They never set out to be television stars, any more than they sought Hollywood fame in those Steven Spielberg movies.

But sharks remain among the most enduring (if unlikeliest) members of TV's A-list. Just consider Shark Week, the summer programming event on Discovery Channel since 1988. Once again, sharks are in the spotlight as Shark Week promotes respect and appreciation for these remarkable animals (with excitement also part of the mix).

Shark Week 2008 airs Sunday to Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight EDT, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 a.m. EDT, featuring some of the most popular programmes from past years, as well as premiering these six shows:

• "MythBusters: Shark Special" (Sunday, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): The dynamic reality-check crew from Discovery's "MythBusters" series investigate myths about sharks, including: Are sharks repelled by magnets? Do dogs attract sharks? Do the vibrations caused by a flapping injured fish attract sharks? And does chili powder repel sharks?

l "Surviving Sharks" (Monday, 9 p.m.-10 p.m. EDT): Les Stroud, host of Discovery's "Survivorman," has tips for water safety — does kicking and splashing attract sharks? And he tests popular theories for surviving shark encounters — is it safer to stay in a group if stranded in the ocean, or to tread water alone?

• "Day of the Shark" (Monday, 10 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): This should be of particular interest to swimmers who have avoided the ocean after dark since the first time they saw "Jaws." It chronicles six shark attacks that took place at different times of day, to determine if day or night is safer for swimming.

l "Dirty Jobs: Greenland Shark Quest" (Tuesday, 9 p.m.-10 p.m. EDT): Mike Rowe, host of "Dirty Jobs," travels from usual tropical shark climes to the edge of the Arctic Circle in search of the mysterious Greenland shark, which scientists hope can provide lessons in the rapid ecological changes affecting that part of the world.

• "How Not to Become Shark Bait" (Tuesday, 10 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): What attracts a shark's notice? A thrill-seeking team tests shark attraction theories with tiger, lemon and reef sharks, focusing on their sensory perception of colors, vibrations, smells and other attractors. In the process, the explorers learn what not to do to catch a shark's attention.

• "Mysteries of the Shark Coast" (Thursday, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. EDT): On Australia's northeastern coast — home to more species of sharks than anywhere else on the globe — sharks are disappearing. A cross-discipline team of sharkaphiles sets off to determine why.

Other shows to look out for:

• You say sharks aren't big enough, exciting enough for you? Then check out the dinosaurs on "Jurassic Fight Club," a new series that promises insight into the psychology as well as the physiology of these creatures. Computer-generated imagery displays new discoveries resulting from exotic techniques such as CAT scans of dinosaur fossils, providing clues to their behaviour, thought process and ability to strategise — particularly in the area of fighting. The first of the 12-episode series re-creates the action as two Majungatholus dinosaurs (each weighing in at one ton and about 28 feet in length) face off in a title bout from 70 million years ago. "Jurassic Fight Club" premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT on History.

l The SciFi network's quirky drama-comedy series "Eureka" returns for a third season in a certain little town of big-time geniuses. Eureka is home to top-secret research facility Global Dynamics, which is now the victim of a major shake-up with the arrival of cut-throat businesswoman Eva Thorne (guest star Frances Fisher) as its new boss. Her mandate: to trim scientific inquiry and maximise profit. Colin Ferguson continues as the sometimes bemused, sometimes common sense sheriff. The series also stars Salli Richardson, Joe Morton, Ed Quinn, Jordan Hinson, Erica Cerra and Neil Grayston. "Eureka" airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. EDT.

• Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are actors, best friends and motorbike fanatics. Now they're co-starring in "Long Way Down," a Fox Reality Channel series that takes them on a 15,000-mile road trip from Scotland to South Africa. A follow-up to "Long Way Round," this 10-episode series boasts an itinerary including Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia and more. McGregor and Boorman stop to enjoy the sights (and even catch their breath) along the way. Then off they go again. Varoooom! It premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. EDT.