United States is under attack again.
Ivins, a brilliant microbiologist who becomes embroiled in the hunt to find the 2001 anthrax killer, works closely with the FBI to uncover who is behind the deadly anthrax letters, while his growing instability and paranoia give way to deeper unnerving discoveries.
The cast also includes FBI Special Agent Dani Toretti, who is tough enough to manoeuvre through the boys club in the bureau and is among the first agents on the ground at the 2001 Capitol Hill anthrax attack.
There's also bureau newbie agent Chris Moore, a graduate of Quantico and eager to learn under a seasoned agent.
High-ranking FBI lifer Ed Copak feels the weight of responsibility to get justice for a wounded nation after the recent events of 9/11.
FBI agent Eric Sykes is a cocky agent who delights in mocking Ryker for his hunt for "elusive bio-weapons".
Then there's Sheila Willis, a pharmaceutical lobbyist dating Ryker but rethinking her priorities after 9/11; and Dr. Simon Kurz, a USAMRIID colleague of Ivins who finds himself out of his depth when suspicion among scientists starts to bubble up in the tight quarters of the biosafety level 4 labs.
There's also Jody Hall, a diligent USAMRIID scientist seen as a confidante by many with a wary eye on the political and personal agendas of those around her; and Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who emerges as a bold advocate for the citizens of New York City after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Finally there's respected journalist and NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw (Harry Hamlin), the steady and trusted voice of reason for a post 9/11 nation.
Santa's Baking Blizzard
Channel: Food Network (DStv 175)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Food, Reality Competition
On each episode of this four-part holiday tournament, Casey Webb challenges three teams of the USA's most impressive ice sculptors and cake artists to create larger than life Christmas scenes for judges Jocelyn Delk Adams, Amanda Freitag and Zac Young.
Teams must push their limit to bring festive holiday themes to life if they want to ice the competition and sleigh their way into the finale where they will compete for a stocking full of $25,000.
In the series premiere, "Countdown to Christmas": Casey Webb challenges three teams of Christmas bakers and their ice sculptors to create colossal Christmas tree cake displays complete with edible presents, ornaments and pyrotechnics.
Murder in the Outback: The Falconio and Lees Mystery
Channel: CBS Justice (DStv 170)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Documentary Series, True Crime
The Peter Falconio case is a story that just won't be put to rest.
For some experts and onlookers, the guilty verdict in Bradley Murdoch's murder trial still feels clouded with doubt.
They are left with an uneasy feeling that there was a lot more to what happened in the remote Australian outback on the night of Falconio's disappearance.
This was no open and shut case. Too many questions, doubts, grey areas have left the door ajar.
Inconsistencies and forensic question marks abound, and some key leads have laid unfollowed all this time, waiting for new investigators to pick up the thread.
The Falconio case haunts lives of those it touched. Some are fractured by the notoriety, others have become obsessed with chasing the truth.
But what is the truth in this story? After 18 years it's time for a re-examination.
The series will hear the stories of the individuals affected by this event and will use new and exclusive access to the original defence case documents to re-examine the evidence put forward at the trial.
Foxy's Fearless 48 Hours with...
Channel: BBC Earth (DStv 184)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Reality, Adventure
Ex-special forces soldier Jason Fox brings over 20 years' of military experience to his role as the architect of these weekends of fear.
With breathtaking visuals, nerve-jangling challenges and confessional conversations this series combines them all to create a set of adventures, both cinematic and intimate.
Do the celebrities have what it takes to spend 48 hours with Foxy, taking on an epic adventure and facing their ultimate fears?
In the series premiere: Comedian Rob Delaney joins Foxy from SAS: Who Dares Wins, in rural Wales, to take on three petrifying challenges, including a jump off a 40-metre viaduct and crossing a 300-foot-long highline spanning a 250-foot drop.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht 2
Channel: E! (DStv 124)
TX Time: 18h10
Genre: Docu-Reality
The stakes are high as Captain Glenn Shephard puts his trust in an all-new crew as they sail along the sparkling coast of Croatia to provide an unforgettable, luxurious experience for the guests and their over-the-top requests.
This season, Captain Glenn is joined by chef Natasha De Bourg, chief stew Daisy Kelliher, chief engineer Colin Macrae, first mate Gary King, second stew Dani Soares, third stew Alli Dore and deckhands Sydney Zaruba and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux.
When the chief stew and chef discover they're on different pages, mistrust and miscommunication makes for an extremely volatile working relationship that impacts everyone on board.
As department heads undermine each other's authority, arguments trickle down the chains of command as tension reaches an all-time high between the interior and exterior teams.
With new safety protocols in place, the crew must stay on the yacht in between charters, blurring the lines professionally and personally, leading to a boat-load of nauti-yachties.
In the Season 2 premiere, "Running on Fumes": Captain Glenn and Parsifal are back - this time in Croatia and ready to welcome a whole new crew aboard to a wild season full of over-the-top antics.
Chief Stew, Daisy Kelliher, hails from Ireland and a pedigreed sailing background - both of her parents were yachties, and her grandfather sailed for Ireland in the 1964 Olympics.
