APRIL 2023 MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS - New WETA series premieres Wednesday, April 26 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro Stream on the PBS App
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APRIL 2023
M AG A Z I N E FO R M E M B E R S
New WETA series premieres Wednesday, April 26
at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro
Stream on the PBS App
WETA Focus
In April, we are very proud to premiere two wonderful new television series — one for a
nationwide audience and one exclusively for viewers in the national capital area. Starting
Wednesday, April 26, we bring to PBS viewers around the country the new history series
Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein. This fascinating series is the
result of a partnership between WETA, our longtime friend David Rubenstein, and production
team Show of Force. Spotlighting American symbols, archetypes and places, the eight programs
feature David illuminating the intriguing history and changing meaning of these icons, offering
new perspective on how we tell — and retell — our American story. In each program, he travels
the country, interviewing a wide array of people, including historians, community members
and others who help further our understanding of these symbols and provide context for
their resonance. The Iconic America project includes an extensive education and outreach
component to inspire further inquiry about the nation’s history.
On April 3, we roll out our engaging new WETA local travel series Get Out of Town, which airs each Monday in
April and May, presenting great getaways within a half-day’s drive from Washington, D.C. With mother-daughter
hosts Laurita and Lauren Portee leading the way, learn about where to go, where to stay, local history, nearby
activities, and dining options. Exploring our region, the vibrant series will both entertain you and inspire you to
take to the road.
We also have several intriguing events in store for you this month.
• On April 7: We and the Arlington Public Library celebrate WETA founder Elizabeth Campbell — a truly
extraordinary Arlingtonian — at the Shirlington Library branch.
• On April 12: We present a season-ending online Finding Your Roots event that features the series’ host,
our friend and production partner Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., sharing behind-the-scenes stories.
• On April 25: WETA holds a very special in-person Iconic America preview event, offering a unique
opportunity to hear series host David Rubenstein discussing history with distinguished guests.
I hope to see you there! Enjoy all that WETA has to offer this month, and thank you for your support.
Sharon Percy Rockefeller
President and Chief Executive Officer, WETA
Attend a WETA Finding Your Roots
Virtual Event on April 12
W ETA invites you to attend a free virtual event Wednesday, April 12 at 8 p.m. that
marks the end of Season Nine of the genealogy and history series Finding Your Roots
with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This National Virtual Conversation — Finding Your
Roots Family Album: Series Highlights — surrounding the WETA co-production
and its content features the series’ host Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and senior
producer Sabin Streeter sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Season Nine and the
MCGEE MEDIA
series archive. Thomas Allen Harris, of the Family Pictures Institute for Inclusive
Storytelling, moderates the conversation. To learn more and to register for the event,
Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. visit weta.org/FYRAprilConversation.
W E TA — ON T HE AIR & ONLINE
WETA PBS WETA Metro WETA UK WETA World
26.1 via antenna 26.5 via antenna 26.2 via antenna 26.4 via antenna
Comcast 26, 219, 800, 1026 weta.org/livestream Comcast 265, 1146 Comcast 270, 1148
Cox 26, 1003, 1026 PBS App Cox 800 Cox 802
DirecTV 26, 26-1, Stream YouTube TV Fios 474 Fios 475
Dish 8076 Fios 26, 526 Fios 470 RCN 39, 602 RCN 37
RCN 26, 613 RCN 599
COVER: ICONIC AMERICA/WETA
ICONIC AMERICA
OUR SYMBOLS AND STORIES
W I T H D A V I D R U B E N S T E I N
Special Event April 25 in D.C.
RSVP Now!
W ETA members and their guests are invited to attend a free special event
illuminating the new public television history series Iconic America: Our
Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein, which premieres beginning
April 26 on WETA PBS and WETA Metro and on PBS stations nationwide.
The preview screening and discussion will take place Tuesday, April 25 at
7 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium at The George Washington University in
downtown Washington, D.C. Tickets are free but reservations are required.
The event will feature a conversation about the American people’s
shared history and how the new series uses American symbols as a gateway
to understanding the nation’s past and present. The discussion features
Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch; Librarian of Congress
Carla Hayden; and series host and executive producer David Rubenstein.
PBS NewsHour contributor and New York Times columnist David Brooks
moderates the discussion. The event will also include preview highlights
from the absorbing eight-episode series.
For event details and to RSVP, visit weta.org/iconicamericaevent.
Arlington Public Library Exhibit
on WETA Founder Elizabeth Campbell
Opens with an April 7 Event
J
oin WETA, the Arlington Public Library and the Center for Local History for
a special celebration of Elizabeth Campbell (1902-2004) — the first president of
WETA and a co-founder of the station. The free event takes place Friday, April 7,
CHAD EVANS WYATT
1-3 p.m. in the Campbell Room at the Arlington Public Library’s Shirlington branch
and will feature the opening of the Elizabeth Campbell Desk Exhibit. WETA has
donated Mrs. Campbell’s longtime office desk to the library, which has prepared
an educational exhibit about her life and her extraordinary contributions to the
Arlington community. Guest speakers will introduce the exhibit, the library will provide a children’s craft and light
refreshments and attendees can enjoy a photo op with Clifford the Big Red Dog.
A lifelong education advocate, Campbell in 1947 became the first woman to be elected to a school board in
Virginia when she won a seat on the Arlington County School Board. She served for three terms and took up the
struggle to desegregate Virginia’s public schools. Recruited to head the Greater Washington Educational Television
Association, she joined a group of visionaries that in 1961 launched WETA’s noncommercial educational television
service for the national capital area. Campbell served as the station’s president for a decade before stepping aside
to become vice president of community affairs in 1971, a position she held as an unpaid volunteer for more than
40 years, until her death at the age of 101 in 2004.
WETA and the opportunities for lifelong learning that it provides are Elizabeth Campbell’s magnificent legacy.
An educator, mother and idealist, she dared to create change in our community and succeeded. She remains an
inspiration at WETA. Please join us at Shirlington Library on April 7 to celebrate this remarkable woman.
For program and membership inquiries, visit weta.org or call 703-998-2724.
WETA PBS Kids WETA Online WETA Classical
26.3 via antenna weta.org WETA 90.9 FM Washington, D.C.
Comcast 266, 1147 weta.org/passport WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown
Cox 801 weta.org/pbsapp wetaclassical.org
Fios 472 weta.org/learningmedia vivalavoce.org
RCN 38 WETA Classical App
ICONIC AMERICA
OUR SYMBOLS AND STORIES
W I T H D A V I D R U B E N S T E I N
New WETA co-production premieres Wednesdays starting April 26
at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro and streams on the PBS App
H ow did American icons, symbols and places come to
be associated with particular ideas, take on significance,
strength of American symbols while saddened by how
little we know about them,” said Rubenstein. “Our goal
and become nearly universal in public consciousness — with this series is to explore the history and meaning
and what do changing interpretations of their meaning of these iconic symbols and to better understand the
indicate about our society? The new history series bigger issues and societal currents they reveal.”
Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Spotlighting the icons, the
Rubenstein, developed and brought to a nationwide series engages with complex
audience in partnership with WETA, seeks to find out, and difficult questions that
illuminating fascinating American history as it examines arise, probing how these
the stories behind iconic national symbols across the manifestations of our history
country and traces the arc of their resonance. are sometimes highly contested
Guiding the inquiries in the eight-episode series is as different groups invest
David Rubenstein — co-founder of The Carlyle Group, them — and at times freight
patriotic philanthropist, lifelong student of history, them — with distinct meanings.
and the series’ host and executive producer. With a The symbols that endure speak
unique mix of curiosity, engagement and wry humor, he to what a society values and
spotlights indelible artifacts, locations, and archetypes — how people see themselves, and
and how Americans identify with them. Four April and they help us to contextualize
May episodes spotlight Fenway Park, the Hollywood a nation’s shared past in the
SHOW OF FORCE
Sign, the Gadsden Flag, and the Cowboy, and an present moment.
additional four episodes in July and August feature the In the programs, Rubenstein’s
Statue of Liberty, the American Bald Eagle, Stone quest for a deeper understanding Host David Rubenstein
travels around the nation to
Mountain, and the Golden Gate Bridge. of these symbols takes him explore America’s history
In each episode, Rubenstein visits special places to an array of regions and through its iconic symbols
communities, from Boston to and places. Above, he visits
around the country to meet and engage with historical
the vault in the Library
thinkers, community members, and subject matter San Francisco and New York to of Congress.
experts. Together, they dive deeply into each symbol’s Oklahoma City. He conducts
story and how its meaning has changed over time, using interviews with historians and history makers from the
these icons as a gateway to understanding America’s worlds of sports, politics, entertainment, and academia,
past and present. including David “Big Papi” Ortiz (former Red Sox
A proponent of civics and history education in player) and Lake Iolani Stevens (Women’s Ranch Bronc
the United States, Rubenstein highlights the value of Champion); Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) and former
sharing the nation’s stories. “I’ve long been struck by the Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL); Sylvester Stallone (actor,
Iconic America
on WETA PBS & WETA Metro
(repeats Sundays at 2 p.m. on WETA PBS,
noon on WETA Metro)
“Our goal with this series is to April 26, 10 p.m. •
explore the history and meaning Fenway Park
of these iconic symbols and to Baseball is a favorite
American pastime
better understand the bigger issues and obsession, and no
and societal currents they reveal.” ballpark is more iconic
— David Rubenstein than Fenway Park,
home of the Boston Red
Sox. Experience the
story of a city’s loyalty to its team and love for its
screenwriter, and filmmaker) and Melissa Rivers (writer, ballpark through thick and thin.
host, and producer); and Hasan Kwame Jeffries (associate
professor of history at The Ohio State University) and May 3, 10 p.m. •
Michael Boulware Moore (founding president and The Hollywood Sign
former chief executive officer of the International African The Los Angeles
American Museum). landmark was erected in
Essential to the project’s goals are the robust 1923 originally as a real
engagement and education campaigns designed to estate advertisement.
encourage people of all ages to explore local history. Learn about its history
Eighteen PBS stations are developing companion and how it has become
content exploring iconic regional symbols. The Eureka, an international symbol of fame, fortune, and
California station, for example, will celebrate the the American Dream.
Redwood Tree. In Schenectady, immigration experts
and residents will discuss May 10, 10 p.m. •
New York as a place of The Gadsden Flag
refuge. Musical events in The “Don’t Tread on Me”
Nashville will highlight flag was once a potent
the experiences of BIPOC symbol of independence.
American cowboys. Discover how it has been
Some stations are co-opted by a variety of
exploring culture Americans over its long
through events history.
and digital content
celebrating iconic May 17, 10 p.m. •
foods, from the San The Cowboy
Antonio puffy taco to The cowboy is the
the delights at the Iowa quintessential American
State Fair. Inspiring a — fiercely independent,
new generation of history brave and laconic. Hear
lovers, the project is also about the myths
providing nationwide teacher trainings, virtual tours for and realities of this
classrooms, and expertly crafted lesson plans. archetype, which remains as powerful as ever in
Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David the 21st century.
Rubenstein is a production of Show of Force, DMR
Productions, and WETA. To learn more about the series,
visit the project’s website at pbs.org/iconicamerica, Upcoming episodes:
which goes live in mid-April. Engage with the series on The Statue of Liberty, Wednesday, July 12 at 10 p.m.
social media using the hashtag #IconicAmericaPBS. The American Bald Eagle, Wednesday, July 19 at 10 p.m.
Funding for Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories Stone Mountain, Wednesday, July 26 at 10 p.m.
with David Rubenstein is provided by The Zohar and Lisa The Golden Gate Bridge, Wednesday, August 2 at 10 p.m.
Ben-Dov Family through the Luminescence Foundation.
New WETA travel series airs Mondays, April 3-May 22
at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS and 8 p.m. on WETA Metro;
streams on the PBS App and weta.org
T he mid-Atlantic region is a traveler’s paradise;
within just a half-day’s drive of D.C., the possibilities for
At the heart of the new
series are its engaging
exploration and adventure are endless. With so many co-hosts, D.C.-area
enticing options and historical riches, and so much mother-daughter duo Laurita Portee and Lauren Portee.
natural beauty, it can be difficult to know where to go In the premiere episode of the series, as they pass the
— and what to do when you get there. To help inspire a lodge at Nemacolin Resort in the Laurel Highlands
memorable getaway and provide a guide to great places region of Pennsylvania, Laurita says to Lauren, “that’s
to visit, WETA has created the new local television where we stayed 15 years ago.”
series Get Out of Town. The series features road trips to It’s a little moment, easily missed, but it is part of
eight amazing areas near the nation’s capital, showcasing the unusual alchemy of Get Out of Town. The series
destinations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and is unique among travel shows — there aren’t many
West Virginia. mother-daughter hosting pairs in the travel television
From the same landscape; and the programs focus locally, spotlighting
production team places around the region that viewers can easily explore
behind If You Lived for the first time or visit again.
Here, WETA’s Enthusiastic travelers, the hosts started foraying out
popular D.C.-area on trips together in 2012. Laurita is retired, and her
house-hunting daughter Lauren recently finished a master’s of science
and neighborhood degree in occupational therapy from Howard University.
series, Get Out of As they travel by car or train to their destinations
Town recommends in the programs, they at times revisit places they’ve
places to stay, been to before but find new activities, adventures and
restaurants to try impressions awaiting them.
and activities for For example, the Richmond, Virginia episode, airing
people with all April 10, is a kind of homecoming. Laurita is a Richmond
kinds of interests native and Lauren received her BS in psychology at the
and a variety of University of Richmond. The May 8 episode takes the
First stop: Fallingwater budgets. The pair to Charlottesville and the University of Virginia
fun new WETA campus, where Laurita earned her degree in urban
production also introduces the residents, business planning — and a full scholarship for track and field.
owners, historians, guides, chefs, artists and others who So it’s no surprise that they’d meet up with family at a
make each of the road trip experiences special. Among local restaurant in Richmond or tour familiar college
the locations spotlighted are Southwest Pennsylvania; landmarks in Charlottesville, but some of their activities,
the Chesapeake Bay; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Deep from historical tours to museum visits, give them the
Creek Lake in Maryland; the Shenandoah Valley in chance to discover how much has changed, and how
Virginia; and Philadelphia. much there is to do, even for returning visitors.
