Why are they showing an end of the world special on ABC right now?

I thought the show was very thought provoking.
I think it's a mortality issue, we all face it every time we get into a car or cross a road but we never really stop and think about our own mortality.
However, when we are faced with catastrophes such as described in the show we are brought face to face with it and the idea that no matter how advanced or smart we think we are we are nothing and can do nothing in the face of a supervolcano or asteroid. And if we even manage never to experience that we will eventually do ourselves in.

For me although I too love these kinds of programs it really brings home to me that I alone am responsible for my survival and that I cannot depend on the mass to protect me.