DECEMBER 2018 MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS
Music & Specials
Met Opera’s Magic Flute & Holiday Music on Classical WETA 90.9 FM Seasonal Specials & More on WETA TV 26/HD
Plus dramas Jamestown and Call the Midwife Holiday Special & encore presentation of Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece C1_WETA_December_2018.indd 1
11/15/18 1:10 PM
WETA Focus I
n December, WETA celebrates the spirit of the season with a delightful array of holiday programming in our radio and television broadcasts that will inspire and entertain. On Classical WETA 90.9 FM, we add joyful holiday music into our regular broadcasts and present traditional choral and orchestral music specials. On WETA TV 26/HD, a selection of holiday concerts, cooking specials, and drama — the annual Call the Midwife Holiday Special — are among seasonal fare. See the page opposite this column for details or visit weta.org/happyholidays for airdates. In other programming, this month heralds the return of Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcasts, and on our television services we present additional music specials and a host of riveting dramas. On WETA TV 26/HD, in anticipation of the premiere of Series 3 of Victoria on Masterpiece in January, we catch you up with an encore airing of Series 2 in December. We also present the exciting drama series Jamestown, details of which are below on this page. On WETA UK, our engaging slate of offerings will transport you beyond our shores to 17th-century Amsterdam (The Miniaturist), the twilight of the Raj (Indian Summers), the landscapes of contemporary Sweden (Wallander), postwar London (Jericho of Scotland Yard) and beyond. Enjoy the holidays and all that WETA has to offer. Thank you for your ongoing support of our service to the public.
Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA
Jamestown, Series 1
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Thursdays, December 13, 20 & 27 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
©CARNIVAL FILM & TELEVISION LIMITED 2017
he first season of the epic, eight-part drama Jamestown, from the producers of Downton Abbey, premieres on WETA TV 26/HD over the course of three Thursdays this month. Written by Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford, The Paradise), the series follows the lives of three women who decide to leave their dark pasts behind in England and make the journey across the ocean for a new life in 17th-century America. As the drama unfolds in 1619 Jamestown, Virginia, Alice, Verity and Jocelyn are among the first women to arrive in the English colony. Duty bound to marry the three men who have paid for their passage to the New World, they have little idea of what the future holds or the disruption their arrival is about to bring. Twisting storylines follow the new arrivals as they make an immediate impact and are immersed in a new world of love, desire, power and survival. While love triangles, bitter rivalries and fierce competition cause conflict for the residents, ultimately the colonists are bound together by their resolute will to survive and thrive. The Series 1 ensemble cast includes Sophie Rundle (The Bletchley Circle, Peaky Blinders), Niamh Walsh and Naomi Battrick (above, r-l), and Max Beesley (Ordinary Lies), Jason Flemyng (Rob Roy, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Kalani Queypo and Raoul Trujillo (Apocalypto, Black Robe). Series 2 episodes of Jamestown have begun streaming via the service WETA Passport, for which details are available at weta.org/passport.
W E TA B R OA D CA S T S A N D S E R V I C E S WETA Television WETA TV 26 26.4 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 26, 802 Comcast 26 Fios 26 RCN 26
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WETA HD 26.1 Over the Air Cox 1026, 1003 Fios 526 DirecTV 26, 26-1 RCN 613 Dish 8076
Via Antenna Comcast 800 (in the D.C. area)
WETA UK 26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 800 Comcast 265 Fios 474
Comcast 219 (Baltimore area)
11/19/18 3:16 PM
Seasonal Programming E
Holiday Music on Classical WETA 90.9 FM
njoy the sounds of the season on Classical WETA 90.9 FM as Greater Washington’s exclusive classical music radio service adds holiday music into its broadcasts in December. Seasonal offerings air throughout the month, increasing substantially during the week of December 17 and culminating with the “Home for the Holidays Weekend” (December 21-23) and special programming on December 24-25. Christmas Eve specials include the traditional Christmas Eve Carolfest (6 a.m.-5 p.m.); Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge (5 p.m.); and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in a special Christmas Eve edition of Front Row Washington at 9 p.m., featuring an arrangement for piano solo by Stewart Goodyear (see page 16). On Christmas Day, Classical WETA presents the original orchestral version of The Nutcracker (7 a.m.); Christmas in Washington (10 a.m.), featuring performances of holiday music by D.C.-area choral and instrumental ensembles; Handel’s Messiah (3 p.m.); and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (9 p.m.). For more seasonal music on Classical WETA, see pages 16-17; and visit weta.org/happyholidays.
For the Holidays — on WETA TV 26/HD America’s Test Kitchen Special: Home for the Holidays Mon 12/17, 10pm; Rpts Tue 12/18, 5pm; Sun 12/23, noon; Tue 12/25, 8am; Fri 12/28, 8:30pm Call the Midwife Holiday Specials: 2014 Fri 12/14, 8:30pm; Rpts Mon 12/17, noon; Tue 12/18, 2pm; Wed 12/19, noon 2015 Fri 12/14, 10pm; Rpts Mon 12/17, 1:30pm; Tue 12/18, 3:30pm; Wed 12/19, 1:30pm 2016 Fri 12/21, 3pm; Rpts Fri 12/21, 8:30pm; Mon 12/24, noon: Wed 12/26, noon 2017 Fri 12/21, 4:30pm; Rpts Fri 12/21, 10pm; Mon 12/24, 1:30pm; Wed 12/26, 1:30pm 2018 Tue 12/25, 9pm; Rpts Wed 12/26, 3pm; Fri 12/28, 4:30pm A Chef’s Life Holiday Special Tue 12/25, 11am Christmas at Belmont Tue 12/25, 1pm Christmas at St. Olaf Sun 12/23, 12m Christmastime in New Orleans Tue 12/25, noon Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Sutton Foster & Hugh Bonneville Mon 12/17, 9pm; Rpts Tue 12/25, 5pm Santino Fontana & the Sesame Street Muppets Mon 12/24, 9pm Rolando Villazón Mon 12/24, 10pm; Rpts Tue 12/25, 4pm Laura Osnes and Martin Jarvis Tue 12/25, 3pm Hanukkah: A Festival of DeLights Sun 12/2, 5:30pm Happy Holidays with the Boston Pops Mon 12/24, 11pm; Rpts Tue 12/25, 2pm
Lidia Celebrates America: A Heartland Holiday Feast Sun 12/23, 1pm; Rpts Tue 12/25, 9am Nigella: At My Table Holiday Special Tue 12/25, 10am; Rpts Tue 12/25, 10:30pm Visit weta.org/happyholidays for holiday program details.
For program or membership inquiries, visit weta.org or call 703-998-2724.
WETA Kids 26.3 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 801 Comcast 266 Fios 472 RCN 38
WETA Online weta.org weta.org/learningmedia
COVER: THE MAGIC FLUTE; METROPOLITAN OPERA. PHOTO BY KEN HOWARD
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Classical WETA WETA 90.9 FM Washington WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown WETA 88.9 FM Frederick classicalweta.org vivalavoce.org
11/19/18 3:16 PM
December Highlights on WETA TV 26/HD Wednesday, December 26 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
new presentation on science series NOVA features Apollo astronauts and engineers telling the inside story of Apollo 8, 50 years after the historic 1968 first manned mission to the moon. The U.S. space program suffered a bitter setback when the 1967 Apollo 1 mission ended in a deadly fire during a pre-launch run-through. In disarray and threatened by the prospect of a Soviet Union victory in the space race, NASA decided upon a radical and risky change of plan: turn Apollo 8 from an earth-orbit mission into a daring sprint to the moon while relying on untried new technologies. Other Wednesday-night NOVA presentations this month are Ultimate Cruise Ship (December 12) and Ghosts of Stonehenge (December 19).
APOLLO 8; COURTESY NASA
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NOVA: Apollo’s Daring Mission
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2018 Tuesday, December 25 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
COURTESY NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS 2018
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new Call the Midwife seasonal special stars Miriam Margolyes as Sister Mildred, who arrives unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, her hands full with four Chinese orphans. Having fled China, the child refugees were found abandoned in Hong Kong and are being adopted in the U.K. as part of the World Refugee Project. With Christmas preparations in full flow and the midwives busy caring for the expectant mothers of Poplar, these unexpected visitors bring joy and chaos to their caregivers. The special also sees Trixie return to Poplar to help cover for the Sisters as they depart for the election of a new Mother Superior. It soon becomes clear, much to Sister Julienne’s horror, that she is the favored candidate. Tune in as well for reprised airings of several previous years’ Call the Midwife holiday specials on Fridays, December 14 and 21 at 8:30 p.m.
Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece
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n anticipation of the January premiere of blockbuster Masterpiece drama Victoria’s third season, WETA reprises Series 2 in its entirety over two Sunday nights in December. Tune in to see Jenna Coleman star as the young British queen who wants it all — romance, power, an heir and personal freedom. Series 2 features a cast that includes Tom Hughes, reprising his role as the queen’s dashing consort, Prince Albert; Rufus Sewell as advisor and statesman Lord Melbourne; and Dame Diana Rigg, who plays the Duchess of Buccleuch, the court’s new Mistress of the Robes. Season 2 finds Victoria adapting to motherhood after the birth of her first child, a daughter. Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution is underway, the disaster of the Anglo-Afghan War unfolds abroad, and the catastrophic Irish potato famine begins to wreak havoc.