DESTINATIONS:
April 3: Laurel Highlands, PA
Hosts Laurita and Lauren drive to southwest
Pennsylvania to visit the Laurel Highlands region,
where they soak up views of rolling hills, world-
famous architecture like Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Fallingwater, and local food and history.
April 10: Richmond, VA
Just a quick and affordable train ride away,
Richmond, Virginia offers the hosts an art- and
culture-filled adventure that includes museum
visits, bike tours and delicious food.
April 17: St. Michaels, MD
Laurita and Lauren take to the water in the
seaport town of St. Michaels, Maryland. They
learn to sail, explore the Chesapeake Bay
Maritime Museum and crack local crabs for
dinner.
No matter where
they go, though, Laurita April 24: Deep Creek Lake, MD
and Lauren share an Mountain and water views abound on a visit to
infectious joy for getting Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, where the hosts’
out and exploring adventures include paddle boarding, kayaking
together. They have and roller coaster rides.
different tastes in
lodging; Lauren May 1: Harpers Ferry, WV
prefers hotels and their Laurita and Lauren enjoy a thrilling and tasty visit
amenities while her to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia; their adventures
mother loves quaint include river rafting and bread-making.
bed-and-breakfasts in
small towns. Both are May 8: Charlottesville, VA
“foodies” and enjoy A visit to Charlottesville, Virginia, offers a new
everything from a perspective on Laurita’s former college town,
crab feast in St. Michaels, Maryland, to cheesesteaks in as well as horseback riding, a visit to a nearby
Philadelphia. And on their adventures, they push each vineyard and a poignant personal tour of
other out of their respective comfort zones, especially Monticello.
when it comes to trying outdoor activities such as river
rafting, kayaking, and urban bike tours. May 15: Philadelphia, PA
In each episode, Laurita and Lauren’s excitement Cheesesteaks and history — plus a run up the
to be out on the road together and the intriguing famous Rocky steps — are on the itinerary as the
destinations they visit are an invitation to WETA viewers hosts visit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
to get out of town themselves, without ever having to
get on a plane. Tune in to Get Out of Town each Monday May 22: Shenandoah Valley, VA
from April 3 through May 22 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS The mountains are calling in the season finale,
and 8 p.m. on WETA Metro. Episodes will be available which features Laurita and Lauren enjoying
each week to stream on the PBS app and at weta.org. scenic views from high atop Skyline Drive and
deep in Luray Caverns.
Dramas in April
Sundays, 8-11 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro;
Thursdays on WETA PBS
T
COURTESY MAMMOTH SCREEN/MASTERPIECE
his month, the stellar Sunday-night drama lineup continues, as more new
episodes of popular offerings Call the Midwife (8 p.m.) and Sanditon on
Masterpiece (9 p.m.), and new presentation Marie Antoinette (10 p.m.),
premiere on WETA PBS and WETA Metro. Stream the programs with WETA
Passport. Call the Midwife and Marie Antoinette continue into May, but after
Sanditon concludes, on April 30 at 9 p.m. the new Masterpiece production
Tom Jones enters the drama bloc. The May WETA Magazine (in homes in
Tom Jones premieres April 30
late April) will spotlight the new series, but plan to tune in for the four-part
adaptation of Henry Fielding’s classic novel, which follows the tale of a young man’s love for a wealthy heiress in
18th-century England. The cast includes (above) Sophie Wilde as Sophia Western and Solly McLeod as Tom Jones —
alongside Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), James Fleet, Shirley Henderson, Alun Armstrong, and a host of others.
On Thriller Thursdays in April, enjoy more classic episodes of Agatha Christie’s Marple, featuring Julia McKenzie
(Cranford) in the iconic role of ultra-perceptive sleuth Miss Marple — joined by guest stars from the pantheon of U.K.
acting greats. WETA PBS presents weekly double features of the mystery series.
Rubell Museum, Molly Smith
and More on WETA Arts
Monday, April 3 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS;
8:30 p.m. on WETA Metro; stream on the PBS App
H
osted by Felicia Curry, the April episode of WETA’s
RUBELL MUSEUM
local arts showcase WETA Arts visits a new museum,
meets an activist artist, and spotlights the outgoing artistic
director of Arena Stage. First, tour the Rubell Museum,
Rubell Museum DC
a new contemporary art museum located in Southwest
D.C. Internationally renowned art collectors Don and Mera Rubell and their son Jason Rubell
discuss their passion for art and the mission behind their museum. Next, meet aerialist, weaver,
and installation artist Kirsty Little. Originally from London, Little now makes art inspired by
feminist themes in her Mt. Rainier, Maryland studio. Then Felicia Curry visits the Arena Stage
theater in Southwest D.C. to interview the company’s long-time artistic director, Molly Smith,
who is retiring at the end of this theater season after 25 years and over 200 productions.
TONY POWELL
WETA Arts repeats April 17 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS; 8:30 p.m. weekly on WETA Metro.
Arena Stage’s Molly Smith
Great Performances:
Now Hear This, Series 4
Fridays at 9 p.m. in April on WETA PBS & WETA Metro;
stream on the PBS App
A
n ongoing Great Performances miniseries presents more musical explorations
COURTESY ARCOS FILMS
with host Scott Yoo (left), renowned violinist and conductor of the Mexico City
Philharmonic. Airing on Friday nights in April, Now Hear This merges music,
storytelling, travel and culture, as Yoo chases the secret histories of some of the
greatest music ever written. Piazzolla’s History with Tango (April 7) visits
Buenos Aires, Argentina with Yoo and flutist Alice Dade to explore the evolution of composer Astor Piazzolla’s work
and the tango music genre itself as it becomes fused with jazz. Schumann: Genius and Madness (April 14) visits
Scotland, Germany and France with Yoo as he investigates the connection between composer Robert Schumann’s
bipolar disorder and creative genius. In Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound (April 21), experience the creation of music
from the Japanese American composer using “found” instruments. And in Albéniz: Portraits of Spain (April 28),
discover the inspirations Spain provided composer Isaac Albéniz — with Yoo, Scottish Grammy-winning guitarist David
Russell, and musicians from Albéniz’s birthplace in the Pyrenees mountains as well as Sevilla, Mallorca and elsewhere.
6 APRIL 2023 • Stream select programs via the PBS App.
My Grandparents’ War, Series 2
Tuesdays, April 11-May 2 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro;
stream on the PBS App
F ollowing on the May 2022 episodes of Series 1, a new season of
My Grandparents’ War features a new quartet of celebrities retracing
the footsteps of their elders and learning how World War II changed
COURTESY ©WONDERHOOD STUDIOS/
the lives of their families and the world. On April 11, follow actor
Kit Harington, who has played soldiers, spies and warriors, as he
ALL3MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
discovers that his grandparents played comparable roles in their
real lives during the war; he gains a new appreciation of their courage
and sacrifice. On April 18, follow actor Keira Knightley as she
learns of the extraordinary triumphs and tragedies her grandparents
faced during some of the biggest conflicts of World War II. In the
April 25 episode, watch actor Toby Jones uncover the stories of his maternal grandparents, who rarely spoke
about their wartime hardships when he was growing up. Wrapping up Season 2, the May 2 episode features singer-
songwriter Emeli Sandé discovering her grandparents’ wartime courage spanning World War II, the Mau Mau
insurgency in Kenya, and the fight for independence in Zambia.
