on demand
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October 2008
Highlights & Specials
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American Experience
Jimmy Carter
Monday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m.
This biography traces the ascent of an ambitious country boy from a peanut farm in Plains, Georgia, to the Oval Office; it examines the failings of Carter’s political leadership in the context of the turbulent 1970s and explores the role religion played in his career. Jimmy Carter rode into power on the post-Watergate disaffection with Washington politics, but his inexperience resulted in an ineffectual and fractured administration. The crowning achievement of his one term in office, the Camp David Accords that established a framework for peace in the Middle East, was the inspiration for his life after the White House. In the years since, Carter has recast himself as a giant of moral leadership, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He has struggled to bring peace to war-torn countries; fought for the eradication of life-threatening diseases; and dedicated himself to housing America's poorest citizens
Learn more. Visit the American Experience Web site.
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American Experience
Nixon
Monday, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.
One of the most controversial and enduring figures on the American political landscape, Richard Nixon was at the center of American politics for 25 years. “Nixon” explores the fateful combination of strengths and weaknesses that propelled him to the presidency, then brought him down. From his boyhood in Yorba Linda, California, his days as a young anti-Communist crusader, his foreign policy initiatives in China and the Soviet Union, to his resignation from the presidency in the face of likely impeachment in 1974, Nixon was distinguished by his ability to come back from defeat.
Learn more. Visit the American Experience Web site.
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American Experience
LBJ
Mondays, Oct. 20 and 27 at 9 p.m.
The arc of Lyndon Baines Johnson’s life is a version of the American dream: the poor boy from the backwaters of the Texas hill country who ascended to the very pinnacle of power — only to see his presidency undermined by the conflict in Vietnam, a war he supported and expanded but never understood. One of the most perplexing, astute and larger-than-life politicians in modern American history, LBJ set out to “out-Kennedy the Kennedys” by pushing through historic social legislation on a scale that rivaled FDR. Big, brash, intimidating and driven by an all-consuming ambition, Johnson dominated people and institutions.
Learn more. Visit the American Experience Web site.
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American Experience
Reagan
Monday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m.
In 1989, after two terms in office, Ronald Wilson Reagan left the White House one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century — and one of the most controversial. When his Hollywood career began to wane, Reagan turned to politics. One by one, his opponents underestimated him; one by one, Reagan surprised them, rising to become a president who always preferred to see America as a "shining city on a hill."
Learn more. Visit the American Experience Web site.
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American public declares PBS most trustworthy institution in the country
For five consecutive years, the American public has delcared PBS the most trustworthy institution in the country. This year's study ranks PBS as second only to military defense in terms of value for tax dollars. This fifth annual national survey was conducted by the non-partisan, international research company GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media in March 2008.
The report captures the results of an opinion survey that included 1,000 participants across the country and measured how American adults ages 25 to 75 rated PBS in comparison with other public institutions, including television broadcast and cable networks.
Learn more about the PBS line-up of public affairs programming:
Bill Moyers Journal | Fridays at 9 p.m.
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | Monday-Friday at 6 p.m.
Frontline | Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
Tavis Smiley | Sundays at 12:30 p.m.
Wide Angle | Tuesday at 9 p.m.
Now on PBS | Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Charlie Rose | Monday-Friday at 1 p.m.
Nightly Business Report | Monday-Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Read more about the poll.
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Andre Rieu
Live in Vienna
Saturday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir perform on the square in front of the Hofburg Palace in the heart of Vienna. The concert includes compositions by famous Viennese composers Johann Strauss, Franz Lehár, Emmerich Kálmán, W.A. Mozart, Robert Stolz and others. Joining the musicians are the Ballet of Vienna State Opera, the Vienna debutantes from the Elmayer Dance School, the Platinum Tenors and sopranos Carmen Monarcha, Carla Maffioletti, Mirusia Louwerse and Suzan Erens.
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Antiques Roadshow
Mondays at 8 p.m.
Broadcast in high definition 
Specialists from the country's leading auction houses and independent dealers from across the nation travel throughout the United States offering free appraisals of antiques and collectibles. Antiques Roadshow cameras watch as owners recount tales of family heirlooms, yard sale bargains and long-neglected items salvaged from attics and basements, while experts reveal the fascinating truths about these finds.
To learn more, visit the Antiques Roadshow Web site.
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Arizona Stories
An Eight/KAET Production
Part of the Arizona Collection
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 14
Broadcast in high definition
The narratives read like scripts from the latest blockbuster movie: Heroic wartime tales of courage and sacrifice; empires built on ingenuity and grit; hard-fought legal battles that altered the law of the nation; diverse cultures coming together to forge new lives and a common past. Each of the stories plays out before a landscape that is unrivaled. And the nearly 100-year-old star has fans in the millions.
Arizona Stories, the latest Eight/KAET-TV production, chronicles the remarkable history of the Grand Canyon state. Each week, Arizona Stories showcases inspiring biographies of the trailblazers, travels back to pivotal dates in time, and locates the landmarks that have become cornerstones to the state’s heritage. With archival photographs, film, poignant first-hand accounts and commentary from historians and scholars Arizona Stories delves into the people, places and events that define Arizona’s legacy. State-of-the-art graphics and dramatic high-definition videography capture the legends and the history as never before.
