September 2020 - WETA Magazine by WETA

SEPTEMBER 2020 MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS

Airs Tuesday, September 22, 9 p.m. on WETA PBS Tune in or stream on the PBS Video App

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8/17/20 12:07 PM

WETA Focus T

hrough four decades, WETA has partnered with filmmaker Ken Burns and his colleagues at Florentine Films to produce an extraordinary slate of acclaimed history documentaries, illuminating our nation’s stories for the American public. Now we are enormously pleased that the Ken Burns film collection is available for streaming on-demand via WETA Passport, the WETA member benefit that offers access to a vast trove of outstanding programs. This new availability of Ken’s fascinating history content is especially timely as students pursue virtual learning this fall. WETA continues to support at-home learners with an array of on-air and online resources, enumerated below this column, including presentations of Ken’s films on Saturdays on WETA PBS as part of our American History Night programming. Also of particular note in September are Election 2020-related program offerings on WETA PBS that help inform voters: the quadrennial Frontline special The Choice, a journalistic examination of the presidential candidates’ lives, views and visions; and PBS NewsHour’s special coverage of the first presidential debate, scheduled for September 29. Thank you for your ongoing support for WETA, which makes possible our services to the public.

WETA TV viewers using over-the-air antennas: see the back cover for WETA transmitter news!

Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA

WETA Educational Resources for Students and Families Visit weta.org/AtHomeLearning

ETA is here for you and your learners. As students and parents in the Washington, D.C., area contend with virtual learning this fall, WETA continues to offer educational programming that can supplement and extend children’s learning and engagement. Visit weta.org/AtHomeLearning to find programs and schedules by age/grade as WETA presents educational resources via the following services: • The WETA PBS Kids channel features educational programs around the clock daily for young viewers. WETA offers an “At-Home Learning” weekly e-mail that links PBS Kids television programs with books, resources and activities that families can do together. To receive a copy, email outreach@weta.org. • The WETA PBS channel features educational programs for youngsters each weekday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., plus science, history and arts programming for middle- and high-school students, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Also tune in to American History Night content on Saturday nights, science programming on Wednesday nights, and other offerings. • The WETA World channel features educational content for middle- and high-school students, weekdays, noon-5 p.m., in addition to documentary offerings throughout the program schedule. • WETA Passport now features a collection of acclaimed Ken Burns films produced with WETA, spotlighting a wide array of topics in American history. Stream at weta.org/passport. • WETA’s resource-laden educational websites include reading initiative Reading Rockets; visit weta.org/learningmedia to learn more. Note that on September 14, the VA TV Classroom Initiative resumes as WETA again collaborates with the Virginia Department of Education and other Virginia public television stations to broadcast special teacher-led instructional content for students. The lessons air 11 a.m.-noon on WETA PBS for K-3rd graders, and noon-1 p.m. on WETA World for grades 4-7.

W E TA — O N T H E A I R & O N L I N E WETA PBS

WETA UK

WETA World

26.1 via antenna Cox 26, 1026, 1003 Comcast 26, 800 (DC area) Comcast 219 (Baltimore area) Fios 26, 526 DirecTV 26, 26-1 RCN 26, 613 Dish 8076

26.2 via antenna Comcast 265, 1146 Cox 800 Fios 474 RCN 39, 602

26.4 via antenna Comcast 270, 1148 Cox 802 Fios 475 RCN 37

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

WETA TV Highlights The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden

Tuesday, September 22 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on the PBS Video App

he newest installment of Frontline’s quadrennial special tells the story of a deeply divided nation though the lives of the two men who want to lead it for the next four years. In the midst of a historic pandemic, economic hardship, and a reckoning with racism, this November, Americans will decide who gets the nod: President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden. Before the votes are cast, as it has for every presidential election since 1988, Frontline presents The Choice — its acclaimed election-year journalistic documentary offering interwoven investigative biographies of both major-party candidates. The production, from the team that has made four prior installments of The Choice and nearly 20 documentaries about the Trump and Obama eras, offers a primer for voters — and a guide to what Americans can expect from the president who will be sworn in on January 20, 2021. Through interviews with those who know Trump and Biden best, The Choice 2020 offers a deeply reported narrative arc of both candidates’ lives — examining each man’s approach to power, the defining moments that shaped their lives, and their visions for America’s future at this pivotal juncture. Funding for Frontline is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Major funding for Frontline is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation, the Park Foundation, The John and Helen Glessner Family Trust and the Frontline Journalism Fund, with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.

PBS NewsHour Debates 2020: Presidential Debate

Tuesday, September 29 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on pbs.org/newshour and the PBS Video App

or a nationwide audience, WETA production and marquee PBS newscast PBS NewsHour presents coverage of the first 2020 Presidential general election debate scheduled for Tuesday, September 29 and to be hosted by Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The event is the first of three anticipated debates between Republican Party nominee and incumbent President Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden, Democratic Party nominee and former vice president. Judy Woodruff will anchor the PBS NewsHour coverage of the debate and lead analysis by the NewsHour team after the debate proceedings. The series of 2020 U.S. presidential debates is sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. As of press time for this magazine, additional presidential debates are scheduled to take place October 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, and October 22 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The general election vice presidential debate is scheduled to take place October 7 at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. PBS NewsHour will provide special coverage of each of the events.

Major corporate funding for PBS NewsHour is provided by BNSF, Consumer Cellular, Fidelity, Johnson & Johnson and Raymond James, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Skoll Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others.

For program and membership inquiries, visit weta.org or call 703-998-2724. WETA PBS Kids

WETA Passport

Classical WETA

26.3 via antenna Comcast 266 Cox 801 Fios 472 RCN 38

Stream at weta.org/passport

WETA 90.9 FM Washington WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown WETA 88.9 FM Frederick classicalweta.org vivalavoce.org

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WETA Online

weta.org weta.org/learningmedia

8/18/20 1:33 PM

Tuesday, September 8 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on the PBS Video App

new documentary shares the story of 20,000 Jewish refugees who fled Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II and found refuge in the city of Shanghai in China when country after country around the world refused them sanctuary. The one-hour film Harbor from the Holocaust explores the extraordinary relationship the refugees, known as “Shanghailanders,” had with their adopted city through the bitter years of Japanese occupation from 1937 to 1945 and the Chinese civil war that followed. Through personal recollections, archival footage, music, and interviews with historians, the documentary tells the story of hope, spotlighting a group of people who, in tragic contrast with those who could not escape, were given a second chance. Exploring this moment in history, the film reveals why Shanghai was uniquely positioned, through geo-political, cultural and historical influences, to allow this remarkable influx to happen — including past relations with Jews predominantly from the Middle East, the Iberian Peninsula and Russia, and because of Shanghai’s centuries of control by, and openness to, foreigners as a vigorous center of trade and commerce. Through personal recollections, the film highlights the stories of prominent artists, statesmen and authors, as well as others who survived to carry on their Jewish religion and traditions. Playing an important role in the film is its music, evoking the time, the fear, the pain and the joy of the “Shanghailanders.” Orchestrated by musician and composer Chad Cannon, among special moments are a duet with violinist Niv Ashkenazi and guzheng player Beibei Monter, and a performance by Yo-Yo Ma composed by his father (who studied in Shanghai) titled “Poème pour Violoncelle et Orchestre.” Funding for Harbor from the Holocaust is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the National Endowment for the Humanities; The Philip Chosky Charitable & Educational Foundation; The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh; PBS, and public television viewers.

Hacking Your Mind

Wednesdays at 10 p.m. starting Sept. 9 on WETA PBS; and streaming on the PBS Video App

COURTESY EKIN AKALIN

n the four-part series Hacking Your Mind, discover why it’s easy for politicians, marketers and social-media companies to influence your behavior — and how to defend yourself, and at the same time make life better for you, your family and friends. Jacob Ward (former Popular Science editor and now on The Today Show) hosts the series, which takes viewers around the globe — and to the inside of their mind. In Living on Auto-Pilot (September 9), take a trip around the world to discover how you go through life on auto-pilot. In Weapons of Influence (September 16), see how others hack your decision-making system and learn to defend yourself. In Us vs. Them (September 23), discover why we all have auto-pilot biases and find out how to overcome them. And in The Wings of Angels (September 30), discover how you can hack your own mind and help change the world for the better. Hacking Your Mind was made possible by a major grant from the National Science Foundation.

2 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

RALPH BARRERA; SUMMIT ON RACE IN AMERICA, LBJ PRES. LIBRARY, APRIL 2019.

WETA presentation airs Tuesday, September 1 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS

Jordan with President Carter at the White House, Dec. 1978.

AP/BARRY THUMMA, 1978

new film, Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain spotlights the life of one of the most groundbreaking and influential African American thought leaders in the United States. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble), the one-hour WETA presentation explores the remarkable journey of Vernon Eulion Jordan Jr., from modest origins to national renown as a distinguished, pioneering attorney, businessman and civil rights leader; and as an influential powerbroker and counselor to American presidents spanning the era from LBJ to Barack Obama. Jordan, 85, a partner at corporate law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and a principal at financial behemoth Lazard, achieved extraordinary success throughout his career endeavors, paving the way for people of color in the realms of business, law and politics. Appearing in the film are President Bill Clinton, to whom Jordan is a friend and adviser, scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who describes Jordan as “the Rosa Parks of Wall Street,” and a host of other notables. Through personal recollections, interviews with colleagues, friends and family; access to his ongoing social justice work; and archival footage; the documentary tells the story of Jordan’s early life in the segregated South and residence in America’s first African American housing project; his service at the nation’s leading civil rights organizations and survival of an assassin’s bullet, and his success in the corridors of power. Foremost, the film illuminates Jordan’s lifelong dedication and significant contributions to the fight for civil rights and Black economic advancement — including his participation in a lawsuit against the University of Georgia for discriminatory admissions policies; his work as a field director for the NAACP and director of the Voter Education Project; and his leadership of the United Negro College Fund and the National Urban League. Tracking his meteoric rise to power and fortune, and the sacrifices he made along the way, Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain follows one man’s attainment of the American Dream as he achieved success on his own terms. Funding for Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain is provided by JustFilms and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Ken Burns Collection Now on WETA Passport

Stream films from Burns and WETA at weta.org/passport — and watch The Vietnam War on WETA PBS starting Sept. 19

TIM LLEWELLYN PHOTOGRAPHY

or 35 years, WETA and filmmaker Ken Burns have collaborated to bring to the American people some of the most critically acclaimed and most-watched historical documentaries ever created — and now the entire Ken Burns Collection of captivating American history films is available for streaming on WETA Passport. Among the offerings are films about uniquely American art forms: Jazz and Country Music; and favorite pastime: Baseball and The Tenth Inning; epic series chronicling American military conflicts: The Civil War, The War and The Vietnam War (which begins airing September 19 on WETA PBS); engaging profiles of American icons: The Roosevelts, Jackie Robinson, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mark Twain; films exploring race in America: including The Central Park Five and Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson; and dazzling stories of the American landscape and how it was preserved: Lewis & Clark and The National Parks: America’s Best Idea — among many other films. WETA Passport is a member benefit that offers access to a vast library of programs available for streaming on-demand. If you have not activated WETA Passport, check the mailing label on the back of this magazine — you are ready to activate if you see a four-word activation code above your name and address. To learn how to start streaming all of your PBS favorites on WETA Passport, visit weta.org/passport/FAQ or call 703-998-2724.

