March 2021 - WETA Magazine

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Midsomer Murders Series 18 on WETA UK

New season of popular mysteries comes to WETA!

WETA series If You Lived Here spotlights Anacostia, March 29 on WETA PBS and WETA Metro

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WETA Focus A

s we all continue to navigate the pandemic, WETA is here to serve you with superb content, providing information, entertainment and inspiration. In the face of logistical challenges, WETA remains a veritable hive of activity! Day in and day out, the staff of PBS NewsHour and Washington Week are working tirelessly to keep viewers nationwide informed about news developments and what they mean for us all. In other nationally focused endeavors, we are expanding content and engagement in our timely Well Beings National Youth Mental Health Project (learn more at WellBeings.org). We are also preparing to present outstanding new WETA co-productions in April that include the fascinating film Hemingway from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick; riveting new episodes of Finding Your Roots from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and his team; and much more. Our locally focused WETA production teams too are hard at work, producing more episodes of our new series If You Lived Here, and arts coverage and other local content, just for viewers in Greater Washington.

For our television broadcasts, we continue to acquire and curate top-notch content for our popular WETA UK channel and our recently launched WETA Metro and WETA World channels — and for our streaming service WETA Passport as well. On our principal channel, WETA PBS, for March we are presenting exciting concert specials and engaging lifestyle programming as part of our spring membership campaign. Online, we are updating our informative website weta.org, on which we are expanding our streaming video content. In our radio operations, we present the majestic music you love, around the clock on Classical WETA 90.9 FM; this month we celebrate composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

We could not achieve all of this, and so much more, without you. These WETA services — and our many others as well — are made possible with your generous ongoing contributions, for which we are extraordinarily grateful.

Thank you for your support of all that we do on behalf of the public.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA

If You Lived Here

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Locally focused WETA series airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS and 8 p.m. on WETA Metro

WETA

ETA’s engaging new locally focused house-hunting and neighborhood exploration series If You Lived Here airs each Monday in March, featuring reprised episodes before premiering a new program — Episode 6: Anacostia — on March 29 that spotlights the Southeast D.C. community. In Anacostia, series hosts Christine Louise and John Begeny join realtor Shalisha Ragland to tour homes and explore the historic neighborhood. The three start their house-hunting at a three-level brick home on Howard Road, then look at a renovated detached home on U Street and, lastly, visit a just-completed, open-concept reno with a wrap-around porch on T Street. Per their traditional friendly competition, John and Christine try to guess the listing price at each stop.

In addition to presenting the property tours, the program explores the history of Anacostia, including Frederick Douglass’ influence and contributions when living at Cedar Hill, as well as ongoing efforts by Martha’s Table CEO Kim R. Ford and others to remedy housing, employment, food sustenance, and transportation challenges facing local residents. Previous episodes of If You Lived Here spotlighted the H Street, Shaw, Alexandria, Silver Spring and Southwest Waterfront communities. Stay tuned for more new episodes in months to come.

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

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COVER: MIDSOMER MURDERS; PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

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WETA TV Highlights W

Sense and Sensibility

Sunday, March 28 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS

BBC

ETA reprises a BBC classic from acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Davies — an enchanting 2008 adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility,” Jane Austen’s classic novel about love and marriage. The production boasts a superb cast, including Hattie Morahan and Charity Wakefield (right), alongside David Morrissey, Dan Stevens, Dominic Cooper (right), Mark Williams and Claire Skinner. In the storyline, left penniless after their father’s death, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood face an uncertain future and must marry. With a number of possible suitors, they seem to have options, but they approach love very differently. Romantic and impulsive, Marianne falls in love deeply, but does not heed her sister’s warning that her behavior leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Sensitive to social convention, Elinor struggles to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her.

The sisters learn that both sense and sensibility are important to their pursuit of happiness.

Flannery: American Masters

Tuesday, March 23 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

COURTESY AP

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inner of the first-ever Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, Flannery is the lyrical, intimate exploration of the life and provocative work of author Flannery O’Connor, whose distinctive Southern Gothic style influenced a generation of artists and activists. Airing on biography series American Masters this month, the film uses O’Connor’s family home at Andalusia (the Georgia farm where she grew up and later wrote her best-known works) as a backdrop, bringing into focus a picture of the woman behind her sharply aware, starkly redemptive style. Including conversations with those who knew her and those inspired by her, Flannery employs never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered personal letters and her own published words (read by actor Mary Steenburgen) to examine the life and legacy of an American literary icon.

Major support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The Miniaturist on Masterpiece Sunday, March 7, 8-11 p.m. on WETA Metro

ETA Metro reprises Masterpiece’s 2018 adaptation of the bestselling Jessie Burton novel “The Miniaturist,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), Alex Hassell and Romola Garai. Set in 1686, when the Dutch Republic was one of the world’s richest and most religiously zealous nations, the story follows Nella, a teen bride from the provinces who marries Johannes, a prosperous Amsterdam merchant. After they are wed, she is immediately left in the care of his overbearing sister, Marin, and the household’s controlling servants. When Johannes returns, he remains emotionally cool to Nella, but he gives her an extraordinary wedding present: a cabinet that is a miniature replica of their home. Nella is instructed to furnish it with the help of one of the local makers of miniature objects — a miniaturist. This seemingly clairvoyant figure begins sending creations that seem to predict the future with unsettling precision.

THE FORGE/BBC/MASTERPIECE

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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

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Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry

Wednesday, March 3 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS

COURTESY GRAND OLE OPRY, LLC & CHRIS HOLLO

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ifty years after playing Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry for the first time, country music legend Dolly Parton returns for a star-studded night packed with hits in celebration of the superstar’s half century as a member of the Opry. The eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist takes to the stage and performs some of her greatest songs with her trademark charisma and pizzazz on one of the most iconic stages in the world. A gift to her fans, the concert features classic hits and a wide array of special invited guests, including Toby Keith, Emmylou Harris, Dierks Bentley, Lady A, Chris Janson, Margo Price and Hank Williams, Jr., who join Dolly for festive celebrations and memorable performances. A one-night special event, the 50th-anniversary program is vibrant from start to finish, with Parton as entertaining as ever. The show also features new interviews with the singer-songwriter, actor, author, businesswoman and humanitarian.

Rick Steves: Hunger and Hope

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Sunday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m., repeating March 10 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS COURTESY RICK STEVES

uropean travel expert Rick Steves ventures beyond the Continent to learn about extreme poverty and hunger and how communities in the developing world are overcoming these challenges. Traveling through Ethiopia and Guatemala, Steves learns about key aspects of poverty and its impact. In the program, he works closely with experts and locals to unpack the important roles that education, nutrition, empowered women and clean water play in ending hunger.

More than 700 million people remain in extreme poverty — struggling to live on less than $2 a day. With the help of innovative solutions and smart development aid, world hunger has been cut in half in the last generation. With travel as the classroom, and an optimistic tone, Steves challenges us to rethink how we view and address world hunger.

Additional Rick Steves specials this month are Rick Steves: Fascism in Europe, Sunday, March 7 at 10 p.m. and Rick Steves’ European Easter, Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m. on WETA PBS.

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Loretta Lynn: My Story in My Words

Tuesday, March 16 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS

COURTESY DAVID MCCLISTER

his year marks the 50th anniversary of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” the Loretta Lynn song that became a book, a feature film, and an indelible part of popular culture. Like so many other songs written by the country music icon, the lyrics told the story of her life and spoke to women who struggled to make ends meet. Lynn’s simple, straightforward song stories gave legitimacy to the joys, heartaches, struggles and triumphs of daily life. Taking viewers back to the time when Lynn hit the airwaves, this program follows her rise to record-breaking artist, topping the charts with feisty female anthems, including “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” ”Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” and many others. Using archival and new audio interviews and classic performances, the documentary Loretta Lynn: My Story in My Words lets Lynn be the storyteller of her own remarkable life. Lynn releases her 50th studio album, Still Woman Enough, which celebrates women in country music, this month.

Also in March: WETA PBS reprises the popular film 50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary, Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m., repeating March 12 at 9 p.m.; and presents Retire Safe and Secure with Ed Slott for 2021, Wednesday, March 3 at 10 p.m., repeating March 9 & 15 at 9:30 p.m.

2 MARCH 2021

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Independent Lens: Coded Bias

Monday, March 22 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS; March 27 at 8 p.m. on WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

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COURTESY INDEPENDENT LENS

he critically acclaimed documentary film Coded Bias explores racial prejudices that exist in facial recognition algorithms. In an increasingly data-driven, automated world, the question of how to protect individuals’ civil liberties in the face of artificial intelligence looms large. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, the film follows MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini, along with data scientists, mathematicians and watchdog groups from different parts of the world, as they fight to expose the discrimination within the facial recognition algorithms now prevalent across all spheres of daily life.

While conducting research on facial recognition technology at MIT, Buolamwini discovered that the algorithm could not detect dark-skinned faces or women with accuracy.

