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 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…)

Posted on December 9th, 2011

Everyone’s favorite “Hitman” David Foster joins GP superstar Andrea Bocelli for a new Christmas concert of holiday classics as they share the stage to present an elegant collection of seasonal favorites on Great Performances at 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The heart-warming new Celtic Thunder Show features holiday standards such as “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Silent Night” as well as a few specially-written originals on Celtic Thunder Christmas at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Buddy Holly: Listen To Me at 9:30 p.m. Sunday presents an intimate, fun, and unforgettable celebration of Buddy Holly’s music and legacy at the Music Box in Los Angeles.

Great Performances at 7 p.m. Monday presents “Jackie Evancho: Dream With Me In Concert”, the solo concert debut of the 10-year-old girl with the extraordinary soprano voice.

Financial Fitness After 50! with Paul Merriman at 8:30 p.m. Monday is a straight-forward, easy-to-follow program that teaches five life-changing choices to help boomers grow and manage their money in retirement.

Eat & Cook Healthy! with Dr. John LaPuma at 10 p.m. Monday is a program that teaches viewers to experience food they can’t wait to make, and grab the energy and good health to reclaim their lives.

My Music: 60’s Pop, Rock & Soul at 7 p.m. Tuesday and 8 p.m. Friday includes pop sounds from Frat Rock to Surf Pop, the British Beats to the Breakthrough Bands, Motown, Soul and Pop classics — with many artists and groups appearing for the first time on the “My Music” stage.

Folk legend John Sebastian reflects and remembers the very best of The Folk Years in John Sebastian Presents: Folk Rewind at 9 p.m. Tuesday, which remembers archival folk (traditional, pop and folk rock)era classics from the vault which culminates into a crescendo of excitement with a new live reunion of folk singers.

Back by popular demand, a cappella phenomenon Straight No Chaser presents Songs of the Decade: Holiday at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Singer/songwriter Patty Griffin and her musical friends sing original and classic gospel numbers on Austin City Limits at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session at 7 p.m. Thursday presents the legendary live jam session by two of the greatest musicians ever to have played the blues on electric guitar.

“An American Family: Anniversary Edition” at 8:30 p.m. Thursday is a compilation of the original 12-hour public television series that made TV history.

3 Steps To Incredible Health! with Joel Fuhrman, MD at 10 p.m. Friday is a sixty-minute pledge program that directly addresses the crisis of obesity and chronic disease plaguing America.

Posted on December 2nd, 2011

PBS Arts From New York at 6 p.m. Sunday presents superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli as he takes on one of the biggest stages of his career for a concert in New York City’s famed Central Park with the New York Philharmonic.

Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, Masterpiece Classic “Downton Abbey”at 8:30 p.m. Sunday depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.

My Music: 60s Pop, Rock & Soul at 8:30 p.m. Monday includes pop sounds from Frat Rock to Surf Pop, the British Beats to the Breakthrough Bands, Motown, Soul and Pop classics — with many artists and groups appearing for the first time on the “My Music” stage.

Victor Borge: Comedy in Music! At 10:30 p.m. Monday features Borge’s recently re-discovered funniest and most memorable skits – a truly unparalleled collection not to be missed.

3 Steps To Incredible Health! with Joel Fuhrman, MD at 7 p.m. Tuesday is a sixty-minute pledge program that directly addresses the crisis of obesity and chronic disease plaguing America.

Paul Simon: Live at Webster Hall at 9 p.m. Tuesday features the culmination of a sold out two-month US tour as Paul Simon and his eight-piece band filled the stage at the historic New York City club in June 2011.

Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, documentary film series Prohibition at 7 p.m. Wednesday tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the era it encompassed.

Aretha Franklin Presents: Soul Rewind at 9 p.m. Wednesday presents a comprehensive collection of rare performances by legendary R&B performers of the classic 1960s-70s soul era, offers an abundance of long-lost archival material that has been recovered from film vaults across the United States, England, Germany and France.

Internationally renowned for alluring stage productions and songs of heartwarming inspiration, Celtic Woman: Believe at 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday reveals a new chapter of musical enchantment by the group of expert singers.

Independent Lens at 9 p.m. Thursday presents “Troop 1500”, the story of a unique Girl Scout troop unites daughters with mothers who have been convicted of serious crimes.

Buddy Holly: Listen To Me at 10 p.m. Thursday presents an intimate, fun, and unforgettable celebration of Buddy Holly’s music and legacy at the Music Box in Los Angeles.

Great Performances at 8 p.m. Friday presents “Jackie Evancho: Dream With Me In Concert”, the solo concert debut of the 10-year-old girl with the extraordinary soprano voice.

