WETA TV26 logoCategory:TV26

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal | New PBS Series

In the mood for a little history this week?  Television host, Peter Sagal travels the country on his Harley Davidson in hopes of finding out as much as possible about the United States Constitution and how it functions in American society.  From New York to Texas, Sagal uncovers everyday Constitution issues that are frequently topics of debates throughout the United States such as same-sex marriage, firearm regulations, and freedom of speech.  Tune in Tuesdays at 9:00pm for the four part series, Constitution USA with Peter Sagal beginning tonight, May 7. Watch the trailer!

In part 1 of this 4 part series, Sagal hits the road to investigate the conflict between the law of the land and state law.  Known for being one of the most radical features of the Constitution, Sagal takes an in-depth look at federalism and how it has changed the United States of America.  Through a series of interviews with people around the country, we meet a Montana native who feels that he is being robbed of his constitutional rights due to firearms regulations.  Next, we travel to Oakland where a man who legally owns a medical marijuana dispensary according to California law is also subject to the death penalty according to federal law.  We also turn things around and check out the good that the central government does for this country by building dams, providing clean water and the development of interstate highways. Airs May 7 at 9:00pm.

 
In a changing day and age, Americans are taking more time to stop and think about one of the greatest contributions to this country, the Bill of Rights.  In this one hour episode, Peter Sagal investigates the Bill of Rights and how it affects the United Sates today.  In a country where people are extremely passionate about their rights and freedoms, new technology has people raising their hands.  Has the evolution of cameras and internet challenged our basic right to privacy?  And what other challenges will Americans face? Airs May 14 at 9:00pm.
 

It took a while but in 1868, equality became a constitutional right.  In part three of this series, Sagal takes a look at the rights of the people when it comes be treated equal and how far we really have come.  From equal protection to personal liberty, the Fourteenth Amendment deeply impacted the relationship between the states and the federal government.  Sagal is on the road again where in Tyler, Texas, he meets a group of siblings who fought a law prohibiting children of illegal aliens from attending public school.  Also, we meet two women in Berkley, California who bring their case all the way to the United States Supreme Court after they challenge the state of California for the right to marry one another. Airs May 21 at 9:00pm.
 
Can you believe there have only been 27 amendments in 225 years?  Some might argue this is not enough but others would be happy to dispute the fact that these 27 are all the Constitution needs to be superior.  Take a step back in time as Sagal uncovers the failure of the Equal Rights Amendment and how court decisions became the factor when it came to issues such as sexual discrimination.  Did you know that after Iceland’s economy collapsed, a new constitution was created through the collaboration of leaders who became inspired by the United States Constitution?  But why has our Constitution really lasted for as long as it has? Airs May 28 at 9:00pm.
 
 
WETA UK logoCategory:WETA UK

This Week on WETA UK | May 6 – 12

Looking for a new series to watch or just a great adventure to follow? WETA UK has everything you need! From new mysteries, to new seasons, and new shows all together, this week on WETA UK is sure to please every viewer.

Monday at 8:00pm tune in to WETA UK for the first part of a new Foyle’s War mystery, Plan of Attack. It’s April 1944 and when shots are fired outside Hastings police station killing DCS Meredith. Christopher Foyle must put aside his memoirs and return to his old job. This episode is the first of Foyle’s War season 6. Watch the trailer!

Tuesday at 7:30pm start watching May to December with season 3! A balding Scottish solicitor in his mid-50s and an attractive gym-mistress half his age fall in love despite plenty of conflicting advice from family and friends. 

Wednesday at 11:00pm begin Hustle from the very first episode of season 1. Con artist Mickey Stone is fresh out of jail. His marriage is on the rocks, but he has a strong family to fall back on. That family – Albert and Ash, two old-timers and beautiful, street-sharp Stacie – are his partners in crime. Coming together to perform one last con, they hook up with young blood Danny Blue, a rookie with the makings of a master. But after the first last one, there have just got to be more. Watch the trailer!

Thursday at 10:00pm settle in for the first episode of Waking the Dead season 6. The award-winning, edge-of-your-seat spy drama is a white-knuckle ride through the perilous world of deadly terrorists, international cover-ups and treacherous double-agents.

Friday at 8:00pm have you been watching Ladies of Letters? This gentle comedy drama is about two very different widows who forge a friendship through letters, each letter attempting to out-do the other. Watch the trailer!

Saturday at 8:00pm continue watching the WETA UK Event: The Complete Prime Suspect! This week watch four episodes back-to-back. Watch the trailer!