La Frontera with Pati Jinich,
Series 2 COURTESY DARREN DURLACH/©MEXICAN TABLE LLC
Mondays, April 3, 10 & 17, 10 p.m. on WETA PBS;
stream on the PBS App
I n a new season of the engaging culinary travel program, visit the U.S.
borderlands with James Beard Award-winning chef Pati Jinich as she
experiences the region’s culture, people and cuisine. Jinich, a resident of
the national capital area, resident chef of the Mexican Cultural Institute
in Washington, and cookbook author, produces and hosts Pati’s Mexican
Table, the culinary series that airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. on WETA PBS and
weekdays in the 1 p.m. hour on WETA Metro. In the new season of La Frontera, Jinich travels in Southern California
and Baja, Arizona and Sonora, and New Mexico and Chihuahua, sharing meals with “fronterizos” — borderlanders
— from all walks of life and reflecting on the melding of cultures. The three episodes, Fronterizos of the Golden
Coast (April 3); Ancient Seeds & Desert Ghosts (April 10) and Back to the Middle (April 17) demystify the
borderland communities and illuminate the soul of each region.
Smith
American History Night
H. ARMSTRONG ROBERTS/CLASSICSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Documentaries
Saturdays on WETA PBS
I n Saturday-night American history programming in April, WETA PBS
features American Experience films that illuminate the nation’s stories
across a variety of eras and topics:
• Taken Hostage (April 1 & 8, 8 p.m.), revisits the 1979-1981 Iran
hostage crisis, when 52 Americans were held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in
Tehran during the Carter administration.
• The Murder of Emmett Till (April 15, 8 p.m.), a film by Stanley Nelson, spotlights the horrific 1955 killing of a
14-year-old Black youth in Mississippi.
• Zoot Suit Riots (April 15, 9 p.m.) revisits 1940s L.A., when racial tensions led to riots and violence.
• Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America (April 22, 8 p.m.) explores how the advent of car
travel brought mobility and freedom for Black Americans but also exposed them to discrimination and violence.
• The American Diplomat (April 29, 8 p.m.) examines how three Black ambassadors — Edward R. Dudley,
Terence Todman and Carl Rowan — broke racial barriers at the U.S. State Department during the Cold War.
• The Codebreaker (April 29, 9 p.m.) spotlights Elizebeth Friedman, a pioneering U.S. government cryptanalyst.
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 7
NOVA: Weathering the Future
& Chasing Carbon Zero
Wednesdays, April 5, 12 & 26 at 9 p.m.
on WETA PBS & WETA Metro;
stream on the PBS App
M
COURTESY NASA
arking the celebration of Earth Day this month, science
series NOVA presents climate related programs, including two
premieres. In Weathering the Future (April 12), the series
explores how, as extreme weather in the U.S. affects more people — with longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms,
megafires and droughts — Americans are responding by marshaling ancient wisdom and innovating new solutions.
In Chasing Carbon Zero (April 26), NOVA investigates what it will take for the U.S. to reach net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050 and avoid the biggest impacts of climate change. The program spotlights tangible solutions,
from expanding the availability of renewable energy options, to designing more energy-efficient buildings, and
revolutionizing the transportation sector.
Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas of concern — controlling methane flowing into the atmosphere
might be one of the strongest levers in curbing global warming in the near-term. Tune in to encore NOVA episode
Arctic Sinkholes (April 5), in which scientists investigate the implications of evidence that rapidly melting soil in the
Arctic is releasing vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The Sun Queen: American Experience
Tuesday, April 4 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro;
stream on the PBS App
A
RALPH MORSE/THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/SHUTTERSTOCK
new film by Amanda Pollak explores the life of solar energy pioneer Mária Telkes,
a Hungarian-American chemical engineer and inventor who for nearly 50 years applied
her prodigious intellect to harnessing the power of the sun. She designed and built
the world’s first successfully solar-heated modern residence (the Dover Sun House in
Dover, Massachusetts); identified a promising new chemical that, for the first time,
could store solar heat like a battery; and created a solar-power oven that is still in use.
And yet, along the way, she was undercut and thwarted by her boss and colleagues
— all men — at MIT. Despite these obstacles, Telkes persevered and, upon her death
in 1995, held more than 20 patents. She is now recognized as a pioneer in the field of
sustainable energy. A largely forgotten heroine, Telkes was remarkable in her vision
and tenacity — a scientist and a woman in every way ahead of her time. Her research and innovations from the 1930s
through the 1970s continue to shape how we power our lives today.
Changing Planet, Series 2
Wednesday, April 19 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS &
WETA Metro; stream on the PBS App
A
COURTESY JENNIFER JONES/BBC STUDIOS
year after the series Changing Planet presented a global
environmental health check of bellweather biomes, the program
returns for a second season to revisit six of the planet’s most vulnerable
ecosystems and catch up with the inspiring people introduced in the
first season: scientists and local experts fighting to safeguard their
communities and wildlife and charting the progress of their game-
changing environmental projects. Join host and conservation scientist
Dr. M. Sanjayan — above in Australia’s outback — to meet people who deepen our understanding of these habitats
and introduce new potential solutions to combat the effects of the climate crisis. The series will monitor climate
change in the six iconic locations around the world each year over a total of seven years, revisiting each to mark
Earth Day. Sanjayan, who has reported for CBS News and collaborates with BBC and PBS, is chief executive officer of
non-profit environmental organization Conservation International, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
8 APRIL 2023 • Stream select programs via the PBS App.Stream with WETA Passport
Stream your favorite shows with WETA Passport, a member benefit that offers
access to a vast library of superb programs available for streaming on demand.
To learn how to access programming with WETA Passport, visit weta.org/passporthelp.
MAMMOTH SCREEN AND MASTERPIECE
PBS
Before We Die, Series 2 Tom Jones on Masterpiece
Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey) and Vincent Regan star A drama starring Solly McLeod reimagines the classic
in the UK version of this crime series, set in Bristol. Henry Fielding novel, following the title character’s
Binge-watch 5 new Season 2 episodes with WETA complicated journey to finding real love. Binge-watch
Passport as of April 10 (and 6 Season 1 episodes). 4 episodes with WETA Passport starting April 30.
WALTER’S CHOICE
WALTER’S CHOICE
Nina, Series 1 & 2 Dicte, Series 1
A French hospital drama stars Annelise Hesme (right) A Danish series stars Iben Hjejle (High Fidelity) as
as a nurse trainee who must overcome obstacles in her a crime reporter who has returned to her hometown
private life, as a mother, and at her hospital workplace. to start a new life after a divorce. Binge-watch 10
Binge-watch 18 episodes now with WETA Passport. Season 1 episodes now with WETA Passport.
WALTER’S CHOICE
ITV
Inspector Ricciardi, Series 1 Inspector Lewis, Series 1-8
Lino Guanciale stars in the Italian crime drama as Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox star in the popular
a police detective in 1930s Naples who can see and Oxford-set spin-off of the classic Inspector Morse
hear the ghosts of people who have died violently. detective series based on Colin Dexter’s novels.
Binge-watch 6 episodes now with WETA Passport. Binge-watch 36 episodes now with WETA Passport.
