Not that anybody will ever forget. But in case anyone has lost familiary the worst tragedy of the new Amercian century so far, TV will be ripe with reminders.
From National Geographic Channel’s exclusive interview with George W. Bush to Discovery Channel’s Steven Spielberg documentary about the rebuilding of Ground Zero, the networks are going to impressive lengths to remember 9/11.
Indeed, the first special relating to that tragic day nearly 10 years ago rolls out Sunday night — to be followed by a seemingly endless number of new and rebroadcast 9/11-related programs.
Also read: Paul McCartney's 9/11 Documentary to Debut on Showtime in September
From National Geographic Channel’s exclusive interview with George W. Bush to Discovery Channel’s Steven Spielberg documentary about the rebuilding of Ground Zero, networks are trying to differentiate their coverage in what has shaped up to be a crowded programming field.
To help you make sense of it all, we've compiled this chronological run-down of the upcoming shows announced so far:
"The Liquid Bomb Plot"
National Geographic Channel
9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21
"The Liquid Bomb Plot" isn't entirely 9/11-specific, but the program draws heavily on the tragedy as it looks back at a plot by 12 British men to plant explosives on airliners bound for North America.
"Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero" Discovery Channel
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25
This six-hour special from executive producer Steven Spielberg documents New York City’s struggle to figure out how best to rebuild at the site of the fallen World Trade Center. The first three hours air Aug. 25, the rest follows two weeks later on Sept. 11, and Discovery’s sister network Science will encore the program in its entirety on Sept. 11, starting at 5 p.m.
“Inside 9/11: The War Continues”
National Geographic Channel
9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28
Originally broadcast in 2005, “Inside 9/11” is the highest-rated program in National Geographic history. “The War Continues” updates the evolving story of radical Islam’s hostility towards the Western world.
Also read: The 5 Best Ways to Remember 9/11
"George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview"
National Geographic Channel
10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28
In what can only be considered a major coup, National Geographic Channel scored an exclusive interview with George W. Bush to discuss his personal recollection of the events.
“CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind”
National Geographic Channel
10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29
This in-depth documentary looks back at the CIA’s quest to bring down Osama bin Laden cohort Khalid Sheik Mohammed, or KSM, and his eventual imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay.
“The 9/11 Decade”
Al Jazeera English
8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30
In three one-hour documentaries, Al Jazeera gives its perspective on the aftermath of the tragedy and hopes to expose “some of the myths of the decade since 9/11.”
“9/11: Where Were You”
National Geographic Channel
10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30
This somber special catches up with some of the men and women who were forced to make life-or-death decisions.
“Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: What Happened? The Story of September 11, 2001”
Nickelodeon
8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1
Hardcore journalist Linda Ellerbee discusses 9/11 with some children who were either very young in 2001 — or not yet born.
"Day of Destruction — Decade of War
MSNBC
9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 1
Rachel Maddow teams up with NBC's Richard Engel to host this documentary that attempts to pin down exactly what impact 9/11 has had on our country and its government in the past decade.
“Fox News Reporting: Freedom Rising With Shepard Smith”
Fox News Channel
9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2
Smith has spent the past year delving into the rebuilding of Ground Zero and has garnered significant behind-the-scenes access along the way. He brings it all home with this two-hour special in which he talks to the workers building the new World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
“9/11: Heroes of the 88th Floor”
TLC
9 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 4
This two-hour documentary pays tribute to Port Authority workers Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz, who sacrificed their lives to save more than 70 people.
“When Pop-Culture Saved America”
Bio Channel
8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5
Arguably the fluffiest of the specials listed here, this two-hour documentary looks back at how comedians, singers, actors and other entertainers helped heal the nation. It features interviews with the likes of Denis Leary and Regis Philbin.
“9/11: Day That Changed the World”
Smithsonian Channel
8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 5
Dick Cheney, Laura Bush and Donald Rumsfeld share their insider accounts of what happened on 9/11, in this two-hour special narrated by Martin Sheen.
“Children of 9/11”
NBC
10 p.m., Monday, Sept. 5
This documentary catches up with 11 children who were greatly affected by the tragedy to learn how they dealt with losing loved ones.
“9/11: Stories in Fragments”
Smithsonian Channel
10 p.m., Monday, Sept. 5
Want to know about iconic objects in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History’s 9/11 collection? Here you go.
“I Survived 9/11”
Bio Channel
8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6
This special meets up with more survivors, including Fred Eichler, whose recounts watching the plane slam into the north tower of the World Trade Center just 50 feet above his head.
“Frontline: Top Secret America”
PBS
9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6
“Frontline” has produced more than 45 hours of films documenting the attacks and America’s response to them. Here, Pultizer Prize-winning journalist Dana Priest investigates the dark side of America’s response to the attacks.
“Footnotes of 9/11”
CNN
11 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6
Investigative correspondent Drew Griffin profiles eight men and women, each of whom is mentioned in the footnotes of the 9/11 Commission Report. They may have had a very small part in the terrorist attacks, but their actions loom large in retrospect, such as those of a ticket agent who checked some of the terrorists in.
“Saved”
Animal Planet
9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7
Animal Planet offers a sneak peek of its upcoming series about the bond between humans and animals with a special about who a Dalmatian and a Yorkshire terrier helped two families heal after losing loved ones.
“American Greed: 9/11 Fraud”
CNBC
9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7
CNBC has an interesting take on its coverage with this investigative report about dirtbags who steal money in times of national tragedy, such as the friend of a fallen Port Authority officer who created a bogus joint account and forged the deceased's signature on wire transfers to steal more than $248,000 from the victim’s young widow.
