Posted on February 3rd, 2012

Masterpiece Classic at 7 pm Sunday presents part four of Downton Abbey, Series II. In the climactic battle of the war, 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.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents part five of Downton Abbey, Series II. As the war nears its end, Downton’s aristocrats and servants put their lives back together. Mary and Sir Richard go estate hunting, while a mysterious wounded officer makes a shocking revelation.

When two murders share a link with their own Doctor Hobson, Lewis and Hathaway try to clear her name by unraveling the truth from a tangle of complicated events on Masterpiece Mystery!: Inspector Lewis, Series III at 9 pm Sunday.

Underground Railroad: The William Still Story at 9 pm Monday details one of the most important yet unheralded individuals of the Underground Railroad along with the accounts of black abolitionists, who had everything at stake as they helped fugitives follow the North Star to Canada.

Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream at 10 pm Monday tells the story of the massive migration of African Americans from the rural south to the prosperous north during the World War II years and beyond.

Freedom Riders: American Experience at 7 pm Tuesday chronicles a chapter of American history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth as an integrated band of college students risk their lives to battle segregation in the 1960s.

Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday cuts through the fog of war to reveal the untold story of what happened in Haditha, Iraq, where 24 of the town’s residents were killed by U.S. forces in what many in the media branded “Iraq’s My Lai.”

On Nature at 7 pm Wednesday, scientists from around the world share their thoughts and work to help explore the scientific theory that in an effort to outwit raccoons, we are actually making them smarter and unwittingly contributing to their evolutionary success.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday takes a glimpse into the lives of Trishna and Krishna, twin girls born joined at the head who are ready for a series of delicate operations that will prepare them for the ultimate challenge: a marathon separation surgery that will allow them to live truly separate lives.

On Inside Nature’s Giants: Big Cats at 9 pm Wednesday, experts dissect a lion and a tiger and make distinctions between the two species.

Writer Russell Banks discusses his career on Overheard With Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

World-renowned classical guitarist Jorge Caballero performs the classic work Pictures At An Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky on Arts In Context at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Chet heads to Huntsville to explore the history of Texas Founder Sam Houston, visit the Texas Prison Museum, and go SCUBA diving in the piney woods on The Daytripper at 8:30 pm

Independent Lens at 9 pm Thursday presents The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, a cinematic and musical journey into the black communities of America.

Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook at 9 pm Friday reveals Feinstein’s discovery of an undocumented, unknown song by one of the giants of American popular music and follows his quest to verify its authenticity.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff performs his greatest hits and songs from his LP Existence on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Posted on January 27th, 2012

Masterpiece Theater at 8 pm Sunday and 8 pm Saturday presents part four of Downton Abbey, Series II. In the climactic battle of the war, 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.

Sherlock must solve perplexing and dangerous puzzles specifically laid out for him on Masterpiece Mystery! at 9 pm Sunday. Can he and Watson catch up to the villain before innocent people are harmed?

Legends of the 1960s unite in this live performance special, 60s Pop, Rock & Soul at 9 pm Monday. Co-hosts Peter Noone and Davy Jones sing their biggest hits focusing on the years 1965 – 1969.

Annie Oakley: American Experience at 7 pm Tuesday tells the story of the five-foot-tall sharpshooter who pulled herself out of the depths of poverty to become known the world over as a symbol of the Wild West.

Jesse James: American Experience at 8 pm Tuesday tells explores the myth behind the American outlaw whose expansive ambition, unbending politics and surprising cunning helped invent his own valiant legend.

Frontline at 9 pm Tuesday reveals that a crisis in death investigation in America is also becoming a threat to public health on “Post Mortem.”

Wednesday Science Night features Nature “Wolverine” at 7 pm, Nova “Ice Age Death Trap” at 8 pm and Inside Nature’ Giants “Great White Shark” at 9 pm.

Experimental modern rock rules with Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li on Austin City Limits at 10 pm Wednesday and Friday.

Singer-Songwriter Nick Lowe discusses his career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context looks at what made the Trans-Pecos town of Marfa nestled near Big Bend National Park the desert destination it is today in “The Light and The Land” at 7:30 pm Thursday.

Chet heads to “cowtown” to visit the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, take a horseback ride, visit their art museums, and attend the Stockyards Rodeo on The Daytripper at 8 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Thursday presents “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock”. The documentary tells the story of her life and public support of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, which culminated in a constitutional crisis — pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself.

Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook at 9 pm Friday explores how technology has preserved – and altered – the way we think about the great songs and singers of the past.

Designer Adams Kirkpatrick illustrates designs and plants for waterwise shade gardens on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday.