Also streaming with WETA Passport are a vast selection of episodes of science series Nature and NOVA,
history series American Experience and Secrets of the Dead, and public affairs series Frontline.
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 9Primetime
WETA PBS in April
Visit weta.org/schedule for the most up-to-date schedule information. Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
Taken Hostage: American Experience (Pt 1 of 2) Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
1 Sat Series 9 (Hidden Kin)
Call the Midwife, Series 12 (Pt 3 of 8) Sanditon on Masterpiece, Series 3 Marie Antoinette
2 Sun (Pt 3 of 6) (Pt 3 of 8. Pick a Princess)
Antiques Roadshow: Idaho Botanical Get Out of Town: WETA Arts La Frontera with Pati Jinich, Series 2
3 Mon Garden (Hour 1) Laurel Highlands, PA (Pt 1 of 3. Fronterizos of the Golden Coast)
Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The Sun Queen: American Experience Frontline: America and the Taliban
4 Tue Series 9 (Out of the Past ) (Pt 1 of 3)
Nature: Remarkable Rabbits NOVA: Arctic Sinkholes Secrets of the Dead:
5 Wed Leonardo, The Man Who Saved Science
Agatha Christie’s Marple: Murder Is Easy Agatha Christie’s Marple: They Do It With Mirrors
6 Thu
Washington Week History with David Great Performances: Now Hear This Art in the Twenty-First Century:
7 Fri Rubenstein, Season 4
(Ada Ferrer )
(Piazzolla’s History with Tango) Everyday Icons
Taken Hostage: American Experience (Pt 2 of 2) Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
8 Sat Series 9 (Salem’s Lot )
Call the Midwife, Series 12 (Pt 4 of 8) Sanditon on Masterpiece, Series 3 Marie Antoinette
9 Sun (Pt 4 of 6) (Pt 4 of 8. Queen of France)
Antiques Roadshow: Idaho Botanical Get Out of Town: American Anthems La Frontera with Pati Jinich, Series 2
10 Mon Garden (Hour 2) Richmond, VA (Ep 1) (Pt 2 of 3. Ancient Seeds & Desert Ghosts)
Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., My Grandparents’ War: Series 2 Frontline: America and the Taliban
11 Tue Encore: Country Roots (Kit Harington) (Pt 2 of 3)
Nature: The Hummingbird Effect NOVA: Weathering the Future The Earthshot Prize 2022
12 Wed
Agatha Christie’s Marple: Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Pale Horse
13 Thu
Washington Week History with David Great Performances: Now Hear This Next at the Kennedy Center:
14 Fri Rubenstein, Season 4
(Ian W. Toll )
(Schumann: Genius and Madness) Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón
The Murder of Emmett Till: Zoot Suit Riots: Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
15 Sat American Experience American Experience Series 9 (Secret Lives)
Call the Midwife, Series 12 (Pt 5 of 8) Sanditon on Masterpiece, Series 3 Marie Antoinette (Pt 5 of 8. Rebel Queen)
16 Sun (Pt 5 of 6)
Antiques Roadshow: Idaho Botanical Get Out of Town: WETA Arts La Frontera with Pati Jinich, Series 2
17 Mon Garden (Hour 3) St. Michaels, MD (Pt 3 of 3. Back to the Middle)
Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., My Grandparents’ War: Series 2 How Saba Kept Singing
18 Tue Encore: Slave Trade (Keira Knightley )
Nature: Niagara Falls Changing Planet, Series 2
19 Wed
Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Secret of Chimneys Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Blue Geranium
20 Thu
Washington Week History with David Great Performances: Now Hear This Next at the Kennedy Center: Continuum:
21 Fri Rubenstein, Season 4
(Simon Winchester )
(Andy Akiho Found [his] Sound) Jason Moran & Christian McBride
Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
22 Sat Series 9 (Far From Home)
Call the Midwife, Series 12 (Pt 6 of 8) Sanditon on Masterpiece, Series 3 Marie Antoinette
23 Sun (Pt 6 of 6) (Pt 6 of 8. Deus Ex Machina)
Antiques Roadshow: Shelburne Museum Get Out of Town: American Anthems Independent Lens: Free Chol Soo Lee
24 Mon (Hour 1) Deep Creek Lake, MD (Ep 2) (to 11:30pm)
Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., My Grandparents’ War: Series 2 Frontline: America and the Taliban
25 Tue Encore: Fashion’s Roots (Toby Jones) (Pt 3 of 3)
Nature: Treasure of the Caribbean NOVA: Chasing Carbon Zero Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories
26 Wed w/ David Rubenstein (Ep 1. Fenway Park)
Agatha Christie’s Marple: The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side Agatha Christie’s Marple: A Caribbean Mystery
27 Thu
Washington Week History with David Great Performances: Now Hear This International Jazz Day from the United
28 Fri Rubenstein, Season 4
(Lien-Hang T. Nguyen)
(Albeniz: Portraits of Spain) Nations
The American Diplomat: The Codebreaker: American Experience Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,
29 Sat American Experience Series 9 (Rising From the Ashes)
Call the Midwife, Series 12 (Pt 7 of 8) Tom Jones on Masterpiece (Pt 1 of 4) Marie Antoinette (Pt 7 of 8. The Ostrich)
30 Sun
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.
Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).
PBS News Weekend airs Sat./Sun. at 6 p.m.
10 APRIL 2023 • Stream select programs via the PBS App.TV Listings
WETA PBS in April
Listings are accurate as of press time. For latest schedules, visit weta.org/schedule 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 information.
Program Key
Blue type — WETA productions, co-productions and presentations. R — Repeat of recent programming.
2 Sunday
6AM-9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING
9AM WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE
JOSS BARRATT ©RED PLANET (SANDITON 3) LTD
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 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: LADY SAPIENS — The history
series spotlights new science and research about pre-
historic women. R
1:00 JONI MITCHELL: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSH-
Sundays at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro
WIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG — In this WETA co-
production, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell receives
The final season of Masterpiece drama Sanditon (above) continues
the 2023 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popu-
through April 23; additional Sunday dramas Call the Midwife (8 p.m.) lar Song at an all-star tribute filmed at DAR Constitu-
and Marie Antoinette (10 p.m.) continue into the first week of May. tion Hall on March 1 in Washington, D.C. Performers
included James Taylor, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox,
Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Marcus Mumford, Gra-
1 Saturday ham Nash, Diana Krall, Angélique Kidjo, Ledisi, and
Lucius. R
6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 2:30 GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: LA TRAVIATA —
6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R The new Met production of Verdi’s beloved tragedy
7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R stars soprano Nadine Sierra as Violetta, the consump-
8AM JOSEPH ROSENDO’S TRAVELSCOPE tive heroine fighting to find true happiness. Tenor Ste-
8:30 RICK STEVES’ EUROPE phen Costello portrays Violetta’s ardent yet impetuous
9AM THIS OLD HOUSE + ASK THIS OLD HOUSE lover, Alfredo, and baritone Luca Salsi rounds out the
10AM IT’S ACADEMIC — See tonight’s 7 p.m. listing. principal cast as Alfredo’s disapproving father.
10:30 MOTOR WEEK 5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES — A talk show hosted by
11AM HOW SHE ROLLS award-winning journalist, civil rights icon, and intel-
11:30 KEVIN BELTON’S COOKIN’ LOUISIANA lectual influencer Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. features
12N A CHEF’S LIFE interviews with thought leaders.