Each Arizona Stories program will also feature two short elements:
Then and Now ― Early 20th century images transform into the contemporary photography of Allen Dutton, Paul Scharbach and Jim Todd. Each photograph is captured from the exact location illustrating how much (or little) our state has changed. Arizona Milestones — The fascinating, and sometimes quirky, stories behind historical markers on highways throughout the state. For example, viewers learn that Arizona was home to the very last battle fought between the Apaches and the U.S. Army and that our state served as homebase to the government’s “camel experiment” in the desert.
“This isn’t just history,” says executive producer John Booth. “This is a rich, breathtaking look at the stories that define our state. This is history told with the latest in high-definition technology.”
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Ask a Pharmacist
Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
This informative, call-in special will feature registered pharmacist discussing a variety of topics including the pharmacy profession in general, the appropriate use of medications, management of chronic diseases including diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension and the importance of a complete medication review and listing for patients, among other subjects.
A phone bank of registered pharmacists and student pharmacists will allow viewers the opportunity to call-in with personal questions concerning their own medications or pharmaceutical issues.
The “Ask a Pharmacist” number is 1-888-329-7088 and will be staffed 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 1.
The panel will discuss 3 subjects: - appropriate use of medications; - management of chronic diseases (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension); and – the importance of complete medication review.
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Backstage at a Presidential Debate
The Press, The Pundits and The People
Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
The documentary focuses on the interplay of the press, the pundits and the political parties in a presidential debate. Insights from Tom Brokaw, Chris Mathews, Walter Cronkite, Bob Schieffer, among others, were not pinpointed to the 2004 presidential race but provide a much broader context that I believe still holds keen interest for today’s audience. Historical interviews including the man who ran the clock on the famous Kennedy/Nixon debate are included. While ASU is the setting, the viewer gains some keen insights to what goes on behind the scenes at any presidential debate no matter where it takes place. The audience understands more clearly the interplay between the press and politics. Such knowledge can help them make informed decisions this election season.
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British Comedies
Saturdays from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday line-up of British comedies:
8 p.m. – Keeping Up Appearances
8:30 p.m. – As Time Goes By
9 p.m. – Last of the Summer Wine
The longest-running Britcom of all time, the series depicts the twilight years of a trio of oddly philosophizing, whimsical old duffers in Yorkshire who return to a carefree second childhood. They get up to all sorts of mischief and are determined to fulfill ambitions for which younger men would have already considered themselves too old.
9:30 p.m. – Waiting for God
To learn more about British Comedies and other BBC programs, visit the BBC Web site.
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Charlie Rose
Monday-Friday at 1 p.m.
Acclaimed interviewer and broadcast journalist Charlie Rose, former anchor of the CBS News program "Nightwatch" and currently a correspondent for "60 Minutes II," engages America's best thinkers, writers, politicians, athletes, entertainers, business leaders, scientists and other newsmakers in one-on-one interviews and roundtable discussions five times a week. The series is broadcast from New York City with occasional remotes from other sites. Guests on the show include those who, in Rose's opinion, have a "great story to tell."
Watch previous shows and learn more about the series on the Charlie Rose Web site.
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Curious George
Monday - Friday at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Since 1941, children have delighted in the (mis-)adventures of Curious George in the best-selling book series. Now, hot on the heels of his successful big screen debut, Curious George swings on to television.
The series is designed to inspire preschool-aged kids (three to five) to explore science, math and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way. Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, and narrated by Emmy-winning actor William H. Macy (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville), the daily series explands George’s world to include a host of colorful new characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each of the 30 half-hour episodes includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series will encourage inquiry and curiosity, promote hands-on exploration, and show parents and caregivers how to support children’s science and math-related play. The Curious George Discovery Guide and the Family Science Activity Booklet (in English and Spanish) is available to download on the Curious George Web site.
Play games, watch video and find activities at the Curious George Web site.
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Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman
Monday-Friday at 5 p.m.
Part game show, part reality TV, and part spoof, Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman features real kids, real challenges, real science, and an unreal animated host - a dog named Ruff Ruffman. The series mixes live-action with animation, and breaks the mold with its educational and comical take on America's newest television genre. Targeting six- to ten-year-olds, the series is spontaneous, unscripted, and full of surprises.
Find out more. Visit the Fetch! Web site.
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Frontline
The Choice
Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m.
It has been called one of the most historic presidential elections in our nation’s history — Barack Obama versus John McCain. It is a race that pits the iconoclast against the newcomer, the heroic prisoner of war against the first African American nominated by a major party. Frontline’s critically acclaimed series “The Choice” returns this election season to examine the rich personal and political biographies of these two men in “The Choice 2008.”
“The Choice 2008,” part of “PBS Vote 2008” election coverage, draws on in-depth interviews with the advisers, family and friends closest to these unlikely candidates, as well as with seasoned observers of American politics, who together tell the definitive story of these men and their ascent to their party’s nominations.
Find out more. Visit the Frontline Web site.
