Come together on Thursday nights to indulge in the marvels of the natural world as NBC takes viewers back 450 million years with “Surviving Earth” (8:00p.m. ET/PT). This landmark series celebrates the incredible resilience of life and the extraordinary journey every creature hasendured to still exist today. Encore episodes of NBC’s stunning 10-part event series “The Americas” (9 p.m. ET/PT), narrated by Tom Hanks, will immediately follow. “Surviving Earth” is a landmark series showcasing how life not only survived but thrived through Earth’s most catastrophic environmental crises. Using cutting-edge CGI, viewers aretransported back to a world of never-before-seen creatures and their remarkable survival stories. From the giant sea scorpions of 450 million years ago to the mighty mammoths and sabertooths of 450,000 years ago, Earth’s epic story is vividly brought to life. Traverselandscapes shaped by meteoric strikes, volcanic eruptions, plunging sea levels and scorching heat storms. Executive Producer: Tim Haines “Surviving Earth” is co-produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, and UK production company Loud Minds.

Surviving Earth

Trailer

252 million years ago, massive volcanic eruptions scorched the planet. We follow a pack of saber-tooth predators as they battle the rising heat. When the eruptions stop, reptiles rise to rule land, sea, and sky.

When the Earth Burned

234 million years ago, over 1 million years of constant rain flooded Earth’s forests. We follow a young, hippo-like herbivore as she grows, defies death, and survives climate chaos as the age of the dinosaurs dawns.

When the Climate Broke

66 million years ago, a 6.2-mile asteroid plunges into Earth. We follow a tyrannosaurid pair as they fight to save their young. When the skies clear, life rebounds—the dawn of the Age of Mammals.

When the Asteroid Fell

94 million years ago, powerful underwater volcanoes pollute the seas, but adaptable new sea creatures soon rise. We follow a giant mother spinosaurus on land and a whale-like marine reptile as they endeavor to raise their young.

When the Seas Died

305 million years ago, giant insects roam collapsing swamp forests. We follow a brave little amphibian as she protects her eggs from the cooling climate. In the drier world that follows, massive new beasts rise to dominate the land.

When the Forests Collapsed

435 million years ago, shallow seas teem with bizarre creatures. We follow a goofy fish while it builds a nest despite being hunted by giant sea scorpions. An ice sheet engulfs the oceans, but fish rebound and fungi form the first forests on land.

When the Oceans Shrank

2.5 million years ago, North and South America meet. We follow a herd of elephants through a 2,000-mile trek over the perilous land-bridge. They encounter seven-foot birds, giant sloths, and fierce beasts as some species perish and others flourish.

When the Continents Collided

12,000 years ago, right before humans rise to dominate, the Ice Age ends as a collapsed ice dam unleashes a catastrophic flood. We follow a giant bear as she strives to save her cubs.