Author Archives: Maritza Avelar

Q Night at the Movies 5/31

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

KLRU-Q’s Saturday Night at the Movies presents a full-length feature film every Saturday night, plus extra content that gives the evening an exciting spin. Each film explores the work of legendary actors and actresses through many important films from their careers. Here is a peek of what this Saturday has in store:

Just Seen It Episode #607 at 7 pm
JUST SEEN IT is the review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story Unforgiven: Deconstructing an Anti-Western at 7:30
The Clint Eastwood/David Peoples classic Unforgiven is deconstructed by Into the West’s Kirk Ellis and Apaloosa’s Robert Knott as they explore its gritty action, ambiguous morality, and the tried-and-true tropes of its genre. Christian Baker’s short film, The Well, follows suit, trailing a young Civil War soldier stationed alone on the US/Mexico faced with nothing but his own demons.

Hollywood Stars Film Package Some Like It Hot at 8 pm
To evade gangsters, two men (Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon) don skirts and makeup and join an all-girl band with a sizzling singer (Marilyn Monroe). Cast: Anthony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe.

Janson Movie Star Package Jack Lemmon: America’s Everyman at 10:05
Jack Lemmon was born in Boston, graduated from Harvard and then headed for New York City to become a professional actor. His first acting roles were in soap operas and live TV dramas. But it was his appearance in a Broadway revival of Room Service that led to a co-starring role with Judy Holliday in his first movie, It Should Happen to You (1954). His unmistakable intellect and his boyish, average looks played against him becoming a romantic leading man. But his live TV and comedy training gave him the perfect timing, the precise emotional balance and the total believability that showed in films as diverse as Mister Roberts (1955), Some Like It Hot (1959), The Apartment (1960), Days of Wine and Roses (1962), and The Odd Couple (1968). In his later films, Save the Tiger (1973), The China Syndrome (1979), and Glengarry Glenn Ross (1992), Jack exposed the darker side of the American way of life. Jack Lemmon made more than 60 films and received numerous awards, including eight Academy Award Nominations and two Oscars. Narrated on-camera by Jack Lemmon, this profile includes interviews with Lemmon’s son, the actor Chris Lemmon.

Chris Mann In Concert: A Mann For All Seasons at 10:59
In 2011, Chris Mann faced his make-or-break moment in his blind audition on NBC’s singing competition, “The Voice,” when he took the stage to perform Andrea Bocelli’s song, “Because We Believe.” Mann blew everyone away with his stunning classical voice, and landed on a team coached by Christina Aguilera, who told him, “I feel the heavens open up when you sing.” Influenced by Pavarotti and vintage Sinatra, Chris’ blend of classically-trained tenor and contemporary pop vocals is a sound that’s rare in music today. By the time his season of “The Voice” ended, Chris had landed not one, but two songs on the iTunes Top 10 Pop Singles Chart. Now he’s found a home here on PBS, singing a collection of classical-crossover favorites live in concert with two very special guests – four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and 14-time Grammy nominated, Martina McBride and bestselling contemporary jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair. In his first concert special, Chris Mann performs an exciting and eclectic blend of songs, ranging from “Ave Maria” to Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter,” and Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind,” to Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.” Chris also performs an updated version of “My Way,” which Paul Anka rewrote specifically for him, as the new voice of the classic song.

Highlights May 25 – 31

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KLRU Highlights

Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise the National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday at 7 p.m. and Monday at 10 pm featuring a variety of performances on the U.S. Capitol lawn to honor the men and women who have served our country in the armed services.

Antiques Roadshow at 7 p.m. Monday features host Mark L. Walberg in Richmond, Virginia looking at a 1935 Bride of Frankenstein pressbook and more.

The bloodiest war in American history changed the country’s culture forever, in part by the unprecedented scale of casualties it produced. The documentary Death and Civil War: The American Experience directed by Ric Burns describes the effects of the war at 8 p.m. on Monday.

Coming Back With Wes Moore at 7 p.m. on Tuesday features American veterans who have come home and are finding their place as a non-serving citizen. The episode “Moving Forward” documents several personal accounts of veterans’ goals in the new chapter of their lives, some facing hardships and others success.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, the film D-day 360 re-creates the legendary World War II battlefield with software that reproduces both the macro and micro scale of the scene.

Frontline‘s premier Battle Zones: Ukraine & Syria goes on the ground at 9 p.m. Tuesday with right-wing Ukrainians telling their story of hatred with their Russian counterparts. Then in Syria, Frontline finds rebel fighters that claim they are armed and trained secretly by American forces.