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Frontline
Heat
Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 9 p.m.
For years, big business — from oil and coal companies to electric utilities to car manufacturers — has resisted change to environmental policy and stifled the debate over climate change in America and around the globe. Now, facing rising pressure from governments, green groups and investors alike, big business is reshaping its approach to the environment. With the election looming, Frontline producer Martin Smith investigates what some businesses are doing to fend off new regulations and how others are repositioning themselves to prosper in a radically changed world.
Learn more. Visit the Frontline Web site.
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Get Ready for Digital TV
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10:30 p.m.
Famous do-it-yourselfers Norm Abram and Kevin O'Connor of This Old House offer digital television how-to guidance and tips to ensure that viewers across America are prepared to successfully make the switch to digital television in their homes before the analog shutoff in February 2009. Maria Hinojosa of NOW on PBS will share the latest DTV news from the field.
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Great Performances
Carneige Hall Opening Night 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m.
Great Performances returns to Carnegie Hall’s famed stage for another opening night gala concert, featuring the acclaimed San Francisco Symphony under the baton of its legendary conductor and musical director, Michael Tilson Thomas. With August 25, 2008, marking Leonard Bernstein’s 90th birthday, Thomas leads the orchestra in an all-Bernstein program celebrating the composer’s remarkable contributions to American music. Featuring the Fancy Free suite, scenes from A Quiet Place , “Meditation” from Mass , Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and songs from On the Town and Wonderful Town , the orchestra is joined by soprano Dawn Upshaw, baritone Thomas Hampson, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Broadway’s Christine Ebersole for an evening of unforgettable classics.
Learn more. Visit the Great Performances Web site.
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HORIZON
Monday-Friday at 7 p.m.
HORIZON, KAET's award-winning public affairs program, explores issues in-depth using a combination of pre-taped reports and in-studio discussion. Viewers rely on HORIZON for balanced coverage of politics, the economy, the environment, education, health care and other issues that impact the lives of Arizona residents. Each Friday, journalists from across the state discuss the week's top stories.
Monday, Oct. 13
Congressional District 3 Debate
Republican Congressman John Shadegg debates challengers Democrat Bob Lord and Libertarian Michael Shoen on issues important to Arizona's Third Congressional District.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Maricopa County Sheriff Debate
Maricopa County Sheriff candidates Democrat Dan Saban and Libertarian Chris Will face off in a debate as challengers to Republican Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio was invited to participate in the debate but declined.
Judicial Performance Review
Voting on the retention of judges can be a confusing decision. Roberta Voss, chair of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance, explains how judges are rated and where you can get this information.
Wednesday, Oct. 15
PBS NewsHour Debates 2008
The third presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama focuses on domestic issues. Bob Schieffer moderates the debate, live from Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York. Analysis from The NewsHour team anchored by Jim Lehrer with David Brooks and Mark Shields follows.
Thursday, Oct. 16
U.S. Supreme Court Preview
ASU Law Professor Paul Bender visits HORIZON to preview the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court session and to discuss how the presidential election's outcome will affect the court.
Friday, Oct. 17
Journalists' Roundtable
Don't miss HORIZON's weekly roundtable where local reporters get a chance to review the week's top stories.
Get the mug with your donation of $60.
For updated descriptions of HORIZON programs, visit the HORIZON Web site.
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HORIZONTE
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
HORIZONTE, Eight/KAET's weekly prime-time public affairs program, provides a forum for Hispanic perspectives and helps educate all audiences about issues of particular interest to our Latino community. This Eight production is hosted by Phoenix attorney José Càrdenas." HORIZONTE is a reflection of a growing influence that Hispanics are having on the state," Cárdenas said.
Thursday, Oct. 15
Journalists' Roundtable
Journalists Joe Garcia from the Arizona Republic, Valeria Fernandez from La Voz, and Ruben Hernandez from Latino Perspectives Magazine join HORIZONTE to review recent stories making news.
For updated descriptions of HORIZONTE programs, visit the HORIZONTE Web site.
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Independent Lens
Chicago 10
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 9 p.m.
“Chicago 10” is a stylized, innovative approach that gives contemporary history a forced perspective. Writer and director Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture) boldly mixes original animation with extraordinary archival footage to explore the buildup to and unraveling of the infamous conspiracy trial of the Chicago Seven. Set to the music of revolution then and now, "Chicago 10" is a parable of hope, courage and challenge as it portrays the struggle of young Americans attempting to confront an oppressive and armed government — their own.
Find out more. Visit the Independent Lens Web site.
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Krakatoa
Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.
On the morning of August 27, 1883, the rumbling volcano of Krakatoa stood more than 6,000 feet high, with a diameter of approximately 10 miles. Later that day, this giant cone exploded so violently it was literally blown away. Krakatoa brings to life the story of this mammoth eruption, using dramatic recreation, contemporary documentary footage and breathtaking special effects.
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Last of the Summer Wine
Saturdays at 9 p.m.
The longest-running Britcom of all time, the series depicts the twilight years of a trio of oddly philosophizing, whimsical old duffers in Yorkshire who return to a carefree second childhood. They get up to all sorts of mischief and are determined to fulfill ambitions for which younger men would have already considered themselves too old.