Sunday at 9:30pm join us for the WETA UK premiere of Worst Week of My Life! The week before a wedding can be stressful at the best of times but to Mel and Howard, it becomes a nightmare and everything that can go wrong does. Watch the trailer!

 

 

WETA TV26 logoCategory:TV26

New PBS Nature Episodes in May | Private Life of Deer & Great Zebra Exodus

Whether in our own backyard or across the plains of Africa, four-legged creatures have learned to co-exist with humans or migrate to safer pastures. In the new episodes of PBS’ Nature this month, we will explore The Private Life of Deer on Wednesday the 8th and The Great Zebra Exodus on Wednesday the 15th.

 

The Private Life of Deer

The Washington, D.C. area is home to many Whitetailed deer, which enjoy eating our gardens, hopping into oncoming traffic, and slipping into the woods of our local parks. In the past century, the deer population has increased from less than a million to almost 30 million as of today. In an effort to document this ever increasing species, footage was acquired in unique ways throughout the country. In one segment, residents of Cayuga Heights, NY were given video equipment to document populations in their area, while in another segment; small cameras were strapped to the backs to wild deer. The footage acquired provides unprecedented insight into the lives of our furry neighbors. Watch the trailer!

Nature: The Private Life of Deer airs Wednesday, May 8 at 8:00pm on WETA TV26 & HD. Also Airs Thursday, May 9 at 2:00pm.

 

The Great Zebra Exodus

Traveling with family can be complicated, especially when it seems like everyone’s moving in a different direction. But can you imagine voyaging with 20,000 of your closest kin? Follow the story of one zebra family, a stallion, his three mares and their offspring, traveling with the herd in Southern Africa’s biggest animal migration. Taking place every year across the Kalahari’s Makgadikgadi Pans, this trek to grass and water tests the social bonds that hold zebra families together. Watch the trailer!

Nature: The Great Zebra Exodus airs Wednesday, May 15 at 8:00pm on WETA TV26 & HD. Also Airs Thursday, May 16 at 2:00pm.

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Free Movies in DC | WETA Movies May 4 - 5

We all feel desperate from time to time, it’s a versatile feeling that spans the globe as it spans our weekend schedule. This weekend on WETA, we share four movies with characters desperate for something: fame, success, life, and respect. The three documentaries run late into Sunday morning so if you haven’t done it yet, set your DVR to record from Saturday 9:30pm – Sunday 3:30am.

 
Baby Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) was a vaudeville star, but as an adult, she was overshadowed by her movie star sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford). One night in the 1930s, Blanche was permanently crippled in an accident blamed on Jane. Now in 1962, Jane and Blanche live together in their decaying Los Angeles mansion as Jane plots their showbiz comeback. Blanche desperately tries to get away from Jane but can she succeed to escape her tormenting sister who handicapped her as a young woman and continues to do so in their older age? Watch the trailer.
Watch What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) on WETA TV26 and HD this Saturday at 9:30pm. Also airs Sunday at 11:30am.
 
 
When a new opera gets produced, lots of artists and craftspeople from various authorities share a dramatic and musical vision. Skill and cooperation on a grand scale are the only key to success. San Francisco Opera’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter, composed by Stewart Wallace with a libretto by novelist Amy Tan, brought together singers, designers and musicians from three continents. Many were learned in the Western operatic tradition, but for others, it was a first introduction to American opera. This documentary focuses on the excitement and challenges of collaboration. Watch the trailer.
Watch Journey of the Bonesetter’s Daughter on WETA TV26 and HD this Sunday at 12:00am. Be sure to set your DVR!
 
 
Marcos Hernandez came to the United States from Mexico, after a deadly border crossing through the Sonora Desert in southern Arizona. He is searching for his father, Francisco, also an undocumented border crosser, who disappeared in the Sonora Desert while entering the U.S. Marcos sends money from his home in Chicago to his mother in Mexico City every month so she can buy medicine for his brother, Gustavo, who needs a kidney transplant. The Undocumented is Marcos’s story—as well as the story of countless other migrants. Follow Marcos’s search with the efforts of humanitarians and Border Patrol agents who are fighting to prevent migrant deaths, the medical investigators and Mexican Consulate workers who are trying to identify dead border crossers, and Mexican families who are struggling to accept the loss of a loved one. Watch the trailer.
Watch Independent Lens: The Undocumented on WETA TV26 and HD this Sunday at 1:00am.
 
