The Colony is a simulated social experiment created by the Discovery Channel that tests ten individuals in a post-apocalyptic setting. The people who appear on the show agree to be apart of the experiment and are isolated from civilization. During the show, the colonists work to create electricity, find water, food and protection. Each member of the show has their own personal history; many have career experience with machine repair, engineering, or medicine.http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/about/colony.html

The show has commentary from experts in homeland security, engineering, psychology and the medical community. Often times the commentary will explain the scientific or psychological details of the situations that are presented to the colonists. The show is narrated by Thom Beers, who also has worked with Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, and 1000 Ways to Die.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0995452/

The first season of The Colony was filmed in Los Angeles, CA and featured ten episodes with ten volunteers. The setting of the show was an abandoned warehouse near the Los Angeles River. In the start of the experiment, 6 of the 10 volunteers are led to an department store to find supplies, then they are directed to the warehouse. The next four volunteers are introduced in the first week as part of the experiment to see how the original six react to new comers.http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/colony-central/index-tab-02.html

During the ten weeks of the experiment, the volunteers create survival a water filtration system, a battery bank for electricity, a solar cooker, a shower system and a radio. Also they are subject to many outside attacks as a part of the simulation. During one the episodes of season one a volunteer is captured, and other simulated attacks take place throughout the experiment.http://www.fancast.com/tv/The-Colony/105113/episodes/season/1

Episode List:

1. "Arrival and Survival"
2. "Power Struggle"
3. "Comfort in Chaos"
4. "Safety and Security"
5. "A Stranger Among Us"
6. "Loss and Communication"
7. "A Test of Faith"
8. "Recon Mission"
9. "Breaking Point"
10. "Exodus"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470018/episodes

The second season takes place in an abandoned neighborhood in Chalmette, LA. This season also includes ten volunteers, but the experiment is 55 days, as opposed to the first which was 10 weeks. Like the first season, the volunteers create many different machines and gadgets using only what they can gather from the surrounding area. The devices created in season two include a windmill for electricity, two boats, a modified motorcycle, and a solar oven.http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/colony-central/

The season started on July 27, 2010, and contains ten episodes. Like the first season, the original group consists of a smaller number while other volunteers are added throughout the experiment. Also during the second season a member of the colony is captured and held hostage, and a series of planned attacks from "outsiders" occur.http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/episodes/colony.html

Episode List:

1. "A New Beginning"
2. "After the Fall"
3. "Trust"
4. "To Have and Have Not"
5. "The Abduction"
6. "Skout"
7. "Tick"
8. "Defense"
9. "The Virus"
10. "Don't Look Back"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470018/episodes