Eight/KAET-TV is the first television station in the country to air the series from the very first episode.
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Latinos '08
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.
Latinos '08 examines the 2008 election through the prism of ethnic politics. Latinos are less cohesive than other voting blocs, and they do not fit the black/white racial binary that has long shaped American politics. This documentary will examine how today’s candidates and advocacy groups are trying to mobilize and attract this unpredictable group of voters. Will McCain manage to win back Latino defectors, in light of his party’s harsh rhetoric on immigration? Will Obama succeed in securing the votes of the many Latinos who supported Hillary Clinton during the primaries? Another subject of inquiry will be the effectiveness — or lack thereof — of Latino politicians in advancing Latino interests and promoting Latino unity. As these politicians enter the upper echelons of American politics, they face inevitable pressure to abandon their ethnic identity and constituencies. Will the Latino electorate coalesce nonetheless, united around the immigration issue and hemispheric foreign policy considerations? Or will ethnic considerations be trumped by class, education and other factors?
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Martha Speaks
Monday-Friday and Sundays at 11 a.m.
What would happen if your dog suddenly were able to talk?
Would your pet be anything like Martha, the charming canine with an appetite for life who will make her PBS KIDS debut this fall?
Martha Speaks is the new animated series from the WGBH creators of Curious George and Arthur.
The series stars Martha, a beloved family dog, who accidentally is fed alphabet soup that gives her the power of human speech and the chance to speak her mind to anyone who will listen. “I can’t tell you how much fun it is to see Martha become animated on TV!,” says Susan Meddaugh, the author and illustrator of the beloved Houghton Mifflin Harcourt book series, who also serves as a creative producer on the show. “She’ll speak and speak and speak . . . but she will have a lot to learn.”
Each episode features two 11-minute stories (including six adapted from the classic books) that showcase Martha’s linguistic abilities and the hilarious consequences they provoke—all with a goal of engaging kids and expanding their vocabulary.
Learn more. Visit the Martha Speaks Web site.
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Masterpiece Contemporary
The Last Enemy
Sundays at 9 p.m. beginning Oct. 5
An expatriate mathematician returns to England to find the nation transformed into a hyper-paranoid surveillance society, plagued by terrorists, fugitives and spies. Searching for the truth about his brother’s mysterious death, he is catapulted into an international conspiracy — and a passionate love affair with his brother’s widow. The five-part thriller stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, “To the Ends of the Earth”) as Stephen Ezard, Anamaria Marinca (4 Months, 3 Weeks, & 2 Days) as the enigmatic and beautiful sister-in-law Yasim and Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty, Trainspotting as rogue agent David Russell.
Find out more. Visit the Masterpiece Contemporary Web site.
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Masterpiece Mystery!
The Shadow in the North
Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m.
Billie Piper reprises her role as young sleuth Sally Lockhart in this program, based on the novels by Philip Pullman. An elderly woman loses her money on an investment; a conjuror is pursued by thugs; and a clairvoyant mentions the name of the richest man in Europe and his mysterious company. These seemingly unconnected events set Sally Lockhart on the trail of an evil far more awful than she could ever imagine. JJ Feild also stars.
Find out more. Visit the Masterpiece Web site.
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Maya & Miguel
Monday-Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Irrepressible twins Maya and Miguel Santos, their loving family and their bilingual pet parrot, Paco, unveil their vibrant and uproariously funny world. Their daily escapades will keep kids laughing from the bottom of their hearts.
To learn more about Maya & Miguel, visit the PBS Kids Go! Web site.
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Nature
White Falcon, White Wolf
Sunday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.
On Canada’s remote Ellesmere Island, where June is spring, July is summer and August is already autumn, the race is on for two remarkable species to raise their families. The white gyrfalcon is enormous, the largest and most powerful falcon in the world. Yet last summer, the nesting falcon pair on the island failed to raise any young. The rare Arctic wolves rely on every member of the pack to chase and bring down the prey that keep them alive. Last year was good for them and they raised three cubs. But for the wolves and the falcons, as well for as the snowy owls, musk oxen, lemmings, Arctic foxes and hares who share this fragile ecosystem with them, fortunes are always precarious. What will happen this year?
Find out more. Visit the Nature Web site.
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Nature
Parrots in the Land of Oz
Sunday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.
Parrots are everywhere in Australia. From the outrageous drumming palm cockatoo in the tropical rainforests to the shameless red female eclectus parrot of the far north who keeps a harem of males to the golden-shouldered parrot in the woodlands that excavates a nest in a termite mound to the incredibly prolific budgerigars of the deserts, a spectacular array of parrots has evolved here. Big and small, rare and bizarre, colorful and intelligent, they are the most conspicuous and exotic birds on this amazing island continent. Many mate for life, building homes and families together. Their colors, behaviors and habitats are all described in depth by the scientists studying them and by the Australians who live among them in this delightful high-definition film from down under.
Learn more. Visit the Nature Web site.
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Nature
Dogs That Changed the World
Sundays, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at 8 p.m.