COURTESY SIMON BUSCH/WLIW LLC
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GARETH GATTRELL/ITV PLC FOR MASTERPIECE
Sundays, December 23 & 30 at 7 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
Sacred
Monday, December 10 at 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
sweeping global documentary created via a collaboration of dozens of international filmmakers explores diverse personal experiences of religious ritual at birth, adolescence and marriage, in aging and at other key milestones of human life. Director Thomas Lennon sourced contributions from around the world to unify intensely intimate scenes into a single work, told without narration, without experts and, sometimes, without words at all. At a time when religious hatreds dominate the world’s headlines, this film explores faith as primary human experience: how people turn to ritual and prayer to navigate their own lives. Major funding for Sacred is provided by the Gerald and Janet Carrus Foundation, George and Abby O’Neill, the David M. Milton Charitable Trust, Rosalind P. Walter and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Additional support provided by Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly, The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, James and Judy Boyle, and Knowlton J. O’Reilly. Musical score produced with the generous support of the Stephen and Anna Maria Kellen Foundation and Fordham University.
11/19/18 3:17 PM
December Specials on WETA TV 26/HD Great Performances: Michael Bublé: Tour Stop 148
unique concert film offers a front-row seat and exclusive backstage pass to superstar musical artist Michael Bublé’s visually thrilling and musically triumphant To Be Loved Tour, which was seen worldwide by two million fans in 2015 over the course of an epic schedule of 172 concert dates. The atmospheric film spotlights Bublé’s charismatic gifts as an entertainer and showcases live performances of the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s biggest hits, including “Home,” “Haven’t Met You Yet,” “Cry Me a River” and “Feelin’ Good.” In addition, the performance sequences are intercut with exclusive cinéma vérité-style footage of what it took for Team Bublé to travel this movable musical feast from arena to arena over the course of a two-year span.
SIMON FOWLER
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Sarah Brightman: Hymn
Sunday, December 2 at 7 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
ilmed over two days in September at the foot of the Bavarian Alps in Germany, the concert special Sarah Brightman: Hymn features the world’s best-selling soprano performing beloved favorites from her career and enchanting songs from her new album, Hymn. The special was staged in the famous Ludwigs Festspielhaus in a magical setting of mountains, lakes and castles. The classical crossover artist’s program is a hybrid of a musical film, an opera and a large-scale concert production; Brightman is accompanied by her band, a 40-piece orchestra, a 50-voice choir and dancers. The concert features guest artists and musicians, including Japanese superstar Yoshiki, with a song list that as of press time includes tracks from Hymn and “Stranger in Paradise,” “Carpe Diem,” “Anytime, Anywhere,” “Pie Jesu” and “Time to Say Goodbye.”
Peter, Paul and Mary at Newport 1963-65 Sunday, December 2 at 8:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
new documentary film captures the spirit of America’s Folk Renaissance at its zenith, when folk music dominated the Top-40 charts and songs written straight from the hearts of idealists, activists and poets provided the soundtrack for enormous changes in the American social-political landscape. The program presents songs filmed during the rise in popularity of the iconic folk trio and includes — save for two snippets from a previous documentary — 17 never-before-seen, archival Newport performances including “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” “If I Had a Hammer,” “The Hour When the Ship Comes In,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and their only filmed renditions of such treasures as “Jesus Met the Woman at the Well,” “San Francisco Bay Blues,” “Rising of the Moon” and The Weavers’ powerful “Wasn’t That a Time.”
COURTESY ESTATE OF DAVID GAHR
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EVAAN KHERAJ
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Saturday, December 1 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
My Music: Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii Saturday, December 1 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD
COURTESY TJL PRODUCTIONS
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new live concert special recorded in August at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu presents legendary crooner Engelbert Humperdinck — “The King of Romance” — singing his hits from more than five decades. With his timeless voice and signature charm, the artist performs a selection of favorite love songs including “After the Lovin’,” “The Last Waltz,” “Release Me,” “A Time for Us” (from “Romeo & Juliet”) and “For the Good Times.” In a career spanning 50 years, Humperdinck has enjoyed sales of over 100 million records, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, and stars on the Hollywood and Las Vegas walks of fame. Born in Leicester, England, he exploded onto the music scene in the 1960s and quickly achieved worldwide fame with his captivating vocals and endearing sense of humor.
11/19/18 3:17 PM
WETA TV 26 & WETA HD December primetime simulcast listings.
Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations
8:30
8:00
9:00
9:30
10:00
10:30
1
Sat
Great Performances: Michael Bublé: Tour Stop 148
2
Sun
(from 7pm) Sarah Brightman: Hymn
3
Mon
Aging Backwards 2 with Miranda Esmonde-White
4
Tue
Rick Steves Special: European Festivals
Nature: Snow Bears (to 11pm) & Discovering Washington: Through the Lens (to 12:30am)
5
Wed
My Music: Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii
Ken Burns: The Civil War (to 11:30pm)
6
Thu
Brain Secrets with Dr. Michael Merzenich
Sarah Brightman: Hymn (to 11pm) & Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years (to 1am)
7
Fri
Washington Week
8
Sat
WETA Viewer Favorites
9
Sun
WETA Viewer Favorites
10
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Junk in the Trunk 4
WETA Neighborhood Eats (1 & 2)
11
Tue
We’ll Meet Again, Series 1 (encore)
Letters from Baghdad
12
Wed
Nature: Nature’s Miracle Orphans
NOVA: Ultimate Cruise Ship
13
Thu
Jamestown, Series I (Pts 1, 2 & 3 of 8)
14
Fri
Washington Week
15
Sat
WETA Viewer Favorites
16
Sun
WETA Viewer Favorites
17
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Junk in the Trunk 8
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville
America’s Test Kitchen Special (to 11pm) & Independent Lens: Man on Fire (to 12m)
18
Tue
We’ll Meet Again, Series 2 (Ep 3 of 6)
American Medevac
Frontline: The Gang Crackdown
19
Wed
Nature: Mystery Monkeys of Shangri-La
NOVA: Ghosts of Stonehenge
Attenborough’s Birds of Paradise
20
Thu
Jamestown, Series I (Pts 4, 5 & 6 of 8)
21
Fri
Washington Week
22
Sat
(from 7:58pm) Agatha Christie’s Poirot: After the Funeral
23
Sun
(from 7pm) Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 1 of 7) (to 9pm) & (Pt 2 of 7) (to 11pm) & (Pt 3 of 7) (to 12m)
24
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Greatest Gifts
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Santino Fontana
25
Tue
We’ll Meet Again, Series 2 (Ep 4 of 6)
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2018
26
Wed
Nature: H Is for Hawk
NOVA: Apollo’s Daring Mission
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Thu
Jamestown, Series I (Pts 7 & 8 of 8)
28
Fri
Washington Week
29
Sat
(from 7:58pm) Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Taken at the Flood
Sun
(from 7pm) Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pts 4 & 5 of 7)
Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 6 of 7)
Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 7 of 7) (to 11:30pm)
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Junk in the Trunk 5
Washington in the ’70s
Washington in ’80s (to 11pm) & Washington in the ’90s (to 12m)
30 31
8:00
Peter, Paul and Mary at Newport 1963-65
Ken Burns: The Civil War (to 12m)
Great Performances: Michael Bublé: Tour Stop 148 (to 10:30pm) & Feel Better Fast and Make It Last with Daniel Amen, MD (to 12:30am)
Peter, Paul and Mary at Newport 1963-65
1
Ric Edelman’s Mind Over Money (to 11:30pm)
12:
1: Sacred (to 11:30pm) Frontline: Trafficked in America (to 11:30pm)
2:
Impossible Builds: The Floating House
3:
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2014
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2015 (to 11:30pm)
4:
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2017 (to 11:30pm) Man in an Orange Shirt on Masterpiece (to 11:30pm)
America’s Test Kitchen Special: Home for the Holidays
8:30
5:
6:
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2016
PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.
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My Music: Engelbert Humperdinck in Hawaii (to 11pm) & Ric Edelman’s Mind Over Money (to 12:30am)
9:00
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazón
7:
8:
Nigella: At My Table Christmas Special (to 11:30pm)
Tesla: American Experience
9:
Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute (to 11:30pm)
1
Great Performances: Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood (to 12m)
10:
(from 9:35pm) The WETA Movie: Places in the Heart (to 11:30pm)
1
9:30
10:00
11:
10:30
Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).
11/19/18 3:17 PM
WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
December simulcast primetime listings, plus weekends for WETA TV 26 • Programming on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD is the same — simulcast — Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. through primetime programs, and weekends beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. Sundays. • Please note that Saturday daytime listings that follow are for WETA TV 26 only unless otherwise indicated. For complete 24-hour schedules of programs on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD, visit weta.org/tv. • The weeknight primetime schedule on WETA TV 26 often repeats the next weekday afternoon on WETA TV 26. • WETA TV 26 is devoted to children’s programming 5 a.m.–noon weekdays and 6–9 a.m. Sundays. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA Kids channel. See page 12 for schedule information. Program Key ■ — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. R — Aired within the month. Listings are accurate as of press time. For late-breaking program updates, visit weta.org/tv or call 703-998-2724.
Tuesday, December 4 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Rick Steves Special: European Festivals features the travel expert dropping in on the Continent’s top 10 festivals, visiting Pamplona, Munich, Venice, Siena (for the Palio horse race, above) and more.