Tattooed Under Fire at 10 p.m. on Tuesday reveals personal accounts of Iraq-bound or returning soldiers while they’re under the needle: whether the tattoos signify pain, excitement, patriotism, or death, these tattoos send a message from the hearts of our war heroes.

Nature zooms in on our country’s trademark, the American Bald Eagle, and its endangerment on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

NOVA goes underwater to explore “D-day’s Sunken Secrets” on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Diving into the Normandy beaches, specialists find evidence of the key components of the Allies’ successful technology used to defeat Nazi Germany.

Austin City Limits features contemporary folk rock bands Mumford & Sons and Flogging Molly, performing their best hits and new material at 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Overheard with Evan Smith talks with Pulitzer Prize winner Eugene Robinson, a Washington Post columnist often featured on MSNBC’s Meet the Press and other programs.

Arts in Context explores the history of tattoo artistry on its episode “A Moving Canvas” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

At 8 p.m. on Thursday The Daytripper travels to Orange, Texas to visit restaurants, museums, and looks at alligators from an airboat.

A low-income high school band is documented on Arts in Context at 8:30 p.m., revealing the strain school budgets puts on arts programs and the impact on the community.

An Austin edition of Arts in Context at 9 p.m. Thursday features summer campers of Austin Lyric Opera’s “Opera Odyssey” camp that produce and perform their own show “Quarantine.”

The Doctor’s time-traveling spaceship TARDIS comes to a crash in The Eleventh Hour of Doctor Who at 10 p.m. on Thursday.

This week’s Central Texas Gardener focuses on how to “Make A Splash!” with creative water sources for your garden. The program will air at noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

60s Pop, Rock & Soul features artists Davy Jones, Peter Noone, and many more on the “My Music” stage on Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.

The first English group to tour America and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers the Dave Clark Five are put in the spotlight at 9 p.m. on Saturday with interviews from legends Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and many more celebrities.

The legendary performance Grateful Dead – Dead Ahead from Halloween 1980 at the Radio City Music Hall, or the “Showplace of the Nation,” comes on KLRU at 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Science Night 5/28

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Wednesday is Science Night on KLRU!

Nature American Eagle at 7 pm
Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent’s most recognizable aerial predator, with a shocking white head, electric yellow beak and penetrating eyes. In the 1960s, this symbol of the United States became an emblem of environmental degradation, as the pesticide DDT and other human pressures brought it to the brink of extinction. Following their protection as an endangered species, bald eagles have come roaring back. Photographed by three-time Emmy-winning cinematographer Neil Rettig, this first-ever HD hour on bald eagles focuses on the drama of the nest. Even in the best of times, it’s a surprisingly tough struggle to maintain a one-ton home and raise chicks until they can hunt on their own. This is an intimate portrait of these majestic raptors’ lives in the wild.

NOVA D-day’s Sunken Secrets at 8 pm
On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the biggest armada in history to invade the Normandy beaches and liberate Europe from the Nazis. In less than 24 hours, more than 5,000 ships crossed the English Channel, along with thousands of tanks and landing craft and nearly 200,000 men. Throughout the operation hundreds of ships sank running the gauntlet of mines and bunkers, creating one of the world’s largest underwater archaeological sites. Now, NOVA has exclusive access to a unique collaboration between military historians, archaeologists, and specialist divers to carry out the most extensive survey ever done of the seabed bordering the legendary beachheads. Dive teams, submersibles, and underwater robots discover and identify key examples of the Allied craft that fell victim to German shellfire, mines and torpedoes. The team uses the latest 3D mapping tools to plot the relics on the sea floor. Highlighting the ingenious technology that helped the Allies overcome the German defenses, “D-Day’s Sunken Secrets” unfolds a vivid blow-by-blow account of the tumultuous events of D-Day and reveals how the Allies’ intricate planning and advanced technology was vital to assure the success of the most ambitious and risky military operation ever launched.

Q Night at the Movies 5/24

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

KLRU-Q’s Saturday Night at the Movies presents a full-length feature film every Saturday night, plus extra content that gives the evening an exciting spin. Each film explores the work of legendary actors and actresses through many important films from their careers. Here is a peek of what this Saturday has in store:

Just Seen It Episode #606 at 7 pm
JUST SEEN IT is the review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story Callie Khouri at 7:30 pm
Callie Khouri reflects upon her experience working with Ridley Scott and writing the classic female-driven-buddy film, Thelma and Louise. Followed by Avram Dodson’s short film, Pistachio Milk, a coming of age tale about a young suitor using only his wits and a bottle of pistachio milk to pursue his love interest.

