February 2021 - WETA Magazine

Page 1

FEBRUARY 2021 M MA AG GA AZZIIN NE E FFO OR RM ME EM MB BE ER RSS

A NEW FILM FROM WETA PARTNER HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG WETA co-production airs Tues/Wed, February 16 & 17 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro

If You Lived Here

New local WETA house-hunting series premieres February 15 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro C1_WETA_FEB_2021_FINAL.indd 1

1/20/21 2:09 PM


WETA Focus I

n February, we are very pleased to premiere two new fascinating and engaging WETA television productions, one a history documentary created for a nationwide PBS audience, and the other a local exploration series developed exclusively for viewers in the national capital area. The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song is a new two-part WETA co-production developed with our longtime partner and friend, renowned scholar Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. This powerful and illuminating film will rivet you as it deepens understanding of the profound importance of spirituality, faith, and religious institutions to many Black Americans. The film examines the myriad roles that Black churches have played in the life of the African American community and in the history, culture, and social fabric of our nation. The Black Church headlines and anchors WETA’s wide array of Black History Month offerings on our channels WETA PBS, WETA Metro and WETA World. The documentary is WETA’s ninth project with Skip — and the latest in a portfolio of superb films from him and his team. It airs this month along with another of his ongoing collaborations with WETA, the popular series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., now in its seventh season. We are also very excited this month to roll out If You Lived Here, a new local WETA house-hunting and neighborhood exploration series that spotlights communities throughout our hometown Washington area. Each episode presents a journey of discovery, visiting several properties to illuminate the local real estate market and delving into the history, culture and places that make each neighborhood unique. Hosted by longtime Washingtonians and WETA staff members Christine Louise and John Begeny, the warm and lively programs take you throughout the D.C. Metro area. The first four episodes of If You Lived Here premiere February 15. Watch for more installments in months to come as we continue to expand our program offerings that explore and celebrate our local community. Learn more about If You Lived Here and The Black Church inside this magazine. Thank you for your support of WETA, which helps to make possible our productions and broadcasts.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA

WETA Arts

ETA’s bimonthly magazine-style arts series WETA Arts spotlights more locally focused stories in area arts and culture, in February focusing on themes related to Black History Month. WETA film critic Travis Hopson interviews director Merawi Gerima about his award-winning feature Residue, a reckoning with gentrification in D.C.; local musician Kumera Zekarias discovers African roots in the music of Colombia; filmmaker Robin Hamilton explores the history of segregation in Alexandria as depicted in a unique collection of dollhouses; and Robert Aubry Davis (of the WETA art series WETA Around Town) introduces Helen Hayes Award-winning actor Felicia Curry (pictured) as an advocate for local arts. The program airs February 13 on WETA PBS and repeats throughout the month; WETA Arts also airs throughout February on WETA Metro.

SHANNON FINNEY

W

WETA production airs Saturday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. on WETA PBS & Sunday, February 21 at 10:30 p.m. on WETA Metro

Felicia Curry

W E TA — O N T H E A I R & O N L I N E WETA PBS

WETA UK

WETA PBS Kids

WETA World

26.1 via antenna Comcast 26, 219, 800, 1026 Cox 26, 1003, 1026 DirecTV 26, 26-1 Dish 8076 Fios 26, 526 RCN 26, 613

26.2 via antenna Comcast 265, 1146 Cox 800 Fios 474 RCN 39, 602

26.3 via antenna Comcast 266, 1147 Cox 801 Fios 472 RCN 38

26.4 via antenna Comcast 270, 1148 Cox 802 Fios 475 RCN 37

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 2

COVER: THE BLACK CHURCH/PBS

1/20/21 3:23 PM


WETA TV Highlights Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 7

WETA co-production airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

T

COURTESY MCGEE MEDIA

uesday-night genealogy series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. — produced in partnership with WETA — continues in February with more new Season 7 episodes featuring the family stories of top American celebrities. This Gates with Tony Shalhoub month’s Season 7 episodes are: No Irish Need Apply (February 2), which explores the Irish roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan; The Shirts on Their Backs (February 9), which reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni; Write My Name in the Book of Life (February 16), in which Pharrell Williams and Kasi Lemmons discover their enslaved ancestors; and Country Roots (February 23), which spotlights the backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash. In sharing their stories, Finding Your Roots traces family trees throughout the globe using an array of tools — from DNA research to genealogical sleuthing. Together, the arc of each guest’s family personalizes history while emphasizing the human connections that unite everyone. Guiding the discoveries is longtime WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the series writer, host and executive producer — and the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. The series is a production of McGee Media, Inkwell Media, Kunhardt Films and WETA. Visit pbs.org/FindingYourRoots and join the conversation via #FindingYourRoots. Corporate support for Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season Seven is provided by Ancestry and Johnson & Johnson. Support is also provided by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; The Carnegie Corporation of New York; Candace King Weir; The Zegar Family Foundation; Lloyd Carney Foundation; and by The Inkwell Society and its members Felicia A. and Benjamin A. Horowitz Fund; Demond Martin; Sheryl Sandberg and Tom Bernthal; Jim and Susan Swartz; Anne Wojcicki; John and Jennifer Fisher; Fletcher and Benaree Wiley; Gwen and Peter Norton; and Darnell Armstrong and Nicole Commissiong. Major support is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.

O

Voice of Freedom: American Experience

Monday, Feb. 15 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS; streams on the PBS App

Major funding for American Experience provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Consumer Cellular, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, The Documentary Investment Group, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

EVERETT COLL. HISTORICAL/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

n Easter Sunday 1939, contralto Marian Anderson stepped up to a microphone in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Inscribed on the walls of the monument behind her were the words “all men are created equal.” Barred from performing in Constitution Hall because of her race, Anderson would sing for the American people in the open air. The concert became one of the largest gatherings ever in the nation’s capital and millions more listened to the radio broadcast. It also helped enshrine the Lincoln Memorial as a symbol of civil rights, freedom and justice. Anderson was hailed as a voice that “comes around once in a hundred years” by maestros in Europe and widely celebrated by both white and Black audiences at home, but her fame hadn’t been enough to spare her from the indignities and outright violence of racism and segregation. The new two-hour American Experience film Voice of Freedom interweaves Anderson’s rich life story with this landmark moment in history, exploring fundamental questions about talent, race, fame, democracy and the American soul.

For program and membership inquiries, visit weta.org or call 703-998-2724. WETA Metro

WETA Online

Classical WETA

26.5 via antenna

weta.org weta.org/passport weta.org/pbsapp weta.org/learningmedia

WETA 90.9 FM Washington, D.C. WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown WETA 88.9 FM Frederick classicalweta.org vivalavoce.org

weta.org/livestream PBS Video App YouTube TV Fios 470 RCN 599

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 1

1/20/21 3:23 PM


HOSTED BY HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG

A new fi lm from WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The WETA co-production airs February 16 & 17 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS n an illuminating new documentary, WETA partner App In the series, Gates conveys how the world of the

I

and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the 400-year-old history and culture of the Black church in America, spotlighting the central role of faith and spirituality in the African American community, and exploring faith communities on the frontlines of hope and change. The two-part, four-hour WETA co-production The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song — executive-produced, written and hosted by Gates — follows the story of the church’s bedrock role as the site of African American survival and grace, organizing and resilience, thriving and testifying, autonomy and freedom, solidarity, and speaking truth to power.

church expands out to politics, culture and education. At once a liberating and traditional center of power, the church in Gates’s telling is at a crossroads today, torn between social issues and justice, human rights and inequality, secular and spiritual trends, the past and future.

The Story

Voices in the Film

For many, the Black church is their house of worship. For some, it is an engine for social justice. For others, it is a place of transcendent cultural gifts exported to the world, from the soulful voices of preachers and congregants, to the sublime sounds of gospel music. The Black Church explores the changing nature of worship spaces and introduces the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft and church pews. The churches are also a world within a world, where Black Americans could be themselves — and the epicenter of the freedom struggle that revolutionized the United States across a wide arc of history: slavery and abolition, Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the Great Migration, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Some of the most influential Black voices today reflect on the meaning of the church in their lives and to the country. Renowned participants include media executive and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey; singer, songwriter, producer and philanthropist John Legend; singer and actress Jennifer Hudson; Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of The Episcopal Church; gospel legends Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar and BeBe Winans; civil rights leaders Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. William Barber II; scholar Cornel West; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie; and many others. “Our series is a riveting and systematic exploration of the myriad ways in which African Americans have worshipped God in their own images, and continue to

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 2

“No social institution in the Black community is more central and important than the Black church.” — Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

1/20/21 3:24 PM


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

do so today, from the plantation and prayer houses, to camp meetings and store-front structures, to mosques and mega-churches,” said Dr. Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University. “This is the story and song our ancestors bequeathed to us, and it comes at a time in our country when the very things they struggled and died for — faith and freedom, justice and equality, democracy and grace — all are on the line.” Part 1 explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted their faith practices from the brutality of slavery to emancipation. Part 2 examines how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need, from the 19th century through the Civil Rights Movement and on through the Black church’s role in the present.

IMAGES COURTESY MCGEE MEDIA

Clockwise: Black churchgoers; stained glass, Chicago; Gates with program guest Jennifer Hudson; and with church mural.

Acclaimed Storyteller Professor Gates has produced a wide array of critically acclaimed documentary history series, including the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross, the series African American Lives, and — with WETA — Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise, Africa’s Great Civilizations and, most recently, the 2019 film Reconstruction: America After the Civil War. Gates and WETA also collaborate on the ongoing multi-season genealogy series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Learn More The Black Church is a production of McGee Media, Inkwell Media and WETA, in association with Get Lifted. For more about the series, visit the WETA-produced website pbs.org/blackchurch. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BlackChurchPBS on Facebook and Twitter, and with @HenryLouisGates. WETA is participating in a nationwide public engagement campaign, accompanying the production, that includes screenings and discussions in communities around the country.

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 3

The Black Church February broadcasts Part 1 airs Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS and WETA Metro, repeating Saturday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. on WETA Metro — and repeating on WETA PBS on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. Part 2 airs Wednesday, February 17 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS and WETA Metro, repeating Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. on WETA Metro Major corporate support for The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers.

1/20/21 3:24 PM


New local WETA house-hunting series explores neighborhoods, history and culture throughout the D.C. Metro area

T

he national capital area boasts some of the most historic, diverse communities in the country, and a booming real estate market. Finding a place to live can be challenging, but it can also be a fascinating, exciting journey as the process reveals wonderful locations around the metropolitan area. WETA’s new, locally focused house-hunting series If You Lived Here is here to help, offering a diverting way to New explore a wide array of extraordinary neighborhoods and properties WETA series If You Lived Here throughout Greater Washington while celebrating the history, premieres culture and flavor of each four episodes community, and demystifying Monday, Feb. 15, the local housing market. In the WETA production, 8-10 p.m. on hosts, best friends and longtime WETA PBS & Washingtonians Christine Louise WETA Metro; and John Begeny tour homes streams on the with local realtors and explore PBS App communities in the D.C. Metro region — one neighborhood at a time. Tune in and discover vibrant areas and learn more about the current housing market in the new production, which premieres with four halfhour episodes airing on Monday, February 15, 8-10 p.m. on WETA PBS and WETA Metro. Produced by WETA in association with Leapfrog Productions, If You Lived Here explores 12 communities in Season 1. The first shows visit the H Street Corridor in Northeast Washington; the District’s Shaw

neighborhood; Old Town Alexandria in Northern Virginia; and Silver Spring in Maryland. Following the February 15 premiere, the series’ offerings will air Mondays at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS and 8 p.m. on WETA Metro. The eight additional episodes of Season 1 spotlight Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill, Petworth/16th Street, Anacostia, and Southwest Waterfront neighborhoods; Maryland’s Takoma Park and Hyattsville communities; and Virginia’s Falls Church and North Arlington areas. “There are so many unique communities in the Washington, D.C. metro area that a prospective buyer can make their home,” said Miguel Monteverde, Senior Vice President and General Manager, WETA. “If You Lived Here is a fun way to learn about those communities and listed properties. The show is a perfect example of the local programming we are producing at WETA, showcasing the best of life in the DMV.” Hosts Louise and Begeny have been colleagues at WETA for 20 years, creating local WETA documentaries such as Discovering Washington: Through the Lens; The Washington Cherry Blossoms: A Gift of Friendship, winner of a National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Emmy; and a trilogy of films tracing the evolution of historic Alexandria, Virginia from the city’s early years to the present day. They are passionate about the region they live in and have observed the evolution of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas over the past two decades. In each 30-minute episode, the duo explores three properties in one neighborhood with the help of an expert realtor: a starter home, a mid-level, and an

4 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 4

1/20/21 4:50 PM


February Episodes Episode 1. H Street Corridor February 15 at 8 p.m. Series hosts John Begeny and Christine Louise join realtor Harrison Beacher to explore and tour three homes and properties around the District’s Northeast H Street Corridor. This first episode of WETA’s new 12-part series follows the three as they start at a historic Masonic Temple condo on 8th Street, then visit a condo-conversion on K Street and finally, a renovated rowhome on Maryland Avenue with 360° views from a rooftop deck. In addition to the property tours, Harrison, local business owners and residents share some of the history of H Street as well as their very local and personal perspectives on what makes the community so special.

