Nightmares of Nature: Deadly Reptiles

In this disappointing new series, National Geographic has joined the ranks of Trash TV (which wholly subscribes to the journalistic mantra "if it bleeds it leads"). Who better than NG to give the public what they really want in glorious colorful close-up? In Deadly Reptiles, viewers are treated ad infinitum to excited and breathless voice-over narration describing graphic on-screen scenes of violence--mostly reenactments of cobras and rattlesnakes biting women and children--highlighting many of the reptile kingdom's cold-blooded killers. With tons of stock footage to draw from, the visuals here are naturally impressive, but "sensationalized" documentaries like this are routine pabulum on television today. One can only hope we'll reach the saturation point for consumers sometime in the next millennium. An optional purchase. Aud: J, H, P. (N. Plympton)