"The Rise of the Dog" - Sept. 28
From the tiniest Chihuahua to the largest St. Bernard, all dogs claim the wolf as their ancestor. But how did the wolf become the domesticated dog, and how did the hundreds of breeds we know today come to be so different? Using DNA analysis and other research, scientists have now pieced together the puzzle of canine evolution, creating a fascinating picture of how dogs became an indispensable part of our own history.
"Dogs By Design" - Oct. 5
Some working dogs are able to use their skills to perform tasks they were bred for; there are still jobs today for herders, hunters, and guard dogs. But as we multiply and transform the many breeds of dogs, honing their looks and their sizes, we also change our relationship with them, and theirs with us. How can we learn to cope with the hard-wired instincts of our pets, and what roles can they play in a world their ancestors would hardly recognize?
Find out more. Visit the Nature Web site.
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Nature
The Beauty of Ugly
Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.
From hagfish to naked mole rats, warthogs to proboscis monkeys to the ugliest bug in Oklahoma, Nature explores how and why ugly can be beautiful — even when it isn't pretty.
Learn more. Visit the Nature Web site.
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Nightly Business Report
Monday - Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Nightly Business Report is America's number-one daily business news program. The program, the most-watched and longest-running daily evening business news program on broadcast television, is seen by more than one million viewers every weeknight. Anchored by Paul Kangas in Miami and Susie Gharib in New York, NBR combines fast-breaking business and economic news, extensive financial market coverage and mutual fund reports, exclusive CEO interviews, and commentaries by such noted economists as Charles Schultze, Barbara Hackman Franklin and Adam Smith.
For additional information about this program, visit the Nightly Business Report Web site
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Nova
Arctic Dinosaurs
Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
How is it that dinosaurs managed to survive and even thrive in the gloom of the dark and frigid polar regions? This is one of today’s most intriguing, little-known enigmas in paleontology. Now, a unique field expedition, covered exclusively by Nova, will set out for Alaska’s North Slope to defrost a jackpot of new fossil clues. With the help of stunning CGI, Nova will breathe life into the polar dinosaurs’ lives and environment in vivid detail. The team of researchers will combine extreme engineering and perilous fossil hunting, including digging a tunnel into the permafrost in order to collect the dinosaur bones. With Alaska’s spectacular wilderness as a backdrop, “Arctic Dinosaurs” will reveal a prehistoric lost world for the first time on television.
Learn more. Visit the Nova Web site.
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Nova
Space Shuttle Disaster
Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.
On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas just 16 minutes before it was due to land. All seven astronauts aboard perished; the worldwide repercussions on the future of the space shuttle program were enormous. What caused the Columbia tragedy? An engineering flaw? A failure within NASA? A lack of financing? Could this catastrophe have been avoided? Through interviews with astronauts and their families, as well as with members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, this program gives viewers a new look at the Columbia tragedy — and at NASA itself. From the creation of NASA through decades of technical and financial compromises, “Space Shuttle Disaster” gets to the heart of what went wrong — and how to make sure it never happens again.
Learn more. Visit the Nova Web site.
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Nova
Hunting the Hidden Dimensions
Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.
What do movie special effects, the stock market, heart attacks and the rings of Saturn have in common? They’re all connected by a revolutionary new branch of math called fractals, which changed the way we see the world and opened up a vast new territory to scientific analysis and understanding. Nova tells the dramatic story of a group of pioneering mathematicians who developed fractals from a curiosity that few took seriously to an approach that is touching nearly every branch of understanding — including what happened after the Big Bang and the ultimate fate of our universe.
Learn more. Visit the Nova Web site.
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Nova
Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives
Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.
Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E, is the lead singer of US cult band the EELS. What most of his fans don’t know is that Mark’s father, Hugh Everett III, was one of America’s top quantum physicists. In 1957, Hugh Everett came up with a revolutionary theory that predicted the existence of parallel universes. The idea quickly seeped into popular culture, but only recently has it been accepted by mainstream physicists. The film follows the wry and charismatic Mark, who had been estranged from his father, as he travels across America to learn about the father he never knew. It is only by entering the paradoxical world of quantum mechanics that Mark can hope to understand why he was such a stranger to his own father.
Learn more. Visit the Nova Web site.
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Nova
Sputnik Declassified
Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m.
The world changed on October 4, 1957, when the U.S. public heard the shocking news that the Soviet Union had successfully launched the first satellite, Sputnik I. Why didn't the U.S. beat the Soviets in this first crucial round of the space race? Nova reveals an astonishing behind-the-scenes story of the politics and personalities that collided over the earliest efforts to get America into space, long before the founding of NASA. Anticommunist witch-hunts drove some of the nation's most talented rocketry pioneers out of the country even as we welcomed Wernher von Braun and his former Nazi colleagues. With help from Walt Disney, von Braun's vision of future space travel swiftly captivated U.S. TV watchers. But even as he became the first media star of the Space Age, von Braun's attempts to build space probes were hobbled by inter-service rivalries. In "Sputnik Declassified," Nova details the story of the technological and political missteps that made the U.S. lose out to the Soviets' beeping electronic basketball.