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

Van der Valk on Masterpiece

Sundays, September 13, 30 & 27 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS; binge-watch on WETA Passport as of Sept. 13 premiere

COURTESY ©COMPANY PICTURES/ALL3MEDIA INTERNATIONAL

arc Warren (Beecham House, The Good Wife) stars as title character Piet van der Valk, a dogged, street-smart Dutch detective in all-new Masterpiece adaptations of Nicolas Freeling’s bestselling thriller novels of homicide in Holland. The steely-eyed commissaris (inspector) navigates his murder-infested beat in Amsterdam — city of bikes, boats and bodies. The popular original series Van der Valk starred Barry Foster and ran on British television from 1972 to 1992. Now Warren steps into the role, solving baffling crimes in The Netherlands’ prosperous, cosmopolitan and crime-prone capital. Piet lives solo on an old sloop anchored in the harbor, where he wrestles with the painful memory of a lost love. His right-hand woman, Lucienne Hassell (Maimie McCoy, Wallander), too has been thwarted in romance. His colleagues include scruffy sergeant Brad de Vries (Luke Allen-Gale, Dominion) and an eager, brainy new recruit, Job Cloovers (Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Jericho). Van der Valk’s incorruptible but indulgent chief, Julia Dahlman (Emma Fielding, Les Misérables) is recovering from a near-death experience on a previous case, and the team’s virtuoso pathologist Hendrik Davie (Darrell D’Silva, Game of Thrones) immerses himself in Amsterdam’s guilt-free pleasures. Together the squad faces a trio of challenging cases. Funding for Masterpiece is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers, and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust.

Last Tango in Halifax

COURTESY MATT SQUIRE/LOOKOUT POINT

Sundays at 8 p.m. starting September 20 on WETA PBS; stream on the PBS Video App

he popular British drama series Last Tango in Halifax returns for a fourth season, featuring a four-episode series that premieres September 20. The triple BAFTA-winning production reunites its ensemble of Derek Jacobi (Vicious) and Anne Reid (Sanditon), plus Nicola Walker (Unforgotten), Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) and Timothy West (Gentleman Jack). The drama tells the story of love-struck Alan Buttershaw (Jacobi) and Celia Dawson (Reid), who rediscover their love for each other 60 years after they first met. In Series 4, as they enter their seventh year of marriage, Alan and Celia settle into a lovely new home, but they aren’t seeing eye to eye. Clashing politics, Alan’s new job and other distractions create tension in the household. Meanwhile, Celia’s daughter, Caroline (Lancashire), gets emotionally embroiled at work, while up at the farm, Gillian (Walker) faces trouble with a giraffe! Into all this flies Alan’s brother, Ted (West), but he only bought a one-way ticket.

BBC Jane Austen adaptations on WETA Passport

n early September WETA adds three BBC Jane Austen adaptations to the offerings on WETA Passport (which include Sanditon and Northanger Abbey), the member benefit that provides access to a vast archive of programs available for streaming ondemand at weta.org/passport. Among the additions is the popular 1995 production of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (pictured). The Regency romance, full of pace, style, wit and passion, and featuring a screenplay by celebrated writer Andrew Davies, was filmed in the stately mansions of old England. Also available is the 2008 adaptation of Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, starring Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield opposite Dan Stevens, David Morrissey and Dominic Cooper, with a Davies screenplay as well. The six-part 1983 BBC version of Austen’s witty romance Mansfield Park, the first screen adaptation of this tale of virtue and vice, rounds out the new WETA Passport offerings, starring Sylvestra Le Touzel and an ensemble cast.

BBC

Stream Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and more at weta.org/passport

4 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

Islands of Wonder

JOE WEST/SHUTTERSTOCK

Wednesdays September 16, 23 & 30 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on the PBS Video App

visually dazzling three-part miniseries journeys to three of the most exotic, mysterious and remote islands on the planet: Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii. Isolated from the rest of the world, they harbor remarkable wildlife and pioneering human communities found nowhere else on Earth. In Madagascar (September 16), the series spotlights the world’s oldest island, isolated longer than any other place. Life there has had time to evolve in unusual ways, resulting in more unique wildlife than possibly any other island on the planet. Borneo (September 23) explores the world’s third-largest island, which seems like a paradise but features a harsh landscape that makes survival a struggle. Borneo hosts a greater diversity of life than almost any other island. The final episode, Hawaii (September 30), spotlights the globe’s most remote island chain, offering a sanctuary for an extraordinary wealth of wildlife that has reached its tropical shores — from humpback whales to waterfall-climbing fish.

NOVA: Human Nature

Wednesday, September 9 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on the PBS Video App

NED PIYADARAKORN/COURTESY WGBH

cience series NOVA presents a special program that explores the science, history, and ethics of a revolutionary gene-editing technology and its applications. Human Nature follows the story of scientific developments in gene therapy, culminating in humankind’s ability to make precise edits to DNA — including human DNA. The film tells the story of the discovery of CRISPR CAS-9 editing, which has shown early promise as a cure for several debilitating or lethal genetic diseases, but also has the capability of making changes to healthy genes — raising ethical questions about whether we should be altering human DNA at all. NOVA explores the vast implications of this relatively new scientific discovery and the difficult questions it poses. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. Additional funding for Human Nature is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; production support is provided by Sandbox Films, a Simons Foundation initiative.

Arts in September on WETA PBS

WETA Arts airs Sunday, September 13 at 7 p.m., repeating Sept. 19, 21 & 27 Beyond the Canvas airs September 20 at 7:30 p.m. and streams on the PBS Video App

COURTESY LILIAN THOMAS BURWELL

he locally focused WETA PBS magazine-style arts series WETA Arts in September explores creative ways local artists are adapting to the pandemic. WETA Around Town’s Robert Aubry Davis hosts. From Ford’s Theatre, the cast of Guys and Dolls performs the opening number; at Dance Place, the members of Project ChArma innovatively merge dance and video; filmmaker Cintia Cabib showcases two local Black women artists — including Hilda Wilkinson Brown, right — in the documentary Kindred Spirits; and D.C.-based singer Sylver Logan Sharp, formerly of Chic, spreads positive energy with her online series “Feel Better Friday.” On Sunday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. on WETA PBS, tune in to the fourth installment of Beyond the Canvas, which features the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s Canvas arts series. NewsHour senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz hosts the program. The September episode, Making Movie Magic, features Oscar winners and nominees talking about their commitment to their craft. Comedy duo Steve Martin and Martin Short and the creators behind films such as Black Panther and Free Solo share their secrets to success. In additional WETA PBS arts programming this month, tune in for Friday, 9 p.m. Great Performances offerings, which include ballet production Romeo and Juliet on September 11 and the arts series’ ongoing strand Now Hear This, which spotlights the music of classical composer Haydn on September 18 and Schubert on September 25. Also, the series Art in the Local artist Twenty-First Century presents programs on artists in London and Beijing, respectively, on Hilda Wilkinson Brown Fridays, September 18 and 25 at 10 p.m. For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 5

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

Primetime Schedule WETA PBS in September

Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations

Visit weta.org/tv for the most up-to-date schedule information.

8:00

8:30

Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain

9:00

9:30

10:00

10:30

My Music: Red, White and Rock (to 11:30pm)

Tue

Wed

Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show

Thu

ABBA Forever: A Celebration

Fri

Washington Week

Sat

The War, A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Part 6 of 7. The Ghost Front) (December 1944-March 1945)

Sun

WETA Viewer Favorites

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Cleveland, OH (Hour 2 )

Antiques Roadshow: Cleveland, OH (Hour 3 )

POV: Portraits and Dreams

Tue

The Vote: American Experience (Pt 1 of 4)

Frontline: Growing Up Poor

Harbor from the Holocaust

Wed

NOVA: Human Nature

Thu

Lewis, Series 4: Falling Darkness

Fri

Washington Week

Sat

The War, A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Part 7 of 7. A World Without War) (March 1945-December 1945)

Sun

(from 7:30pm) Lucy Worsley’s Royal Palace Secrets

Van der Valk on Masterpiece (Pt 1 of 3. Love in Amsterdam)

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Fort Worth, TX (Hour 1)

Antiques Roadshow: Fort Worth, TX (Hour 2)

POV: Love Child (to 11:30pm)

Tue

The Vote: American Experience (Pt 2 of 4)

Frontline: Policing the Police

Building the American Dream

Wed

Islands of Wonder: Madagascar

NOVA: Secret Mind of Slime

Hacking Your Mind (Ep 2 of 4. Weapons of Influence)

Thu

Lewis, Series 5: Wild Justice

Fri

Washington Week

Sat

The Vietnam War, A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Part 1 of 10. Déjà Vu) (1858-1961)

Sun

Last Tango in Halifax, Series 4 (Pt 1 of 4)

Van der Valk on Masterpiece (Pt 2 of 3. Only in Amsterdam)

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Celebrating Latino Heritage

Antiques Roadshow Recut

Tue

The Vote: American Experience (Pt 3 of 4)

Frontline: The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden

Wed

Islands of Wonder: Borneo

NOVA: A to Z: The First Alphabet

Thu

Lewis, Series 5: The Gift of Promise

Fri

Washington Week

Sat

The Vietnam War, A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Part 3 of 10. The River Styx) (January 1964-December 1965)

Sun

Last Tango in Halifax, Series 4 (Pt 2 of 4)

Van der Valk on Masterpiece (Pt 3 of 3. Death in Amsterdam)

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Fort Worth, TX (Hour 3)

Antiques Roadshow: Indianapolis, IN (Hour 1)

Tue

The Vote: American Experience (Pt 4 of 4)

PBS NewsHour Debates 2020: Presidential Debate

Wed

Islands of Wonder: Hawaii

NOVA: A to Z: How Writing Changed the World

8:00

Suze Orman’s Ultimate Retirement Guide (to 12m) Deepak Chopra: Becoming MetaHuman (to 11:30pm)

History with David Rubenstein (Marie Arana)

Ric Edelman: 10 Investing Questions That Matter Today

Hacking Your Mind (Ep 1 of 4. Living on Auto-Pilot)

History with David Rubenstein (Cokie Roberts)

Lewis, Series 5: Old, Unhappy Far-Off Things Great Performances: Romeo and Juliet Enemy of the Reich: Noor Inayat Khan (to 11:30pm)

Lewis, Series 5: The Mind Has Mountains

History with David Rubenstein (Michael Beschloss)

History with David Rubenstein (Doris Kearns Goodwin)

Great Performances: Now Hear This, Series 2: Haydn: King of Strings

Art in the Twenty-First Century: London

The Vietnam War, A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Part 2 of 10. Riding the Tiger) (1961-1963)

WETA Arts

POV: In My Blood It Runs

Hacking Your Mind (Ep 3 of 4. Us vs. Them)

Lewis, Series 6: The Soul of Genius Great Performances: Now Hear This, Series 2: The Schubert Generation

8:30

PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.

