FALL PREVIEW 5: MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! & INDEPENDENT LENS

We are wrapping up our week of fall season highlights with a closer look at a modern Serlock Holmes.

MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!
Sundays at 8 PM
London 2010. Sherlock Holmes — loner, oddball, genius. John Watson — doctor, soldier, war hero. Two men who couldn’t be more different ... united by adventure.
Sherlock: A Study in Pink: October 24 | When an unidentified woman, dressed all in pink, turns up murdered, Sherlock must catch the killer.
Sherlock: The Blind Banker: October 31 | When a banker is found dead inside his locked apartment, Sherlock and Watson follow the clues.
Sherlock: The Great Game: November 7 | Sherlock must solve perplexing and dangerous puzzles specifically laid out for him.

INDEPENDENT LENS
Tuesdays at 10 PM
This acclaimed Emmy Award-winning anthology series features documentaries and a limited number of fiction films united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of their independent producers.
The Longoria Affair: November 9 | Private Felix Longoria died during World War II, his Texas hometown’s only funeral parlor refused his family because “the whites wouldn’t like it.” The incident created deep divisions — but it also helped launch the Mexican American civil rights movement.

While this wraps up our look at the highlights coming this fall, there are many other programs you’ll find each night on KLRN. From the PBS NewsHour to Need to Know, Dinosaur Train to The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, Antiques Roadshow to History Detectives, we’ll keep you posted on what’s coming up with our biweekly Previews e-newsletter. Sign up at http://www.klrn.org/signup/.

And as always, we want to know what you think about our programs!

FALL PREVIEW 4: CIRCUS & FRONTLINE

We’ve heard that many of you have enjoyed the series CARRIER, which looked at life aboard an air craft carrier. The creator of that series is back with CIRCUS. FRONTLINE looks at issues close to home in October.

These are just two shows we are highlighting this week. If you don’t want to miss these or other great programs on KRLN, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

CIRCUS
Wednesdays, November 3-17
Hit the road with CIRCUS and take an unforgettable trip with the legendary Big Apple Circus. From the big top to the “back lot” — where the real heart of the circus beats — explore a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Get involved with the diverse characters who make up the Big Apple family. Share their fears and frustrations, triumphs and failures and find out what it really means to live life in the ring.
Watch a preview of Circus at http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/

FRONTLINE
As PBS’ premier public affairs series, FRONTLINE’s stature is reaffirmed each week through incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human, social and political experience.
Death by Fire: October 19 | Did Texas execute an innocent man? FRONTLINE examines the conviction and 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson death of his three young children in light of new science that raises doubts about whether the fire at the center of the case was really arson.
The Spill: October 26 | Through interviews with current and former BP employees and executives, government regulators and safety experts, FRONTLINE joins with ProPublica to examine the trail that led to the disaster in the Gulf.

FALL PREVIEW 3: GOD IN AMERICA & NOVA

Continuing our look at the programs coming this fall to KLRN, today we’re highlighting a thought-provoking collaboration between FRONTLINE and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE called, GOD IN AMERICA.

GOD IN AMERICA
Monday-Wednesday, October 11-13, 9 PM
How has religious belief shaped American history? What role have religious ideas and spiritual experience played in shaping the social, political and cultural life of what has become the world's most religiously diverse nation?
For the first time on television, God in America, a presentation of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE, will explore the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States. The six-hour series, which interweaves documentary footage, historical dramatization and interviews with religious historians, will air over three consecutive nights.
Watch a preview God In America at: http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/

NOVA
Tuesdays at 8 PM
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines.
Building the Great Cathedrals: October 19 | Carved from a hundred million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spider web of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights?
Trapped in an Elevator: November 2 | Across North America, elevators move 325 million passengers every day. NOVA reveals the secret life of these ubiquitous machines and investigates personal stories of those who have been caught inside when they fail.

If you don’t want to miss these great programs, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

FALL PREVIEW 2: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN’S AMERICAN SONGBOOK & AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

This week, we’re looking at new programs coming this fall to KLRN! Yesterday, we looked at BASEBALL and Great Performances. Today, we’re continuing with a look at two music programs. First, Michael Feinstein takes on a journey through the American Songbook. We’ll then take a musical hop up I-35 and see who’s on stage at Austin City Limits.

