Monday, February 28, 2011

A dropped match on the 8th floor sparked a fire that killed over a hundred innocent people trapped inside.

On March 25th, 1911, a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York's Greenwich Village. The blaze ripped through the congested loft; huge piles of trimmings
fed the flames. Petrified workers desperately tried to make their way downstairs, but the factory owners kept the doors on the 9th floor locked and the woefully inadequate fire escape soon crumpled. Hundreds of horrified on-lookers arrived just in time to see young men and women jumping from the windows.
By the time the fire had burned itself out, 146 people were dead...workplace safetyreform resulted. Triangle Fire: American Experience...8pm



Our March Membership Drive starts this week, featuring great music shows like Harrick Connick Jr., Aretha Franklin, John Sebastian, Elvis Presley and many more. Check the online schedule for a complete rundown of what's happening.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Kerouac and Ginsberg were jealous of his writing...

This doc investigates the life of legendary beat author and American icon William Burroughs . Born the heir of the Burroughs' adding machine estate, he struggled throughout his life with addiction, control systems and self. He was forced to deal with the tragedy of killing his wife and the repercussions of neglecting his son. His novel, Naked Lunch, was one of the last books to be banned by the U.S. government, but with the help of Norman Mailer, was later recognized as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century.
Independent Lens "William S. Burroughs: A Man Within"...Saturday 11pm



Kind of like Forrest Gump...a footloose writer takes part in the tumultuous 20th century, while getting to know Ernest Hemingway, Ian Fleming, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. He also falls in love - over and over. Based on William Boyd's bestselling novel, the three-part series stars Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent, Matthew Macfadyen, and Sam Claflin, each playing the hero in a different stage of his eventful life. Kim Cattrall, Gillian Anderson, Tom Hollander, and Ed Stoppard fill out the cast. Masterpiece Classic "Any Human Heart - pt 3"...Sunday at 8pm

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

From deadzones and hurricanes, to Willie and the Wheel...

State of the Gulf: America's Sea explores the rich diversity of the Gulf of Mexico; the unique geology, and the crucial role the Gulf plays in our nation's energy supply...also examined are threats to the Gulf; from dead zones and hurricanes, climate change, and the unprecedented 2010 Deep Water Horizon oil spill...8pm

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS..7pm - veterans and country music legends Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel join forces onstage in celebration of their collaborative LP, Willie and the Wheel. Watch them perform "Oh, You Pretty Woman" in the clip below.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Frontline in Cairo - the revolution will be televised...

FRONTLINE dispatches teams to Cairo, going inside the youth movement that helped light the fire on the streets. We follow the "April 6th" group, which two years ago began making a bold use of the Internet for their underground resistance-tactics that led to jail and torture for many of their leaders. Now, starting with the "Day of Rage," we witness those same leaders plot strategy and head into "Liberation Square" to try to bring down President Mubarak. Also in this hour, veteran Middle East correspondent Charles Sennott of Global-Post lands in Cairo for FRONTLINE to take a hard look at Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood-the most well-organized and powerful of the country's opposition groups-as a new fight for power in Egypt begins to takes shape...9pm



"I Love Lucy," "The Honeymooners," "Make Room for Daddy," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." When television relied on story-script-acting to draw you in. When "live" broadcasts were common, laugh tracks were too loud, and everyone wanted to live in Mayberry. Andy Griffith offers forceful opinions about the people and techniques that made his show work, and we hear from the last remaining Honeymooner, Joyce Randolph, as well as Marlo Thomas, Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke..
The Pioneers of Television - Sitcoms...tonight at 7pm


Watch the full episode. See more Pioneers of Television.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

So that's why they're always on their phones...

Targeted at parents, teachers and anyone concerned with education in America, this documentary takes viewers to the front lines of an education revolution. "Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century" examines how mobile devices and digital media practices can empower young people to direct their own learning. Documenting five success stories both inside and out of the classroom, the program demonstrates how digital media, games, smart phones and the Internet are fundamentally transforming the way young people communicate, collaborate, participate and learn in the 21st century...Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century...7pm

Watch the full episode. See more Digital Media - New Learners Of The 21st Century.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Heeerrres Johnny-Steve-Jack-Merv-Regis-Arsenio etc...

Pioneers of Television continues tonight with an up close look at the late night format.
The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode, Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for PIONEERS was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat - the inventor of "Tonight." The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. President...

The celebration of President Reagan's life and accomplishments continues tonight
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."...American Experience: An American Crusade...8pm

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Ever wonder what you should eat? Really?

