AMERICAN HEROES CHANNEL NEW ORIGINAL SERIES "HARDCORE HEROES" SHOWCASES EXTRAORDINARY FEATS BY EVERYDAY PEOPLE

--Featuring Commentary from Internet Phenom Ben Thompson of the Website, "Badass of the Week," HARDCORE HEROES Premieres on Wednesday, August 6 at 10/9c--

From Spiderman to Batman, Superman to Wonder Woman, we've all heard the stories of superheroes with superhuman abilities; they dodge bullets, take out bad guys, and fly through the sky with ease. But who are the real badasses outside of Hollywood? This summer, American Heroes Channel (AHC) goes into blockbuster territory in the all-new original series HARDCORE HEROES. Featuring epic, true stories of real life heroes who are diehard to the max, HARDCORE HEROES tells the tales of ordinary people with incredible loyalty, valor and bravery - those often forgotten about heroes who have risked their lives for others, and laughed in the face of danger. Premiering Wednesday, August 6 at 10/9c only on American Heroes Channel, this action-packed series follows these courageous fighters as they battle the elements, save hundreds of lives, and ultimately, change the course of history forever.

Each one hour episode of HARDCORE HEROES features two stories interlaced with commentary from the heroes themselves when available, eyewitnesses and experts, including Ben Thompson (author: "Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live," William Morrow Paperbacks), considered by many to be the Internet's foremost expert on "badassitude" on his website, "Badass of the Week."

Episodes of HARDCORE HEROES premiering in August include:

Taking Flight Premieres Wednesday, August 6 at 10/9c

· Some of the greatest hardcore heroes' second nature is to fly fearlessly into battle. When George Welch and Kenneth Taylor, two untested rookie pilots stationed near Pearl Harbor, wake up to the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, they throw on their party clothes from the night before and take to the skies to fight. Chuck Yeager dreams of being a pilot, but doesn't have the education required. After Pearl Harbor, the military suddenly needs all the pilots it can get. Yeager climbs into a cockpit, and he is a natural. He becomes an ace fighter pilot and goes on to break the sound barrier.

Soaring to New Heights Premieres Wednesday, August 13 at 10/9c

· Does becoming the first man to jump nineteen miles back to earth from space sound hardcore to you? What about strapping yourself into a rocket sled traveling over 600 miles per hour before slamming to a violent stop? For Air Force test pilot Joe Kittinger and military researcher Dr. John Stapp, it's just another day at the office. In the post-WWII race to soar to new aviation heights, these men literally travel to the end of the earth and risk everything to save others' lives.

Lone Wolves Premieres Wednesday, August 20 at 10/9c

· In the death-defying tales of valor, there are the heroes who work with others to save lives. Then there are the hardcore heroes who operate as lone masterminds - and get the job done. When the fearless sniper, Carlos Hathcock, takes on the toughest covert missions during the Vietnam War, he silently stalks the most fearsome enemy combatants and takes them out. Max Hardberger is the world's only high seas anti-pirate, using reconnaissance and ingenuity to recover massive stolen cargo vessels from some of the world's most treacherous third world locations.

Warriors on the Frontlines Premieres Wednesday, August 27 at 10/9c

· There are fair fights, unfair fights, and fights where the odds are so stacked against you that you should be obliterated. For two battlefield legends, Drew Dix and Viktor Leonov retreating from a superior army never occurs to them. Instead, they summon superhuman reserves of guts and courage, ran straight into the line of fire, and fight until the enemy begged for mercy.

HARDCORE HEROES is produced for American Heroes Channel by Proper Television INC. with Guy O'Sullivan and Jennifer Scott as executive producers and Jeff Hirschfeld as series producer. For American Heroes Channel, Ron Simon is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, and Discovery Fit & Health.