WETA Television
SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-2:30AM 6AM FEEL BETTER FAST AND MAKE IT LAST WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — See tonight’s 6:30 p.m. listing. 7:30 RICK STEVES SPECIAL: EUROPEAN FESTIVALS — See the Dec. 4, 8 p.m. listing. Repeats Sun 12/2, 12:30pm 9:00 AGING BACKWARDS 2 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — See the Monday, December 3, 8 p.m. listing. 10:00 THE AFRICAN AMERICANS: MANY RIVERS TO CROSS — A six-hour series presented and written by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. chronicles the full sweep of African-American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent up to the present. Episode 1 of 6, The Black Atlantic (1500-1800, explores the global experiences that created the African-American people. Episode 2 of 6, The Age of Slavery (1800-1860), spotlights how black lives changed dramatically in the aftermath of the American Revolution. Episode 3 of 6, Into the Fire (1861-1896), surveys the Civil War, slavery’s end and Reconstruction. Episode 4 of 6, Making a Way Out of No Way (1897-1940), examines the Jim Crow era, when African Americans struggled within the confines of segregation. Episode 5 of 6, Rise! (1940-1968), spotlights the road to civil rights, when the contradictions in American society became untenable. Episode 6 of 6, It’s Nation Time (1968-2013), reviews issues, including true racial equality, that remain unresolved. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 FEEL BETTER FAST AND MAKE IT LAST WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — Neuroscientist, psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen offers advice on how to boost one’s mood and overcome anxiety and worry, citing brain-based strategies to feel better. Repeats Sun 12/2, 9am; Mon 12/3, 3pm, 10:30pm 8:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: MICHAEL BUBLÈ: TOUR STOP 148 — Singer Michael Bublé presents a front row seat to his To Be Loved Tour, which concluded in 2015 and was seen globally by over two million fans. The film showcases the Canadian, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter as he performs his biggest hits. Repeats Mon 12/3, 9pm; Wed 12/5, 4:30pm
COURTESY RICK STEVES
1 Saturday
9:30 MY MUSIC: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK IN HAWAII — Celebrate with the legendary crooner as he sings classic hits and love songs from his 50-year career in a concert recorded at the historic Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu. Repeats Wed 12/5, 8pm; Thur 12/6, 4:30pm; Fri 12/7, 11:30pm 11:00 RIC EDELMAN’S MIND OVER MONEY — Three-time Barron’s Financial Advisor of the Year Ric Edelman explains how emotion and behavioral biases can sabotage financial security. Edelman conveys his knowledge of behavioral economics based on academic research and his experience managing billions in assets for clients over the past 30 years. Repeats Sun 12/2, 2pm; Mon 12/3, noon; Fri 12/7, 3pm, 10pm 12:30AM PAUL SIMON’S CONCERT IN THE PARK — In August 1991, 10 years after his reunion concert with Art Garfunkel in New York City’s Central Park, Paul Simon brought his Born at The Right Time Tour there for a free concert that featured songs from throughout the 12-time Grammy Award winner’s career. (2 hrs.)
AMANDA FIELD
2 Sunday
Sunday, December 2 at 5:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Hanukkah: A Festival of DeLights explores the evolution of the holiday into one of major prominence in American Jewish life.
SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-2AM: 6AM FOOD: WHAT THE HECK SHOULD I EAT? WITH MARK HYMAN, MD — In this special, Dr. Mark Hyman (The Blood Sugar Solution) looks at every major food group and explains which foods nurture our health and which pose a threat. Hyman also explains food’s crucial role in functional medicine and offers a guide to achieving optimal weight and lifelong health. 7:30 DISCOVERING WASHINGTON: THROUGH THE LENS — A WETA production celebrates the landmarks and history of the Washington, D.C. area, offering a bird’s-eye view of the region’s wonders. Discover the stories of Washington and the surrounding areas that resonate with residents and visitors alike. Nicole Lacroix narrates. Repeats Tue 12/4, 11pm; Wed 12/5, 3pm
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 5
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11/19/18 3:19 PM
3 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — WETA production PBS NewsHour provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live studio interviews and discussions of domestic and international issues. Judy Woodruff anchors. Visit pbs.org/newshour. 8:00 AGING BACKWARDS 2 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — Many people think that how they age — if they will remain mobile, healthy and pain free throughout their entire lives — is a matter of luck. But we have a choice in how we age. Former professional ballerina Miranda Esmonde-White uses science to explain that the fountain of youth is within each of us and explores how to access it. Repeats tonight; Thur 12/6, 3:30pm; Fri 12/7, noon 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: MICHAEL BUBLÈ: TOUR STOP 148 — R 10:30 FEEL BETTER FAST AND MAKE IT LAST WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 12:30AM AGING BACKWARDS 2 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — R (60 min.)
11:00 DISCOVERING WASHINGTON: THROUGH THE LENS — A WETA production celebrates the landmarks and history of the Washington, D.C. area, offering a bird’s-eye view of the region’s wonders. Discover the stories of Washington and the surrounding areas that resonate with residents and visitors alike. Nicole Lacroix narrates. R 12:30AM BRAIN SECRETS WITH DR. MICHAEL MERZENICH — R (90 min.)
5 Wednesday 7:00 8:00 9:30 11:30
PBS NEWSHOUR MY MUSIC: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK IN HAWAII — R KEN BURNS: THE CIVIL WAR — R SUZE ORMAN’S FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS FOR YOU — R (2 hrs.)
6 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 BRAIN SECRETS WITH DR. MICHAEL MERZENICH — More than a decade after the release of The Brain Fitness Program in 2006, neuroscience pioneer Dr. Michael Merzenich is back with the latest research on brain neuroplasticity, exploring how to improve and maintain cognitive fitness. 9:30 SARAH BRIGHTMAN: HYMN — R 11:00 DISCOVERING ALEXANDRIA: THE EARLY YEARS — A WETA production explores the story of Alexandria, Virginia, through the Civil War era, featuring the city’s most noted historians and authors. Relive the birth of one of the nation’s most vibrant port cities, meet the men and women who made history and called Alexandria their home; and discover the stories of some of the community’s famous landmarks. Repeats Fri 12/7, 1pm (2 hrs.)
7 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s long-running weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. 8:30 PETER, PAUL AND MARY AT NEWPORT 1963-65 — R 10:00 RICK EDELMAN’S MIND OVER MONEY — R 11:30 MY MUSIC: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK IN HAWAII — R (90 min.)
8 Saturday SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-6AM: 6AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30PM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES
COURTESY GERTRUDE BELL ARCHIVE, NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
WETA Television
9:00 FEEL BETTER FAST AND MAKE IT LAST WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 10:30 DEFENSE NEWS WEEKLY 11:00 BRAIN SECRETS WITH DR. MICHAEL MERZENICH — See the Thursday, December 6, 8 p.m. listing. Repeats Tue 12/4, 2pm, 12:30am; Thur 12/6, 8pm 12:30 RICK STEVES SPECIAL: EUROPEAN FESTIVALS — R 2:00 MIND OVER MONEY WITH RIC EDELMAN — R 3:30 NATURE: SNOW BEARS — See the Dec. 4, 9:30 p.m. listing. Repeats Mon 12/3, 1:30pm; Tue 12/4, 9:30pm 5:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 5:30 HANUKKAH: A FESTIVAL OF DELIGHTS — Explore the evolution of Hanukkah from its origin as a small holiday within Judaism to one of major prominence in assimilated American Jewish life. Interviews include actors William Shatner and Lainie Kazan, author Abigail Pogrebin, rabbis, historians, artists and others sharing historical background and personal memories of a unique holiday that connects generations of Jewish families. 7:00 SARAH BRIGHTMAN: HYMN — Thrill to the exquisite voice of the world’s best-selling soprano in this concert filmed in a magical setting at the foot of the Bavarian Alps. The special features favorites from Brightman’s career and songs from her much-anticipated new album. Repeats Thur 12/6, 9:30pm; Fri 12/7, 4:30pm 8:30 PETER, PAUL AND MARY AT NEWPORT 1963-65 — These never-before-seen performances by Peter, Paul and Mary at Newport ’63-’65 convey the joy, optimism and turbulence of that extraordinary era of change. Many of these songs hold an honored place in the soundtrack of 1960s activism in America. Repeats Mon 12/3, 4:30pm; Fri 12/7, 8:30pm 10:00 KEN BURNS: THE CIVIL WAR — An in-depth overview of the iconic 1990 film The Civil War, a co-production of Florentine Films and WETA, celebrates the landmark series. The special features video clips and interviews with Ken Burns, writer Geoffrey Ward, Ric Burns, cinematographer Buddy Squires and others. Repeats Tue 12/4, 4pm; Wed 12/5, 9:30pm; Thur 12/6, 1:30pm 12M SUZE ORMAN’S FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS FOR YOU — In a program taped at American University, the personal finance expert presents advice on a broad set of financial issues, including: how to invest; whether to buy or rent a home; saving for retirement; what kind of life insurance to buy; wills and trusts; student loans and more. Repeats Tue 12/4, noon; Wed 12/5, 11:30pm
4 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 RICK STEVES SPECIAL: EUROPEAN FESTIVALS — A Rick Steves travel special spotlights party time in Europe, exploring how Europe celebrates with gusto. He drops in on the Continent’s top 10 festivals. Stops include Pamplona, Venice, Siena, Munich and more; also join European families for their traditional Easter and Christmas celebrations. Repeats Wed 12/5, 1:30pm; Thur 12/6, noon 9:30 NATURE: SNOW BEARS — Travel to the Arctic to follow the journey of two newborn polar bear cubs as they leave their den for the first time. Led by their mother, the cubs must make the perilous voyage to the sea to feed. Actor Kate Winslet narrates.
Tuesday, December 11 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Letters from Baghdad relates the story of explorer Gertrude Bell (atop camel) who helped shape the Middle East after World War I.
6 DECEMBER 2018 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
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11/19/18 3:19 PM
10:30 FRONTLINE: TRAFFICKED IN AMERICA — Frontline presents the inside story of Guatemalan teens forced to work against their will in Ohio. The investigation of labor trafficking exposes a criminal network that exploited undocumented minors, spotlights companies profiting from forced labor, and examines the U.S. government’s role. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
12 Wednesday MAX HUG WILLIAMS
Wednesday, December 12 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Nature: Nature’s Miracle Orphans follows animal caregivers as they work to provide wild baby orphans a second chance at life.
