january 2012 magazine for members
Downton Abbey Love & War in Season 2
Cable Risdon
W TA Focus E
arly in 2011, the marquee PBS drama series Masterpiece rolled out two intriguing miniseries focused on English households, spotlighting historic times and the British class system. One was a much-anticipated sequel to the iconic production Upstairs, Downstairs, to which WETA viewers were riveted over the course of 60 episodes nearly three decades ago. While Masterpiece fans were clearly delighted to see familiar faces Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins again, few could have anticipated the astonishing success of the other offering, Downton Abbey. That three-part Edwardian-era confection — also following the lives of nobles and servants — proved to be stunningly popular, winning six Emmy Awards in 2011. The storyline, which ended as a romantic cliffhanger in Season I, surrounds a Yorkshire estate plunged into an inheritance crisis during the twilight of the nobility on the eve of World War I. Now, a year later, the wait is over — Downton Abbey, Season 2 has arrived! The new series premieres January 8. Watch for a few other familiar figures this month as well: Bill Moyers returns with a new series, and WETA broadcasts Sir David Attenborough’s monumental nature series The Life of Mammals. Enjoy! Thank you for your support of WETA. Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA
American Experience Spotlights the Old West
COURTESY WGBH
COURTESY ROBERT McCUBBIN
W E T A B r o a d c a 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, 267 FiOS 26, 471 Dish 8076 RCN 26
WETA HD 26.1 Over the Air Cox 1026, 1003 FiOS 526 DirecTV 26, 26-1 RCN 613
Via Antenna Comcast 220 (in the D.C. area)
Comcast 219
WETA Create 26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 800 Comcast 265 FiOS 474 RCN 39
(Baltimore area) Cover: Downton Abbey Courtesy Nick Briggs/ITV For Masterpiece
©NEIL LUCAS ©DAVE WATTS/ NATUREPL.COM
n a month-long salute to the West, the series American Experience chronicles the lives of iconic figures Billy the Kid and George Custer in new productions that air alongside rebroadcasts of films about lawman Wyatt Earp, Apache warrior Geronimo, sharpshooter Annie Oakley and outlaw Jesse James. The programs explore the stories of these largerthan-life figures, examining the mythology surrounding their lives. The two-hour film Custer’s Last Stand, directed by Stephen Ives (The West, created with WETA; Seabiscuit), also chronicles the life of one of the most celebrated and controversial icons of 19th-century America, painting a portrait of cavalryman General George Armstrong Custer. The documentary explores the demise of Custer and 261 of his men on June 26, 1876, near the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory. There the Civil War hero battled Sitting Bull’s large army of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, launching one of the greatest myths in American history. Billy the Kid explores the story of an orphan teen who became Billy the Kid the most wanted man in the West. In April 1881, 21-year-old Henry McCarty, a.k.a. William Bonney, days from being hanged for murder, outfoxed his jailors and escaped; but he was gunned down by ambitious sheriff Pat Garrett just a few weeks later, making front-page news and marking the beginning of one of the West’s most endurBilly the Kid Tue 1/10, 9pm ing legends. But in all the tellings, Billy the Kid’s real story — his migration West, Custer’s Last Stand Tue 1/17, 8pm life in lawless New Mexico, and role in a violent range war — has been obscured. Wyatt Earp Tue 1/24, 8pm Geronimo Tue 1/24, 9pm Corporate funding for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual. Major funding is provided by Annie Oakley Tue 1/31, 8pm the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Jesse James Tue 1/31, 9pm
©PETER BLACKWELL/ NATUREPL.COM
I
on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
In the Spotlight Himalaya with Michael Palin
F
airs Sundays at 8 p.m., beginning January 15 on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
©BASIL PAO/BBC/PROMINENT
rom the green Kathmandu valley to the heights of Annapurna, and from the closed kingdom of Bhutan to the starkness of Tibet, the Himalayas cross boundaries of land, culture and experience. In the six-part BBC series Himalaya with Michael Palin, the itinerant former member of the Monty Python troupe guides a journey of 2,000 miles along the great mountain range, “the roof of the world.” As always, Palin brings along his unique brand of wit and wisdom. Traveling through awe-inspiring scenery—with rich flora and fauna, lush foothills, beautiful lakes and rivers, snowy mountains, and rainforests and tea plantations—Palin detours to places and people of special interest: from the Khyber Pass and Peshawar to troubled Kashmir; to Dharamsala to meet the Dalai Lama; through Nepal and into Tibet to experience Mt. Everest and Lhasa; then on to Yunnan in Southwest China, followed by Assam and then Bhutan, where he visits the royal family. Palin’s epic journey ends in Bangladesh, where the great rivers of the Himalaya disgorge into the Bay of Bengal.
The Life of Mammals
©STEVE BLOOM/STEVEBLOOM.COM
©NEIL LUCAS
with David Attenborough
“M
airs Fridays (except January 13) at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
ammals, those creatures that are furry, warm-blooded, and nourish their young with milk, are the most popular of all animals—perhaps because we are mammals ourselves. There are some 10,000 different species, roughly as many as there are birds, but they are much more varied,” points out BBC wildlife filmmaker Sir David Attenborough. The maker of monumental series Life on Earth and The Life of Birds spotlights that variety in the 10-part series, The Life of Mammals. With stunning cinematography, Attenborough introduces an astonishing array of creatures as he relates how mammal species outlived the dinosaurs and colonized the farthest reaches of the globe. As the series demonstrates, adapting their bodies for finding food has had a profound effect on the way mammals move, socialize, mate and breed.
The Queen’s Palaces
three-part series hosted by BBC journalist Fiona Bruce celebrates three of Britain’s exceptional royal buildings—Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse—showcasing the treasures found within them. The Queen’s Palaces spotlights the art and architecture, the interior decoration, and priceless objects and artifacts of these historic buildings, revealing the fascinating stories behind them. In each episode, Bruce explores the history of the respective palace’s creation as well, so that each film marries the chronology of history and the pure delight of a walk around a beautiful interior. Contributing their insights and stories are curators of the Royal Collection.
©BBC/HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELISABETH II
A
airs Mondays, January 2, 9 & 16 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
For program or membership inquiries, call 703-998-2724 or visit weta.org. WETA Kids 26.3 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 801 Comcast 266 FiOS 472 RCN 38
WETA Online weta.org weta.org/learningmedia
PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m. For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
Classical WETA
WETA 90.9 FM Washington WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown WETA 88.9 FM Frederick classicalweta.org Charlie Rose airs latevivalavoce.org weeknights (check listings)
The Best in Drama W
hat could be more entertaining than a gripping yarn, a tale of romantic intrigue or a swashbuckling adventure that transports one away to bygone eras or distant lands? Everyone loves a great story, and for much of the 50 years that WETA TV 26 has served Greater Washington, the series Masterpiece (née Masterpiece Theatre), now the longest-running weekly primetime drama series in America, has been a centerpiece of the station’s program offerings. Since the series premiered on January 10, 1971, Masterpiece has mesmerized millions upon millions of viewers, bringing to life adaptations of great literature and superb original dramas. Complementing the engrossing storylines are sumptuous costumes, period settings, and atmospheric locations — all part of the series’ tremendous appeal.
Yesterday and Today Masterpiece got its start thanks to The Forsyte Saga, a serialized 1967 BBC adaptation that was a blockbuster on American public television, delighting audiences and whetting appetites for British drama on this side of the pond. Masterpiece Theatre launched just a few years later, premiering with Alistair Cooke as host and with Susan Hampshire starring in The First Churchills. Cooke hosted until 1992, followed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Russell Baker from 1992 to 2004. Productions have been derived principally from the pantheon of British literature classics, in addition to a few American works. In 1980, sister series Mystery! (which we explore in the near future) was created, featuring adaptations of British detective and crime novels. Ultimately, in 2008, Mystery! was absorbed into Masterpiece, which is now split into three seasonal strands: Masterpiece Classic, Masterpiece Mystery!, and Masterpiece Contemporary.