Learn more. Visit the Nova Web site.
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NOW
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Each week, the program includes an original documentary segment, a conversation with an individual of insight and influence, and an essay or commentary from a diverse group of individuals. NOW draws on the journalistic resources of National Public Radio and taps its brightest talents every week.
Get the NOW thermal tumbler with your donation of $75.
NOW continues online at PBS.org
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P.O.V.
In the Family
Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 10 p.m.
How much would you sacrifice to survive? When Chicago filmmaker Joanna Rudnick tested positive for the “breast cancer gene” at age 27, she knew the information could save her life. And she knew she was not only confronting mortality at an early age, but also was going to have to make heart-wrenching decisions about the life that lay ahead of her. Should she take the irreversible preventive step of having her breasts and ovaries removed or risk developing cancer? What would happen to her romantic life, her hopes for a family? “In the Family” documents Rudnick’s efforts to reach out to other women while facing her deepest fears.
Learn more. Visit the P.O.V. Web site.
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P.O.V.
Up the Yangtze
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 10 p.m.
Nearing completion, China’s massive Three Gorges Dam is altering the landscape and the lives of people living along the fabled Yangtze River. Countless ancient villages and historic locales will be submerged, and two million people will lose their homes and livelihoods. The Yu family desperately seeks a reprieve by sending their 16-year-old daughter to work in the cruise ship industry that has sprung up to give tourists a last glimpse of the legendary river valley. With cinematic sweep, “Up the Yangtze” explores lives transformed by the biggest hydroelectric dam in history, a hotly contested symbol of the Chinese economic miracle. An Official Selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
Find out more. Visit the P.O.V. Web site.
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P.O.V.
Critical Condition
Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m.
What happens if you fall sick and are one of 47 million people in America without health insurance? “Critical Condition” by Roger Weisberg (“Waging a Living,” P.O.V. 2006) puts a human face on the nation’s growing health care crisis by capturing the harrowing struggles of four critically ill Americans who discover that being uninsured can cost them their jobs, health, home, savings, even their lives. Filmed in vérité style, “Critical Condition” offers a moving and invaluable exposé at a time when the nation is debating how to extend health insurance to all Americans. A 30-minute follow-up program, RX for Change, completes the broadcast.
Learn more. Visit the P.O.V. Web site.
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PBS KIDS GO!
Monday - Friday 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
With a fun, quirky, cause-and-effect setting full of surprises, PBS KIDS GO! empowers today's "big" kids to discover themselves, define the diverse world around them, explore new relationships and embrace a love of learning. This new lineup is specifically designed for Arizona kids who grew up with Eight Kids programs for preschoolers but are now interested in more sophisticated, multimedia content.
Arthur
A five-time Emmy Award-winner, this daily half-hour animated series, based on Marc Brown’s best-selling Arthur adventure books, shows how Arthur and his friends use effective, age-appropriate problem-solving skills. Each episode consists of two independent stories focusing on themes and events central to children’s lives. Whether facing down a bully, worrying about a new teacher or being the very last person on earth to lose his baby teeth, Arthur and his friends manage to solve their crises with imagination, kindness and a lot of humor. The series promotes literacy and is complemented by a comprehensive outreach campaign targeting to teachers, librarians, parents and daycare providers.
Maya & Miguel:
Irrepressible twins Maya and Miguel Santos, their loving family and their bilingual pet parrot, Paco, unveil their vibrant and uproariously funny world. Their daily escapades will keep kids laughing from the bottom of their hearts.
Cyberchase
The acclaimed children's series celebrates its fifth season on PBS Kids Go! with new programs that foster enthusiasm for math and build problem-solving skills.
Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman
Part game show, part reality TV, and part spoof, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman features real kids, real challenges, real science, and an unreal animated host – a dog named Ruff Ruffman. The series mixes live-action with animation, and breaks the mold with its educational and comical take on America's newest television genre. Targeting 6- to 10-year-olds, the series is spontaneous, unscripted, and full of surprises.
3:30 p.m. Cyberchase
4 p.m. Arthur
4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday Maya & Miguel
4:30 p.m. Fridays WordGirl
5 p.m. Fetch
To learn more, visit the PBS Kids Go! Web site
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PBS NewsHour Debates 2008: A Special Report
Presidential Debate
Friday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.
Complete coverage of the first presidential debate at the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss.
Learn more. Visit the NewsHour Vote 2008 Web site.
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PBS NewsHour Debates 2008: A Special Report
Presidential Debate (2)
Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m.
The second presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama features undecided voters posing questions to the candidates. Tom Brokaw moderates the debate, live from Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee. Analysis from The NewsHour team anchored by Jim Lehrer with David Brooks and Mark Shields follows.
Learn more. Visit The NewsHour Vote 2008 Web site.
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PBS NewsHour Debates 2008: A Special Report
Vice Presidential
Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.
Gwen Ifill, of PBS’ The NewsHour and Washington Week, moderates the vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin, live from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Analysis from The NewsHour team anchored by Jim Lehrer with David Brooks and Mark Shields follows.
Learn more. Visit the PBS NewsHour Vote 2008 Web site.
