March 12th, 2010

Celtic Thunder - It’s Entertainment!, filmed in Toronto, features Celtic Thunder’s five lead members as well as nine new dancers at 7 p.m. on Sunday and Wednesday.

T.A.M.I. Show - Rock’n'Roll’s First Concert Film at 7 p.m. Sunday introduced rock ‘n’ soul youth culture to America in the first concert movie of the rock era. This version features the Beach Boys’ performances that were removed following the film’s initial theatrical run. (more…)

March 5th, 2010

The Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Concert Sunday at 7 p.m. is a gala featuring the best and brightest stars from the Rounder roster including Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Madeleine Peyroux, “Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas, Bela Fleck, and Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas.

Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time whose songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Leonard Cohen Live in London at 8:30 p.m. Sunday and 9 p.m. Tuesday features the songwriter’s most recent tour.

Join travel expert Rick Steves as he shares his extensive knowledge of European history and culture as he winds his way through southern Greece, Turkey and Croatia on Rick Steves’ Mediterranean Mosaic at Sunday at 10 p.m. (more…)

February 26th, 2010

Nature follows intrepid researchers and cameramen on Sunday at 7 p.m. as they track skunks day and night across California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Ohio to determine how they hunt, forage, mate and raise their young.

“The 39 Steps,” an adaptation of the popular John Buchan adventure novel originally popularized by Alfred Hitchcock, set on the eve of World War I. This 90-minute Masterpiece drama follows mining engineer Richard Hannay who gets caught up in a conspiracy following the death of a British spy found in his apartment at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Style icon, extravagant hostess, humanitarian, doting mother, trusted political advisor, and diplomat are all the roles we now expect in a First Lady, roles created by President James Madison’s wife, Dolley. Dolley Madison: American Experience, airing at 8 p.m. Monday, features Eve Best as Dolley and Jefferson Mays as James Madison.

Morristown: Where America Survived at 9:30 p.m. Monday revisits the “hard winter” of 1779-80, when General George Washington’s troops arrived at the densely wooded area south of Morristown to build a log hut city for their camp.

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February 19th, 2010

Nature explores Florida’s Everglades National Park, one of the last great wildlife refuges in the United States. However, as tens of thousands of giant pythons invaded, the refuge has become less of a haven and more of a killing ground. See it 7 p.m. Sunday.

Sally Hawkins appears as Anne Elliot, destined for spinsterhood at age 27 after being persuaded eight years earlier to refuse the proposal of dashing Captain Wentworth. Then chance brings them together again on Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday. (more…)

February 12th, 2010

The Druids are the most celebrated wolf pack in North America; new pioneers in the wilderness, they were at the heart of a massive scientific experiment to restore an entire ecosystem that began to break down without its wolves. See the intimate record of their lives on Nature at 7 p.m, Sunday.

In Jane Austen’s gentle parody of gothic fiction, romance addict Catherine Morland is invited to a medieval country house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, and forms a budding romance with the younger son on the estate at 8 p.m. Sunday on Masterpiece Classic.

A saga of ambition, wealth, family loyalty and personal tragedy, see how the Kennedy story is unlike any other on Kennedys: American Experience at 8 p.m. Monday.

Glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica are melting at an ever-faster rate. What explains this alarming acceleration? In this high-action scientific adventure, Nova investigates the mystery of the mighty ice sheets that will affect the fate of coastlines around the world on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

In the devastating aftermath of the economic meltdown, Frontline sifts the ashes for clues about why it happened and examines critical moments when it might have gone much differently at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Independent Lens tells the poignant and powerful story of animals left behind during Katrina, and of the struggles of hurricane victims to reunite with their beloved pets at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Episode Two of Faces of America explores the many journeys to becoming American that defined the “Century of Immigration” (1820s –1924) and transformed the United States into a booming industrial power at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

As America embraces the automobile, a Nebraska housewife searches for peace and inspiration in park after park, while a honeymoon couple seeks fame and adventure in the Grand Canyon on National Parks: America’s Best Idea at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin form “Them Crooked Vultures” and bust out high volume rock ‘n’ roll on Austin City Limits as at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 9 p.m. Friday.