Upstairs, Downstairs Moll Flanders
Memorable Productions Roughly 300 productions along since the series premiere, Masterpiece is among television’s most honored programs, at last count having garnered 33 Primetime Emmys, seven International Emmys, 15 Peabodys, and two Academy Award nominations. The series has created great memories for WETA viewers for 40 years, presenting iconic productions. In a recent viewers’ poll, the most popular Masterpiece programs, among so many classics, were: • Upstairs, Downstairs (1973–1977) with Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins • I, Claudius (1976) with Derek Jacobi; • Poldark (1977–1978) with Robin Ellis; • The Jewel in the Crown (1984) with Tim Pigott-Smith, Geraldine James, Wendy Morgan, Peggy Ashcroft, Art Malik and many others; • House of Cards (1990) with Ian Richardson; • Jeeves and Wooster (1991–1994) with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie; • Prime Suspect (1992–2006) with Helen Mirren; • The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996) with Alex Kingston; • Reckless (1997) with Francesca Annis, Michael Kitchen and Robson Green; • Wives & Daughters (2000) with Justine Waddell, Keeley Hawes and Francesca Annis; • Mrs. Brown (2001) with Judi Dench; • The Forsyte Saga (2002 remake) with Damian Lewis and Gina McKee; • Bleak House (2007) with Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance; • and Brideshead Revisited (1981), which in actuality aired as part of the series Great Performances, not Masterpiece!
The Jewel in the Crown Jeeves and Wooster
House of Cards
Prime Suspect Little Dorrit
Other Popular Actors Masterpiece has also helped make household names in America of a host of Britain’s finest actors, many of whom — such as Dame Maggie Smith, who appears in this month’s Downton Abbey sequel — are beloved to the series’ fans. The array of superb performances and films is astonishing: longtime viewers may remember Gemma Jones in The Duchess of Duke Street; Anthony Andrews in Danger UXB; productions such as The Flame Trees of Thika; A Town Like Alice, Middlemarch, and Piece of Cake; Kenneth Branagh in Henry V; Ian Holm in King Lear; Diana Rigg in Rebecca; Jemma Redgrave in Bramwell; Emma Thompson and Branagh in Much Ado About Nothing; and many, many others. In recent years, Masterpiece has scored a number of great successes — presenting acclaimed miniseries The Complete Jane Austen, the delightful Cranford and its sequel, the monumental Dickens adaptation Little Dorrit, a successful Upstairs, Downstairs sequel and, of course, riveting Downton Abbey. And there’s much more on the way, as Downton Abbey enters Season 2 this month with episodes scheduled through February — and a third season in the works. Sunday nights are magical for Masterpiece fans throughout Greater Washington and around the country, who at the appointed hour of 9 p.m. are greeted by the familiar strains of the Rondeau from Jean-Joseph Mouret’s Symphonies and Fanfares for the King’s Supper as they settle in for the glorious drama of the week. Join in, and be transported — tune in to Masterpiece on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD for the finest drama in television.
Forsyte Saga
COURTESY NICK BRIGGS/ITV FOR MASTERPIECE
on Masterpiece
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 airs Sundays, Jan. 8–Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD; repeating Thursday nights at 8 p.m.
O
ne of the most popular series in Masterpiece history returns for an exciting second season — Downton Abbey, Season 2 resumes its story of love and intrigue at an English country estate, now mobilized for the trauma of war. The new seven-part series features a returning cast that includes Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Grantham), Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham), Dan Stevens (Matthew, above), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Siobhan Finneran (O’Brien) and newcomer Zoe Boyle (Lavinia Swire, above). The first series garnered six Primetime Emmy awards, including 2011 Outstanding Miniseries, plus awards for supporting actress Dame Maggie Smith, writer Julian Fellowes, and nods for directing, cinematography, and costumes. Season I opened with the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, which plunged the estate into crisis: Lord Grantham, the father of three daughters and no sons, welcomed an unexpected new heir — his handsome, marriageable, but proudly middle-class distant cousin, Matthew Crawley. A courtship between Matthew and Mary, Grantham’s eldest daughter, was unresolved, as were romances and schemes among the household staff. For those catching up, WETA Television reprises the original series on January 8, 3–9 p.m. The new season picks up in the middle of another disaster, World War I, which affected every aspect of life in England, accelerating the social change that was already transforming an age-old system of class and privilege. The new episodes feature thwarted and rekindled romances, forgotten and fresh scandals, and a host of new plot twists.
Bleak House Emma
Funding for Masterpiece is provided by Viking River Cruises, with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust. Cranford
WETA TV 26 & WETA HD
January primetime simulcast listings.
Weeknight primetime simulcast programming repeats the following weekday on WETA TV 26 starting at noon.
WETA Television
8:00
8:30
9:00
9:30
10:30
1
Sun
2
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Tulsa, OK
The Queen’s Palaces (Ep 1 of 3. Buckingham Palace)
Antiques Roadshow: Tampa, FL
3
Tue
Egypt’s Golden Empire (Pt 1 of 3. The Warrior Pharaohs)
Egypt’s Golden Empire (Pt 2 of 3. Pharaohs of the Sun)
Frontline: TBA
4
Wed
Nature: Birds of the Gods
NOVA: Deadliest Volcanoes
NOVA: Deadliest Earthquakes
5
Thu
Masterpiece Classic: A Room with a View
Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple, Series IV: A Pocket Full of Rye (to 11pm) & Agatha Christie’s Poirot (to 12m)
6
Fri
Washington Week with Gwen Inside Washington Ifill and National Journal
The Life of Mammals (Eps 1 & 2 of 10. A Winning Design/Insect Hunters)
7
Sat
Doc Martin, Series I (Pts 1 & 2 of 6. Going Bodmin/ Gentlemen Prefer) (to 9:33pm)
8
Sun
(from 3pm:) Masterpiece Classic: Downtown Abbey (1–4 of 4)
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 1 of 7)
9
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Tulsa, OK
The Queen’s Palaces (Ep 2 of 3. Windsor Castle)
Antiques Roadshow: Tampa, FL
10
Tue
Egypt’s Golden Empire (Pt 3 of 3. The Last Great Pharaoh)
Billy the Kid: American Experience
Frontline: TBA
11
Wed
Nature: Kangaroo Mob
NOVA: Bombing Hitler’s Dams
12
Thu
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 1 of 7)
13
Fri
Washington Week with Gwen Inside Washington Ifill and National Journal
14
Sat
Doc Martin, Series I (Pts 3 & 4 of 6. Sh*t Happens/The Portwenn Effect) (to 9:33pm)
15
Sun
Himalaya with Michael Palin (Pt 1 of 6. North By Northwest)
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 2 of 7)
Masterpiece Classic: Sense and Sensibility (Pt 1 of 2) (to 11:30pm)
16
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Tulsa, OK
The Queen’s Palaces (Ep 3 of 3. Holyroodhouse)
Antiques Roadshow: Tampa, FL
17
Tue
Custer’s Last Stand: American Experience
Frontline: TBA
18
Wed
Nature: Broken Tail: A Tiger’s Last Journey NOVA: 3-D Spies of WWII
Inside Nature’s Giants: Sperm Whale
19
Thu
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 2 of 7)
Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple, Series IV: They Do It with Mirrors
20
Fri
Washington Week with Gwen Inside Washington Ifill and National Journal
The Life of Mammals (Eps 3 & 4 of 10. Plant Predators/Chisellers) Need to Know
21
Sat
Doc Martin, Series I (Pts 5 & 6 of 6. Of All the Harbors in All the Towns/Haemophobia) (to 9:33pm)
22
Sun
Himalaya with Michael Palin (Pt 2 of 6. A Passage to India)
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 3 of 7)
Masterpiece Classic: Sense and Sensibility (Pt 2 of 2) (to 11:30pm)
23
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Eugene, OR
Britain’s Royal Weddings (Pt 1 of 2)
Antiques Roadshow: Houston, TX
24
Tue
Wyatt Earp: American Experience
Geronimo: American Experience
Frontline: TBA
25
Wed
Nature: Fortress of the Bears
NOVA: Mystery of a Masterpiece
Inside Nature’s Giants: Monster Python
26
Thu
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 3 of 7)
Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple, Series IV: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
Agatha Christie’s Poirot (to 11:30pm)
27
Fri
Washington Week with Gwen Inside Washington Ifill and National Journal
The Life of Mammals (Eps 5 & 6 of 10. Meat Eaters/Opportunists
Need to Know
28
Sat
Doc Martin, Series II (Pts 1 & 2 of 8. Old Dogs/In Loco) (to 9:33pm) (from 9:33pm) The WETA Movie: To Have and Have Not (to 11:13pm)
29
Sun
Himalaya with Michael Palin (Pt 3 of 6. Annapurna to Everest)
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey, Season 2 (Pt 4 of 7)
Masterpiece Classic: Mansfield Park (to 11:30pm)
30
Mon
Antiques Roadshow: Eugene, OR
Britain’s Royal Weddings (Pt 2 of 2)
Antiques Roadshow: Houston, TX
31
Tue
Annie Oakley: American Experience
Jesse James: American Experience
Frontline: TBA
(from 9:33pm) The WETA Movie: Arthur (to 11:10pm)
Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple, Series IV: Murder Is Easy (to 11:30pm)
Great Performances: Let Me Down Easy
8:30
PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.