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WETA Viewer Favorites

9:00

Art in the Twenty-First Century: Beijing The People’s Protectors (to 11pm) & Voces on PBS: The Pushouts (to 12m)

9:30

POV: Our Time Machine (to 11:30pm)

Hacking Your Mind (Ep 4 of 4. The Wings of Angels)

10:00

10:30

Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).

8/18/20 1:35 PM

TV Listings WETA PBS in September

Listings are accurate as of press time. For late-breaking program updates, visit weta.org/tv or call 703-998-2724. WETA PBS is devoted to children’s educational programming 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA PBS Kids channel. See page 15 for schedule information. Program Key Blue type — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. R — Aired within the month.

Friday, September 4 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS Ric Edelman: 10 Investing Questions That Matter Today features the acclaimed financial advisor exploring strategies for lessening risks to financial security from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

2 Wednesday

WETA Television

WEEKDAYS IN SEPTEMBER : 6AM NHK NEWSLINE + 6:30AM BBC WORLD NEWS 7AM (Mondays:) PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 7:30 (Mondays:) WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7AM (Tuesdays-Saturdays:) PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING — WETA PBS Kids programming for pre-K to elementary school grades. 3PM-5PM SCIENCE, HISTORY & ARTS PROGRAMMING — Also see the WETA World channel for middle- and high-school at-home learning from noon to 5 p.m. 5PM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeat of previous night 6PM BBC NEWS — BBC World News Outside Source (6pm, Mon-Thur); BBC World News Today (6pm, Fri); BBC World News America (6:30pm, Mon-Fri) 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — WETA production PBS NewsHour provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live interviews and discussions of domestic and international issues. Judy Woodruff anchors. Visit pbs.org/newshour. Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 VERNON JORDAN: MAKE IT PLAIN — WETA presents a new documentary from filmmaker Dawn Porter (John Lewis: Good Trouble) that explores the life of Vernon Jordan Jr., an influential champion of social justice who ascended from a childhood spent in the country’s first African American housing project to prominent positions of power and influence in the NAACP, Urban League, and several presidential administrations — all while maintaining his focus on the fight for civil rights and Black economic advancement. 9:00 MY MUSIC: RED, WHITE AND ROCK — Join Frankie Valli, The Righteous Brothers, Connie Francis and others for a 2002 patriotic celebration of America and pop oldies music. The performance features a dream lineup of artists from the rock, pop and doo-wop days of the late 1950s and early to mid-’60s. 11:30 CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — The psychiatrist and brain image researcher offers tips for feeling happier, sharper and more in control. Amen also discusses strategies for contending with anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, memory issues and more. Repeats Fri 9/4, 11pm 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Christiane Amanpour leads conversations with global thought leaders on contemporary issues. Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

COURTESY RIC EDELMAN

1 Tuesday

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 RIVERDANCE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW — Celebrate the magic in this powerful and stirring reinvention of the groundbreaking dance show. Catapulting Riverdance into the 21st century, this new cinematic experience features the extraordinary energy and passion of Irish music and dance. Repeats Thur 9/3, 3pm 10:00 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — Join the acclaimed personal finance expert for essential advice on planning for and thriving in retirement. With empathy, straight talk and humor, Orman provides information about key actions. Topics include when to retire, how to save and invest for retirement, Social Security strategy, long-term care insurance and much more. 12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — You have a choice in how you age and whether you remain mobile, healthy and pain-free throughout life. Former ballerina Miranda EsmondeWhite presents a six-point plan for keeping one’s mind sharp and body active using gentle daily movement. 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

COURTESY TYRONE PRODUCTIONS

3 Thursday

Wednesday, September 2 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show celebrates the popular dance act, showcasing the energy and passion of Irish music and dance.

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ABBA FOREVER: A CELEBRATION — Celebrate Sweden’s pop music supergroup with Neil Sedaka, Donny Osmond, Tim Rice and the band members themselves. Featuring a greatest hits soundtrack including “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia!,” the program includes original interviews and rare archival footage. 9:30 DEEPAK CHOPRA: BECOMING METAHUMAN — Become happier, more joyful and energetic with a simple threestep process that unlocks the secrets of moving beyond our limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. The program includes interviews with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Martha Beck and others. Repeats Fri 9/4, 3pm

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 7

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6 Sunday

GEICH, GERMANY, DEC. 11, 1944; NATIONAL ARCHIVES

6AM-6PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

7 Monday

WETA Television

Saturdays, September 5 & 12 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS World War II documentary The War, by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, continues Saturdays on American History Night on WETA PBS.

11:30 MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE — Actor Michael Keaton hosts a celebration of Fred Rogers’ beloved children’s series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which premiered more than 50 years ago and became a landmark in children’s television. 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

4 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 9/5, 6am; Mon 9/7, 7:30am 8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — In this WETA presentation, Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews some of America’s top scholars and writers to illuminate how history is made. Episode 10 of 10. Marie Arana, author. 9:00 RIC EDELMAN: 10 INVESTING QUESTIONS THAT MATTER TODAY — COVID-19 is posing threats to your financial security. Join acclaimed financial advisor Ric Edelman and answer his 10 crucial questions to help you determine whether or not your investments are at risk. Learn his three-step investment strategy to help you during this crisis. 11:00 CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

5 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-6PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30PM-8PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 8:00 THE WAR — A documentary series co-produced by Florentine Films and WETA, and directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the Second World War from the perspective of ordinary Americans. Part 6 of 7. The Ghost Front (December 1944-March 1945). By December 1944, Americans have become weary of the war. In the Pacific, progress has been slow and costly. In Europe, Hitler’s massive counterattack in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxemburg begins the Battle of the Bulge. The Allies begin massive bombing raids on Germany; but before similar raids can begin on Japan, the air strip on Iwo Jima must be taken. By spring 1945, the end of the war in Europe seems near as American troops pour into central Germany and the Russians approach Berlin. Stream the series via WETA Passport. 10PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

8 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE VOTE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Meet the unsung heroes of the movement and relive the fiery, dramatic and unrelenting campaign that led to passage of the 19th Amendment, granting American women the vote and ushering in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. Part 1 of 4. Learn about the first generation of leaders in the decades-long battle to win the vote for women. In the 19th century, a time women had few legal rights, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton galvanized thousands to demand equal citizenship. 9:00 FRONTLINE: GROWING UP POOR — Frontline spotlights the experience of child poverty against the backdrop of the pandemic and increasing racial tensions. The program follows Ohio children and their families navigating issues of poverty, homelessness, race and new challenges due to COVID-19. 10:00 HARBOR FROM THE HOLOCAUST — In a Holocaust story of hope, 20,000 Jews find refuge in Shanghai during World War II. The film explores the relationship between the refugees and their host city and spotlights the survivors who carried on the traditions that would have been consigned to oblivion. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

9 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NOVA: HUMAN NATURE — Our DNA can determine attributes from eye color to medical predispositions. An

COURTESY MEREDITH NIERMAN FOR WGBH, ©WGBH 2018

THE WAR A FILM BY KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK A WETA CO-PRODUCTION

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: CLEVELAND, OH — Hour 2. Learn about items such as an Ohio salt-glazed figural stoneware match stand, an 1863 Civil War grave marker group, and a 1964 Manoucher Yektai oil painting. Which find is valued at $65,000? 9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: CLEVELAND, OH — Hour 3. See outstanding vintage finds like a “Big Bronco” coinoperated horse made around 1952, a Bill Watterson archive circa 1975, and a Tiffany & Co. pendant watch necklace. Can you guess the $40,000-$60,000 treasure? 10:00 POV: PORTRAITS AND DREAMS — A film revisits photographs created by Kentucky school children in the 1970s and the place where their photos were made. Photographer and artist Wendy Ewald, who guided the students in making their images, returns to learn how the lives and visions of her former students have changed. The film is about the students, their work as photographers and the lives they have led since, as well as the linkage of personal memory to the passage of time. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

Mondays at 8 & 9 p.m. on WETA PBS Antiques Roadshow features more tales of heirlooms, flea-market finds and attic items in double features on Monday nights. Above, an appraiser discusses an Ángel Botello bronze sculpture in New York.

8 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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7AM 8AM 8:30 9AM

COURTESY EKIN AKALIN

10AM 11AM 11:30 12N 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:00

Wednesdays at 10 p.m. starting September 9 on WETA PBS Four-part miniseries Hacking Your Mind explores why it’s easy for politicians, marketers and social media companies to influence you, and how to hack your own mind to improve your life and others’.

8:00

10 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 LEWIS, SERIES 4: FALLING DARKNESS — Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis (Kevin Whately) cracks cases in Oxford with his sharp young sidekick, DS Hathaway (Laurence Fox). Falling Darkness. When two murders share a link with their own Dr. Hobson (Clare Holman), Lewis and Hathaway try to clear her name by unraveling the truth from a tangle of complicated events. Rupert Graves guest-stars. 9:30 LEWIS, SERIES 5: OLD, UNHAPPY, FAR-OFF THINGS — A reunion at Oxford’s remaining all-female college ends with the murder of a prominent student, a tragedy that may be connected to a decade-old case. Lewis and Hathaway investigate. Juliet Stevenson guest-stars. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

10:30

11 Friday

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12 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R

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ITV

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 9/12, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 9/14, 7:30am 8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — In this WETA presentation, Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews some of America’s top scholars and writers to illuminate how history is made. Episode 1 of 10. Cokie Roberts, Emmy Award-winning political commentator and author. Repeats Sun 9/13, 6:30pm 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: ROMEO AND JULIET — Experience Shakespeare’s classic as a ballet from choreographer Kenneth MacMillan — performed by dancers from The Royal Ballet, set to a score by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, and filmed on atmospheric sets and locations throughout Budapest. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

WETA Television

extraordinary technology called CRISPR allows us to edit human DNA, possibly eliminating genetic diseases or choosing our children’s features. But how far should we go? 10:00 HACKING YOUR MIND — Discover why it’s easy for politicians, marketers and social media companies to hack your mind, and find out how to hack your own mind to improve your life and the lives of your family and friends. Episode 1 of 4. Living on Auto-Pilot. Take a trip around the world to discover how you go through life on auto-pilot, and get an auto-pilot owner’s manual. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

