The Washington Post:

Shark Week, the Discovery Channel’s annual bonanza of shark documentaries, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week. It’s the longest-running series on cable, and that longevity has given it a prime role in pop culture and public understanding of shark science. But its legacy is a mixed bag.

As a shark conservation biologist, I both love and hate Shark Week, but I watch every year. Other experts share my ambivalence. Here’s what some have to say about the series’ good, bad and sometimes ugly influence.

Like many people, I’m fascinated by sharks and when Shark Week first started, I watched it all of it. But now, not only has it become ridiculous, it’s actually often faked and contains a lot of bad science.