Posted on August 29th, 2011

Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with Joe Klein on September 14 at 2:00 p.m. in KLRU’s Studio 6A (map). Doors open at 1:30.  The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP here

Joe Klein covers national and international politics in his award-winning column for TIME, called “In the Arena.”  He’s also the author of six books.  The most recent of those books is Politics Lost, which makes the argument that American politics has become more about keeping power than about serving the best interest of the country.  Klein’s most famous book is Primary Colors, a novel that took heavy inspiration from the Clinton administration – written by Klein under the pen name Anonymous.

Join us as Overheard with Evan Smith launches 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 stations from California to Florida.  We hope you’ll be there for the second season of this exciting program.

Posted on August 29th, 2011

Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with Margaret Hoover.
Date: Friday, September 2
Time: Taping starts at 10:30 am. Doors open at 10 am.
Location: KLRU’s Studio 6A (map).
RSVP: The event is free but an RSVP is required. Please complete the form to the left to RSVP.

Margaret Hoover works as a political commentator for Fox News, and proudly wears the label of a champion of conservative causes. But she also expresses deep concern for the future of the Republican Party. Her new book, American Individualism, invites young Americans to embrace the Republicans, and offers a guide for the party to win the support of young voters. The key, she says, lies in politics that focus on individual freedoms and that end the outsize influence of social and religious conservatives in Republican politics and policy.

With this taping, Overheard with Evan Smith launches 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 stations from California to Florida. We hope you’ll be there for the second season of this exciting program. Overheard airs on KLRU at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays. Episodes are also available online at klru.org/overheard

Posted on August 26th, 2011

A free screening of the KLRU documentary Wildflowers: Seeds of History will take place on Monday, August 29, at 6:45 pm at the Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75022. Space is limited so please RSVP by visiting the Library’s Information Desk or by calling 972.874.6165

Wildflowers: Seeds of History
A trip through the legends, facts, and ecological impact behind Texas Wildflowers. Discover what wildflowers are really doing, their historical use for food and medicine, and how they grow. Produced definition video in the stellar wildflower season of spring 2010. DVDs of this documentary are available for sale at klru.org/wildflowers

Hosted by volunteers representing:
The Mound Foundation
Keep Flower Mound Beautiful
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS

Posted on July 14th, 2011

Committed to presenting the arts to Austin, KLRU continues to showcase its dedication to innovative artistry and creative communities with a new episode of Arts In Context featuring Marfa, Texas, called The Light and The Land.

This episode explores the remote Texas city of Marfa, which attracts visitors including, those interested in literary pursuits, fine arts and the metaphysical. Known for its mysterious lights, colorful characters, ranching roots and tourism, Marfa is fast becoming a thriving and eclectic creative community. Arts in Context looks at what made the Trans-Pecos town nestled near Big Bend National Park the destination it is today.

The show airs on Thursday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 31, at 4 p.m. on KLRU.

Posted on July 3rd, 2011

Operation Appreciation
Monday, July 4, at 10 pm
Thursday, July 7, at 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 17, at 4:30 pm

Operation Appreciation Screener from KLRU-TV on Vimeo.

Each week, retirees from Georgetown, TX, give heartfelt thank yous to soldiers reporting for duty at Fort Hood as well as those injured in combat. This documentary, accentuated by stunning imagery of America s largest military base, follows the volunteers as they collect cookies, brownies and doughnuts from local stores, and baked goods made by people in the community to distribute at the Army base. The retirees travel more than 50 miles with cars filled to the brim with treats to hand the treats to hundreds of soldiers getting processed at Fort Hood every Thursday. Not only do these volunteers walk the lines giving treats and saying thanks to the incoming troops, but they also bring food to the Wounded Warriors buildings, where severely injured soldiers are recovering, and to the Fisher House, which gives a home to military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization. Many of the volunteers are veterans themselves, and have incredible stories of their own survival in war. Their reasons for giving back are both moving and remarkable. Along the way, the viewers will also hear from the troops that receive the treats, and find out how the kindness of strangers affects them.