This led to the realization that the very machine-learning algorithms intended to avoid prejudice are only as unbiased as the humans and historical data programming them. Coded Bias documents the journey that followed. The film premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Presented by ITVS, Independent Lens is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS, Acton Family Giving, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fauci: The Virus Hunter

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Sunday, March 28 at 7 p.m. on WETA PBS; March 20 at 8 p.m. on WETA Metro

2014 AP PHOTO/CAROLYN KASTER

documentary spotlights the life story and career of renowned physicianscientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and now chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden. Interviews with Fauci’s colleagues and friends, including Dr. John I. Gallin of the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Michael Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy; and Victoria Harden, formerly of NIH; along with archival footage and photos, offer an expansive view of the depth and breadth of Dr. Fauci’s contributions and service to the nation and the world.

From Fauci’s childhood in Brooklyn to his current efforts on behalf of the public, the program unveils his story, detailing his medical work, his advisory role to seven U.S. presidents, and how he became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci: The Virus Hunter sheds light on the many battles fought, challenges overcome, and significant discoveries made during the physician’s esteemed career, looking back at his role in the fights against HIV/AIDS, SARS, influenza viruses, Zika, Ebola and now COVID-19.

Extinction: The Facts

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Wednesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

COURTESY BBC

n a new program, natural historian Sir David Attenborough investigates the extinction crisis, exploring what’s driving the rapid loss of animals and plants and revealing potential solutions to this global issue. In just over 40 years, animal populations have shrunk by 60 percent. A million species of plants and animals now face extinction if urgent action isn’t taken. Why is this happening? In this new BBC/PBS collaboration, Sir David investigates, exploring the man-made reasons behind the crisis and examining how this crisis of biodiversity has consequences for us all, threatening food and water security, undermining our ability to control our climate and even putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.

He also reveals the changes that could make a difference: responsible consumption, cutting back on meat, and lowering carbon emissions. The natural clock can be turned back — as long as we don’t wait too long.

Following Extinction: The Facts, WETA reprises the 2020 film Climate Change: The Facts at 9 p.m. Hosted as well by Attenborough, the film explores the impact of climate change, the implications of global warming, the latest innovations and technology that are posing potential solutions, and what individuals can do to prevent further damage.

For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 3

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COURTESY THE AFRO AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARCHIVES

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard: American Experience

Tuesday, March 30 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

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new documentary explores how a horrific incident of racial violence became a powerful catalyst for the civil rights movement. In 1946, Isaac Woodard, a Black U.S. Army sergeant on his way home to South Carolina after serving in World War II, was taken off a Greyhound bus after a heated exchange with the driver, who refused to let him off at a rest stop to use the restroom. The local chief of police savagely beat Woodard, leaving him unconscious and permanently blind. The shocking incident made national headlines and, when the police chief was acquitted by an all-white jury, the injustice would change the course of American history.

Based on Richard Gergel’s book “Unexampled Courage,” the two-hour American Experience program The Blinding of Isaac Woodard details how the crime led to the racial awakening of South Carolina Judge J. Waties Waring and President Harry Truman, who desegregated the military and federal offices two years later. It also ultimately set the stage for the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which finally outlawed segregation in public schools and jumpstarted the modern civil rights movement. The film is directed by Jamila Ephron, who collaborated with WETA on the film projects Makers: Women Who Make America and Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies.

Major funding for American Experience provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Consumer Cellular and by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major funding for The Blinding of Isaac Woodard provided by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations: Investing in Our Common Future. Additional funding for American Experience provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, The Documentary Investment Group, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers.

Fast-Forward

Wednesday, March 24 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro; streams on the PBS Video App

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COURTESY PBS

f you could see your family’s future, would you change anything?

Fast-Forward, a documentary film narrated by Rosario Dawson, follows four millennials and their parents as they travel through time to meet their future selves. Wearing an MIT-produced “aging empathy suit” (right) and working with professional make-up artists, they grapple with the realizations, conversations and mindset required to age successfully.

Family dynamics are a primary driver of success — or failure — as we age. Being intentional and talking about your future years ahead of time with your closest relatives is never premature. With expert commentary by medical and aging professionals, we see sons and fathers, daughters and mothers laugh, cry, and have heartwarming ‘aha’ moments together. They revisit their plans, make big changes, and approach the rest of their lives with a new perspective. Fast-Forward shows how successful aging is possible when loved ones communicate from the heart about their needs and plan for the process ahead.

HEAD OF THE BUDDHA, THAILAND; COURTESY LUCA TETTONI

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The Buddha

Saturday, March 13 at 11 p.m. on WETA PBS

wo-and-a-half millennia ago in northern India, one of the world’s great religions was born, generated from the ideas of a single man, the Buddha, a mysterious Indian sage who famously gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree. The Buddha never claimed to be God or God’s emissary on Earth. He said only that he was a human being who, in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering, had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too. This documentary by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin tells the story of the life of the Buddha, a journey relevant in our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion. Richard Gere narrates.

Grubin’s biographies include LBJ; FDR; Truman; TR: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt; and Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided for American Experience. He co-produced the film The Jewish Americans with WETA.

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

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Primetime Schedule WETA PBS in March

Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations

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

8:00

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Mon

2

Tue

3

Wed

4

Thu

5

Fri

6

Sat

7

Sun

8

Mon

9

Tue

8:30

Antiques Roadshow: Newport, RI (Hour 1)

9:00 If You Lived Here (Shaw)

9:30

10:00

10:30

Suze Orman’s Ultimate Retirement Guide (to 11:30pm)

Voice of Freedom: American Experience

John Denver: Country Boy (to 12m)

Dolly Parton & Friends: 50 Years at the Opry

Retire Safe and Secure with Ed Slott for 2021 (to 12m)

Vera, Series 1 (Ep 4 of 4. Little Lazarus)

Joyful Pain-Free Living with Lee Albert (to 11:30pm)

Washington Week

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song (Pt 2 of 2) (to 11:30pm)

Jazz (Pts 9 & 10 of 10. The Adventure/A Masterpiece by Midnight) (1955-1960/1961-present) (to 11:30pm) 50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary Antiques Roadshow: Newport, RI (Hour 2)

Rick Steves: Fascism in Europe (to 11:30pm) If You Lived Here (Old Town Alexandria)

Change Your Brain, Heal Your Mind with Daniel Amen, MD (to 11:30pm)

Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters

Retire Safe and Secure with Ed Slott for 2021 Rick Steves’ Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala

10

Wed

My Music: This Land Is Your Land

11

Thu

Miss Marple: The Moving Finger

12

Fri

Washington Week

13

Sat

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

14

Sun

My Music: This Land Is Your Land

15

Mon

The Washington Cherry Blossoms: A Gift of Friendship

16

Tue

Suze Orman’s Ultimate Retirement Guide

17

Wed

My Music: Moments to Remember

18

Thu

Midsomer Murders, Series 17: A Vintage Murder

19

Fri

Washington Week

20

Sat

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

21

Sun

WETA Viewer Favorites

22

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Vintage Louisville 2021 (Hour 1)

23

Tues

Flannery: American Masters

24

Wed

Nature: Hippos: Africa’s River Giants

25

Thu

Vera, Series 2 (Ep 1 of 4. The Ghost Position)

26

Fri

27

Sat

28

Sun

Great Performances: Movies for Grownups Awards with AARP the Magazine

Sense and Sensibility (to 11:30pm)

29

Mon

Antiques Roadshow: Vintage Louisville 2021 (Hour 2)

If You Lived Here (Anacostia)

30

Tue

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 5 (Encore: Freedom Tales)

The Blinding of Isaac Woodard: American Experience

31

Wed

Extinction: The Facts

Climate Change: The Facts

Washington Week

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

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

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

Vera, Series 1 (Ep 4 of 4. Little Lazarus) (to 12m) 50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary

Masterpiece: 50 Fabulous Years!

If You Lived Here (Silver Spring)

Retire Safe and Secure with Ed Slot for 2021 (to 11:30pm) Loretta Lynn: My Story in My Words (to 11:30pm) Change Your Brain w/ Daniel Amen, MD (to 12:30am)

Miss Marple: The Moving Finger (to 12m)

My Music: ’70s Soul Superstars (to 11:30pm)

If You Lived Here (H Street Corridor)

Beyond the Canvas, Season 1 (Finding Joy)

Independent Lens: Coded Bias (to 11:30pm)

Beyond the Canvas, Season 1 (Making Movie Magic)

Frontline: Death Is Our Business

NOVA: Saving the Dead Sea

Fast-Forward

Vera, Series 2 (Ep 2 of 4. Silent Voices) Twyla Moves: American Masters

Beyond the Canvas, Series 2 (The Writer’s World)

(from 6pm:) Frontline: From Jesus to Christ

8:00

8:30

PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.

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9:00

If You Lived Here (SW Waterfront)

Independent Lens: ’Til Kingdom Come (to 11:30pm)

NOVA: Mystery Beneath the Ice

9:30

10:00

10:30

Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).

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TV Listings WETA PBS in March

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 18 for schedule information.

Program Key Blue type — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. R — Repeats that aired within the month.

2 Tuesday IF YOU LIVED HERE A WETA PRODUCTION Mondays at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS; 8 p.m. on WETA Metro If You Lived Here, WETA’s new locally focused house-hunting and neighborhood exploration series, continues with episodes each week and premieres a new program spotlighting Anacostia on March 29.