Episode 3. Old Town Alexandria February 15 at 9 p.m. The If You Lived Here hosts tour three homes in historic Old Town Alexandria in Virginia. John Begeny and Christine Louise join realtor Susie Klein to explore; they start their day at a cozy rowhouse on Alfred Street, then travel to a classic rowhome with a spiral staircase on Wilkes Street, and lastly visit a one-of-a-kind multi-level rowhome on historic Prince Street. In addition to the property tours, this episode steps into Old Town’s past with local architect and historian Al Cox, while residents share their insider knowledge of local histories, transportation, and other aspects of Old Town. aspirational “dream house.” After each tour, they compete with each other to guess the listing price. Follow the two as they venture around the DMV — the District, Maryland and Virginia — and learn about homes on the market and the notable businesses nearby, as well as the character and history of each community. If You Lived Here explores places to call home for newcomers and long-time residents alike. The program also includes reflections by history experts and personal impressions

Episode 2. Shaw February 15 at 8:30 p.m. The If You Lived Here hosts tour three homes around the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The episode follows Christine Louise and John Begeny, accompanied by realtor Judy Cranford, as they start their day at a history-inspired unit on 9th Street, then move on to a hand-crafted rowhome on K Street and, finally, visit a four-story renovation on O Street. In addition to the property tours, Judy, Dick Gregory’s son Christian Gregory, and music historian Ken Avis share more information and perspective about Shaw’s musical legacy, historical significance, local art installations and restaurants.

Episode 4. Silver Spring February 15 at 9:30 p.m. Series hosts Christine Louise and John Begeny join realtor Koki Adasi to explore and tour three homes and properties around Silver Spring, Maryland. The fourth episode of WETA’s new series follows the hosts as they visit a 1940s Cape Cod property in Highland View Park, then head off for a first look at a historically restored condo at National Seminary Park before moving on to a new build on Ritchie Avenue. Complementing the property tours, the episode offers perspectives from D.C. food writer Tim Ebner, confectionery Velatis’ Amy Servais, and other local residents who share their thoughts on Silver Spring’s history, restaurants, seasonal happenings and, yes, chocolates and caramels! from residents, offering illuminating perspectives about each area spotlighted. The series is the latest local production from WETA, joining a broad portfolio of engaging programs — including WETA’s “Decades” series of local histories spanning the 1960s to the 2000s, local arts and culture offerings WETA Arts and WETA Around Town, and much more — that spotlight the places, people, history and culture of the national capital area.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 5

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 5

1/20/21 3:24 PM


26.5 via antenna weta.org/livestream PBS Video App YouTube TV Fios 470 RCN 599

Stream at weta.org/livestream or via the PBS App Explore WETA Metro, the new WETA television channel for viewers in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This exciting new channel is available via subscription services YouTube TV, Fios (channel 470), and RCN (channel 599) — and free over the air via HD antenna. It is also WETA’s first channel to livestream via the internet: you can stream as much WETA Metro content as you want, whenever and wherever you want. WETA Metro features all of the PBS programming you love in primetime evening hours as well as engaging content curated just for a local audience, including locally focused offerings spotlighting our hometown community. WETA Metro is simulcast with WETA PBS most evenings. Sample WETA Metro’s many local shows, news and public affairs offerings, and lifestyle and cultural programs.

6 p.m

A SAMPLE WEEK: WETA METRO DAYTIME VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP

SUNDAY

7am

Antiques Roadshow

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

PBS NewsHour Weekend

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

Democracy Now

Democracy Now

Democracy Now

Democracy Now

A Seat at the Table

Washington Week

7:30am

8am

Rick Steves’ Europe

8:30am

Rick Steves’ Europe

9am

Rick Steves’ Europe

9:30am

Rick Steves’ Europe

10am

Democracy Now

A Seat at the Table Amanpour & Company

Amanpour & Company

Amanpour & Company

Amanpour & Company

Amanpour & Company

Reel South

Rudy Maxa’s World

A Seat at the Table

Reel South

IQ: SmartParent

The Chavis Chronicles

AfroPop

IQ: SmartParent

10:30am

Rudy Maxa’s World

A Seat at the Table

IQ: SmartParent

The Whitney Reynolds Show

11am

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe

The Chavis Chronicles

11:30am

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rudy Maxa’s World

Rudy Maxa’s World

The Whitney Reynolds Show

(misc. arts programs and documentaries)

Roadtrip Nation

Roadtrip Nation

Roadtrip Nation

Roadtrip Nation

Roadtrip Nation

AfroPop

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love

Politics and Prose Live

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Best of the Joy of Painting

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Pati’s Mexican Table

Best of the Joy of Painting

(National Philharmonic concerts and more)

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Best of the Joy of Painting

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Articulate with Jim Cotter

Best of the Joy of Painting

Restorers

Great British Baking Show

Great British Baking Show

Great British Baking Show

Great British Baking Show

Great British Baking Show

Best of the Joy of Painting

12pm 12:30pm

1pm 1:30pm

2pm 2:30pm

3pm

IQ: SmartParent

Best of the Joy of Painting

3:30pm

4pm

The Great Tours: Washington, D.C.

4:30pm

5pm

The Great Tours: Washington, D.C.

5:30pm SUNDAY

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

This Is America & The World

Open Mind

To the Contrary

White House Chronicles

Best of the Joy of Painting

DW News (Deutsche Welle)

DW News (Deutsche Welle)

DW News (Deutsche Welle)

DW News (Deutsche Welle)

DW News (Deutsche Welle)

Best of the Joy of Painting

NHK Newsline

NHK Newsline

NHK Newsline

NHK Newsline

NHK Newsline

Best of the Joy of Painting

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

Best of the Joy of Painting

MONDAY

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 6

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1/20/21 3:24 PM

11 p.m


Explore WETA Metro! WETA METRO PRIMETIME 6 p.m.

FRIDAYS

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour

Great Tours: Washington, DC

Great Tours: Washington, DC

Great Tours: Washington, DC

Great Tours: Washington, DC

Great Tours: Washington, DC

Democracy Now

Washington Week

Masterpiece

Antiques Roadshow

Finding Your Roots

Nature

Washington Week

Politics and Prose Live

Local series

History programs

NOVA

American history (including Ken Burns’s films; airs Sat on WETA PBS)

Firing Line

Independent films + History programs

Additional dramas 11 p.m.

How-To programs

Frontline

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour

Science and nature series

THURSDAYS

SATURDAYS

MONDAYS PBS NewsHour

+

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

SUNDAYS Great Tours: Washington, DC

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour

Arts series and more

PBS NewsHour Weekend

PBS NewsHour

• News and public affairs programming airs weekday mornings 6 a.m.-10 a.m.; afternoons/evenings 4 p.m.-7 p.m., and latenights, 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m. These blocks include PBS NewsHour (7 a.m., and 6 & 11 p.m.) and BBC News (6:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 1 a.m.). Syndicated news program Democracy Now airs weekdays at 8 a.m. and Fridays at 7 p.m. • Locally focused and locally produced offerings appear often in the 7 p.m. hour throughout the week, including The Great Tours: Washington, D.C. and, on Saturday nights, book discussions on Politics and Prose Live.

Visit weta.org/schedule to find WETA Metro program listings

G

Politics and Prose Live

Saturdays at 7 p.m. on WETA Metro; repeating 1 p.m. Sundays

reater Washington is a community of prodigious readers, and among the locally focused presentations on WETA Metro is an engaging broadcast television series from the renowned D.C. bookstore and cultural institution Politics and Prose. Each Saturday night at 7 p.m., Politics and Prose Live features in-depth conversations with leading thinkers and public figures about their latest books. The programs feature discussions previously recorded by the bookstore in a live format via Zoom. Available via WETA Metro broadcasts, and streaming on WETA Metro at weta.org/livestream, the television productions offer broad access for the public to Politics and Prose’s renowned author event series, curated by the independent bookstore since its founding in 1984. Now, in this new television series, viewers in the DMV region can tune in for hand-picked events from the best of the bookstore’s programming. Authors featured or celebrated on February episodes of Politics and Prose Live are Jane Fonda (Feb. 6); James Comey (Feb. 13); John Thompson (Feb. 20); and Julian Bond (Feb. 27). Tune in to Politics and Prose Live each Saturday night on WETA Metro, and catch repeat broadcasts of the program, Sundays at 1 p.m.

Also on WETA Metro this month: tune into WETA co-production Jazz, the acclaimed 10-part 2001 film by Ken Burns airing each Thursday night in February at 8 p.m. (and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS); and the two-part program Walt Whitman, Saturdays, February 6 & 13 at 9:30 p.m.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 7

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 7

1/20/21 3:24 PM


WETA Celebrates Black History Month

WETA presents more than 80 programs throughout February on WETA PBS, WETA Metro and WETA World; visit weta.org/black history

W

Vernon Jordan

RALPH BARRERA

ETA presents an extraordinary array of special programming throughout February that celebrates Black History Month, featuring intriguing documentaries, independent films, history series and more. Among new programming is the WETA co-production The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, a new film from WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Additional offerings include intriguing documentary films Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain (at left), The Jazz Ambassadors and Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP; a selection of American Experience films about the Civil Rights Movement and other topics; and WETA TV 26 production WETA Arts, which returns in February with Black History-themed stories of arts and culture in Greater Washington. The WETA World channel also features a wide selection of Black History programs in February, including additional airings of the new WETA co-production The Black Church; pertinent episodes of ongoing WETA series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; WETA co-productions The Central Park Five, Africa’s Great Civilizations and Reconstruction: America After the Civil War; and much more. For a complete list of Black History offerings on WETA World and other WETA channels, visit weta.org/blackhistory.

Black History Programs WETA PBS only; WETA PBS & WETA Metro; WETA Metro only Independent Lens: Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities Sat 2/13, 11pm Cooked: Survival by Zip Code Sun 2/14, 11pm Mr. SOUL! Mon 2/22, 10pm; Rpts Fri 2/26, 3pm, 9pm; Sat 2/27, 10pm Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America Fri 2/19, 9pm Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Sat 2/20, 7pm; Rpts 12m; Sun 2/21, 11pm; Thur 2/25 4pm; Thur 2/25, 10pm; Sun 2/28, 12n Reconstruction: America After the Civil War Mon 2/22 + Tue 2/23, 3pm CLOCKWISE: COURTESY KEN THOMPSON; FBI; LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM; AL RAVENNA/LOC

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song Pt 1 Tue 2/16, 9pm; Rpts Sat 2/20, 8pm; Sat 2/27, 8pm; Sun 2/28, 3pm Pt 2 Tue 2/23, 9pm; Sat 2/27, 8pm WETA Arts Sat 2/13, 7:30pm; Sun 2/21, 10:30pm; Rpts throughout Feb The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross 6 Pts: weekdays 2/1-2/8, 3pm Vernon Jordan: Make It Plain Sun 2/7, 4pm Africa’s Great Civilizations 6 Pts: weekdays 2/9-2/16, 3pm The Jazz Ambassadors Tue 2/2, 9pm; Rpts Sat 2/6, 11:30pm Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Season 6: Ep 5: Tue 2/16, 8pm; Rpts Sun 2/21, 3pm; Thur 2/25, 3pm Charley Pride: American Masters Sat 2/6, 7pm; Rpts 12:30am; Sun 2/7, 11pm; Thur 2/11, 9:30pm The Chavis Chronicles Sundays, 5pm (exc 2/28); Thursdays, 10am; Saturdays, 11am A Seat at the Table Sundays at 5:30pm (exc 2/28); Mondays, 10am AfroPop Fridays, 10am; Saturdays, 12n American Experience: Freedom Riders Sat 2/6, 9:30pm; Rpts Wed 2/24, 3pm Goin’ Back to T-Town Mon 2/8, 9pm The Murder of Emmett Till Sat 2/13, 10pm; Thur 2/18, 10pm Voice of Freedom Mon 2/15, 10pm; Sat 2/20, 10pm Freedom Summer Fri 2/26, 9pm Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Fri 2/12, 10pm; Sat 2/20, 10pm

Freedom Summer

Mr. Civil Rights

Freedom Riders

Jazz Ambassadors

Plus, in afternoons on WETA PBS — An Evening with…: Dionne Warwick Mon 2/1, 4pm; Harry Belafonte Tue 2/2, 4pm; B.B. King Wed 2/3, 4pm; Colin Powell Thur 2/4, 4pm; Della Reese Fri 2/5, 4pm; Denyce Graves Mon 2/8, 4pm; Nikki Giovanni Tue 4/9, 4pm; Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee Wed 2/10, 4pm; Valerie Jarrett Thur 2/11, 4pm; Andrew Young Fri 2/12, 4pm; Richard Parsons Mon 2/15, 4pm; Earl Graves Tue 2/16, 4pm; Debra Lee Wed 2/17, 4pm; Franklin Thomas Thur 2/18, 4pm

