TV Lookout: Explore Earth's beauty across 7 continents

Last year, Discovery Channel presented "Planet Earth," which was billed as the ultimate portrait of our planet.

Not to be eclipsed, National Geographic Channel (channel.nationalgeographic.com) is unveiling "Earth: The Biography," which, two years (or several billion years) in the making, visits all seven continents, capturing a world of beauty in high definition.

With five hours airing over three nights, this "Biography" isn't exactly a tell-all, but it adopts an interesting alternative to focusing on each land mass in turn. Instead, the series explores the forces that have given the Earth its winning personality.

Host Iain Stewart rappels close enough to feel the heat from the lava lake of Ethiopia's Erta Ale volcano, then reminds us that this is more than a magnificent sight: "It's a window that allows us to look deep into the Earth."

Airing at 9 tonight, "Volcanoes" is followed at 10 p.m. by "Ice," which investigates a powerful force in carving the landscape and altering the Earth's climate, but, as Stewart shows us in Greenland, is also melting at a phenomenal rate.

Monday at 9 p.m., "Atmosphere" finds Stewart taking off into the stratosphere aboard one of the planet's swiftest aircraft. Then we witness some of the most violent lightning on Earth and, in Arizona, behold a rock formation sculpted by the wind.

At 10 p.m., "Oceans" dives into the watery realm that sets the Earth apart from every other planet in the solar system.

Finally, Tuesday at 10 p.m., "Rare Planet" examines the forces beyond the planet that created Earth and still protect it, while taking a new look at a force that could imperil it: humankind.

As Mandy Gilbert nears her 18th birthday, two things are high on her wish list: a cool new cellphone and Drew Patterson, the hottest guy in the senior class. Mandy gets her phone. Drew invites her to an all-important party. But then she's grounded. Can she sidestep her loving but overprotective dad as well as Lisa, Drew's perfectly smug ex-girlfriend? Ashley Tisdale ("High School Musical") is back in school for the ABC Family film "Picture This!" It airs at 8 tonight.