PBS NEWSHOUR — R JOSEPH ROSENDO’S TRAVELSCOPE RICK STEVES’ EUROPE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW — Repeat of Monday 8 p.m. program ANTIQUES ROADSHOW RECUT — (two episodes) A CHEF’S LIFE JACQUES PÉPIN: HEART & SOUL YAN CAN COOK: SPICE KINGDOM CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION NICK STELLINO: STORYTELLER LIDIA’S KITCHEN IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS MARTHA BAKES — (two episodes) COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN — NEW SHOWS! Season 13 begins, featuring new episodes. AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE SAMANTHA BROWN’S PLACES TO LOVE PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND WASHINGTON WEEK — R SECRETS OF THE DEAD: BEN FRANKLIN’S BONES — When skeletal remains of at least 10 people, including several infants, turned up in the basement of Benjamin Franklin’s British residence, people wondered if the Founding Father might have had a much darker side. Franklin was aware of the bodies in his basement, but they weren’t the victims of violent acts. Rather, they were used for the purposes of an illegal anatomy school that helped shape modern medicine. Repeats Sun 9/13, 11pm THE WAR — A documentary series co-produced by Florentine Films and WETA, and directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the Second World War from the perspective of ordinary Americans. Part 7 of 7. A World Without War (March 1945-December 1945). In the Pacific, the battle for Okinawa — the gateway to Japan — proves to be a horror. In mid-April, Americans are shocked by FDR’s death. Meanwhile, as Allied forces push across Germany, troops discover the concentration camps. Finally, on May 8, Germany surrenders. The campaign across the Pacific continues, and in early August 1945, American planes drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of Japanese. The rulers of Japan decide at last to concede defeat. The cataclysm comes to an end and American troops begin to return home. Repeats tonight; stream the series via WETA Passport ENEMY OF THE REICH: THE NOOR INAYAT KHAN STORY — A documentary film illuminates a British agent’s extraordinary courage, tested in the crucible of Nazioccupied Paris, working with the French underground. With an American mother and Indian Sufi father, Noor Inayat Khan was an unusual agent; her life spent growing up in a Sufi spiritual center in Paris seemed an unlikely preparation for the dangerous work to come. Yet it was in this place of peace and contemplation that her courage was forged. WETA ARTS — See the Sunday, September 13, 7 p.m. listing. THE WAR — Part 7 of 7. A World Without War (March 1945-December 1945). R

Thursdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Popular detective drama Lewis continues in “Thriller Thursdays” double features, starring Kevin Whately (left) and Laurence Fox.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 9

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COURTESY TOM HAYWARD

WETA Television

6AM-9AM WETA KIDS — Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood/Dinosaur Train/Sesame Street/Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood/ Pinkalicious & Peterrific/Molly of Denali 9AM WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE 9:30 TO THE CONTRARY WITH BONNIE ERBE 10AM THIS IS AMERICA AND THE WORLD WITH DENNIS WHOLEY 10:30 THE OPEN MIND 11AM FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — Repeats Saturdays, 6:30am 11:30 TO DINE FOR WITH KATE SULLIVAN 12N THE WETA MOVIE: POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE — In Mike Nichols’ 1990 comedic drama, adapted from Carrie Fisher’s book, a substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment. Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid star. Gene Hackman, Rob Reiner, Annette Bening and Richard Dreyfuss are also among the cast. 2:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: MARIA STUARDA — Joyce DiDonato starred as Mary, Queen of Scots in this production of Gaetano Donizetti’s dramatic historical opera. South African soprano Elza van den Heever made her Met debut as Mary’s rival, the formidable Queen Elizabeth I, and Matthew Polenzani sang Leicester, the nobleman caught between the dueling monarchs. Maurizio Benini conducted a cast that also included Matthew Rose as Talbot, Mary’s jailer, and Joshua Hopkins as Elizabeth’s advisor Cecil. The production was by David McVicar; Soprano Deborah Voigt hosted and conducted backstage interviews with the stars. 4:30 REEL SOUTH, SERIES 4 — Valerie June hosts a documentary series that reckons with the American South’s past, present and future. Episode 1. Two Trains Runnin’. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a band of blues hounds traveled to the Deep South to find two forgotten blues singers. There were few clues to their whereabouts and it was uncertain if they were even still alive — and Mississippi, that summer, was a tense and violent place. Featuring music from Gary Clark Jr., Lucinda Williams and others. 5:30 REEL SOUTH, SERIES 4 — Valerie June hosts a documentary series that reckons with the American South’s past, present and future. Episode 2. A Texas Myth. The Glover family invites an indigenous activist group to start a protest camp on their land in West Texas. Roughly 20 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico Border, the Two Rivers camp sets out to fight the same company that built the pipeline at Standing Rock. As more oil and gas projects threaten the region, their struggle reveals much about the colonial legacy of Texas and the price of activism. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — Episode 1 of 10. Cokie Roberts, Emmy Award-winning political commentator and author. R 7:00 WETA ARTS — The locally focused WETA magazinestyle arts series in September explores creative ways local artists are adapting to the pandemic. WETA Around

COURTESY ©COMPANY PICTURES & ALL3MEDIA INTL.

13 Sunday

Sundays, September 13, 20 & 27 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS Three-part drama Van der Valk on Masterpiece stars Marc Warren as a police detective who solves baffling crimes in modern Amsterdam.

7:30

9:00

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Town’s Robert Aubry Davis hosts. From Ford’s Theatre, the cast of Guys and Dolls performs the opening number; at Dance Place, the members of Project ChArma innovatively merge dance and video; filmmaker Cintia Cabib showcases two local Black women artists in her documentary Kindred Spirits; and D.C.-based singer Sylver Logan Sharp, formerly of Chic, spreads positive energy with her online series “Feel Better Friday.” Repeats Sat 9/19, 11pm; Mon 9/21, 9:30pm; Sun 9/27, 7:30pm LUCY WORSLEY’S ROYAL PALACE SECRETS — Take an exclusive tour of London’s most extraordinary palaces. From the forbidding Tower of London to glorious Hampton Court to treasure-filled Kensington Palace, historian Lucy Worsley goes behind the velvet ropes into each building’s most secret places. VAN DER VALK ON MASTERPIECE — Brilliant but cynical commissaris Piet van der Valk solves baffling crimes in 21st-century Amsterdam, which is more prosperous, cosmopolitan and crime-prone than ever. Marc Warren (Beecham House, The Good Wife) stars as the title character in the drama based on Nicolas Freeling’s crime thrillers. Part 1 of 3. Love in Amsterdam. Art, politics and passion mix in a case that breaks in Piet’s new assistant, Cloovers, and also prompts discord with police chief Dahlman. A bitter political campaign counts down to a fateful election. SECRETS OF THE DEAD: BEN FRANKLIN’S BONES — R AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

14 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: FORT WORTH, TX — Hour 1. See treasures like a rock ’n’ roll poster collection from around 1968, a Delaware Tribe beaded baldric and an Auguste Rodin “Eternal Spring” bronze that could have the highest value of the season. But is it authentic? 9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: FORT WORTH, TX — Hour 2. Discover Fort Worth’s hidden treasures, including a Felipe Orlando abstract oil circa 1980, a German baroque lockbox from around 1625, and a Green Bay Packers championship group circa 1965. Can you guess which is valued at $75,000-$200,000? 10:00 POV: LOVE CHILD — With adultery punishable by death in Iran, a young couple makes the fateful decision to flee the country with their son. Follow the intimate love story about an illicitly formed family on a journey to plead asylum and start a new life someplace safe. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

15 Tuesday Sunday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. on WETA PBS Lucy Worsley’s Royal Palace Secrets follows the royal historian on an exclusive tour of London’s most extraordinary palaces, from the Tower of London to Hampton Court and Kensington Palace.

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE VOTE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 2 of 4. Explore the strategies used by a new generation of leaders determined to win the vote for women. Internal debates over radical tactics and the place of African American women in the movement shaped the battle in the crucial period from 1906 to 1915.

10 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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MEKONG DELTA, 1963; RENE BURRI/MAGNUM PHOTOS

9:00 FRONTLINE: POLICING THE POLICE — Frontline investigates race, policing, and the struggle to hold police departments accountable. In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb examines prospects for reform, and returns to the case of one troubled department he first visited in 2016. 10:00 BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM — Travel to Texas, where immigrant construction workers are seeking justice and equality in an industry rife with exploitation. Across the state, there’s an unprecedented building boom, fueled by Latino laborers with few or no rights. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

16 Wednesday

17 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 LEWIS, SERIES 5: WILD JUSTICE — Lewis and Hathaway are called in to investigate the poisoning of a bishop, who they suspect was murdered for her progressive views. As their investigation continues, they uncover a twisted maze of motives and retribution. 9:30 LEWIS, SERIES 5: THE MIND HAS MOUNTAINS — When a student is found dead during a clinical drug trial, the motives of an enigmatic professor are questioned. Then a second death occurs, and Lewis and Hathaway must act fast to prevent more tragedies. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

18 Friday

COURTESY NOKURO/SHUTTERSTOCK

Wednesdays, September 16, 23 & 30 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Three-part miniseries Islands of Wonder visits three of the most exotic, remote islands on the planet — Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii — spotlighting their denizens. Above: Boheydulang Island.

THE VIETNAM WAR A FILM BY KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK A WETA CO-PRODUCTION Saturdays at 8 p.m. starting September 19 on WETA PBS The Vietnam War, a landmark 10-part film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that explores the epic story of the divisive conflict, begins airing on American History Night, Saturday evenings on WETA PBS.

8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — In this WETA presentation, Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews some of America’s top scholars and writers to illuminate how history is made. Episode 2 of 10. Michael Beschloss, presidential scholar and New York Times-bestselling author. Repeats Sun 9/20, 6:30pm 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS, SERIES 2: HAYDN: KING OF STRINGS — Explore the work of famed composer Joseph Haydn’s career with host Scott Yoo and featured guest artists as he discovers how Haydn borrowed folk music from Scotland, Hungary and Austria to create his famous “Emperor Quartet.” 10:00 ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY — Meet artists and one artist collective behind some of the most significant artwork of the 21st century. These creators respond to the places they live and work. London. See how British history and modern upheaval collide in the works of today’s London artists. Their art rethinks the past, subverts tradition, and is as layered, diverse and dynamic as the centuries-old city in which they live. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

WETA Television

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ISLANDS OF WONDER: MADAGASCAR — A miniseries spotlights three of the most exotic, mysterious and remote islands on the planet: Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii. They harbor remarkable wildlife and pioneering human communities found nowhere else on Earth. Episode 1 of 3. Madagascar. The oldest island on Earth, Madagascar has been isolated longer than any other place in the world. Life there has had time to evolve in strange and unique ways, resulting in unique wildlife. 9:00 NOVA: SECRET MIND OF SLIME — Scientists investigate the bizarre “intelligence” of slime molds, which appear to learn and make decisions — without a brain. These single-celled blobs can navigate mazes and create efficient networks. Can they redefine cognition? 10:00 HACKING YOUR MIND — Discover how others hack your mind, and learn how to defend yourself and fight back. Episode 2 of 4. Weapons of Influence. See how politicians, social media companies and corporate marketers use big data to hack your auto-pilot decision-making system, and learn how to defend yourself. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

19 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-6PM See the Saturday, September 12 listings. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: WOMAN IN THE IRON COFFIN — Follow a team of forensic experts as they investigate the preserved remains of a young African American woman from 19th-century New York and reveal the little-known story of early America’s free Black communities. Repeats tonight; Sun 9/20, 11pm 8:00 THE VIETNAM WAR — Filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War. The 10-part 2017 series, a co-production of WETA and Florentine Films, features testimony from nearly 80 witnesses, American and Vietnamese, bringing the war and its chaotic epoch viscerally to life. Part 1 of 10. Déjà Vu (1858-1961). After a long and brutal war, revolutionaries led by Ho Chi Minh end nearly a century of French colonial rule. With the Cold War intensifying, Vietnam is divided: communists hold the North, while America supports an untested regime in the South. Repeats tonight; stream the series via WETA Passport 9:30 THE VIETNAM WAR — Part 2 of 10. Riding the Tiger (19611963). President Kennedy and his advisors wrestle with how deeply to get involved in South Vietnam. As the increasingly autocratic Diem regime faces a growing communist insurgency and widespread Buddhist protests, a grave political crisis unfolds. Repeats tonight; stream the series via WETA Passport 11:00 WETA ARTS — See the September 13, 7 p.m. listing. 11:30 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: WOMAN IN THE IRON COFFIN —R