4 january 2012
Need to Know
9:00
(from 9:33pm) The WETA Movie: Ocean’s Eleven (1960) (to 11:40pm)
Agatha Christie’s Poirot (to 11:30pm)
(from 9:33pm) The WETA Movie: The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) (to 11:15pm)
9:30
10:00
10:30
Charlie Rose airs late weeknights (check listings)
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
8:00
WETA Member Favorites
10:00
(from 7:30pm:) Great Performances: From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration
W TA TV 26 & W TA HD January simulcast primetime listings, plus weekends for WETA TV 26
• Programming on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD is exactly the same — simulcast — Monday through Friday nights from 7 p.m. through Charlie Rose, and each weekend evening, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays.
• Please note that Saturday and Sunday 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.
• Weeknight primetime on WETA TV 26 often repeats the next weekday on WETA TV 26 — see repeat listings. • WETA TV 26 is devoted to children’s programming 5 a.m.–noon weekdays and 6 a.m.–9 a.m. weekends. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA Kids channel. See page 12 for schedule information. Program Key n — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. {DVI} — Descriptive Video Service. R — Aired within the month. Listings are accurate as of press time. For late-breaking program updates, call 703-998-2724 or visit weta.org/tv.
1 Sunday
COURTESY RICHARD BRADLEY
2 Monday
Tuesdays, January 3 & 10 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD The three-part history miniseries Egypt’s Golden Empire explores the dynastic rise of the great pharaohs of ancient Egypt — and their achievements. Two episodes air back-to-back on January 3.
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TULSA, OK — Repeats Tue 1/3, 2pm; Wed 1/4, 1pm 9:00 THE QUEEN’S PALACES — A series spotlights three of Britain’s royal buildings and the treasures found within them. Episode 1 of 3. Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace may be the most famous building in the world, but its story is much less familiar. Host Fiona Bruce reveals how this spectacular palace emerged from a swampy backwater to become a symbol of magnificence. Repeats Tue 1/3, 5pm; Fri 1/6, 4pm 10:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TAMPA, FL — Repeats Tue 1/3, 3pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
8:00 EGYPT’S GOLDEN EMPIRE — A three-part special tells the story of the ancient Egyptian empire from its beginning in 1560 B.C. to its collapse in 1080 B.C. Part 1 of 3. The Warrior Pharaohs. The Egyptian Empire begins with the rise of the Pharaohs and their conquest of neighboring lands. Repeats Wed 1/4, 2pm; Thur 1/5, 1pm 9:00 EGYPT’S GOLDEN EMPIRE — Part 2 of 3. Pharaohs of the Sun. During Egypt’s golden age of wealth and prosperity, the land becomes the center of the ancient world under Amenhotep III, but his son Akhenaten undermines the dynasty’s grip on power. The death of his son-in-law, boy-king Tutankhamen, marks the end of the Ahmose family pharaohs. Repeats Wed 1/4, 3pm; Thur 1/5, 2pm 10:00 FRONTLINE — TBA 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
3 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR
COURTESY WGBH
4 Wednesday
Wednesday, January 4 at 9 and 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD NOVA programs Deadliest Volcanoes and Deadliest Earthquakes follow scientists who are exploring, respectively, the risk of eruptions from dangerous active volcanoes, and the lessons of the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Other NOVA programs this month include Bombing Hitler’s Dams (January 11), chronicling an audacious World War II raid; 3-D Spies of WWII (January 18), examining Allied intelligence-gathering from the air; and Mystery of a Masterpiece (January 25), spotlighting experts who investigate art mysteries.
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: BIRDS OF THE GODS — Living in the New Guinean rainforest are birds of unimaginable color and beauty. But finding these birds in the wild is a supremely difficult assignment, and to witness their mating displays is even tougher. The BBC’s Sir David Attenborough introduces a young team of New Guinean scientists on a grueling expedition to find and film these birds of paradise. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/5, 3pm 9:00 NOVA: DEADLIEST VOLCANOES — Millions of people around the world live in the shadow of active volcanoes, with homes and lives daily at risk. NOVA travels with scientists from around the world who are at work attempting to discover how likely these volcanoes are to erupt — and when. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/5, 4pm 10:00 NOVA: DEADLIEST EARTHQUAKES — In 2010, epic earthquakes all over the planet delivered one of the worst annual death tolls ever recorded. NOVA follows scientists in Haiti and Chile just after the deadly quakes in those countries as they gather data to help prevent future disasters. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/5, 5pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 5
WETA Television
IMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6AM–1AM: S 6AM–7:30PM WETA MEMBER FAVORITES 7:30 GREAT PERFORMANCES: FROM VIENNA: THE NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION 2012 — Julie Andrews hosts the festive annual performance by the Vienna Philharmonic, with guest conductor Mariss Jansons, at Vienna’s Musikverein. The program showcases Viennese musical culture and ventures outside the hall to visit Vienna landmarks. 9PM–1AM WETA MEMBER FAVORITES
5 Thursday
BROOKS KRAFT PHOTOGRAPHY, 2011
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: A ROOM WITH A VIEW — In Andrew Davies’ adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel, Elaine Cassidy stars as Lucy Honeychurch, who is disappointed upon her arrival at a guest house in Florence, Italy, because her room has no view. Timothy Spall and son Rafe Spall play Mr. Emerson and his eccentric son, George, who offer Lucy their room — with a view. {DVI} 9:30 MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!: MISS MARPLE, SERIES IV: A POCKET FULL OF RYE — Acclaimed British actress Julia McKenzie portrays author Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth Miss Marple; Matthew Macfadyen co-stars. When Miss Marple learns of the deaths of businessman Rex Fortescue, his young wife Adele, and their housemaid Gladys, the circumstances vividly recall the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence.” Because Miss Marple had trained Gladys, she has a personal stake in the case. {DVI} 11:00 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW — When elderly Amelia Barrowby is poisoned in her home, the obvious culprit seems to be her companion Katrina. Poirot (David Suchet) and his colleague Hastings had met Amelia at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier that summer, and Poirot’s newfound interest in gardening pays off in the investigation. 12M CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
a weta production Fridays, 8 p.m.; repeats Sat., 6:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD National politics are front and center in the discussion on the acclaimed WETA public affairs program Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal as the 2012 presidential campaign season gets underway with the first caucuses and primaries this month. Moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill reports from New Hampshire and South Carolina and, along with the program’s panel of top journalists, explores what the results mean for the candidates and illuminates the important issues in the spotlight.