“Nova: Engineering Ground Zero”
PBS
9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7
Nova follows the five-year construction of the Freedom Tower and the World Trade Center Memorial, and in the process, provides a highlight of a week of new and rebroadcast PBS specials relating to 9/11.
“Rescue Me”
FX
10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7
Denis Leary’s dramedy about New York City firefighters comes to a fitting conclusion.
“Sanjay Gupta Reports: Terror in the Dust”
CNN
11 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7
CNN’s resident medical expert looks at how responders who breathed in the toxic fumes at Ground Zero are coping with the health effects of the attacks.
“Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11”
CNN
11 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8
Soledad O’Brien profiles the sometimes overlooked female rescue workers who raced to the Twin Towers
“The Early Show”
CBS
7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9
The morning program will provide extensive coverage live from Ground Zero.
“CBS Evening News”
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
Ditto Scott Pelley later in the day — he’ll report on site.
“9/11: The Days After”
History Channel
9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
The documentary from the filmmakers behind “102 Minutes That Changed America” looks at the fateful chain of events spurred on by the attacks.
"Dateline"
NBC
9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9
Tom Brokaw reflects on the many man hours he logged on 9/11 and the days that followed in this special two-hour installment of "Dateline."
“Fox News Reporting: 9/11: Timeline of Terror”
Fox News Channel
10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
This chilling one-hour special documents the events as they occurred, in real time, beginning with President Bush’s morning jog in Florida.
“Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience”
CNN
11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9
Presented in conjunction with Time magazine and HBO, CNN put together a montage of harrowing photographs from the dire day and cycles through them as government leaders, survivors and first repsonders offer their recollections of what happened.
“The Early Show”
CBS
7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
"The Early Show" will once again broadcast live with coverage from Ground Zero.
“CBS Evening News”
CBS
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
And yet again, so will Scott Pelley.
“Voices From Inside the Towers”
History
9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
History uses audio records of victims and survivors who tried to contact family members and friends amid difficult circumstances to paint a portrait of love and loss.
“Portraits from Ground Zero”
A&E
10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
Andrea Booher was one of only two photographers allowed unlimited, 24-hour access to Ground Zero in the days after the attacks. This two-hour special profiles the subjects made famous by her pictures.
“Beyond: Messages From 9/11”
Bio
10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
Bio looks at the mystical side to the tragedy, and talks to victims’ families about the messages they have received from their loved ones after their deaths.
“The Love We Make"
Showtime
9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
This original documents how Paul McCartney quickly put together a massive benefit concert just six weeks after the attacks, and features interviews with the ex-Beatle and others who were involved with the "Concert for New York City."
“9/11: America Remembers”
CBS
8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Scott Pelley will devote two hours to coverage of the ceremony live from Ground Zero, and “Face the Nation” follows up immediately after with a special edition from the same location.
Ground Zero coverage
Fox News Channel
All day Sunday, Sept. 11
All of your favorite Fox News Channel hosts help anchor live, all-day coverage of ceremonies and events pertaining to the anniversary, starting with a special two-hour program that airs beginning at 8 a.m. on the main Fox channel.
"America Remembers"
NBC
8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
NBC offers up similarly titled news coverage from the Ground Zero ceremonies, but will also broadcast reports from the other important 9/11 sites of the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Tom Brokaw, who helmed the desk on 9/11, will make a special appearance.
“102 Minutes That Changed America”
A&E/BIO/HISTORY
8:46 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
While this is an encore airing of the landmark documentary, it’s notable because it is airing across all A&E networks at the exact time the attacks began.
"NBC Nightly News"
NBC
6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Brian Williams hosts a special broadcast of the nightly news from Ground Zero.
“60 Minutes”
CBS
7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
The entire episode will focus on 9/11 themes. We’re extremely curious to see how Andy Rooney deals with this.
“9/11: 10 Years Later”
CBS
8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Filmmakers Jules Naudet, Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon update their critically acclaimed film “9/11” with new interviews with some of the firefighters they spoke to in the original. Robert De Niro hosts the program and takes a look back at the history of Ground Zero in the process.
“Making the 9/11 Memorial “
History
8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Did you know that the 9/11 Memorial is named “Reflecting Absence”? Learn more factoids like that in this one-hour documentary, airing on the very day that the memorial is unveiled to the public.
“PBS Newshour: America Remembers 9/11”
PBS
8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
The PBS news team commemorates the tenth anniversary of the attacks with a hard-hitting special examining the significance of the tragic day.
“The Twins of the Twin Towers”
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
This unique take on the tragedy, produced by BBC Wales, tells the tale of more than 40 men and women whose twins died.
“Great Performances: A Concert for New York”
PBS
9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
The New York Philharmonic performs Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.”
“Rebirth”
Showtime
9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
The Sundance Film Festival darling simultaneously looks at a decade in the life of five subjects who were significantly impacted by the events on 9/11 and the minute-by-minute time-lapsed evolution of the Ground Zero memorial.
“The Space Between”
USA Network
9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.
Melissa Leo stars in this uplifting film about intolerance as a flight attendant who shuttles a Pakistani-American boy from Texas to New York City in the days after their plane is grounded on 9/11.
“From the Ground Up”
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
10:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
This special looks at how five widows of firefighters killed overcame the tragedy.
“Twin Towers”
USA Network
10:21 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11
Immediately following “The Space Between,” USA Network will air Dick Wolf’s Oscar-winning short film about two brothers – a New York City policeman and fireman — who died.