8 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 8

1/20/21 3:24 PM


NOVA: Beyond the Elements

I

Wednesdays at 9 p.m. starting February 3 on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS App

MESSIER CUTTING SYST; ©RTEMEGOROV/POND5; DIMABALANFILMS/POND5; WGBH

n the new three-part NOVA miniseries Beyond the Elements, picking up where he left off in the science series’ popular special Hunting the Elements, host David Pogue sets out on a worldwide quest to find the key molecules and chemical reactions that have paved the way for human civilization, life, and the universe as we know it. Along the way, he uncovers the simple principles that produce a dizzying diversity of matter from elements on the periodic table. In Part 1, Reactions (Feb. 3), he illuminates the chemical reactions that constantly transform our world, such as one that enables us to feed billions, but when reversed is explosive — and lock-and-key molecules that put the heat in hot peppers or make deadly venoms useful to medicine. In Part 2, Indestructible (Feb. 10), Pogue explores how scientists and engineers have created virtually indestructible versions of common materials, and he examines the environmental impact. In Part 3, Life (Feb. 17), he investigates the molecules that allowed life on Earth to begin and thrive. Pogue is a science writer and an Emmy-winning correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning who has hosted 18 NOVA specials. National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

O

The Trials of Jimmy Rose

Sundays at 7 p.m. starting February 7 on WETA PBS

COURTESY ITV

n Sunday nights in February, airing just before ongoing Masterpiece dramas Miss Scarlet and the Duke and All Creatures Great and Small, the three-part 2015 miniseries The Trials of Jimmy Rose presents a story of crime and passion. Ray Winstone stars (alongside Amanda Redman, his co-star in the 2000 film Sexy Beast) as career criminal Jimmy Rose, who has spent the last 12 years in prison for armed robbery and is now a free man at 61. Jimmy comes home to his family, but his wife Jackie has moved on emotionally, and the parolee must face up to his commitments as a husband, father and grandfather — which means being present for his children and staying out of trouble to avoid prison. Working a low-paying job, rejected by some family members, and contending with his wife’s distance, he finds out his granddaughter has fallen in with drug dealers. Determined to aid her, he triggers a chain of events that could force him back into crime.

Independent Lens: 9to5: The Story of a Movement

hen Dolly Parton sang, “Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’; Barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin’; They just use your mind and you never get the credit; It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it…” she was doing more than just shining a light on the professional fate of American women. Parton was singing the tale of a movement that started with a group of Boston secretaries in the early 1970s. Inspired by the growing Women’s Liberation Movement, founders Ellen Cassedy and Karen Nussbaum (at right, marching for equal pay) started a cause they called “9to5”. Their goals were simple: better pay, job descriptions, respect, advancement opportunities, and an end to sexual harassment. Their approach — humor — was unconventional. They employed outrageous wit to attract the press and shame their bosses into change. The stories and strategies of these bold, creative women continue to resonate; this new film follows the fight that inspired a hit song and changed the American workplace.

Independent Television Service’s Independent Lens is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

WALTER P. REUTHER LIBRARY, ARCHIVES OF LABOR AND URBAN AFFAIRS, WAYNE STATE U.

W

Monday, Feb. 1 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS & Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. on WETA Metro; streams on the PBS App

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 9

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 9

1/20/21 3:24 PM


Primetime Schedule WETA PBS in February

Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations

Visit weta.org/schedule for the most up-to-date schedule information.

8:00

8:30

9:00

9:30

10:00

10:30

1

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Vintage Tucson 2021 (Hour 2)

Antiques Roadshow: Harrisburg, PA (Hour 3)

Independent Lens: 9to5: The Story of a Movement (to 11:30pm)

2

Tue

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 7 (No Irish Need Apply)

The Jazz Ambassadors

Frontline: China’s COVID Secrets (to 11:30pm)

3

Wed

Nature: Pumas: Legends of the Ice Mountains

NOVA: Beyond the Elements (Ep 1 of 3. Reactions)

Europe’s New Wild (Ep 1 of 4. The Missing Lynx)

4

Thu

5

Fri

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl (Ep 4 of 6. Gustavo and Friends)

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl (Ep 5 of 6. Fireworks!)

6

Sat

7

Sun

Miss Scarlet and the Duke on Masterpiece (Pt 4 of 6. Memento Mori)

All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece (Pt 5 of 7)

The Long Song on Masterpiece (Pt 2 of 3)

8

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Vintage Orlando (Hour 1)

Goin’ Back to T-Town: American Experience

Independent Lens: Women in Blue (to 11:30pm)

9

Tue

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 7 (The Shirts on Their Backs)

Al Capone: Icon

Frontline: Iraq’s Assassins

10

Wed

Nature: Big Bend: The Wild Frontier of Texas

NOVA: Beyond the Elements (Ep 2 of 3. Indestructible)

Europe’s New Wild (Ep 2 of 4. Return of the Titans)

11

Thu

Prime Suspect: Tennison on Masterpiece (Pt 1 of 3)

12

Fri

Washington Week

13

Sat

Jazz (Pt 6 of 10. Swing: The Velocity of Celebration) (1937-1939)

The Murder of Emmett Till: American Experience

14

Sun

Miss Scarlet and the Duke on Masterpiece (Pt 5 of 6. Cell 99)

All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece (Pt 6 of 7)

The Long Song on Masterpiece (Pt 3 of 3)

15

Mon

If You Lived Here (Ep 1. H Street )

If You Lived Here (Ep 3. Alexandria)

Voice of Freedom: American Experience (to 12m)

16

Tue

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 7 (Write My Name…)

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (Pt 1 of 2)

17

Wed

Nature: Equus: Story of the Horse (Pt 1 of 2. Origins)

NOVA: Beyond the Elements (Ep 3 of 3. Life)

18

Thu

Prime Suspect: Tennison on Masterpiece (Pt 3 of 3)

19

Fri

Washington Week

20

Sat

Jazz (Pt 7 of 10. Dedicated to Chaos) (1940-1945 )

21

Sun

Miss Scarlet and the Duke on Masterpiece (Pt 6 of 6. The Case of Henry Scarlet)

All Creatures Great and Small on Masterpiece (Pt 7 of 7)

22

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Vintage Spokane (Hour 1)

If You Lived Here

23

Tues

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 7 (Country Roots)

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (Pt 2 of 2)

24

Wed

Nature: Equus: Story of the Horse (Pt 2 of 2. Chasing the Wind )

NOVA: Looking for Life on Mars

25

Thu

Vera, Series 1 (Ep 2 of 4. Telling Tales)

26

Fri

Washington Week

27

Sat

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (Encore: Pt 1 of 2)

28

Sun

Prime Suspect, Series 7: The Final Act Washington Week

The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations, Series 3

Jazz (Pt 5 of 10. Swing: Pure Pleasure) (1935-1937)

The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations, Series 3

If You Lived Here (Ep 2. Shaw)

The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations, Series 3

The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations, Series 3

Freedom Riders: American Experience (to 11:30pm)

Prime Suspect: Tennison on Masterpiece (Pt 2 of 3)

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl (Ep 6 of 6. Música Sin Fronteras/Music Without Borders)

If You Lived Here (Ep 4. Silver Spring)

Europe’s New Wild (Ep 3 of 4. The Land of the Snow and Ice)

Vera, Series 1 (Ep 1 of 4. Hidden Depths)

Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America Voice of Freedom: American Experience (to 12m)

Beyond the Canvas

WETA Arts

Independent Lens: Mr. Soul! (to 11:30pm)

Europe’s New Wild (Ep 4 of 4. Europe’s Amazon)

Vera, Series 1 (Ep 3 of 4. The Crow Trap) Independent Lens: Mr. Soul!

WETA Arts

Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry

8:00

Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize (to 11:30pm)

8:30

PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.

Tower of Power: 50 Years of Funk (to 11:30pm)

9:00

9:30

10:00

10:30

Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).

10 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 10

1/20/21 3:24 PM


TV Listings WETA PBS in February

Listings are accurate as of press time. For late-breaking program updates, visit weta.org/tv or call 703-998-2724. WETA PBS is devoted to children’s educational programming 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday-Friday. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA PBS Kids channel. See page 19 for schedule information. Program Key Blue type — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. R — Repeats that aired within the month.

COURTESY MCGEE MEDIA

Need Apply. Gates explores the roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan, revealing the Irish American experience through their families. Repeats Sun 2/7, 3pm 9:00 THE JAZZ AMBASSADORS — The Cold War and civil rights collide in this remarkable story of music, diplomacy and race. While traveling the world as cultural ambassadors, America’s jazz greats faced a dilemma: representing a country that still practiced Jim Crow segregation. Repeats Sat 2/6, 11:30pm 10:00 FRONTLINE: CHINA’S COVID SECRETS — Preempted in January, this Frontline report explores the story of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and how China responded. Chinese scientists and doctors, international disease experts and health officials reveal missed opportunities to suppress the outbreak, and lessons for the world. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

3 Wednesday

Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro Finding Your Roots presents more explorations of celebrity family histories and genealogies with series writer, host and executive producer Henry Louis Gates, Jr., above with Rosanne Cash.

WEEKDAY MORNINGS IN FEBRUARY: 6AM NHK NEWSLINE + 6:30AM BBC WORLD NEWS 7AM (Mondays:) PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 7:30 (Mondays:) WASHINGTON WEEK —R 7AM (Tuesdays-Saturdays:) PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING WEEKDAY EVENINGS IN FEBRUARY: 5PM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeat of previous night 6PM BBC NEWS — BBC World News Outside Source (6pm, Mon-Thur); BBC World News Today (6pm, Fri); BBC World News America (6:30pm, Mon-Fri)

1 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — The WETA production provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live interviews and discussions of domestic and international issues. Judy Woodruff anchors. Visit pbs.org/newshour. Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE TUCSON 2021 — Hour 2. Have blazing hot Tucson appraisals cooled down since 2006? Not for one $65,000-$110,000 find. 9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: HARRISBURG, PA — Hour 3. Learn more about vintage and antique items in Harrisburg, such as the 1963-1968 NASA archive of Pearl Tucker, a painted “Bucher” box made around 1800, and a Randy Gumpert baseball archive. One of the items is appraised for $75,000. 10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: 9to5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT — A documentary goes inside the inspiring movement for women’s workplace equality in the 1970s. Started by a group of Boston secretaries, the 9to5 cause used humor to attract press attention and shame bosses into giving better pay and ending sexual harassment. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Christiane Amanpour leads conversations with global thought leaders on contemporary issues. Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: PUMAS: LEGENDS OF THE ICE MOUNTAINS — Travel to the mountains of Chile to discover the secrets of the puma, the area’s biggest and most elusive predator. Discover how this mountain lion survives and follow the dramatic fate of a puma mother and her cubs. Uma Thurman narrates. 9:00 NOVA: BEYOND THE ELEMENTS — Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in it, including us. Episode 1 of 3. Reactions. Discover the chemical reactions that constantly transform our world, like one that enables us to feed billions but when reversed is explosive — and lock-and-key molecules that put the heat in hot peppers or make deadly venoms useful to medicine. 10:00 EUROPE’S NEW WILD — Explore the resurgence of iconic wildlife and natural processes across Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes. Episode 1 of 4. The Missing Lynx. Across the Iberian Peninsula, rewilding efforts allow the Iberian lynx — the rarest cat in the world — to flourish once again. In Portugal’s Coa Valley, the introduction of ancient species heralds the return of the region’s top predators. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

4 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am

TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS GMBH & WILDLIFE FILMS/©NICOLAS LAGOS

A WETA CO-PRODUCTION

2 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Episode 3 of 10. No Irish

WETA Television

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro Nature spotlights the splendors and stories of the natural world. Among this month’s program topics are pumas in Chile’s Patagonia region (Feb. 3), and the origins of the horse (Feb. 17 & 24).

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 11

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 11

1/20/21 3:24 PM


COURTESY PLAYGROUND TELEVISION (UK) LTD.

ALSO AIRS ON WETA UK; STREAMS ON WETA PASSPORT

WETA Television

Sundays, Feb. 7, 14 & 21 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro All Creatures Great and Small continues on Masterpiece, Sundays at 9 p.m., starring Rachel Shenton and Nicholas Ralph (portraying James Herriot). At 8 p.m., Victorian-era sleuth series Miss Scarlet and the Duke, with Kate Phillips, continues on Masterpiece as well.

