CableVision takes you around the world in 90 minutes

As winter comes to an end, new shows are springing up all over the airwaves, along with some special events you might not want to miss.  Here are a few picks.

• Live from Space  Special two-hour event — Friday, March 14 at 9pm on National Geographic Channel:

For the first time ever, TV viewers around the world will be able to experience a live, guided tour of the International Space Station (ISS) as it soars above Earth at 17,500 miles an hour.  Broadcasting from the ISS and Mission Control in Houston, National Geographic will be following events as the $100 billion science laboratory in the sky makes a complete orbit of Earth, which it does every 90 minutes.

Enjoy the live views from 250 miles up and learn how the astronauts stay fit and conduct cutting-edge science experiments while hurtling through space. During the event, viewers will be talking via video chat to the spaceflyers, including veteran NASA astronaut Mike Massimino – who gained fame conducting fearless repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope – and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. The event will be hosted by journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien, who says, “We will get to witness the greatest show beyond Earth.”

• The Fabulist — Premieres Monday, March 17 at 9:30pm on E!:

Find out what’s hot and what’s not by tuning in to this edgy new show from E! Hosted by reality TV star Kristin Cavallari (“Laguna Beach” and “The Hills”), and designer Orly Shani, this weekly half-hour series also features a panel of  “tastemakers” who will serve up lively discussions about fashion, pop culture and lifestyle trends.

• Celebrities Undercover — premieres Tuesday, March 18 at 11:30pm on Oxygen:

This is a new twist on the idea of celebrities going on hidden camera. In this series –produced and hosted by Wendy Williams – they are heavily disguised with prosthetic make-up and sent out to discover what friends and fans really think of them.

In the show’s premiere, Williams herself goes undercover as a member of her own audience, while reality TV mega-star Kim Kardashian disguises herself and goes to a group job interview along with other candidates aspiring to become her new assistant. Other celebrities scheduled to be on the show are T-Pain; Fantasia; Joey Fatone; Lil’ Kim; Chili; Adrienne Bailon; Ice-T; and “Real Housewives” stars Luann De Lesseps and Kandi Burruss. Expect some dirt to be dished.

• Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge — Premieres Tuesday, March 25 at 11pm on Syfy:

In this new reality series, ten creative minds compete for a chance to be a part of the famous creature shop originated by “Muppets” creator, the late Jim Henson, and his family. Among the panel of judges are Jim’s son, Brian, whose impressive list of creature credits includes “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Return to Oz”, and “Labyrinth”. The series’ first episode challenge is for the designers to produce a creature that might inhabit an undersea world.  Apparently you can also expect to see, among other things, some flying purple people eaters that have been created just for the show.

• Kids Choice Awards — live event — Saturday, March 29, at 9pm on Nickelodeon:

Find out who the kids love most at the 27th Annual KCA. Expect celebrity guests, musical performances, and the inevitable slime stunts. Mark Wahlberg is this year’s host. Trivia question: Who has taken home the most Kids’ Choice Awards? Will Smith.

• House of Food — Premieres Monday, March 31 at 11pm on MTV:

This new docu-series from MTV is part cooking competition and part reality house show. 

It features a group of eight aspiring young chefs with no formal culinary training who are all living together and competing against one another to win a dream apprenticeship with a top Los Angeles chef. Imagine Real World meets Hell’s Kitchen, all under one roof. Enjoy the new crop of spring shows!