In light of the recent events in Moore, Oklahoma, WETA will feature special programming on May 29.
Wednesday at 9:00pm,NOVA: Deadliest Tornadoes examines the destructive 2011 tornado season which killed more than 550 people. Experts explain why the storms in 2011 were so destructive and how people can be better prepared. Are the storms getting worse? Why were there so many casualties? Are our warning systems effective? NOVA investigates.
Then at 10:00pm, NOVA takes a look at the EF5 tornado that struck Oklahoma on May 20, 2013. NOVA: Oklahoma’s Deadliest Tornadoes features incredible first-hand accounts from those who survived the storm and examines the area’s history of destructive storms. This new episode explores the difficulty of predicting these disasters despite the advanced technology currently used by scientists. Also, learn how to better protect yourself and your home from disasters like the recent Oklahoma tornado.
Saturday, tune in to WETA and uncover the truth with Henry Hathaway’s 1948 classic film, Call Northside 777. Based on a true story, this film stars the always likeable Jimmy Stewart as skeptical reporter P.J. McNeal. A woman places an ad in the newspaper with a large reward looking for the truth about the closed murder of a police officer. McNeal investigates the 11 year old crime, and as he delves deeper and deeper into the case, he finds loose ends, a potentially innocent convict, and a system unwilling to admit error. Driven to exonerate a man who has been behind bars for over a decade, McNeal will stop at nothing.
This Memorial Day weekend there’s plenty to do in the Washington, DC area besides going to the National Mall. Check out some of these DMV events this weekend.
Sometimes the best way to unwind after a long week is to discover or revisit a good movie. On Friday, The Alden Theatre of McLean Community Center is presenting E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial during their free Family Movie Night. This 1982 sci-fi film, directed by Steven Spielberg, is about a young boy named Elliott who finds a stranded extraterrestrial. Through trials and tribulations, he must find the courage to defy the authorities to help the alien return to its home planet. Watch the E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial trailer!
Friday, 7:30pm
Cost: Free
The Alden Theatre McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101
The school year is coming to an end and that means white sandy beaches and palm trees are on everyone’s mind. Just in time for summer vacation and in honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the National Museum of the American Indian will be holding Eia Hawai’i: Celebrating Native Hawaiian Culture this Saturday and Sunday. This year, visitors can celebrate wayfinding, or navigation, and the Polynesian seafarers who discovered the Hawaiian Islands by watching and learning about hula, taking in a cooking demonstration, watching films and presentations, and meeting and greeting Hawaiian guests. There will also be a concert at 5pm on Saturday in the Welcome Plaza, featuring Amy Hanaiali’I Gilliom with opening act The Aloha Boys. Watch a preview of Amy Hanaiali'l Gilliom perform!
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am to 5pm
Cost: Free
National Museum of the American Indian 4th Street and Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20013
Led by its iconic host and founder Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion has influenced popular culture since its first live radio broadcast in 1974. The program, listened to by millions each week, is performing live this weekend from Wolf Trap’s Filene Center in Vienna, Virginia. Special guests include harmonica player Howard Levy, singer Aoife O’Donovan, and folk music group The Milk Carton Kids. Discover the program’s signature brand of humor and storytelling through iconic segments like “The News from Lake Wobegon,” read by Keillor himself.
This week, WETA presents inspiring documentaries about creative forces. Tonight we learn about the soldiers who created fake war props in The Ghost Army and on Friday we join ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro on a nine month tour across the US.
Whenever we go to the movies, we know that much of what we see on the screen isn’t real. We imagine talented prop makers on film sets in Hollywood, working to create the imagined world of the next big blockbuster. But what if those props were used to alter history? The documentary The Ghost Army tells the true tale of American G.I.s who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects, and carefully crafted illusions during the Second World War. The soldiers, many of whom were artists, carried out top-secret missions in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, working to save lives and alter the outcome of the War. Watch the trailer!
The Ghost Army airs Wednesday, May 21 at 8:00pm on WETA TV26 & HD.
In an era of talented social media users rising to fame, Jake Shimabukuro is the perfect poster child. After playing the ukulele since age four, Jake uploaded a video of himself performing George Garrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on YouTube, which became a viral hit with over 11 million views. The documentary Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings follows Jake on a nine month tour throughout the US and Japan, featuring performances and intimate conversations with the artist. Join us Friday and get to know the big talent behind this small instruments. Watch the trailer!
Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings airs Friday, May 24 at 9:30pm on WETA TV26 & HD.
Inspiring tales of "the underdog" and film have always gone together like peanut butter and jelly andeven though those PB&Js might not taste as great as they did when you were 6, underdog films never get old. This Saturday, WETA presents two free movies about people at a disadvantage working hard to make a difference. First, we follow the big win of a small town basketball team in Hoosiers (1986) at 9:30pm. Next, learn about rape cover up of the U.S. military and its survivors in Independent Lens: The Invisible War.
The small town of Hickory, Indiana loves basketball, so the pressure is on when a new coach arrives to train the high school team. After failing to impress the community with his unusual style of coaching, Norman Dale hires Shooter, the alcoholic father of one of his players, as his assistant. With the addition of a star player, the team begins a winning streak that leads to the State Championship game. But can this band of misfits win against their rivals of South Bend? Find out Saturday at 9:30pm! Watch a preview!
Hoosiers (1986) airs Saturday, May 18th at 9:30pm on WETA TV26 & HD.
Washington D.C. is often seen as military central for the United States, where training, planning and honors take place on a daily basis. But has a cover up also been developing at our nation’s capital? In the new investigative documentary by Independent Lens, the veil is lifted from one of the biggest scandals within the U.S. military where, according to the Department of Defense, there were an estimated 22,800 violent sex crimes in 2011. The Invisible War presents personal accounts of survivors, like Kori Cioca, who was beaten and raped by her supervisor in the U.S. Coast Guard. For the few who do report abuse, a flawed judicial system awaits, leading to only 8 percent of military sexual assault cases prosecuted. Watch a preview!
Independent Lens: The Invisible Warairs Sunday, May 19th at 1:30am on WETA TV26 & HD.
This weeked in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, expereince a one-of-a-kind event at the Kennedy Center and get a hefty dose of fine art in Reston. Read on for more details!
Prepare for the landing of The Intergalactic Nemesis: A Live-Action Graphic Novel at The Kennedy
Center this weekend! Combining radio show and comic book elements, this unique production follows the story of reporter Molly Sloan, her assistant Timmy Mendez, and a librarian named Ben Wilcott as they face the threat of an invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon. The live performance features three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist who perform all the voices, sound effects and music, while more than 1,000 hand-drawn, comic book images fill a two-story-high screen. This adventure is perfect for families with children ages 8 and up! Watch a preview!
Friday through Sunday
Cost: $18
The Kennedy Center - 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
How long has it been since you’ve set aside some time to appreciate art? From May 17-19, stop by Reston Town Center and experience the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. The outdoor festival, now in its 22nd year, offers attendees the opportunity to admire and purchase original work from over 200 artists across a wide range of mediums. Enjoy live performances and entertainment, and be sure to visit the Family Art Park, which offers something for children, teens, and adults alike. Held by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting visual arts, the festival begins this Friday with its Opening Night Party from 6pm-9pm.
Friday, 5pm-8pm
Saturday, 10am-6pm
Sunday, 10am-4pm
Cost: Free (attendees who $10 will receive a $10 gift certificate redeemable at participating local restaurants)
This weekend on WETA, watch three movies right from your Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia home! Watch a blind love unravel into danger and fear with Alfred Hitchcock's classic film Suspicion. Then discover the struggle between love and infatuation in Independent Lens' Seeking Asian Female. And if you're still awake at midnight, watch POV'sIn the Matter of Cha Jung Hee as a Korean born woman delves into her past to find the person whose name she bears.
Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine deliver exuberant performances in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Suspicion. This film tells the story of Lina McLaidlaw, a wealthy young woman, who falls in love with Johnnie Aysgarth. Swept off her feet by Johnnie’s charm, Lina disregard’s the disapproval of her father, General McLaidlaw, and soon runs away to get married. Unaware of troubles that are just around the corner, Lina finds out that her new husband has no money, no job and has a gambling problem. Johnnie insists that this will all change, but as Lina soon finds out, not everyone can keep promises. Following a series of bizarre events, a mysterious murder, and bit of paranoia, Lina becomes convinced that Johnnie might be plotting to kill her and make haste with her inheritance. Watch the trailer!