12:30 CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION 5:30 A SEAT AT THE TABLE — A talk show series featuring
1:00 NICK STELLINO: STORYTELLER hosts Denene Millner, Monica Pearson and Christine
1:30 LIDIA’S KITCHEN White gives voice to African American women’s diverse
2:00 IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS experiences, perspectives and challenges.
2:30 SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS 6:00 PBS NEWS WEEKEND — John Yang anchors. Repeats
3:00 JOANNE WEIR’S PLATES AND PLACES Monday, 7am
3:30 NEW SCANDINAVIAN COOKING 6:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 —
4:00 COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN Episode 10 of 10. Lynne Cheney. R
4:30 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED 7:00 TELL ME MORE WITH KELLY CORRIGAN — In this WETA
5:00 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE presentation, New York Times bestselling author Kelly
5:30 SAMANTHA BROWN’S PLACES TO LOVE Corrigan interviews influential people. Lisa Feldman
6:00 PBS NEWS WEEKEND — John Yang anchors. Barrett, Neuroscientist; plus a Series 3 encore.
6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 8:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE, SERIES 12 — Part 3 of 8. As she sets
7:00 IT’S ACADEMIC — The TV quiz show showcases the aca- about helping a mother whose newborn baby is suffer-
demic achievements of local D.C.-area high school stu- ing from a clotting disorder, Nancy is harboring a secret
dents. Journalist Hillary Howard hosts. Competing this of her own. Sister Veronica meets a newlywed on her
week are Einstein, Bishop Ireton and Loudoun Valley rounds, and the case shocks the women of Nonnatus
high schools. R epeats 11pm tonight; Mondays, 3pm house.
on WETA PBS, 7pm on WETA Metro 9:00 SANDITON ON MASTERPIECE, SERIES 3 — The third and
7:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — final season of the drama — based on Jane Austen’s
Episode 10 of 10. Lynne Cheney. R final, incomplete novel — continues. Part 3 of 6. The day
8:00 TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Revisit the of Georgiana’s trial arrives, and she gets a surprise visit
Iran hostage crisis, when 52 Americans were held hos- from an old friend. Colbourne’s shooting party goes
tage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Part 1 of 2. Explore ahead, and as he gets closer to Lydia, Charlotte must
how America’s quarter-century of unwavering support confront all that she’s lost.
for its ally, the Shah of Iran, set the stage for the crisis 10:00 MARIE ANTOINETTE — Transforming from a Dauphine
after the violent Islamic revolution that overthrew him to the Queen of Style, Marie Antoinette must learn the
in 1979. Repeats midnight; Sun 4/2, 11pm rules of the Court and attempt to recreate Versailles
10:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., in her image. But her successes provoke jealousy and
SERIES 9 — Encore episode: Hidden Kin (Julia Roberts rivalry. Part 3 of 8. Pick a Princess. The Royal Family
and Edward Norton). goes on holiday at Fontainebleau. Marie Antoinette
11:00 IT’S ACADEMIC — See the 7 p.m. listing. R discovers du Barry’s plan to welcome Provence’s
11:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — betrothed. Antoinette’s escalating hostilities with du
Episode 10 of 10. Lynne Cheney. R Barry threaten her relationship with the King.
12M TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 1 of 2. 11:00 TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 1 of 2.
R R
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 11Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Ameri
cans. Episode 10 of 10. Out of the Past. Gates uncov
ers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera
Mowry-Housley, traveling back generations to recount
significant events in history — from the American Revo
lution to the journey of the Mayflower — in a deeply
personal way. Repeats Sun 4/9, 4pm
9:00 THE SUN QUEEN: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Learn
about inventor Mária Telkes, who spent nearly 50 years
exploring how to harness the sun’s power. Battling sex
ism at MIT, she persevered to design the first success
fully solar-heated house in 1948 and held more than 20
patents.
10:00 FRONTLINE: AMERICA AND THE TALIBAN — Frontline
investigates how America’s 20-year investment in
Afghanistan culminated in Taliban victory. Drawing on
decades of on-the-ground reporting, and interviews
GET OUT OF TOWN with Taliban and U.S. officials, the program reports
A WETA PRODUCTION on missteps and consequences. Part 1 of 3. Part 2 airs
April 11. Part 3 airs April 25.
Mondays at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS, 8 p.m. on WETA Metro
New WETA local travel series Get Out of Town begins April 3 with a
trip to Laurel Highlands, PA, where mother-daughter hosts Laurita
5 Wednesday
Portee and Lauren Portee tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
8:00 NATURE: REMARKABLE RABBITS — There are more
than 100 domestic and wild kinds of rabbits and hares,
3 Monday from snowshoe hares to Flemish giants. Despite their
remarkable ability to reproduce, many wild rabbits are
in danger of being eradicated.
WEEKDAYS IN APRIL: 9:00 NOVA: ARCTIC SINKHOLES — Scientists investigate
6AM NHK NEWSLINE colossal explosions in Siberia and other evidence
6:30AM BBC NEWS that rapidly melting soil in the Arctic is releasing vast
7AM (Mondays:) PBS NEWS WEEKEND amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What
7:30 (Mondays:) WASHINGTON WEEK — R are the implications for our climate future?
7AM (Tuesdays-Saturdays:) PBS NEWSHOUR — R 10:00 SECRETS OF THE DEAD: LEONARDO, THE MAN WHO
8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING SAVED SCIENCE — Leonardo da Vinci is well known
3PM (Mondays:) IT’S ACADEMIC for his inventions as well as his art. But new evidence
5PM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Rpt of previous night shows that many of his ideas were realized long before
6PM BBC NEWS he sketched them out in his notebooks — some even
6:30 BBC NEWS AMERICA 1,700 years before. Where did his concepts come from?
7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Each weeknight, the WETA pro
duction provides in-depth analysis of current events
with a news summary, live studio interviews and 6 Thursday
discussions of domestic and international issues.
Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett anchor. Visit 8:00 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: MURDER IS EASY — Julia
pbs.org/newshour. Rpts next day, 7am McKenzie stars as perceptive sleuth Miss Marple in
adaptations of Agatha Christie mysteries. During a
8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN, chance encounter on a train, elderly Miss Pinkerton
HOUR 1 — Gem State treasures sparkle at Idaho Botani confides in Miss Marple that she is going to Scotland
cal Garden, including a discovery worth up to $80,000. Yard to report a murderer who has struck several times
9:00 GET OUT OF TOWN — Mother-daughter duo Laurita and in a peaceful village. When Marple later reads that
Lauren Portee host this new WETA travel and adven Pinkerton died in a tragic accident before making her
ture series that offers a guide to getaways to delightful report, Miss Marple determines that she herself must
destinations within a half-day’s drive of Washington, find the killer.
D.C. Episode 1 of 8: Laurel Highlands, PA. The hosts 9:30 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: THEY DO IT WITH MIR-
drive to Southwest Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands to RORS — Julia McKenzie stars. Sensing danger sur
soak up views, world-class architecture and local his rounding her sister Carrie-Louise, Ruth Van Rydock
tory. They stay at Oak Lodge and Falling Rock at Nema enlists the help of old friend Miss Marple. However,
colin, enjoy local meals at The Darlington Inn and Out after Carrie-Louise’s step-brother is murdered during
of the Fire Café, and take a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s a dress rehearsal of an amateur stage show, Miss Mar
Fallingwater. The adventure includes summer tubing, ple has to draw from her deep understanding of human
mini golf, and meeting some local animals. character to unpick the conjuring trick played out by the
9:30 WETA ARTS — This month on WETA Arts, tour the Rubell murderer — and reveal their identity. (90 min.)