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 11

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12:30AM THE VIETNAM WAR — Parts 1 & 2 of 10. Déjà Vu (1858-1961)/Riding the Tiger (1961-1963). R

JON LEWIS/UNITED FARM WORKER MOVEMENT, BEINECKE LIBRARY, YALE

20 Sunday

César Chávez, featured in the WETA film Latino Americans

Hispanic Heritage Month

WETA Television

Visit weta.org/HispanicHeritage for details. September Programs on WETA PBS Building the American Dream Tue 9/15, 10pm Latino Americans Pts 1-3 Sun 9/20, 2-5pm Antiques Roadshow: Celebrating Latino Heritage Mon 9/21, 8pm Voces on PBS: The Pushouts Sat 9/26, 11pm Latino Americans Pts 4-6 Sun 9/27, 1:30-4:30pm Reel South: Fiesta! Quinceañera Sun 9/20, 5pm September Programs on WETA World Latino Americans Pts 1-4, 9/7-10, 4pm Latino Americans Pts 5-6, 9/14-9/15, 4pm America ReFramed: Farewell Ferris Wheel Tue 9/8, 8pm America ReFramed: The Unafraid Tues 9/15, 8pm Reel South: Santuario Tue 9/15, 9:30pm Willie Velasquez: Your Voice Is Your Vote Fri 9/18, 8pm Building the American Dream Fri 9/18, 9pm Raúl Juliá: American Masters Sat 9/19, 8pm Salsa! The Dance Sensation Sat 9/19, 9:30pm Voces on PBS: The Pushouts Sun 9/20, 9pm Doc World: Siqueiros: Walls of Passion Sun 9/20, 10pm Ivy League Rhumba Sun 9/20, 11pm Latino Americans Pts 1 & 2 Mon 9/21, 7-9pm America ReFramed: The Hand That Feeds Tue 9/22, 8pm Our American Family: The Barreras Tue 9/22, 9:30pm Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo Fri 9/25, 9pm Voces on PBS: Children of Giant Sat 9/26, 8pm Compadre Huashayo Sat 9/26, 9:30pm Voces on PBS: Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno Sun 9/27, 9pm Doc World: Sands of Silence Sun 9/27, 10pm P.O.V. Shorts: Cherish Sun 9/27, 11:30pm Latino Americans Pts 3 & 4 Mon 9/28, 7-9pm Home Truth Tue 9/29, 7pm America ReFramed: Councilwoman Tue 9/29, 8pm Reel South: Fiesta Quinceañera Tue 9/29, 9pm P.O.V.: America Wed 9/30, 7:30pm

6AM-12M See the Sunday, September 13 listings. 12N THE WETA MOVIE: BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE — In Stephen Herek’s 1989 comedy, two seemingly vapid high school buddies set off on a quest to prepare the ultimate historical presentation with the help of a time machine. Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin star. 2:00 LATINO AMERICANS — A Peabody Award-winning, landmark six-hour production of WETA; Bosch and Co., Inc.; and Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB); in association with Independent Television Service (ITVS) chronicles the rich and varied history of Latinos in the United States. Actor Benjamin Bratt narrates. Part 1 of 6. Foreigners in Their Own Land. The series surveys Latino history from 15651880 as the first Spanish explorers enter North America, as the U.S. expands into territories in the Southwest that had been home to Native Americans and English and Spanish colonies, and as the Mexican-American War strips Mexico of half its territories by 1848. 3:00 LATINO AMERICANS — Part 2 of 6. Empire of Dreams. The American population is reshaped by Latino immigration starting in 1880 and continuing into the 1940s as Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans begin arriving in the U.S. and build communities in South Florida, Los Angeles and New York. 4:00 LATINO AMERICANS — Part 3 of 6. War and Peace. During the World War II years and those that follow, Latino Americans serve their new country by the hundreds of thousands — yet still face discrimination and a fight for civil rights in the United States. Continues 9/27. 5:00 REEL SOUTH, SERIES 4 — Valerie June hosts a documentary series that reckons with the American South’s past, present and future. Episode 3. Fiesta! Quinceañera. Life for a Latinx immigrant family in the New South can be challenging and sometimes terrifying, but there’s often a fiesta to take you through the night. Three Latina girls and a seasoned drag artist host their own quinceañera, a complex and colorful rite of passage. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — Episode 2 of 10. Michael Beschloss, presidential scholar and New York Times-bestselling author. R 7:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW RECUT 7:30 BEYOND THE CANVAS — A program features the best arts and culture reporting from WETA production PBS NewsHour’s Canvas arts series. NewsHour senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz hosts. Part 4 of 4. Making Movie Magic. On this Oscar Awards edition, NewsHour segments feature winners and nominees talking about their commitment to their craft. Comedy duo Steve Martin and Martin Short, and the creators behind films such as Black Panther and Free Solo, share their secrets to success. 8:00 LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX, SERIES 4 — In the drama’s new season, after seven years of marriage, Alan and Celia discover that wedded bliss isn’t always blissful. Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid star. Part 1 of 4. Alan and Celia increasingly don’t see eye to eye. Alan’s brother, Ted, plans to visit from New Zealand. Tempers fray when money becomes the topic of conversation at Caroline and Gillian’s birthday celebration. 9:00 VAN DER VALK ON MASTERPIECE — Marc Warren stars as a Dutch detective. Part 2 of 3. Only in Amsterdam. A Muslim worker at an addiction clinic is found dead with a symbolic stab wound. Evidence connects her to a rare books library and a Catholic nun. As investigators dig deeper, they enter a world of mysticism, alchemy and the occult. 11:00 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: WOMAN IN THE IRON COFFIN 12M AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

21 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: CELEBRATING LATINO HERITAGE — Discover items with connections to Latin American history and culture, including a treasure with an updated appraisal of as much as $2.2 million, now the highest-valued item in the entire Roadshow archive. 9:00 ANTIQUES SHOW RECUT 9:30 WETA ARTS — See the September 13, 7 p.m. listing.

12 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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10:00 POV: IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS — Peek into the life of Dujuan, a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy growing up in Alice Springs, Australia. The youth is a child-healer and a good hunter and speaks three languages. But he is failing in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare authorities and the police. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE VOTE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 3 of 4. Discover how the pervasive racism of the time, particularly in the South, impacted women’s fight for the vote during the final years of the campaign. Stung by a series of defeats in 1915, the suffragists concentrated on passing a federal amendment. 9:00 FRONTLINE: THE CHOICE 2020: TRUMP VS. BIDEN — In the midst of an historic pandemic, surging unemployment and growing economic uncertainty, American voters will head to the polls this fall to decide whether President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden will lead the country for the next four years. Frontline presents a journalistic investigation of the life stories of the two presidential candidates: the roots of their drive to be president, the moments that shaped them, and the life method that has brought them to this point. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

23 Wednesday

24 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 LEWIS, SERIES 5: THE GIFT OF PROMISE — In the mystery series, during an investigation of a brutal bludgeoning, what seems to be a blackmail plot gone wrong turns into a case much darker and more sinister. Lewis and Hathaway tackle the case. 9:30 LEWIS, SERIES 6: THE SOUL OF GENIUS — When the body of an Oxford English professor is discovered ritually buried, Lewis and Hathaway are set upon a seemingly impossible quest to uncover the truth. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

25 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 9/26, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 9/28, 7:30am

Sundays at 8 p.m. starting September 20 on WETA PBS A new season of British drama Last Tango in Halifax (Series 4) stars (at center) Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi as sweethearts married late in life. In the new episodes, they contend with marital strife.

8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — In this WETA presentation, Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews some of America’s top scholars and writers to illuminate how history is made. Episode 3 of 10. Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential scholar and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Repeats Sun 9/27, 6:30pm 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS, SERIES 2: THE SCHUBERT GENERATION — Celebrate the work of Franz Schubert with host Scott Yoo as he performs with young musicians who are establishing themselves in North America’s musical capitals by attempting to master the composer’s music. 10:00 ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY — Hear the thoughts and inspirations of some of this century’s most significant artists. Beijing. Witness the maturing of this unique contemporary-art hub and meet the artists who call it home. Beijing’s recent economic boom makes it fertile ground for art, and artists have responded to its relentless evolution with urgency and ambition. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

WETA Television

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ISLANDS OF WONDER: BORNEO — Episode 2 of 3. Borneo, the third largest island on Earth, may seem like a paradise, but its harsh landscape makes survival a struggle. The island hosts a greater diversity of life than almost any other island. 9:00 NOVA: A TO Z: THE FIRST ALPHABET — Writing shaped civilization itself, from the trading of goods to tales of ancient goddesses and kings. Follow the evolution of the written word, from millennia-old carvings to our modern-day alphabets. 10:00 HACKING YOUR MIND — Discover how others hack your mind, and learn how to defend yourself and fight back. Episode 3 of 4. Us vs. Them. Discover how the auto-pilot biases we all experience fuel our nation’s divisions, see how authoritarians can hack them, and find out how to overcome them. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

COURTESY MATT SQUIRE

22 Tuesday

26 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-6PM See the Saturday, September 12 listings. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: THE NERO FILES — Take a closer look at the life and legend of Nero, the infamous Roman emperor, as a forensics profiler attempts to find out what history may have gotten wrong about his alleged tyranny. Repeats tonight; Sun 9/27, 11pm 8:00 THE VIETNAM WAR — Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War in a series co-produced by WETA and Florentine Films. Part 3 of 10. The River Styx (January 1964-December 1965). With South Vietnam in chaos, Hanoi accelerates the insurgency, sending combat troops to the South. Fearing Saigon’s collapse, President Johnson escalates, authorizing sustained bombing of the North and deploying U.S. ground troops in the South. Repeats tonight; stream the series via WETA Passport 10:00 THE PEOPLE’S PROTECTORS — Four Native American veterans reflect on their experiences in the military during the divisive Vietnam War and how their communities helped them carry their warrior legacy proudly. Representing the Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, the veterans recall their memories of one of the

WETA Magazine is published monthly by the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association for its members. Three dollars of each member’s dues are designated for its subscription. WETA occasionally exchanges member names with other organizations. If you wish that your name not be exchanged, please call Audience Services at 703-998-2724. ©2020 by Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA 22210 and additional offices. Send address changes to WETA, 3939 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia 22206. Volume 33, Number 9. ISSN No. 1041-2700. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Publisher Mary Stewart Editor Jeff Giese Design MANIFEST LLC Editorial and Advertising Offices 3939 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA 22206

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most controversial wars in United States history. Even as they struggled with their relationship to the United States government, the Dakota, Lakota, and Ojibwe warriors felt compelled to honor their duty to their people as protectors. 11:00 VOCES ON PBS: THE PUSHOUTS — Meet Victor Rios, a high school dropout and former gang member-turnedaward-winning professor, author and expert on the school-to-prison pipeline, who works with young people who have been “pushed out” of school for reasons beyond their control. 12M SECRETS OF THE DEAD: THE NERO FILES — R 1AM THE VIETNAM WAR — Part 3 of 10. The River Styx (January 1964-December 1965). R