7 Saturday N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9:00 EASTENDERS — (two episodes, simulcast on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD) Repeats Fridays, 5pm 10:00 THE THIS OLD HOUSE HOUR 11:00 ESSENTIAL PEPIN 11:30 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE 12N CUISINE CULTURE 12:30 MEXICO—ONE PLATE AT A TIME WITH RICK BAYLESS 1:00 CHEF JOHN BESH’S NEW ORLEANS 1:30 JOANNE WEIR’S COOKING CONFIDENCE — Starts January 14 on WETA TV 26. 2:00 SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS II — Now in series 2! Chef Sara Moulton shares recipes and tips for quick healthy meals, celebrating fresh local ingredients. 2:30 BAKING WITH JULIA 3:00 LIDIA’S ITALY 3:30 IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS 4:00 JACQUES PÉPIN: MORE FAST FOOD MY WAY! 4:30 COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN 5:00 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED 5:30 RICK STEVES’ EUROPE SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–11:10PM: 6:00 INSIDE WASHINGTON — R 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — R 7:00 AS TIME GOES BY/KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 8:00 DOC MARTIN, SERIES I — In the British comic drama, Martin Clunes stars as a celebrated London surgeon, Dr. Martin Ellingham, who, having developed a phobia to blood, moves to a small Cornish community where his tactless manner impedes his relationships. Parts 1 & 2 of 6. Going Bodmin/Gentlemen Prefer. 9:33 THE WETA MOVIE: ARTHUR — In the 1981 comedy by Steve Gordon, a dry British butler (John Gielgud, who won an Oscar for his performance) helps his tippling master (Dudley Moore) choose between love with a waitress (Liza Minnelli) or marriage for money. (1:37) Repeats Sun 1/8, 11:30AM
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — Moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill leads a discussion by a panel of journalists on the news events of the week. Repeats Sat 1/7, 6:30pm 8:30 INSIDE WASHINGTON — Host Gordon Peterson moderates a roundtable discussion of the news of the week. Repeats Sat 1/7, 6pm 9:00 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Written and presented by BBC wildlife filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, a monumental series spotlights the most diverse group of animals ever to live on earth. Episode 1 of 10. A Winning Design. In the first program, Attenborough sets off on a global journey to reveal why mammals have adapted to live almost anywhere. Spotlighted animals include platypuses and marsupials. 9:47 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Episode 2 of 10. Insect Hunters. Sir David Attenborough looks at mammals that survive on a diet of insects. These creatures shared the planet with the dinosaurs, but when the giant reptiles disappeared they seized their chance to conquer new territory. The filmmaker spotlights moles, giant anteaters, pangolins and bats. 10:30 NEED TO KNOW 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
COURTESY LUKE CAMEROON
WETA Television
6 Friday
Wednesday, January 11 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD Nature: Kangaroo Mob follows a group of animals that moves into the suburbs of Canberra, Australia, as humans encroach on its habitat. Other programs spotlighting wildlife include Nature: Broken Tail: A Tiger’s Last Journey (January 18), exploring the fate of India’s tigers, and Nature: Fortress of the Bears (January 25), following bears of Alaska’s Admiralty Island. Also tune in to The Life of Mammals, Fridays, January 6, 20 & 27 at 9 p.m.
8 Sunday N WETA TV 26, 6AM–7PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9:00 WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLES 9:30 TO THE CONTRARY WITH BONNIE ERBE 10:00 THIS IS AMERICA WITH DENNIS WHOLEY 10:30 RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY 11:00 GREAT ROMANCES 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: ARTHUR — (1:37) R 1:30 GREAT ROMANCES 2:00 SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE THREE GABLES — A woman rejects her diplomat lover, Douglas Maberly, in favor of the young Duke of Lomond. With his life shattered, Douglas completes a manuscript of his life story and then dies. Holmes (Jeremy Brett) investigates.
6 january 2012 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
9 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TULSA, OK — Repeats Tue 1/10, 2pm; Wed 1/11, 1pm 9:00 THE QUEEN’S PALACES — Episode 2 of 3. Windsor Castle. From the bowels of the castle to the heights of the battlements, Fiona Bruce encounters an amazing variety of royal treasures and historical items — from the musket ball that killed a naval hero to table decorations in gold and silver and encrusted with jewels. Repeats Tue 1/10, 5pm; Fri 1/13, 4pm 10:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TAMPA, FL — Repeats Tue 1/10, 3pm; Wed 1/11, 2pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
COURTESY OF MARY ELLEN MARK
Friday, January 13 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD Great Performances features Anna Deveare Smith in her performance Let Me Down Easy, recorded at Washington’s Arena Stage. Deveare Smith portrays a range of people sharing their searing experiences in confronting the price and politics of health, facing the end of life and encountering the ultimate resilience of the human spirit.
capital city and the ecologists who follow their every move. Over the course of one drought-stricken year, Nature follows the kangaroos, exploring what happens when human development encroaches on wildlife habitat. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/12, 2pm 9:00 NOVA: BOMBING HITLER’S DAMS — In 1943 a squadron of British Lancaster bombers staged one of the most audacious raids in history — destroying two gigantic dams in Germany’s industrial heartland and cutting the water supply to arms factories, dealing a blow to the German war machine — with a revolutionary bouncing bomb. Now, with the aid of six experiments, NOVA re-creates the engineering challenges faced in this effort. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/12, 3pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
12 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Part 1 of 7. See the Sunday, January 8, 9 p.m. listing. R 10:00 MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!: MISS MARPLE, SERIES IV: MURDER IS EASY — British actress Julia McKenzie portrays Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth Miss Marple. Murder Is Easy. A woman on a train tells Miss Marple about a series of murders in her village. When the woman later falls to her death, Miss Marple vows to get to the bottom of the string of “accidents,” unearthing secrets about the villagers. {DVI} 11:30 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
10 Tuesday
13 Friday
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 EGYPT’S GOLDEN EMPIRE — Part 3 of 3. The Last Great Pharaoh. The reign of Ramses the Great, during which the great tombs were built, represents the zenith of Egyptian civilization. After Ramses II, the tombs are looted and civil war ensues. Though Egypt is once again divided, the period known as the New Kingdom has left a rich legacy that will reverberate through the ages. Repeats Wed 1/11, 3pm; Thur 1/12, 1pm 9:00 BILLY THE KID: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A documentary explores the life of the notorious 19th-century outlaw dubbed Billy the Kid, who was demonized by the ambitious sheriff who gunned him down. Spotlighted are William Bonney’s hardscrabble childhood, his violent life in New Mexico, and his appeal to the Hispanic community. {DVI} Repeats Wed 1/11, 4pm 10:00 FRONTLINE — TBA 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — Moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill leads a discussion by a panel of journalists on the news events of the week. Repeats Sat 1/14, 6:30pm 8:30 INSIDE WASHINGTON — Repeats Sat 1/14, 6pm 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: LET ME DOWN EASY — A drama recorded at the Mead Center for American Theater at Washington’s Arena Stage features Anna Deavere Smith portraying a range of individuals who are confronting the price and politics of health. Deavere Smith interviews a range of people — from cyclist Lance Armstrong, supermodel Lauren Hutton, and Texas Governor Ann Richards, to a rodeo bull rider, a New Orleans hospital doctor and a South African orphanage director — and then performs as the interviewees in their own words, sharing their searing experiences. 11:00 NEED TO KNOW 11:30 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
11 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: KANGAROO MOB — Spotlighted are a “mob” of street-smart kangaroos that moves into Australia’s
14 Saturday N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–6PM See the Saturday, January 7 listings.
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 7
WETA Television
IMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 3PM–12M: S 3:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY — Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), the drama Downton Abbey depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912. The miniseries features a cast that includes Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith and Elizabeth McGovern. Part 1 of 4. When the Titanic goes down, Lord Grantham loses his immediate heirs and his daughter Mary loses her fiancé, throwing Downton Abbey and its servants into turmoil. The new heir turns out to be Matthew, a lowly lawyer with novel ideas about country life. 4:30 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY — Part 2 of 4. Mary entertains three suitors, including a Turkish diplomat whose boldness leads to a surprising event. Downstairs, the shocking former life of Carson, the butler, is unmasked and Bates risks his health to remain valet. 6:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY — Part 3 of 4. Growing into his role as heir, Matthew brings out the bitter rivalry between sisters Mary and Edith. Servants Thomas and O’Brien scheme against Bates, while head housemaid Anna is attracted to him. Lady Violet’s winning streak in the local flower show is threatened. 7:30 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY — Part 4 of 4. The heir crisis at Downton Abbey takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, rumors fly about Mary’s virtue. Her sister Sybil takes a risk in her secret political life. Anna unearths Bates’ mysterious past and O’Brien and Thomas plot their exit strategy. 9:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — The multiple Emmy-winning miniseries resumes. Part 1 of 7. Two years into World War I, Downton Abbey is in turmoil, as Matthew and other young men go to war — or avoid it. The women also pitch in, and many couples see their romantic dreams dashed. Repeats Thur 1/12, 8pm 11:00 HUSTLE, SERIES II — Part 5 of 6. Stacie’s ex-husband left her years ago, taking everything she owned with him. Jake is a fellow grifter, a real pro, and will not be an easy target, but the gang swears to exact revenge for Stacie.
IMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–11:40PM: S 6:00 INSIDE WASHINGTON — R 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — R 7:00 AS TIME GOES BY/KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 8:00 DOC MARTIN, SERIES I — Parts 3 & 4 of 6. Sh*t Happens/ The Portwenn Effect. 9:33 THE WETA MOVIE: OCEAN’S ELEVEN — The 1960 comedy-caper film, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson, Richard Conte, Cesar Romero and Joey Bishop, follows a gang of World War II veterans determined to rob five Las Vegas casinos. (2:07) Repeats Sun 1/15, 11:30am
15 Sunday N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9AM–11:30AM See the Sunday, January 8 listings. 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: OCEAN’S ELEVEN — (2:07) R 2:00 SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE GOLDEN PINCE-NEZ — Holmes (Jeremy Brett) investigates when Willoughby Smith, secretary to Professor Coram, is found dead clutching a pince-nez. Repeats Fri 1/20, 2pm 3:00 PRIME SUSPECT, SERIES VI: THE LAST WITNESS — Helen Mirren reprises her role as Jane Tennison, a detective of the London Metropolitan Police who investigates murder cases. Part 1 of 4. Under pressure to retire, Tennison takes over a high-profile murder case involving the brutal killing of a Bosnian woman. 4:00 WILLIAM & MARY, SERIES I — A romantic British drama stars Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) and Julie Graham as lonely hearts looking for love. Episode 1 of 6. Undertaker William Shawcross joins a dating agency in the hope of finding his ideal match, and is instantly attracted to midwife Mary Gilcrest. 5:00 GLOBE TREKKER: NIGERIA SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–12:30AM: 6:00 MOYERS & COMPANY — Bill Moyers returns to public television with a weekly hour of conversation about life and the state of American democracy, featuring a range of scholars, artists, activists, scientists, philosophers and newsmakers who bring context, insight and meaning to important topics. The series includes Moyers’ own essays on society and government. 7:00 NATURE: MOMENT OF IMPACT: HUNTERS & HERDS — The world is filled with unique moments of impact, such as the violent collision of cheetah with gazelle, the blink-of-an-eye strike of a deadly snake and the amazing dexterity of an elephant’s trunk as it feeds, fights or reaches out with affection. But how do these creatures accomplish such extraordinary feats? Using the latest technologies, Nature explores the bio-engineering of “how animals work.” {DVI} Repeats Tue 1/17, 1pm 8:00 HIMALAYA WITH MICHAEL PALIN — The world-traveling former Monty Python star embarks on his most challenging adventure yet, visiting Earth’s greatest mountain range — extending 1800 miles from the borders of Afghanistan to Southwest China. Part 1 of 6. North By Northwest. From the historic Khyber Pass, Palin boards a steam train, stopping off at Darra, the gun factory of the Northwest Frontier, then on to Peshawar. There he is introduced to the sport of bullracing. Striking North,
16 Monday 6:30AM AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 — Parts 1–4 of 4. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. hosts a genealogy special that journeys deep into the African-American experience to unearth the family histories of program participants, who include Morgan Freeman, Tina Turner, Tom Joyner, Chris Rock, Don Cheadle, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Maya Angelou. Repeats today 10:30 ROADS TO MEMPHIS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A film relates the wildly disparate yet fatefully entwined stories of an assassin, James Earl Ray, and his target, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., against the backdrop of the seething and turbulent forces in American society that led these two men to their violent and tragic collision in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. {DVI} 12N FREEDOM RIDERS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — From May until November 1961, more than 400 Americans, black and white, risked their lives — and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment — traveling together on buses and trains through the Deep South in a challenge to segregation during the Civil Rights Era. 2:00 AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 — Parts 1–4 of 4. R 6:00 BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TULSA, OK — Repeats Tue 1/17, 2pm; Wed 1/18, 1pm 9:00 THE QUEEN’S PALACES — Episode 3 of 3. Holyroodhouse. One of Britain’s smallest palaces has witnessed events that have determined the fate of three countries — England, France and Scotland. It was also the last place where a royal prince challenged the right of an English king to sit on the throne. Fiona Bruce discovers remarkable objects from the Royal Collection that are intimately bound to the Palace’s turbulent history. Repeats Tue 1/17, 5pm; Fri 1/20, 4pm 10:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: TAMPA, FL — Repeats Tue 1/17, 3pm; Wed 1/18, 2pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
COURTESY WINDFALL FILMS
©2004 PETER KROGH
WETA Television
Sundays at 6 p.m., beginning January 15 on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD Bill Moyers returns to public television with a new weekly series, Moyers & Company, that features conversation with scholars, artists, activists, scientists, philosophers and newsmakers.
he witnesses a polo match between arch-rivals Chitral and Gilgit, played in the high Shandur Pass. 9:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Part 2 of 7. Downton Abbey is turned into a convalescent home with Thomas in charge. Meanwhile, Lavinia and Sir Richard’s secret comes out, Anna tracks down Bates and Branson seizes his chance to strike a blow for Ireland. Repeats Thur 1/19, 8pm 10:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY — Hattie Morahan (The Golden Compass) plays Jane Austen’s level-headed character Elinor Dashwood, and Charity Wakefield (of Jane Eyre) is her impulsive sister Marianne in the tale of romance in early 19th-century England. Part 1 of 2. Though poor, the sisters attract a trio of very promising gentlemen: soon-to-be wealthy Edward Ferrars (Dan Stevens), heroic Colonel Brandon (David Morrissey) and Byronic John Willoughby (Dominic Cooper). {DVI} 11:30 HUSTLE, SERIES II — Part 6 of 6. Mickey has a fantastic plan: to steal the Crown Jewels. The others assume it is a joke. However, Mickey asks them to trust him and they reluctantly agree to the con. They gain access to a gallery where a diamond is to be exhibited. The gang is ready; but so are the police, who lie in wait.
Wednesdays, January 18 & 25 at 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD The series Inside Nature’s Giants features veterinary specialists and biologists performing an autopsy on a large wild animal to spotlight secrets of its anatomy. Programs are Sperm Whale (Jan. 18), Monster Python (Jan. 25), White Shark (Feb. 1) and Big Cats (Feb. 8).
8 january 2012 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 CUSTER’S LAST STAND: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A biography chronicles how one of America’s most charismatic and contradictory leaders of the 19th century — U.S. cavalryman General George Armstrong Custer — ricocheted from triumph to disaster, from battlefield heroism to impetuous escapade, before meeting his notorious end in June 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, battling Chief Sitting Bull’s army of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. In the end, Custer’s reputation was saved by the wife he adored, who mythologized Custer’s role as a heroic sacrifice. {DVI} Repeats Wed 1/18, 3pm; Thur 1/19, 1pm 10:00 FRONTLINE — TBA 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
18 Wednesday
19 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Pt 2 of 7. See the Sunday, January 15, 9 p.m. listing. R 9:00 MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!: MISS MARPLE, SERIES IV: THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS — British actress Julia McKenzie portrays author Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth Miss Marple. During rehearsal for an amateur show, the power goes out, commotion ensues and a murder takes place. As witness to the confusion, Miss Marple must decipher the elaborate conjuring trick played by the killer. 10:30 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: THE MILLION-DOLLAR BOND ROBBERY — The future of the London and Scottish bank is riding on its million-dollar shipment of Liberty bonds to New York on the inaugural sailing of the Queen Mary. Hercule Poirot, portrayed by David Suchet, faces one of the most difficult decisions of his career — can he overcome the dreadful curse of sea-sickness to accompany the bonds and ensure their safe passage? Repeats Fri 1/20, 1pm 11:30 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
Thursday nights on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD On Thursday evenings after episodes of Masterpiece Classic, WETA Television presents episodes of Masterpiece Mystery: Miss Marple, featuring Julia McKenzie as Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth.