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PBS NewsHour Debates 2008: A Special Report
Presidential (3)
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.
The third presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama focuses on domestic issues. Bob Schieffer moderates the debate, live from Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York. Analysis from The NewsHour team anchored by Jim Lehrer with David Brooks and Mark Shields follows.
Learn more. Visit the PBS NewsHour Vote 2008 Web site.
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Religion & Ethics Newsweekly
Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, hosted by veteran journalist Bob Abernethy, is the only national TV newsmagazine program devoted entirely to the news of religion and spirituality and major ethical issues. The program explores the top moral questions facing the country and profiles the most interesting people and groups in the world of religion. Through news reports from around the nation and the world, and discussions with newsmakers and scholars, Abernethy and an experienced team of correspondents examine top stories affecting the country's diverse religious landscape and the ethical issues impacting the faith community. The program also serves as a resource for those searching for ways to enhance their understanding of American religious life.
To learn more, visit the Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Web site.
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Renovate with Eight
Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Eight/KAET invites home improvement enthusiasts to two full hours of advice from the experts every Saturday afternoon.
Beginning at 4 p.m., hosts of Hometime, Dean Johnson and Robin Hartl, tackle everything from landscaping, painting and kitchen facelifts to managing new construction and major additions to older homes.
From 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., The This Old House Hour team takes center stage with host Kevin O'Connor, master carpenter Norm Abram, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. They along with guest experts will answer viewer letters on home improvement topics and, along the way, make house calls to solve homeowners' problems. In addition to ringing homeowners' doorbells, the Ask This Old House crew will walk viewers through home improvement techniques and review the latest products at their magnificently renovated New England barn loft.
At 5:30 p.m., The New Yankee Workshop challenges woodworkers of all skill levels.
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Secrets of the Dead
Doping for Gold
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.
In the 1970s, female East German athletes came out of nowhere to dominate international sport. But behind their success lay a secret, state-sponsored doping program that distributed untested steroids and male hormones to athletes as young as 12. Many of these girls had no knowledge that they were being doped, and now, as grown women (and men), their broken bodies and damaged psyches bear witness to the cruelty of a government that pursued international glory and gold at the expense of its most acclaimed citizens. “Doping for Gold” digs deep into the secretive Cold War world of East German athletes, examining what drugs were used, how they were distributed and what damage they did to many of the athletes who were forced to take them. The result creates a timely perspective on today’s many doping scandals and reveals the truth behind the biggest and most horrifying state-sponsored doping program the world has ever known.
Find out more. Visit the Secrets of the Dead Web site.
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Secrets of the Dead
Executed in Error
Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
In 1910, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen was hanged for poisoning and dismembering his wife, after he attempted to flee the country with his young lover. However, investigators have now found that the human remains discovered in Crippen’s cellar were not those of his wife. Their further DNA work — revealed exclusively in this film — throws up startling new evidence about what really happened. It exposes a historic miscarriage of justice and poses uncomfortable questions about the police and prosecutors, who claimed to have solved the crime of the century.
Learn more. Visit the Secrets of the Dead Web site.
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Secrets of the Dead
Aztec Massacre
Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m.
Throughout recent times, historians have believed that when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Aztec territory in the 15th century, they were welcomed as returning light-skinned gods by the Aztecs, who put up little resistance to their conquest. But now, a new find outside of Mexico City is turning history on its head. The discovery: more than 400 bodies, many of which show signs of having been mutilated and even eaten. More important, more than 40 of the bodies appear to be European, indicating that the Aztecs not only resisted the invaders, they sacrificed them to their gods, pulling their still-beating hearts from chests and stringing their heads (along with the heads of their horses) on wooden skull racks for public display. Exploring the archeology of the site, the forensics of the bones and beautiful but grotesque codices that document the events, this program paints a new picture of the violent relations between the Aztecs and the conquistadors and rewrites much of what we thought we knew about the Aztec civilization.
Learn more. Visit the Secrets of the Dead Web site.
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Secrets of the Dead
Battle for the Bible
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m.
The stories of the renowned King James Bible are firmly embedded in the collective consciousness of English-speaking people around the world. But few know the gripping stories of faith, flames and martyrdom that led to the Bible's translation into English. Dramatic re-enactments and contemporary records help resurrect the Protestant Reformation, when kings and popes, spies and intellectuals engaged in a violent power struggle over the hearts and minds of fellow believers. This turbulent period of history is revealed as a historical thriller, replete with obsession, courage, treachery, intrigue and murder.
Learn more. Visit the Secrets of the Dead Web site.
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Sesame Street
Monday - Friday at 8 a.m.
For more than 35 years, Sesame Street has sought to meet the critical needs of children while preparing them for school and for life. In addition to literacy, numeracy and science, Sesame Street, the world's largest informal educator of children, tackles an issue facing many families today: children's health.
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Sherlock Holmes
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
The highly-acclaimed series starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke as Holmes and Watson, returns to public television. Brett's Sherlock Holmes is considered by many to be the definitive portrayal of the master sleuth. Thirteen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original short stories are brought to life in this triumph of television drama.
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Sid the Science Kid
Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Sundays at 10 a.m.