8:00 PRIME SUSPECT, SERIES 7: THE FINAL ACT — In the series finale, retirement looms for London sleuth DS Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) and the investigation of a schoolgirl’s brutal murder takes an emotional toll on the world-weary detective. As the case gets underway, Jane is also dealing with the imminent death of her father (Frank Finlay) and an alcohol addiction she is desperate to hide. As the pressure mounts to secure a conviction on the high-profile case, the cracks begin to show. Stephen Tompkinson, Robert Pugh, Tom Bell and Brendan Coyle co-star. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

5 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — WETA’s weekly production presents a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 2/6, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 2/8, 7:30am 8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — The renowned Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist explores successful leadership through interviews with influential people in prominent fields of endeavor. Episode 5 of 15. Bill Gates. Repeats Sun 2/7, 6:30pm 9:00 IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: GUSTAVO AND FRIENDS — Enjoy a few of conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s favorite performances at the Hollywood Bowl throughout the years: Swan Lake with American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with Pablo Ferrández, and the finale to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Repeats Sun 2/7, 2pm 10:00 IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: FIREWORKS! — Bring home the fireworks with Katy Perry, Pink Martini and flamenco singer Diego El Cigala. Gustavo Dudamel leads the LA Phil in Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird and John Williams conducts the orchestra in his iconic music from Star Wars. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30

LIDIA’S KITCHEN IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS JOANNE WEIR’S PLATES AND PLACES NEW SCANDINAVIAN COOKING COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED — New episodes! 5:00 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE 5:30 SAMANTHA BROWN’S PLACES TO LOVE 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 CHARLEY PRIDE: I’M JUST ME: AMERICAN MASTERS — Explore the complicated history of the American South and its music through the life of the late country star. Raised in segregated Mississippi, his journey shows the ways that artistic expression can triumph over prejudice and injustice. Repeats tonight; Sun 2/7, 11pm; Wed 2/17, 3pm 8:00 JAZZ — Ken Burns’s epic documentary film, created in partnership with WETA, continues. Part 5 of 10. Swing: Pure Pleasure (1935-1937). Big band jazz — swing — becomes the most popular music in America. Some fans, disturbed by its popularity, start a movement to embrace “traditional” jazz. In the western “territories,” a blues-soaked big band style is set to further transform jazz. Repeats tonight, 1:30am 9:30 FREEDOM RIDERS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s documentary explores how, from May until November 1961, more than 400 Americans, black and white, risked their lives — and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment — traveling together on buses and trains through the Deep South in a challenge to segregation during the Civil Rights Era. Repeats Wed 2/24, 3pm 11:30 THE JAZZ AMBASSADORS — R 12:30AM CHARLEY PRIDE: I’M JUST ME: AMERICAN MASTERS —R

7 Sunday 6AM-9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9AM WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE 9:30 TO THE CONTRARY WITH BONNIE ERBE 10AM THIS IS AMERICA AND THE WORLD WITH DENNIS WHOLEY 10:30 THE OPEN MIND 11AM FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — Repeats Saturdays, 6:30am 11:30 TO DINE FOR WITH KATE SULLIVAN 12N THE WETA MOVIE: BEST IN SHOW — Christopher Guest’s 2000 comic satire offers a “behind-the scenes” look at cutthroat competition at a national dog show, following a colorful array of characters. Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara star, along with Guest. (1:30) 1:30 WETA ARTS — See the Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. listing. 2:00 IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: GUSTAVO AND FRIENDS — R

6AM 6:30 7AM 8AM 8:30 9AM 10AM 10:30 11AM 11:30 12N 12:30 1:00

WASHINGTON WEEK — R FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R PBS NEWSHOUR — R JOSEPH ROSENDO’S TRAVELSCOPE RICK STEVES’ EUROPE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW — Repeat of Monday 8 p.m. THIS OLD HOUSE ASK THIS OLD HOUSE JOANNE WEIR’S PLATES AND PLACES JACQUES PÉPIN: HEART & SOUL YAN CAN COOK: SPICE KINGDOM CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION NICK STELLINO: STORYTELLER

COURTESY JOHN BINDER

6 Saturday

Tuesday, February 9 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro Al Capone: Icon explores Americans’ fascination with the 20th-century Chicago gangster (center, being escorted in 1932 to the train that would take him to U.S. federal penitentiary after his conviction).

12 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 12

1/20/21 3:24 PM


Jamaica. Tamara Lawrance and Hayley Atwell star. Part 2 of 3. The handsome overseer Robert arrives, sparking a bitter rivalry between July and her mistress. Meanwhile, the field hands rebel against Robert’s work demands. 11:00 CHARLEY PRIDE: AMERICAN MASTERS — R 12M AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

Wednesday, February 10 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro Nature: Big Bend: The Wild Frontier of Texas spotlights the Rio Grande area’s wildlife and beauty, emblematic of America’s Wild West. Above: A lightning storm above Big Bend’s Chisos Mountains.

9 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Episode 4 of 10. The Shirts on Their Backs. Gates reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni, introducing ancestors who came to America to build a better life. Repeats Sun 2/14, 3pm 9:00 AL CAPONE: ICON — Was Al Capone the quintessential self-made American man, a ruthless killer, or both? His name sparks images of pin-stripe suits and bloody violence, and to this day, Americans are fascinated by this celebrity gangster. Why? 10:00 FRONTLINE: IRAQ’S ASSASSINS — Frontline explores how Iranian-backed Shia militias are terrorizing Iraq, investigating allegations that militias are threatening and killing critics with impunity and targeting U.S. interests. Also, in Yemen, Frontline reports how COVID is worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

WETA Television

3:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — Episode 3 of 10. No Irish Need Apply. R 4:00 VERNON JORDAN: MAKE IT PLAIN — WETA presents a documentary from filmmaker Dawn Porter that explores the life of Vernon Jordan Jr., an influential champion of social justice who ascended from a childhood spent in the country’s first African American housing project to prominent positions of power and influence in the NAACP, Urban League and several presidential administrations — all while maintaining his focus on the fight for civil rights and Black economic advancement. 5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES — A talk show hosted by award-winning journalist, civil rights icon, and intellectual influencer Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. features interviews with thought leaders. Episode 6. Renowned scholar, author, preacher and media personality Dr. Michael Eric Dyson discusses the need for America to renounce innocence, privilege, fragility and comfort. Mississippi Publishers DeAnna Tisdale-Johnson and Jackie Hampton also join the program to discuss the important legacy of the black press and dangers African American publishers faced in the south. 5:30 A SEAT AT THE TABLE — A talk show series gives voice to African American women from their diverse experiences, perspectives and challenges. Hosts Denene Millner, Monica Pearson and Christine White hold candid conversations about family, careers, health, finance, beauty, relationships and more. Episode 2. Do Black Men & Women Support Each Other? The conversation explores how Black women and Black men uphold each other. Georgia state historian Dr. Maurice Hobson joins the discussion. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — Episode 5 of 15. Bill Gates. R 7:00 THE TRIALS OF JIMMY ROSE — When Jimmy Rose (Ray Winstone) gets out of jail after serving 12 years for armed robbery, he tries to rebuild his family and win back the affections of his wife Jackie (Amanda Redman) and the respect of his children, but the temptation to return to crime looms. Part 1 of 3. When Jimmy returns from prison, not all family members are pleased to have him back. Most hostile is estranged son Joe, who blames Jimmy’s absence for granddaughter Ellie’s leaving home and getting into drugs. Jimmy jeopardizes his parole agreement by tracking down Ellie — in thrall to her drug dealer boyfriend — and confronting the drug gang. 8:00 MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE ON MASTERPIECE — Go on the case with private eye Eliza Scarlet, Victorian England’s first-ever female sleuth. Part 4 of 6. Memento Mori. A photographer specializing in post-mortem portraits gets menacing messages from beyond the grave. Eliza’s investigation takes her into the spirit world. 9:00 ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ON MASTERPIECE — In a new adaptation of the popular novel by James Herriot, follow the veterinarian at the start of his storied career in rural Yorkshire in the 1930s. Nicholas Ralph stars. Part 5 of 7. James volunteers to be the official vet at the Darrowby Show. His ordeals include an ethical plight involving Helen’s bull. 10:00 THE LONG SONG ON MASTERPIECE — Follow the experience of plantation slave July and her odious mistress Caroline during the final days of slavery in 19th-century

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE ORLANDO, FL — Hour 1. See if Sunshine State appraisals still sparkle after 14 years, like one $165,000-$250,000 treasure. 9:00 GOIN’ BACK TO T-TOWN: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Hear the extraordinary history of Greenwood, a successful Black community in segregated Tulsa. In a nostalgic celebration of old-fashioned neighborhood life, Black residents of “T-Town” relive their community’s remarkable rise and ultimate decline. 10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: WOMEN IN BLUE — In this documentary, under the leadership of the Minneapolis Police Department’s first female chief, women officers seek gender equity, redefining what it means to protect and serve. But a fatal shooting and a new male chief imperil their progress. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

10 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: BIG BEND: THE WILD FRONTIER OF TEXAS — Witness the wildlife and serene beauty of America’s Wild West; roam the frontier land of the Rio Grande’s Big Bend alongside its iconic animals, including black bears, rattlesnakes and scorpions.

ITV STUDIOS/NOHO FILM & TV FOR ITV/MASTERPIECE

COURTESY ©LEE HOY

8 Monday

Thursdays, February 11 & 18 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Prime Suspect: Tennison on Masterpiece spotlights the early career of detective Jane Tennison, a role made famous by Helen Mirren in the Prime Suspect series. Stefanie Martini stars opposite Sam Reid.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 13

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 13

1/20/21 3:25 PM


9:00 NOVA: BEYOND THE ELEMENTS — Discover the chemistry that makes our world and everything in it, including us. Episode 2 of 3. Indestructible. Scientists have created virtually indestructible versions of glass, rubber and plastic. But are they too tough? As the environmental impact of the quest for durability becomes clear, scientists look for ways to maintain utility but minimize harm. 10:00 EUROPE’S NEW WILD — Explore the resurgence of iconic wildlife and natural processes across Europe’s animal habitats. Episode 2 of 4. Return of the Titans. Travel to the Carpathian Mountains and beyond, where Europe’s most iconic species are thriving. The reintroduction of European bison signals a wildlife comeback, while just beyond the mountains, gray wolves stage an astonishing return. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

11 Thursday

WETA Television

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 PRIME SUSPECT: TENNISON ON MASTERPIECE — Survey the early career of iconic detective Jane Tennison — the role played by Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect. The drama rewinds to 1970s London, when Jane (portrayed by Stefanie Martini) is a young probationary officer in an environment in which sexism is the norm. Part 1 of 3. Jane Tennison starts to learn the cold facts of police work. She turns the head of her boss, DI Bradfield, but also impresses him with her instincts. He enlists her help, and she undertakes her first murder investigation. 9:30 PRIME SUSPECT: TENNISON ON MASTERPIECE — Part 2 of 3. Tennison and Bradfield continue their work on the murder case of a young girl, but a breach of police protocol complicates matters. Meanwhile, the Bentley family continues their plans to pull off their biggest crime yet. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

12 Friday

FROM ORIGINAL NEGATIVE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — WETA’s weekly production presents a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 2/13, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 2/15, 7:30am 8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — The renowned Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist explores successful leadership through interviews with influential people in prominent fields of endeavor. Episode 6 of 15. Melinda Gates. Repeats Sun 2/14, 6:30pm 9:00 IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: MÚSICA SIN FRONTERAS (MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS) — Experience iconic moments from the archives of the Hollywood Bowl. Vin Scully narrates “Lincoln Portrait” with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil. Carlos Vives sings “La Tierra de Olvido” and “La Gota Fria” while Cafe Tacvba performs “El Baile y El Salon.” Siudy Garrido

Mon., Feb. 15, 10 p.m., WETA PBS; Feb. 20, 10 p.m., WETA Metro Voice of Freedom: American Experience weaves Marian Anderson’s life story with a landmark Washington, D.C. event — when she sang at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 — exploring fundamental questions about talent, race, fame, democracy and the American soul.

dances flamenco to Manuel de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo.” Repeats Sun 2/21, 4pm 10:00 DAVE CHAPPELLE: THE KENNEDY CENTER MARK TWAIN PRIZE — In this WETA co-production taped in October 2019, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to comedian Dave Chappelle. From the stage of the Kennedy Center, a star-studded lineup salutes the performer. Guests include Mo Amer, Neal Brennan, Bradley Cooper, Tiffany Haddish, John Legend, Lorne Michaels, Eddie Murphy, Trevor Noah, Donnell Rawlings, Jeff Ross, Jon Stewart, Chrissy Teigen, and Q-Tip. 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