9:47 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Episode 4 of 10. Chisellers. Plants usually protect the goodness inside their seeds with very hard outer cases; David Attenborough spotlights mammals that must chisel for their food: agoutis (terrier-sized rodents), kangaroo rats and pouched rats, beavers, naked mole rats and the largest rodent in the world, the capybara. 10:30 NEED TO KNOW 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
21 Saturday N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–6PM See the Saturday, January 7 listings. SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–11:15PM: 6:00 INSIDE WASHINGTON — R 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — R 7:00 AS TIME GOES BY/KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 8:00 DOC MARTIN, SERIES I — Parts 5 & 6 of 6. Of All the Harbors in All the Towns/Haemophobia. 9:33 THE WETA MOVIE: THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR — Norman Jewison’s 1968 film stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in the story of a Boston tycoon who plots the perfect bank robbery and is pursued by a determined insurance investigator. (1:42) Repeats Sun 1/22, 11:30am
22 Sunday
20 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — Moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill leads a discussion by a panel of journalists on the news events of the week. Repeats Sat 1/21, 6:30pm 8:30 INSIDE WASHINGTON — Repeats Sat 1/21, 6pm 9:00 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Episode 3 of 10. Plant Predators. Some of the biggest predators on earth face a constant battle: their prey — plants — is heavily armored, often indigestible, sometimes even poisonous. Eating plants presents one of the greatest challenges to mammals, shaping them and their lives in extraordinary ways. Animals spotlighted include sloths, tapirs, pikas, wildebeests and big-horned sheep.
N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9AM–11:30AM See the Sunday, January 8 listings. 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR — (1:42) R 1:30 GREAT ROMANCES 2:00 SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE RED CIRCLE — A man is murdered by a member of “The Red Circle” and Holmes (Jeremy Brett) takes up the investigation. Repeats Mon 1/23, 3:30pm; Fri 1/27, 2pm 3:00 PRIME SUSPECT, SERIES VI: THE LAST WITNESS — Part 2 of 4. Tennison’s case leads her to dig into war crimes of recent Bosnian immigrants. Helen Mirren stars in the acclaimed series. 4:00 WILLIAM & MARY, SERIES I — Episode 2 of 6. William writes to Mary to explain his occupation, but her mother conceals the note, hoping that Mary will resume a romance with her former lover Rick. Meanwhile, William pays a call on a dying woman. 5:00 GLOBE TREKKER SPECIAL: PIRATES, GALLEONS & TREASURE — Repeats Mon 1/23, 1:30pm SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–12:30AM: 6:00 MOYERS & COMPANY — See the Sunday, January 15, 6 p.m. listing. Repeats Mon 1/23, 5pm 7:00 NATURE: MOMENT OF IMPACT: JUNGLE — The world is filled with unique moments of impact, such as the violent collision of cheetah with gazelle, the blinkof-an-eye strike of a deadly snake and the amazing dexterity of an elephant’s trunk as it feeds. But how do these creatures accomplish such extraordinary feats? Nature explores the bio-engineering of “how animals work.” This episode spotlights jungle denizens. {DVI} Repeats Mon 1/23, 2:30pm; Tue 1/24, 1pm
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 9
WETA Television
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: BROKEN TAIL: A TIGER’S LAST JOURNEY — Irish cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson spent almost 600 days filming Broken Tail — the most charismatic tiger cub ever seen in Ranthambore, one of India’s best-protected tiger reserves. But suddenly, Broken Tail abandoned his sanctuary and went on the run until his death. The filmmaker retraces the tiger’s path and through his story explores the fate of the few surviving tigers in India. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/19, 3pm 9:00 NOVA: 3-D SPIES OF WWII — A documentary explores the previously untold story of Allied air photo intelligence during World War II that played a vital role in defeating Hitler by helping to target bombing raids that set back the German rocket program. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/19, 4pm 10:00 INSIDE NATURE’S GIANTS: SPERM WHALE — A series features veterinary specialists and biologists performing an autopsy on a large wild animal to uncover the secrets of its anatomy. Sperm Whale. The team of scientists explores the mysteries of the largest predator on Earth, a 45-foot deep-sea giant that stranded and died on Pegwell Bay, Kent. Repeats Thur 1/19, 5pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
©ITV FOR MASTERPIECE
17 Tuesday
© PHOTOFEST/WARNER BROS.
8:00 HIMALAYA WITH MICHAEL PALIN — Part 2 of 6. A Passage to India. The former Monty Python star’s Himalayan adventure continues as he visits Concordia. Above him sparkles K2 — second in height only to Everest. But the only crossing point into India is in the Punjab, near Lahore, where the daily flag-lowering ceremony is a must-see. Passing through Amritsar, he takes the toy train to Shimla and Srinagar in beautiful but troubled Kashmir. Finally, he arrives at Dharamsala, for an audience with his Holiness, the Dalai Lama. 9:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Part 3 of 7. Isobel and Cora lock horns over control of Downton Abbey ’s medical role. Mrs. Bird starts a soup kitchen. And Matthew and William embark on a perilous patrol behind German lines. Repeats Thur 1/26, 8pm 10:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY — Part 2 of 2. Desirable bachelors Edward Ferrars and John Willoughby seem to have spurned the Dashwood sisters, while another suitor, Colonel Brandon, has disappeared on a mysterious mission. {DVI} 11:30 HUSTLE, SERIES III — Part 1 of 6. The team sets its sights on Benny Frazier, an obnoxious pub owner who smuggles in illegal immigrants to work for him. His son Joey, keen to hit the big time as a rapper, is the apple of his eye and seemingly Benny’s only weak spot.
Saturday, January 28 at 9:33 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD The WETA Movie presents Howard Hawks’ 1944 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s novel To Have and Have Not, starring Bogart and Bacall and featuring a screenplay co-written by William Faulkner.
25 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 NATURE: FORTRESS OF THE BEARS — Part of the massive Tongass National Forest, Admiralty Island in southeast Alaska supports the largest concentration of bears anywhere in the world. Sustained by a wealth of salmon streams, isolated and protected by their environment, brown bears are part of a unique circle of life that has played out here for centuries. But this year, the salmon fail to arrive. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/26, 3pm 9:00 NOVA: MYSTERY OF A MASTERPIECE — In October 2009, a striking portrait of a young woman in Renaissance dress made world news headlines, thought to be an undiscovered Leonardo da Vinci masterwork worth more than $100 million. How did imaging analysis help tie the portrait to Leonardo? NOVA follows a new breed of experts who investigate art mysteries. {DVI} Repeats Thur 1/26, 4pm 10:00 INSIDE NATURE’S GIANTS: MONSTER PYTHON — In Florida’s Everglades, snake experts meet “python hunters” who are attempting to control the exploding python population through a cull. They join reptile expert Jeanette Wyneken to dissect two pythons: a nine-foot male and a 14-foot female. The program explores the science of slithering, the infra-red vision that let the snakes hunt warm–blooded prey in the dark and the flexible jaw that allows them to swallow huge animals. Repeats Thur 1/26, 5pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
23 Monday
WETA Television
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: EUGENE, OR — Repeats Tue 1/24, 2pm; Wed 1/25, 1pm 9:00 BRITAIN’S ROYAL WEDDINGS — Part 1 of 2. Exploring the story of Britain’s royal weddings from the 1923 nuptials of the Queen Mother through those of Charles and Diana, a BBC film captures the emotion, excitement and style of these grand occasions, told from the point of view of attendees. Repeats Tue 1/24, 5pm; Fri 1/27, 4pm 10:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: HOUSTON, TX — Repeats Tue 1/24, 3pm; Wed 1/25, 2pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
24 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WYATT EARP: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A documentary depicts the complexities and flaws of the Western lawman whose life is a lens on politics, justice and economic opportunity on the American frontier. Shortly after his death in 1929, Earp was transformed into a folk hero: a central figure in the American narrative of how the West was won. {DVI} Repeats Wed 1/25, 3pm; Thur 1/26, 1pm 9:00 GERONIMO: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A documentary explores the story of 19th-century Apache warrior Geronimo. After his tribe was relocated to an Arizona reservation in 1872, struggling to survive under almost unendurable pressures, Geronimo and his violent resistance became a focus of the fury of terrified white settlers. {DVI} Repeats Wed 1/25, 4pm; Thur 1/26, 2pm 10:00 FRONTLINE — TBA 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
COURTESY THE CRAIG FOUTS COLLECTION
COURTESY THE ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY/TUCSON
26 Thursday
Tuesday, January 24 at 8 & 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD American Experience biographical documentaries spotlight the life of Old West lawman and folk hero Wyatt Earp; and legendary Apache warrior Geronimo, who headed the last Native American fighting force to formally surrender to the U.S. government.