Hollywood Stars Film Package The Train at  8 pm
A railroad boss (Burt Lancaster) helps the Resistance stop a Nazi colonel (Paul Scofield) from smuggling French art. Cast: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau.

Colditz The Legend at 10:15 pm
Colditz Castle was a maximum security prison from which no one was meant to escape – but escape they did. The exciting and moving new documentary COLDITZ THE LEGEND takes a fresh look at the legendary escapes, featuring stories from both Colditz survivors and their extended families.

Fats Domino – Walkin’ Back To New Orleans at 11 pm
Fats Domino – Walkin’ Back to New Orleans chronicles music legend Fats Domino’s triumphant return to the stage after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to his New Orleans hometown. Two years after a harrowing rescue from the storm, Domino headlined a 2007 benefit concert for the city, performing hits like “Blueberry Hill,” and “Ain’t That a Shame” to an adoring audience. The special, narrated by actor John Goodman, captures the concert and provides an up-close, biographical look at Domino’s storied career. The special also includes rare interviews with Domino as well as singers Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Robert Plant and Randy Newman, who discuss how this legendary performer has inspired their careers.

 

Highlights May 18 – 24

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KLRU Highlights

As preparations are made for Chummy to nurse her dying mother at home, Jenny feels drawn to help on Call the Midwife Sunday at 7 pm. While Shelagh and Dr. Turner await news from the Adoption Society, Shelagh pulls out all the stops when she enters her choir into a competition.

Justice is served, and so is romance on the finale of Masterpiece Mr Selfridge on Sunday at 8 pm as soldiers return, others leave for the front and all at Selfridges remain calm and carry on.

On Independent Lens “Seeking Asian Female” Monday at 8 pm two strangers — an elderly American man and a young Chinese woman — pursue a marriage brokered by the internet, but they get more than they bargained for when she moves across the Pacific to start a new life with him in America.

Independent Lens “God Loves Uganda” Monday at 9 pm explores the role of the American Evangelical movement in fueling Uganda’s terrifying turn towards the proposed death penalty for homosexuality.

Part two of Coming Back Home with Wes Moore at 7 pm Tuesday reflects on the idea of fitting in when you and the home you are returning to is fundamentally changed by war.

Escape from Nazi Death Camp at 8 pm Tuesday uses brutally honest drama-reconstruction and first hand testimony to reveal the incredible escape story.

In the second part of “United States of Secrets,” Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday explores the role of Silicon Valley in the National Security Agency’s dragnet.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday looks at some of the most extraordinary swarms on the planet, including a view from inside a locust swarm, mayflies along the Mississippi, 17-year cicadas, and brine fly hatches over Lake Victoria.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday recreates the extreme engineering challenges faced by British engineers as they fought the German war machine.

Presidential historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about politics on Overheard with Evan Smith Thursday at 7 pm.

Groundbreaking experimental dancer Deborah Hay challenges perception of dance and space on Arts In Context Thursday at 7:30 pm.

Operation Appreciation Thursday at 8 pm follows volunteers from Georgetown, as they give heartfelt thank yous to soldiers reporting for duty at Fort Hood as well as those injured in combat.

Chet heads to Mason, the “Gem of the Hill Country,” on The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday.

Tattooed Under Fire Thursday at 9 pm gives a unique, intimate, character-driven portrait of Iraq-bound and returning US soldiers as they go under the tattoo needle: openly professing their pride, sharing their secrets and confessing their fears.

Aretha Franklin, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott and others to perform the songs made famous by generations of those remarkable women of soul that overcame adversity through the power and passion of their music on In Performance at the White House Women of Soul Friday at 8 pm.

In Performance at the White House Memphis Soul Friday at 9 pm honors the memorable soul sounds from the mid- to late-1960s that came from Memphis, Tennessee and legendary labels like Stax-Volt Records.

What’s that insect in your garden? Meet the look-alikes to see who’s naughty and who’s nice on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, Natural Bridge Caverns plants on top for what’s going on below.

Contemporary folk rock takes the stage with Mumford & Sons and Flogging Molly on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

 

Science Night 5/21

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Wednesday is Science Night on KLRU!