 
More than three decades ago, Vietnamese refugees began to settle in Versailles, a then-isolated community in eastern New Orleans. Although by the early 2000s the community had accomplished material successes, it remained divided between older immigrants and American-born youth. A Village Called Versailles is the story of this little-known community in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. When the storm devastated New Orleans in August 2005, Versailles residents rebuilt their neighborhood faster than most other damaged neighborhoods in the city, only to find themselves threatened by a new toxic landfill slated to open just two miles away. Forced out of Vietnam by the war 30 years ago, many residents felt their homes were being taken away from them once again. Watch the story of this community fighting to regain their safety and happiness in New Orleans. Watch the trailer.
Watch Independent Lens: A Village Called Versailles on WETA TV26 and HD this Sunday at 2:30am.
 
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WETA Around Town Events: May 3 - 5

This weekend, get in touch with different cultures visually, musically, and locally. Travel to Maryland's Eastern shore for a home and garden tour, visit over 40 embassies for free, and enjoy Grammy award winning indigenous Mexican music by Lila Downs. 

 

If April showers bring May flowers, then it’s time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors with a daytrip! Established in 1666, the Lower Eastern Shore area has played a key role in Maryland history, and is currently home to properties from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage is hosting a tour of eight historic and modern homes in Somerset and Worcester Counties on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Highlights of the day include visits to “Beverly” in Pocomoke City and Watkins Point Farm outside of Crisfield. All proceeds from the tour will go back into the communities through The Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council
 
Saturday, 10am to 5pm
Cost: $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the tour.
Lunch ($15) will be offered at the Teackle Mansion in Princess Anne with advance reservations.
Located at historical sites of Somerset and Worcester Counties.
 
 
Have you ever wanted to travel the world but you just don’t have the time or the money?  Well we have the solution to that problem!  In honor of international culture in Washington DC, Passport DC will host the Around the World Embassy Tour.  This onetime event allows visitors the chance to see over 40 embassies representing six continents throughout the world.  Patrons will also have the opportunity to see nine new embassies this year such as Barbados, Chile, Malaysia, Nicaragua and several others.  Participants will be treated to a variety of cultural and festive activities such as food tasting, dancing, musical performances and artwork while exploring these remarkable buildings.  So come on out for an experience that will truly broaden your cultural horizon.  
 
Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Cost: Admission is free
 
What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with fantastic music? This Sunday, the Hylton Performing Arts Center welcomes Lila Downs to the stage for a performance of indigenous Mexican music and her original compositions that infuse soul, jazz, blues, and African sounds.  Considered a “dazzling” and “stunning” artist, Downs has combined her passion for music and ancient culture to create powerful, edgy music with international flair as she explores topics of immigration, transformation, and social and political justice.  Downs has won numerous awards, such as the 2013 Grammy award for “Best Regional Mexican Album,” and has performed at major festivals and venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall!  A free pre-performance discussion for ticket holders will be held 45 minutes prior to the performance.  Be sure to grab your tickets for this sensational performance!     
 
Sunday, 7pm
Cost: $28 and up
Hylton Performing Arts Center - 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 
 
 
WETA TV26 logoCategory:TV26

Pizza in Washington | New DC Documentary

Click here to read the full article and watch a preview of Pizza in Washington!

Pizza is an Italian tradition and an American staple. Everywhere you go in the United States, there’s pizza. Better yet, every one you meet has their own opinion of the best pizza pie known to man. Alongside many other honors, the Washington, DC area has a wide variety of pizza and a rich pizza history to boot. WETA TV26, the DC area PBS station, has a brand new local show to share: Pizza in Washington. It’s not just about pizza, it’s about this American staple in the Nation’s Capital.

Explore thirteen DC, Maryland, and Virginia favorite pizza spots with this new program. From pizza trucks like DC Slices, to the history of pizza in DC with Ledo’s, and the first Chicago deep-dish in DC at Armand’s Pizzeria, this half-hour documentary style show is sure to spark your interest and your hunger.

Tune in to WETA TV26 & HD Tuesday May 7, 2013 at 8:00pm for the premiere of WETA’s Pizza in Washington.

Pizza in Washington also airs throughout the month of May. Check out www.weta.org/pizza for all the air dates and times.

WETA TV26 logoCategory:TV26

WETA Around Town Events: April 26 - 28

Celebrate Arbor Day this weekend or enjoy a musical experience unlike any you've ever had. Read on for the WETA Around Town Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia event highlights for this weekend, April 26 - 28.