13 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-6PM See the Saturday, February 6 listings. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 7:30 WETA ARTS — The WETA magazine-style arts series in February presents WETA film critic Travis Hopson interviewing director Merawi Gerima about his awardwinning feature Residue, a reckoning with gentrification in D.C.; local musician Kumera Zekarias discovering African roots in the music of Colombia; filmmaker Robin Hamilton exploring the history of segregation in Alexandria as depicted in a unique collection of dollhouses; and host Robert Aubry Davis introducing actor Felicia Curry as an advocate for local arts. Repeats tonight; Sun 2/14, 4:30pm; Sun 2/21, 2:30pm, 10:30pm; Fri 2/26, 4:30pm, 10:30pm 8:00 JAZZ — Ken Burns’s epic documentary film, created in partnership with WETA, continues. Part 6 of 10. Swing: The Velocity of Celebration (1937-1939). As the Great Depression deepens, jazz thrives. The saxophone emerges as an iconic instrument of the music and women musicians emerge on the jazz scene. Benny Goodman holds the first-ever jazz concert at Carnegie Hall. Repeats tonight, 1:30am 10:00 THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s documentary explores the tragic story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black youth who in August 1955 was said to have whistled at a white woman in Mississippi. His inadvertent violation of a social code of the South cost him his life; and his murder horrified the nation and mobilized the civil rights movement. Repeats Thur 2/18, 3pm 11:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: TELL THEM WE ARE RISING: THE STORY OF BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES — A film explores the pivotal role that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played in shaping American history, culture and national identity. 12:30AM WETA ARTS — R 1AM ANTIQUES ROADSHOW BBC

14 Sunday 6AM-12N See the Sunday, February 7 listings. 12N THE WETA MOVIE: ARTHUR — In Steve Gordon’s 1981 comedy, a dry British butler (John Gielgud, who won an Oscar for his performance) helps his tippling master (Dudley Moore) choose between love with a waitress (Liza Minnelli) or marriage for money. (1:37) 2:00 NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: MUSIC THAT FEEDS THE SOUL — WETA presents a National Philharmonic Chamber Concert Series performance at AMP by Strathmore, featuring instrumentalists performing works by Elena-Katz Chernin; Giacomo Puccini; Amy Beach; Eleanor Alberga; Rebecca Clarke; and Johannes Brahms. The inspiring compositions soothe and create calm, comfort and inner warmth of spirit. 3:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — Episode 4 of 10. The Shirts on Their Backs. R 4:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW BBC 4:30 WETA ARTS — R 5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES — Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. interviews thought leaders. Episode 7. Two acclaimed leaders discuss the unique ways black women contribute to uplifting America from past to present and especially now during racial protests and the pandemic. Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Chair and President of the National

14 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 14

1/20/21 3:25 PM


WETA

Wilkes and Prince streets in the historic Virginia community. Local architect and historian Al Cox joins in to spotlight Alexandria. 9:30 IF YOU LIVED HERE — Episode 4. Silver Spring. The series hosts tour three homes and properties around Silver Spring, Maryland, with realtor Koki Adasi. They visit Highland View Park, National Seminary Park and Ritchie Avenue and learn about the community from food writer Tim Ebner, Velati’s Amy Servais, and others. 10:00 VOICE OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Explore the fascinating life of celebrated contralto Marian Anderson. In 1939, after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because she was Black, she triumphed at the Lincoln Memorial in what became a landmark moment in American history. Repeats Fri 2/19, 3pm; Sat 2/20, 10pm 12AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

16 Tuesday

IF YOU LIVED HERE A WETA PRODUCTION Monday, February 15 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro If You Lived Here, a new locally focused WETA house-hunting and neighborhood exploration series, premieres with four back-to-back episodes spotlighting D.C., Maryland and Virginia communities.

5:30

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12M

17 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: EQUUS: THE STORY OF THE HORSE — Anthropologist Niobe Thompson uncovers the history of mankind’s relationship with the horse. Part 1 of 2. Origins. Explore the evolutionary journey of the horse, from its tiny forest-dwelling ancestor called the Dawn Horse to the modern steed. Encounter scientists unlocking the genetic basis of horsepower and decoding the animals’ emotional intelligence. 9:00 NOVA: BEYOND THE ELEMENTS — Discover the chemistry that makes our world and everything in it, including us. Episode 3 of 3. Life. Without the chemistry of

WETA Television

6:00 6:30

Council of Negro Women, and Dr. Lezli Baskerville, President of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, share their perspectives. A SEAT AT THE TABLE — A talk show series gives voice to African American women. Episode 3. The N-Word. The N-Word packs a huge punch. Historically, it was a derogatory term used against the African American race. But many Black people now use it as a term of endearment, for example in Hip Hop culture. Is the current use of this controversial word blurring the lines? PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — Ep. 6 of 15. Melinda Gates. R THE TRIALS OF JIMMY ROSE — Ray Winstone and Amanda Redman star. Part 2 of 3. Jimmy discovers that the drug dealers are associated with one of his old enemies. Meanwhile, Jackie’s car is torched and the investigating policeman turns out to be close to her. Jimmy catches up with Ellie and intercedes further with the drug gang leader. MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE ON MASTERPIECE — Part 5 of 6. Cell 99. Searching for the secret to her father’s fate, Eliza goes to an abandoned prison. When the Duke joins her, they stumble upon a nefarious criminal enterprise. ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ON MASTERPIECE — Part 6 of 7. Defying Siegfried, Tristan coaxes James to try a risky procedure to save a stricken cow. Then James gets a shock from Helen. THE LONG SONG ON MASTERPIECE — Part 3 of 3. Facing labor unrest and financial ruin for the plantation, Robert’s sanity starts to unravel, with devastating effects on July. Years later, she makes a remarkable discovery. INDEPENDENT LENS: COOKED: SURVIVAL BY ZIP CODE — Learn the story of a heat wave that overtook Chicago in July 1995, killing 739 residents — most of them poor, elderly and African American. AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Episode 5 of 10. Write My Name in the Book of Life. Gates helps musician Pharrell Williams and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons uncover rare first-person accounts of their enslaved ancestors. Repeats Sun 2/21, 3pm; Thur 2/25, 3pm 9:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — A new WETA co-production retraces the 400-year-old-story of the Black church in America with Harvard scholar and WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr., exploring its role as the site of African American organizing, resilience, autonomy, freedom and solidarity. Part 1 of 2. Gates explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and examines the extraordinary ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted faith practices — from the brutality of slavery through emancipation. Repeats Sat 2/27, 8pm; Sun 2/28, 3pm 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 IF YOU LIVED HERE — A new locally focused WETA house-hunting series explores neighborhoods and properties throughout Metro D.C. while celebrating each area’s history, culture and flavor. In each episode of the WETA production, longtime Washingtonians and series hosts Christine Louise and John Begeny tour homes and communities with a local realtor. Episode 1. H Street Corridor. The hosts join realtor Harrison Beacher to tour three homes and properties around the District’s historic H Street and explore the neighborhood. 8:30 IF YOU LIVED HERE — Episode 2. Shaw. The hosts tour three homes around the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., accompanied by realtor Judy Cranford. They visit properties on 9th Street, K Street and O Street, and learn about the community. 9:00 IF YOU LIVED HERE — Episode 3. Old Town Alexandria. Series hosts John Begeny and Christine Louise join realtor Susie Klein to tour three rowhouses on Alfred,

COURTESY MCGEE MEDIA

15 Monday

THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. A WETA CO-PRODUCTION Tuesdays, Feb. 16 & 23 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS/WETA Metro The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, a WETA co-production, features scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tracing the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America. Above: Gates interviews superstar recording artist John Legend.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 15

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 15

1/20/21 3:25 PM


COURTESY ALEX HARSLEY

20 Saturday

WETA Television

Mon., Feb. 22, 10 p.m. on WETA PBS; Feb. 27, 10 p.m. on WETA Metro Independent Lens: Mr. Soul! celebrates SOUL!, the public television show that shared Black culture with the nation. Ellis Haizlip, here with the J.C. White Singers, created the program in 1968.

photosynthesis, ozone, and an enzyme called Rubisco, we wouldn’t exist. So why do we? Discover the molecules that allowed life on Earth to begin, and ultimately thrive, and how scientists use evolution in chemistry. 10:00 EUROPE’S NEW WILD — Explore the resurgence of iconic wildlife and natural processes across Europe’s animal habitats. Episode 3 of 4. The Land of the Snow and Ice. In Lapland, natives and conservation groups work to save an age-old reindeer migration and restore an entire ecosystem in the process. Now, Lapland is witnessing wildlife spectacles return to the land of ice and snow. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

18 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 PRIME SUSPECT: TENNISON ON MASTERPIECE — Stefanie Martini stars. Part 3 of 3. Jane is faced with several harsh realities in both her professional and personal life. The investigations around the murder of Julie Ann Collins and the robbery plan of the Bentley family come to a head. 9:30 VERA, SERIES 1: HIDDEN DEPTHS — Brenda Blethyn (Secrets and Lies; Atonement) stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in mysteries set in northeast England. David Leon portrays Sgt. Joe Ashworth. Episode 1 of 4. Hidden Depths. After two young people are killed in the same manner, police detective Vera Stanhope knows that she must find the murderer before he strikes again. With the help of her team, she probes the complex relationships among a group of friends who protect and betray each other. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-6PM See the Saturday, February 6 listings. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 MR. CIVIL RIGHTS: THURGOOD MARSHALL AND THE NAACP — Learn about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s life (1908-1993) in the years leading up to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. The documentary explores the Justice’s upbringing in Baltimore, his education at Howard University Law School, his tenure at the NAACP, and his high-profile segregation cases. Interviewees include Justices Elena Kagan and John Paul Stevens, lawyer and civil-rights activist Vernon Jordan, Marshall biographers and law professors. Repeats tonight, midnight; Sun 2/21, 11pm; Thur 2/25, 4pm 8:00 JAZZ — Ken Burns’s epic documentary film, created in partnership with WETA, continues. Part 7 of 10. Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945). Young rebels take jazz in startling new directions, but their innovations are largely unnoticed amidst the war effort. In Europe, jazz is banned by the Nazis and embraced by their opponents as a symbol of freedom and democracy. Repeats tonight, 1am 10:00 VOICE OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — R 12M MR. CIVIL RIGHTS: THURGOOD MARSHALL AND THE NAACP — R

21 Sunday 6AM-12N See the Sunday, February 7 listings. 12N THE WETA MOVIE: GORILLAS IN THE MIST — Michael Apted’s biographical 1988 drama tells the story of anthropologist Dian Fossey, a scientist who came to Africa to study rare mountain gorillas and later fought to protect them. Sigourney Weaver stars alongside Bryan Brown and Julie Harris. (2:09) 2:30 WETA ARTS — R 3:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — Episode 5 of 10. Write My Name in the Book of Life. R 4:00 IN CONCERT AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: MÚSICA SIN FRONTERAS (MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS) — R 5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES — Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. interviews thought leaders. Episode 8. In times of crisis, people often turn to music. From the tragedies of war, to the perseverance of civil rights freedom fighters to the coronavirus pandemic, music continues to offer a sense of hope and solace. In this episode, musical artists share why they believe inspirational songs can provide an antidote to feelings of isolation and fear brought on by COVID-19 and racial unrest.

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — WETA’s weekly production presents a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 2/20, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 2/22, 7:30am 8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — The renowned Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist explores successful leadership through interviews with influential people in prominent fields of endeavor. Episode 7 of 10. Aliko Dangote, Dangote Industries CEO. Repeats Sun 2/21, 6:30pm 9:00 DRIVING WHILE BLACK: RACE, SPACE AND MOBILITY IN AMERICA — A documentary film by Gretchen Sorin and Ric Burns explores how the advent of the automobile brought new freedoms and new perils for African Americans on the road in this deep look into the dynamics of race, space and mobility in America over time. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

ITV

19 Friday

Thursdays, Feb. 18 (9:30 p.m.) & 25 (8 p.m.) on WETA PBS Mystery drama Vera stars Brenda Blethyn as homicide detective Vera Stanhope, who probes cases in northeast England. David Leon portrays her junior colleague, Sgt. Joe Ashworth. Series 1 starts on Thriller Thursdays in February, with more seasons to follow.

16 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 16

1/20/21 3:25 PM


22 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE SPOKANE — Hour 1. Discover what Spokane finds from Season 12 are worth now, including one $80,000-$120,000 standout. 9:00 IF YOU LIVED HERE 9:30 BEYOND THE CANVAS — Enjoy the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS arts series. Amna Nawaz hosts. Taking the Stage. In this episode, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bryan Cranston and other bright stars share their passion for the theater. 10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: MR. SOUL! — A documentary celebrates SOUL!, the public television variety show that shared Black culture with the nation. Ellis Haizlip developed SOUL! in 1968 as one of the first platforms to promote the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. The series’ impact resonates to this day. Repeats Fri 2/26, 3pm, 9pm 11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

23 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 7 — In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Episode 6 of 10. Country Roots. Gates uncovers the remarkably diverse backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash. 9:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — A new WETA co-production retraces the 400-year-old-story of the Black church in America with Harvard scholar and WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr., exploring its role as the site of African American organizing, resilience, autonomy, freedom and solidarity. Part 2 of 2. Discover how the Black church expanded its reach to address social inequality and minister to those in need — from the Jim Crow South to the heroic phase of the civil rights movement — and the Black church’s role in the present. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

24 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: EQUUS: THE STORY OF THE HORSE — Part 2 of 2. Chasing the Wind. Discover how humans have partnered with the horse throughout the centuries, creating more than 400 breeds, from the Yakutian Horse to the Arab Horse, found all around the world.