WETA’s Christine Louise and John Begeny host the series.

WEEKDAY MORNINGS IN MARCH: 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 MARCH: 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: NEWPORT, RI — Hour 1. Experience Roadshow history when, for the first time, cameras roll indoors and outdoors; at Rosecliff mansion, see a diamond pin sway in the breeze, a Rohmer doll valued on the patio, and Tiffany vases stun an appraiser in the lavish ballroom.

9:00 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. 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.

9:30 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

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 VOICE OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — WETA presents an encore airing of this February American Experience special exploring 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 Sun 3/7, 10:30am 10:30 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. Repeats Fri 3/5, 11:30pm 12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — You have a choice in how you age and whether you remain mobile, healthy and pain-free throughout life. Former ballerina Miranda EsmondeWhite presents a six-point plan for keeping one’s mind sharp and body active using gentle daily movement.

Repeats Wed 3/3, 3pm; Thur 3/11, midnight;Thur 3/18, midnight 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

3 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 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

COURTESY WORLD HISTORY ARCHIVE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

WETA

WETA Television

Security strategy, long-term care insurance and much more. Repeats Tue 3/2, 3pm; Sun 3/7, 8:30am; Wed 3/10, 11pm; Sun 3/14, 6am, 11pm; Tue 3/16, 8pm 11:30 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. Repeats Sun 3/7, 6:30pm; Wed 3/10, 9:30pm 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Christiane Amanpour leads conversations with global thought leaders on contemporary issues. Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

Tuesday, March 2 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS WETA reprises Voice of Freedom: American Experience, which explores the life of famed contralto Marian Anderson and spotlights her landmark 1939 Washington, D.C. concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

6 MARCH 2021 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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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.

Repeats Sat 3/20, 8pm 11:30 JOHN DENVER: COUNTRY BOY — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

6 Saturday COURTESY ED SLOTT

6AM 6:30 7AM 8:00

Wednesday, March 3 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS Retire Safe and Secure with Ed Slott for 2021 features the financial expert offering counsel on how new tax laws can affect retirement planning and what steps to take to make the most of your savings.

4 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 VERA, SERIES 1: LITTLE LAZARUS — Brenda Blethyn stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in mysteries set in northeast England. Episode 4 of 4. In the drama, a woman is brutally murdered in a hedgerow. Her son escapes the violent attack, only to fall through the ice of a frozen pond, where Vera finds him. She must ultimately unravel deadly secrets and their murderous consequences. Repeats Sat 3/6, 3:30pm; Thur 3/11, 10pm 10:00 JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — Learn how to operate your body optimally with minimal or no pain and maintain an active, fulfilling lifestyle as you age. Lee’s holistic approach combines the wisdom of neuromuscular therapy, stress management and yoga.

Repeats Sat 3/6, 8:30am; Sun 3/14, 8am 11:30 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. Repeats Sat 3/6, 11:30pm 1AM 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 3/6, 6am; Mon 3/8, 7:30am 8:30 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — A WETA co-production retraces the 400-yearold-story of the Black church in America with Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., exploring its role as the

COURTESY MCGEE MEDIA

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. Repeats Thur 3/4, 3pm; Sat 3/6, 1:30pm, 1am 10:00 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 — Congress has again changed many of the tax laws that most effect your retirement savings; what does it all mean for you and your family? Retirement, tax and financial expert Ed Slott, CPA, provides detailed and easy-to-follow guidance to help you. As Ed says, “It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep!” Repeats Fri 3/5, 3pm; Sat 3/6, 10am; Tue 3/9, 9:30pm; Fri 3/12, 11pm; Sun 3/15, 3pm, 9:30pm; Tue 3/16, 11:30pm 12M THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — See the Sunday, March 7, 3 p.m. listing.

1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

WASHINGTON WEEK — R FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R PBS NEWSHOUR — R RICK STEVES’ ISLAND HOPPING EUROPE — Join Rick Steves on a tour of four of Europe’s most intriguing and surprising islands: Malta, Capri, Orkney and Skye. The travel expert island-hops to remote beaches, Crusader castles, a Blue Grotto and prehistoric wonders, and spotlights traditional island lifestyles. Repeats Wed 3/10, 4:30pm; Wed 3/17, 12:30am 8:30 JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — R 9:00 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 —R 12N RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — See the Sunday, March 7, 10 p.m. listing.

1:30 DOLLY PARTON & FRIENDS: 50 YEARS AT THE OPRY — R 3:30 VERA, SERIES 1: LITTLE LAZARUS — R 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:00 MY MUSIC PRESENTS: IT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING, BABY — A legendary CBS-TV special, It’s What’s Happening, Baby, airs for the first time in more than 50 years.

Hosted by famed New York disc jockey “Murray The K” (Murray Kaufman), the program features more than a dozen iconic artists singing their greatest hits, including Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, The Miracles, Johnny Rivers, Marvin Gaye, Herman’s Hermits, The Temptations, and Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. Kaufman befriended the Beatles at the start of the musical British Invasion of the 1960s and presented all-star rock and soul concerts at the historic Brooklyn Fox theatre. Repeats Sun 3/7, 1pm; Tue 3/9, 11pm; Tue 3/16, 3pm 8:00 JAZZ — Ken Burns’ epic documentary film, co-produced with WETA, concludes with two episodes. Part 9 of 10.

The Adventure (1955-1960). As rhythm and blues and rock ’n’ roll erode jazz’ audience further, the music nonetheless enjoys a time of great creativity. Free-jazz provokes a debate about the genre’s definition that continues to this day. Part 10 of 10. A Masterpiece by Midnight (1961-Present). In the 1960s, jazz becomes divided into “schools” — Dixieland, swing, bop, hard bop, cool, modal, free, avant-garde. The question of what is jazz and what isn’t rages, dividing audiences, dividing musicians, dividing generations. Part 9 repeats 3/28, 11;30pm

THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. A WETA CO-PRODUCTION March 5, 8:30 p.m. + Sats., March 13 & 20 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS WETA reprises The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, a WETA co-production that features scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tracing the 400-year-old history of the Black Church in America.

Above: Gates at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

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

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Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS 50 Years with Peter, Paul and Mary celebrates the musical artistry and social activism of the successful folk trio. Above (l-r), Paul, Mary and Peter perform at the 1963 March on Washington.

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11:30 TOWER OF POWER: 50 YEARS OF FUNK — R 1AM DOLLY PARTON & FRIENDS: 50 YEARS AT THE OPRY — R

6AM THE BUDDHA — See the Saturday, March 13, 11 p.m. listing.

8:30 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R 10:30 VOICE OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — R 1PM MY MUSIC PRESENTS: IT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING, BABY —R 3:00 THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms grace the Tidal Basin each year and are a focal point for the nation as the country welcomes spring. This WETA production spotlights the blossoming cherry trees, a gift of friendship from Japan in 1912, and explores the history of the trees and the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, one of the nation’s largest springtime celebrations. Repeats Sat 3/13, noon; Sun 3/14, 3pm; Mon 3/15, 8pm; Thur 3/18, 3pm; Fri 3/19, 11:30pm 4:00 CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — See the Monday, March 8, 9:30 p.m. listing.

6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 RICK STEVES: HUNGER AND HOPE: LESSONS FROM ETHIOPIA AND GUATEMALA — R 8:00 50 YEARS WITH PETER, PAUL AND MARY — Celebrate the impact of the trio that brought folk music to America’s mass audiences and learn how they combined artistry with activism and inspiration over a period of a half-century. The program features performances

by Peter, Paul and Mary, starting with the era of the group’s emergence in Greenwich Village, through the Civil Rights and anti-war eras, and into the 21st century.

Repeats Mon 3/8, 3pm; Fri 3/12, 9pm; Sun 3/14, 4pm 10:00 RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — Travel expert Rick Steves explores how fascism rose and fell in Europe, tracing the ideology’s history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, and the totalitarian societies they built. Steves visits sites throughout Europe relating to fascism and talks to eyewitnesses.

Repeats Sat 3/13, 1:30pm; Sun 3/14, 6:30pm 11:30 MY MUSIC: CLASSICAL REWIND — Experience the beauty, romance and power of musical masterpieces in this joyride through the world of classical hits. Martin Goldsmith hosts, with reflections from Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Stewart Copeland of the band The Police, and others. Repeats Sun 3/14, 9:30am; Mon 3/15, 11:30pm 1AM JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — R

8 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: NEWPORT, RI — Hour 2. Learn about historical treasures as they’re appraised at

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9 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 CLOSE TO YOU: REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS — Between 1970 and 1984, the Grammy Award-winning duo had 10 gold singles, nine gold albums, one multiplatinum album and 17 singles in the Billboard Top 20, including three #1 songs and six songs at #2. This music-filled documentary traces the musical roots of Karen and Richard Carpenter through performance footage and archival television appearances, interviews with their friends in the music business, and all of their top hits. Repeats Wed 3/10, 3pm; Sat 3/13, 6:30pm; Sun 3/14, 12:30pm 9:30 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 — See the Wednesday, March 3, 10 p.m. listing.