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN’S AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Wednesdays, October 6-20
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN'S AMERICAN SONGBOOK chronicles Feinstein's ongoing quest to preserve, perpetuate and celebrate one of America's greatest treasures - the American popular songbook -created by some of the nation's finest composers and lyricists: the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
Saturdays at 10 PM
ACL continues its longstanding tradition of showcasing the best of original American music. This fall, catch the sounds of: Jimmy Cliff, 10/2; Spoon, 10/9; Patty Griffin & Friends, 10/16; and Alejandro Escovedo/Trombone Shorty, 10/23.

If you don’t want to miss these great programs, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

FALL PREVIEW 1: THE TENTH INNING & GREAT PERFORMANCES

Vacation photos have been posted to Facebook, school buses are back in our neighborhoods and here at KLRN, we’re looking forward to some exciting programs this fall. Each day this week, we’re taking a peek at a couple of these programs. We'll kick things off by highlighting Ken Burn’s latest project, an update to his series, BASEBALL and Sir Patrick Stewart’s turn as Macbeth.

Don’t miss these great programs! Sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

THE TENTH INNING
Tuesday-Wednesday, September 28-29
Thousands of bats, three home run records and one "curse" have been broken since Ken Burns last explored the history of America's national pastime with his landmark 1994 PBS series BASEBALL. Now, Burns and co-director Lynn Novick update the series with THE TENTH INNING. Beginning with a crippling strike that alienated millions of fans and brought the game to the brink, this new film tells the tumultuous story of our national pastime up to the present. It celebrates baseball's new Golden Age - an era of unprecedented home run totals, popularity and prosperity - and sheds light on one of the game's darkest chapters - the steroid era.
Watch a preview of The Tenth Inning at http://www.pbs.org/baseball-the-tenth-inning/

GREAT PERFORMANCES
Television's longest-running performing arts anthology continues to broadcast the best in music, dance and theater.
Macbeth: Wednesday, October 6 | Director Rupert Goold adapts his gripping stage production of Macbeth - with Sir Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood reprising their Tony-nominated performances - into this edgy film adaptation, which relocates the bloody action to a nameless 20th-century netherworld.
Watch a preview of Macbeth at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/macbeth/about-the-film-and-preview/1015/

Check back tomorrow when we’ll explore music specials coming to KLRN!

A Major Tragedy Struck

...and instead of heading the other way, these folks stuck around and did what needed doing. They're Dr. Ruth Berggren and Dr. Tyler Curiel. They're a couple of intelligent, well-known doctors, and a married couple to boot.

Besides medicine, another of life's aspects they share is an odd proximity to tragedy. They were there when dikes failed and the waters drowned much of New Orleans. The two doctors stayed with patients too sick to be moved, day after day, wondering if the world had forgotten them. Finally, Sanjay Gupta and Anderson Cooper shone the national spotlight on the hospitals that rescue efforts seem to have forgotten, and the choppers arrived to ferry patients and doctors out safely.

Ms. Berggren was raised in Haiti, and returns there often to care for the sick and teach UT Health Science Center students medical ethics. She'd only been back to San Antonio from such a trip for 36 hours when the earthquake nearly leveled Port Au-Prince. Feeling the call of duty and a tug on her heartstrings, she headed back to the tropical country, joined shortly thereafter by husband Tyler.

They sat down recently with Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies to relive their experiences, and tell south Texans that what they know about Haiti...isn't the Haiti these doctors know at all. Their stories are fascinating and well-told, their pictures beautiful and revealing.

We invite viewers to spend an hour tonight at 8 with two of San Antonio's most interesting people. I can guarantee that you'll learn something you didn't know, and you'll feel just a little better about the world.

This Is Why You Need KLRN:

We’ve just put the finishing touches to the show we at KLRN call Politithon. It’s the marathon political program wherein we invite everyone who’s running for local, area and national office, from County Clerk to U.S. Representative. The League of Women voters collaborate with us to bring south Texas voters a two and 3/4-hour, in-depth talk with those who want your vote in the March 2nd Primary.

No other local station does this.

Millions of Americans’ identities are stolen every year, costing untold billions and heartache to its victims. With this in mind, the Texas Lyceum approached KLRN to shoot, produce and edit one in their Great Debate Series at San Antonio’s Empire Theater. Moderated by the Express-News’ Bob Rivard, the forum on Cyber Security didn’t just make for great TV. It gave viewers an hour’s worth of information they likely haven’t heard anywhere else to protect them and their families.

No other local station does this.

The KLRN production crew recently descended on the Foundry Coffee House to shoot its 5th annual College Call-In. This program helps students and parents navigate the confusing and choppy waters of getting into and paying for college. Hosts Chuck Cureau and Karen Grace invited parents and students to ask representatives from most local colleges their most pressing questions, and have them answered right then-n-there. KLRN commits to getting all calls, e-mails and tweets answered so that everyone who wants to get into college can do so!

No other local station does this.

Coming soon:
Conversations--a revealing Conversation with Dr. Ruth Berggren, the woman who stayed with her New Orleans patients after Katrina, and whose big heart took her back to Haiti after the earthquake.
Also: Judge Nelson Wolff takes us to the south side and reveals why the rebirth of the San Antonio River at the Mission Reach might even be greater than the wildly successful Museum Reach.

No other local station does this.

This is what you deserve from your local PBS station, and that’s precisely what KLRN will continue to do for you. Thanks for watching, and supporting, KLRN.

Frontline: Digital Nation

Watch Digital Nation tonight at 9:00 PM on KLRN. Want to know more? Google it!

The PBS NewsHour

On Monday night, December 7, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer becomes the PBS NewsHour. While you can watch the PBS NewsHour each weeknight at 7 PM on KLRN, the change also brings a robust new Web site that will be updated throughout the day.

If you missed Jim Lehrer's announcement and his rules for "MacNeil/Lehrer Journalism" on the Friday, December 4 program, you can watch it here.



And don't forget to join Jim, Gwen, Judy, Ray, Margaret, Jeffrey and newcomer, Hari Sreenivasan for the PBS NewsHour tonight!

Don't Believe Me; I've Got a Dog in This Hunt

But San Antonio's Express-News Entertainment Writer Jeanne Jakle doesn't, and she sure did like what we call "The River Walk Doc." Its real title is Paseo Del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk.

Jakle's review is glowing, and to be honest, so are we. We put a lot of heart and soul (and photography and editing) into this doc and it's very satisfying to have it recognized. It airs 9PM Tuesday night the 10th of November--tomorrow at this writing--and I hope you get a chance to see it.

Pictured above is Donald Lipski's F.I.S.H.. Why in the world did he pick that particular variety of fish to build? The answer is in the River Walk doc...tune in to find out!

They Absolutely Didn't Have to Do This

But they did. They took an overgrown, trash heap wasteland section of the San Antonio River and gave it a radical makeover. They dredged it out, widened the river channel, built elaborate stonework walls and walkways, and secured artists to conceive and install wildly creative, bizarre and even subtle works of art. And now San Antonio has an outdoor linear art gallery that's like nowhere else in the world. The picture above is Donald Lipski's F.I.S.H. under the I-35 bridge, with San Antonio Museum of Art in the background.

They--the city, the county, the San Antonio River Authority, and the San Antonio River Foundation--had an uphill battle to fight. They had to convince a skeptical public that an area of town that, to put it kindly, has seen better times, could become a showplace for the Alamo City. And now, with a lot of corporate support, those governmental entities have done precisely that.

Almost a year ago the River Foundation contacted KLRN to document the creation of what's come to be called the Museum Reach portion of the new River Walk. We've interviewed dozens of people, including all the artists, former mayors, all the movers-n-shakers. And we've spent time along the river shooting beautiful high-def video of all the artists' wondrous creations. We've cruised in River Barges, night and day, to capture the experience of this fabulous new stretch. And we've put all that into a lively, half-hour documentary that we've named Paseo Del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk. If you'd like a preview, go here. It airs Tuesay the 10th at 9PM on KLRN, and we sure hope you'll watch.

If you watch, you'll see how much neater a town we can be, how much more interesting a society we become...when we do that which we don't have to do, but which will make us all a little happeer.

A Conversations Special

We're heading out now to UTSA's main campus to shoot a Conversations Special tonight at the University Center theater. First off at 5 they'll be screening The Wall documentary, and afterwards we'll record a Conversations program about the documentary.

The DOC is all about a wall that's being built along the Mexican border in an effort to cut down and/or eliminate illegal immigration. Whether you're a supporter of the Wall or don't like it at all, the documentary's a fascinating look at what's happening there.

Former WOAI Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle is hosting the Conversations record, and The Wall director Ricardo Martinez is the subject. A live audience will be asking questions and this will all be turned into a Conversations Thursday night the 8th of October. If you can't join us for the live taping, please join us for the program playback.

Take a Peek at the PBS Press Tour

I love summertime. This is when PBS announces our fall lineup and it’s so refreshing when new programs are unveiled.

What’s even more exciting is that PBS has just returned from their press tour in Calif. and is already seeing the results of their efforts.

On a conference call I participated in yesterday with the PBS Communication Advisory Council, the media team reported “…strong media attendance, including the Associated Press, TV Guide Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and more than 130 other publications and Web sites with 60 million+ total circulation.” USA Today called last week’s PBS Press Tour “excellent” and Washington Post’s Lisa de Moraes said “PBS’s press tour is the best lineup by far.”

You can check out the PBS Press Tour yourself on YouTube. Among the highlights you’ll find:

• David Tennant brings a “breath of fresh air” to Masterpiece
• Astronaut Mike Massimino on twittering from Space
• Patti Smith interview outside of studio
• Paula Apsell and Susan Lacy give great overviews of the coming season and how they pick topics/ talent for each season
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – talks about filming in Africa, his parents birthplace
• The Electric Company’s “Shock” beatboxes the letters PBS @7:04

I could go on about what’s new this season, but don’t take it from me or PBS, check out the press tour yourself at http://www.youtube.com/pbs. I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts.

Your Opportunity to Walk with Dinosaurs

Have you heard that dinosaurs will be in San Antonio this fall? Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular will visit the AT&T Center on November 4 -8.

Anyone interested in dinosaurs, history, engineering, or robotics will be amazed at this show. The live show is based on the famous Walking with Dinosaurs series produced by BBC and seeks to once again bring dinosaurs to life. The entire floor of the AT&T Center will be cleared to make room for these massive creatures. KLRN viewers will have a chance to watch a behind the scenes documentary about this amazing production. “Walking with Dinosaurs: The Making of the Live Experience” will air this Sunday at 7:00pm. I’ve watched this program and, trust me, it will amaze you to see the amount of work that goes into designing and creating these life size creatures. …And I do mean life size. The largest dinosaur is 72 feet from nose to tail! Anyone familiar with engineering won’t be surprised to know that there are some tense moments. No design is every implemented without a few hitches. I don’t want to give away any details, so you’ll just have to watch. Don’t forget to tune-in to KLRN on Sunday (8/16) at 7:00pm.

Andrea.

P.S. Please note that the above clip is from the Live Experience event and not from the Making of… documentary.

Thursday Night's Conversations

If it looks like they're having fun, maybe it's because they are. The THEY are Juan Sepulveda, Julian Castro and Ricardo Romo and we brought them together to discuss the hurdles South Texans have to clear to get a higher education. Juan's new post with the Obama Administration's Initiative on Excellence in Education leaves him well qualified to speak, as do the resumes of San Antonio's new Mayor and UTSA's President.

This Conversations program was recorded at UTSA's downtown campus right after a gathering of educators and government folks had hashed over the high hills and deep ruts of south Texas' education landscape. The lively half-hour program runs the gamut on education, from TAKS test troubles to where they think the biggest hurdle to clear for getting a good education lies: and it’s probably not where you think! Check it out Thursday night at 8.

This is One Slick Guy

Tom Slick was born to wealth and could have lived out his days burning through it all without a care in the world. Instead though, he cared a lot. This San Antonio native cared enough about people that to help fight disease, he established the Southwest Biomedical Foundation to research cures. He established the Mind Science foundation to research the unknown complexities of the mind. He wrote a book on World Peace before he was 30.
Tom Slick hungered for knowledge from the four corners of the world, so he traveled that world in searches for the Abominable Snowman, for the Loch Ness Monster, and even Bigfoot.
While he never found those creatures, he did find his biggest passion: Modern Art. Now, a McNay Art Museum Exhibition at the Stieren Center celebrates the man through his private collection in Tom Slick: International Art Collector.
Host Jeff Coyle speaks with Dr. William Chiego, John C. Kerr and biographer Catherine Nixon Cooke as they tell surprising, revealing and downright amusing stories about one of South Texas’ most accomplished, most fascinating men. Tune in to KLRN Tonight at 8 for a preview of his collection, plus a peek at the twisted, yet hilarious Edward Gorey exhibit currently showing at the McNay.