9 Sunday SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-5AM: 6AM-10:30AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 10:30 DEFENSE NEWS WEEKLY 11AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6PM-5AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES
10 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: JUNK IN THE TRUNK 4 — View appraisals from the 2014 season, including a Steiff Pushmi-Pullyu Doctor Dolittle character, acquired at a PBS auction; a Picasso linocut, discovered in a basement; and a pair of Italian carved door panels, ca. 1550, purchased at an estate sale. Repeats Tue 12/11, noon; Wed 12/12, 1pm; Thur 12/13, noon 9:00 WETA NEIGHBORHOOD EATS — A WETA TV 26 production, a companion piece to the WETA Neighborhoods series, features culinary highlights from Washington, D.C. areas Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Anacostia and Capitol Hill. From established fine dining locales and cherished mainstays, to a new generation of up-and-coming restaurateurs, Neighborhood Eats discovers a vibrant collection of restaurants, cafes and chefs. Repeats Tue 12/11, 5pm; Wed 12/12, noon; Thur 12/13, 2pm 9:30 WETA NEIGHBORHOOD EATS 2 — A WETA TV 26 production features culinary highlights from Greater Washington areas Adams Morgan/Mt. Pleasant; Southwest D.C.; Del Ray in Alexandria, Virginia; and Silver Spring, Maryland. Repeats Tue 12/11, 5:30pm; Wed 12/12, 12:30pm; Thur 12/13, 2:30pm 10:00 SACRED — Become immersed in the daily use of faith and spiritual practice in more than 25 countries. At a time when religious hatreds dominate headlines, explore faith as primary human experience, and how people turn to ritual and prayer to navigate life. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
WETA Television
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: NATURE’S MIRACLE ORPHANS — A Nature presentation follows animal rescue center caregivers working to provide wild baby orphans a second chance at life. Wild Lessons. Pelota, a two-toed baby sloth, learns to be independent in Costa Rica, while in Australia, young kangaroo Harry must be taught to socialize with his mates. Fruit bat Bugsy needs help when his mother can’t provide milk. Repeats Thur 12/13, 4pm 9:00 NOVA: ULTIMATE CRUISE SHIP — Weighing 54,000 gross tons and stretching over two football fields, the Seven Seas Explorer is no ordinary boat. Join pioneering shipbuilders as they endeavor to build the ultimate cruise ship. Repeats Thur 12/13, 3pm 10:00 IMPOSSIBLE BUILDS: THE FLOATING HOUSE — A series explores the creation of technologically advanced buildings. The Floating House. Follow efforts to make living beneath the waves into a reality as a team in Dubai attempts to construct a floating house combining the best of land and marine design. Will they achieve the impossible? Repeats Thur 12/13, 5pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
13 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — A drama series from the makers of Downton Abbey is set is 1619 Virginia in the British colony of Jamestown. For 12 years, it has been populated only by men, but the settlement is shaken up when women, including Alice (Sophie Rundle), Verity (Niamh Walsh) and Jocelyn (Naomi Battrick), land. Twisting storylines follow the arrivals as they are thrust into a new world of love, desire, power and survival. Ultimately the residents are bound together by their will to survive. Part 1 of 8. An English ship arrives in 17th-century Virginia, with women destined to marry the men of Jamestown. They’re faced with a hazardous wilderness and physical hardship but are drawn to the hope of freedom and adventure. Repeats Fri 12/14, noon; Mon 12/17, 3pm; Sun 12/23, 2pm 9:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 2 of 8. Farlow and Redwick’s disdain for their new female neighbors intensifies and when Verity is accused of witchcraft, Jocelyn must use her guile to help her friend. Repeats Fri 12/14, 1pm; Mon 12/17, 4pm; Sun 12/23, 3pm 10:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 3 of 8. Pamunkey warriors descend upon the colony and the settlers meet with tribal leader Opechancanough. When Massinger tries to cause trouble for Silas, Alice unearths a secret from the plantation owner’s past. Repeats Fri 12/14, 2pm; Mon 12/17, 5pm; Sun 12/23, 4pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WE’LL MEET AGAIN, SERIES 1 — An episode from Series 1 is reprised before Series 2 resumes this month. Join Ann Curry for dramatic reunions of people whose lives crossed at pivotal moments. View history through their eyes and hear stories of heroism, hope and the forging of unbreakable bonds. Episode 1. Children of WWII. Join Curry for the reunions of people separated by World War II. A Japanese-American woman sent to an internment camp hopes to find a childhood friend, and a survivor from a Jewish ghetto searches for the child of the couple who befriended him. Repeats Wed 12/12, 5pm 9:00 LETTERS FROM BAGHDAD — Hear the story of a true original, Gertrude Bell, sometimes called the female “Lawrence of Arabia.” Bell was an explorer, spy, archaeologist and diplomat who helped shape the Middle East after World War I, then served as advisor to Winston Churchill. Tilda Swinton narrates.
CARNIVAL FILM & TELEVISION 2017
11 Tuesday
Thursdays, December 13, 20 & 27 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Eight-part drama Jamestown, Series 1 spotlights the 17th-century settlement 12 years after its founding as women colonists arrive. Starring (l-r) are Niamh Walsh, Naomi Battrick and Sophie Rundle.
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11/19/18 3:19 PM
COURTESY NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS
Test Kitchen archives. Repeats Tue 12/18, 5pm; Sun 12/23, noon; Tue 12/25, 8am; Fri 12/28, 8:30pm 11:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: MAN ON FIRE — Learn the story of an elderly white Texas minister who set himself on fire to protest the virulent racism of his community and the country at large. Friends, family members, neighbors and colleagues search for an explanation of his action. 12M AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
18 Tuesday
Dec. 14 & 21 at 8:30 p.m./Dec. 25 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD WETA reprises Call the Midwife holiday programs in Friday double features before premiering the new 2018 special on December 25.
WETA Television
14 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s long-running weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. 8:30 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2014 — In the drama, the Nonnatus community celebrates the holidays and bids farewell to the 1950s: rehearsals for the Sunday School Christmas concert are underway, creating inconvenience for the nuns and nurses; two unmarried patients are dispatched to a home for pregnant women where Chummy becomes manager; and Dr. Turner treats a destitute older couple, former residents of a mental hospital. Repeats Mon 12/17, noon; Tue 12/18, 2pm; Wed 12/19, noon 10:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2015 — The Poplar neighborhood readies itself for Christmas 1960. A surprise for a grieving mother brings the holiday magic home, while Nonnatus is rocked when one of its own disappears. A film crew promises to make the Christmas holiday memorable. Repeats Mon 12/17, 1:30pm; Tue 12/18, 3:30pm; Wed 12/19, 1:30pm 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
15 Saturday SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-6AM: 6AM-6PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES
16 Sunday SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM-5AM: 6AM-10:30AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 10:30 DEFENSE NEWS WEEKLY 11AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6PM-5AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WE’LL MEET AGAIN, SERIES 2 — Witness emotional reunions between people who were thrown together or separated under circumstances of historical significance. Ann Curry hosts. Episode 3 of 6. Great Alaska Earthquake. Join Curry as two Alaskans try to track down childhood friends who also survived the state’s massive 1964 earthquake. A woman wants to thank a friend and her mom from shielding her from harm, and a man searches for a Little League teammate. Repeats Wed 12/19, 5pm 9:00 AMERICAN MEDEVAC — During the Vietnam War, CBS News correspondent Morton Dean and cameraman Greg Cooke flew on a harrowing medevac mission to rescue three wounded infantrymen from an enemyfilled rice paddy. Dean long wondered what had become of the medevac crew and the bloodied men who were airlifted to safety on that day in 1971. American Medevac tells the story of their reunion, more than 40 years later. Repeats Wed 12/19, 4pm 10:00 FRONTLINE: THE GANG CRACKDOWN — Frontline spotlights a slew of killings linked to the MS-13 gang, and the crackdown that swept up immigrant teens. Some 25 bodies have surfaced since 2016. Law enforcement is trying to stop the gang, but some immigrant teens have been unlawfully detained in the process. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
19 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: MYSTERY MONKEYS OF SHANGRI-LA — Meet a family of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys living in the highest forests in the world. The survival of this unique society, formed in response to the hardships of the Himalayas, depends on strong defensive strategies, cooperation and interdependence. Repeats Thur 12/20, 4pm 9:00 NOVA: GHOSTS OF STONEHENGE — Who built Stonehenge and why? Discover how the last decade of groundbreaking archaeological digs has revealed major new clues to Britain’s enigmatic 5,000-year-old site and the people who constructed it. Repeats Thur 12/20, 3pm 10:00 ATTENBOROUGH’S BIRDS OF PARADISE — In this film, natural history filmmaker David Attenborough offers his own personal take on the mystery and discovery, obsession and scientific revelation surrounding the elusive birds of paradise. Attenborough himself has spent a lifetime filming their displays and researching these birds both in their remote forest homes and in the museums and collections of Europe. Repeats Thur 12/20, 5pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: JUNK IN THE TRUNK 8 — Experience all-new and previously unaired appraisals, including a $60,000-$120,000 find. Repeats Tue 12/18, noon; Wed 12/19, 3pm; Thur 12/20, noon 9:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING SUTTON FOSTER AND HUGH BONNEVILLE — Join Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, guest musical artist and narrator for this year’s concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Repeats Tue 12/25, 5pm 10:00 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN SPECIAL: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS — Bridget Lancaster, Julia Collin Davison and the rest of the America’s Test Kitchen cast share their tips and tricks for planning a stress-free gathering, while also recounting personal holiday memories and revealing their all-time favorite holiday recipes from the
AMERICAN MEDEVAC
17 Monday
Tuesday, December 18 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD American Medevac follows CBS News correspondent Morton Dean as he reunites with the servicemen he encountered decades ago on a harrowing medevac rescue mission during the Vietnam War.