Then tonight's Overheard with Evan Smith can help you with that dilemma...he interviews best-selling author Michael Pollan, whose books include "Food Rules" and "The Omnivores Dilemma"...apparently he has the answer to the food question...8pm

What's so special about human intelligence and will scientists ever build a computer that rivals the flexibility and power of a human brain? "Artificial Intelligence" presents the exclusive inside story of how the IBM team developed the world's smartest computer from scratch. Now they're racing to finish it for a special test on Jeopardy this month. They've built an exact replica of the studio at its research lab near New York and invited past champions to compete against the machine, a big black box code -- named Watson after IBM's founder, Thomas J. Watson. But will Watson be able to beat out its human competition? Nova: The Smartest Machine on Earth...2am

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Remember when there were only 3 channels?

In the early years of television, local kids' programs shaped the childhoods of millions of American children. Performers such as Willard Scott, Ernest Borgnine and William Shatner all honed their skills performing on live TV with small budgets and little support. With the flimsiest of second-hand store costumes and their own imaginations, they learned how to make their audience laugh, smile and think. One early talent, Stan Freberg, got off the bus in the middle of Hollywood, became a cartoon voice talent and created "Time for Beany" - a show that captured seven out of 10 viewers, including Albert Einstein, during its run in Los Angeles. Freberg's story is told along with the story of legendary Muppets creator Jim Henson and Nancy Claster, who developed the Baltimore kids' series "Romper Room" - the first franchised show in television history...
Pioneers of Television...7pm

How bad is it? Find out with Governor Rick Perry's State of the State address - replayed at 8pm

Monday, February 7, 2011

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall...

When he left the White House in 1988, Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents of the century - and one of the most controversial. A marginal actor, Reagan became a passionate ideologue who preached a simple gospel of lower taxes, less government and anti-communism. 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." This theme turned out to be possibly his greatest asset...the belief that things will always be better - and the ability to communicate that belief to the people. Reagan: American Experience...Part 1 of 2...8pm.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Don't mind me, I'm with the band...

Made up of 28 musicians and singers who all have severe mental and physical disabilities, the Spirit of Goodwill Band is a raucous home away from home where members are free to display their talent, humor, and tenacity. This film challenges preconceived notions of what it means to be disabled...another excellent doc on Independent Lens...11pm, after Austin City Limits.


To mark the centenary of Alistair Cooke's birth in 2008, this documentary tells the story of one of the most celebrated broadcasters of the 20th century. While Cooke was widely known in the U.S. for his role a host of PBS "Masterpiece Theatre," his own story is as fascinating and surprising as anything in his reports. The film features newly-found home video footage dating back to 1933, with contributions from his family and friends, including Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard...A Masterpiece Special: The Unseen Alistair Cooke...Sunday at 8pm

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Lyle Lovett pays tribute to the ACL crew during his last song "Closing Time."

After 36 years in Studio 6A, Austin City Limits has moved to its new home in downtown Austin. Before they unplugged the cameras and took down the lights, Lyle and his Large Band closed out their portion of the show by bringing up onstage the producers and crew members who work behind the scenes on the longest running music show anywhere. A fitting tribute to 36 years in one spot, and a nod to the next 3 decades in the new home...Austin City Limits...tonight at 7pm

Bill Bradley's biography includes three terms as a U.S. Senator, a run for the presidential nomination in 2000, an NBA hall of fame basketball career and two years in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He's also the author of six books, the host of a weekly radio show and a partner in a New York investment bank. Join us on Overheard with Evan Smith...8pm

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

It's not easy being green...

Making Stuff Cleaner - Host David Pogue is on a quest to clean up, using new green materials to build and power the devices of the future. Batteries grown from viruses, plastics made of sugar and solar cells that cook up hydrogen are just the beginning of a new generation of clean materials.
"Nova Wednesday"...8pm

"Green Builders" profiles a cast of green building pioneers who have taken the leap into making their part of the "built environment" a more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly place. In each story, people talk about why they made the move to build green, what the challenges were, and how their projects have fared...9pm

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

As TV viewers in the '60's reveled in being transported to shadowy underworlds, creative geniuses emerged in the forms of Jack Webb ("Dragnet"), Desi Arnaz ("The Untouchables") and Bruce Geller ("Mannix" and "Mission: Impossible"). Groundbreaking actors Bill Cosby ("I Spy") and Angie Dickinson ("Police Woman") reveal the methods behind their successes as the first African-American and breakthrough female lead characters in a television series. Barbara Bain and Martin Landau share the secrets behind the success of the innovative hit "Mission: Impossible," while the evolution of Peter Falk's amazing characterization in his role as "Columbo" is recalled. And James Garner, in his only recent interview, along with series creator Stephen J. Cannell, recounts the success of the "The Rockford Files'" reluctant crime solver...Pioneers of Television...7pm