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Part 3 of 7. See the Sunday, January 22, 9 p.m. listing. R 9:00 MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!: MISS MARPLE, SERIES IV: WHY DIDN’T THEY ASK EVANS? — Julia McKenzie portrays author Agatha Christie’s spinster sleuth Miss Marple. As the sole witness to a dying man’s enigmatic last words, a young adventurer seeks to solve the riddle they pose by forming an unlikely alliance with Miss Marple and a beautiful socialite. {DVI} 10:30 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT: THE PLYMOUTH EXPRESS — When young heiress Florence Halliday is murdered en route to Plymouth, the prime suspects are a couple of known gold-diggers: her ex-husband and a recent French admirer. Poirot (David Suchet) and his friend Hastings retrace Florence’s train journey to find clues. Repeats Fri 1/27, 1pm 11:30 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
27 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — Moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill leads a discussion by a panel of journalists on the news events of the week. Repeats Sat 1/28, 6:30pm 8:30 INSIDE WASHINGTON — Repeats Sat 1/28, 6pm 9:00 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Episode 5 of 10. Meat Eaters. From the very first time mammals walked on the planet there has been both hunter and hunted. The pressure to evolve speed, endurance and maneuverability has helped animals outwit each other and occupy their very own niche. Attenborough spotlights arctic foxes, leopards, tigers, wolves and lions.
10 january 2012 For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org
N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–6PM See the Saturday, January 7 listings. SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–11:13PM: 6:00 INSIDE WASHINGTON — R 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL AND NATIONAL JOURNAL — R 7:00 AS TIME GOES BY/KEEPING UP APPEARANCES 8:00 DOC MARTIN, SERIES II — Parts 1 & 2 of 8. Old Dogs/In Loco. 9:33 THE WETA MOVIE: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT — Howard Hawks’ 1944 nominal adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway novel follows a boat skipper who flirts with a sultry singer and outwits Nazis on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall star (in her first film) alongside Walter Brennan and Hoagy Carmichael. (1:40) Repeats Sun 1/29, 11:30am
N WETA TV 26, 6AM–6PM. See weta.org/hd for WETA HD listings. O 6AM–9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9AM–11:30AM See the Sunday, January 8 listings. 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT — (1:40) R 1:30 GREAT ROMANCES 2:00 SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE MAZARIN STONE — Sherlock Holmes is in the Highlands and Mycroft is called in to recover the missing Mazarin stone. Repeats Mon 1/30, 3:30pm 3:00 PRIME SUSPECT, SERIES VI: THE LAST WITNESS — Part 3 of 4. Tennison’s investigation takes her to Bosnia where she makes a crucial breakthrough in the murder case. Helen Mirren stars. 4:00 WILLIAM & MARY, SERIES I — Episode 3 of 6. William and Mary’s respective children each want to meet their parent’s new partner. Some clients of William hatch a plan to launch their father’s ashes in a rocket; Mary tries to fend off her mother, who wants to move back in. 5:00 GLOBE TREKKER: TUNISIA & LIBYA — Repeats Mon 1/30, 1:30pm SIMULCAST ON WETA TV 26 & WETA HD, 6PM–12:30AM: 6:00 MOYERS & COMPANY — See the Sunday, January 15, 6 p.m. listing. Repeats Mon 1/30, 5pm 7:00 NATURE: CUBA: THE ACCIDENTAL EDEN — The small island’s varied landscape, its location in the heart of the Caribbean and its longstanding place at the center of Cold War politics have all combined to preserve some of the richest and most unusual natural environments of the hemisphere. For decades, Cuba’s wild landscapes and ecological riches lay untouched — but now tourism is on the rise. {DVI} Repeats Mon 1/30, 2:30pm; Tue 1/31, 1pm 8:00 HIMALAYA WITH MICHAEL PALIN — Part 3 of 6. Annapurna to Everest. Traveling into Nepal, Palin witnesses Gurkha recruitment trials before embarking on an arduous 10-day trek up to Annapurna base camp, a vital part of the acclimatization process. Ill, Palin suffers the effects of altitude, and is grateful for the help of his sherpas. Descending to the Kathmandu valley, Palin is blessed by King Gyuenandra at his palace during the important Nepali festival of Desain, enjoys a bit of gambling and witnesses the daily cremations.
Tuesday, January 31 at 8 & 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26 & WETA HD American Experience chronicles two figures from the mythical world of the American West: sharpshooter Annie Oakley, star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the turn of the 20th century; and the outlaw Jesse James, debunking the mythology surrounding his life.
9:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: DOWNTON ABBEY, SEASON 2 — Part 4 of 7. In the climactic battle of World War I, Matthew and William go over the top to an uncertain fate. Vera plays a cruel endgame with Bates and Anna. And Daisy faces the severest test of her life. Repeats Thur 2/2, 8pm 10:00 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: MANSFIELD PARK — Jane Austen’s most complex plot stars Billie Piper as Fanny Price, who goes to live with prosperous relatives at Mansfield Park. Fanny navigates a labyrinth of intrigues and affairs among the occupants of the house, while her cousin Edmund Bertram (Blake Ritson) remains her stalwart confidant. {DVI} 11:30 HUSTLE, SERIES III — Part 2 of 6. The leadership struggle between Mickey and Danny continues. To end the bickering, Albert poses the supreme test of grifter skill: stark naked, Mickey and Danny are dropped in the middle of London. Armed only with their skills and charm, they are given six hours to collect as many valuables as they can and return to their meeting point.
30 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: EUGENE, OR — Repeats Tue 1/31, 2pm; Wed 2/1, 1pm 9:00 BRITAIN’S ROYAL WEDDINGS — See the Monday, January 23, 9 p.m. listing. Repeats Tue 1/31, 5pm 10:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: HOUSTON, TX — Repeats Tue 1/31, 3pm; Wed 2/1, 2pm 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
31 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR 8:00 ANNIE OAKLEY: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — A documentary spotlights the story of the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the young woman who thrilled audiences around the world with her daring shooting feats. Annie Oakley’s act helped fuel turn-of-the-century nostalgia for the vanished, mythical world of the American West, but she lived her entire life east of the Mississippi. Repeats Wed 2/1, 3pm 9:00 JESSE JAMES: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — The story of Jesse James remains one of America’s most cherished tales, and one of its most fictitious. James, so the legend goes, was a western outlaw, though he never went west; a Robin Hood, though he robbed from the poor as well as the rich; a gunfighter, though his victims were almost always unarmed. {DVI} Repeats Wed 2/1, 4pm 10:00 FRONTLINE — TBA 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — R epeats next weekday, noon
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. For those who have requested we not exchange their names, this magazine’s address label has an X at the beginning of the coded line. If you do not have an X and prefer that your name not be exchanged, please call Audience Services at 703-998-2724. ©2012 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 25, Number 1. ISSN No. 1041-2700. Printed on Recycled Paper
Publisher Mary Stewart Editor Jeff Giese Art Director Brian Rees Design TMG, Inc. Editorial and Advertising Offices 3939 Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 11
WETA Television
29 Sunday
COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/COLORING BY WGBH DESIGN
28 Saturday
COURTESY ANNIE OAKLEY CENTER AT THE GARST MUSEUM
9:47 THE LIFE OF MAMMALS — Episode 6 of 10. Opportunists. When it comes to food, most mammals are specialists, but there is an alternative strategy for feeding: being a generalist able to make the most of whatever food is on hand. It’s a recipe for success, and among this diverse group of animals are some of the most widespread mammals on the planet. Sir David Attenborough spotlights the raccoon, skunk, grizzly bear, fox, pig and rat, among other creatures. 10:30 NEED TO KNOW 11:00 CHARLIE ROSE — Repeats next weekday, noon
26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 800 Comcast 265 FiOS 474 RCN 39
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Inspiring Lifelong Learning and Creativity WETA Create presents “how-to” lifestyle programming, 24 hours each day, seven days a week, featuring public television’s finest series devoted to explorations of home improvement, cooking, crafts, travel, woodworking, painting, gardening and much more. This channel draws on more than 30 series. For a complete schedule of WETA Create programming, please visit weta.org/create.
