Category Archives: localshows

Overheard with Evan Smith: Michael Morton and Leonard Pitts Tapings

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We had two tapings for Overheard with Evan Smith on Tuesday, June 26th. Despite the 106-degree heat outside, Smith talked to one of the most cool, calm, and even-keeled guests to date: Michael Morton. Morton was released from prison last year after it was discovered he was innocent of his wife’s murder. He’d spent 25 years behind bars. Smith asked Morton about the challenges of serving time, the murder of his wife, and his eventual release from prison. Throughout the interview, Morton reiterated his disinterest in revenge but expressed a desire to make public officials accountable. Audience members asked Morton about his renewed faith, hopes for the future, threats of violence behind bars, and coping with the death of his wife.  The show will air on July 19th and will be available for viewing online and on the PBS App after that date. Watch the entire audience q&a now:

Michael Morton: Q & A with the Audience from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

Next, Smith interviewed Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Leonard Pitts. According to Pitts, he has both the best (writing novels) and second best (writing columns) jobs in American Literature today. He discussed his latest novel, Freeman. This work of historical fiction follows a former slave and Union soldier in the months following the Civil War. Beyond historical fiction, Pitts writes columns for the Miami Herald where he challenges readers to think critically about race in America. Smith asked Pitts about the challenges of writing historical fiction, the public’s reaction to the killing of Trayvon Martin, racism in the age of Obama, and the newspaper business. The show will air on July 12th and will be available for viewing online and on the PBS App after that date. Watch the entire audience q&a now:

Leonard Pitts: Q & A with the Audience from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

About the blogger: Rhiannon Goad is LBJ Public Affairs and Gender Studies graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s spending her summer interning for KLRU, cooking out, and anticipating Shirley Maclaine’s debut on Downton Abbey.

In the Studio: Michael Morton tapes Overheard 6/26

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Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with Michael Morton
DATE: June 26
TIME: 10:30 a.m. (Doors open at 10:00 a.m.)
LOCATION: in KLRU’s Studio 6A.
RSVP: The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP now

Michael Morton spent nearly 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit: the 1986 murder
of his wife, Christine Morton. Morton fought the conviction for years, with the help of the Innocence
Project. Then last fall, DNA testing pointed to a different suspect, and Morton was released. Now
another man has been charged in the killing of Morton’s wife, defense lawyers allege that prosecutors
withheld evidence, the public wonders whether a second murder could have been prevented, and
Morton is sharing his story.

We hope you’ll be there as Overheard with Evan Smith continues a second season of great conversation
with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The show features in-
depth interviews with a mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and
more, and reaches PBS viewers from California to Florida. We’d love to see you in the studio for the
interview, and for a chance to join the audience Q&A after the interview.

Screening: The Daytripper 6/18

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Community Screening of The Daytripper
KLRU Studio 6A, 6:45 – 9 pm
Free. RSVP Required. RSVP now

Join us for screening of the The Daytripper’s season three finale and return episode to Bastrop in studio!

The Atomic Duo will kick off the evening with live music on stage while Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ whips up tasty sandwiches and Live Oak pours their finest brews. Host Chet Garner will be in attendance with special guests from the episode: Former Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald, Bastrop Fire Chief Perry and Asst. Chief Stradling.

Special Q Night at the Movies 6/2

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This week’s Q Night at the Movies features a new episode of On Story Presented by the Austin Film Festival, the premiere of Energy at the Movies and encores of several KLRU movie related programs.

Overheard with Evan Smith featuring Wyatt Cenac at 7 pm
Wyatt Cenac’s reports for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart have introduced his work to a wide audience. But his work reaches far beyond his role as a fake news writer and correspondent. His performance in the 2008 indie film Medicine for Melancholy, a drama, was well-reviewed. And fans can also find him doing standup on tour and in a soon-to-be released hour-long special.

On Story: Comedy that Resonates at 7:30
Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld writer/producer Alec Berg and BRIDESMAIDS director and Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig pull back the curtain to show how they create comedy that resonates with us all. Followed by the hilarious short film SPIT by writer/director Benjamin Hayes. Paul will never have his first kiss until he overcomes his fear of saliva.

Energy at the Movies at 8
From the gushing geysers of Giant, to the plutonium-powered time machine of Back to the Future, Energy at the Movies illustrates how Hollywood has captured the history of energy. Join energy expert and University of Texas at Austin professor Dr. Michael E. Webber as he explores 70 years of energy on the big screen.

2012 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards at 9
Angie Dickinson, Meat Loaf, Barry Corbin, Danny Trejo and Douglas McGrath are honored at the 2012 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards presented by the Austin Film Society. The awards honor Texans who’ve made a significant contribution to film or filmmaking, as well as non-Texans who’ve made significant strides in the advancement of the Texas film industry.

Overheard with Evan Smith featuring Meat Loaf at 10
Singer and actor Meat Loaf enjoys successful careers and icon status in both fields. His 1977 record Bat Out of Hell is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 43 million copies sold worldwide. His acting career, which includes time at the Public Theater in New York, includes roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Fight Club. He’s back in the spotlight this month with a brand-new album, Hell in a Handbasket.

Overheard with Evan Smith featuring Chris Isaak at 10:30
Chris Isaak has built successful careers as both a musician and an actor, performing for more than 25 years. His most recent album, Beyond the Sun, pays tribute to a lifelong obsession: the artists and music of Sun Studios in Memphis. In this conversation with Evan, Isaak talks – and sings – about acting, music and more.