11:00 MY MUSIC PRESENTS: IT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING, BABY —R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

10 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MY MUSIC: THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND — The Smothers Brothers (Tom and Dick) and musical artist Judy Collins host a musical journey through the evolution of modern American folk music. Among those featured are the Brothers Four, Glenn Yarborough, the Highwaymen, Roger McGuinn and John Sebastian. Repeats Sat 3/13, 4:30pm; Sun 3/14, 8pm

COURTESY TJL PRODUCTIONS

WETA Television

7 Sunday

Rosecliff, a Gilded Age mansion in Newport. Finds include a Faberge jade snuff bottle made around 1890, Basquiat oil stick drawing, and General Wharton Civil War archive. Which is valued at $400,000?

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. Old Town Alexandria. Series hosts Begeny and Louise join realtor Susie Klein to tour three rowhouses on Alfred, Wilkes and Prince streets in the historic Virginia community.

Local architect and historian Al Cox joins in to spotlight Alexandria.

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. Repeats Tue 3/9, 3pm; Sat 3/13, 10am; Wed 3/17, 3pm, 10:30pm RICK STEVES’ EUROPEAN EASTER — Travel expert Rick Steves takes a spring journey through Spain, Slovenia, Italy and Greece, celebrating the Easter Holy Week in a variety of cultures. He joins Andalusians carrying parade floats, Greek priests tossing showers of flower petals, and villagers blessing olive branches, plus feasting, fireworks, and more, exploring a rich, fascinating mix of traditions. Repeats Sun 3/14, 11am AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

Wednesday, March 10 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS My Music: This Land is Your Land presents a musical journey through the evolution of modern folk music, hosted by the Smothers Brothers and Judy Collins. Above: The Brothers Four perform in the special.

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

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12N THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — R 1:30 RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — R 3:00 MASTERPIECE: 50 FABULOUS YEARS! — Celebrate the iconic series that introduced generations of PBS viewers to the delights of British drama. From Upstairs Downstairs to I, Claudius to The Jewel in the Crown and Downton Abbey — Masterpiece has stood the test of time. Repeats tonight; Sun 3/14, 9:30pm 4:30 MY MUSIC: THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND — R 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 CLOSE TO YOU: REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS — R 8:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — WETA reprises the February film that traces the 400-year-old-story of the Black church in America with Harvard scholar and WETA partner Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The WETA co-production explores the Black church’s 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 Sun 3/14, 1am 11:00 THE BUDDHA — Two and a half millennia ago, a new religion was born in northern India, generated from the ideas of a single man, the Buddha, a mysterious Indian sage who never claimed to be God or even God’s emissary on earth. He said only that he was a human being who, in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering, had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too, through enlightenment. A documentary by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin, and narrated by Richard Gere, tells the story of the life of the Buddha.

1:30 MASTERPIECE: 50 FABULOUS YEARS! — R

Thursday, March 11 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Miss Marple features Joan Hickson in the role as Agatha Christie’s famed fictional amateur sleuth. WETA presents The Moving Finger, a case involving poison-pen letters and murder in a small hamlet.

9:30 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. R 11:00 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

11 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MISS MARPLE: THE MOVING FINGER — A nasty case of poison-pen letters brings Miss Marple to the East Anglian village of Lymston. Joan Hickson stars as the spinster sleuth Miss Marple is this classic BBC production adapted from Agatha Christie’s crime novels.

Repeats Fri 3/12, 3pm; Thurs 3/18, 10pm 10:00 VERA, SERIES 1: LITTLE LAZARUS — See the Thursday, March 4, 8 p.m. listing. R 12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

12 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 3/13, 6am; Mon 3/15, 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 9 of 15.

John Rogers, Ariel Investments Chairman and CEO. 9:00 50 YEARS WITH PETER, PAUL AND MARY — See the Sunday, March 7, 8 p.m. listing. R 11:00 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 —R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

14 Sunday 6AM 8AM 9:30 11AM 12:30 2PM

SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R JOYFUL PAIN-FREE LIVING WITH LEE ALBERT — R MY MUSIC: CLASSICAL REWIND — R RICK STEVES’ EUROPEAN EASTER —R CLOSE TO YOU: REMEMBERING THE CARPENTERS — R NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: BEETHOVEN @ 250 BIRTHDAY BASH — WETA reprises National Philharmonic’s season-opening concert at the Music Center at Strathmore, celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Joining National Philharmonic are two of the region’s most esteemed concertmasters, Nurit BarJosef of the National Symphony Orchestra and Jonathan Carney from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, in performances of the composer’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G Major, Op. 40; Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F Major, Op. 50; and Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21. Piotr Gajewski conducts.

3:00 THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — R

13 Saturday 6AM 6:30 7AM 8:00

WASHINGTON WEEK — R FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R PBS NEWSHOUR — R EASY YOGA FOR ARTHRITIS WITH PEGGY CAPPY + EASY YOGA: THE SECRET TO STRENGTH AND BALANCE WITH PEGGY CAPPY — Discover how yoga can aid anyone, of any age, who wants to increase strength and mobility. Peggy Cappy shows how yoga poses can increase range of motion, improve awareness of the body, help prevent bone loss and keep metabolism running efficiently.

10:00 CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R

THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP A WETA PRODUCTION Sun, March 7 at 3 p.m. + Mon, March 15 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS WETA film The Washington Cherry Blossoms: A Gift of Friendship spotlights the renowned Tidal Basin trees, a gift from Japan in 1912, and the annual springtime National Cherry Blossom Festival.

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

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Lawrence Welk Show’s Mary Lou Metzger co-host performances and celebrate archival classics from the late 1950s and early 1960s pop era. Musical artists include Frankie Laine, the Four Lads, Four Aces, Four Freshmen, Roger Williams, and the Platters — with archival performances from Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como and Nat King Cole.

10:30 CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, HEAL YOUR MIND WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 12:30AM RICK STEVES’ ISLAND HOPPING EUROPE — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

18 Thursday Thursday, March 18 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS WETA presents Midsomer Murders episode A Vintage Murder, starring Neil Dudgeon and Gwilym Lee as detectives Barnaby and Nelson, who investigate crimes in rural hamlets. Find more Midsomer Murders episodes each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on WETA UK.

WETA Television

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50 YEARS WITH PETER, PAUL AND MARY — R PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — R MY MUSIC: THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND — The Smothers Brothers (Tom and Dick) and musical artist Judy Collins host a musical journey through the evolution of modern American folk music. Among those featured are the Brothers Four, Glenn Yarborough, the Highwaymen, Roger McGuinn and John Sebastian. R 9:30 MASTERPIECE: 50 FABULOUS YEARS! — Celebrate the iconic series that introduced generations of PBS viewers to the delights of British drama. From Upstairs Downstairs to I, Claudius to The Jewel in the Crown and Downton Abbey — Masterpiece has stood the test of time. R 11:00 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R 1AM THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — Part 1 of 2. R

15 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — R 9:00 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. 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.

9:30 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 —R 11:30 MY MUSIC: CLASSICAL REWIND — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MIDSOMER MURDERS, SERIES 17: A VINTAGE MURDER — DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee) probe cases of murder and mystery in a quaint English community. In this episode, the fizz goes out of a sparkling wine launch when the glasses are laced with poison. Who is targeting the Midsomer Vinae Winery and what does the attack have to do with the death of a child in a hit-andrun accident? Claire Bloom (Doc Martin) guest stars; and Tamzin Malleson makers her final appearance as pathologist Dr. Kate Wilding. Repeats Fri 3/19, 3pm 10:00 MISS MARPLE: THE MOVING FINGER — R 12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDEWHITE — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

19 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 3/20, 6am; Mon 3/22, 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 10 of 15.

Renée Fleming, National Medal of Arts Recipient.

9:00 MY MUSIC: ’70S SOUL SUPERSTARS — Join Patti LaBelle for an all-star reunion of the legends of 1970s Motown, R&B and Soul, including the Commodores, original lead Eugene Record reuniting with the ChiLites, the Stylistics, Yvonne Elliman, Heatwave, the Trammps and the Emotions.

11:30 THE WASHINGTON CHERRY BLOSSOMS: A GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

20 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R

16 Tuesday

17 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MY MUSIC: MOMENTS TO REMEMBER — Patti Page, Nick Clooney, Peter Marshall, Wink Martindale and The

COURTESY TJL PRODUCTIONS

7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 SUZE ORMAN’S ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GUIDE — R 10:00 LORETTA LYNN: MY STORY IN MY WORDS — Celebrate the country music legend and her classic songs with this biographical portrait that lets Lynn tell her own life story. The program includes classic performances of her record-breaking anthems, which rose to the top of the charts.

11:30 RETIRE SAFE AND SECURE WITH ED SLOTT FOR 2021 —R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm Friday, March 19 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS My Music: ’70s Soul Superstars features a historic gathering of top soul acts of that decade. Patti LaBelle hosts the reunion of classic recording artists — who include The Commodores, above.