8 DECEMBER 2018 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
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11/19/18 3:19 PM
COURTESY TERRA MATER/OXFORD SCIENTIFIC FILMS
Wednesday, December 19 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD NOVA: Ghosts of Stonehenge explores recent new archaeological clues about the enigmatic prehistoric site and its builders.
20 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 4 of 8. Rumors of a goldmine map send suspicion around the settlement. Farlow and Redwick resort to espionage to get the better of Jocelyn and when James Read’s temper leads him into serious trouble, he finds himself indebted to Alice. Repeats Fri 12/21, noon; Mon 12/24, 3pm; Sun 12/30, 2pm 9:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 5 of 8. When Yeardley is struck down by illness, Redwick sees an opportunity to cause civil unrest. An accusation by Alice spurs James into finding out what really happened to Henry, while Jocelyn realizes she underestimated Temperance. Repeats Fri 12/21, 1pm; Mon 12/24, 4pm; Sun 12/30, 3pm 10:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 6 of 8. A disgruntled Verity succumbs to the bad habits for which she was jailed back in England; the Sharrows’ crop comes under a potentially devastating threat; and as the settlers mark the summer harvest, an arrival in town disrupts the celebrations. Repeats Fri 12/21, 2pm; Mon 12/24, 5pm; Sun 12/30, 4pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
21 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s long-running weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/22, 6:30pm 8:30 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2016 — Follow the Nonnatus House family to South Africa after they receive an S.O.S. call from a mission hospital that’s understaffed, underfunded and threatened with closure. Repeats Fri 12/21, 3pm; Mon 12/24, noon: Wed 12/26, noon 10:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2017 — Join the midwives as they battle snow, ice, power cuts and frozen pipes to provide patient care during the coldest winter in 300 years. Valerie helps a young couple who experience a traumatic birth and Sister Julienne tries to reunite a family. Repeats Fri 12/21, 4:30pm; Mon 12/24, 1:30pm; Wed 12/26, 1:30pm 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 10:00 THE THIS OLD HOUSE HOUR 11:00 A CHEF’S LIFE 11:30 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE 12N YAN CAN COOK: SPICE KINGDOM 12:30 SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS 1:00 BAKING WITH JULIA 1:30 LIDIA’S KITCHEN 2:00 IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS 2:30 JACQUES PÉPIN: MORE FAST FOOD MY WAY! 3:00 MARTHA STEWART’S COOKING SCHOOL 3:30 MARTHA BAKES 4:00 COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN 4:30 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED 5:00 CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION 5:30 CHECK, PLEASE! DC SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM-6AM 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, SERIES 1 — Part 1. 7:59 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: AFTER THE FUNERAL — At Richard Abernethie’s funeral, his youngest sister, Cora, announces that he was murdered. The next day, Cora herself is murdered. The family solicitor asks Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) to investigate. On visiting the family home, Enderby Hall, Poirot soon discovers that everyone in the family is lying about their alibi. Co-starring are Robert Bathurst, Geraldine James, Michael Fassbender, Julian Ovenden and Kevin Doyle. 9:32 MAN IN AN ORANGE SHIRT ON MASTERPIECE — Two love stories, 60 years apart, chart the changes and challenges in gay lives in England — from the era of jail terms to the onset of dating apps. Vanessa Redgrave stars in this drama scripted by bestselling novelist Patrick Gale. 11:30 WETA NEIGHBORHOOD EATS — R
23 Sunday ON WETA TV 26, 6AM-12N. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD. 6AM-9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9:00 WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE 9:30 TO THE CONTRARY WITH BONNIE ERBE 10:00 THIS IS AMERICA AND THE WORLD WITH DENNIS WHOLEY 10:30 DEFENSE NEWS WEEKLY 11:00 THE OPEN MIND 11:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 12N-12M: 12N AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN SPECIAL: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS — R 1:00 LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: A HEARTLAND HOLIDAY FEAST — Join Emmy- and James Beard Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich as she travels to the heartland of America, immersing herself in diverse cultures that provide inspiration for the holidays. Repeats Tue 12/25, 9am
ON WETA TV 26, 6AM-6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD. 6AM NEW SCANDINAVIAN COOKING 6:30 JULIE TABOULIE’S LEBANESE KITCHEN 7:00 CIAO ITALIA 7:30 NIGELLA: AT MY TABLE 8:00 JOANNE WEIR GETS FRESH 8:30 RICK STEVES’ EUROPE
BBC
22 Saturday Wednesday, December 19 at 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Attenborough’s Birds of Paradise spotlights the wonderous birds with acclaimed natural history filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, tracing his lifelong passion for the colorful creatures that led him to the forests of New Guinea more than 50 years ago.
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11/19/18 3:53 PM
WETA Television
Saturdays, December 22 & 29 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Agatha Christie’s Poirot continues, featuring David Suchet in his signature role as the famed crime novelist’s Belgian detective.
2:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Parts 1-3 of 8. R 5:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 5:30 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 5 ON MASTERPIECE — WETA reprises the drama’s penultimate season, which finds the Crawley family and the staff struggling with responsibilities and choices as they adjust to life in the Roaring Twenties. Part 1 of 9. When a working-class prime minister is elected, new ideas about class leave Robert feeling snubbed. Thomas, unchanged, bullies Baxter into a corner. Edith plays with fire. 7:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — WETA reprises the second season of the drama, starring Jenna Coleman as the young British monarch and Tom Hughes as her husband, Albert, Prince Consort. Part 1 of 7. A Soldier’s Daughter/The Green-Eyed Monster. New mother Victoria is impatient to return to ruling, while Albert attempts to protect her from news regarding British soldiers in Afghanistan. Victoria is pregnant again and her equilibrium is threatened by Albert’s friendship with Ada Lovelace. Repeats Mon 12/31, 8:30am 9:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 2 of 7. Warp and Weft/The Sins of the Father. Discontent is growing in the country; an unexpected grief finally forces Victoria to put childish things away. Despite the healthy birth of an heir, she’s paralyzed by an inexplicable sorrow. A tragedy in Coburg plunges Albert into his own torment. Repeats Mon 12/31, 10:30am 11:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 3 of 7. Entente Cordiale. Victoria decides to try her hand at foreign relations and takes the royal court on an adventure to France, contending with the cunning King of the French, Louis Philippe. Repeats Mon 12/31, 12:30pm
24 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: GREATEST GIFTS — A Louis Comfort Tiffany necklace from a husband or a Fender bass guitar as a birthday present — these memorable gifts turned out to be valuable and interesting items. “Greatest Gifts” features appraisals of items that guests received as presents. Repeats Thur 12/27, noon 9:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING SANTINO FONTANA AND THE SESAME STREET MUPPETS — Stage and singing star Santino Fontana, the Muppets from Sesame Street and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square perform a 2015 concert that includes songs from Sesame Street and inspiring arrangements of sacred Christmas music. 10:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING ROLANDO VILLAZÓN — The 2017 season’s cross-cultural spectacular features the world’s leading tenor, Rolando Villazón, performing seasonal favorites with the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Repeats Tue 12/25, 4pm 11:00 HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH THE BOSTON POPS — A music special taped at historic Symphony Hall in Boston showcases the best of the New England holiday season, with the Boston Pops and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, performing beloved holiday classics. Repeats Tue 12/25, 2pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
8AM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN SPECIAL: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS — R 9AM LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: A HEARTLAND HOLIDAY FEAST — R 10AM NIGELLA: AT MY TABLE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL — Repeats tonight 11AM A CHEF’S LIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 12N CHRISTMASTIME IN NEW ORLEANS 1PM CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT 2PM HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH THE BOSTON POPS — R 3PM CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING LAURA OSNES AND MARTIN JARVIS 4PM CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING ROLANDO VILLAZÓN — R 5PM CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATURING SUTTON FOSTER AND HUGH BONNEVILLE — R 6:00 BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WE’LL MEET AGAIN, SERIES 2 — Ann Curry hosts. Episode 4 of 6. Korean War Brothers in Arms. Join Curry as Korean War veterans search for their brothers in arms. One wants to show his gratitude to two lieutenants who inspired him to be brave in battle, and the other hopes to thank a friend who boosted his spirits aboard a hospital ship. Repeats Wed 12/26, 5pm 9:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2018 — Miriam Margolyes stars as Sister Mildred, who arrives unexpectedly at Nonnatus House, her hands full with four Chinese orphans who are to be adopted in the U.K. With Christmas preparations underway and the midwives busy caring for the expectant mothers of Poplar, these visitors cause joy and chaos in equal measure. Trixie returns to cover for the Sisters as they leave to elect a new spiritual leader; Sister Julienne is the favored candidate. Repeats Wed 12/26, 3pm; Fri 12/28, 4:30pm 10:30 NIGELLA: AT MY TABLE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL — Television personality, journalist and gourmet food writer Nigella Lawson, host of the culinary series Nigella: At My Table, presents a Christmas special. In a converted country barn, Nigella and friends celebrate the beauty of nature, the quaintness of village life, and the true warmth of the season. The chef and author cooks up a seasonal feast and offers tips for easy entertaining, bringing some new and festive flavors to familiar and traditional fare. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
26 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: H IS FOR HAWK: A NEW CHAPTER — Helen Macdonald’s best-selling book “H Is for Hawk” told the saga of a grieving daughter who found healing in training a goshawk. Now she digs deeper into the world of these raptors by following a family in the wild and raising a goshawk of her own. Repeats Thur 12/27, 4pm
COURTESY ©ITV STUDIOS 2017 FOR MASTERPIECE
RLJ ENTERTAINMENT/ACORN MEDIA
25 Tuesday
Sundays, December 23 & 30 at 7 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD In anticipation of the Series 3 premiere in January, WETA reprises Victoria, Series 2 on Masterpiece on two consecutive Sunday nights. The series then repeats Monday, December 31, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
10 DECEMBER 2018 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
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11/19/18 3:19 PM
9:00 NOVA: APOLLO’S DARING MISSION — Hear Apollo astronauts and engineers tell the inside story of how the first mission to the moon, Apollo 8, pioneered groundbreaking technologies that would pave the way to land a man on the moon and win the space race. Repeats Thur 12/27, 3pm 10:00 TESLA: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Meet Nikola Tesla, the genius engineer and tireless inventor whose technology revolutionized the electrical age of the 20th century. Although eclipsed in fame by Edison and Marconi, it was Tesla’s vision that paved the way for today’s wireless world. Repeats Thur 12/27, 5pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
28 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s long-running weekly production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/29, 6:30pm 8:30 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN SPECIAL: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS — R
Friday, December 28 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD Great Performances: Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood presents a tribute concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Above: Yo-Yo Ma, Jessica Zhou and John Williams.