Nature The Gathering Swarms at 7 pm
This program looks at some of the most extraordinary swarms on the planet, including a view from inside a locust swarm, mayflies along the Mississippi, 17-year cicadas, and brine fly hatches over Lake Victoria. Superswarms of finch-like quelea in Africa merit attempts at control through assaults on their roosts, while aggressive swarms of silver carp in North American seem able to overcome any kind of restraint. Dangerous swarms of killer bees, however, can be controlled to the point that they can be worn as a human bee suit. But beyond the power of sheer numbers, increasingly complex and organized swarms eventually give rise to swarm intelligence that allows complex decisions to be made.

NOVA Bombing Hitler’s Dams at 8 pm
In 1943 a squadron of 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 — with a revolutionary bouncing bomb invented by British engineer Barnes Wallis. Wallis and the pilots of 617 Squadron — a lively mix of Britons, Australians, Americans and Canadians — were hailed as heroes and dealt a mighty blow to the German war machine. In this program, NOVA recreates the extreme engineering challenges faced by Wallis and the pilots with the aid of six spectacular experiments. A crack team of experts including dam engineers, explosives specialists, mechanics and aircrew step into the shoes of the Dambusters and attempt to overcome each obstacle in turn.

Q Night at the Movies 5/17

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

KLRU-Q’s Saturday Night at the Movies presents a full-length feature film every Saturday night, plus extra content that gives the evening an exciting spin. Each film explores the work of legendary actors and actresses through many important films from their careers. Here is a peek of what this Saturday has in store:

Just Seen It Episode #605 at 7 pm
JUST SEEN IT is the review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story Episode #405 at 7:30 pm
Rian Johnson (Looper), Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), and Roberto Orci (Star Trek), masters of weaving time travel into the fabric of film, dissect the elements that make for a believable “operating system” when writing a comprehensible timeline for a screenplay. A Conversation  About Cheating with my Time Traveling Future Self accompanies this episode, trailing one man’s  attempt to better his life by traveling back in time to offer himself weathered advice, written and directed by Pornsak Pichetshote.

Hollywood Stars Film Package Woman Of The Year at 8 pm
A New York sportswriter (Spencer Tracy) marries a political columnist (Katharine Hepburn) whose career comes first. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Fay Bainter.

Hollywood Stars Film Package Separate Tables at 9:55 pm
An alleged war hero (David Niven), a spinster (Deborah Kerr) and other long-term guests interact at a seaside British resort. Cast: David Niven, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr.

Highlights May 11 – May 17

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KLRU Highlights

Light of the Valley Sunday at 1:30 pm tells the inspiring story of the 15th renovation of the Swayambu Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, recognized as one of the most important monuments in the Buddhist world.

Concert footage, interviews and magical offstage moments are interwoven into this documentary about Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble’s 15th anniversary performance on  Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma Sunday at 2 pm.

Asia Society Texas Center at 3 pm Sunday explores how famed Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi’s landmark building came to fruition in Houston’s Museum District.

Sister Julienne calms an anxious new mother who has put her baby in grave danger and Jenny returns from the Mother House on Call the Midwife Sunday at 7 pm.

Harry’s secret service contact does him a favor on Masterpiece Mr. Selfridge Season 2, Part 7. Mae and Loxley cross swords. LeClair gets good news – and bad.

In Richmond, Virginia, Antiques Roadshow host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Reid Dunavant travel to the Virginia Museum of Fine Art to talk about silver coffee and teapots, Monday at 7 pm.

Whether it’s a ceramic dog or a painted cat, Antiques Roadshow at 8 pm Monday is chock full of appraisals featuring felines and canines – in sculpture, on canvas and in many other forms.

POV at 9 pm Monday presents The World Before Her. This documentary is a tale of two Indias: In one, a small-town girl competes in the Miss India pageant. In the other, a militant woman leads a fundamentalist Hindu camp for girls.

Independent Lens “Let the Fire Burn” at 10 pm Monday brings to life one of the most tumultuous and largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in modern American history.

Wes Moore explores the questions surrounding the difficulty with the process of coming back from war on episode one of Coming Back with Wes Moore at 7 pm Tuesday.

Frontline at 8 pm Tuesday investigates the secret history of the unprecedented surveillance program that began in the wake of September 11th and continues today.

Mulberry Child at 10 pm Tuesday tells the moving story of author Jian Ping and her family’s struggle to survive China’s Cultural Revolution of 1966-1979.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday talks to scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists that regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and world-wide water shortages.