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

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7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6PM-8PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 8:00 THE BLACK CHURCH: THIS IS OUR STORY, THIS IS OUR SONG — Part 2 of 2. R 11PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

6AM-1PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 1:00 FRONTLINE: FROM JESUS TO CHRIST: THE FIRST CHRISTIANS — A Frontline special examines the epic story of the rise of Christianity, looking back 2,000 years; the series challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity.

Part 1 of 2. Frontline traces the life of Jesus of Nazareth, exploring the message that helped his ministry grow and the events that led to his crucifixion around 30 C.E. Part 2 of 2. Frontline chronicles the period after the first revolt, including the hostile relationship between Christians and Jews, and the events of the second and third centuries, in which Christianity grew from a small Jewish sect to an official religion of the Roman Empire.

Repeats Sat 3/27, 6pm 6PM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

22 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE LOUISVILLE 2021 — Hour 1. Visit Derby City for updated Season 12 appraisals including a Dirk Van Erp lamp from around 1910, a J. Falter “Listening to the Sea” illustration and a 1919 Cincinnati Reds championship baseball. One is now valued at $150,000-$200,000. Repeats Sat 3/27, 11pm 9:00 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. 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.

9:30 BEYOND THE CANVAS, SEASON 1 — Enjoy the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS arts series. Each episode focuses on a specific theme, showcasing artist profiles and NewsHour’s first-person narrative segments to explore the concept. NewsHour senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz hosts. Finding Joy. Actress Adrienne Moore shares the wisdom of her father’s words, Gloria & Emilio Estefan speak about their success in the music business, and Joan Baez explains her decision to silence her voice.

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: CODED BIAS — When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers most facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces or women with accuracy, she joins the fight to expose the threats to civil liberties posed by an increasingly data-driven, automated world.

11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

23 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FLANNERY: AMERICAN MASTERS — Explore the life of author Flannery O’Connor, whose provocative fiction was unlike anything published before. The biography features never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered journals and interviews with Mary Karr, Tommy Lee Jones, Hilton Als and more.

9:30 BEYOND THE CANVAS, SEASON 1 — Enjoy the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS arts series. NewsHour senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz hosts. Making Movie Magic. On this Oscar Awards edition, NewsHour segments feature winners and nominees talking about their commitment to their craft. Comedy duo Steve Martin and Martin Short, and the creators behind films such as Black Panther and Free Solo, share their secrets to success.

10:00 FRONTLINE: DEATH IS OUR BUSINESS — Frontline reports how, at Black-owned funeral homes in New

ITV

21 Sunday

Thursday, March 25 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS Series 2 of popular mystery drama Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn as Northumberland homicide detective Vera Stanhope, begins March 25 as WETA presents a double feature of cases on Thriller Thursday.

Orleans, COVID-19 reshapes the grieving process. The program explores how the pandemic has transformed mourning in a city known for its jazz-filled funerals.

Also featured is the story of a mother’s fight to survive the virus and see her newborn.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

24 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: HIPPOS: AFRICA’S RIVER GIANTS — Sir David Attenborough narrates a film spotlighting African hippos. These aquatic mammals — who can’t even swim — protect their families, face their enemies, and suffer in a drought.

9:00 NOVA: SAVING THE DEAD SEA — As the Dead Sea shrinks, engineers prepare a daring solution: connect it with the Red Sea by way of a massive desalination plant. If it works, it could stabilize the legendary lake and ease regional tensions. But will it put the environment at risk?

10:00 FAST-FORWARD — If you could see your family’s future, would you change anything? Follow four millennials and their parents as they “travel” through time to meet their future selves. Wearing an MIT-produced “aging empathy suit” and working with professional make-up artists, they grapple with the realizations, conversations and mindset required to age successfully. Family dynamics are a primary driver of success — or failure — as we age. Rosario Dawson narrates the documentary. With expert commentary by medical and aging professionals, we see sons and fathers, daughters and mothers laugh, cry, and have heartwarming ‘aha’ moments together.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

25 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 VERA, SERIES 2: THE GHOST POSITION — Brenda Blethyn stars as DCI Vera Stanhope in mysteries set in northeast England. Episode 1 of 4. The Ghost Position.

The detective is reunited — under tragic circumstances — with her first-ever sergeant, Stuart Macken, when his house is firebombed and he is burned and his daughter is badly injured. Battling through grief, she is determined to track down the assailant.

9:30 VERA, SERIES 2: SILENT VOICES — Episode 2 of 4. Silent Voices. Social worker Jenny Lister is murdered while out swimming. Everybody speaks of Jenny as if she was perfect, arousing the suspicions of DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn), especially when she learns that Jenny was writing a book about some of her cases.

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

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Part 2 of 2. Frontline chronicles the period after the first revolt, including the hostile relationship between Christians and Jews, and the events of the second and third centuries, in which Christianity grew from a small Jewish sect to an official religion of the Roman Empire.

11:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE LOUISVILLE 2021 — R 12M ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY — Five, hourlong episodes: Johannesburg, Berlin, San Francisco Bay Area, London, Beijing.

BEYOND THE CANVAS A WETA PRODUCTION Friday, March 26 at 10:30 p.m. on WETA PBS and WETA Metro Beyond the Canvas, featuring the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS arts series, kicks off a new season of episodes. Senior national correspondent Amna Nawaz hosts.

8:30

9:00

10:30

11:00

journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 3/27, 6am; Mon 3/29, 7:30am 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 11 of 15.

Ken Griffin, Citadel Founder & CEO. TWYLA MOVES: AMERICAN MASTERS — Explore legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp’s career and famously rigorous creative process, with original interviews, first-hand glimpses of her at work, and rare archival footage of select performances from her more than 160 choreographed works.

BEYOND THE CANVAS, SEASON 2 — Enjoy the best arts and culture reporting from PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS arts series. Amna Nawaz hosts. The Writer’s World.

Finding one’s voice as a writer takes dedication, courage and a willingness to reimagine the world through words on a page. Novelist Margaret Atwood, playwright Danai Gurira and others talk about finding meaning in the writing life.

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

27 Saturday 6AM 6:30 7AM 8AM 8:30 9AM 10AM 10:30 11AM 11:30 12N 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00

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 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 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND FRONTLINE: FROM JESUS TO CHRIST: THE FIRST CHRISTIANS — A Frontline special examines the epic story of the rise of Christianity, looking back 2,000 years; the series challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions about the origins of Christianity.

Part 1 of 2. Frontline traces the life of Jesus of Nazareth, exploring the message that helped his ministry grow and the events that led to his crucifixion around 30 C.E.

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: MICHAEL COLLINS — Neil Jordan’s 1996 historical biopic spotlights Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, the man who led a guerrilla war against the U.K., helped negotiate the creation of the Irish Free State, and led the National Army during the Irish Civil War. Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Julia Roberts and Alan Rickman star.

2:00 NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: MUSIC THAT RENEWS: AMERICAN ROOTS — WETA presents a National Philharmonic Chamber Concert Series performance at AMP by Strathmore, featuring soloists Nicolette Oppelt, flute; Mark Hill, oboe; Michael Hall, horn; Erich Heckscher, bassoon; Cheryl Hill, clarinet; Laura Colgate, violin; Gino Madrid, violin; Stephanie Knutsen, viola; and Kerry van Laanen, cello, performing Valerie Coleman’s Umoja, Florence Prices’ Five Folksongs in Counterpoint (including Swing low, sweet chariot), Samuel Barber’s Summer Music, Amy Beach’s Pastorale for Woodwind Quintet, op. 151, Jerod Tate’s Pisachi (Reveal) and Gershwin’s Lullaby.

3:00 INDIA – NATURE’S WONDERLAND — In a two-part production, wildlife biologist Liz Bonnin, actor Freida Pinto and mountaineer Jon Gupta explore India’s natural wonders, from wildlife to the sacred Ganges, tea plantations and more. Part 1 of 2. A journey through India features a ritual tiger dance and observations of lions, elephants and India’s only ape — the hoolock gibbon — before climbing to the Himalayas where the Ganges River begins.

4:00 INDIA – NATURE’S WONDERLAND — Part 2 of 2. The production continues its exploration of India, meeting a man who spent 30 years planting his own rainforest, and encountering demoiselle cranes, tahr goats, onehorned rhinos, the tiny pika and lion-tailed macaques, and a mass hatching of olive ridley turtles.

5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES — A talk show hosted by award-winning journalist, civil rights icon, and

COURTESY SCALA/ART RESOURCE

WETA/PBS NEWSHOUR

28 Sunday

Saturday, March 27, 6-11 p.m. on WETA PBS Renowned 1998 special Frontline: From Jesus to Christ presents a historical examination of the rise of Christianity, from the life of Jesus of Nazareth to the period that followed his death.

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

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29 Monday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: VINTAGE LOUISVILLE 2021 — Hour 2. Look back at Louisville treasures from 2007 including a Kentucky cherry corner cupboard made around 1815, a Qing period nephrite jade basin, and a 1911 Julian Onderdonk landscape oil. Which has skyrocketed in value and is appraised for $125,000?

9:00 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 6.