9:30 GREAT PERFORMANCES: LEONARD BERNSTEIN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT TANGLEWOOD — Celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday with this tribute concert at Tanglewood. Featuring the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the performance is hosted by Audra McDonald and includes guest artists Midori, Yo-Yo Ma, Thomas Hampson and others. 12M AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
29 Saturday ON WETA TV 26, 6AM-6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD. 6AM-6PM See the Saturday, December 22 listings. SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM-6AM 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, SERIES 1 — Part 2. 8:00 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: TAKEN AT THE FLOOD — Sleuth Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) is enlisted to help when a young widow is left in sole possession of her late husband’s fortune and a family row begins about the inheritance. Poirot seeks to discover if the widow’s missing first husband might not be dead after all. Co-starring are Jenny Agutter, Tim Pigott-Smith and Celia Imrie. 9:35 THE WETA MOVIE: PLACES IN THE HEART — Robert Benton’s 1984 drama presents the story of a widowed mother (Sally Field) who fights for her cotton farm alongside a laborer and a blind boarder (John Malkovich) in 1930s Texas. Field won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance and Benton won an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay. (1:51) Repeats Sun 12/30, noon 11:30 BBC ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
WETA Television
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 7 of 8. Henry presents his new-found riches to the townsfolk and soon acquires an array of eager friends. His return pushes Alice to take matters into her own hands, and a scientific discovery alters the hopes of all within Jamestown. Repeats Fri 12/28, noon 9:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Part 8 of 8. A boat arrives from England with news for Temperance and important instructions for Yeardley. Redwick strikes a covert and divisive business deal. As the farmers celebrate summer harvest, a new and deplorable chapter in the town’s history begins. Repeats Fri 12/28, 1pm 10:00 ELIZABETH AT 90: A FAMILY TRIBUTE — A special BBC program narrated by the Prince of Wales presents a unique celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s life and is granted special access to the collection of Her Majesty’s personal ciné films, shot by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself, as well as by King George VI and the Queen Mother. Members of the royal family share memories of Elizabeth. Repeats Fri 12/28, 2pm 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
CHRIS LEE
27 Thursday
COURTESY NASA
30 Sunday
Wednesday, December 26 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD NOVA: Apollo’s Daring Mission features astronauts and engineers telling the inside story of the first manned mission to the moon. Above: James A. Lovell Jr., William A. Anders and Frank Borman.
ON WETA TV 26, 6AM-12N. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD. 6AM-12N See the Sunday, December 23 listings. SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 12N-12M: 12N THE WETA MOVIE: PLACES IN THE HEART — (1:51) R 2:00 JAMESTOWN, SERIES 1 — Parts 4-6 of 8. R 5:00 CHECK, PLEASE! DC — Episode 1. R 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:00 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 5 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 2 of 9. Rose tries to bring a wireless — and Sarah Bunting — into the house. Violet plays cupid, a charming visitor arrives, and Anna helps Mary in the most unexpected of ways. 7:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 4 of 7. Faith, Hope & Charity. News of the horrific famine in Ireland has finally reached the queen. She is adamant that her government should be doing more to help but meets with surprising opposition from her prime minister. Repeats Mon 12/31, 1:30pm
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. ©2018 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 31, Number 12. 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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26.3 Over the Air Comcast 266 Cox 801 FiOS 472 RCN 38
COURTESY WMATA
The WETA Kids channel offers a safe haven for young viewers, presenting educational programming 24 hours each day, seven days a week. WETA KIDS ON WEEKDAYS
WETA Television
Monday, December 31, 9 p.m.-midnight on WETA TV 26/HD Three acclaimed WETA TV 26 productions spotlight Washington, D.C. history, exploring the decades of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Above: Construction of the Dupont Circle Metro Station, mid ’70s.
8:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 5 of 7. The King Over the Water. Feeling suffocated by the weight of the crown, Victoria escapes with her court to the Scottish Highlands. She and Albert revel in the opportunity to be a normal husband and wife, but the holiday can’t last forever. Repeats Mon 12/31, 2:30pm 9:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 6 of 7. The Luxury of Conscience. Victoria and Albert must face their worst nightmare as parents, while Peel takes on the ultimate battle in Parliament. When tragedy strikes, they must confront the true cost of standing by their convictions. Repeats Mon 12/31, 3:30pm 10:00 VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 7 of 7. Comfort & Joy. Albert is intent on re-creating the Christmastime joy he remembers from his youth. Victoria has more than one surprise visitor and finds herself threatened by a relative. Meanwhile, the festive spirit sparks romantic tension throughout the palace. Series 3 premieres in January. Repeats Mon 12/31, 4:30pm 11:30 BBC ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
31 Monday 8:30AM VICTORIA, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — A reprised, complete airing of Series 2 airs until 6 p.m. Part 1, 8:30am; Part 2, 10:30am; Part 3, 12:30pm; Part 4, 1:30pm; Part 5, 2:30pm; Part 6, 3:30pm; Part 7, 4:30pm. Series 3 premieres in January. 6:00 BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: JUNK IN THE TRUNK 5 — See never-before-aired appraisals from this season’s tour, including a $40,000 to $60,000 treasure. 9:00 WASHINGTON IN THE ’70S — A WETA TV 26 documentary charts the District’s rise from the ashes of the 1968 riots to its emergence as a cosmopolitan world capital and majority-African American-populated and -governed metropolis. Bernard Shaw narrates. 10:00 WASHINGTON IN THE ’80S — A WETA TV 26 production explores the decade of Reagan and Barry, the Wall and the Quilt, Go-Go and DC punk, the Air Florida crash, crack, and a golden age for local media and sports. Twenty prominent local figures — including Kojo Nnamdi, Joe Gibbs, Maureen Bunyan, Arch Campbell, Pat Buchanan and the late Marion Barry — reflect on the disorderly years of the 1980s in Washington. 11:00 WASHINGTON IN THE ’90S — A WETA TV 26 documentary chronicles the seminal local events of the decade through the recollections of those who experienced and shaped them. Highlights include Mayor Marion Barry’s fall and political comeback; the revitalization of downtown D.C. that included the return of the Washington Capitals to the then-newly-built MCI Center; and the region’s emergence as a technology hub in the early days of the pre-digital era. Longtime NBC4 news anchor Doreen Gentzler narrates. 12M AMANPOUR AND COMPANY
WETA KIDS AIRINGS IN BLACK; WETA TV 26 IN BLUE • Curious George, 5am • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 5:30am • Sesame Street, 6am • Peg + Cat, 6:30am (6am) • Arthur, 7am (6:30am) • Ready Jet Go!, 7:30am (7am) • Wild Kratts, 8am (7:30am) • Nature Cat, 8:30am (8am) • Curious George, 9am (8:30am) • Let’s Go Luna!, 9:30am (9am) • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 10am, 10:30am (9:30am, 10am) • Pinkalicious, 11am (10:30am) • Sesame Street, 11:30am (11am) • Splash and Bubbles, 12N (11:30am) • Dinosaur Train, 12:30pm • Cat in the Hat Knows Alot About That!, 1pm • Sesame Street, 1:30pm • Super WHY!, 2pm (5am) • Pinkalicious, 2:30pm • Let’s Go Luna!, 3pm • Nature Cat, 3:30pm • Wild Kratts, 4pm, 4:30pm Visit weta.org/kids • Odd Squad, 5pm, 5:30pm for full listings of • Arthur, 6pm, 6:30pm children’s programs • Ready Jet Go!, 7pm on WETA Kids • WordGirl, 7:30pm & WETA TV 26. • Sesame Street, 8pm, 8:30pm • Cyberchase, 9pm (5:30am) • Odd Squad, 9:30pm • SciGirls, 10pm • Maya & Miguel, 10:30pm • Let’s Go Luna!, 11pm • Ready Jet Go!, 11:30pm • Arthur, 12M
©FELINE FEATURES LLC/THE FRED ROGERS COMPANY
WASHINGTON IN THE ‘70S/’80S/’90S WETA TV 26 PRODUCTIONS
WETA Kids holiday specials include Arthur’s Perfect Christmas; The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!; Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas; Let’s Go Luna!: Luna’s Christmas Around the World; Peg + Cat + Holidays (above); and Wild Kratts: A Creature Christmas. For airdates and showtimes, visit weta.org/kids.
12 DECEMBER 2018 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
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26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 800 Comcast 265 FiOS 474
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 great 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.