Tune in to WETA TV26 & HD Saturday at 9:30pm for Alfred Hitchcock’s, Suspicion.
For those of you who believe opposites attract, you’ll want to check out this documentary from Independent Lens. Seeking Asian Female follows the lives of two people who fall in love and decide to get married after meeting on the internet. Steven, a white Americanman from San Francisco, has always had a fascination with Chinese women. After divorcing twice, the struggle for Steven to find the Asian woman of his dreams seems to be merely impossible until he meets Sandy. Sandy, a determined 30 year old woman from China, immediately falls in love with Steven and flies out to San Francisco to marry him. But marriage isn’t all fun and games as the cross-cultured couple soon find out. Communicating through a translator, overcoming Steven’s obsession with Chinese women and adapting to life in a foreign country are just a few issues the couple must face in order to make their relationship work. But are Steven and Sandy willing to take these drastic measures for true love? Tune in to find out! Watch the trailer!
Independent Lens: Seeking Asian Female airs this Saturday at 11:00pm on WETA TV26 & HD.
In this unusual documentary, POV reveals the story of a Korean orphan who has her identity switched before she is taken in by an American family. After coming to the United States in 1966 at eight years old, she was told to keep her false identity a secret and never reveal it to anyone. Now, after more than 40 years, it is time to find the real Cha Jung Hee. In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee, filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem sets out in hopes of helping this mistaken orphan find Cha Jung Hee. But in a big territory like Korea, finding the woman whose life she has lived will not be an easy task. Watch the trailer!
Check out POV: In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee this Sunday at 12:00am on WETA TV26 & HD.
This weekend, May 10 - 12, the Washington, DC area is bursting with a variety of spring-time activities for the whole family. Whether you're looking for a trip down memory lane, great live music, a celebration of history, or a cultural journey, there's something for everyone on the calendar. Read on for WETA Around Town's event highlights for this weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Innocent & The E Street Shuffleat The Hamilton Live. This tribute concert celebrates the to two of the most loved albums in rock and roll history: Van Morrisons’ 1970 ‘Moondance’ and Bruce Springsteen's 1973 'The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle’. The Hamilton is the newest member of the Clyde's Restaurant Group following tradition with top of the line food and live music. So if you're looking for an all-in-one musical adventure, this is the ticket! Featuring performances by: Justin Jones, Brian Simms, Luke Brindley, Owen Danoff, Billy Coulter, Daryl Jr. Cline, Tommy Lepson, Jon Carroll, Tony Denikos, Kirk Philips, Margot MacDonald & more.
In a city like Washington, DC where transportation is essential, do you ever stop to
think what life would be like without cars, buses or trains? This Saturday you will have the opportunity to show your appreciation by celebratingNational Train Day 2013 because this year’s theme is “trains matter”. Each spring, this nation-wide festivity brings communities together to honor the history of trains and how they have helped transform America. Enjoy a variety of free activities such as educational stations, arts and crafts, Amtrak K-9 unit demonstrations, train car walkthroughs and more. So if you’re in the mood for some rich history, “choo choo” choose to partake in National Train Day.
Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Cost: Free. Amtrak rides $5 per person; children 12 and under ride free.
Union Station 40 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC
All through the month of May, the Library of Congress Packard Campus will commemorate Memorial
Day with free film screenings and a live concert! On Friday, The Quebe Sisters Band from Texas will perform western swing, vintage country, bluegrass, jazz and swing standards, and Texas-style fiddling in the campus theater. On Saturday, LoC will screen “Memphis Bell”, a true story of the 25th and last mission of the American B-17 bomber, starring Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, and Tate Donovan. Come out and celebrate history and culture with these free events this weekend!