Arbor Day (Arbor is a Latin word meaning tree) is a holiday created in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. To celebrate these important plants within our community, the Anacostia Community Museum is holding a free event this Friday for all ages. Activities include a series of demonstrations, plantings, workshops, and hands-on activities with experts from Groundwork DC, Smithsonian Gardens and Casey Trees.
Friday, 11am to 3pm
Cost: Free. For reservations, call 202 633 4844
Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020
 
Since it opened in 1923, the Avalon Theatre has long since been a landmark for filmgoers andtheater buffs in the Washington, DC area. Not only is the Avalon known for its film festivals, documentaries, and special programs but it also remains to be the oldest operating movie house in the DC area. This Saturday, the theater will host a gala in celebration of the historic theater's 90th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the theater’s awakening as a nonprofit
A feature screening of actor Keanu Reaves latest production, Tribeca Films’ Side By Side: The Science, Art and Impact of Digital Cinematography and a post-screening discussion led by Washington Post film critic, Ann Hornaday will take place on Saturday. Guest appearances from directors such as James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, and Martin Scorsese too! Proceeds from the event will go to the theatre’s conversion to digital cinema projection, which is scheduled to take place in May.
Saturday: Reception starts at 5:00pm / Screening & discussion start at 6:30
Cost: Reception, screening & discussion - $250 / Screening & discussion only - $50
The Avalon Theatre 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC.
 
Imagine a world without any music.  How would you rebuild sound from the ground up, piece by piece, determining music’s most important elements?  This Sunday at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, the United States Marine Band turns off the music as it presents an educational and interactive young people’s concert called “Sound Off!”.  After kicking off the performance with the familiar “Superman” theme, the music will disappear and the band and audience will rebuild music from the bottom up.  Family participation is essential since the band depends on the audience’s spontaneous artwork and improvised skits for its live soundtrack.  After the concert, everyone is invited to the lobby for an instrumental “petting zoo.”  Though 5-12 year olds are the key demographic, all ages are guaranteed to have a good time!        
Sunday, 2pm
Cost: Free
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center 3001 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, Virginia 22311  
 
The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia at Sackler Gallery closes this Sunday! Watch the WETA Around Town Best Bet for this fascinating exhibit and visit while you can!
 
WETA UK logoCategory:WETA UK

This Week on WETA UK | April 22 – 28

Begin new seasons and new series on WETA UK this week! Introducing Lead Balloon to the Washington, DC area, WETA UK is full of surprises this week. Read on for more highlights and trailers, plus, don’t forget to mark your calendars!

Monday at 8:00pm tune in for the Foyle’s War season 2 kick-off! In the first part of the mystery titled, Fifty Ships, an American multi-millionaire, Foyle’s old love interest, and a mysterious Dutch refugee, are all implicated when a dead body is discovered on a beach. Sam looks for a new residence after her home is destroyed in a bombing raid. Foyle investigates a looting case when coins disappear from Sam’s ruined home.

Tuesday at 9:00pm get ready for season 2 of Rumpole of the Bailey. In this first episode of season 2, Rumpole and the Man of God, Rumpole defends a vicar who is charged with theft, but trouble arises when the distressed clergyman refuses to take the stand in his own defense. George Frobisher, the next Circuit Judge, joins the Rumpoles for dinner and introduces his new girlfriend who Rumpole remembers seeing in court.

Tuesday at 10:00pm start season 6 of MI-5 a.k.a Spooks. The award-winning, edge-of-your-seat spy drama is back with another white-knuckle ride through the perilous world of deadly terrorists, international cover-ups and treacherous double-agents.

Wednesday at 8:00pm Inspector Morse takes on The Day of the Devil. In this mystery, a serial rapist and Satanist named John Barrie escapes from a mental hospital and demands that his therapist be turned over to him. A master of disguise, Barrie sets up an elaborate and deadly battle of wits with Morse. Part 2 airs next Wednesday at 8:00pm

Thursday at 7:30pm say hello to Keeping Up Appearances season 2! When it comes to snobbery, Hyacinth Bucket is in a class of her own. Award-winning actress Patricia Routledge plays the comic monster in a role which viewers have taken to their hearts. In season 2, Daddy goes missing again, Hyacinth drags Richard off for a weekend of golf at an executive golf club, in spite of the fact that he doesn't like the game, and, determined that the neighbors should see the van delivering her classy new three-piece suite, Hyacinth has parking cones placed outside the house, along with a special notice warning of an immediate delivery.

Friday beginning at 6:00pm begin all new seasons on WETA UK. First at 6:00pm, watch Waiting for God from the very first episode. Then at 8:30pm watch Rosemary & Thyme take on Memory of Water in the first episode of season 2. At 9:30pm get your full dose of laughs with Outnumbered season 4 episode 1, and kick off season 3 of Men Behaving Badly at 10:30. We’re not done just yet! At 11:30pm tune in for the British classic Allo, Allo as we begin season 4.