©PYTHON (MONTY) PICTURES LTD. 1969

5:30 A SEAT AT THE TABLE, SERIES 1 — A talk show series gives voice to African American women. Episode 4. Stay Woke. Hosts Denene Millner, Monica Pearson and Christine White discuss what it really means to be “woke,” and why it’s important to move beyond awareness to action. Morehouse sociologist Dr. Adria Welcher takes a seat at the table to explore how being “colorblind” is actually counterproductive: we can’t address racism by pretending it doesn’t exist. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — Episode 7 of 10. Aliko Dangote, Dangote Industries CEO. R 7:00 THE TRIALS OF JIMMY ROSE — Part 3 of 3. To close the youngsters’ drug debt, Jimmy agrees to an “assignment” for the crime boss but refuses to carry a gun. Jackie persuades Steve to ask Jimmy to become a police informant, but Jimmy is not easily convinced and must decide whether or not he will cooperate — and determine his future. 8:00 MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE ON MASTERPIECE — Part 6 of 6. The Case of Henry Scarlet. Forgery, murder and false accusation strain Eliza’s forensic skills as she probes her father’s death, aided by the Duke and Eliza’s underworld friend Moses. 9:00 ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ON MASTERPIECE — Part 7 of 7. Siegfried hosts a Christmas Eve party, with an even bigger event to follow the next day. Helen accompanies James on an emergency house call. 10:30 WETA ARTS — See Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. 11:00 MR. CIVIL RIGHTS: THURGOOD MARSHALL AND THE NAACP — R 12M AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

Saturday, February 27 at 11 p.m. on WETA PBS Monty Python: A Celebration spotlights the British comedy ensemble (whose programs were brought to America first by PBS) and the troupe’s cultural significance and influence in the comedic arts.

9:00 NOVA: LOOKING FOR LIFE ON MARS — NASA launches its most ambitious hunt for traces of ancient life on Mars, landing a car-sized rover, Perseverance, in a rocky, ancient river delta. The rover will stow samples for possible return to Earth and test technology that may pave the way for human travel to Mars. 10:00 EUROPE’S NEW WILD: EUROPE’S AMAZON — Explore the resurgence of iconic wildlife and natural processes across Europe’s animal habitats. Episode 4 of 4. Europe’s Amazon. See how the precious habitats of the Danube Delta depend on a healthy river to continue growing. The Danube is Europe’s largest preserved wetland, but many of the species that call it home are the last of their kind. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

25 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 VERA, SERIES 1: TELLING TALES — Brenda Blethyn stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in mysteries set in northeast England. Episode 2 of 4. Telling Tales. It was only after Jeanie Long’s suicide hit the headlines that evidence came to light exonerating her for the murder of teenager Abigail Mantel years before. Jeanie had insisted she was innocent, but no one believed her. Vera sets out to resolve the mystery of Abigail’s murder. 9:30 VERA, SERIES 1: THE CROW TRAP — Episode 3 of 4. The Crow Trap. In the dramatic Northumberland countryside, a murder at a remote cottage takes DCI Vera Stanhope back to a place full of childhood memories and an unsolved case from years before. Delving into the local politics surrounding a controversial proposal to dig a quarry, the detective team finds motives in the unlikeliest of places. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

26 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — WETA’s weekly production presents a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 2/27, 6am; Mon 3/1, 7:30am 8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — The renowned Washington, D.C.-based financier and philanthropist explores successful leadership through interviews with influential people in prominent fields of endeavor. Episode 8 of 10. Jack Nicklaus, Golf Legend. 9:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: MR. SOUL! — A documentary celebrates SOUL!, the public television variety show that shared Black culture with the nation. Ellis Haizlip developed SOUL! in 1968 as one of the first platforms to promote the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. The series’ impact resonates to this day. R

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 17

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 17

1/20/21 3:25 PM


©GRAND OLE OPRY, LLC & CHRIS HOLLO

Sunday, February 28 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry features the iconic artist celebrating a half-century as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In a special concert, Parton performs some of her biggest country and pop hits on one of the world’s most famous stages.

10:30 WETA ARTS — See the Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. listing. 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

WETA Television

27 Saturday 6AM 6:30 7AM 8AM

10:00

12N

1:30

3:00 4:30

6:00 6:30

WASHINGTON WEEK — R FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R PBS NEWSHOUR — R CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — The psychiatrist and brain image researcher offers tips for feeling happier, sharper and more in control. Amen also discusses strategies for contending with anxiety, depression, ADHD, addiction, memory issues and more. SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — Join the acclaimed personal finance expert for essential advice on planning for and thriving in retirement. With empathy, straight talk and humor, Orman provides information about key actions. Topics include when to retire, how to save and invest for retirement, Social Security strategy, long-term care insurance and much more. Repeats tonight; Sun 2/28, 7:30am MY MUSIC: CLASSICAL REWIND — Experience the beauty, romance and power of musical masterpieces in this joyride through the world of classical music hits. Martin Goldsmith hosts, with reflections from Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Stewart Copeland of the band The Police, and others. JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — As a neuromuscular therapist, meditation teacher and yoga instructor, Lee Albert addresses systems of the body that contribute to pain, stress and premature aging. He also provides a step-by-step “owner’s manual” for the body to maintain a pain-free life. Repeats Sun 2/28, 6am MONTY PYTHON: A CELEBRATION — See tonight’s 11 p.m. listing. RICK STEVES: HUNGER AND HOPE: LESSONS FROM ETHIOPIA AND GUATEMALA — The travel expert journeys through Ethiopia and Guatemala to learn about those in extreme poverty: the more than 700 million people who struggle to live on less than $2 a day. With travel as the classroom, Steves explores innovative solutions to the hunger and poverty crisis. PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND JOHN DENVER: COUNTRY BOY — An intimate profile spotlights the popular late singer-songwriter. His life and legacy are explored with friends, managers, family members, and the musicians who toured with him for decades.

8:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — A new WETA co-production retraces the 400-year-old-story of the Black church in America with Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., exploring its role as the site of African American organizing, resilience, autonomy, freedom and solidarity. Part 1 of 2. Gates explores the roots of African American religion beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and examines the ways enslaved Africans preserved and adapted faith practices — from the brutality of slavery through emancipation. Repeats Sun 2/28, 3pm 11:00 MONTY PYTHON: A CELEBRATION — The popular troupe’s influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles’ influence on music. Celebrating the cultural legacy and influence of Monty Python — brought to America first by PBS — this special pairs their original material with commentary from celebrities who consider Python comedy hugely significant. Celebrity humorists reminisce about various classic Python segments and offer perspective on the material. Repeats Sun 2/28, 6:30pm 1AM SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R

28 Sunday 6AM JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — R 7:30 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R 9:30 INSIDE THE MIND OF AGATHA CHRISTIE — Discover what made the world’s most successful crime writer tick. Christie expert Dr. John Curran pored over the celebrated writer’s personal archive and interviewed those who knew her best to paint an unprecedented portrait of the complex author. Repeats tonight 10:30 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY — Geraldine McEwan stars as Agatha Christie’s shrewd English spinster sleuth. Part 1 of 2. When the body of a beautiful dancer and heiress named Ruby is found, Miss Marple predicts that greed, lust or both may be at the root of the crime. Part 2 of 2. Miss Marple is certain the discovery of a second body is tied to Ruby’s murder. Just when it appears that all the likely suspects have alibis, Marple unravels the ghastly truth. Repeats tonight 2:00 NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: MUSIC THAT INSPIRES — WETA presents a National Philharmonic Chamber Concert Series performance at AMP by Strathmore, featuring instrumentalists performing J.S. Bach’s Sonata No. 4 in c minor, BWV 1017; Schumann’s Fantasiestücke for clarinet and piano; Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, Op. 40; Barbara York’s Four Paintings by Grant Wood; and Florence Price’s Adoration. In this concert, the compositions speak to the interconnectedness of visual and aural art. 3:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — Part 1 of 2. See the Saturday, February 27, 8 p.m. listing. R 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 MONTY PYTHON: A CELEBRATION — R 8:00 DOLLY PARTON & FRIENDS: 50 YEARS AT THE OPRY — A celebration of the country music legend’s 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, this special captures Dolly Parton delivering some of her biggest hits on one of the most iconic stages in the world. The show features new interviews with Parton and guest appearances by some of her superstar friends, including Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady A, Margo Price, Hank Williams, Jr., and others. 10:00 TOWER OF POWER: 50 YEARS OF FUNK — Since 1968, the band Tower of Power has been delivering their unique brand of soul music to fans as it tours the world each year. From the group’s 1970 debut record East Bay Grease to today, the iconic soul-funk-R&B troupe is still going strong. Their signature sound is comprised of funky, vibrant songs that exhibit a wide range of musicality. 11:30 INSIDE THE MIND OF AGATHA CHRISTIE — R 12:30AM AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY — R

WETA Magazine is published monthly by the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association for its members. Three dollars of each member’s dues are designated for its subscription. WETA occasionally exchanges member names with other organizations. If you wish that your name not be exchanged, please call Audience Services at 703-998-2724. ©2021 by Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA 22210 and additional offices. Send address changes to WETA, 3939 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia 22206. Volume 34, Number 2. ISSN No. 1041-2700. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Publisher Mary Stewart Editor Jeff Giese Design MANIFEST LLC Editorial and Advertising Offices 3939 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA 22206

18 FEBRUARY 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 18

1/20/21 3:25 PM


26.3 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 266, 1147 Cox 801 Fios 472 RCN 38

The WETA PBS Kids channel offers a safe haven for young viewers, presenting educational programming 24 hours each day, seven days a week.

Visit weta.org/kids for complete WETA PBS Kids listings. WEEKDAYS ON WETA PBS • Hero Elementary, 8am • Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 8:30am • Curious George, 9am • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 9:30am, 10am • Elinor Wonders Why, 10:30am • Sesame Street, 11am • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 11:30am • Dinosaur Train, 12n • Clifford the Big Red Dog, 12:30pm • Sesame Street, 1pm • Elinor Wonders Why, 1:30pm • Hero Elementary, 2pm • Let’s Go Luna!, 2:30pm

Pinkalicious & Peterrific A

9 a.m./3 p.m. on WETA PBS Kids; 11:30 a.m. on WETA PBS; Valentine’s special airs Feb. 8 & 12

WGBH/TM/© VICTORIA KANN, OR VICTORIA KANN & ELIZABETH KANN

nimated WETA PBS Kids preschool series Pinkalicious & Peterrific inspires children to explore the arts and express themselves creatively. Based on the best-selling picture books by Victoria Kann, the series brings music, dance, theatre, and visual arts to life through the adventures of Pinkalicious, her brother Peter, and their many friends. Together, they find creative opportunities and imaginative solutions to problems, encouraging young viewers to do the same. On February 8, the series presents an hour-long Valentine’s Day special, Cupid Calls It Quits. In the program, it’s Valentine’s Day in Pinkville and Pinkalicious can’t wait to make valentines for her class party. But, when Pinkalicious and Peter befriend Cupid, he offers them a trade. He’ll become a real kid and join Pinkalicious’s class, while Pinkalicious becomes Cupid for the day and delivers valentines to everyone, with Peter as her trusted assistant. Trying to spread love across Pinkville, the pair runs into challenges that must be overcome. Funding for Pinkalicious & Peterrific is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers. Produced with the participation of Northern Ireland Screen.