Museum — a new contemporary art museum in South
west D.C. — and meet its founders; get to know aerialist,
weaver, and installation artist Kirsty Little at her Mt.
Rainier, Maryland studio; and hear from Molly Smith,
the artistic director of Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage.
Repeats Sun 4/9, 3:30pm; Mon 4/17, 9:30pm
10:00 LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH, SERIES 2 — Savor
the sights, sounds and flavors of the U.S.-Mexico bor
derlands alongside chef Pati Jinich in a new season
of explorations. Part 1 of 3. Fronterizos of the Golden
Coast. Jinich travels the California part of the border,
meeting the people of the Golden Coast to experience
the melding of cultures, cross-border collaborations,
and the region’s explosive growth.
11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Capping primetime pro
gramming each weeknight, Christiane Amanpour leads
conversations with global thought leaders on contem
COURTESY ITV
porary issues. Repeats next weekday, 5pm
4 Tuesday Thursdays at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS
WETA Thriller Thursdays present more Agatha Christie’s Marple
8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., episodes. Above: Julia McKenzie stars as Miss Marple alongside
SERIES 9 — In the season-ending episode of this WETA Benedict Cumberbatch in the adaptation Murder Is Easy (April 6).
co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates,
12 APRIL 2023 • Stream select programs via the PBS App.9 Sunday
6AM-12N See the Sunday, April 2 listings.
12N GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS:
PIAZZOLLA’S HISTORY WITH TANGO — R
1:00 ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY — R
2:00 AMERICA’S REQUIEM: A KNEE ON THE NECK — A concert
program honors the legacy of George Floyd with Adol-
phus Hailstork’s A Knee on The Neck, composed around
the poetry of Dr. Herbert Martin and performed by the
National Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorale under the
direction of Maestro Piotr Gajewski and Chorus Mas-
ter Eugene Rogers. Participating are members of The
Washington Chorus and the Howard University Chorale,
A WETA PRESENTATION featuring J’Nai Bridges, Norman Shankle, and Kenneth
Overton. The program concludes with Mozart’s Requiem
7:30 p.m. Sundays starting April 9 on WETA PBS in D Minor, featuring Janai Brugger. Rpts 4/10, 5pm
Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan enters Season 5 with new episodes 3:30 WETA ARTS — R
featuring the New York Times bestselling author conducting more 4:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.,
SERIES 9 — Episode 10 of 10. Out of the Past. R
interviews with influential guests. The April 9 program features
5:00 THE CHAVIS CHRONICLES
author Michael Lewis (“Moneyball,” “The Big Short” and more).
5:30 A SEAT AT THE TABLE
6:00 PBS NEWS WEEKEND — John Yang anchors. R epeats
Monday, 7am
7 Friday 6:30 CELEBRITY ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP — British celebrities
compete in a search for antiques that will win biggest at
8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — WETA’s weekly production auction. Accompanied by experts, they traverse Great
presents a roundtable discussion with award-winning Britain looking for treasures. Episode 1. Phyllis Logan
journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the and Kevin McNally. Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan goes
major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit head-to-head with her husband, film star Kevin McNally.
pbs.org/washingtonweek. R epeats Sat 4/8, 6am, They travel through Kent in search of great finds.
6:30pm; Mon 4/10, 7:30am 7:30 TELL ME MORE WITH KELLY CORRIGAN, SERIES 5 — In a
8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — new season of this WETA presentation, New York Times
WETA Television
David Rubenstein discusses history with acclaimed bestselling author Kelly Corrigan interviews influential
scholars and authors, uncovering the evolution of the people. Episode 1, Michael Lewis, author and financial
American story and offering a sense of how history gets journalist.
made. Episode 1 of 10. Ada Ferrer. The Pulitzer Prize- 8:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE, SERIES 12 — Part 4 of 8. Nurse
winning author and historian unravels the complex Crane is shocked when her fitness comes into question
intertwining of the U.S. and Cuba’s foreign policy and during a ventouse training course; Trixie cares for a
domestic affairs, from proxy conflicts during the Cold Hindu mother and her newborn twins; and a stomach
War, to how Cuban-American relations are used as a flu outbreak afflicts the maternity home.
cipher for a president’s foreign policy. R
epeats Sat 4/8, 9:00 SANDITON ON MASTERPIECE, SERIES 3 — Part 4 of 6.
7:30pm, 11:30pm Charlotte attempts to distance herself from Colbourne,
9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS: PIAZ- but as they are repeatedly thrown into each other’s
ZOLLA’S HISTORY WITH TANGO — In a new season of orbit, their chemistry grows along with Ralph’s suspi-
the music exploration series, tango to Buenos Aires, cions. Meanwhile, Georgiana is unraveling.
Argentina with host Scott Yoo and flutist Alice Dade 10:00 MARIE ANTOINETTE — Part 4 of 8. Queen of France.
to explore the evolution of composer Astor Piazzolla’s Marie Antoinette and Louis are about to make their
work and the tango music genre itself as it becomes first official visit to Paris. But the King becomes ill and
fused with jazz across time and numerous instruments. succession becomes a reality. Du Barry knows that she
Repeats Sun 4/9, noon needs to protect herself from the future Queen of France.
10:00 ART IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: EVERYDAY 11:00 TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Pt 2 of 2. R
ICONS — Four contemporary artists breathe new life
into some of humanity’s oldest artforms, icons and
monuments, creating paintings, sculptures and films 10 Monday
out of everyday objects and popular culture. Artists in
the spotlight include Michelle Obama portrait painter 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Weeknights. Visit pbs.org/newshour.
Amy Sherald. R epeats Sun 4/9, 1pm Repeats next day, 7am
8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN,
8 Saturday HOUR 2 — See breathtaking appraisals at Idaho Botani-
cal Garden; one is up to $40,000.
6AM-6PM See the Saturday, April 1 listings.
6:00 PBS NEWS WEEKEND — John Yang anchors.
6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R
7:00 IT’S ACADEMIC — The TV quiz show showcases the
academic achievements of local D.C.-area high school
students. Journalist Hillary Howard hosts. Competing
this week are Centreville, Fairfax and Wheaton high
schools. Repeats 11pm tonight; Mondays, 3pm on
WETA PBS, 7pm on WETA Metro
7:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — Ada
Ferrer. R
8:00 TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 2 of 2.
Through riveting accounts from hostages, journalists
and officials, learn how Iran held 52 hostages at the
ELMAN STUDIO
American embassy in Tehran from November 1979
to January 1981 — a defining crisis of Jimmy Carter’s
presidency. R epeats midnight; Sun 4/9, 11pm
10:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.,
SERIES 9 — Encore episode: Salem’s Lot (Claire Danes Sunday, April 9 at 2 p.m. on WETA PBS
and Jeff Daniels). National Philharmonic performs A Knee on The Neck, composer
11:00 IT’S ACADEMIC — See the 7 p.m. listing. R Dr. Adolphus Hailstork’s tribute to the life and loss of George Floyd.
11:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — Ada Piotr Gajewski conducted the 2022 world premiere at The Music Center
Ferrer. R at Strathmore by the National Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorale,
12M TAKEN HOSTAGE: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Part 2 of 2. Washington Chorus, Howard University Chorale, and soloists.
R
For full schedules and program information, visit weta.org. 139:00 GET OUT OF TOWN — Mother-daughter duo Laurita and
Lauren Portee host this new WETA travel and adven-
ture series that offers a guide to getaways to delightful
destinations within a half-day’s drive of Washington,
D.C. Episode 2 of 8: Richmond, VA. Just a quick and
affordable train ride away, Richmond offers Laurita and
Lauren an art- and culture-filled adventure. They tour
TRES DE JUNIO, COSTA RICA. CREDIT: ©FILIPE DEANDRADE
the Poe Museum and the Virginia Museum of History
and Culture and take an art and history bike tour with
Basket and Bike. Along the way, they stay at the Linden
Row Inn and the Quirk Hotel and Art Gallery, and enjoy
meals at Lillie Pearl and Wong Gonzalez.
9:30 AMERICAN ANTHEMS — Country music stars write and
perform songs celebrating the inspiring efforts of indi-
viduals facing extraordinary circumstances. Episode 1.
Grammy-winner Jennifer Nettles meets Seth Grumet
— founder of Stomp the Monster, which he started dur-
ing chemotherapy — and she creates a soaring anthem
about his life.
10:00 LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH, SERIES 2 — Part 2 of 3.
Ancient Seeds & Desert Ghosts. Jinich travels along
both sides of the Arizona-Sonora border through some Wednesday, April 12 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro
of the most untouched places in North America. She Nature episode The Hummingbird Effect explores the biodiversity of
hunts for an ancient chile, visits a ghost town, drops Costa Rica through a look at its beloved, vital creatures. The tiny
water for migrants, and more. birds are a key species for the ecosystem’s flora and fauna.
11 Tuesday mailed by Gorman moments before his death, she deter-
mines to find justice for her friend. A clue leads her to the
Pale Horse, an inn run by modern-day witches. (90 min.)
8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. —
In this WETA co-production, join Harvard scholar Henry
Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of 14 Friday
famous Americans. Season 7 encore: Country Roots
(Clint Black and Rosanne Cash). Repeats Sun 4/16, 4pm 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — R epeats Sat 4/15, 6am, 6:30pm;
9:00 MY GRANDPARENTS’ WAR, SERIES 2 — Follow leading Mon 4/17, 7:30am
artists of stage and screen as they re-trace the foot- 8:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 —
steps of their grandparents and learn how World War II Episode 2 of 10. Ian W. Toll. The historian discusses
changed the lives of their families. Episode 1 of 4. the strategic decisions and naval operations behind
Kit Harington. Join the actor, who has played soldiers, the assault the U.S. waged on the Japanese navy in
spies, and — in Game of Thrones — warriors, as he the Battle of the Philippine Sea, as World War II in the
discovers that his grandparents played comparable Pacific entered its endgame in June 1944. R epeats Sat
roles in their real lives during World War II, and he 4/15, 7:30pm, 11:30pm
gains a new appreciation of their courage and sacrifice. 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: NOW HEAR THIS:
Repeats Sun 4/16, 3pm SCHUMANN: GENIUS AND MADNESS — Visit Scotland,
10:00 FRONTLINE: AMERICA AND THE TALIBAN — Frontline Germany and France with host Scott Yoo as he investi-
investigates how America’s 20-year investment in gates the connection between Robert Schumann’s bipo-
Afghanistan culminated in Taliban victory. Drawing on lar disorder and creative genius — via experts, musical
decades of on-the-ground reporting, and interviews with performances, and examining the work of other artists
Taliban and U.S. officials, the program reports on mis- outside the world of music. Repeats Sun 4/16, noon
steps and consequences. Part 2 of 3. Part 3 airs April 25. 10:00 NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER: BALLET HISPÁNICO’S
DOÑA PERÓN — Ballet Hispánico explores Evita Perón’s
12 Wednesday diverging legacies in this invigorating and emotional
work. Her rags-to-riches story is interpreted through
movement — following her journey from dancehall
8:00 NATURE: THE HUMMINGBIRD EFFECT — Explore Costa performer to Argentina’s First Lady and sudden death.
Rica, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Repeats Sun 4/16, 1pm
From rainforests to volcanos, tiny architects and care-
takers at the heart of this vast wildlife diversity keep
this ecological giant running: the hummingbirds. 15 Saturday
9:00 NOVA: WEATHERING THE FUTURE — As extreme
weather in the U.S. affects more people — with longer 6AM-6PM See the Saturday, April 1 listings.
heat waves, more intense rainstorms, megafires and 6:00 PBS NEWS WEEKEND — John Yang anchors.
droughts — discover how Americans are fighting back by 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R
marshaling ancient wisdom and innovating solutions. 7:00 IT’S ACADEMIC — The TV quiz show showcases the aca-
10:00 THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE 2022 — A global environmental demic achievements of local D.C.-area high school stu-
prize founded by Prince William and The Royal Foun- dents. Journalist Hillary Howard hosts. Competing this
dation in 2020 aims to spotlight, support and scale week are students from Blake, Parkdale and Wood-
groundbreaking solutions to the world’s most pressing grove high schools. Repeats 11pm tonight; Mondays,
environmental challenges. The 2022 prize ceremony, 3pm on WETA PBS, 7pm on WETA Metro
hosted in Boston and featuring celebrity presenters, 7:30 HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN, SEASON 4 — Ian W.
celebrated 15 global finalists, and awarded five win- Toll. R
ners with £1 million in prize money to aid their work. 8:00 THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL: AMERICAN EXPERI-
Repeats Sun 4/16, 2pm ENCE — Filmmaker Stanley Nelson’s documentary
explores the tragic story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old
13 Thursday Black youth who in August 1955 was abducted, tortured
and killed after being accused of offending a white
woman in Mississippi. His murder horrified the nation
8:00 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: WHY DIDN’T THEY ASK and mobilized the civil rights movement. Repeats mid-
EVANS? — Julia McKenzie stars. As the sole witness to night; Sun 4/16, 11pm
a dying man’s enigmatic last words, would-be young 9:00 ZOOT SUIT RIOTS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — In the
adventurer Bobby Attfield is determined to solve the aftermath of a highly publicized trial for the murder of
riddle they posed and forms an unlikely alliance with a young Mexican American man in 1942, Los Angeles
socialite Frankie Derwent and visiting family friend erupted in violent riots that scarred race relations for
Miss Marple. But when someone tries to kill Bobby, decades. Hector Elizondo narrates. Repeats 1am; Sun
they all realize a murderer is at large. 4/16, midnight
9:30 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MARPLE: THE PALE HORSE — Julia 10:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.,
McKenzie stars. Miss Marple’s old friend Father Gorman SERIES 9 — Encore episode: Secret Lives (Carol Burnett
is found murdered. When Marple receives a list of names and Niecy Nash).
14 APRIL 2023 • Stream select programs via the PBS App.You can also read