Modern rock band Wilco returns to the ACL stage with tunes from their LP The Whole Love on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Posted on January 20th, 2012

Masterpiece Classic  at 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Saturday presents part three of “Downton Abbey, Series II”. Isobel and Cora lock horns over control of Downtown’s medical role, Mrs. Bird starts a soup kitchen, and Matthew and William embark on a perilous patrol behind German lines.

On Masterpiece Mystery! at 9 p.m. Sunday, Sherlock Holmes stalks again in a thrilling contemporary version of the Victorian-era whodunits. When a banker is found dead inside his locked apartment, Sherlock and Watson must follow the clues that lead to an underground crime gang. But who is the leader pulling the strings? Find out on “Sherlock: The Blind Banker”.

American Masters at 9 p.m. Monday presents “Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune”. From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. This biographical documentary shows how Phil’s music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation.

A central figure in the narrative of how the west was won, Wyatt Earp and his story of how he became an American legend are presented on American Experience at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday visits Tongass National Forest, Admiralty Island in southeast Alaska, where the largest concentration of bears anywhere in the world are experiencing a lack of salmon and get a bitter taste of what the future may hold in “Fortress of the Bears”.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday meets a new breed of experts who are approaching “cold case” art mysteries as if they were crime scenes, determined to discover “who committed the art,” and follows art sleuths as they deploy new techniques to combat the multi-billion dollar criminal market in stolen and fraudulent art on “Mystery of a Masterpiece”.

Folk meets indie rock with Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom as they both make their debut performances on Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Inside Nature’s Giants at 9 pm Thursday travels to the Florida Everglades to meet “python hunters” who are attempting to control the python population (approximately 100,000) through a cull on “Monster Python”.

Actress & comedian Molly Shannon is best known for her six-year run as a Saturday Night Live cast member, creating many recurring characters. She joins us to talk about SNL, becoming an author and women in comedy on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts In Context Trouble Puppet Theater on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. profiles the Austin group that creates outstanding works of puppet theater for grownups.

Join Chet Garner as he travels to Wimberley, Texas to experience glass blowing, homemade tamales, a hike up Mt. Baldy and a dip in Blue Hole on The Daytripper at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Thursday presents the next episode of “Have You Heard From Johannesburg?”, a mini-series that chronicles the unprecedented international movement of citizen activists who fought for three decades to bring down the brutal, racist system of apartheid in South Africa when their governments would not.

Tony Bennett’s second duets album was released this fall to great acclaim, pairing the crooner with Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, among others, and featuring the final Amy Winehouse performance before her untimely death. The album is featured on Great Performances: Bennett Duets 2 at 9 pm Friday.

Experimental modern rock rules with Florence + the Machine and Lykke Li as they both debut the ACL stage on Austin City Limits at 7 pm Saturday.

Posted on January 13th, 2012

Masterpiece at 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Saturday presents part two of “Downton Abbey, Series II”. Downtown 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.

Sherlock Holmes stalks again on Masterpiece Mystery! at 9 p.m. Sunday in a thrilling contemporary version of the Victorian-era whodunits. When an unidentified woman, dressed all in pink, turns up murdered in an abandoned building, Sherlock must use the science of deduction to catch the killer on “Sherlock: A Study in Pink”.

Hosted by President and Mrs. Obama in the East Room of the White House, “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Era” at 9 p.m. Monday features popular musicians performing contemporary arrangements of music that galvanized the U.S. civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s. (more…)

Posted on January 6th, 2012

Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday introduces a young team of New Guinean scientists on a grueling expedition to find and film the Birds of Paradise, the holy grail of wildlife filmmakers, on “Birds Of The Gods.”

Masterpiece Series at 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Saturday presents part one of “Downton Abbey, Series II”. 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.

Martin Luther: The Reluctant Revolutionary at 9 p.m. Monday (part 3 of 3) presents the epic tale of the great Protestant revolutionary whose belief in his faith would overthrow the all-powerful Catholic Church and reshape Medieval Europe.

The third episode of the three-part series “Egypt’s Golden Empire” at 7 p.m. Tuesday looks back at the 67-year reign of Ramesses II, that marked the pinnacle of Egypt’s thriving New Kingdom. But with his death at the age of 93 came the inevitable decline of this once-shining civilization.

Billy The Kid: American Experience at 8 p.m. Tuesday offers a fascinating look at the myth and the man behind it, who, in just a few short years transformed himself from a skinny orphan boy to the most feared man in the West and an enduring western icon.

Nature at 7 p.m. Wednesday presents “Kangaroo Mob,” the story of street smart kangaroos moving into Australia’s capital city as a group of ecologists follow their every move.