®/©THE NORMAN BRIDWELL TRUST

WETA PBS KIDS • Splash and Bubbles, 6am (Caillou on Sat/Sun) • WordWorld, 6:30am (Clifford on Sat/Sun) • Peg + Cat, 7am (Esme & Roy on Sat/Sun) • Peep and the Big Wide World, 7:30am • Sid the Science Kid, 8am • Super WHY!, 8:30am • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 9am • Clifford the Big Red Dog, 9:30am • Let’s Go Luna!, 10am • Dinosaur Train, 10:30am • The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, 11am • Martha Speaks, 11:30am • Nature Cat, 12n • Ready Jet Go!, 12:30pm • Arthur, 1pm • Odd Squad, 1:30pm • Cyberchase, 2pm • Molly of Denali, 2:30pm • Pinkalicious & Peterrific, 3pm • Elinor Wonders Why, 3:30pm • Sesame Street, 4pm • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 4:30pm • Curious George, 5pm, 5:30pm • Wild Kratts, 6pm, 6:30pm • Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 7pm • Molly of Denali, 7:30pm • Hero Elementary, 8pm • Odd Squad, 8:30pm • Arthur, 9pm • WordGirl, 9:30pm • Cyberchase, 10pm • WETA PBS Kids Family Night airs Fridays, 7-10pm

SUNDAYS ON WETA PBS • Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, 6am • Arthur, 6:30am • Molly of Denali, 7am • Wild Kratts, 7:30am • Hero Elementary, 8am • Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 8:30am

Clifford The Big Red Dog, based on the best-selling Scholastic book series by Norman Bridwell, airs weekdays at 9:30 a.m. on WETA PBS Kids and 12:30 p.m. on WETA PBS. The program follows the adventures of the larger-than-life dog and his young friend Emily Elizabeth, while providing a strong emphasis on social-emotional skills and early literacy.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org/kids. 19

08-16_Listings_WETA_February21.indd 19

1/20/21 3:25 PM


26.2 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 265, 1146 Cox 800 Fios 474 RCN 39, 602

British Television at Its Best The WETA UK channel is devoted to the best in British television programming, presenting beloved classics and contemporary series around the clock, seven days a week. WETA UK offers a full schedule of fine entertainment programming — featuring drama, mystery, comedy and documentary series — all delivered with an accent from the Isles. Visit wetauk.org for a complete schedule and program descriptions.

FEBRUARY P.M. PROGRAMMING ON WETA UK

FEB 14: 11am-5:30pm Pride & Prejudice; 5:30pm A. Christie’s Body in the Library; 9pm Foyle’s War

SUNDAY

12pm 12:30pm

1pm 1:30pm

2pm

3:30pm

4pm 4:30pm

5pm 5:30pm

6pm 6:30pm

7pm 7:30pm

8pm

MONDAY

10:30pm

11pm 11:30pm

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

Escape to the Country, Series 2 (Mids. Murders on 2/21)

A Place to Call Home (next ep airs tomorrow)

A Place to Call Home (next ep airs tomorrow)

A Place to Call Home (next ep airs tomorrow)

A Place to Call Home (next ep airs tomorrow)

A Place to Call Home (next ep airs Mon)

The Mallorca Files (restarts 2/27)

Father Brown, Series 7

• The Great Tours: England, Scotland, Wales (exc 2/15) • Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Agents (2/15)

Pie in the Sky, Series 5

Agatha Christie’s Poirot

Midsomer Murders, Series 12 (Series 16 starts 2/18)

The Mallorca Files (restarts 2/26)

SS-GB

• 3pm: Midsomer Murders, Series 12 & 16 (exc 2/21); Van der Valk (2 hrs, 2/21)

• Escape to the Country, Series 2 (exc 2/15) • Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Agents (2/15)

All Creatures Great and Small (two episodes)

Foyle’s War, Series 3 & 4

Death in Paradise, Series 9 (Series 8 starts 2/18)

Father Brown, Series 7 (Queen’s Garden on 2/19)

Pie in the Sky, Series 5

• Cranford

Doc Martin, Series 2 (The Queen’s Garden on 2/18

EastEnders

Escape to the Country, Series 2 (Poirot on 2/20)

• 4pm: A Place to Call Home, Series 1 (2pm on 2/21)

• Escape to the Country, Series 2 (exc 2/15) • Queen Elizabeth’s Secret Agents (2/15)

• Return to Cranford (starts 2/24)

EastEnders

BBC World News Outside Source

BBC World News Outside Source

BBC World News Outside Source

BBC World News Outside Source

BBC World News Today

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

• 6pm: Roadkill (starts 2/28)

Open All Hours

Open All Hours

Open All Hours

Open All Hours

Open All Hours

All Creatures Great and Small (next ep airs Saturdays, 7pm)

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

Escape to the Country, Series 2 (new time)

Pie in the Sky, Series 5

Foreign Favourites • Professor T, 8pm

Midsomer Murders, Series 12 (Series 16 starts 2/17)

SS-GB

Masterworks Showcase • Foyle’s War, Series 3, 8pm (Series 4 starts 2/12) • Van der Valk on Masterpiece, 9pm (2hrs, 2/5 + 2/12) • All Creatures Great & Small on Masterpiece, 9pm (new, starts 2/19) • Roadkill on Masterpiece, 10pm (starts 2/19)

• 5pm: Van der Valk (2 hrs, 2/7, 2/21); All Creatures Great & Small on Masterpiece (new, starts 2/28)

• Modus, Series 1, 9pm

Escape to the Country, Series 2

All Creatures Great & Small (two episodes)

9:30pm

10pm

WEDNESDAY

Last of the Summer Wine

8:30pm

9pm

TUESDAY

FEB 13: 10am-2pm Lewis; 2pm All Creatures…; 6pm Emma (2009 series); 11pm-1am Lewis

Great Tours: England, Scotland, Wales (Mids. Murders on 2/21)

2:30pm

3pm

VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP

The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales (new time)

Death in Paradise, • Line of Separation, Series 9 Series 2, 10pm (Series 8 starts 2/17) • Seaside Hotel, 10pm (starts 2/16) Agatha Christie’s Poirot (Series 3 starts 2/10)

The Mallorca Files (restarts 2/25)

Silent Witness, Series 21

Yes Minister

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

Yes Minister

• Father Brown, Series 7 (exc 2/15) • The Queen’s Garden (2/15)

Professor T

Midsomer Murders, Series 12 & 16

SS-GB

Foyle’s War, Series 3 & 4

SUNDAY

MONDAY

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 20

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Death in Paradise, Series 9 (Series 8 starts 2/20)

Agatha Christie’s Poirot

A Place to Call Home, Series 1

All Creatures Great and Small (next ep airs Sundays, 7pm) Father Brown, Series 7

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Series 2

• Summer of Rockets • Traces (starts 2/20)

Doc Martin, Series 2

SATURDAY

1/20/21 3:24 PM


WETA UK Highlights Traces

Saturdays at 10 p.m. starting Feb. 20 on WETA UK

T

COURTESY BBC

he six-part 2019 crime drama Traces — from the makers of Happy Valley, writer Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey) and novelist Val McDermid — blends forensic science and nuanced characters as it follows a young woman’s investigation of a personal tragedy. Young chemistry graduate Emma Hedges (BAFTA-winning actress Molly Windsor) has a new job at The Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy. Excited and keen to boost her knowledge, she joins an online forensic science course. But the case study it features — a woman’s remains discovered in Dundee 18 years before — is her family’s story; the victim was her mother. With help from two eminent forensic scientists (her new bosses) and a committed detective, Emma follows the trail of evidence from all those years ago. It leads her to new love and old friends, while plunging her into an active police investigation and a world of danger and deceit. Will Emma have the nerve to follow the evidence no matter where it takes her?

Seaside Hotel

Tuesdays at 10 p.m. starting Feb. 16 on WETA UK

J

COURTESY WALTER PRESENTS

oining the lineup of European presentations on WETA UK’s Tuesday-night Foreign Favourites showcase is period Danish drama (and comedy) series Seaside Hotel (Badehotellet). The storyline opens in the summer of 1928 in the northwest part of Denmark at Andersen’s Seaside Hotel by the North Sea dunes. The establishment opens for its wealthy guests each summer, and the drama follows the guests and hotel staff. In the story, chambermaid Fie, merchant’s daughter Amanda, and local fisherman Morten, whose fates are intertwined, seek to emancipate themselves from the plans other people have made on their behalf. Seaside Hotel has run in Denmark since 2013 and several of its seasons (each of which follows one summer in the storyline) have been the most-watched fiction programming on Danish television. The series appears on WETA UK in Danish with English subtitles.

Midsomer Murders, Series 16

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. starting Feb. 17 on WETA UK

COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

W

ETA UK reprises Series 16 of the popular crime series Midsomer Murders in anticipation of new seasons coming this spring to WETA UK. In Series 16, DCI John Barnaby has his hands full again as he investigates murders that plague the picturesque (fictional) English county of Midsomer; but in this season, Barnaby welcomes a new partner: DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee; Bohemian Rhapsody). The two must stay on their toes, as the inhabitants of Midsomer are not as charming as the villages in which they reside. Barnaby and Nelson barely have time to introduce themselves before they must probe a man’s fatal stabbing with an antique sword at a haunted manor. The pair also contend with killers employing medieval torture, stunt planes and wild boars; and among their cases, the duo teams up with Danish detectives to crack a case involving the boss of a biscuit company.

Also this month: Watch for special programming on Saturday, February 13, including episodes of drama series Lewis and All Creatures Great and Small (original series), and, 6-11 p.m., the complete series Emma (2009 BBC version, coming to WETA Passport as well), starring Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller and Michael Gambon. On Sunday, February 14, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., tune in for Pride and Prejudice (1995 BBC version), starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth; followed by the Agatha Christie adaptation The Body in the Library. Watch for Masterpiece series All Creatures Great and Small (the new adaptation) and Roadkill, Fridays at 9 and 10 p.m. respectively, starting February 19.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 21

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 21

1/20/21 3:24 PM


26.4 Over the Air Via Antenna Comcast 270, 1148 Cox 802 Fios 475 RCN 37

Real Stories from Around the World The WETA World channel is a 24/7 news and public affairs service devoted to fact-based non-fiction programming, sharing broad perspectives, stories and ideas. WETA World informs and educates, presenting award-winning documentaries, and domestic and international news broadcasts. The channel features a slate of original programs that examine issues with a diversity of voices and illuminate conflicts, movements and cultures around the globe.

FEBRUARY EVENINGS ON WETA WORLD VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP SUNDAY

5pm 5:30pm

6pm 6:30pm

7pm

8pm 8:30pm

9pm 9:30pm

10pm 10:30pm

11pm 11:30pm

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

DW News

DW News

DW News

DW News

DW News

To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

BBC World News America

Washington Week

(6:30) Reel South: Driven Blind (2/7); (6:30) Justice in Chester (2/28)

France 24

France 24

France 24

France 24

France 24

DW Focus on Eurozone

NHK NewsLine

NHK NewsLine

NHK NewsLine

NHK NewsLine

NHK NewsLine

• Migrant Kitchen (2/6) • Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

• AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange (2/7, 2/14)

• Reel South: Mossville: When Great Trees Fall (2/2) • Talking Black in America (2/9) • Reel South: All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk + Unmarked (2/16) • The Long Shadow (2/23)

• (7:30) Indep. Lens: 9to5: The Story of a Movement (2/3 to 8:30pm) • Kindred Spirits: Artists Hilda Wilkinson Brown & Lilian Thomas Burwell (2/10) • (7:30) Indep. Lens: Women in Blue (2/10 to 9pm) • Afro Pop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange (2/17 to 8:30) • Heard (2/24 to 8:30)

• NOVA: Beyond the Elements: Reactions (2/4) • NOVA: Beyond the Elements: Indestructible (2/11) • NOVA: Beyond the Elements: Life (2/18) • NOVA: Looking for Life on Mars (2/25)

• Singular (2/5)

• An Evening with Ken Chenault (2/28)

• Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP (2/1) • Indep. Lens: Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2/8 to 8:30) • George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Life (2/15) • Ghosts of Amistad: In the Footsteps of the Rebels (2/22)

• Queen of Swing (2/26)

• Groveland Four (2/6) • Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World (2/13) • Fat Boy: The Billy Stewart Story (2/20) • Marching Forward (2/27)

Nature: • Pumas: Legends of the Ice Mountains (2/7) • Big Bend (2/14) • Equus: Story of the Horse: Origins (2/21) • Equus: Story of the Horse: Chasing the Wind (2/28)

• John Lewis – Get in the Way (2/1) • (8:30) POV Shorts (2/8) • Beyond Barbados: The Carolina Connection (2/15) • AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange (2/22)

America ReFramed: • Vision Portraits (2/2 to 9:30) • Pahokee (2/9 to 10pm) • Baddddd Sonia Sanchez (2/16 to 10pm) • Where the Pavement Ends (2/23 to 9:30pm)

• (8:30) Frontline: China’s COVID Secrets (2/3 to 10pm) • (8:30) Indep. Lens: Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities (2/17 to 10pm) • (8:30) Indep. Lens: Mr. Soul! (2/24 to 10pm)

• Europe’s New Wild: The Missing Lynx (2/4) • Europe’s New Wild: Return of the Titans (2/11) • Europe’s New Wild: The Land of the Snow and Ice (2/18) • Europe’s New Wild: Europe’s Amazon (2/25)

• We Knew What We Had: The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told (2/5) • Korla (2/12) • Voice of Freedom: American Experience (2/19 to 10pm) • Dream Land: Little Rock’s West 9th Street (2/26)

• The Central Park Five (2/6 to 10pm) • Goin’ Back to T-Town: American Experience (2/13) • The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (Pt 1, 2/20 to 10pm; Pt 2, 2/27 to 10pm)

