FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS
Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!
American Experience: Sea Biscuit
Tuesday, May 26 @ 9pm
He was boxy, with stumpy legs that wouldn't completely straighten a short straggly tail and an ungainly gait; though he didn't look the part, Seabiscuit was one of the most remarkable thoroughbred racehorses in history. In the 1930s, when Americans longed to escape the grim realities of Depression-era life, four men turned Seabiscuit into a national hero.
American Masters | W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause – NEW!
Tuesday, May 19 @ 9pm
Discover W.E.B. Du Bois’s remarkable life from his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, and how his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.
Antiques Roadshow
Mondays @ 8pm
Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt.
May 18 – Junk in the Trunk 15
Visit all five cities from ROADSHOW’s celebratory Season 30 for never before-seen finds, including a 1961 JFK Santa Claus Letter, a 1979 Ed Ruscha Stage Fright ink on paper, and a John Juzek violin, ca. 1950. Guess the hour’s big find!
May 25 – Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage
Travel with ROADSHOW to watch incredible items from Asian-American, Asian and Pacific Islands creators, including a Hawaiian Kou bowl, a Gandhi presentation spinning wheel, and an 1888 Joseph Nawahi painting. Which is $250,000-$300,000?
Downton Abbey, Season 1, on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 10pm beginning May 17
Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Downton Abbey depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912.
Finding Your Roots
Tuesdays @ 8pm
The acclaimed series explores the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of popular figures.
May 19 – Stranger than Fiction
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
May 26 – Dreamers: One and All
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Great Performances - NEW EPISODES!
Fridays @ 9pm
Watch television’s longest-running performing arts anthology to enjoy the best in music, dance and theater.
May 22 – An Evening with Nicole Scherzinger
Experience the Tony winner's return to Royal Albert Hall in her first major UK solo show in 13 years recorded with a full orchestra. Enjoy Broadway favorites and pop hits including songs from her award-winning role in "Sunset Boulevard.”
May 29 – Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy
Discover the influence of Jewish composers and lyricists on the modern American musical through interviews, archival footage, and insights from legends like Stephen Sondheim, Mel Brooks, and many more.
Margaret: The Rebel Princess
Back-to-Back Episodes! Sunday, May 31 @ 8pm
This intimate two-part series profiles Princess Margaret, whose life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed the western world during the 20th century.
National Memorial Day Concert 2026
Sunday, May 24 @ 8pm
America’s national night of remembrance hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, honors the courage and sacrifice of our military men and women, their families, and pays tribute to all who have given their lives in service to our nation. The evening will feature powerful storytelling and musical salutes featuring world-renowned artists with the National Symphony Orchestra, and a special commemoration of the country’s 250th Anniversary highlighting the all-volunteer force that won our independence in the American Revolution.
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Forty years on, it is the premier voice for the natural world, an essential lens on the creatures, great and small, that sustain us all on our living planet.
May 20 – Attenborough’s Wonder of Song
David Attenborough presents seven of the most remarkable animal songs found in nature and explores the significance of these songs in the lives of their species.
May 27 – Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster
Follow Sir David Attenborough and a team of forensic experts as they unearth the fossil of a giant Pliosaur, the largest Jurassic predator ever known.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premiere science series.
May 20 – When Whales Could Walk
Explore big discoveries that have revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
May 27 – Great Mammoth Mystery
Sir David Attenborough explores a site with traces of ancient mammoths and Neanderthals.
Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
Thursdays @ 7pm
Experience the passion of a destination through food and drink, arts and culture, and adventure
May 14 – Route 66 in New Mexico
Samantha travels the Mother Road through New Mexico, starting at the retro Motel Safari in Tucumcari. She visits the Santa Rosa Route 66 Car Museum, then heads to Santa Fe, where Native, Spanish, and American cultures meet. In Albuquerque, she tours the Kimo Theatre and gets a custom hat, then explores Grants’ Mining Museum, Continental Divide, and Gallup’s Earl’s Café and Cultural Center.
May 21 – Route 66 in Arizona
Samantha’s Route 66 adventure continues through Arizona’s 244 miles of the Mother Road. She marvels at the Petrified Forest, visits the Jackrabbit Trading Post, and stays at Winslow’s historic La Posada. Exploring Walnut Canyon and Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory, she heads to Williams’ quirky Poozeum, meets Route 66 legend Angel Delgadillo in Seligman, and ends in Kingman’s Route 66 Museum.
May 28 – Route 66 in California
Samantha’s California Route 66 journey begins in Goffs, a Mojave Desert railroad town tied to WWII history. In Amboy, she meets locals reviving the ghost town, then explores Route 66 through Barstow’s Marine base. She visits Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, the Wigwam Motel, and Pasadena’s Gamble House before ending her adventure at Santa Monica Pier, where Route 66 meets the Pacific.
Secrets of the Dead: China’s Bronze Kingdom – NEW EPISODE!
Wednesday, May 27 @ 10pm
The chance discovery of a jade artifact has led to the unearthing of an ancient city hidden in the mountains of Sichuan. With more than 10,000 items found so far, is this the capital of the ancient Shu kingdom?