27 Sunday

WETA Television

6AM-12M See the Sunday, September 13 listings. 12N THE WETA MOVIE: BRIAN’S SONG — Buzz Kulik’s 1971 drama, based on the real-life friendship between Chicago Bears football teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, follows the relationship between the players, one white, one black, and the bond established when Piccolo discovers he is dying. James Caan, Billy Dee Williams and Jack Warden star. 1:30 LATINO AMERICANS — A Peabody Award-winning WETA co-production chronicles the rich and varied history of Latinos. Part 4 of 6. The New Latinos. In the decades after World War II through the early 1960s, increasing numbers of immigrants from Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic seek economic opportunities in the United States. 2:30 LATINO AMERICANS — Part 5 of 6. Prejudice and Pride. A proud “Chicano” identity is created as labor leaders organize farm workers in California, and as activists push for better educational opportunities for Latinos, the inclusion of Latino studies in curricula, and empowerment in the political process. 3:30 LATINO AMERICANS — Part 6 of 6. Peril and Promise. During the past 30 years, Cubans, Salvadorans, Nicaraguans and Guatemalans flee to the U.S., creating a debate over undocumented immigrants that leads to calls for tightened borders, English-only laws, and efforts to brand the undocumented as a drain on public resources. Simultaneously, the Latino influence booms and Latino Americans become the largest and youngest growing sector of the American population. 4:30 REEL SOUTH, SERIES 4 — Valerie June hosts a documentary series that reckons with the American South’s past, present and future. Episode 4. Gimme a Faith. Thousands of Chinese students arrive in the United States each year, often confronting loneliness and culture-clash upon arrival. Arriving in North Carolina to study filmmaking, Hao Zhang is surprised to find a unique community of Chinese students, connected by a newly discovered evangelical Christianity that is often at stark odds with their communist roots in China. 5:30 REEL SOUTH, SERIES 4 — Valerie June hosts a documentary series that reckons with the American South’s

6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00

9:00

11:00 12M

past, present and future. Episode 5. Santuario. After 25 years of living in the United States, Guatemalan grandmother Juana Ortega is threatened with deportation and soon takes sanctuary in a small North Carolina church. As time passes, and state lawmakers continue to ignore the family’s pleas for a stay on her deportation, Juana’s spirits slowly sink. And yet, Juana is patient, believing that in God’s house, God will answer her prayers. PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN — Episode 3 of 10. Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential scholar and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. R ANTIQUES ROADSHOW RECUT WETA ARTS — R LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX, SERIES 4 — Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid star. Part 2 of 4. Alan and Celia’s relationship comes under strain. Ted arrives with two young New Zealanders in tow. A giraffe turns up at Far Slack farm, creating anxiety for Gillian. As Judith looks to the future, John begins to look the other way. VAN DER VALK ON MASTERPIECE — Marc Warren stars. Part 2 of 3. Death in Amsterdam. An eco-fashion videoblogger turns up dead during his video feed, and the case uncovers a bitter rivalry between two firms dedicated to eco clothing. Piet and Dahlman confront the vengeful son of a corrupt cop they previously put away. SECRETS OF THE DEAD: THE NERO FILES — R AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

28 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: FORT WORTH, TX — Hour 3. See historical items like an 1864 Civil War statue hilt presentation sword, a 1936 Joe Fortenberry Olympic gold medal, and James Madison’s personal seal, circa 1828. Which item is worth $100,000-$175,000? 9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Hour 1. See antique and vintage treasures such as a Norman Rockwell charcoal self-portrait circa 1976, a 1958 signed Indy 500 racing flag, and an 1883 Victorian wedding ensemble. Which is the night’s top find? 10:00 POV: OUR TIME MACHINE — When artist Maleonn realizes that his father is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, he creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a magical, autobiographical stage performance featuring life-size mechanical puppets. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

29 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE VOTE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 4 of 4. Meet the unsung women whose tireless work would finally ban discrimination at U.S. polls on the basis of sex. Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt advocated different strategies, but their combined efforts led to the 19th Amendment’s passage in 1920. 9:00 PBS NEWSHOUR DEBATES 2020: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE — WETA production PBS NewsHour presents coverage of the first Election 2020 Presidential debate. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

TONY POWELL

30 Wednesday

PBS NEWSHOUR DEBATES 2020 A WETA PRODUCTION Tuesday, September 29 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS PBS NewsHour Debates 2020: Presidential Debate provides coverage and analysis of the proceedings by Judy Woodruff and the NewsHour team in the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ISLANDS OF WONDER: HAWAII — Episode 3 of 3. The most remote island chain on Earth, Hawaii offers sanctuary for wildlife that has reached its tropical shores. From humpback whales to waterfall-climbing fish, it is home to an extraordinary wealth of wildlife. 9:00 NOVA: A TO Z: HOW WRITING CHANGED THE WORLD — Just as handwritten records changed how societies work, the printing press transformed the spread of information, igniting the Industrial Revolution. How did technologies — from pen to paper to printing press — make it all possible? 10:00 HACKING YOUR MIND — Discover how others hack your mind, and learn how to defend yourself and fight back. Episode 4 of 4. The Wings of Angels. Find out why hacking for good may be the most important scientific discovery of this century, and learn how to hack your mind to improve your life and the lives of others. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

14 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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26.3 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 266 Cox 801 Fios 472 RCN 38

The WETA PBS Kids channel offers a safe haven for young viewers, presenting educational programming 24 hours each day, seven days a week.

Visit weta.org/kids for complete WETA PBS Kids listings. WEEKDAYS ON WETA PBS AS OF SEPT. 7 • Hero Elementary, 8am • Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 8:30am • Curious George, 9am • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 9:30am, 10am • NEW!: Elinor Wonders Why, 10:30am • Sesame Street, 11am Sept. 8-10 • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 11:30am Sept. 7-11 • VA TV CLASSROOM, 11am-12n as of Sept 14 • Dinosaur Train, noon • Clifford the Big Red Dog, 12:30pm • Sesame Street, 1pm • NEW!: Elinor Wonders Why, 1:30pm • Hero Elementary, 2pm • Let’s Go Luna!, 2:30pm

SUNDAYS ON WETA PBS • Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, 6am • Dinosaur Train, 6:30am • Sesame Street, 7am • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 7:30am • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 8am • Molly of Denali, 8:30am

COURTESY PIPELINE STUDIOS, ©SHOE INK

WETA PBS KIDS AS OF SEPTEMBER 7 • Splash and Bubbles, 6am (Caillou on Sat/Sun) • WordWorld, 6:30am (Clifford on Sat/Sun) • Peg + Cat, 7am (Esme & Roy on Sat/Sun) • Peep and the Big Wide World, 7:30am • Sid the Science Kid, 8am • Super WHY!, 8:30am • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 9am • Clifford the Big Red Dog, 9:30am • Let’s Go Luna!, 10am • Dinosaur Train, 10:30am • The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, 11am • Martha Speaks, 11:30am • Nature Cat, 12n New • Ready Jet Go!, 12:30pm Schedule • Arthur, 1pm as of • Odd Squad, 1:30pm • Cyberchase, 2pm Sept. 7! • Molly of Denali, 2:30pm • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 3pm • NEW!: Elinor Wonders Why, 3:30pm • Sesame Street, 4pm • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 4:30pm • Let’s Go Luna!, 5pm • Nature Cat, 5:30pm • Wild Kratts, 6pm, 6:30pm • Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 7pm • Molly of Denali, 7:30pm • Hero Elementary, 8pm • Odd Squad, 8:30pm • Arthur, 9pm • WordGirl, 9:30pm • WETA PBS Kids Family Night airs Fridays, 7-10pm

Elinor Wonders Why

Starts September 7; 3:30 p.m. on WETA PBS Kids; 10:30 a.m. /1:30 p.m. weekdays on WETA PBS

new animated series for preschoolers, Elinor Wonders Why aims to encourage children to follow their curiosity, ask questions when they don’t understand and find answers using science-inquiry skills. The main character Elinor, the most observant and curious bunny rabbit in Animal Town, introduces kids ages 3-5 to science, nature and community through adventures with her friends Ari, a funny and imaginative bat, and Olive, a perceptive and warm elephant. As they explore Animal Town, they meet many interesting, quirky characters, each with something to teach about respecting others, the importance of diversity, caring for the environment and working together to solve problems. When Elinor encounters something she doesn’t understand, she perseveres until she figures it out. The program, created by celebrated cartoonist and robotics engineer Jorge Cham, and physicist and educator Daniel Whiteson, premieres September 7 at 10:30 a.m. on WETA PBS with an hour-long special, before settling into half-hour weekday slots at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The series premieres as well on the WETA PBS Kids channel Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m., airing at that time each weekday thereafter. Funding for Elinor Wonders Why is provided by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and a grant from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the Ready To Learn Initiative.

At-Home Learning with WETA WETA is here for your young learners! See the inside front cover for details about a wide array of At-Home Learning programs and resources that WETA features across television channels WETA PBS, WETA PBS Kids and WETA World, and online via WETA websites and initiatives. Resources include dedicated educational programming hours for students — and the return of the Virginia TV Classroom Initiative on September 14.

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26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 265, 1146 Cox 800 Fios 474 RCN 39, 602

British Television at Its Best The WETA UK channel is devoted to the best in British television programming, presenting beloved classics and contemporary series around the clock, seven days a week. WETA UK offers a full schedule of fine entertainment programming — featuring drama, mystery, comedy and documentary series — all delivered with an accent from the Isles. Visit wetauk.org for a complete schedule and program descriptions.

SEPTEMBER P.M. PROGRAMMING ON WETA UK VISIT WETAUK.ORG FOR A PRINTABLE FULL-DAY SCHEDULE. SUNDAY

12pm

1:30pm

2pm

TUESDAY

5:30pm

6pm

Last of the Summer Wine

As Time Goes By

• Himalaya (9/6) • Ireland’s Wild Coast (9/13, 9/20) • Operation Maneater (starts 9/27)

• Delicious (next ep airs tomorrow) • A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (as of 9/21) (next ep airs tomorrow)

• Delicious (next ep airs tomorrow) • A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (as of 9/22) (next ep airs tomorrow)

• Delicious (next ep airs tomorrow) • A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (as of 9/23) (next ep airs tomorrow)

• Delicious (next ep airs tomorrow) • A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (starts 9/17) (next ep airs tomorrow)

• Delicious (next ep airs Mon) • A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (as of 9/18) (next ep airs Mon)

Janet King, Series 2

Father Brown, Series 7

The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales

Pie in the Sky, Series 2

• Lewis, Series 8 • Agatha Christie’s Poirot (starts 9/30, 1 hr.)

Doc Martin, Series 2

Janet King, Series 2

The Coroner, Series 1

Midsomer Murders, Series 15

• London: 2000 Years of History (9/7, 9/14) • Escape to the Country (starts 9/21)

All Creatures Great and Small (two episodes)

Midsomer Murders, Series 15

Father Brown, Series 7

Pie in the Sky, Series 2

Death in Paradise, Series 7

EastEnders New Time!