Saturday beginning at 8:00pm conclude season two of the WETA UK Event: The Complete Vera. Stay tuned to the Programmer’s Choice blog because we have a brand new WETA UK Event next Saturday!

Sunday at 9:00pm we’re proud to announce the WETA UK premiere of Lead Balloon! Written by and starring Jack Dee, one of the UK’s most successful stand-up comedians, you’re invited to enter the world of Rick Spleen… Rick Spleen is a disillusioned stand-up comedian and writer whose career has not gone the way he had planned. Worse still, he’s stuck with a lousy stage name that he chose 20 years ago. Rick combines a mass of neuroses and petty grievances with a terrible propensity for lying which is not a recipe for success. Along for the ride is his quick-talking American co-writer Marty, his unflappable partner Mel, and his incompetent daughter Sam. Join us this Sunday and every week for this brand new, modern British comedy, Lead Balloon!

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Curious George Swings into Spring | New Earth Day Episode | Start with a Book

 

This Earth Day, join WETA Kids and America’s favorite monkey for a new one hour Curious George special: Curious George Swings into Spring. From spring fever to spring cleaning, from a canoe ride to a hot air balloon journey, George and his friends get WETA Kids ready to explore the outdoors this Earth Day. Tune into WETA Kids Monday, April 22 for the premiere and throughout the week to swing into spring with George again, and again!

You know it must be springtime if a curious monkey named George is dancing on the balcony at sunrise! The Man with the Yellow Hat is sure that George has spring fever, so he takes George to the park to experience all the wonders of spring. George is so excited about spring that he wants Hundley the dog to have spring fever, too, but Hundley and the Doorman are busy trying to win the Mayor’s spring cleaning prize. When a broken water pipe floods the building, Hundley has to stay with George in the country, and George tries to make sure Hundley enjoys spring, too. Even blooming flowers, baby animals and a canoe ride can’t make Hundley love spring. What’s worse – Hundley gets lost in the country! Searching for his lost friend, George accidentally launches a hot air balloon rally and, piloting a balloon, sails over the countryside. Luckily George manages to grab Hundley from a hilltop along the way. Together they balloon triumphantly to the city. The Man with the Yellow Hat and the Doorman stage a daring rooftop rescue. Not only are George and Hundley saved, but they manage to win the coveted Spring Building Prize! Finally, to George’s delight, Hundley now has spring fever, too!

Watch the trailer here!

WETA’s Start with a Book offers adults engaging ideas for getting kids into books and reading. The free resources from Start with a Book build on topics that children already like — dinosaurs, building, animals, sports, superheroes and music — so that parents, camp counselors, and others can have fun and interact meaningfully with children while helping to strengthen their reading skills.

In conjunction with the WETA Kids special episode Curious George Swings into Spring, WETA’s Start with a Book has three resource topics that relate to the show:

Check out these resources and head to your local library to begin exploring!

WETA TV26 logoCategory:TV26

Free Movies in DC | WETA Movie Night April 20

Grab the popcorn or set your DVRs, because the documentaries featured this Saturday night on WETA TV26 & HD are guaranteed to open your eyes to lands near and far. First we delve into American culture with POV to discover a female role model in comic books and the way modern food is produced. Next, we head overseas with Independent Lens to learn about a city filled with trash and the feuding land of Kashmir. Tune in to WETA TV26 & HD this Saturday for these inspirational movies beginning at 11:30pm.

 

Saturday, April 20th at 11:30pm
Meet Wonder Woman, a Superheroine who has been featured in comic books since the 1940s. Learn about the history of super power and the inspiration she’s been for generations of women. Watch the trailer!
 
 
Sunday, April 21 at 12:30am
POV’s Food, Inc. investigates how mass production of livestock and genetically modified crops are putting independent farmers out of business. Be sure to tune in for this food-film if you believe in the saying, “you are what you eat”. Watch the trailer!
 
Sunday, April 21 at 2:30am
Cairo, the largest city in the Middle East and Africa, has no sanitation service and its trash piles up in outlying towns. Here we meet three teenage boys in Zaballeen, whose lives depend on collecting other people’s waste. Watch the trailer!
 
 
Sunday, April 21 at 3:30am
Project Kashmir was made by two filmmakers, one Hindu and one Muslim, who snuck their cameras into Kashmir. Join us for a unique look at the land plagued by religious tension and war for over 50 years. Watch the trailer!
 
 
 
 

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