Anacostia. In Anacostia, the hosts join D.C. realtor Shalisha Ragland to tour homes and explore the historic neighborhood. The three visit a three-level brick home on Howard Road, a renovated detached home on U Street, and an open-concept reno with wrap-around porch on T Street. They explore the history of Anacostia, including Frederick Douglass’ influence and contributions when living at Cedar Hill, as well as ongoing efforts by Martha’s Table CEO Kim R. Ford and others to remedy challenges facing the community.

9:30 IF YOU LIVED HERE — Southwest Waterfront. In Southwest D.C., series hosts Christine Louise and John Begeny join D.C. realtor Andy Peers to explore the neighborhood and tour three properties: a top-floor offering at Town Square Towers, a Tiber Island townhome and connected green spaces, and a Vio high-rise luxury condo with water views at The Wharf. Washington historian Marjorie Lightman illuminates the history of housing along the waterfront, and local residents

COURTESY BBC

Wednesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro Extinction: The Facts features natural historian David Attenborough exploring how the threat of animal extinctions and resulting crisis of biodiversity has major consequences for us all, threatening food and water security, undermining our ability to control the climate and putting us at even greater risk of pandemic diseases.

share their thoughts on parks, places, music venues and food close by.

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: ’TIL KINGDOM COME — Pastors encourage an impoverished Kentucky community, “the forgotten people of America,” to donate to Israel in anticipation of Jesus’s impending return. See the controversial bond between Evangelicals and Jews in this story of faith, power and money.

11:30 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

30 Tuesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 5 ENCORE — In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Season 5 Encore: Freedom Tales. Gates explores the roots of two African American guests, actor S. Epatha Merkerson and athlete and television personality Michael Strahan. Both discover unexpected stories that challenge assumptions about Black history.

9:00 THE BLINDING OF ISAAC WOODARD: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Learn about the 1946 incident of racial violence by police that led to the racial awakening of President Harry Truman and set the stage for the landmark 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision, jump-starting the Civil Rights Movement.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

WETA Television

intellectual influencer Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. features interviews with thought leaders.

5:30 A SEAT AT THE TABLE — A talk show series featuring hosts Denene Millner, Monica Pearson and Christine White gives voice to African American women from their diverse experiences, perspectives and challenges.

6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER TO PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 3 — Episode 11 of 15. Ken Griffin, Citadel Founder & CEO. R 7:00 FAUCI: THE VIRUS HUNTER — Take an in-depth look at the life story and career of physician-scientist and immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci. Interviews with some of Fauci’s colleagues and friends, including Dr. John Gallin, Dr. Michael Osterholm, and medical historian Victoria Harden, offer insight into his work and his family life, while images and videos archived by the Associated Press give an expansive view of the true depth and breadth of his contributions and service to the nation and the world. The documentary sheds light on the many battles fought, challenges overcome, and significant discoveries made during Fauci’s esteemed career.

8:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS AWARDS WITH AARP THE MAGAZINE — Honor the best films and performances of 2020 that resonate with older viewers, and celebrate Career Achievement Award-winner George Clooney. Celebrating movies that matter, the Awards champion movies for grownups, by grownups. Repeats tonight, 1:30am 9:00 SENSE AND SENSIBILITY — In a two-part 2008 adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, Hattie Morahan plays level-headed Elinor Dashwood and Charity Wakefield is her impulsive sister Marianne in the tale of romance in early 19th-century England. Though poor, the sisters attract a trio of promising gentlemen: soon-to-be wealthy Edward Ferrars (Dan Stevens), heroic Colonel Brandon (David Morrissey) and Byronic John Willoughby (Dominic Cooper).

11:30 JAZZ — Part 9 of 10. The Adventure (1955-1960). R 1:30AM GREAT PERFORMANCES: MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS AWARDS WITH AARP THE MAGAZINE — R

31 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 EXTINCTION: THE FACTS — With 1 million species under threat, David Attenborough explores extinction and how this crisis has consequences for us all, even putting us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.

9:00 CLIMATE CHANGE: THE FACTS — Scientists explore the impact of climate change and what could happen if global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees. Discover how the latest innovations and technology are posing potential solutions and learn what individuals can do to prevent further damage. Sir David Attenborough hosts.

10:00 NOVA: MYSTERY BENEATH THE ICE — Dive under the ice to explore Antarctica’s under-ice landscape with a team of scientists as they search for the mystery killer that is decimating the population of delicate shrimp-like creatures at the foundation of the Antarctic food chain.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

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 3. 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

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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 and comedy — in addition to documentary series and news reports.

MARCH P.M. PROGRAMMING ON WETA UK VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP SUNDAY

12pm

Escape to the Country, Series 2

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

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

Great Tours: England, Scotland, Wales

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

Father Brown, Series 7

Escape to the Country, Series 2

Pie in the Sky, Series 5 (Series 1 starts 3/16)

Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Series 3

Midsomer Murders, Series 18

The Mallorca Files

Agatha Christie’s Poirot

Midsomer Murders, Series 18

Escape to the Country, Series 2

All Creatures Great and Small, Series 3 (original series; two episodes)

Foyle’s War, Series 4

Death in Paradise, Series 8

Father Brown, Series 7

Pie in the Sky, Series 5 (Series 1 starts 3/20)

• Return to Cranford • Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime (starts 3/17)

Doc Martin, Series 2

EastEnders

Escape to the Country, Series 2

12:30pm

1pm

MONDAY Last of the Summer Wine

Death in Paradise, Series 8

1:30pm

2pm 2:30pm

3pm 3:30pm

4pm 4:30pm

The Great Tours: All Creatures Great and Small on England, Scotland, Masterpiece (new Wales series) (2 hrs, 3/7)

EastEnders

• Doc Martin, Series 2 • Victoria on Masterpiece (starts 3/21, 2 hrs; 6pm on 3/28)

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

• Roadkill on Masterpiece (to 3/14) • Victoria

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

’Allo, ’Allo!

Still Open All Hours

Still Open All Hours

Still Open All Hours

Still Open All Hours

Still Open All Hours

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

7:30pm

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

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

As Time Goes By

8pm

Escape to the Country, Series 2

Pie in the Sky, Series 5 (Series 1 starts 3/15)

Foreign Favourites • Professor T, Series 2, 8pm

Agatha Christie’s Midsomer Murders, Series 18 Partners in Crime (starts 3/4) (starts 3/3)

Escape to the Country, Series 2

All Creatures Great and Small, Series 3 (original series; two episodes)

5pm 5:30pm

6pm 6:30pm

7pm

8:30pm

9pm 9:30pm

10pm

• Thou Shalt Not Kill, 9pm

Death in Paradise, Series 8

The Mallorca Files

Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Series 3

Silent Witness, Series 20

• Seaside Hotel, 10pm

The Great Tours: England, Scotland and Wales

10:30pm

11pm 11:30pm

Masterworks Showcase • Foyle’s War, Series 4, 8pm

• All Creatures Great & Small on Masterpiece, 9pm (new series) • Roadkill on Masterpiece, 10pm • Victoria on Masterpiece, 10pm (starts 3/19; 2 hrs on 3/19)

Yes Minister

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News

BBC World News (12m on 3/19)

Yes Minister

Father Brown, Series 7

Professor T, Series 2

Midsomer Murders, Series 18

Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime

Foyle’s War, Series 4 (except 3/19)

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

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TUESDAY

FRIDAY

Escape to the Country, Series 2

Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime

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

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Series 2 (Series 3 starts 3/20) Traces

Doc Martin, Series 2

SATURDAY

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WETA UK Highlights I

Midsomer Murders, Series 18 — New! Wednesdays at 8 p.m. starting March 3 on WETA UK

COURTESY AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION

n a season of episodes new to WETA UK, police duo DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and his partner, DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee, Bohemian Rhapsody) are back, investigating murder and mystery in rural England. The popular crime drama, adapted from mystery novels by Caroline Graham, follows murder probes in small village hamlets across the fictional English county of Midsomer. In the six new cases, featuring the series’ trademark lighthearted whimsy and dark humor, the investigators stumble upon the world of body snatching, competitive cycling, UFO-spotting, and more, including probes of a death at a new sculpture park, a killing at an archaeological dig, and a trampling at the annual harvest fair. In the new cases, the duo gets a new colleague as forensic pathologist Dr. Kam Karimore (Manjinder Virk) joins the team, stepping in for Dr. Kate Wilding, who has left Midsomer to take up a professorship in Brighton. Guest stars this season include Alastair Mackenzie, Helen Baxendale and Julia Sawalha (left).

Thursdays at 8 p.m. starting March 4 on WETA UK

elgian detective Hercule Poirot and spinster sleuth Miss Marple weren’t mystery novelist Dame Agatha Christie’s only creations. She also invented Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, an ordinary married couple who stumble into a world of murder, undercover agents and spy conspiracies and take up investigating as an avocation. In these 2015 adaptations of classic espionage-mysteries, set in a 1950s Britain rising from the ashes of the Blitz into the grip of a new Cold War, Tommy and Tuppence come to the small screen, bickering, sweet on each other, and soon knee-deep in danger. Tuppence sees adventure around every corner and throws herself headfirst into every mystery, determined to get to the truth no matter what it takes, to the dismay of her much more cautious husband. The six episodes star David Walliams and Jessica Raines (Call the Midwife and Wolf Hall) and include two three-part storylines (The Secret Adversary and N or M?). James Fleet portrays Major Anthony Carter, Tommy’s uncle and a leader of British Military Intelligence.

