Blue Ridge PBS - Featured Programs

Join us for these featured programs

	American Experience
	American Masters
	Austin City Limits
	Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
	Great Performances
	Before There Were Parks: Yellowstone and Glacier through Native Eyes

	Blueprint America
	Masterpiece Classic
	National Parks: America's Best Idea
	NOVA
	Soundstage

American Experience

Mondays at 9pm
American Experience: "Bombing of Germany," Kennedys" and "Amelia Earhart"

Television's most-watched history series, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE has been hailed as "peerless" (Wall Street Journal), "the most consistently enriching program on television" (Chicago Tribune) and "a beacon of intelligence and purpose" (Houston Chronicle). On air and online, the series brings to life the incredible characters and epic stories that have shaped America's past and present. Acclaimed by viewers and critics alike, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE documentaries have been honored with every major broadcast award, including 24 Emmy Awards, four duPont-Columbia Awards and 14 George Foster Peabody
Awards.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/

February 1 - "Donner Party"
This program chronicles the harrowing tale of the ill-fated emigrant group who set out for the promised land of California in the spring of 1846, only to meet with disaster in the snows of the Sierra Nevada mountains the following winter.
February 8 - "The Bombing of Germany"
British and American bombing of Germany during WWII claimed the lives of nearly half a million civilians.
February 15 - "Kennedys"
The Kennedy story is unlike any other: a saga of ambition, wealth, family loyalty and personal tragedy.
February 22 - "Amelia Earhart"
When her plane disappeared without a trace, the "First Lady of the Air" was instantly transformed into an American legend.

American Masters "Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun"

Monday, February 22 at 10:00pm
Writer, cultural anthropologist, chronicler of folk roots and ethnic traditions, daughter of a former slave, Hurston was one of the most celebrated - and most controversial - figures of the Harlem Renaissance, the creatively expansive era in the 1920s when "the Negro was in vogue." She attained unique success in all areas, but her words and her conclusions were often mired in contention - she was called everything from flamboyant to outrageous, unpredictable to bodacious. She collaborated with Langston Hughes, was criticized by Richard Wright and ultimately died a pauper's death in total obscurity. Now considered a lioness of African-American literature, she was resurrected by Alice Walker; such works as Dust Tracks on a Road and Their Eyes Were Watching God are essential reading today. S. Epatha Merkerson ("Law & Order") narrates the program.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/

Austin City Limits

Krist Kristofferson, Esperanza Spalding, R.E.M Thursdays at 9:00pm
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS continues its longstanding tradition of showcasing the best of original American music. Musical styles range from contemporary and traditional pop to rock, country, blues, bluegrass, Latin, folk, roots and more. All find a home on the AUSTIN CITY LIMITS stage.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/klru/austin/

February 4 - "Steve Earle/Kris Kristofferson" Steve Earle pays tribute to his mentor, legendary Texas troubadour Townes Van Zandt. Kris Kristofferson follows with tunes from his latest album.
February 11-"Esperanza Spalding/Madeline Peyrous" Singer/composer/bass prodigy Esperanza Spalding debuts on ACL with a mix of jazz, soul and Brazilian pop. Contemporary torch singer Madeleine Peyroux follows in support of her album Bare Bones.
February 18-"Them Crooked Vultures" Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin combine for high volume rock 'n' roll.
February 25 - "R.E.M." In their AUSTIN CITY LIMITS debut appearance, influential superstars R.E.M. take the stage in support of their latest acclaimed record, Accelerate .

Before There Were Parks: Yellowstone and Glacier through Native Eyes

Monday, February 1 at 10:30pm
For more than 12,000 years, the intermountain West's native peoples have called the lands known as Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks "home."

This program explores modern indigenous perspectives on these great wilderness areas and explores both the cultural divide that separates modern times from the not-so-distant past and recent efforts by the National Park Service and native peoples to bring these disparate visions into greater harmony.

Blueprint America

Monday, February 8 at 10:00pm
The latest installment in the BLUEPRINT AMERICA initiative takes viewers on a cinematic journey in search of America's transportation future. With Detroit, Michigan, as home base, the film hop-scotches across the globe in an effort to look at what's possible.

scene from "Blueprint America"

BLUEPRINT AMERICA "Beyond the Motor City" shows how the auto industry, which created the transportation system that is now fraught with so many problems, is also the industry that puts Detroit in perhaps the best position to transform itself for the transportation of the future. Current and former auto industry executives explain how defunct auto manufacturing plants are being retooled to build the renewable energy components that will be the building blocks of the new transportation system.

Using CGI animation combined with current footage of Detroit, the film brings the vision of the city's possible transportation future to life in a sequence depicting a commuter's ride into the city: He drives an energy-efficient electric "shared" car from his home in the suburbs, purchases a rail ticket from an onboard computer in his car and boards a train that takes him from the suburbs into the city. A network of trains within the city center, running along main thoroughfares, is available to take him to points of interest.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/blueprintamerica/

Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Wednesdays at 8:00pm
What made America? What makes us? These two questions are at the heart of FACES OF AMERICA WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. Building on the success of his series AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES (called by The New York Times "the most exciting and stirring documentary on any subject to appear on television in a long time") and AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2, Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. again turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 12 renowned Americans.

