America's preeminent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, the guy that made the Civil War must-see viewing, is hard at work on a new project. PBS will broadcast Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea in Fall 2009. In 12-hours, divided over six episodes, Burns will explore the places like Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, Mount Rushmore, et al, as well as the people who were instrumental in the creation of these landmarks.

Like who? Start with Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir. In the Ken Burns style, you can be sure to learn things about the parks that you never knew, stuff that were not in the tour books from the AAA.

I've listed a few upcoming series and specials for folks like myself who enjoy nature, but don't actually want to go outside. Here's a few you might find interesting:

On April 11 at 8:00 p.m. on the National Geographic Channel, Explorer will examine exactly what happens when a person is struck by lightening. "Struck By Lightning" uses brain imaging and CGI to follow the path of a lightning bolt through the human body.

NGC's Naked Science looks at evidence that a meteorite not only killed off the dinosaurs, but may have also been what caused them to spring up in the first place. How is that possible? I have absolutely no idea. "Dino Meteor" debuts April 12 at 10:00 p.m.