In Younger Next Year: The New Science of Aging at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Author Dr. Henry Lodge focusess on the philosophy, science and advice espoused in the Younger Next Year books, as well as new research on the brain.

Folk legend John Sebastian reflects and remembers the very best of The Folk Years at 7 p.m. Saturday with archival footage and new performances by folk legends.

Posted on November 25th, 2011

Nature at 7 p.m. Sunday presents “American Eagle”, an intimate portrait of America’s most recognizable aerial predator as photographed by three-time Emmy-winning cinematographer Neil Rettig.

A reserved curator responsible for the safe and secret storage of priceless paintings in London’s National Gallery soon finds it difficult to keep his low profile, as well as his secret, from the local villagers in ”Framed” on Masterpiece Contemporary at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Britain’s Royal Weddings at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday tells the intimate stories of Britain’s royal weddings, from the Queen Mother through to Princess Margaret, told from the point of view of people who were there.

Secrets of the Dead: Slave Ship Mutiny at 7 p.m. Tuesday tracks the efforts of archaeologists, historians and slave descendents to discover the full story of what happened when the Meermin set sail from Madagascar en route to South Africa.

Frontline at 8 p.m. Tuesday investigates the crash of Continental 3407 in Buffalo, NY, and discovers a dramatically changed airline industry, where regional carriers now account for half of the nation’s daily departures.

Long Distance Warrior at 9 p.m. Tuesday is a compelling film that presents a gripping case study of the kind of vision, determination, and calculated risk-taking it takes to spark real progress. It shows us how we got to the present by taking us back to the past, so we can follow the path of a man who saw the future, and then made it happen. It is, in essence, a classic American success story.

On Unforgettable: The Korean War at 10 p.m. Tuesday, veterans recount their memories of America in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when young men from all over the country were being shipped off to defend South Korea against the advancing Red Army in the north.

Nature at 7 p.m. Wednesday follows an in-depth investigation into the great divide between dogs and cats and just what draws us to these two polarizing pets on “Why We Love Cats and Dogs?”

Fly along with the monarchs butterflies, visiting the spectacular locations they call home and meeting the dangers they encounter along the way as Nova at 8 p.m. Wednesday explores their inspiring struggle for survival in “The Incredible Journey of Butterflies”.

Through A Dog’s Eyes at 9 p.m. Wednesday tells the story of dog trainer Jennifer Arnold, the service dogs she trains and the families whose lives they have changed.

Indie rock supergroup Monsters of Folk. performs songs from its self-titled debut album on Austin City Limits at 10 p.m. Wednesday and 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Jim Lehrer joins Evan Smith to talk about his career and his new book: Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The newest episodes of The Daytripper air back-to-back starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with trips to Fort Worth, Huntsville, Goliad, Bastrop and Spicewood.

PBS Arts From New York at 8 p.m. Friday presents superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli as he takes on one of the biggest stages of his career for a concert in New York City’s famed Central Park with the New York Philharmonic.

Get ideas for plants that make it through both drought and hard freezes on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, visit a down-sized garden that packs a big punch.

My Music: 60s Pop, Rock & Soul at 7 p.m. Saturday includes pop sounds from Frat Rock to Surf Pop, the British Beats to the Breakthrough Bands, Motown, Soul and Pop classics — with many artists and groups appearing for the first time on the “My Music” stage.

Posted on November 18th, 2011

America In Primetime at 7 pm Sunday presents “The Crusader”, which delves into the increasingly grey area between right and wrong as television heroes confront internal demons while seeking their own forms of justice.

Gaining unprecedented access to the notoriously private film legend, Emmy Award-winner Robert Weide delves into Woody Allen’s life and creative process, from his childhood and early career through to his most recent film on a two part American Masters on Sunday and Monday at 8 pm.

Entertainers Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Garry Shandling, Lily Tomlin, Denis Leary, Joan Rivers, Lewis Black, Richard Belzer and Margaret Cho honor the life and achievements of late comedian George Carlin on George Carlin: The Mark Twain Prize at 9:30 pm Monday.

Secrets of the Dead: Deadliest Battle at 7 pm Tuesday tells the true story of the battle that turned World War II and established the Soviet Union as a world superpower for the looming Cold War.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday presents Brian Greene’s “The Fabric of the Cosmos.” In the final episode, Greene takes a tour of cutting-edge theories suggesting that our universe may not be the only universe, but may be just one of an infinite number of worlds that make up the multiverse.

Three entrepreneurs offer a glimpse of why Austin is being hailed as the best place in the country to launch a business on Capital of Innovation at 9 pm Wednesday.

The third and final episode of Nova “The Elegant Universe” at 9:30 pm Wednesday shows how in 1995 Edward Witten of Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, aided by others, revolutionized string theory by successfully uniting the five different versions into a single theory that is cryptically named “M-theory,” a development that required a total of 11 dimensions.