P.M. PROGRAMMING ON WETA UK IN DECEMBER SUNDAY
12pm 12:30pm
1pm 1:30pm
2pm
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
New Tricks
New Tricks
New Tricks
Doc Martin, Series 3 (except 12/29)
MI-5
MI-5
MI-5
Father Brown, Series 5 & 6
Waking the Dead
Waking the Dead
Waking the Dead
Happy Valley, Series 2
Midsomer Murders, Series 10 & 11
Nature’s Microworlds
Midsomer Murders, Series 10 & 11
Father Brown, Series 5 & 6
• Poldark, Series 4 (12/1) • The Miniaturist on Masterpiece • Wallander (12/29, to 5:30pm)
Victorian Slum House (starts 12/3)
The Syndicate (starts 12/4)
The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 4 & 5
Pie in the Sky, Series 1
EastEnders
Pie in the Sky, Series 1 (5:30pm on 12/29)
• Yellowstone (12/2, 6pm) • Amish Paradise (12/2, 7pm) • Great British Baking Show Xmas Mstrclasses, 6pm • Nature’s Microworlds (starts 12/9, 7pm)
Silent Witness, Series 3 (Series 17 starts 12/24)
Pie in the Sky, Series 1
• The Heart Guy • Love, Lies and Records (12/19) • Dr. Blake movie (12/26)
Doc Martin, Series 3
Victorian Slum House (starts 12/7)
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served?
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By
• Downton Abbey, Series 5 (12/1, 6-8pm) • Downton Abbey, Series 6 (12/8, 6:30pm; 12/15-12/29, 7pm) • BBC Antiques Roadshow (12/8-12/22, 6pm; 12/29, 6:30pm)
Great British Baking Show Christmas Masterclasses
Pie in the Sky, Series 1
• Dr. Blake Mysteries, Series 4 & 5 • Dr. Blake Movie (12/25, to 10pm)
Midsomer Murders, Series 10 (Series 11 starts 12/12)
Father Brown, Series 5 (Series 6 starts 12/20)
Ordinary Lies, Series 2 (starts 12/7)
• The Heart Guy • Love, Lies and Records (starts 12/15)
Nature’s Microworlds (starts 12/2)
The Syndicate (starts 12/3)
Doc Martin, Series 3 (except 12/25)
Downton Abbey, Series 6 (to 10:30pm on 12/5)
Happy Valley, Series 2
• The Miniaturist on Masterpiece • Wallander, Series 1 (starts 12/28)
• Broken • Silk, Series 1 (starts 12/29)
Victorian Slum House (starts 12/2)
Silent Witness, Series 3 (Series 17 starts 12/17)
• The Heart Guy • Love, Lies and Records (starts 12/18)
Home Fires (10:30pm on 12/5) (Series 2 starts 12/19)
• Vera, Series 6 • Sherlock on Masterpiece (12/27)
• Inside the Court of Henry VIII • Jericho of Scotland Yard (starts 12/8)
Doctor Who Peter Davison Movies
Father Brown, Series 5 (Series 6 starts 12/24)
Pie in the Sky, Series 1
Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 4 & 5 (12m on 12/5; Doctor Blake movie on 12/26)
• Arthur & George on Masterpiece • BBC Antiques Roadshow (11pm, 12/7-12/21) • Indian Summers, Series 1 (starts 12/28 at 10:30pm)
Midsomer Murders, Series 10 & 11
Father Brown, Series 5 & 6 (12m on 12/28)
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Are You Being Served?
• The Heart Guy • Love, Lies and Records (starts 12/16)
New Tricks
Midsomer Murders, Series 10 & 11
MI-5
• Broken • Silk, Series 1 (starts 12/30)
Waking the Dead
Foyle’s War, Series 5 & 6
Great British Baking Show Christmas Masterclasses
• Poldark, Series 4 (12/2) • The Miniaturist on Masterpiece • Silk, Series 1 (starts 12/30)
As Time Goes By
2:30pm
3pm
TUESDAY
Are You Being Served?
• BBC Antiques Roadshow (12/2) • Victorian Slum House (starts 12/9)
12n-4pm same as other weekdays, except 12/25: • Great British Baking Show Christmas Masterclasses (10am-2pm) • Call the Midwife Holiday Specials (2pm-8pm) • Doctor Blake Movie (8-10pm) • Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2018 (10-11:30pm)
• The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 4 & 5 • Doctor Blake Movie (12/29, to 2pm)
3:30pm
4pm 4:30pm
5pm 5:30pm
6pm 6:30pm
7pm 7:30pm
8pm 8:30pm
9pm 9:30pm
10pm 10:30pm
11pm 11:30pm
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Silent Witness, Series 3 (Series 17 starts 12/22)
SATURDAY
VISIT WETAUK.ORG FOR A PRINTABLE FULL-DAY SCHEDULE.
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WETA UK December Highlights Indian Summers
Fridays at 10:30 p.m. starting December 28 on WETA UK
NEW PICTURES FOR MASTERPIECE/ALL3MEDIA INTL
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nine-part drama spotlights the Raj, romance, and revolution in an epic series set in 1930s colonial India as pressure builds for independence from Britain. Alongside a cast of British, Indian and Pakistani stars that includes Roshan Seth (Gandhi), Lillete Dubey (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Alyy Khan (Sharpe’s Challenge), Julie Walters (Billy Elliot) stars as Cynthia Coffin, the hostess of the Royal Simla Club, where the ruling class lounges in subtropical splendor in a British colonial retreat in the Himalayan foothills. Set during the summer season, when India’s British rulers left the heat of the sweltering plains for the cooler hill stations, Indian Summers follows personal and political tensions during a time of wrenching political and social change. Henry LloydHughes stars as ambitious bureaucrat Ralph Whelan, Jemima West portrays his visiting sister Alice, and Nikesh Patel is Aafrin Dalal, an Indian navigating dangerously between colonials and the Independence movement.
Fridays, December 7, 14 & 21 at 9 p.m. on WETA UK
A
THE FORGE/LAURENCE CENDROWICZ FOR BBC/MASTERPIECE
The Miniaturist on Masterpiece
three-part adaptation of Jessie Burton’s bestselling 2014 novel The Miniaturist stars (l-r) Anya Taylor-Joy, Alex Hassell and Romola Garai. The series, filmed in the Netherlands and the U.K., is set in 1686, when the Dutch Republic was one of the world’s richest and most religiously zealous nations. The storyline follows Nella, a naïve young woman from the provinces who is wooed by Johannes Brandt (Hassell), a handsome, prosperous Amsterdam merchant. The two wed, but she is soon left in the care of his overbearing sister, Marin (Garai), and the household’s two controlling servants. On Johannes’ return, he remains emotionally cool to Nella, but he bestows upon her a very special wedding gift: an exquisite model of the very house in which she is living. Johannes instructs his bride to furnish it by calling on the services of one of the local makers of miniature objects — a miniaturist. From this seemingly clairvoyant figure, Nella begins to receive creations that appear to predict the future, hinting at closely held secrets, and the heroine is led to discover the truths of her mysterious new home.
Fridays at 9 p.m. starting December 28 on WETA UK
enneth Branagh stars as flawed but deeply human Swedish detective Inspector Kurt Wallander in a BAFTA-winning role based on the international bestselling novels by Henning Mankell. Set in the beautiful landscape of southern Sweden and filmed on location in the bucolic seaside town of Ystad, the crime drama follows the middle-aged sleuth as he battles personal demons while investigating murders. The detective takes each case he works on very personally and will stop at nothing in his search for the truth, even at the expense of his health and his family life. Despite being burdened by a recent breakup with his wife, blood sugar gone haywire, a daughter trying to run his life, and a father succumbing to illness, Wallander focuses his concentration on the complex, gritty cases unfolding around him. Series 1 features three episodes.
Also in December: WETA UK seasonal programing includes Christmas Masterclasses from past seasons of the popular series The Great British Baking Show. Tune in Sundays at 8 p.m. throughout the month for these programs featuring (right) Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. On Dec. 25, these specials repeat 10 a.m.-2 p.m., after which WETA UK presents Call the Midwife specials, along with a Doctor Blake Mysteries movie. 14 DECEMBER 2018
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©LEFT BANK PICTURES 2011
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Wallander, Series I
11/19/18 3:17 PM
Fridays, December 7, 14 & 21 at 10 p.m. on WETA UK
NEIL GENOWER/BUFFALO FILMS FOR MASTERPIECE
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Arthur & George on Masterpiece
artin Clunes (Doc Martin) stars as author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, in a real-life case that inspired the renowned writer to put down his pen and turn detective. The three-part adaptation of Julian Barnes’ novel (a Booker Prize finalist) traces a string of notorious animal mutilations alleged to involve an improbable defendant: mild-mannered Anglo-Indian attorney George Edalji. The drama follows the separate but intersecting lives of the men: one, framed for a crime he may not have committed, and the other, investigating what he fears is a miscarriage of justice. Co-starring are Arsher Ali as Edalji; Art Malik as his Indian father, an Anglican minister; and Emma Fielding as his Scottish mother. Also appearing are Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey) and Hattie Morahan (Sense and Sensibility).
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Jericho of Scotland Yard
Saturdays at 10 p.m. starting December 8 on WETA UK
RLJ ENTERTAINMENT/ACORN MEDIA
obert Lindsay (My Family, Horatio Hornblower) stars as Chief Inspector Michael Jericho, a famous Scotland Yard detective investigating high-profile murders in 1950s London. Aided by his trusted sergeant, Clive Harvey (David Troughton, Sharpe’s Rifles), and young DC John Caldicott (Ciarán McMenamin), Jericho probes crimes throughout the city. While brilliant at his job and popular with the public, he hides a dark and painful past and will stop at nothing to find justice. The four-part series is set during a time of dramatic change in Britain’s social history, when London saw an explosion of color, glamor and shifting attitudes after the Second World War. Jericho is a man surveying a city changing beyond recognition in front of his eyes. Guest stars include Brendan Coyle, Francesca Annis, Dominic Cooper, Peter Egan and Laurence Fox.