Local Night features Light programming 4/19

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AIC promo from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

KLRU will present a special night of local programing on April 19th as part of ourLight / The Holocaust & Humanity Project events. In honor of Yom HaShoah, the Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust, we’ll be showing:

Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Elie Wiesel talks with Evan Smith on Overheard. Wiesel is a well-known voice for tolerance and justice worldwide. Wiesel spent part of his childhood in the Auschwitz concentration camp, and eventually published the memoir Night. Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, and established a foundation that fights intolerance and promotes justice. He teaches at Boston University, and has written more than 50 books.

Arts In Context: Producing Light at 7:30 pm
Arts in Context spends a month with Ballet Austin, as Artistic Director Stephen Mills and company produce a re-staging of the acclaimed Light/ Holocaust and Humanity Project. With unprecedented access to the dancers and staff on and off the stage, Producer/ Director Karen Bernstein and Cinematographer Deborah Lewis provide a unique look into production for Mills’ harrowing work on survival amidst a climate of indifference and hate.

Spark at 8:30 pm
Gerda Weissmann Klein draws from her wealth of life experiences: from surviving the Holocaust and meeting her future husband on the day of her liberation, to her journey to the United States, accepting an Oscar and Emmy for a documentary based on her life, and her constant fight to promote tolerance, encourage community service and combat hunger. Taped in front of a live audience as part of KLRU’s Spark speaker series on March 20, 2012. Watch the Weissmann Klein talk here:

Spark: Gerda Weissman Klein from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

In the Studio: Mark Updegrove tapes Overheard 4/9

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Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with Mark Updegrove
DATE: April 9
TIME: 5:45 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)
LOCATION: KLRU’s Studio 6A (map)
RSVP: The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP now

Mark Updegrove serves as Director of the LBJ Library and Museum. He has a long history working for major media organizations, and has won praise for his work as a historian. He’s written three books about the American presidency, including the recently-published Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency. He’ll join us to talk about Johnson, the 2012 elections and the media.

We hope you’ll be there as Overheard with Evan Smith continues a second season of great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The show features in-depth interviews with a mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and reaches PBS viewers from California to Florida. We’d love to see you in the studio for the interview, and for a chance to ask your own question after the interview. Watch past Overheard interviews and audience Q&As at klru.org/overheard

In the Studio: Civic Summit 4/12

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How can a community overcome damage from bigotry and hate?

On Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 pm, Civic Summit talks with community leaders and activists to show how Central Texans are working to create an atmosphere of respect through prevention, response and healing. Join us as part of the studio audience by RSVPing now

Moderator Tom Spencer, CEO of Interfaith Action of Central Texas, will host live television event. Panelists will include Art Acevedo, Chief of Police Austin Police Department; Muna Hussaini, Community Activist; and Karen Gross, Austin Community Director Anti-Defamation League. Civic Summit: Creating A Community of Respect is part of the citywide Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project.

Thursday, April 12th in KLRU’s Studio 6A (map)
6:30 pm Doors open
7:15 pm Everyone must be seated to get instructions about this live broadcast
7:30 pm Live broadcast begins airing on KLRU
8:30 pm event ends

Presented in partnership with

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In the Studio: Meat Loaf tapes Overheard 3/9

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Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with actor and musician Meat Loaf

DATE: March 9
TIME: Noon. Doors open at 11:30 am.
LOCATION: KLRU’s Studio 6A (map).
RSVP: The event is free, but an RSVP is required. RSVP now

Four decades after making his big screen debut, Dallas-born rocker Meat Loaf returns to Texas as one of this year’s Texas Film Hall of Fame honorees. Meat Loaf has appeared in dozens of movies and television program, ranging from cult classics like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to “Fight Club.” The Austin Film Society is recognizing Meat Loaf for his contributions to the movie industry, but the Grammy- Award winning artist is also a rock icon. His bestselling album “Bat Out of Hell” sold more than 43 million copies worldwide and spent nine years on the charts. His newest album, “Hell in a Handbasket,” will be released in the U.S. on March 13.

We hope you’ll be there as Overheard with Evan Smith continues a second season of great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The show features in- depth interviews with a mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and reaches PBS viewers from California to Florida. We’d love to see you in the studio for the interview, and for a chance to join the audience Q&A after the interview. Watch past Overheard interviews at klru.org/overheard.

In the Studio: Jill Abramson tapes Overheard 3/12

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Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with
Jill Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times
DATE: March 12
TIME: 1:30 p.m. (doors open at 1 p.m.)
LOCATION: KLRU’s Studio 6A (map).
RSVP: The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP now

Abramson became executive editor last fall, and has described her new job as like “ascending to Valhalla.” She’s a New York native who says the paper was like religion in her home growing up. She’s also the first woman to head the Times – an important milestone for a paper with a history of lawsuits and anecdotes alleging discrimination. Abramson worked as a deputy bureau chief and investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal before joining the Times in 1997. She rose quickly, becoming Washington bureau chief in 2000 and managing editor in 2003. Abramson is the author of several books, including Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas and The Puppy Diaries.

We hope you’ll be there as Overheard with Evan Smith continues a second season of great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The show features in-depth interviews with a mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and reaches PBS viewers from California to Florida. We’d love to see you in the studio for the interview, and for a chance to join the audience Q&A after the interview. Watch past Overheard interviews at klru.org/overheard