800 Words, Series 2

7:30pm

8pm

800 Words, Series 2 (3pm on 9/30)

• Ireland’s Wild Coast (9/7, 9/14) • Operation Maneater (starts 9/21)

Grantchester, Series 3 on Masterpiece (Series 4 starts 4pm 9/20, 2 hrs)

BBC World News Outside Source

BBC World News Today

BBC World News America

Foyle’s War, Series 1

’Allo, ’Allo!

Open All Hours

Hold the Sunset

All Creatures Great and Small (next ep airs Saturdays, 7pm)

Last of the Summer Wine

As Time Goes By

All Creatures Great and Small (next ep airs Sundays, 7pm)

The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales

Pie in the Sky, Series 2

A Place to Call Home, Series 4 New Night!

Midsomer Murders, Series 15

The Coroner, Series 1

• London: 2000 Years of History (9/6, 9/13) • Escape to the Country (starts 9/20)

All Creatures Great and Small, (two episodes)

800 Words, Series 2

Death in Paradise, Series 7

Janet King, Series 2

Silent Witness, Series 20

The Heart Guy, Series 2

• Lewis, Series 8 • Agatha Christie’s Poirot (starts 9/23, runs to 11pm)

Masterworks Showcase • Foyle’s War, Series 1, 8pm • Grantchester, Series 3 on Masterpiece, 9pm (Series 4 starts 9/18, 2hrs) • Durrells in Corfu, Series 2 on Masterpiece, 10pm (11pm on 9/18)

EastEnders New Time!

8:30pm

9pm 9:30pm

10pm 10:30pm

11pm 11:30pm

Death in Paradise, Series 7

A Place to Call Home, Series 4 (except 9/20)

6:30pm

7pm

SATURDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

4:30pm

5pm

FRIDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

3:30pm

4pm

THURSDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

2:30pm

3pm

WEDNESDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

12:30pm

1pm

MONDAY

The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales

• Ireland’s Wild Coast (9/6, 9/13) • Operation Maneater (starts 9/20) Hold the Sunset

BBC World News

Hold the Sunset

Father Brown, Series 7

SUNDAY

MONDAY

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BBC World News

TUESDAY

BBC World News (11pm on 9/23, 9/30)

WEDNESDAY

BBC World News

BBC World News (12m on 9/18)

The Coroner, Series 1

Foyle’s War, Series 1 (12:30am on 9/18)

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

The Heart Guy, Series 2

Father Brown, Series 7

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Series 1 (starts 9/5) DCI Banks, Series 1 (starts 9/5)

Doc Martin, Series 2

SATURDAY

8/18/20 1:33 PM

WETA UK Highlights A

800 Words + The Heart Guy Tuesdays at 9 & 10:30 p.m. on WETA UK

RLJ ENTERTAINMENT/ACORN

COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

s British Britcoms move to early evenings in the WETA UK schedule, dramas come to Tuesday nights. At 9 p.m., in the contemporary Australian comedy-drama 800 Words, Series 2, recently widowed Sydney newspaper columnist George Turner (Erik Thomson) sets out to make a fresh start with his teenage children Shay and Arlo by moving on impulse to the tiny New Zealand town where he vacationed as a child. But the transition proves difficult, and the colorful, inquisitive locals complicate Turner’s dream of a fresh start. In Series 2, though they’ve become more accepted by the locals, there are still plenty of problems for George to face, including finding a new job and, potentially, new love. At 10:30 p.m. is Australian drama The Heart Guy, Series 2, starring Rodger Corser as Hugh Knight, a gifted and charming young Sydney heart surgeon and hedonist who experiences a spectacular fall from grace, knocked off his pedestal by a medical tribunal for personal misconduct. As penance, Knight must serve as a general practitioner in an under-resourced rural community hospital in his former hometown of Whyhope, which he previously couldn’t wait to escape. There, relationships are tested as Hugh is surrounded by estranged family, former friends, crazed colleagues, oddball patients, jealous brothers and a newlywed ex-girlfriend — and works under the eagle eye of his supervisor.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot

Wednesdays at 10 p.m. starting Sept. 23 on WETA UK

ITV

atch from the beginning as WETA UK presents the very first episodes of the popular mystery series starring David Suchet in his signature role as author Agatha Christie’s Belgian super-sleuth Hercule Poirot. Suchet played Poirot for 25 years through 12 series and 70 productions; and his renowned depiction of the famed detective is considered the most true to the descriptions of the character in Christie’s works. The productions follow the persnickety investigator as he relies on his “little grey cells,” help from his friends Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran), and a rivalry with policeman Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) to solve intricate mysteries of the Art Deco era. WETA UK presents episodes from Series 1 this month starting September 23 with The Adventure of the Clapham Cook.

Sundays, Sept. 6 & 13 at 10 p.m. on WETA UK

ollow a unique journey along one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world featuring the wildlife and wild places that make it so special. Emmy-winning wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson takes viewers on an odyssey along Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast — the place he chooses to make his home after 30 years spent shooting some of the world’s most celebrated wildlife films. Glimpse the Skellig Rocks — stormbound ocean pinnacles settled by early Christian monks 1,500 years ago — and breaching humpback whales off the island’s southern shores. Witness golden eagles fighting gales off the northern highlands, salmon returning from the Arctic to head upriver into Europe’s freshwaters, and hear the clash of Ireland’s Red Deer stags echoing through the island’s highest mountains.

Ireland’s Wild Coast

Also this month: Note: EastEnders has moved to 4 p.m. Fridays, and A Place to Call Home has moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. — the drama continues in September with Series 4. The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales continues Sundays at 8 p.m.; mystery drama The Coroner, Series 1 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. starting September 3; and detective drama DCI Banks, Series 1 comes to Saturdays at 10 p.m. starting September 5. For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 17

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26.4 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 270, 1148 Cox 802 Fios 475 RCN 37

Real Stories from Around the World The WETA World channel is a 24/7 news and public affairs service devoted to fact-based non-fiction programming, sharing broad perspectives, stories and ideas. WETA World informs and educates, presenting award-winning documentaries, domestic and international news broadcasts, and a slate of original programs that examine issues with a diversity of voices and illuminate conflicts, movements and cultures around the globe.

SEPTEMBER EVENING PROGRAMMING ON WETA WORLD VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP. SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

America ReFramed: • Jaddoland (9/6) • Farewell Ferris Wheel (9/13) • The Unafraid (9/20 to 6:30pm) • The Hand That Feeds (9/27 to 6:30pm)

DW News

To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe (except 9/12, 9/26)

BBC World News America

Washington Week

6pm

• POV: Nowhere to Hide (9/6) • Frances Perkins and the General Welfare (9/13)

France 24

DW Focus on Eurozone

6:30pm

• Reel South: Santuario (9/20) • Our American Family (9/27)

NHK NewsLine

Migrant Kitchen

History with David Rubenstein (two episodes)

• Emma Goldman: American Experience (9/7) • POV: Liny Lou, Juror Number 2 (9/14) • Latino Americans (Pt 1) (9/21) • Latino Americans (Pt 3) (9/28)

• Independent Lens: The Interpreters (9/1) • POV: Farmsteaders (9/8) • Enemy of the Reich: Noor Inayat Khan (9/15) • My Survivor (9/22) • Home Truth (9/29)

• POV: All the Difference (9/2 to 8:30) • Harbor from the Holocaust (9/9) • POV Shorts (to 7:30) (Joe’s Violin, 9/16; Making Memories, 9/30) • Frontline: The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden (9/23 to 9pm) • 7:30 POV: Love Child (9/16 to 9pm) • 7:30 POV: America (9/30 to 8:30)

• Family Pictures NOVA: USA: North • Meteor Strike (9/3) Carolina (9/4) • Human Nature (9/10, 2 hrs.) • The Vote: • Secret Mind of American Slime (9/17) Experience • A to Z: The First Pt 1 (9/11) Alphabet (9/24) Pt 2 (9/18) Pt 3 (9/25)

• Skindigenous (two episodes, 9/5) • Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (two episodes, 9/12, 9/19) • Actually, Iconic: Richard Estes (9/26)

• Nature: Nature’s Miniature Miracles (9/6) • Nature: Hotel Armadillo (9/13) • Madagascar: Islands of Wonder (9/20) • Borneo: Islands of Wonder (9/27)

• Company Town (9/7) • Speaking Grief (9/14) • Latino Americans (Pt 2) (9/21) • Latino Americans (Pt 4) (9/28)

America ReFramed: • Jaddoland (9/1) • Farewell Ferris Wheel (9/8) • The Unafraid (9/15 to 9:30pm) • The Hand That Feeds (9/22 to 9:30pm) • Councilwoman (9/29)

• POV: Portraits and Dreams (9/9)

• 8 Days: To the Moon and Back (9/3 to 9:30)

• Orchestrating Change (9/5 to 9:30)

• The Central Park Five (9/6 to 11pm) • More or Less Perfect Union with Judge Douglas Ginsburg (9/13) • Voces on PBS: The Pushouts (9/20) • Voces on PBS: Adios Amor: The Search for Maria Moreno (9/27)

Local USA: • Pandemic in Seattle (9/7) • States of America: Relocation (9/14), Connection (9/21)

• Hacking Your Mind Pt 1 (9/10) Pt 2 (9/17) Pt 3 (9/24)

Stories from the Stage: • Food for Thought (9/7) • School Days: Teacher Tales (9/14) • Lost & Found (9/21) • Sugar & Spice (9/28)

• POV: Nowhere to • Frontline Hide (9/1) (Growing Up • Frances Perkins Poor, 9/9) and the General (Policing the Welfare (9/8) Police, 9/16) • Reel South: Fiesta Quinceanera (9/29) • POV: In My Blood • 9:30 Reel South: It Runs (9/23) Santuario (9/15) • 9:30 Our American Family (9/22)

• More or Less Perfect Union w/ Judge Douglas Ginsburg (9/13) • Doc World: Siqueiros: Walls of Passion (9/20) • Doc World: Sands of Silence (9/27 to 11:30)

PBS NewsHour

• John Lewis: Get in the Way (9/6) • More or Less Perfect Union w/ Judge Douglas Ginsburg (9/13) • Ivy League Rhumba (9/20)

DW The Day

POV Shorts: Cherish (9/27)

BBC World News

5pm 5:30pm

7pm 7:30pm

8pm 8:30pm

9pm 9:30pm

10pm 10:30pm

11pm 11:30pm

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

• Indep. Len: I Am Not Your Negro (9/2 to 10pm) • POV: Our Time Machine (9/30 to 10pm)

• Secrets of the Dead: Galileo’s Moon (9/17) • The Last Artifact (9/24)

• POV Shorts: Earthrise (9/3)

• Family Pictures USA: Detroit (9/4) • Woodstock: American Experience (9/11 to 9:30) • Willie Velasquez: Your Vote Is Your Voice (9/18) • Forgotten Fame: The Marion Miley Story (9/24)

• Family Pictures USA: Southwest Florida (9/4) • Building the American Dream (9/18)

• Still Dreaming (9/12 to 9:30) • Raul Julia: American Masters (9/19 to 9:30) • Voces on PBS: Children of Giant (9/26 to 9:30)

• Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo (9/25)

• American Voices (9/5) • Karamu: 100 Years in the House (9/12) • Salsa! The Dance Sensation (9/19) • Compadre Huashayo (9/26)

PBS NewsHour

America ReFramed:

DW The Day

• POV: Nowhere to Hide (9/5) • Frances Perkins and the General Welfare (9/12)

BBC World News

• Reel South: Santuario (9/19) • Our American Family (9/26)

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

• Jaddoland (9/5) • Farewell Ferris Wheel (9/12) • The Unafraid (9/19 to 11:30) • The Hand That Feeds (9/26 to 11:30)

SATURDAY

Find at-home learning programming for students on the WETA World channel, noon-5 p.m. weekdays.