Rounding out the interior are Daisy's skilled 2nd Stew, Dani Soares; and lovably eccentric 3rd Stew, Alli Dore.
Leading the deck team is the ultra-experienced First Mate, Gary King, who rules his department with an iron fist.
Reporting to Gary are Sydney Zaruba, who has been sailing since she was a child; and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanuax, who towers at a whopping 6'9" and can barely fit in his bunk.
The deck team slips up when they mistakenly wash the teak with gasoline, and Chief Engineer Colin Macrae swoops in to save the day.
Chef Natasha De Bourg, who has worked at many Michelin-Star restaurants, is challenged to create exquisite dishes revolving around the Primary guest's strict vegan requirements.
But the first charter of the season gets really rocky when the guests get in a drunken personal fight.
The next morning, the guests' excitement to sail puts Daisy and Natasha at odds over serving breakfast on heel.
But nothing is more startling than when Jean-Luc realises he may have lost two guests at sea...
90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way 3
Channel: TLC Entertainment (DStv 135)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Reality
They say that love has no boundaries.
However, for these international couples, their relationships are tested like never before as American men and women who fall in love with partners from distant lands then travel to home countries to begin their married life abroad.
This series follows them as they navigate married life in completely unchartered territory.
From language barriers to cultural differences, will these couples' love be strong enough to withstand the challenges facing them as they embark on their new life together?
Meet the two new couples taking the plunge for love, and catch up with four returning pairs fighting to make things work abroad:
New Couples
Steven, 25 (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Alina, 20 (Russia)
Steven, a devout Mormon from Utah, is giving up his life in America to be with Alina, a beautiful Russian woman he met a year ago on a language app.
When the Russian border closes because of the coronavirus pandemic, Steven and Alina come up with a backup plan to meet up and marry in Turkey instead.
Once there, secrets of Steven's past and Alina's suspicions of infidelity begin to threaten their future together, and Alina questions if she truly knows the man she's about to marry.
Ellie, 45 (Seattle, Washington) and Victor, 38 (Colombia)
After falling for Victor while on a trip to South America, the lovestruck couple continued their long-distance relationship for two years.
Victor lives on a small Colombian island called Providencia, and Ellie has decided it's time to leave her successful restaurant business and city life in the US for small-town, island living on their little slice of paradise.
As she prepares to move, the couple's issues with trust, cheating and financial concerns are dwarfed when category five hurricane Iota passes over the island of Providencia, leaving behind unimaginable destruction.
Ellie loses communication with Victor the night before the storm, and after days of silence, she travels to the island, distraught and desperate to locate him.
Returning Couples
Kenneth, 58 (St. Petersburg, Florida) and Armando, 32 (Mexico)
Now that Kenny has moved to Mexico and proposed to Armando, they are ready to dive into planning their beautiful wedding.
Armando wants to spare no expense, but Kenny is nervous about how much this wedding is going to cost.
One thing they agree on, however, is their concern over whether Armando's family will support them as a gay couple and attend their wedding.
First, Armando must open up to his father about his engagement to Kenny. Meanwhile, Kenny and Armando begin to plan long-term.
As Kenny grapples with the guilt of missing his children in Florida, Armando brings up the topic of giving Hannah a younger sibling.
This opens up a complicated debate over whether they both agree on expanding their family, when and how, via adoption or surrogacy.
Jenny, 63 (Palm Springs, California) and Sumit, 33 (India)
After moving to India and back several times in the wake of extreme relationship challenges, Jenny is now a year into living in India and is losing hope over whether she will ever get to marry Sumit.
Her visa has been extended due to the pandemic, but knowing that can't last forever leads the couple to consider how else Jenny might be able to stay in the country.
Ultimately, however, Sumit continues to push for his parents' approval to marry, and a surprising solution is presented: Sumit's mother offers to move in with them in order to train Jenny to become more of a traditional Indian daughter-in-law.
Ariela, 29 (Princeton, New Jersey) and Biniyam, 31 (Ethiopia)
Eight months after the birth of their son, Avi, Ari and Bini are still living together in Ethiopia.
Their baby bliss is quickly interrupted when Ari shares the news that Leandro, her ex-husband of 10 years, has decided to come visit.
With their relationship already on shaky ground, Biniyam is convinced that Leandro is only visiting to try and win Ariela back.
Then, during a routine pediatrician appointment, Ari and Bini learn that Avi needs hernia surgery.
Ari decides that taking Avi to the US to receive medical care is the best option, despite Bini begging her not to go for fear of her never returning, just as his first wife did with their young child.
As their disagreements get more and more heated, Ari gives Bini a final ultimatum to save their relationship.
Corey, 34 (Mill A, Washington) and Evelin, 28 (Ecuador)
With the coronavirus lockdown in Ecuador lifted, Corey and Evelin can finally start planning their wedding.
However, things between the couple are extremely rocky after Corey admitted that he almost hooked up with another woman in Peru while he and Evelin were on a break.
The truth about this other woman is much more involved than Corey lets on, but he's not the only one keeping secrets.
As Evelin's family urges her to reconsider marrying Corey, she drops a huge bombshell.