Looking beyond the African-American experience to the wider immigrant story, Professor Gates unravels the American tapestry, following the threads of his guests' lives back to their earliest origins around the globe. Along the way, the many stories he uncovers - of displacement and homecoming, of material success and dispossession, of assimilation and discrimination - illuminate the American experience. Professor Gates' guests include professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, who composed and read the poem at President Barack Obama's inauguration, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

Visit the Companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/

Great Performances "Harlem in Montmartre"

Sunday, February 7 at 10:00 pm
"Harlem in Montmartre" tells the story of the jazz age in Paris between the First and Second World Wars, exploring a fascinating yet often neglected era in African-American cultural history.

After peace was signed at Versailles, many black Americans remained in Europe rather than return to the brutal segregation and racism of America; over the next two decades, they created an expatriate community of musicians, entertainers and entrepreneurs, primarily congregating in Paris' hilly Montmartre neighborhood. Some achieved enduring fame, while others faded into history.

Inspired by William A. Shack's book and using rare archival material from both France and America, this remarkable documentary features footage of such key figures as James Reese Europe, Josephine Baker, Sidney Bechet, Bricktop, Eugene Bullard, Django Reinhardt and many more. S. Epatha Merkerson narrates.

Visit the Great Performances website at www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/

Masterpiece Classic

Sundays at 9:00pm
scenes from "Emma," "Northanger Abbey," "Persuasion" and "39 Steps" For more than 35 years, MASTERPIECE has enthralled audiences with the works of the finest classic and contemporary writers interpreted by the world's foremost actors.

January 31 & February 7 - "Emma, part 2 & 3"
A fiercely funny four-hour adaptation of Jane Austen's delightful love story stars Romola Garai (Atonement ) as a young woman whose attempts to play Cupid go disastrously awry. Rich, beautiful and hopelessly self-deluded, Emma Woodhouse can't help meddling in the romantic life of others while neglecting her own. Jonny Lee Miller ("Endgame," "Eli Stone") stars as Emma's stalwart friend, Mr. Knightley, with Michael Gambon ("Cranford," Harry Potter ) as her doom-obsessed father.
February 14 - "Northanger Abbey"
In Jane Austen's gentle parody of gothic fiction, Felicity Jones ("Meadowlands") plays romance addict Catherine Morland. Invited to a medieval country house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, she forms a close friendship with the younger son on the estate, Henry Tilney (JJ Feild, "The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton"), but their budding romance is mysteriously cut short.
February 21 - "Persuasion"
Sally Hawkins ("Little Britain") appears as Anne Elliot, destined for spinsterhood at age 27 after being persuaded eight years earlier to refuse the proposal of dashing Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones, "Casanova"). Then chance brings them together again. While her better days are past, his are definitely ahead as he's now rich and free to play the field among eligible young beauties. Anthony Head ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") co-stars as Anne's spendthrift father.
February 28 - "The 39 Steps"
Secret agent Richard Hannay battles German spies on the eve of World War I in a riveting and romantic new version of the classic thriller by John Buchan, made famous in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 movie. MASTERPIECE favorite Rupert Penry-Jones ("Persuasion") stars as Hannay, with Lydia Leonard ("Jericho") as suffragette Victoria Sinclair, his unlikely accomplice in a quest to expose German plans to destroy the British navy and invade the country.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/

National Parks: America's Best Idea

Wednesdays at 9:00pm
THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA, is a 12-hour, six-part documentary series directed by Ken Burns and co-produced with his longtime colleague, Dayton Duncan, who also wrote the script.

scenes from

It is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. As such, it follows in the tradition of Burns's exploration of other American inventions, such as baseball and jazz.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

January 27- "The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890)"
Please note that this episode of NATIONAL PARKS will air immediately following the State of the Union Address. The episode will also be repeated on Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00pm.
The astonishing beauty of Yosemite Valley and the geyser wonderland of Yellowstone give birth to the radical idea of creating national parks for the enjoyment of everyone; John Muir becomes their eloquent defender.
February 3 - "The Last Refuge (1890-1915)"
A young president, Theodore Roosevelt, becomes one of the national parks' greatest champions; in Yellowstone, a magnificent species is rescued from extinction; and in Yosemite, John Muir fights the battle of his life to save a beautiful valley.
February 10 - "The Empire of Grandeur (1915-1919) "
In John Muir's absence, a new leader steps forward on behalf of America's remaining pristine places; a new federal agency is created to protect the parks; and in Arizona, a fight breaks out over the fate of the grandest canyon on earth.
February 17 - "Going Home (1920-1933)"
As America embraces the automobile, a Nebraska housewife searches for peace and inspiration in park after park, while a honeymoon couple seeks fame and adventure in the Grand Canyon; and the future of the Great Smoky Mountains becomes caught in a race with the lumbermen's saws.
February 24 - "Great Nature (1933-1945)"
In the midst of an economic catastrophe and then a world war, the national parks provide a source of much-needed jobs and then much-needed peace; the park idea changes to include new places and new ways of thinking; and in Wyoming, battle lines are drawn along the front of the Teton Range.