Newsweek editor and Pulitzer prize-winning author Jon Meacham discusses the future of print journalism and more on Texas Monthly Talks at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Austin @ Issue: Energy for the Future at 7:30 p.m. Thursday features a discussion of Austin’s proposed long-range Resource and Climate Protection Plan with Austin Energy General Manager Roger Duncan and other experts and stakeholders.

Taped before a live audience at the Texas Lyceum Conference, experts on Great Debate Series: Cyber Security discuss issues of personal privacy and security of on-line information in the age of Social Networking at 8 p.m. Thursday.

With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate VanZant vocals, and trademark layered guitars, Lynyrd Skynyrd deliver renditions of their iconic classics on Soundstage that will blow you away at 9 p.m. Thursday.

In their debut Austin City Limits appearance, influential superstars R.E.M. take the stage in support of their latest acclaimed record, Accelerate at 7 p.m. Saturday.

February 5th, 2010

We may think we know what is beautiful and what isn’t, but in the natural world beauty can be many things—including what we might find completely repulsive. Nature shows us how the ugly can be beautiful at 7 p.m. Sunday.

How will Jane Austen, the master of happy endings, tie up the tangled affairs of her heroines Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax? Find out on Masterpiece Classic “Emma” at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Texas Debate: Race for Governor at 7 p.m. Monday features the Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates. Antiques Roadshow will air at 8 p.m. following the debate.

The Bombing of Germany: American Experience is a film that examines the defining moments of the offensive that led the U.S. across a moral divide. Weaving together interviews with WWII pilots and historians, and archival footage of the bombing and its aftermath, the film at 9 p.m. Monday is a reminder of the dilemma imposed by war’s civilian casualties.

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January 29th, 2010

Thick forests, vast wetlands, deep chasms - this is a wild, inaccessible place that belongs more to myth than reality. Explore the untouched Balkan landscape Sunday at 7 p.m. on Nature and see its wild animals that have all but vanished from the rest of Europe.

A fiercely funny adaptation of Jane Austen’s delightful love story of a young woman whose attempts to play Cupid go disastrously awry on part two of “Emma” at 8 p.m. Sunday on Masterpiece Classic.

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January 22nd, 2010

Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent’s most recognizable aerial predator, yet Nature shows that even in the best of times it’s a surprisingly tough struggle to maintain a home and raise chicks until they can hunt on their own. See it Sunday at 7 p.m.

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January 15th, 2010

What happens when two great predators come face to face in Yellowstone? Find out on Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday when the grizzly and the wolf face off. In every encounter, the opposition is measured, strengths are tested, and risks are carefully weighed. They key is knowing your own strengths and limitations in the heat of the moment.

Judi Dench returns in the sequel to the Emmy-nominated “Cranford” mini-series, the acclaimed story of everyday life in a small Cheshire market town on Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday.

My Music: Ed Sullivan’s Rock and Roll Classics at 8 p.m. Monday presents classic song performances from 1963-1968. From the Beatles’ American television debut to the Doors’ infamous one-time-only appearance to the Rolling Stones, Sly and the Family Stone, the Mamas and the Papas and more.

Brain Fitness Frontiers at 10 p.m. Monday looks at the impact of virtual reality in changing memories and dealing with pain, the ability of the brain to interface with mechanical and electronic instruments in such a way that the brain can control them without any interface by the human body.

The Great Sphinx is disappearing; the sands of Egypt have buried this wonder of the ancient world. Nova follows the team to find out if they can reverse the destructive forces of man and nature to save this wonder of the ancient world at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: “Dancing Boys of Afghanistan” has been postponed. Instead Frontline will show “A Death in Tehran” at 8 p.m. Tuesday. At the height of the protests following Iran’s controversial presidential election this summer, a young woman named Neda Soltani was shot and killed on the streets of Tehran. Her death—filmed on a cameraphone, then uploaded to the web—quickly became an international outrage, and Soltani became the face of a powerful movement that threatened the hardline government’s hold on power.