The Quebe Sisters Band
Friday at 7:30pm
Cost: Free
“Memphis Bell”
Saturday at 7:30pm
Cost: Free
Library of Congress Packard Campus 19053 Mount Pony Road Culpeper, VA 22701
Spice up your weekend with an eclectic array of dance performances! This Saturday and Sunday, join El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea/DC Contemporary Dance Theatre as they present “Sin Decir Palabres”/”Unspoken Words,” DC’s 3rd Latin American Concert Dance Festival at the Gonda Theatre at Georgetown University’s Davis Performing Arts Center. This annual festival has a variety of dance styles, including classical, indigenous, and contemporary, and includes works from some of DC’s most outstanding dance talent, internationally recognized Latino choreographers, and world renowned performing artists! On Saturday only, American icon choreographer, Kevin Iega Jeff, will kick of the premiere of his work, Juntos, as a special guest speaker. You won’t want to miss these fantastic performances!
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.
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’ Naturethis month, we will explore The Private Life of Deeron Wednesday the 8th and The Great Zebra Exodus on Wednesday the 15th.
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.
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.
destructive and how people can be better prepared. Are the storms getting worse? Why were there so many casualties? Are our warning systems effective? NOVA investigates.
On Friday, The Alden Theatre of McLean Community Center is presenting E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial during their free Family Movie Night. This 1982 sci-fi film, directed by Steven Spielberg, is about a young boy named Elliott who finds a stranded extraterrestrial. Through trials and tribulations, he must find the courage to defy the authorities to help the alien return to its home planet. 
Heritage Month, the National Museum of the American Indian will be holding Eia Hawai’i: Celebrating Native Hawaiian Culture this Saturday and Sunday. This year, visitors can celebrate wayfinding, or navigation, and the Polynesian seafarers who discovered the Hawaiian Islands by watching and learning about hula, taking in a cooking demonstration, watching films and presentations, and meeting and greeting Hawaiian guests. There will also be a concert at 5pm on Saturday in the Welcome Plaza, featuring Amy Hanaiali’I Gilliom with opening act The Aloha Boys. 
een isn’t real. We imagine talented prop makers on film sets in Hollywood, working to create the imagined world of the next big blockbuster. But what if those props were used to alter history? The documentary The Ghost Army tells the true tale of American G.I.s who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects, and carefully crafted illusions during the Second World War. The soldiers, many of whom were artists, carried out top-secret missions in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, working to save lives and alter the outcome of the War. 
style of coaching, Norman Dale hires Shooter, the alcoholic father of one of his players, as his assistant. With the addition of a star player, the team begins a winning streak that leads to the State Championship game. But can this band of misfits win against their rivals of South Bend? Find out Saturday at 9:30pm! 
our nation’s capital? In the new investigative documentary by Independent Lens, the veil is lifted from one of the biggest scandals within the U.S. military where, according to the Department of Defense, there were an estimated 22,800 violent sex crimes in 2011. The Invisible War presents personal accounts of survivors, like Kori Cioca, who was beaten and raped by her supervisor in the U.S. Coast Guard. For the few who do report abuse, a flawed judicial system awaits, leading to only 8 percent of military sexual assault cases prosecuted. 
Center this weekend! Combining radio show and comic book elements, this unique production follows the story of reporter Molly Sloan, her assistant Timmy Mendez, and a librarian named Ben Wilcott as they face the threat of an invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon. The live performance features three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist who perform all the voices, sound effects and music, while more than 1,000 hand-drawn, comic book images fill a two-story-high screen. This adventure is perfect for families with children ages 8 and up! 
purchase original work from over 200 artists across a wide range of mediums. Enjoy live performances and entertainment, and be sure to visit the Family Art Park, which offers something for children, teens, and adults alike. Held by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting visual arts, the festival begins this Friday with its Opening Night Party from 6pm-9pm. 
man from San Francisco, has always had a fascination with Chinese women. After divorcing twice, the struggle for Steven to find the Asian woman of his dreams seems to be merely impossible until he meets Sandy. Sandy, a determined 30 year old woman from China, immediately falls in love with Steven and flies out to San Francisco to marry him. But marriage isn’t all fun and games as the cross-cultured couple soon find out. Communicating through a translator, overcoming Steven’s obsession with Chinese women and adapting to life in a foreign country are just a few issues the couple must face in order to make their relationship work. But are Steven and Sandy willing to take these drastic measures for true love? Tune in to find out! 
think what life would be like without cars, buses or trains? This Saturday you will have the opportunity to show your appreciation by celebrating 
Day
present 
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. 
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.