Sid the Science Kid is an engaging and entertaining new animated preschool series promoting exploration and science readiness in a kid-friendly way – no lab coats or test tubes here. Sid explores the science of everyday realities that preschoolers face with the help of his friends and family. The new series premieres on Eight as part of the popular PBS KIDS preschool destination, an educational, interactive hosted two-hour morning television block. Produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles, Sid the Science Kid continues Henson’s legacy of quality children’s entertainment as the Company’s first curriculum-based series for PBS KIDS. The half-hour episodes were created using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary and groundbreaking technology that allows performers to puppeteer and voice digital characters in real-time, creating an unprecedented level of spontaneity, quality and interactivity.
Sid, the show’s energetic and inquisitive preschool star, starts each episode with a new question (“Why are my shoes shrinking?” “Why do bananas get mushy?”) and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers. Sid’s day is full of discovery and wonder. He gets a kick out of putting rolie polie bugs under his magnifying glass or asking lots of questions with his hand-held microphone. Through his adventure, Sid encourages preschoolers to think about how to get answers to their own questions by exploring the world around them. Joining Sid are Gabriela, his best friend, self-confident, athletic and member of the “Bug Club”; May, sweet and empathetic with a wonderful imagination; Gerald, full of boundless energy; teacher Susie, whose warmth and playfulness make science fun; Grandma, feisty, fun and very involved in Sid’s life; Mom (aka Alice), a witty, busy Web designer always ready to encourage Sid; Zeke, Sid’s baby brother who loves to bang on things; and Dad (aka Mort), patient and always willing to get involved in Sid’s explorations and discoveries.
Find out more. Visit Sid the Science Kid Web site.
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Spirit of Enterprise
An Eight/KAET-TV Production
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
ASU’s Spirit of Enterprise Center, part of the W.P. Carey School of Business, presents the 2008 awards honoring local businesses that best demonstrate ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship.
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Tavis Smiley
Sundays at 12:30 p.m.
Tavis Smiley hosts this late-night television talk show - a hybrid of news, issues and entertainment, featuring interviews with newsmakers, politicians, celebrities and everyday people.
To learn more, visit the Tavis Smiley Web site.
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The NewsHour
with Jim Lehrer
Monday - Friday at 6 p.m.
The NewsHour provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live studio interviews, discussions, and both foreign and domestic on-stie reports. The NewsHour is seen by approximately three million people every weeknight and remains one of the most distinguished sources of news in television.
Jim Lehrer returns to anchor the NewsHour on Thursday, June 26, for the first time since undergoing a successful heart valve procedure in late April. Lehrer plans to anchor the broadcast two or three days a week as he moves toward a full time schedule.
Get the NewsHour Global Tumbler with your donation of $60.
To learn more, visit the NewsHour Web site.
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The Sustainability Summit presented by Arizona State University
Sunday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m.
— National leaders discuss and identify workable solutions
to environmental challenges —
How do we ensure our planet will continue to sustain life in the future? What are the leaders from key sectors doing – and what should they be doing – to address the issue. On Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, the ASU Sustainability Solutions Summit in Washington, D.C. brought together a panel of some of the nation's best and brightest leaders in business, government, advocacy and academia to address the most serious sustainability problems we face.
The event included discussion of the steps needed today to achieve future goals of improving automobile fuel efficiency and developing alternative energy sources; reducing waste in manufacturing and packaging; improving water quality; reducing carbon emissions in the United States and abroad; and the role that government, industry and individuals can and should play in that effort. The discussion was moderated by Aaron Brown, former CNN News Anchor, Professor, ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and host of PBS’ Wide Angle.
Panelist include:
- Frances Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Brad Casper, President and CEO, The Dial Corporation
- Anthony Cortese, President, Second Nature
- Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University
- William Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company
- John Hofmeister, Former President, Shell Oil Company, President, Citizens for Affordable Energy
- U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA)
- Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
- Susan Rochford, Vice President, Energy & Sustainability Initiatives, Council on Competitiveness
- U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-MI)
- Rob Walton, Chairman of the Board, Wal-Mart
Learn more. Visit Eight's online Sustainability Channel.
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Washington Week
with Gwen Ifill
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on public television. Now in its 40th year, Washington Week brings together America’s best journalists each Friday evening, providing insight and perspective on the week’s top stories. Ifill, moderator and managing editor of Washington Week since 1999, has bolstered the show’s journalistic roots and its commitment to hearing from the reporters who actually cover the news.
“We have learned a lot each time we have taken Washington Week on the road,” said Ifill. “This election year we will visit some of America’s most vibrant cities, enabling us to find out what voters are thinking, and to get a true gauge of American sentiments and attitudes.”
Get the mini umbrella with your donation of $90.
Follow the stories online. Visit the Washington Week Web site.
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Wild!
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Sundays at 7 p.m.
Magnificent footage is the backdrop for the uncensored life and death struggle to survive in the wild. Wild! goes off the beaten path to locations around the world where some of the world’s best and least known species live in unspoiled environs. These beautiful films are from leading wildlife and nature producers whose work is of the highest quality.
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