Posted on June 16th, 2011

Rarely seen Austin City Limits taping footage to be shown in special screening series at Alamo theaters this summer

KLRU-TV, producing station of the famed PBS series Austin City Limits, and the Alamo Drafthouse announced today a new series of screenings of classic ACL episodes. Reel Rarities: Handpicked Gems from the ACL Vault begins on Monday, July 25th. In addition to presenting a vintage episode, highlights from the show’s 37 years of legendary performances will be featured. Tickets to attend Reel Rarities: Handpicked Gems From The ACL Vault screenings are $5 each and all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. Tickets can be purchased at drafthouse.com.

“I always knew that Austin City Limits would make it to the big screen some day, and the Alamo Drafthouse is the perfect partner to make it happen,” said ACL Producer Terry Lickona. “The Alamo has always offered the best quality, not to mention most fun, movie-going experience possible, and now they’ll do the same with some of the best shows from the ACL archives. Their amazing digital projection system and state of the art sound should make these classic shows ‘larger than life’ in more ways than one, and we look forward to digging even deeper into the archives in the months to come.”

“We were thrilled when Guerilla Suit’s James Moody brought the idea of a partnership between the Alamo Drafthouse and Austin City Limits,” said Alamo Drafthouse Chief Creative Officer Henri Mazza. “Partnering up with an institutional icon like ACL makes perfect sense to us. And personally, I’m just excited to get a chance to watch these incredible shows in a theatrical setting with fans of the series and the artists. We’re gonna crank up the volume and do everything we can to take the audience on a time traveling trip back to these legendary performances.”

For more than three decades Austin City Limits has presented audiences with the most diverse, original, cutting-edge talent music has to offer with over 800 performances taped.

The first screenings in the series will be:

July 25: Willie Nelson Pilot followed by highlights from the ACL archives at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
August 1: Willie Nelson Pilot followed by highlights from the ACL archives at the Alamo Drafthouse Village
Willie Nelson recorded the pilot episode of Austin City Limits in 1974. The performance that started it all features “Whiskey River” and more.

August 29: Tom Waits followed by highlights from the ACL archives at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
September 5: Tom Waits followed by highlights from the ACL archives at the Alamo Drafthouse Village
A classic Tom Waits performance from 1978 is one of Austin City Limits most requested episodes. This intimate performances features songs “Burma Shave,” “Annie’s Back in Town,” “On the Nickel,” “Romeo Is Bleeding,” “Small Change,” and more.

This screening series is one the many ways you can Experience Austin City Limits, an initiative to spread awareness of the acclaimed PBS television series. Now the longest-running music series in American television history, ACL showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre. In addition to being honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as a rock and roll landmark, ACL is the only television program to ever receive the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest award for artistic excellence.

These showings are only in select theaters and have limited seating.

All ticket proceeds will go to benefit the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. Learn more about HAAM here: myhaam.org
(more…)

Posted on June 14th, 2011

Juneteenth Jamboree 2011 presents Dr. Jessica Grogan and Funmi Ogunro. Remember the Civil War? While not as immediate as the Battle of the Alamo, it has relevance 150 years hence. Prof. Grogan puts the war in perspective. Funmi and Friends presents the “Foods of Juneteenth. Children’s host Funmi Ogunro leads viewers through restaurants and recipes that will satisfy your family on Independence Day. This special will air on KLRU, 18.1, on Sunday, June 19, at 6 pm and Monday, June 20, at 10 pm

Saturday, June 18th, on KLRU-Q, 18.3, features an afternoon of Juneteenth specials. The day kicks off with a live broadcast of Austin’s annual Juneteenth parade followed by the last several years of Juneteenth Jamboree specials.
10:30am Juneteenth Parade

12:30pm Juneteenth Jamboree 2011
Juneteenth Jamboree 2011 presents Dr. Jessica Grogan and Funmi Ogunro.

1 pm Juneteenth Jamboree 2010
Juneteenth Jamboree is an annual glimpse at the notion of freedom and how African American emancipation manifests both in the past and today.

