Get an inside look at the massive effort behind NBC’s hit nature series The Americas with a special companion program. “The Making of ‘The Americas’” airs Sunday, April 20th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with a look into the creation of this ambitious television event, arriving the next day on Peacock.
Here’s the Lowdown: Narrator Tom Hanks joins the crew to discuss the challenges faced during five years of filming across 180 expeditions. The special reveals the difficulties encountered, from tackling corrosive waters high in the Andes for flamingo footage to enduring severe Amazonian storms. It also details breakthroughs, like forging a connection between a wild puma and its cameraman, and using innovative camera mounts on whales. The program highlights the dedication and skill required for the series.
What This Means Now: For those following The Americas, this special provides context for the stunning visuals seen on screen. It peels back the curtain on the often perilous work involved in capturing wildlife footage in extreme environments, showing the human element behind the nature documentary.
The Bigger Picture: The Americas already stands as the most-watched new alternative show of the 2024-25 season, averaging 5 million viewers for regular episodes and reaching 23 million across all platforms. This behind-the-scenes look further cements its status as a major television event from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, known for Planet Earth, featuring music by Hans Zimmer and produced with Universal Television Alternative Studio.