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WETA World Highlights T

Doc World: Siqueiros: Walls of Passion

Sunday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. on WETA World

COURTESY WGBH

he Sunday series Doc World presents a film that explores the life of Mexican visual artist David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896–1974), one of the top Mexican artists of the 20th century and one of three great Mexican muralists — with Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco. As one of the primary advocates of modern public art, Siqueiros made his name on the world stage: he painted murals in Mexico, the United States, Cuba, Chile and Argentina; fought as a soldier in the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Civil War; and even taught Jackson Pollock the drip technique in his experimental workshop in New York. Siqueiros was a controversy-stirring revolutionary and lifetime activist who lived with theatrical flair and painted on an epic scale. For a list of other Hispanic Heritage Month programming on WETA World, see page 12.

America ReFramed

Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on WETA World, repeating Saturdays at 10 p.m.

TIME TRAVEL PRODUCTIONS LLC

ETA World original series America ReFramed this month presents the following documentary films: Jaddoland (September 1) features an intimate portrait of the work and process of Texas visual artist Lahib Jaddo while offering a fresh look at the immigrant story in America. Farewell Ferris Wheel (September 8) examines the struggles of the carnival Councilwoman industry, nearly extinct as a result of rising expenses and changes in U.S. labor patterns — and trying to stay alive by employing Mexican migrant workers with a controversial visa. The Unafraid (September 15) presents a humanizing portrait of the undocumented that spotlights DACA students who, banned from attending Georgia’s top five public universities and from paying in-state tuition at other public colleges in the state, unite through their activist work with an immigrants’ rights group. The Hand That Feeds (September 22) focuses on a popular Manhattan bakery-café, telling the story of a power struggle that turned a single city block into a battlefield as it follows the onset of the service-economy wage wars and the struggles of undocumented immigrant workers earning far below the minimum wage. The acclaimed film Councilwoman (September 29) spotlights Carmen Castillo, a first-term city councilwoman who maintains her job as a hotel housekeeper while advocating for the working families in her community and leading the charge of the “Fight for $15” — a campaign for a new minimum wage — in Providence, Rhode Island. A grueling reelection campaign brings new challenges to the homefront; through it all, she stays true to her vision for justice and equity.

Monday, September 7 at 9 p.m. on WETA World

ocal USA, the Monday series of half-hour programs that feature stories of diverse people in vignettes culled from public television productions and independent producers’ work, offers a behind-thescenes look at how public health cared for its most vulnerable in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. With exclusive access to the Seattle and King County public health director, viewers see how local officials scrambled to stop the spread of the disease, tracked and isolated those who became ill, and educated people about what they could do to help. This powerful story is shared through the experiences of two families especially vulnerable to the threat of the virus: the homeless and the elderly.

COURTESY WGBH

Local, USA: Pandemic in Seattle

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 19

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8/18/20 1:33 PM

Classical WETA 90.9 FM Works from Mythology and History on Choral Showcase Sundays at 9 p.m.

By Bill Bukowski, Midday On-Air Host

ALAMY, INC.

his month on Classical WETA Sunday-night program Choral Showcase, we present works drawn from mythology — and from history. Michael Tippett (left), like his contemporary, Benjamin Britten, was a pacifist who lived during a time of great upheaval while finding his voice as a composer. The events of Kristallnacht in 1938, triggered by the murder in Paris of a Nazi official by a Jewish refugee angered by the deportation of his parents, inspired one of his greatest works. When the Nazis used the murder as a pretext for violence, Tippett realized how one man’s tragedy could spark a greater one, but that the forces of hate might be overcome by our innate compassion. Composed in the spirit of Bach’s Passions, A Child of Our Time presents American spirituals in the place of chorale hymns, lending the work a timeless universality. With Cynthia Haymon, Cynthia Clarey, Damon Evans, and Willard White, Richard Hickox leads the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a recording we feature on September 6. In 19th-century Finland, the publication of the Kalevala, an epic poem drawn from folk song and myth, became a wellspring of inspiration for the young Jean Sibelius. His choral symphony, Kullervo, based on the tragic story of a tormented orphan who grows up to find his lost family only to lose it again, will be heard September 20. On September 13, it’s Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610; on September 27, Gioachino Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Join me for Choral Showcase, Sundays at 9 p.m.

NSO Showcase, On-Demand!

Exciting concerts on classicalweta.org through Sept. 30 his September, join Classical WETA for a musical tour of Europe with the National Symphony Orchestra from the comfort of your living room, as we kick off the Fall season with three complete NSO Showcase on-demand concerts. The French leg of our tour includes Stravinsky’s ballet, The Rite of Spring, that so shocked Parisian audiences; Maurice Duruflé’s Gregorian-inspired Requiem, Berlioz’s sinister Les Francs Juges Overture, Nocturnes and Preludes by Debussy, and the Rhapsodie espagnole by Ravel. Then it’s off to Germany and Austria as Christoph Eschenbach conducts the NSO in Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony and Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 featuring Concertmaster Nurit Bar-Josef as soloist. Gianandrea Noseda leads the NSO in Mahler’s Symphony No.1 and Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini which takes us a little farther in our travels than we might wish: all the way to the second circle of Dante’s Inferno! All these musical discoveries are available all month long at classicalweta.org/NSOS. Bon voyage! SCOTT SUCHMAN

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

By Nicole Lacroix, Afternoon On-Air Host

Classical Breakdown Podcast Starts New Season

New episode available at ClassicalBreakdown.org on Sept. 8

lassical WETA’s podcast Classical Breakdown returns for Season 2 with a new episode on September 8. The podcast offers fans of classical music an opportunity to learn more about the music they love and get a behind-the-scenes look at the artists who create it. In Season 1, we explored masterpieces such as Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Handel’s Messiah, learned more about composers such as Mozart and Amy Beach, and discovered the behind-the-scenes life of a conductor with Michelle Merrill. Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into Ludwig van Beethoven’s turbulent life and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s enchanting Scheherazade. Classical Breakdown is hosted by Classical WETA production manager and on-air host John Banther and released bi-weekly. Listen to Classical Breakdown in your podcast app or online at ClassicalBreakdown.org.

VivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org

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Stream audio at classicalweta.org

8/18/20 1:33 PM

Classical for Washington Locally Recorded Concerts on Front Row Washington

Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA 90.9 FM

By John Banther, On-Air Host and Producer

DAVID WILLIAMS

AMY SCHROEDER

ront Row Washington, spotlighting local classical musical performances, returns in September with a variety of exciting concerts performed across the Washington, Maryland and Virginia region. We are fortunate to live in an area that is rich in Harlem Quartet music, and our hope is to keep these local concert series in everyone’s minds as concerts continue to be postponed due to the pandemic. The Harlem Quartet returns on September 7 with a 2019 Dumbarton Concerts performance. Known for their commitment to diverse programming, they bring together composers Richard Rodgers, Claude Debussy, and John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie. The concert is bookended with Rodgers’ My Funny Valentine and Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisia. In between is the String Quartet in G minor, Debussy’s only string quartet. We shine a spotlight on musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra on September 14 with a combination of two concerts. First, we’ll hear NSO Principal Horn Abel Pereira with pianist Audrey Andrist, performing 20th-century French music. Then we listen to part of a National Chamber Players concert called An Evening with Cellists of the NSO. They perform popular music by Bach, Lauridsen, and Rimsky-Korsakov. But they also include an all-cello arrangement of the Quartet No. 2 by American composer Philip Glass. On September 21, we feature a performance from Bender JCC featuring the Parker Quartet and a quartet of musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The program begins with the Parker Quartet performing Beethoven’s Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No.6, followed by musicians from the Boston Symphony ZOFO Orchestra for Mendelssohn’s sublime Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20. The month’s Front Row Washington offerings conclude on September 28 with one of today’s most acclaimed piano duos, ZOFO — Eva-Maria Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi. We’ll hear their Dumbarton Oaks concert of music arranged for piano duo, including Stravinsky’s ballet Petroushka, and Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. But they also play music written for this less common formation, Alredo Casella’s playful Pupazzetti, Op. 27. Join me Mondays at 9 p.m. for Front Row Washington.

Opera Radio Broadcasts

Saturdays at 1 p.m. on Classical WETA 90.9 FM

By Linda Carducci, Morning On-Air Host

SHERVIN LAINEZ

uring the month of September, Classical WETA Opera House presents a local production, a recently-premiered work and a few favorites. On September 5, we feature a 2019 performance by Washington Concert Opera of Gioachino Rossini’s Lawrence Brownlee Zelmira, a compelling story of a young woman who protects her family against a web of deceit and false accusations. Conducted by Artistic Director Antony Walker, this performance highlights acclaimed singers Silvia Tro Santafe and Lawrence Brownlee. On September 12, we feature Héctor Armienta’s Bless Me, Ultima, adapted from Rudolfo Anaya’s popular Chicano novel of the same name about a Mexican-American boy and his relationship with Ultima, a curandera, or folk healer, during World War II. The opera was premiered in Albuquerque in 2018; this English-language performance is by Opera Southwest. The September 19 offering, Lohengrin, represents a pivotal work in the music dramas of Richard Wagner. This tragic medieval tale of the Grail Knight Lohengrin represents a tension between purity and sinister forces through symbolism. Anthony Barrese will lead this production of Opera Southwest. We round out the month on September 26 with Mozart’s powerhouse, Don Giovanni, a study of the Don’s licentious life that comes to haunt him in a fiery finale. Hartmut Haenchen will lead this performance by the Royal Opera House. Operas air Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m.

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

Classical WETA Opera House

Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown

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8/18/20 1:44 PM

WETA Passport Stream Masterpiece dramas and much more with WETA Passport, our popular member benefit that provides you with access to an extensive library of the best public television programs! You’re ready to activate now at pbs.org/passport if you see a four-word activation code above your name and address at left; or go to weta.org/passport to make your qualifying donation of $60 (or $5 monthly) to start enjoying WETA Passport today.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR VIEWERS SEEKING TO WATCH WETA TV VIA OVER-THE-AIR ANTENNA — WETA TV Transmitter Work Completed — RESCAN CHANNELS TO RECEIVE WETA TV WETA PBS (26.1), WETA UK (26.2), WETA PBS Kids (26.3), WETA World (26.4) WETA has completed work on our Washington, D.C., main TV broadcast tower, which is now operating at higher power than before. Reception of WETA channels should be excellent and now reaches more viewers in our expanded broadcast area. Cable and satellite viewers are not affected, but viewers seeking to watch WETA channels using an over-the-air antenna should rescan their TV. After rescanning, find WETA programs on the channel numbers listed above. If you already have reception, no action is needed.

Visit weta.org/signal to learn more, including how to rescan your TV. For assistance, call 703-998-2724.

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