2 pm Juneteenth Jamboree 2009
Juneteenth is a official day of celebration in 30 states, so Juneteenth Jamboree takes a moment to consider a song that is heard every year at this occasion, “The Negro National Anthem.” Also several young essay winners tell why Juneteenth is relevant today.

2:30pm Juneteenth Jamboree 2008
The first African slave arrived in Texas in 1528, but it took until June 19, 1865 to end slavery in Texas and the United States. The anniversary of that day is celebrated as a holiday– Juneteenth. And in celebration, this program explains the history of blacks in Texas, and commemorates the namesake of the annual Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands.

Posted on May 25th, 2011

Join KLRU as an audience member for Civic Summit: U.S. Senate Forum on Wednesday, June 8th in KLRU’s Studio 6A. The forum begins at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm). The taping will take approximately one hour and will be followed by an audience question and answer with the participants. Attendance is free. Please RSVP here

Civic Summit: U.S. Senate Forum is a moderated conversation with the five leading G.O.P. politicians on the issues facing the 2012 U.S. Senate Race: Ted Cruz, Elizabeth Ames Jones, Tom Leppert, Michael Williams and Roger Williams. Discussions will include the failed Texas budget, foreign policy, health care reform and other issues.  As the campaign starts to heat up find out how do these potential candidates distinguish themselves from each other and how they view Texas versus the Feds. Moderated by Evan Smith, this is a co-production between KLRU and Texas Tribune.

Civic Summit is KLRU’s program for discourse on public affairs issues.

Posted on April 26th, 2011

Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for two interviews on Wednesday, May 4. First is Julian Bond. Taping starts at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:30. RSVP here Next is Wendy Kopp. Taping starts at 4:15 p.m.; Doors open at 4. RSVP here

Julian Bond’s history as an activist stretches back to 1960, when he led sit-ins in Atlanta, and reaches across movements including civil rights, peace and advocacy for economic justice.  Bond helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, becoming its communications director and solidifying his future as a prominent civil rights activist and advocate.  Bond went on to serve a total of ten terms in the Georgia General Assembly, and also became chair of the NAACP, a major leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center and a powerful force behind many other groups.  In addition to his advocacy, Bond writes and teaches extensively. RSVP for the Bond taping here

Wendy Kopp founded Teach For America after developing the idea for her senior thesis at Princeton.  The concept: give high-achieving college grads a crash course in teaching, then place them in low-income schools for two-year commitments.  The program launched with 500 teachers in 1990, and now has more than 8,000 teachers.  It’s a hot employer for new undergrads.  Last year, more than 46,000 applied, including 12% of all Ivy League seniors.  Kopp is also author of the recent bestseller A Chance to Make History, which explores ideas for ending inequality in education. RSVP for the Kopp taping here

Overheard with Evan Smith updates the successful formula of our award-winning series Texas Monthly Talks – great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The new show brings you the same mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and is available to PBS stations nationwide.Overheard airs on KLRU at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays. Episodes are also available online at klru.org/overheard

Posted on April 9th, 2011

Please join KLRU’s Overheard with Evan Smith for an interview with Harry Shearer.

Date: Thursday, April 14
Time: taping starts at 4:30 p.m.; doors open at 4 p.m.
Location: KLRU’s Studio 6A
The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP here

Comedian Harry Shearer is known and loved for a diverse collection of roles, including one of the members of Spinal Tap in the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap (which Shearer co-wrote and co-directed with Rob Reiner) and a significant percentage of The Simpsons town of Springfield (including Mr. Burns).  But that’s a tiny sample of Shearer’s work in a career that reaches back to his time as a child actor in the 1950s.  Shearer also works as a director, novelist, radio host, musician, playwright and record label owner.  He’s in Austin to screen The Big Uneasy, his first documentary, at The Alamo Drafthouse.  The film examines what could have been done to prevent the much of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Overheard with Evan Smith updates the successful formula of our award-winning series Texas Monthly Talks – great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The new show brings you the same mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and is available to PBS stations nationwide. Overheard airs on KLRU at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays. Episodes are also available online at klru.org/overheard