Next month marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the fateful day in American history in which the nation came under attack in New York, Pennsylvania, and the nation’s capital, and nearly three thousand people lost their lives, thousands of others were injured, and years of reactive warfare commenced.
To commemorate the historic day, television networks are now announcing special programming tied to the September 11th anniversary.
Here’s a rundown of how television will honor the solemn occasion.
9/11 Reunited (NatGeo)
National Geographic has announced a three-part docuseries premiering Friday, August 21, at 8/7c. The series aims to reunite those who were rescued on 9/11 with the first responders who put their lives on the line to save them. “Created in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and from the Emmy Award-winning team at 72 Films, the series revisits the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history through the extraordinary human connections formed amid the chaos, courage, and heartbreak of that day,” the description reads. “Across the episodes, survivors, first responders, and witnesses reunite with the strangers, rescuers, and everyday heroes who changed, and in many cases saved, their lives on September 11. Many of these emotional reunions take place for the first time in 25 years, providing a rare opportunity to ask long-held questions, express gratitude, and reflect on how those moments have stayed with them for decades.”
9/11 Tribute in Light: Live From Lower Manhattan (ABC News)
ABC News will air a multiplatform live special on Friday, September 11, starting at 8/7c, on ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, and more. It will feature coverage produced in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and will be coanchored by David Muir, Robin Roberts, and Diane Sawyer live from New York City. The special will include a display of the “Tribute in Light” installation that has been on display each year since 2001.
Ahead of the special, a one-hour edition of Prime will air from Ground Zero. Linsey Davis, Sade Baderinwa, and Mike Marza will headline.
“Today, 100 million Americans are too young to remember 9/11 themselves. This special will reach across generations to commemorate, educate, and inspire — and to uphold our promise to never forget,” Beth Hillman, president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, said in a statement.
9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later (ABC News)
ABC News will also feature a primetime special hosted by Michael Strahan on Tuesday, September 1, at 9/8c. It will “explor[e] how sports, music, Broadway, the media, and comedy helped a grieving nation begin to heal and rediscover joy in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.” It will air on ABC and be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu the next day.
In a statement, Strahan said of the special, “September 11 was one of the scariest moments of my life. I remember the shock, the heartbreak, and the feeling that nothing would ever be the same again. All I could think about was the people who had lost loved ones and the incredible courage of the first responders. Football didn’t seem important. But when we returned to the field, I realized it was about more than the game. It gave people a chance to come together, support one another, and begin to heal. This story is about honoring the lives we lost, celebrating the heroes who showed extraordinary courage, and reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we’re stronger when we stand together.”
Alongside Strahan, the special features Derek Jeter, Jon Bon Jovi, Matthew Broderick, Billy Crystal, Pete Davidson, Jimmy Fallon, Mark Messier, Jon Stewart, and more.
102 Minutes Inside the Towers (History Channel)
The History Channel will air this special on September 11, at 8/7c. It’s sponsored by Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and “features the untold stories of key figures who were inside the buildings during the attack and escaped. From window washers and bankers to building security staff and first responders, these are the chilling first-hand accounts of what those who were inside the North and South Towers saw, heard, and experienced as the shocking events unfolded around them and they raced to survive.”
Robin Roberts Presents Angel in the Rubble: The Genelee Guzman Story (Lifetime)
This Lifetime project premieres Saturday, September 12, at 8/7c. In it, “Sherri Shepherd stars as Genelle Guzman, a New York City transit employee who was the last survivor pulled from the debris at Ground Zero. Dondré Whitfield portrays Genelle’s boyfriend, Roger McMillan, and the film is based on Guzman-McMillan’s memoir, Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11’s Last Survivor.”
Turning Point: Generation 9/11 (Netflix)
Netflix’s new documentary, releasing September 2 on the streamer, follows the release of Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror to explore the impact of the day and its aftermath on the generation who witnessed it in their formative years… including those who were directly impacted in their own families.
“Twenty-five years after 9/11, this documentary explores how a single day shaped the next generation. From children who lost their parents in the attacks to journalists who cut their teeth on the original War on Terror to young Afghans and Marines forced to deal with the fallout of America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan — their gripping stories reveal that the legacy of 9/11 is measured not only by history, but by the lives it continues to shape,” the description reads.