Austin City Limits at 10:30 pm Wednesday and Friday presents highlights from the annual Americana Music Awards ceremony taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and includes performances by Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman and Robert Plant.

Author and activist Michael Pollan 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. Arts in Context at 7:30 Thursday follows their journey through the creative process which resulted in the original production “The Quarantine.”

Chet Garner heads to Goliad, Texas to visit the location of the famous Goliad Massacre, take a canoe ride, and eat some award winning soup and delicious Tex Mex on this week’s episode of “The Daytripper” at 8:30 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Thursday presents “Reel Injun”, a documentary that traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Native people from the silent film era to today.

PBS Arts from Los Angeles: Il Postino From L.A. Opera at 8 pm Friday features acclaimed Mexican composer Daniel Catan’s opera adaptation of the popular 1994 film Il Postino.

Indie rock supergroup Monsters of Folk. performs songs from its self-titled debut album on Austin City Limits at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Posted on November 11th, 2011

America in Primetime at 7 pm Sunday presents “The Misfit”, a celebration of the unique characters who defied comic stereotypes and societal expectations to reflect America’s diverse personalities.

Two ex-lovers meet for lunch at their favorite haunt from years before. Will sparks reignite? Will some other explosion ensue? Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) and Alan Rickman (Harry Potter) star in “The Song of Lunch” on Masterpiece Contemporary at 8 pm Sunday.

Rape of Europa at 9 pm Monday tells the epic and miraculous tale of how Europe’s art treasures survived the systematic theft and deliberate damage perpetrated by the Third Reich during World War II.

Secrets of the Dead: Churchill’s Deadliest Decision at 7 pm Tuesday reveals the darkest side of Britain’s Finest Hour, where Winston Churchill had to make a choice between trusting the promises of the new French government that they would never hand over their ships to Hitler or by destroying them himself.

Nazi Hunt: Elusive Justice at 8 pm Tuesday explores the 65-year effort to identify, prosecute and punish the 20th century’s most notorious murderers of the Nazi regime.

Nature at 7 pm Wednesday presents “My Life As A Turkey”, the story of writer and naturalist Joe Hutto’s rare opportunity to raise wild turkeys from chicks deep in the wilds of Florida.

Nova at 8 pm Wednesday presents “The Fabric of the Cosmos“, where physicist and acclaimed author Brian Greene will take you on a mind-bending reality check and journey to the frontiers of physics to see how scientists are piecing together the most complete picture yet of space, time and the universe. On this week’s episode, Greene brings quantum mechanics to life in a nightclub like no other, where objects pop in and out of existence and things over here can affect others over there, instantaneously without anything crossing the space between them.

On Nova at 9 pm Wednesday, physicist Brian Greene springs the surreal world of string theory to life on the screen on “The Elegant Universe“. In this week’s episode, Greene describes the serendipitous steps that led from a forgotten 200-year-old mathematical formula to the first glimmerings of strings – quivering strands of energy whose different vibrations give rise to quarks, electrons, photons and all other elementary particles.

Songwriting legend Randy Newman takes the stage with a selection of his greatest tunes on Austin City Limits at 10 pm Wednesday and 9:30 pm Friday.

Andy Borowitz, writer and satirist who’s been described as “one of the funniest people in America,” talks about humor on Overheard with Evan Smith at 7 pm Thursday.

Arts in Context at 7:30 pm Thursday explores the remote Texas city of Marfa and looks at what made the Trans-Pecos town nestled near Big Bend National Park the desert destination it is today.

Chet Garner travels to Spicewood, Texas to sip some coffee, swim in Krause Springs, go ziplining through the trees, and eat some delicious BBQ on this week’s episode of The Daytripper at 8:30 pm Thursday.

Independent Lens at 9 pm Thursday presents “We Still Live Here”, which tells the story of the return of the Wampanoag language, the first time a language with no Native speakers has been revived in this country.

PBS Arts From Cleveland: Women Who Rock is a performance documentary that chronicles and celebrates female musicians from early groundbreakers to contemporary powerhouses. The film features the stories of trailblazers like Bessie Smith and Mahalia Jackson, as well as contemporary stars Darlene Love, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Bonnie Raitt, Cyndi Lauper and more.

Author Sharon Lovejoy makes a solar oven out of a pizza box, along with lots of fun garden projects for children and gardeners of all ages on Central Texas Gardener at noon Saturday. On tour, visit the next generation of gardeners at Casis Elementary.

ACL Presents at 7 pm Saturday highlights the annual Americana Music Awards ceremony taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and includes performances by Lucinda Williams, Gregg Allman and Robert Plant.