Nova “Bombing Hitler’s Dams” at 8 p.m. Wednesday recreates the extreme engineering challenges faced by British engineer Barnes Wallis and the pilots who dealt a mighty blow to the Nazis in 1943 with the aid of six spectacular experiments.

Fresh and seasoned indie rock hits the stage with The Head and the Heart and Gomez on Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

For three decades, journalist Bill Moyers has asked meaningful questions and explored ideas at the forefront of the public debate. This week, he discusses his career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Every summer the Austin Lyric Opera organizes “Opera Odyssey,” an opera camp with kids ages 8 to 12. Students produce their own original musical work, design and build sets and costumes, and learn the business of opera. Arts in Context follows their journey at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through the creative process which resulted in the original production “The Quarantine.”

Join Chet Garner as he travels to Canyon Lake, Texas to explore the Natural Bridge Caverns, ride through the Wildlife Ranch, and take a dip in the lake on The Daytripper at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Thursday presents “Have You Heard From Johannesburg?”, a mini-series that chronicles the unprecedented international movement of citizen activists who fought for three decades to bring down the brutal, racist system of apartheid in South Africa when their governments would not.

Called “the most exciting individual in American theater” by Newsweek magazine, Anna Deavere Smith (The West Wing, Nurse Jackie) turns her theatrical exploration to matters of the human body with “Let Me Down Easy” on Great Performances at 9 p.m. Friday.

Alternative rock superstars Arcade Fire return to the ACL stage for the second time to perform hits and tunes from their Grammy-winning LP “The Suburbs“ on Austin City Limits at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Posted on December 30th, 2011

Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday presents part four of Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes‘ “Downtown Abbey,” a depiction of the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.

Martin Luther: Driven To Defiance/The Reluctant Revolutionary at 9 p.m. Monday (part one of two) presents the epic tale of the great Protestant revolutionary whose belief in his faith would overthrow the all-powerful Catholic Church and reshape Medieval Europe.

The first episode of the three-part series “Egypt’s Golden Empire” at 7 p.m. Tuesday tracks the hard-fought unification of Egypt under King Ahmose of Thebe and the country’s subsequent rule under an unlikely pharaoh — Hatshepsut, who was a woman. The second episode at 8 p.m. travels back to 1390 B.C., where a gold-laden Egypt was one of the most powerful countries in the world.
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Posted on December 23rd, 2011

Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday presents “Christmas in Yellowstone,”  an exploration of the great winter world of Yellowstone through images of the spectacular landscape and wildlife.

Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday presents part two  and three of Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes‘ “Downtown Abbey”, a depiction of the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.

Jerusalem: Center of the World at 9 p.m. Monday draws on religious texts, the science of archaeology and oral traditions to determine why this small city has occupied the minds of so many for so long.

The Botany of Desire at 7 p.m Tuesday brings Michael Pollan’s best-selling book of the same name to television, showing how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history. The program explores the natural history of four plants and the corresponding human desires that link their destinies to our own.

Frontline at 9 p.m. Tuesday profiles Thomas Lynch, a poet and undertaker whose family has cared for the dead in a small town in central Michigan for three generations. In “The Undertaking,” a critically acclaimed book, Lynch offered unique and profound insight into what he called the “dismal trade.” In an intimate and revealing film, Lynch helps makes sense of the ways Americans cope with death, grief and life.

Independent Lens at 10 p.m. Tuesday presents “Lioness,” an intimate look at war through the eyes of the first women in U.S. history sent into direct ground combat, despite a policy that bans them from doing so.

Nature at 7 p.m. Wednesday takes an exclusive look into the worlds of Arctic bears such as polar bears and grizzlies.

In collaboration with National Geographic, Nova at 8 p.m. Wednesday follows the exploits of acclaimed photojournalist James Balog and a scientific team as they deploy time-lapse cameras in risky, remote locations in the Arctic, Alaska, and the Alps.

Nova at 9 p.m. investigates the collapse of an immense, 200 meter-thick ice shelf into the ocean off the Antarctic Peninsula in 2002, shocking scientists and raising the alarming possibility that we may be heading toward an ice-free Antarctica — last seen a million years ago.

Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 10:30 p.m. Friday presents a classic Tom Waits performance from 1979.

Emmy-winning actress Holland Taylor discusses her long and varied career on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 p.m. Thursday.

World-renowned classical guitarist Jorge Caballero performs the classic work Pictures At An Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky on Arts In Context at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Thursday presents “These Amazing Shadows,” a program that looks at the work of the National Film Preservation Board and the cinematic treasures it strives to save, from Hollywood blockbusters to avant-garde gems, and from the earliest days of film to today.

On PBS Arts From San Francisco: The Little Mermaid at 8 p.m. Friday, John Neumeier — the American-born chief choreographer for Hamburg Ballet — blends dance, dramatic storytelling and spectacle into this interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fable.