Among the programs you’ll find on WETA Create are:
HOME & GARDEN
a weta co-production
America’s Test Kitchen from Cook’s Illustrated Baking With Julia Ciao Italia Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen Cuisine Culture Food Trip with Todd English In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs Jacques Pépin: More Fast Food My Way Lidia’s Italy Mexico: One Plate at a Time Nick Stellino Cooking with Friends Rachel’s Favorite Food at Home Sara’s Weeknight Meals Simply Ming
COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION
For Your Home Garden Smart Glass with Vicki Payne Katie Brown Workshop P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home The Victory Garden
CULINARY ADVENTURES
HOME IMPROVEMENT Ask This Old House Rough Cut This Old House Woodturning Workshop Woodwright’s Shop
TRAVEL & CULTURE Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions Globe Trekker Grannies on Safari Richard Bangs’ Adventures Rick Steves’ Europe Smart Travels–Pacific Rim with Rudy Maxa Travelscope
ARTS & CRAFTS The Best of the Joy of Painting Knit & Crochet Today Scheewe Art Workshop Sewing with Nancy
26.3 Over the Air Via Antenna Cox 801 Comcast 266 FiOS 472 RCN 38
Cuisine Culture, airing each Tuesday and Thursday at 8 a.m., repeating at 2 p.m., starts December 27 on WETA Create. In the series, Chef Ashley Charles James journeys into the restaurants of the world’s best chefs, who reveal their secrets, tricks of the trade and culinary inspirations. The program also airs at noon, Saturdays on WETA TV 26.
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Providing a Safe Haven for Children WETA Kids offers safe programming for our young viewers, presenting educational television broadcasts 24 hours each day, seven days a week. Below you can find weekday daytime listings for WETA Kids. Note that children’s programming also airs each morning on WETA TV 26. Please visit weta.org/kids to find complete schedules of children’s programs on the WETA Kids channel and WETA TV 26. Monday through Friday on the WETA Kids channel
12 january 2012
WEEKDAYS ON WETA TV 26
COURTESY SCHOLASTIC INC.
Raggs, 6am Clifford The Big Red Dog, 6:30am Super WHY!, 7am Arthur, 7:30am Martha Speaks, 8am Curious George, 8:30am The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, 9am WordGirl, 9:30am WordWorld, 10am Dinosaur Train, 10:30am Wild Kratts, 11am The Electric Company, 11:30am Sid the Science Kid, noon Raggs, 12:30pm Sesame Street, 1pm Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, 2pm Angelina Ballerina, 2:30pm Peep and the Big Wide World, 3pm Maya & Miguel, 3:30pm Arthur, 4pm WordGirl, 4:30pm
Curious George, 7pm Zula Patrol, 7:30pm The Electric Company, 8pm Sid the Science Kid, 8:30pm BIZ KID$, 9pm
Maya & Miguel
Fetch!, 5pm Wild Kratts, 5:30pm Super WHY!, 6pm Martha Speaks, M–Th, 6:30pm (Mama Mirabelle on Fridays)
Sesame Street, 5am Clifford The Big Red Dog, 6am Super WHY!, 6:30am Arthur, 7am Martha Speaks, 7:30am Curious George, 8am The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, 8:30am WordGirl, 9am WordWorld, 9:30am Dinosaur Train, 10am Wild Kratts, 10:30am The Electric Company, 11am Sid the Science Kid, 11:30am
For weekends and complete schedules, see weta.org/kids
Classical W TA 90.9 FM
Classical for Washington
C
Ying Quartet Recital on Front Row Washington COURTESY MELVIN KAPLAN INC.
lassical WETA 90.9 FM’s weekly Monday-night local concert broadcast Front Row Washington kicks off Mozart Month on Monday, January 2 at 9 p.m. with a recital of piano quintets performed by A Venti, a period wind ensemble hailing from Brittany. Recorded in concert at La Maison Française, the ensemble added a replica 1799 pianoforte for this performance. A Venti is composed of Daniel Isoir, pianoforte; Jean-Marc Philippe, oboe; François Gillardot, Ying Quartet clarinet; David Douçot, bassoon; and Pierre-Yves Madeuf, horn. The ensemble performs Mozart’s Quintet in E-flat major, K. 452, in addition to works by Friedrich Witt and Beethoven. The broadcast also welcomes the Ying Quartet — first violinist Ayano Ninomiya, second violin Janet Ying, viola Phillip Ying, and cellist David Ying — on Monday, January 23 at 9 p.m. for a recital presented by Candlelight Concert Society at the Horowitz Center for Performing Arts in Columbia, Maryland. The program, offering a nod to Classical WETA 90.9 FM’s Mozart Month celebration, features Mozart’s Quartet in E-flat Major, K. 428. As quartet-in-residence at the prestigious music conservatory, The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, the Ying Quartet commissions new works, including two featured in this concert: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec’s Anniversary Dances, and John Novacek’s Three Rags for String Quartet. The Ying Quartet closes the recital with Bedˇrich Smetana’s much-beloved Quartet No. 1 in E minor, “From My Life.”
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Sunday, January 29 at 9 p.m.
Horne and Sutherland in Norma
Metropolitan Opera on Classical WETA Opera House Saturdays at 1 p.m. January 7: Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel with Aleksandra Kurzak, Alice Coote and Robert Brubaker January 14: Archival Broadcast: Bellini’s Norma (April 4, 1970) with Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne January 21: The Enchanted Island (new) with David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato and Plácido Domingo January 28: Puccini’s Tosca with Patricia Racette and Aleksandrs Antonenko Visit classicalweta.org for details.
Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown; classicalweta.org For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org 13
Classical WETA 90.9 FM
ith Classical WETA 90.9 FM celebrating Mozart’s birthday in January, it seems an appropriate time to schedule the famous Requiem and give the equally famous mysteriousness of the piece its due. Much of the legend is actually true, although the business about Salieri’s involvement (serving as scribe while Mozart dictated from his death bed, and then finishing the work) is not. That, perpetuated by Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus (later turned into the famous movie), was started by Alexander Pushkin in a play titled Mozart and Salieri, which Rimsky-Korsakov turned into an opera. Mozart Month It’s generally known that it was Franz Süssmayr who completed the Requiem. Less known is that Tune in to Classical he was far from being the first choice for the job. WETA 90.9 FM and It is no surprise then that his work (especially the VivaLaVoce throughorchestration) has been widely criticized over the out January as we years, including by notable conductors Richard celebrate the birthday Strauss and Bruno Walter. Furthermore, unsurof composer Wolfgang prisingly, others have attempted to fix Süssmayr’s Amadeus Mozart with work, and more recent orchestrations are thought broadcasts of many of to be more faithful to Mozart’s true intentions. his works, including The recording scheduled on Classical WETA those less often heard. with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio uses one of those orchestrations — by 20th-century German musicologist Franz Beyer. Visit classicalweta.org for more on the Requiem.
LOUIS MÉLANÇON/MET OPERA ARCHIVES
Mozart Requiem on Choral Showcase
A Stage Debut
Buttoned down? Not so! Robert Aubry Davis, longtime host and moderator of the WETA TV 26 Emmy Award-winning weekly arts program Around Town, makes a dramatic transformation from art critic to artist, appearing as Edna Turnblad in Signature Theatre’s current production of the lively musical Hairspray, currently running through January 29. Visit weta.org/rad to learn more. ADVERTISEMENT
Photo by Mike Hoban for Royal Opera House
COSI FAN TUTTE
FEBRUARY 25–MARCH 15, 2012 KENNEDY CENTER OPERA HOUSE Part of the Kennedy Center’s The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna Production from Seattle Opera In Italian with English supertitles
Tickets from $55 at the Box Office or charge by phone (202) 467-4600 Order online at kennedy-center.org/wno TTY (202) 416-8524 | Groups (202) 416-8400 David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO. International festivals at the Kennedy Center are generously supported by HRH Foundation. Additional support for The Music of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna is provided by Michael and Noémi Neidorff and The Honorable Nancy G. Brinker. International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
Christoph Eschenbach, photo by Margot Schulman
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Eschenbach conducts Widmann Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto JAN. 26–29, 2012
Eschenbach conducts Beethoven Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony FEB. 2–4, 2012
Eschenbach conducts Salerno-Sonnenberg
Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 FEB. 9–11, 2012 KENNEDY CENTER CONCERT HALL Tickets from $20 at the Box Office or charge by phone (202) 467-4600 Order online at kennedy-center.org/nso TTY (202) 416-8524 | Groups (202) 416-8400 David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by
Roger and Vicki Sant. General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of the NSO Classical Season.
The Blue Series is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation.