FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2009
CONTACT:
Meg Fullwood
214-740-9377
mfullwood@kera.org
BIG COUNTRY, BIG LAUGHS AND HALLOWEEN TREATS DURING OCTOBER ON KERA-TV
DALLAS/FORT WORTH – KERA-TV brings viewers tricks and treats for the month of October. Ken Burns’ visual feast, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, concludes October 2 to be replaced with “something completely different:” KERA’s 35th anniversary of Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The series made its American debut on KERA-TV in 1974. Don’t miss the comedic Pythons as they spin their individual tricks and tales in the five-part series Personal Best and stay up all night for the World Premiere of Monty Python Before and After followed by British comedy highlights.
Local programs this month include the original KERA production Boyfriends, which examines the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to the way teenage girls form romantic relationships. Stop the Presses: The American Newspaper in Peril investigates the role of American newspapers as public watchdog amidst decreasing circulation, revenue, and Internet and stockholder pressure. Ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua takes viewers to the former west Texas mining town that has become a haven for renegades wanting to escape modern society.
Stellar arts and entertainment programming this month includes American Masters – Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound, about the life and career of the activist and performer who influenced a generation. Art:21-Art in the Twenty-First Century takes viewers behind the scenes to learn about contemporary art in America. Latin Music USA explores the influence of Latin music on jazz, blues, rock and roll and the amalgam of Latin music styles that developed Salsa. Austin City Limits features performances by Sarah McLachlan, Ben Harper and Kenny Chesney, and a new director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic makes his debut.
Halloween thrills include Bram Stoker’s devilishly delicious Dracula and a One Star Theater marathon to delight you until dawn.
TELEVISION
Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, Part 5
Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Ken Burns’ exploration of the national parks continues with an assessment of the parks as a source of job creation during the Great Depression and a much-needed haven for peace during WWII.
Austin City Limits
Thursday, October 1 at 10:00 p.m.
Multi-Grammy Award-winner, singer/songwriter and activist, Sarah McLachlan makes her debut on Austin City Limits with the release of her greatest hits collection.
Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, Part 6
Friday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.
The Ken Burns’ national parks series concludes with a look at how the parks have become a testing ground for ideas and how American families are passing on a love of the parks to the next generation.
Movie 13: The Great Escape
Saturday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 4 at 3:00 p.m.
Based on a true story, a group of allied prisoners of war are put in an 'escape proof' camp. The first half of the film is played for comedy as they outwit their jailers. The second half is high adventure as they escape occupied Europe. The 1963 film stars Steve McQueen.
One Star Theatre – Unknown Island
Sunday, October 4 at 1:00 a.m.
Adventure-seeker Ted Osborne convinces his girlfriend to fund his expedition to a South Pacific island rumored to be populated with dinosaurs. When they arrive, they find the stories are true. Will they survive to tell their tale?
Masterpiece Mystery! – Inspector Lewis II: Allegory of Love
Sunday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m.
The day after author Dorian Crane’s book-launch party, a young barmaid is found dead and the circumstances seem to have been lifted from Crane's book. Lewis and Hathaway investigate and are pulled into the world of Oxford's literary elite.
Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times
Monday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m.
This documentary by filmmaker Peter Jones, tells the story of the Los Angeles Times and the city’s most powerful family. The Chandlers held influence through their newspaper over four generations, pursuing personal agendas, civic ideals and ultimately revealing a dark side of the American dream.
Monty Python’s Personal Best – Eric Idle
Monday, October 5 at 10:00 p.m.
KERA celebrates 35 years of British comedies with a look at the comedy troupe that started it all. Monty Python’s Personal Best highlights the best skits and songs from the Monty Python’s Flying Circus television series. The Eric Idle episode includes delightfully confusing interviews in his portrayal as a newscaster and a parody tribute to The Beatles.
NOVA – Darwin’s Darkest Hour, Part 1 & 2
Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
NOVA explores the extraordinary drama of Darwin’s great personal crisis: the anguishing decision over whether to “go public” with his theory of evolution.
Monty Python’s Personal Best – Terry Jones
Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 p.m.
In an interview from his extravagant home, Terry Jones brags about his conception of Monty Python as a vehicle to showcase his own talents and his reluctance to let the other members join in.
Craft in America II – Origins and Process
Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The second season of Craft in America explores the history, artists and techniques of American craft culture with the episodes Origins and Process back-to-back.
Monty Python’s Personal Best – Michael Palin
Wednesday, October 7 at 10:00 p.m.
In this pseudo-documentary, Michael Palin masquerades as a travel documentarian and visits the location of the Fish-Slapping Dance.
The This Old House Hour
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. beginning October 8
America's favorite home improvement series launches a new season. The award-winning program This Old House will be featured in the first half hour. The second half features contractors addressing specific, viewer-driven home maintenance and repair questions.
Monty Python’s Personal Best – John Cleese
Thursday, October 8 at 10:00 p.m.