DVR Watch: Great Performances: In The Heights- Chasing Broadway Dreams

Are you one of those who is always setting your DVR to record show to watch later? Or are you like many others who are watching more and more TV online?

Just last night, I caught up with Great Performances' "In The Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams." This is a moving tale of what it takes to bring a Tony Award Winning production from concept, all the way to opening night on Broadway. The production follows the compelling story of the producers and cast members as you learn about the physical and family sacrifices some of them make -- just to follow their dream.

Many of the musical numbers from the show are contrasted with the performer's own life story as a first generation immigrant, a Latina who is ashamed because she doesn't speak Spanish, and a young dad raising a son with autism.

Speaking of recording a show to watch later, you can catch an encore broadcast of "In The Height's: Chasing Broadway Dreams" on KLRN 9 (9.1) Tuesday morning (late Monday night), June 2 at 2:30 AM. You can also learn more about the show and see clips on the Great Performances web site.

[Trivia: The New Electric Company (airs on Fridays at 5PM) taps the creative minds behind "In the Heights" to bring their urban hip music style to literacy!]

What's coming to KLRN TV?

Ever wonder what's coming to KLRN beyond what your TV's on-screen program guide will tell you?

Subscribe to KLRN's Previews Newsletter and we'll send you updates via email about every two weeks.

As an example, coming up in May, you can catch the second two installments of Masterpiece Mystery! with Kenneth Branagh as well as the winning 2009 Fresh Cut student film. That, and the always inspiring National Memorial Day Concert from Washington, DC.

And that's just a taste. Check out the most recent KLRN Previews for more highlights.

To sign-up to get KLRN Previews by email, visit http://www.klrn.org/signup/.

Exciting news from PBS Showcase

This week PBS is holding their annual meeting, PBS Showcase, in Baltimore, Maryland. PBS executives and producers have announced some exciting changes to the schedule coming down the pipeline. One such announcement is the addition of a new animated children’s series, “THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!” which will premiere in Fall 2010. Martin Short will voice the Cat in the Hat and the series will feature his two helpers, Thing One and Thing Two. Children will follow 6-year-old Sally and Nick as the cat leads them through amazing discoveries of natural science. Program outreach will also feature an important element to all PBS Kids series—an interactive website with learning tools for children and resources for their parents. To read more about this new series, click on the following link: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20090511_pbskidscatinthehat.html.

Andrea.

The Entire Museum Reach Project in 1/2 Hour!

You've probably heard of the Museum Reach, that fabulous new River Walk project, running from the Lexington Street Bridge all the way to the Pearl Brewery. That's a lot of ground to take in, so instead of you researching it on foot, why not let us do the heavy lifting? In fact, we've already done so, and with camera in hand.

Thursday night at 8 Conversations reveals the soup-to-nuts details on what's surely South Texas' largest public works/public art installation in the last...oh, I'd say bazillion years. The San Antonio River Foundation (SARF) has combined the creativity of Artists, the backbreaking work of hundreds of skilled workers, and labor-saving machinery to create a landmark project through the city's old industrial northeast downtown area.

Candidly, this was not a garden spot. Abandoned Warehouses and overgrown lots were the norm in this corner of the city that time seemed to skip over. But it had one major thing going for it: the San Antonio River runs through it. So a wise group of people who think we ought to be proud of what we leave those who come after decided to do something BIG.

And the diamond they spotted in the rough...has now been shone to near perfection. It's taken 12 years, a handful of mayors, a small passel of city managers, a collaboration between the city, Bexar county and the San Antonio River Authority to make it happen. And they've succeeded. Mightily.

Tanji Patton hosts a half-hour look at the breath-taking project, with Kim Abernethy representing SARF, Thursday night the 7th right here on KLRN.