SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
Even before his appointment as the first African American justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, Thurgood Marshall had established himself as a formidable civil rights lawyer. Renowned for arguing the landmark Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court in 1954, Marshall won this case, invalidating the separate but equal doctrine and confirming racial segregation in public schools as unconstitutional. Marshall devoted his legal career to protecting the constitutional rights of the most vulnerable Americans and won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Now Becoming Thurgood takes viewers beyond the legend to learn about the origins and impact of the man known as “Mr. Civil Rights.” This film begins with Justice Marshall’s journey from his early years in Baltimore and through his education at Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law. Next the film follows his distinguished career and his appointment to the Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and four years later as U.S. Solicitor General. And of course Becoming Thurgood delves into his time as a Supreme Court justice. While much is known of Justice Marshall’s life, this film offers a rare opportunity for people to hear Thurgood Marshall tell his own story in his own words. Using eight hours of recorded oral history, as well as insights from family members, leading historians, authors, and legal experts, this is much more than a documentary. “It’s a conversation with a man whose legal mind reshaped the nation and whose legacy still echoes through our justice system today,” says director Alexis Aggrey. “It was an honor to work on this film about an American titan whose legacy continues to expand and endure in these turbulent times,” said executive producer Stanley Nelson. Nelson brings his vast talent to Becoming Thurgood. The MacArthur Fellow and Emmy Award winner is a familiar presence on PBS, having created many documentaries including The Murder of Emmett Till (American Experience ) and Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (American Masters). The film will serve as the centerpiece of HBCU Week NOW 2025, a public media partnership that offers content about under-told stories including the history, legacy, cultural heritage, and degree programs offered by America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Watch Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 p.m. on WVPB.
A Note from Eddie Isom
Around 300,000 years ago, Homo sapiens emerged in Africa — one of at least seven human species alive at the time. Now, we are the only remaining human line. Join paleoanthropologist and HUMAN host Ella Al-Shamahi who traces the surprising story of human origins in this stunningly cinematic fivepart series from NOVA. For most of our species’ history there was no written record. Remarkable new fossil evidence, modern DNA sequencing, and other cutting-edge scientific tools are shedding light on the lives and travels of long-vanished human species. Al-Shamahi takes us to eras long ago to investigate how Homo sapiens’ encounters with other human species could have helped mold us into who we are today. The latest co-production from NOVA and the BBC Studios Science Unit, HUMAN will captivate viewers as they follow the long, complex, and serendipitous journey that brought us to where we are now. Watch Wednesday, September 17 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
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Dear WVPB Member, “Sometimes me think, ‘What is friend?’ and then me say, ‘Friend is someone to share the last cookie with’.” It’s a sentiment I share with Cookie Monster. I’d share my last cookie with you because you’re a generous loyal friend of WVPB. But instead I’ll share a sneak peek of some of the wonderful programs coming soon and made possible by YOU! This month you can learn about the life of “Mr. Civil Rights,” Thurgood Marshall, and his astonishing contributions to our nation — in his own words — on Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect. You can also dive back into the lives of lions, cheetahs, and leopards on the second season of Big Cats 24/7. On NOVA’s five-part series HUMAN, you can follow the circuitous route that brought our species, Homo sapiens, to the present day.
Or beginning in October you can play, “Where have I seen that British actor before?” while watching Maigret and The Gold on MASTERPIECE Mystery!. And these are just a few of the fascinating and worthwhile programs coming to PBS in September and October for you and because of you. You are the public in public media, and your impact is felt every day across our region and in the lives of our neighbors. Thank you for making the choice to support WVPB as a valued friend and partner. Sincerely,
At 6:40 a.m. on November 26, 1983, six armed men broke into the Brink’s-Mat security depot near London’s Heathrow Airport. There they unwittingly stumbled across three tons of gold ingots worth £26 million. Now this acclaimed six-part crime drama weaves a story inspired by one of the largest robberies in British history. The dispersal of the gold led to a vast international money laundering operation, provided the dirty money that helped fuel the London Docklands property boom along the River Thames, united blue- and white-collar criminals, and left controversy and murder in its wake. Inspired by extensive research and interviews with some of those involved in the actual events, The Gold is a pulsating dramatization of the events — a journey back into a 1980s world awash with cheap money
and loosened morals. The series tells this extraordinary and epic story for the first time in its entirety. The star-studded cast features Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), and Dominic Cooper (Sense and Sensibility). The second season, delving into the crime’s aftermath, will also air on MASTERPIECE. Watch Sunday, October 5 at 10:00 p.m. on WVPB.
Eddie Isom Executive Director
Streetwise Chief Inspector Jules Maigret of the Paris Brigade Criminelle is on the case beginning this October. This contemporary adaptation of Georges Simenon’s beloved novels reframes Maigret as an unconventional young detective with something to prove. As the head of the elite police unit known as La Crim, his approach is simple — to understand and not to judge. Yet he and his loyal team of detectives are also relentless in their investigations, chasing and using Maigret’s matchless knowledge of Paris and its inhabitants. The six-episode series leads viewers through a Paris not often seen on camera: glitzy luxury hotels and mansions, local bistros and bars, and the underground haunts of professional criminals.
Meet Lily Hunter, weather detective and force of nature. She’s the star of this fun and funny animated PBS KIDS show created by and starring Emmy-winning weathercaster Al Roker. Each episode of Weather Hunters follows Lily and her family as they observe and track weather patterns, investigate meteorology at different times of the year and in different places around the world, and make connections between people and climate phenomena. Weather Hunters also offers digital content for kids, parents, and teachers to reinforce the show’s messages and encourage further
Starring MASTERPIECE favorites Benjamin Wainwright (Unforgotten, Endeavour, World on Fire) and Stefanie Martini (Endeavour, Prime Suspect 1973), the series attests to why Maigret is good at his work. It is not because he is a genius or has special methods. Instead, he listens. tens. So, it is understandable why Georges Simenon’s Juless Maigret series is the second cond best-selling detective series ries ever, only surpassed by Sherlock Holmes. Watch Sunday, October 5 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
learning. Don’t miss the first game from the series, which allows kids to create their own weather reports! The all-star cast features Al Roker as Lily’s dad, Holly Robinson Peete as her mom, Sheryl Lee Ralph as neighbor Ms. Joyce, and LeVar Burton as Lily’s great grandfather Wallace Reed Hunter — a character loosely based on real-life Army 2nd Lieutenant Wallace P. Reed, chief weather officer responsible for the African American Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. Watch Monday, September 8 at 7:30 a.m. on WVPB.
SEASON 2 Things are getting wild on PBS. The enormously popular Big Cats 24/7 returns to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a place described as one of Africa’s last wildernesses. The extraordinary three-part series continues to follow the beloved lions, cheetahs, and leopards from season 1, as well as introduce some new faces. Shooting on the ground, in the air, and through the night, the local and international wildlife filmmakers dive in once again to tell incredible new stories of these fascinating creatures. The episode titles — “The Rogue Boys,” “A Pride Divided,” and “Reunion,” — offer viewers tantalizing clues of what to expect. “It’s thrilling to be jumping right back into the dramatic lives of the big cats we have grown to love,” says Tom Jarvis, Big Cats 24/7 executive producer. “What I’m most excited about in this series is that we are able to tell longitudinal and personal stories about the animals we are embedded with, and it feels like we are given a unique window into their world.” Watch Wednesdays beginning September 10 at 8:00 p.m. on WVPB.
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The Newest Above And Beyond Award Winner is… Rebecca Walters, an English teacher at Fairmont Senior High School in Marion County, earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award, which honors the excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers. Walters’ sister, Emilie Lewis, and WVPB’s Education team presented the award during a schoolwide assembly. As part of the recognition, Walters received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program, proudly sponsors the award. Walters believes that high expectations, paired with individualized support, are key to helping students thrive. “By setting high standards for my students, I allow them the opportunity to show me what they’re capable of, which gives me the chance to meet them where they are,” she explained. In her classroom, students are encouraged to think critically and use language with purpose. Walters hopes her students grow into individuals who “give their words value by being honest, honoring commitments, and appreciating others.” At the end of each school year, she writes a personalized note to each student — offering a lasting reminder that they are seen, celebrated, and supported. Walters also leads by example, embracing mistakes as opportunities to grow. “The most important thing a teacher can do is show students what responsibility looks like in owning a mistake, apologizing, and making it right,” she said. “If you give yourself and others grace and are willing to put in the work to keep growing, you’ll see it
reflected in your student behaviors.” Outside the classroom, Walters is an integral part of school life. She serves as a class sponsor, club sponsor, Faculty Senate executive board member, and leader of the school’s PBIS program. She’s a familiar face at extracurricular events and volunteers for school dances, field trips, and community-building activities. Earlier this year, she stepped in to assist theater students in preparing for their regional competition, contributing to their first-place finish. Walters is also active in her community. She’s a longtime leader in the Marion County 4-H program, serving as a camp counselor, organizational leader, and board member. She volunteers and performs with the Fairmont State Town & Gown Players, and one of her performance groups helped raise over $14,000 for the local United Way. “She constantly strives to teach and lead her students to achieve to the best of their abilities and beyond,” said her nominator, Linda Dewitt. “She goes above and beyond in every aspect of teaching and learning.” Each month of the school year, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher who goes “Above and Beyond,” please visit wvpublic.org/aboveandbeyond to submit your nomination.
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