N

ACORN MEDIA

B

Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime

Thou Shalt Not Kill Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on WETA UK

Also this month: Tune in Friday evenings to Masterworks Showcase on WETA UK, which in March includes episodes of popular mystery series Foyle’s War at 8 p.m., Masterpiece series All Creatures Great & Small (new adaptation) at 9 p.m. and — with the conclusion of Road Kill — the Masterpiece drama Victoria, Series I at 10 p.m., starting Friday, March 19 with a two-hour presentation.

MASTERPIECE/WGBH

WALTER’S CHOICE

ow airing on the Tuesday-night WETA UK Foreign Favourites showcase of European presentations —and streaming on WETA Passport — is Italian crime series Thou Shalt Not Kill (Non uccidere). Set in Turin, the drama follows stubborn and determined Detective Valeria Ferro (Miriam Leone), a young inspector of the Squadra Omicidi of Turin, who seeks to solve the challenging puzzles behind crimes motivated by jealousy, vendettas and repressed anger. The skilled policewoman relentlessly pursues truth and justice but struggles with personal demons. While she investigates murders with her police colleagues, Ferro must also unravel her family’s past — her mother was convicted and imprisoned years before for a killing in the family. The series revolves around Ferro’s cases and her personal and professional relationships, which overlap. Thou Shalt Not Kill, from PBS’s curated Walter Choice international drama collection, is in Italian with English subtitles.

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

WETA Metro is a new WETA streaming and broadcast television channel that features PBS programming and engaging content curated for a local audience, including offerings spotlighting the D.C. Metro community.

WETA Metro is simulcast with WETA PBS most evenings. Each day on WETA Metro, enjoy local programs, news and public affairs offerings (such as PBS NewsHour, weekdays at 6 p.m./11 p.m.), and lifestyle and cultural shows.

WETA METRO PRIMETIME VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP

6 p.m.

THURSDAYS

FRIDAYS

SATURDAYS

MONDAYS

Great Tours: Washington, DC

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

Local series

Nature

+

Antiques Roadshow

History programs (including Finding Your Roots)

American history (including Ken Burns’s films)

Washington Week + Public Affairs series

Politics and Prose Live

History programs 11 p.m.

How-To programs

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

SUNDAYS

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour

NOVA

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour Weekend

Science and nature series PBS NewsHour

Arts series

Independent films + History programs

PBS NewsHour PBS NewsHour

Stream at weta.org/livestream or via the PBS App

A

The Great Tours: Washington, D.C.

Sundays 4-8 p.m.; Sunday-Thursday at 7 p.m. on WETA Metro

THE GREAT COURSES

mong WETA Metro’s locally focused offerings is an extraordinary, illuminating 24-episode travelogue series from The Great Courses that was created in collaboration with the Smithsonian and offers a multifaceted look at the nation’s capital and its history and culture. Deeply engaging for longtime residents and newcomers alike, The Great Tours: Washington, D.C. rests on the Smithsonian’s vast historical and administrative resources, and on the fascinating commentary of Dr. Richard Kurin, Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large. Kurin brings his 40 years of experience at the Smithsonian — overseeing most of the institution’s national museums, libraries and archives — and his own decades of exploration of his home city to the content-rich episodes.

In the visually sumptuous programs, illustrated with thousands of historic images, animated maps, and location footage, Kurin profiles the diversity and many layers of Washington, D.C. — as a beloved national symbol; a vital seat of government; and a living, thriving metropolis. The comprehensive view of the city and its history delves into the wide range of the District’s riches, including public buildings, works, monuments, memorials and spaces; the array of world-class museums; lesser-known historical gems; storied neighborhoods and homes; and parks, gardens and more. The tour goes beyond politics and history, offering a view of the city’s cultural offerings, from the arts and entertainment scene; dining and food culture; sports and team lore; outdoor activities; and many additional focal points.

Also on WETA Metro this month: tune into WETA’s new local house-hunting and neighborhood exploration series If You Lived Here each Monday at 8 p.m.; Ken Burns’s acclaimed history and culture series Jazz, a WETA co-production, on Thursdays at 8 p.m.; and Sunday-night dramas including The Miniaturist (March 7, 8 p.m.) and Howard’s End (March 21 & 28, 9 p.m.) on Masterpiece.

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

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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.

VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A COMPLETE PROGRAM LINEUP

M

Fridays, March 5 & 12 at 8 p.m. on WETA World

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, BAIN COLLECTION

The Vote: American Experience arch is Women’s History Month, and WETA World features a wide slate of documentary films and other programming that examines the struggles, triumphs and variety of experiences of women in America. Among the offerings is The Vote, a two-part, four-hour 2020 American Experience documentary that spotlights the unsung heroes of the women’s suffrage movement. The film recounts one of the most sustained and successful political movements in American history: the campaign that led to passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted American women the vote and ushered in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. Focusing primarily on the movement’s final decade, the film charts American women’s march to the ballot box and illuminates the obstacles that stood in their path.

Major funding for American Experience provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Consumer Cellular and by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Major funding for The Vote provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. Additional funding for The Vote provided by The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations: Investing in Our Common Future and by The Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fund. Additional funding for American Experience provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, The Documentary Investment Group and public television viewers.

A

America ReFramed Looks at Communities at a Crossroads Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on WETA World

COURTESY WGBH

mong episodes of the documentary series America ReFramed this month are two films, Bring It Home (March 23) and The Place That Makes Us (March 30), that spotlight communities contending with change. Bring It Home relates the story of five Ohio families at a crossroads after the sudden closing of the GM Lordstown auto plant.

The decision by GM forces thousands of families in the Mahoning Valley to decide between taking a transfer to an out-of-state plant — or staying put. If they remain, they risk losing their employment, health and retirement benefits.

The Place That Makes Us (above) offers a glimpse of how a quintessential post-industrial American city is seen through the efforts of a new generation. The film offers a portrait of Youngstown, Ohio, where activists and leaders who have chosen not to abandon their hometown stay, rebuild and make a life for themselves. Small business owners, city employees, non-profit leaders and local workers together envision a new future for their community.

O

Stories from the Stage

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

n the storytelling series Stories from the Stage, in which ordinary people share tales of extraordinary experiences, March programs include stories about womanhood and more.

New program She Persisted (March 1) kicks off Women’s History Month with three stories about womanhood. Can’t-Miss Stories from the Stage (March 8, 9 p.m.) features an hourAll Mixed Up long best-of episode of the series. Reprised episode Do the Right Thing (March 15) presents tales of the duality of right and wrong as something we all struggle with. New episode All Mixed Up (March 22) explores stories that ask: if you’re born into two cultures, must one take precedence? Closing out the month is Close Quarters (March 29), which features stories that examine how sharing space with someone can test a relationship.

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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.

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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

Let’s Go Luna!

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10 a.m. on WETA PBS Kids; 2:30 p.m. on WETA PBS

esearch shows that young children have limited exposure to social studies concepts in school. To help address this gap, the series Let’s Go Luna! encourages children ages 4-7 to learn about and appreciate cultures worldwide, and build global citizenship and social skills. The programs follow the adventures of three animal friends — Leo, a wombat from Australia; Carmen, a butterfly from Mexico; and Andy, a frog from the U.S. — as they traverse the globe with their parents’ traveling performance troupe, “Circo Fabuloso.” At each stop, the trio learns about the differences and similarities of the countries they visit — from language and music, to food, architecture and art — with the help of their friend Luna the moon, voiced by actor Judy Greer. Let’s Go Luna! takes kids on an imaginative exploration of global culture to make connections between communities all over the world, integrating concepts of anthropology, history, ecology, geography and sociology.

WEEKDAYS ON WETA PBS

COURTESY PIPELINE STUDIOS, ©SHOE INK

• 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

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

Elinor Wonders Why, airing weekdays at 3:30 p.m. on the WETA PBS Kids channel and 10:30 a.m./1:30 p.m. on WETA PBS, features new episodes the week of March 15-19. This series for preschoolers aims to encourage kids to follow their curiosity, ask questions when they do not understand, and find answers using science-inquiry skills. In the new programs, Elinor, Ari and Olive are back with new adventures — learning how butterflies drink nectar, why fish don’t freeze in the winter, and how some owls nest in the desert.

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

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WETA Digital Highlights Stream your favorite shows on WETA Passport!

WETA Passport is a member benefit that offers access to a vast library of superb programs available for streaming on-demand. To learn how to access programming on WETA Passport, visit weta.org/passport/FAQ.