In this special Central Texas Gardener conversation at noon and 4 p.m. Saturday, get the CTG team’s perspective on drought, hard freezes, what we learned this year, and the changes we’ll make in 2012.

The New York Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve concert kicks off with Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and promises to delight with more Bernstein and two Gershwin masterpieces on “Live From Lincoln Center: Bernstein and Gershwin” at 7 p.m. Saturday.

American Masters at 9 p.m. Saturday chronicles the rise of a new breed of musicians in the 1960s Los Angeles whose raw emotions and simple instrumentation bridged the gap between singers and the songs they wrote in “Troubadors: Carole King/James Taylor & The Rise.”

Modern rock giants Coldplay ring in the new year with a very special episode of Austin City Limits at 11 p.m. Saturday highlighting their hits and songs from their newest LP, “Mylo Xyloto.”

Posted on December 19th, 2011

On December 23rd, KLRU features an evening of holiday songs from two of the best choirs in the world.

8:00 PM Christmas With The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
David Archuleta jand Michael York join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a Christmas concert in Salt Lake City. Archuleta sings holiday songs and York reads the story of Christmas from Luke. The Tabernacle Choir and Archuleta are joined by the Orchestra at Temple Square and 107 dancers.

9:00 PM Christmas at St. Olaf
This new production of one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed annual musical celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the annual Christmas Festival from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Featuring St. Olaf’s renowned choirs and orchestra, the program’s rich blending of compositions will highlight selections from previous Christmas Festivals, including excerpts from R.V. Williams Hodie. Additionally, this centennial performance will debut newly commissioned works by American composers Andre J. Thomas and David N. Childs.

Posted on December 19th, 2011

KLRU is celebrating Christmas Eve with back-to-back holiday episodes of My Family from  9 pm to midnight.

“Ding Dong Merrily”
When Janey comes home for Christmas, she’s pregnant and Susan wants to know who the father is. However, Janey refuses to tell her, but does tell Ben, who then lies to Susan about the father. Meanwhile, Nick starts a Christmas tree business and then invites round Mr Bradley (Trevor Peacock), an “old person”, for Christmas Day. When Susan cooks the turkey with chocolate and raisins, everyone decides they are vegetarians.

“Glad Tidings We Bring”
Janey gets engaged to Ches Rochester (Danny Webb), a nightclub owner who is old enough to be her father, whom she has only known 10 days, but a psychic told her she would meet the love of her life at a wedding. They marry two weeks later at his house and Susan is worried about Ben giving the “father of the bride” speech. Meanwhile, Michael’s girlfriend Molly (Verity Dearsley) is into long-term plans. At the wedding, Grace and Ches’s father (Freddie Davies) dance together, while Michael and Hubert sell the wedding presents on eBay. But, shortly after marrying, Janey goes off with a waiter calls Lars (Mathew Bose) and asks for a divorce. Meanwhile, Nick is sending videos to Ben and Susan claiming to be destitute in the Far East and asks for money. Guest starring Edna Doré.

“…And I’ll Cry If I Want To”
Susan is organising a third birthday for Kenzo, partly to make up for the fact she got forgot Janey’s third birthday, and wants Janey to bring the father. She wants to hire an expensive clown, but Ben secretly asks Roger to do it instead. However, on the day, Christmas Eve, Roger gets drunk so Ben has to do it instead. Meanwhile, Welsh musician Alfie Butts (Rhodri Meilir), a friend of Nick’s, turns up and Susan insists he stay. Ben finds a £1200 ring which he thinks is for him from Susan, but is actually from Grace to her toyboy (John Burgess), so he goes out and buys Susan a £1200 first edition of Mrs Dalloway. Also, Michael gets a Christmas job as a postman and Abi becomes a beautician.

“Living The Dream”
Ben and Susan join a pyramid selling scheme on Roger’s advice even though he didn’t receive any of his money through the scheme. Upon asking Michael’s advice, he says don’t touch it but Ben and Susan know better, don’t they? Meanwhile, Roger buys himself some special treats and Ben finds himself getting extremely jealous as he cannot shift any of his stock. When Roger buys himself a convertible, Ben finds himself questioning Roger’s profits or rather, from whence they came. Also the family is suffering from the effects of a broken boiler, occasional power cuts and Ben’s dreams of having a champagne breakfast for the first time in his life.

Posted on December 16th, 2011

Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday presents part one of Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes‘ “Downtown Abbey,” a depiction of the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.

American Masters at 9 p.m. Monday presents Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect & The Painter, the story of America’s most important and influential designers whose work helped shape the second half of the 20th century and remains culturally vital and commercially popular today. (more…)