Amy Tan, the author of three best-selling novels including The Joy Luck Club and her newest novel, The Valley of Amazement, talks about her career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Meet Austin’s indie video game developers who push games to new frontiers in storytelling, music, animation and design on Arts In Context at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Film School Shorts at 8 pm Thursday features University of Texas student Hammad Rizvi’s film Road to Peshawar. During the Soviet-Afghan War, a father leads his injured daughter through the treacherous Peshawar Pass. In a literal minefield, her fate becomes linked to that of a Soviet sniper.

Chet heads to Lufkin to explore the Texas Piney Woods and one of Texas’s four National Forests on The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday.

Arts In Context at 9 pm Thursday explores the remote Texas city of Marfa, which attracts visitors including those interested in literary pursuits, fine arts and the metaphysical.

American Masters at 8 pm Friday showcases the remarkable life of famed participatory journalist George Plimpton: writer, editor, amateur sportsman and actor. Using Plimpton’s own narration, interviews with friends, family and contemporaries, and previously unseen archival material, the film creates a compelling portrait of a one-of-a-kind person.

Find out what’s going on underground to keep your plants at top performance on Central Texas Gardener at noon and 4 pm Saturday. On tour, visit the Texas Quilt Museum and its heritage plant garden patterned like a quilt.

Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday presents indie rock with Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear.

Science Night 5/14

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Wednesday is Science Night on KLRU!

Nature Leave It To Beavers at 7 pm
A growing number of scientists, conservationists and grass-roots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the disastrous effects of global warming and world-wide water shortages. Once valued for their fur or hunted as pests, these industrious rodents are seen in a new light through the eyes of this novel assembly of beaver enthusiasts and “employers” who reveal the ways in which the presence of beavers can transform and revive landscapes. Using their skills as natural builders and brilliant hydro-engineers, beavers are being recruited to accomplish everything from finding water in a bone-dry desert to recharging water tables and coaxing life back into damaged lands.

NOVA Escape From Nazi Alcatraz at 8 pm
Colditz Castle, a notorious prisoner of war camp in Nazi Germany, was supposed to be escape-proof. But in the dark days at the end of World War II, a group of British officers dreamt up the ultimate escape plan: in a secret attic workshop, they constructed a two-man glider out of bed sheets and floorboards. Their plan was to fly to freedom from the roof of the castle, but the war ended before they could put it to the test. Now a crack team of aerospace engineers and carpenters rebuild the glider in the same attic using the same materials, and they’ll do something the prisoners never got a chance to try: use a bathtub full of concrete to catapult the glider off the roof of the castle. As the hair-raising launch 90 feet up draws near, the program explores the Colditz legend and exposes the secrets of other ingenious and audacious escapes. Then, after a 70-year wait, the team finally finds out if the legendary glider plan would have succeeded.

Nazi Mega Weapons Fortress Berlin at 9 pm
April 1945. Hitler is in the center of Berlin, 10 meters underground, surrounded by four-meter thick concrete walls, safe from any air attack the Allies can throw at him. But the Russians are advancing on the ground: the Red Army is lined up along the Oder River and going for the Fuhrer. Blocking the way are rings of ingenious defenses, kill zones and strong-points that have turned Berlin into a fortress. At the heart of this fortress is the Fuhrerbunker.

Q Night at the Movies 5/10

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KLRU Q - Night at the Movies

KLRU-Q’s Saturday Night at the Movies presents a full-length feature film every Saturday night, plus extra content that gives the evening an exciting spin. Each film explores the work of legendary actors and actresses through many important films from their careers. Here is a peek of what this Saturday has in store:

Just Seen It Episode #604 at 7 pm
JUST SEEN IT is the review show where industry professionals present their takes on current movies and TV shows, and interview Hollywood insiders.

On Story House Of Cards: A Conversation With Beau Willimon at 7:30 pm
House of Cards creator, Beau Willimon, discusses writing for Netflix, working with David Fincher, and delving into the psychology of narrative power struggles. Artiz Moreno’s short film, Colera, follows with an ominous glimpse of a town that decides to take the law into their own hands, without considering the consequences.

Hollywood Stars Film Package The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes at 8 pm
When a bored Sherlock Holmes (Robert Stephens) takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon after an attempt on her life, the search for her missing husband leads to Loch Ness and the legendary monster. Cast: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Genevieve Page.