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Emma

Now streaming on WETA Passport

BBC

oining the Jane Austen collection on WETA Passport is the delightful 2009 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. In the four-part drama, beautiful, clever and rich Emma Woodhouse — portrayed by Romola Garai (Atonement) — is convinced she is good at matchmaking after her older sister and her governess both marry suitable husbands. No matter that as Emma’s stalwart friend, Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller) dryly observes, in reality, she had nothing to do with these relationships. Yet Emma, certain of her talents, plays a dangerous game as she persuades her new friend, the young, pretty and socially inferior Harriet, to reject an advantageous marriage proposal to a local farmer in favor of dashing Mr. Elton. But Emma is playing with fire. So begins a story that takes her on a journey, challenging her naivety, her social preconceptions and her relationship with Knightley. The production, also featuring Michael Gambon, brings Jane Austen’s comic masterpiece to life. The film aired on Masterpiece in 2010; find a wide selection of additional Masterpiece costume dramas on WETA Passport.

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Pie in the Sky

Stream all five seasons on WETA Passport

BBC

ow available for streaming on WETA Passport is the popular drama Pie in the Sky, which features 40 episodes in five seasons. The light-hearted BBC series presents interwoven tales of crime and culinary pursuits, spotlighting a talented, high-minded detective who dreams of scrapping his day job to become a restaurateur. As the series opens, Henry Crabbe — portrayed by the late Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter; The History Boys) — has reached the end of his tether as a police sleuth after toiling for years as a plainclothes officer. Crabbe is ready to take early retirement from the police force if only his reluctant boss will let him go. With a passion for food and a talent for cooking, the sleuth is ready to buy the restaurant “Pie in the Sky.” On the eve of his retirement, however, his boss sets new conditions for his employee’s departure: Crabbe must remain on call when cases need solving.

WETA on the Web Telly Visions

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WETA podcast and blog follows British TV and culture; visit tellyvisions.org

re you a fan of British drama and comedy who wants to learn more about the programs you love — and discover upcoming delights? Follow Telly Visions, the illuminating WETA blog and podcast available at tellyvisions.org. You’ll find more than 55 podcast episodes to choose from and a vast array of posts spotlighting wide-ranging topics curated

by British television superfans — WETA’s own Lacy Baugher-Milas (Telly Visions editor) and contributing writers Ani Bundel, Carmen Croghan and Janet Mullany. Among podcast installments is “Miss Scarlet and the Duke with creator Rachael New,” an engaging discussion of the popular Masterpiece mystery series. Another recent episode spotlights blockbuster drama Downton Abbey, celebrating its tenth anniversary. The Telly Visions blog includes timely posts that encompass episode recaps, discussions, previews and more, with comment threads where you can join in. A sample of topics includes discussions of great British shows to stream, previews of upcoming dramas such as Atlantic Crossing on Masterpiece, and thoughts on contemporary British actors. Visit tellyvisions.org, and join the conversation!

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Classical WETA 90.9 FM Celebrating J.S. Bach on Front Row Washington Mondays at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA 90.9 FM

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By John Banther, On-Air Host and Producer

Music of Poetry & Prayer on Choral Showcase Sundays at 9 p.m.

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By Bill Bukowski, Midday On-Air Host

n the midst of life, we are in death,” but “the world is charged with the grandeur of God.” Music of poetry and prayer will reflect both concepts this month on Classical WETA’s Choral Showcase. We’ll hear American spirituals The Thirteen and works by Lili Boulanger on March 21, along with John Sheppard’s In media vita (“In the midst of life”) and Bach’s motet, Lobet den Herrn (“Praise the Lord”). These last two will be sung by The Thirteen, who will be livestreaming a program called “Passion Transfigured,” a staged production of Bach’s St. John Passion, on March 27.

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God” comes from a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, one of several set to music by Benjamin Britten in A.M.D.G. (Ad majorem Dei gloriam). We’ll hear that on March 7, along with Gerald Finzi’s adaptation of William Wordsworth’s famous Ode, Intimations of Immortality.

Fate, and the concept of good versus evil are illustrated in Igor Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, a work for speaker, male chorus and orchestra conducted by Robert Craft on March 14, along with the final part of La Damnation de Faust by Hector Berlioz, with Simon Rattle conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

It’s Bach month on Classical WETA, and March 28 is Palm Sunday, so we’ll play the rare St. Mark Passion arranged and conducted by Jordi Savall. Although the original score is lost, Savall’s reconstruction uses the original 1744 libretto with the baroque practice of parody, wherein music is reused and adapted from older works. Tune in to Choral Showcase, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA. COURTESY THE ARTISTS

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

COURTESY THE ARTISTS

his month on Front Row Washington we celebrate the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach (336 years young!) with his music appearing on four programs. But we start on March 1 with Trio con Brio Copenhagen from the Phillips Collection. They perform the one and only Piano Trio by Tchaikovsky, a work he initially said he would never compose.

M5 Mexican Brass Our Bach celebration starts on March 8 with a program from the National Gallery of Art. M5 Mexican Brass performs part of an Organ Concerto by J.S. Bach, a medley of Der Alte Peter by Bach and other great composers, and Vuelta del Fuego by local composer Kevin McKee. Stephen Kovacevich performs from the Phillips Collection music for piano by Alban Berg and Bach on March 15.

Berg was a Viennese composer who bridged the Romantic and 20th-century music eras, and we’ll hear his Piano Sonata.

Then we feature an elegant performance of Bach’s Partita in D Major.

On March 22 it’s harp virtuoso Bridgette Kibbey with Alexey Kenney from the Phillips Collection for music from the Bach family. Kibbey starts with J.S. Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor like you’ve never heard it before, on solo harp! Then, joined with Kenney, we hear a Flute Sonata, selections from a Violin Partita, and then a Sonata by his son C.P.E Bach. We end the month on March 29 with one of J.S. Bach’s greatest compositions, the Goldberg Variations, performed by Steven Beck at Dumbarton Concerts. It places every demand imaginable on the pianist over the course of nearly an hour in performance.

Join me each Monday evening at 9 p.m. for local live concert recordings on Front Row Washington.

VivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org

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Stream audio at classicalweta.org

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NSO Showcase: Musical Connections Wednesday, March 3 at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA & streaming on classicalweta.org

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By Nicole Lacroix, Afternoon On-Air Host

FRANZ SCHUBERT BY WILHELM AUGUST RIEDER 1875/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Classical for Washington

s I’m writing this on January 31st, it’s Franz Schubert’s 224th birthday. It’s sad to remember that he didn’t live to see his 32nd birthday, and as a result his life and work were incomplete — like his famous symphony No.8, the “Unfinished.” NSO Showcase in March features the “Unfinished” Symphony, as well as the Piano Concerto by Robert Schumann, a great admirer of Schubert’s, who also died far too early. Schumann liked to put coded messages in his music —and in the Concerto, he spelled out his wife Clara’s name in musical Franz Schubert notes in the opening piano solo. Clara Schumann was the soloist in the premiere. Our concert will feature the American pianist Nicholas Angelich. Besides being married to one of the greatest pianists of the age, and helping to revive Schubert’s music, Schumann was instrumental in “discovering” the young Johannes Brahms. The March NSO Showcase opens and closes with a work by Brahms. First on the bill is the Tragic Overture, written as a contrast with its jovial companion piece, the Academic Festival Overture. The concert ends with Brahms’ so-called Haydn Variations, based on a theme that turned out not to be by Haydn after all.

Gianandrea Noseda conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in music recorded live at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and you can enjoy the concert Wednesday evening March 3 at 9 p.m. on Classical WETA, or streaming all month long on the station’s website, classicalweta.org.

March Metropolitan Operas Saturdays at 1 p.m. on Classical WETA

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By Linda Carducci, Morning On-Air Host

COURTESY METROPOLITAN OPERA

Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende in Le comte Ory

Classical WETA 90.9 FM

s thoughts turn to Spring this month, Classical WETA Opera House is pleased to showcase sunny favorites in recorded performances from the legendary stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Georges Bizet’s best-known work, Carmen, opens the month on March 6. The story of a woman whose flirtations spark passion and murder continues to captivate audiences, driven by some of the best-known melodies in opera: the Toreador Song and the spirited “Habanera,” Carmen’s view of the fickleness of love. Pablo Heras-Casado leads this 2014 performance.

Our March 13 broadcast presents the first of two Mozart operas this month: The Marriage of Figaro, a performance from 2018 conducted by early music specialist Harry Bicket. Mozart’s brilliant music and delightful arias, along with a sparkling libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, are perfect vehicles for a comedy in which cleverness and tricks join forces to outsmart a Count, sung by baritone Mariusz Kwiecien, in his amorous pursuit of Figaro’s bride. It’s a theme that continues with the March 20 broadcast of Gioachino Rossini’s bel canto farce, Le comte Ory. This 2013 production stars tenor Juan Diego Flórez as a charming Count who meets unexpected roadblocks in his quest for romance. One of Mozart’s greatest achievements, Don Giovanni, closes the month on March 27. Based on the legend of seducer and libertine Don Juan, the opera blends powerful music, drama and comedic elements to portray a scoundrel whose downfall arrives in a terrifying and fiery finale. Andrew Davis conducts a 2012 performance, and renowned baritone Gerald Finley leads an all-star cast that includes Bryn Terfel as the Don’s long-suffering servant, Leporello.

Tune in to Classical WETA Opera House each Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

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

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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.

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