• Local, USA: Pan• Finding Your • (9:30) Reel South: demic19 (2/1); The Roots with Henry Driven Blind (2/2) Changing Same (2/8); Louis Gates, Jr., TBA (2/15); States of Series 7: No Irish America: Connections • (9:30) Justice in Need Apply (2/7); (2/22) Chester (2/23) The Shirts on • (9:30) Stories from the Stage: Growing Up Their Backs (2/14); Black Pt 1 (2/1); Love/ Write My Name Friendship Compilain the Book of Life tion (2/8); Growing Up (2/21); Country Black Pt 2 (2/15); Good Roots (2/28) Kind of Trouble (2/22)

• Frontline: Iraq’s Assassins (2/10)

• Forces of Nature: Shape (2/4)

• The Jazz Ambassadors (2/5)

• Forces of Nature: Elements (2/11)

• Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (2/12)

• Independent Lens: Cooked: Survival By Zip Code (2/13)

• Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 4: The Vanguard (2/7); Black Like Me (2/14); Freedom Tales (2/21); Series 5: Homecomings (2/28)

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

• Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP (2/7) • Al Capone: Icon (2/14) • Beyond Barbados: The Carolina Connection (2/21) • Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 6: This Land Is My Land (2/28)

DW The Day

BBC World News

• Prince Among Slaves (2/21)

7:30pm

MONDAY

America ReFramed: Vision Portraits (2/7 to 6:30); Pahokee (2/14 to 7pm); Baddddd Sonia Sanchez (2/21 to 7pm); Where the Pavement Ends (2/28 to 6:30)

SUNDAY

MONDAY

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 22

• Forces of Nature: Color (2/18)

• In Their Own Words: Muhammad Ali (2/12) • Black Ballerina (2/19)

• Forces of Nature: Motion (2/25)

• AfroPop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange (2/26)

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour

America ReFramed: • Vision Portraits (2/6 to 11:30) • Pahokee (2/13 to 12m) • Baddddd Sonia Sanchez (2/20 to 12m) • Where the Pavement Ends (2/27 to 11:30pm)

DW The Day

DW The Day

DW The Day

DW The Day

• (11:30) Reel South: Driven Blind (2/6)

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

• (11:30) Justice in Chester (2/27)

SATURDAY

1/20/21 3:24 PM


WETA World Highlights February is Black History Month, and WETA World features a collection of more than 60 films that examine the Black experience in America. For a list of programs, visit weta.org/blackhistory.

COURTESY WGBH/PANDEMIC19 PRODUCTIONS

T

Local, USA: Pandemic19

Monday, February 1 at 9 p.m. on WETA World

he series Local, USA, hosted by Tina Martin, features stories of diverse people — curated around a single theme for each program. This month, the episode Pandemic19 captures the story of three doctors in the United States fighting COVID-19 from pre-to-post surge, told through their own reflective, humanizing voices, while the chaos of the pandemic permeates outside the frame of their video confessions. As the days unfold, the doctors check in and record their changing impressions: fears, hopes, challenges and triumphs — laying bare their emotional feelings, unfiltered. The doctors’ intimate video confessionals are contrasted with the serene and surreal landscapes of a country under quarantine. The program repeats February 2 at 10 a.m. on WETA World.

O

Stories from the Stage

Mondays at 9:30 p.m. on WETA World

COURTESY WGBH

n the series Stories from the Stage, ordinary people share tales of extraordinary experiences —of love and loss, amazing adventures, incredible surprises and unexpected triumphs. For Black History Month, the series features Growing Up Black, Pt. 1 (Feb. 1, 9:30 p.m., repeating Feb 2, 10:30 a.m.) and premieres Growing Up Black, Pt. 2 (Feb. 15, 9:30 p.m.). Stories from the Stage also presents Good Kind of Trouble (Feb. 22, 9:30 p.m.) The late Congressman John Lewis took pride in creating what he called “good trouble.” By this, he meant standing up against unfair laws and power structures to bring justice for minorities. In this episode, three tellers share stories of times when they stirred up some “good trouble” of their own. Theresa Okokon (left) hosts.

The Central Park Five

T

WETA co-production airs Saturday, February 6 at 8 p.m. on WETA World

COURTESY THE GLADES COMMUNITY MEDIA PARTNERSHIP

CHRISTINE CORNELL

he 2013 film The Central Park Five, a WETA co-production with Florentine Films, tells the story of five Black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted in the infamous Central Park Jogger Case, in which a white woman was brutally beaten and raped in New York City in 1989. The Peabody Award-winning film, by Ken Burns, his daughter Sarah Burns and son-in-law David McMahon, chronicled the case from the perspective of the five teenagers whose lives were upended by the miscarriage of justice. Set against the backdrop of a city at that time beset by violence and racial and class rifts, the film intertwines the stories of the five young men, the victim, police officers and prosecutors, and the true perpetrator of the crimes.

I

Pahokee and More on America ReFramed

Tuesday, February 9 at 8 p.m. on WETA World

n a small agricultural town in the Florida Everglades, four teens experience heartbreaks and joys, celebrating the rituals of an extraordinary senior year. From sports events to school beauty contests, the filmmakers observe how, through social and collective rituals, the ideas of gender and identity are publicly displayed while creating new narratives. Pahokee (left, Feb. 9) offers a portrait of a marginalized America. Other episodes of documentary series America ReFramed this month include Baddddd Sonia Sanchez (Feb. 16), which spotlights the poet, playwright, activist, seminal figure in the 1960s Black Arts Movement, and mentor to generations of poets and hip-hop artists; and Where the Pavement Ends (Feb. 23), which spotlights two Missouri towns, Kinloch and Ferguson, examining the shared histories and deep racial divides affecting both.

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 23

1/20/21 3:24 PM


Classical WETA 90.9 FM French Romantics, Music of the Sea & More COURTESY THE ARTISTS

on Front Row Washington Mondays at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA 90.9 FM

T

By John Banther, On-Air Host and Producer

his month on Front Row Washington we explore French violin sonatas, music about the sea, a composer’s Jewish heritage, and more! On February 1, we celebrate Felix Mendelssohn’s birthday with the Chamber Ensemble of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. From their 2019 concert at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, they perform Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, a masterpiece he composed when he was just 16 years old. French composers of the Romantic period like Ernest Chausson have a distinct sound. It was another French composer, Claude Debussy, who took this sound to new heights, as if he was painting the music in watercolor. On February 8, we feature violinist Francisco Fullana and pianist Tomomi Sato in a 2019 Phillips Collection concert that shows contrasts and similarities between two of France’s greatest composers. The New Zealand String Quartet is featured on February 15. We’ll enjoy their 2016 Dumbarton Concerts performance of a quartet by Joseph Haydn — and Gareth Farr’s Te Tai-o-Rehua. The title in Māori translates to “The Tasman Sea,” a turbulent body of water between Australia and New Zealand. The music can sound daunting and unpredictable, and the sea itself has been an inspiration for the composer. In our final program on February 22, we’ll listen to the second half of a performance by the Goldstein-PeledFiterstein Trio; we heard the first half in December. From a 2016 Dumbarton Concerts offering they perform Ernest Bloch’s From Jewish Life: Three Sketches for Piano and Cello and the Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Cello by Johannes Brahms. Join me each Monday evening at 9 p.m. for local live concert recordings on Classical WETA’s Front Row Washington.

Sacred & Profane Music on Choral Showcase Sundays at 9 p.m.

T

By Bill Bukowski, Midday On-Air Host

PUBLIC DOMAIN/NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

New Zealand String Quartet

his month we present music both sacred and profane on Classical WETA’s Choral Showcase. We’ll begin with sacred pieces on February 7 — motets by Johann Sebastian Bach and Anton Nicolas Poussin’s Bacchanal Bruckner, in respective performances by Pygmalion and The Choir of before a Statue of Pan (1633) King’s College Cambridge. We’ll finish with Nine Sacred Choruses by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with the Latvian Radio Choir directed by Sigvards Kļava. All performances on this week’s program come from recently released recordings. February 14 is Valentine’s Day, so why not music of love and passion? We’ll hear a powerful performance of Carl Orff’s “cantata profana,” Carmina Burana, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Donald Runnicles. The soloists are soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, tenor Stanford Olsen (as the unfortunate swan), and bass Earle Patriarco. Then it’s back to the sacred on February 21, as we greet the First Sunday of Lent with Lamentations for Maundy Thursday by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina as sung by Cinquecento; and from Franz Liszt, the Via Crucis, or “The Way of the Cross” — a setting for piano and chorus of the 14 Stations of the Cross, with Reinbert de Leeuw conducting Collegium Vocale Gent. We’ll finish a month of sacred and profane pieces on February 28 with a work designed more for the concert hall than the church. Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem gets a stellar treatment in a performance featuring soprano Joan Sutherland; mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne; tenor Luciano Pavarotti; bass Martii Talvela; and Sir Georg Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic with the Vienna State Opera Chorus, in a recording from 1967. Join me Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. for Choral Showcase on Classical WETA.

VivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 24

Stream audio at classicalweta.org

1/20/21 3:24 PM


Classical for Washington Cherchez la femme: NSO Showcase

Wednesday, February 3 at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA & streaming on classicalweta.org

W

By Nicole Lacroix, Afternoon On-Air Host

TAMIHITO YOSHIDA

hen Hector Berlioz saw Harriet Smithson on stage as Juliet at the Odéon Theater in Paris, he was doubly gobsmacked — by Harriet’s acting talent, and by the genius of Shakespeare. His obsession with both Harriet and Shakespeare led him to write one of his masterpieces, Romeo and Juliet, a large-scale choral symphony. National Symphony Orchestra Music Director Gianandrea Noseda last year chose a suite of five orchestral movements from the composition for a Valentine’s Day concert at the Kennedy Center. Berlioz eventually married Smithson, who inspired both the Symphonie fantastique and Violinist Akiko Suwanai Romeo and Juliet, but the union was a failure. Tchaikovsky, too, suffered from an unhappy marriage — the honeymoon lasted just three days before he tried to kill himself. He escaped to a Swiss resort where a former student, the violinist Joseph Kotek, inspired him to write the Violin Concerto in a fury of creativity. Unfortunately, the concerto was deemed “unplayable” for many years, but violinist Akiko Suwanai (above) — at 18, the youngest winner of the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition — performs it beautifully with the NSO, Maestro Noseda conducting. César Franck’s wife, Félicité, disapproved of his evolving style when he wrote the symphonic poem Le Chasseur maudit, a wild, devil-defying ride through the countryside on a Sabbath, a sonic nightmare replete with church bells and hunting horns, an angry god and angrier demon. Despite Mme. Franck’s doubts, Le Chasseur maudit was a huge success. Three wives, three masterpieces. Join us on February 3 at 9 p.m. or stream the program on classicalweta.org.

February Met Operas

H

By Linda Carducci, Morning On-Air Host

Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna in Puccini’s La Rondine

KEN HOWARD/METROPOLITAN OPERA

eart-warming romance — with a nod to Valentine’s Day — fills the airwaves in February on Classical WETA Opera House with a collection of romance-themed performances by the Metropolitan Opera. But first, a Listener’s Choice opera airs February 6: Donizetti’s dramatic Lucia di Lammermoor, starring soprano Maria Callas in a portrayal of a fragile woman who descends into madness. This 1956 performance is Callas’ only Met radio broadcast. That is followed on February 13 with Cendrillon, Jules Massenet’s refined take on the classic Cinderella fairy tale, in which love prevails over status and jealousy. The 2018 performance stars soprano Joyce DiDonato in the title role, and features veteran soprano Stephanie Blythe. Next, one of Puccini’s gems, La Rondine, airs February 20. A charming blend of sophisticated melodies, humor and heartbreak, the opera presents the story of a courtesan who, like a swallow referenced in the title, flies home to her old life after realizing that her past would eventually hurt her lover’s future. Longtime Met stars Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna are featured in this 2009 production. The opera that inspired La Rondine, Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, is presented February 27. This lighthearted masterpiece — an enduring audience favorite — revels in the splendor and elegance of 18th-century Vienna as the backdrop for both bittersweet romance and touches of comedy. Renowned soprano Renée Fleming appears in this production from 2017 in one of her signature roles as the Marschallin, whose character comes to terms with the evolving stages of life and love. Join us for spectacular opera performances each Saturday afternoon.

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

Saturdays at 1 p.m. on Classical WETA

Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 3

1/20/21 3:24 PM


WETA Passport Stream Masterpiece dramas and much more with WETA Passport, our popular member benefit that provides you with access to an extensive library of the best public television programs! You’re ready to activate now at pbs.org/passport if you see a four-word activation code above your name and address at left; or go to weta.org/passport to make your qualifying donation of $60 (or $5 monthly) to start enjoying WETA Passport today.

If You Lived Here New local WETA series premieres Monday, February 15, 8-10 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro New WETA house-hunting series explores homes and communities around the national capital area - one neighborhood at a time with hosts Christine Louise and John Begeny. Learn more inside; visit weta.org/ifyoulivedhere

C2-00-00-C4_WETA_February2021_with alt_4-5.indd 4

1/20/21 3:24 PM


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.