The show opens with a "memorial" to the "late" John Cleese, cuts to a fairytale starring the troupe and then to a poolside interview of a cranky old man and a reporter. The program caused an Internet crisis, with fans inquiring as to whether Cleese actually died.
Monty Python’s Personal Best – Terry Gilliam
Friday, October 9 at 10:00 p.m.
Terry Gilliam claims Monty Python's Flying Circus was his idea and that the show was supposed to only feature his animation. The "viewer" flips a switch that transitions Gilliam and his workshop into animation and hilarity ensues.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus/British Comedy – 35th Anniversary Marathon
Saturday, October 10 beginning at 7:00 p.m.
KERA is up all night with special programs to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ American debut on KERA-TV. Tune in for the World Premiere of Monty Python Before and After and stay up late with the best of British comedies.
Masterpiece Mystery! Inspector Lewis II: Quality of Mercy
Sunday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m.
A student production of The Merchant of Venice turns deadly when a cast member is killed with a prop knife. The jealous ensemble cast can't muster fake tears over the loss of their colleague and a career con man may have killed to get a part in the play. Lewis and Hathaway try to make sense of the plot.
Latin Music USA – Part 1
Monday, October 12 at 8:00 p.m.
Latin Music USA explores the influence of Latin music on American jazz, hip hop, rhythm and blues, and rock ‘n’ roll. Part 1 looks at the mambo craze of the 1960s and the musical influences that created Salsa.
The Big Squeeze
Monday, October 12 at 10:00 p.m.
Take a joyful leap into the heart of Texas music with The Big Squeeze, a documentary that follows young musicians battling it out at the statewide accordion showdown. A film by Hector Galan.
NOVA – Hubble’s Amazing Rescue
Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Get the inside story of the last shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope in the spring of 2009. From training to launch, NOVA investigates the extraordinary challenges faced by the rescue crew.
San Francisco Quake: A Matter of Seconds
Tuesday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m.
The 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck just as the nation was tuning in to watch the first World Series between two Bay Area teams. The quake killed 63 people, injured 2,000 and caused massive destruction. This documentary includes interviews with the survivors, victims and heroes whose lives were forever changed that day.
FRONTLINE – Obama’s War
Tuesday, October 13 at 9:00 p.m.
FRONTLINE makes the dangerous journey to the front lines of Afghanistan to examine U.S. counterinsurgency strategy in a fight that promises to be longer and more costly than most imagined.
INDEPENDENT LENS – Herb and Dorothy
Tuesday, October 13 at 10:00 p.m.
With modest means, a postal clerk and a librarian build one of the most important modern art collections in history and redefine what it means to be an art collector.
America’s Ballroom Challenge IV
Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Shot at the world ballroom dancing competition in Columbus, Ohio, the show features 24 world-class couples competing for the title of "America's Best."
American Masters – Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound
Wednesday, October 14 at 9:00 p.m.
This new documentary chronicles the public and private life of Joan Baez, her history as a recording artist and performer and her journey as the conscience of a generation.
Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-First Century - Fantasy
Wednesday, October 14 at 10:30 p.m.
This multi-part series offers viewers an experience of the visual arts that moves beyond the gallery visit to the minds of the artists and their creative process. The episode features Cao Fei, Mary Heilmann, Jeff Koons and Florian Maier-Aichen.
Austin City Limits – Ben Harper and Relentless 7
Thursday, October 15 at 10:00 p.m.
Don’t miss Ben Harper and Relentless 7 when they take the stage on Austin City Limits.
Celtic Thunder – Take Me Home
Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 p.m.
This group of five male vocalists performs contemporary and traditional Celtic music, from rousing ensemble numbers to solo pieces showcasing each member’s vocal style and personality. Tune in for tickets to their November 16 concert at Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie.
The Making of Star Wars in Concert
Saturday, October 17 at 9:30 p.m.
The program takes a look behind the scenes of touring multi-media show featuring music from all six of John Williams’ Star Wars scores. Tune in for tickets to the October 23 performance at Cowboys Stadium.
WWII Behind Closed Doors – Stalin, The Nazis and the West – Parts 1, 2 and 3
Sunday, October 18 beginning at 1:00 p.m.
A surprising history of WWII that draws on newly-available materials made available since the opening of archives in the East, and examines key decisions made by Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt during the war.
Masterpiece Mystery! Inspector Lewis II: Point of Vanishing
Sunday, October 18 at 8:00 p.m.
Steven Mullan is found dead in a bathtub of scalding water. Lewis recognizes him as being recently released from prison for attempting to kill a celebrity atheist. The case takes a surreal twist when Lewis and Hathaway find a postcard at the crime scene with the words, "It was no dream" written on it.
Latin Music USA – Part 2
Monday, October 19 at 8:00 p.m.
This second part of Latin Music USA explores the popularity of Tejano and Conjunto music, Latin pop and Rock en Español.
Ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua
Monday, October 19 at 10:00 p.m.