Saturdays at 8 p.m. starting December 15 on WETA UK
six-part drama series stars Ashley Jensen (Agatha Raisin) as working mother and public registrar Kate Dickenson, who must juggle her personal life with the births, marriages and deaths she officially registers at work. After a dream promotion to the top job of superintendent, Kate tries hard to manage her duties in her professional life and her home life as a working mother, and maintain her relationship, but she struggles mightily when a disgruntled colleague threatens to expose a secret from her past. The series explores how women, in particular, are compelled to juggle responsibilities in their lives. With everything Kate has worked for placed in jeopardy, can she sustain herself when it’s more than her job that is on the line?
A
RLJ ENTERTAINMENT/ACORN MEDIA
A
Love, Lies and Records
Nature’s Microworlds
Sundays at 9 p.m. starting December 2 on WETA UK
BBC
BBC documentary series explores the workings of some of Earth’s special habitats, examining the planet’s worlds within worlds, each a self-contained ecosystem bursting with life. With superb cinematography, the series travels to locations around the globe — from the Galapagos Islands, the grasslands of the Serengeti, and Svalbard in the Arctic Circle, to the Amazon rainforest, the desert of Australia’s Red Center and beyond — to discover the key to life in each habitat and introduce the creatures there. The half-hour episodes, airing in pairs, spotlight the intricate web of relationships and natural forces that make these ecosystems unique, exploring what can happen if something alters their delicate balance. What are nature’s tipping points?
Also this month: Victorian Slum House airs Sundays at 10 p.m. starting December 2; The Syndicate airs Mondays at 9 p.m.; Silent Witness continues Mondays at 10 p.m., entering Series 17 on December 17; Midsomer Murders continues Wednesdays at 8 p.m., entering Series 11 on December 12; Masterpiece series Downton Abbey continues Wednesdays at 9 p.m., entering Series 6 (final season) on December 5; Vera, Series 6 continues Thursdays at 10 p.m.; and Ordinary Lies continues Fridays at 8 p.m., entering Series 2 on December 7.
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Classical WETA 90.9 FM Piano Virtuosos on Front Row Washington Mondays at 9 p.m.
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By John Banther, On-Air Host and Producer
Classical WETA 90.9 FM
ANDREW GARN
©BENJAMIN EALOVEGA
his month on Classical WETA 90.9 FM’s Monday night program Front Row Washington, we celebrate the season with two special programs featuring the piano. The first is December 10 with pianist Steven Osborne’s complete performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Vint Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus (Twenty Gazes on the Infant Jesus) from the Phillips Collection. This work is two hours long, with no intermission, and is one the most grandly-conceived works in the piano repertoire. The work was composed in Paris at a critical, turbulent time in France’s Steven Osborne history — in 1944 during the World War II Nazi occupation — and was completed two weeks after the city’s liberation. At the premiere Messiaen said, “The work uses a great many new procedures that vary with each piece. Three main themes run through the Vint Regards: the ‘Theme of God,’ which you will hear almost all the time, and right from the first page; the ‘Theme of the Star and of the Cross’; and finally a ‘Theme of Chords’ which is intended to return fragmented or concentrated in a rainbow.” The critics were divided. Vint Regards features long segments with no discernable key, tonal center or time signature. This sound was at odds with what was considered appropriate for religious music, and it was difficult for many to reconcile Messiaen’s sound to traditional theology. Others, however, praised it. Roland-Manuel wrote: “This musician’s entire output proclaims the supremacy of things spiritual... Everything that an impressionist sensuality might use to express earthly delights, Olivier Messiaen devoted to the praise of the divine.” Our other special program, December 24, presents Stewart Goodyear’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the Phillips Collection. Stewart Goodyear Goodyear plays his arrangement of the entire ballet from the piano (listen for how he cleverly imitates the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King!) in a concert that is a perfect accompaniment for your Christmas Eve. In other broadcasts, on December 3 we have the Miró Quartet with clarinetist David Shifrin performing music by American composer Kevin Puts (b. 1972), Mozart and Brahms from the Phillips Collection. Also from the Phillips Collection, the Van Kuijk Quartet on the December 17 program performs music by Mozart, and the only string quartet by Debussy. On December 31, we present the Amelia Piano Trio in a Candlelight Concert Society performance of trios by Beethoven.
NSO Showcase Presents Handel’s Messiah Wednesday, December 5 at 9 p.m. By Nicole Lacroix, Afternoon On-Air Host
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ROGER MASTROIANNI
he National Symphony Orchestra maintains a December tradition: each year, a new conductor leads the ensemble in Handel’s Messiah, offering a personal interpretation of the beloved masterpiece. Last year’s performance — recorded in December 2017 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — featured the NSO debut of Baroque specialist Jeannette Sorrell. Ms. Sorrell is renowned as the founder and music director of Apollo’s Fire, one of the country’s premier early-music ensembles. The four soloists, Sophie Daneman, Ann McMahon Quintero, Karim Sulayman and Christian Immler, were also making their NSO debuts, while the University of Maryland Concert Choir (prepared by Edward MacLary), was singing its third consecutive Messiah appearance with the orchestra. Classical WETA 90.9 FM kicks off the holiday season this year with Handel’s Messiah. Be sure to join us Wednesday, December 5 at 9 p.m. for what The Washington Post called a “cheerful and Jeannette Sorrell colorful” performance of this treasured musical tradition.
VivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org
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Classical for Washington Music for the Season on Choral Showcase FRANTISEK SUCHOMEL/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Sundays at 9 p.m.
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By Bill Bukowski, Midday On-Air Host
s the December days get darker and shorter and the nights grow longer, let us “drive the cold winter away” with a season of joy this month on Choral Showcase. On December 2, there’s music for Advent with Five “O” Antiphons by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (the “O” being the first word of each antiphon, as in “O Key of David”), followed by two Bach cantatas. The Advent cantata BWV 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben” (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life), containing the famous chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, is followed by a Christmas cantata BWV 110, “Unser Mund sei voll Lachens” (Let our Mouths be Filled with Laughter). On December 9, we’ll hear L’Enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ), a work by Hector Berlioz that’s difficult to categorize. As an oratorio portraying the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, it plays more like an opera, or perhaps an ancient morality play or Christmas pageant; while not a strict retelling from scripture, its sense of drama and humanity never fails to enchant. The centerpiece, “The Shepherd’s Farewell,” is a Christmas favorite. Speaking of enchanting, on December 16 we have the Czech Christmas Mass by Jakub Jan Ryba. This charming work, a Czech holiday favorite, combines the Mass propers with a folk Nativity play. A more traditional Christmas mass will be heard December 23, as Paul McCreesh directs the Gabrieli Consort and Players in a brilliant re-creation of Michael Praetorius’ “Lutheran Mass for Christmas Morning.” Finally, as Charles Dickens once wrote, “it is good to be children at times, and never better than at Christmas,” we’ll conclude on December 30 with Masses for Children’s Choirs by John Rutter and Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara. Joy for the holidays, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Choral Showcase.
2018-2019 Met Opera Season
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Saturday afternoons starting December 1
KEN HOWARD/METROPOLITAN OPERA
he 88th season of Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcasts gets underway in December as Classical WETA 90.9 FM presents weekly 1 p.m. Saturday matinees on Classical WETA Opera House. Leading off the Met performances are Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele (Dec. 3); Puccini’s Il Trittico (Dec. 8, 12:30 p.m.), with Plácido Domingo; Verdi’s La Traviata (Dec. 15), in a new production featuring Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez; Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West (Dec. 22), featuring an October performance with Eva-Maria Westbroek and Jonas Kaufmann; Morris Robinson in The Magic Flute and an English-language holiday broadcast of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Dec. 29). The 2018-2019 season presents 24 performances from New York’s Lincoln Center and features the world’s greatest opera vocalists. Yannick Nézet-Séguin is the new Met Music Director; he conducts La Traviata this month and will also lead Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande (Jan. 19) and Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites (May 11 season finale). On the broadcasts, Mary Jo Heath returns as Met matinee broadcast host, alongside commentator Ira Siff. In addition to December offerings, the new season features three Verdi operas: Otello (Jan. 5) with Gustavo Dudamel making his Met conducting debut, Rigoletto (Feb. 23) and Falstaff (Mar. 16); two Bizet operas: Carmen (Feb. 2) and Les Pêcheurs de Perles (May 4), presenting a fall performance with Pretty Yende; two Mozart operas: Don Giovanni (Feb. 16) and La Clemenza di Tito (Apr. 20), with Matthew Polenzani and Joyce DiDonato; and four Wagner operas: Das Rheingold (Mar. 9), Die Walküre (Mar. 30), Siegfried (Apr. 13) and Götterdämmerung (Apr. 27), with Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde. The season’s presentations also include a new production of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur (Jan. 12), starring Anna Netrebko; a premiere of Nico Muhly’s new opera Marnie (Jan. 26), featuring Isabel Leonard; and Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment (Mar. 2) and Puccini’s Tosca (Apr. 6). For opera details, visit classicalweta.org. The 2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcast season is sponsored by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury homebuilder®, with generous long-term support from The Annenberg Foundation, The Neubauer Family Foundation, and the Vincent A. Stabile Endowment for Broadcast Media, and through contributions from listeners worldwide. Local support for the broadcasts is provided by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown
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11/19/18 3:18 PM
In this season of the Combined Federal Campaign, support WETA via
CFC 99581
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DEC 21–23, 2018
BALTIMORE Hippodrome Theatre
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JAN 15–20 & MAR 12–14 FAIRFAX GMU Concert Hall
APR 17–21
WASHINGTON, DC Kennedy Center Opera House
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