Independent Lens examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law and, of course, money at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Learn of the essential components of the Human Spark–the attributes that make humans unique at 7 p.m. Wednesday. One of those faculties is the fascinating link between two of humans’ most characteristic abilities - language and the use of tools.

Great Performances at the Met goes behind the scenes 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, where thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage, and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.

Hip hop conquers the ACL stage with sets from Somalian native K’naan, performing songs from his acclaimed LP, Troubadour, and alternative rapper/actor Mos Def, supporting his latest record, The Ecstatic, on Wednesday at 10 p.m. and Friday at 9 p.m.

Railroad Commissioner and Senate candidate Michael Williams sits down with Evan Smith to talk politics on Texas Montly Talks at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Tim McGraw has sold over 40 million albums, dominated the charts with 30 Number One singles, and received three Grammys. The 2009 release of his tenth studio album represents a new level of depth and intensity for the seasoned country artist, showcased on this episode of Soundstage at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Rising roots rock kings the Avett Brothers perform songs from their latest album at 7 p.m. Saturday on Austin City Limits. Ohio-to-Austin transplants Heartless Bastards follow with their classic rock ‘n’ roll.

January 8th, 2010

Stunningly beautiful high-definition, high speed footage of hummingbirds in the wild combined with high-tech presentations of their remarkable abilities help us to understand the world of hummingbirds as we never have before on Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Judi Dench returns in the sequel to the Emmy-nominated “Cranford” mini-series, the acclaimed story of everyday life in a small Cheshire market town on Masterpiece Classic at 8 p.m. Sunday.

KLRU celebrates the arts with this special focusing on Austin-area choirs. In Context: Voices of Light at 8 p.m. Monday features songs by Austin Chinese Choir and Capital City Men’s Chorus and the choirs from East Austin Baptist, Abiding Love Lutheran Church, The Lakeway Church and Barton Hills Elementary School. The diverse lineup illustrates that regardless of differences, the desire to express the experience of life through music is a common goal.

See how Sam Cooke put the spirit of the black church into popular music on American Masters Monday at 9 p.m. Through creating a new sound, he set into motion a chain of events that forever altered the course of popular music and race relations in America.

Hear for yourself how Marvin Gaye combined gospel, rhythm and blues, soul and jazz to create his own intimate style reflecting his “path of the heart” and giving us his autobiography in lyrics and sound on American Masters 10 p.m. Monday.

A magnificent trading vessel embarks on a royal expedition to a mysterious, treasure-laden land in Egypt called Punt. Tuesday at 7 p.m., Nova follows a team of archeologists and boat builders as they reconstruct the mighty vessel shown in the mysterious wall carving.

Independent Lens documents the true story of the final weeks of rehearsal for the Young@Heart Chorus in Northampton, MA, whose average age is 81, and many of whom must overcome health adversities to participate at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

We are separated from our nearest relatives, the chimpanzees, by only one or two percent of our genes. Alan Alda sets out at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Human Spark to explore our differences and quickly finds that the scientists studying chimps and other non-human primates are themselves separated into opposing worldviews.

Recorded for television at the end of its Broadway run in July 2008 by Spike Lee, “Passing Strange” is the semi-autobiographical story of a young black man who leaves behind his middle-class, church-ruled upbringing in Los Angeles to travel to Europe in search of his identity, or what he calls “the real.” See it on Great Performances 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Legendary New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint hits the Austin City Limits stage with songs from his latest LP, The Bright Mississippi, and classic hits like “Southern Nights”  Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. and Friday at 9 p.m.

Republican candidates in the highly anticipated Texas gubernatorial race will square off in The Texas Debates: Race for Governor on Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m.  The live debate broadcast to millions on television, radio and online throughout the state will include two-term Texas Governor Rick Perry and three-term U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Hip hop conquers the Austin City Limits stage with sets from alternative rapper/actor Mos Def, supporting his latest record, The Ecstatic; and Somalian native K’naan, performing songs from his acclaimed LP, Troubadour at 7 p.m. Saturday.