NOVA

Tuesdays at 8:00pm and Wednesdays at 7:00pm
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA programs demystify science and technology, and highlight the people involved in scientific pursuits.

Visit the NOVA website at www.pbs.org/nova/

February 2 - "Ghosts of Machu Picchu"
Perched atop a mountain crest, mysteriously abandoned more than four centuries ago, Machu Picchu is the most famous archeological ruin in the Western hemisphere and an iconic symbol of the power and engineering prowess of the Inca. In the years since Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, there have been countless theories about this "Lost City of the Incas," yet it remains an enigma. Why did the Incas build it on such an inaccessible site, clinging to the steep face of a mountain? Who lived among its stone buildings, farmed its emerald green terraces and drank from its sophisticated aqueduct system? NOVA joins a new generation of archeologists as they probe areas of Machu Picchu that haven't been touched since the time of the Incas and unearth burials of the people who built the sacred site. The program explores the extraordinary trail of clues that began on that fateful day in 1911 and continues to the present.
February 9 & 10 - "Extreme Cave Diving"
This program follows the charismatic Dr. Kenny Broad as he dives into blue holes - underwater caves that formed during the last ice age when sea level was nearly 400 feet below what it is today. They are Earth's least explored and perhaps most dangerous frontiers. With an interdisciplinary team of climatologists, paleontologists and anthropologists, Broad investigates the hidden history of Earth's climate as revealed by finds in this spectacularly beautiful "alternate universe."
February 16 & 17 - "Extreme Ice"
A photojournalist and a scientific team strive to create a unique photo archive of melting glaciers to provide a key to understanding their runaway behavior.
February 23 & 24 - "Megabeasts: Sudden Death"
In May 2008, a scientific team made worldwide headlines by announcing evidence of a previously unsuspected impact from space that had devastated prehistoric North America at the end of the last Ice Age. According to this controversial new claim, the extinction of more than 34 types of large prehistoric animals (or "megafauna") was caused not by climate change or the arrival of the first human hunters, but by the massive breakup of a comet over the Great Lakes region. NOVA explores this provocative new theory about what killed off America's mammoths and may have come close to extinguishing early human populations as well.

SoundStage

Thursdays at 10:00pm
SOUNDSTAGE returns for another season with a roster of show-stopping performers.

Visit the SoundStage website at www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/.

February 4 - "3 Girls & Their Buddy"
This episode of SOUNDSTAGE highlights Americana music at its absolute best. "Three Girls and Their Buddy" - Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and Buddy Miller - present a versatile in-the-round set. The group's stage banter and genial rapport clearly transmit their passion for performing together on songs like "Trouble," "Gasoline and Matches," "Strong Hand (for June)" and "Mary." All legends in their own right, collectively they deliver an unbeatable and spellbinding night.
February 11 - "Seal"
Seal's one-of-a-kind husky baritone is perfect for any genre. He's delighted fans and earned critical acclaim while staying true to classic, honest songwriting in his two-decade career. Now, he's done it again with the release of his exceptional sixth studio album, Soul. Together with legendary music producer David Foster, Seal adds his signature touch to some of the best soul songs ever created. In his stunning SOUNDSTAGE performance, Seal evokes an era when music vividly captured emotion and romance. Joined by Foster, as well as a choir and string section, Seal takes on Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain," Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now."
February 18 - "Lynyrd Skynyrd "
With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate VanZant vocals and trademark layered guitars, Lynyrd Skynyrd deliver sensational renditions of their iconic classics "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "That Smell" and "Simple Man." This episode is littered with hits, rousing guitar solos and songs from the new album, God & Guns. An epic "Freebird" finale does justice to the 35-year legacy of this all-star rock 'n' roll group.
February 25 - "Willie Nelson"
Over the last 50 years, the legendary Willie Nelson has continued to be an enduring and compelling presence in music. The troubadour mixes elements of folk, blues, classic country, western swing and a little gospel during his versatile SOUNDSTAGE set. Displaying a close connection with the audience, Nelson and his eight-piece band (featuring a banjo, mandolin, fiddle, steel guitar and more) gather round the stage to highlight songs from Nelson's first-ever bluegrass album, produced in collaboration with T-Bone Burnett. Tipping his hat to the genre, Nelson puts his stamp on standards like Bob Wills' "Trouble in Mind," Al Dexter's "Pistol Packin' Mamma" and the Joe "Red" Hayes and Jack Rhodes classic "Satisfied Mind." Other selections include "Whiskey River," "Drinking Champagne" and "Dark as a Dungeon."

For more program information visit our Programs A-Z page
and see clips from your favorite PBS programs.

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Click below on the calendar of your choice.

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