Austin filmmakers Chris Elley and Cile Spelce Elley travel to the town of Terlingua, Texas, a once prominent mining town that has become the final stop for those fleeing modern society.
Amelia Earhart’s Last Flight – The Final Hours
Tuesday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Texas aviator Linda Finch recreates the final flight of Amelia Earhart, the noted aviation pioneer whose historic worldwide trip in 1937 ended with her tragic disappearance. The program also presents theories as to what may have actually happened.
FRONTLINE – The Warning
Tuesday, October 20 at 9:00 p.m.
FRONTLINE sifts through the ashes of the economic meltdown to find clues as to why it happened and examines the critical moments when things may have gone differently.
INDEPENDENT LENS – Butte, America
Tuesday, October 20 at 10:00 p.m.
Immigrant workers came from around the world to work in the copper mines of Butte, Montana. Their work prompted the rise of unions, multinational corporations and sowed the seeds of the current environmental debate.
Great Performances – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Opening Night Gala
Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.
In fall 2009, music sensation Gustavo Dudamel becomes the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Great Performances joins the festivities for his inaugural gala concert.
In Performance at the White House – Fiesta Latina
Wednesday, October 21 at 9:00 p.m.
This one-hour program hosted by President Obama and the First Lady celebrates Latino culture and concludes Hispanic Heritage Month.
Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-First Century – Transformation
Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 p.m.
Fascinating and intimate footage brings the viewer into the creative process. The episode features Paul McCarthy, Cindy Sherman and Yinka Shonibare MBE.
Austin City Limits – Kenny Chesney
Thursday, October 21 at 10:00 p.m.
Kenny Chesney performs live from Austin.
MOVIE 13: Thelma and Louise
Saturday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Fed up with lives that are going nowhere, Thelma and Louise decide to make a change, jump in the car, hit the road and outrun the police.
One Star Theatre – The Screaming Skull
Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 a.m.
Newlyweds Jenni and Eric Whitlock retire to his mansion where his first wife died in a freak accident. Jenni sees strange things in a mysterious skull, which may or may not be a product of her imagination.
Masterpiece Contemporary – End Game
Sunday, October 25 at 8:00 p.m.
Political thriller about the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid in South Africa stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and William Hurt.
The Crash of 1929 – American Experience
Monday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m.
American Experience looks at the stock market crash of October 1929, which took the finances of Wall Street titans and everyday citizens down with it. Philip Bosco narrates.
Stop the Presses: The American Newspaper in Peril
Monday, October 26 at 9:00 p.m.
An important documentary by local filmmakers, Manny Mendoza and Mark Birnbaum, Stop the Presses examines the American newspaper’s role as public watchdog and the influences that are causing its demise. The filmmakers take viewers inside disheartened newsrooms and into the community to learn what readers think of journalism’s fate.
FRONTLINE – Close to Home
Tuesday, October 27 at 9:00 p.m.
FRONTLINE investigates the middle class struggle to stay afloat during the recession through the intersecting stories at a hair salon. Bankers, actors and small business people tell their stories.
INDEPENDENT LENS – Journals of a Wily School
Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 p.m.
A real-life story of survival from the streets of India that follows a young pickpocket who is arrested by police and offered a pardon, but only if he turns in his fellow grifters.
The Botany of Desire
Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Based on the best-selling book by author and program host Michael Pollan, this special looks at the complex human-plant relationship.
Boyfriends
Wednesday, October 28 at 9:00 p.m.
This original KERA production examines the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to the way girls form romantic relationships.
Art:21 - Art in the Twenty-First Century - Systems
Wednesday, October 28 at 10:00 p.m.
Watch artists at work as they transform inspiration into art and grapple with the physical and visual challenges of achieving their artistic visions. This episode features John Baldessari, Kimsooja, Allan McCollum and Julie Mehretu.
Austin City Limits – Andrew Bird and St. Vincent
Thursday, October 28 at 10:00 p.m.
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird dazzles the crowd with songs from his album Noble Beast followed by the imaginative indie pop of former Polyphonic Spree songbird, St. Vincent.
Masterpiece – Dracula
Saturday, October 31 at 9:00 p.m.
Bram Stoker’s infamously sinister and famously undead character travels to England to become a shadowy figure in the lives of Lucy and her husband Holmwood. Dracula’s identity is discovered – but is it too late?
One Star Theatre – Plan 9 From Outer Space
Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 a.m.
Angry aliens plan to reanimate the dead on Earth and march on the capitals of the world. Flying saucers, zombies and cardboard tombstones are all part of the low-budget terror.
One Star Theatre – Carnival of Souls
Sunday, November 1 at 2:20 a.m.
A drag race turns deadly when a car is forced off a bridge and everyone drowns. One of the girls later emerges and accepts a job in a new town where she’d dogged by a phantom and must confront her personal demons.
One Star Theatre – Hideous Sun Demon
Sunday, November 1 at 3:45 a.m.
An atomic research scientist is exposed to radiation and morphs into a murderous lizard when exposed to sunlight.