Shared Planet
Wednesdays @ 10pm
With stunning cinematography, this unique global series reveals the untold stories of people and wildlife thriving together. Celebrating the benefits of making room for nature, this series offers a vision of a hopeful future.
May 6 – Open Spaces
Across our planet’s fragile landscapes, witness how people and wildlife coexist harmoniously.
May 13 – Forests
Meet the forest-dwellers and pioneers rewriting the rules of how we coexist among the trees.
May 20 – Water
Dive into a new blueprint for our oceans, where protecting aquatic life is the key to human prosperity.
Write Around the Corner - NEW EPISODES!
Tuesdays @ 7:30pm
This series, hosted by Rose Martin, features writers who are from Virginia or who write about Virginia. Recorded on location, each half hour interview delves into the stories behind the stories.
May 6 - Kristin Kisska shares her debut novel, The Hint of Light. An Agatha Award Finalist, it’s about unconditional love, secrets and what binds us together.
May 13 - Edith-Anne Duncan shares insights into creating a beautiful and functional home as we discuss her book, Southern Sensibility.
May 20 - Tara Laskowski discusses her atmospheric suspense novel, The Weekend Retreat. This novel, set at a lush winery, is full of unexpected twists and turns.
May 27 - Donna Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author of the Meg Langslow mystery series, talks about her books that are chocked full of humor and homicide.
COMING IN JUNE!
American Experience
@9pm
Discover the incredible characters and epic stories that have shaped America’s past and present.
Tuesday, June 9 – Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation
In August 1969, nearly half a million people gathered at a farm in upstate New York to hear music. What happened over the next three days, however, was far more than a concert. It would become a legendary event, one that would define a generation and mark the end of one of the most turbulent decades in modern history.
Friday, June 19 (part 1) & 26 (part 2) – George H. W. Bush
George H.W. Bush presents the first in-depth assessment of the 41st president of the United States, drawing upon unparalleled access to figures in Bush's private and public life, to reveal Bush as a pivotal player during a critical moment in American and world history and in a powerful political dynasty. Bush's personal letters, and interviews with his closest advisors and prominent critics inform the film, including First Lady Barbara Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Mikhail Gorbachev, and more.
American Masters | Janis Ian: Breaking Silence
Friday, June 12 @ 9pm
Discover the life of singer-songwriter Janis Ian and how she rose as a folk icon and gay rights advocate. She broke ground with “Society’s Child” (1966), a bold take on interracial love, and “At Seventeen” (1975), a searing anthem about bullying.
Antiques Roadshow
Mondays @ 8pm
Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt.
June 1 & 29 – 250 Years of Americana
ROADSHOW discoveries reflect 250 years of American art, artifacts, crafts & collectibles.
June 8 – Never Seen That Before!
Discover amazing items even our experts had never seen, in person or possibly ever, prior to that magical moment at ROADSHOW. Finds include a Michelin Bibendum ad figure, a WWI surgical kit and a 19th c. southern basket.
June 15 – Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Hour 1
Treasures that include a 1976 Marvel UK Super Spider-Man #175 cover art, a 1926 Rogers Hornsby sterling trophy, and Winslow Homer watercolors, ca. 1879. One is between $180,000 to $320,000!
June 22 – Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Hour 3
Head to bustling Bentonville for ROADSHOW finds at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art including an 1857 Queen's Cup ascot race trophy, a 1956 Curta calculator type II and an Art Deco sapphire & platinum ring.
Becoming Katharine Graham
Tuesday, June 16 @ 9pm
The story of a painfully shy woman's accidental rise to power and how it changed history. After a family tragedy, Kay evolved from a "doormat wife" into a legendary newspaper publisher. As Nixon's nemesis during Watergate, she fought for truth, broke down barriers in a sexist world, and won a Pulitzer Prize, inspiring generations with her courage and resilience.
Celebrating America 250: Made with Love
Monday, June 1 @ 9:30pm & Friday, June 5 @ 10:30pm
Explore America’s founding spirit through the work of artisans, whose traditions helped shape the nation. From boatbuilders to blacksmiths to a glassblower remaking the ancient art, these creators illustrate the many cultures that built this country.
Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War
Monday, June 29 @ 10pm
In 1776, the Founders' promise of “all men are created equal” remained distant for many. Trace the heroic stories of the enslaved and freed Black Americans who fought to define democracy and their liberty through the Revolutionary War.
Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Classic
Sundays @ 10pm
Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house. Season 1 wraps on June 7 with season 2 beginning on June 14.
Grantchester on Masterpiece – NEW SEASON!
Sundays @ 9pm, Encore presentations Thursday @10pm
In the momentous summer of 1963, Geordie and Alphy face their greatest challenges yet. As an era comes to an end, the Grantchester family must face the depths of love, loss, and forgiveness one last time.
June 14 – Episode 1
A drive-in fundraiser turns deadly, leaving Alphy with a surplus of confessions and a painful truth.
June 21 – Episode 2
A student’s murder leaves Alphy implicated and his faith shaken when his Bible is found at the scene.
June 28 – Episode 3
Alphy sinks into a mysterious case while Geordie’s promotion threatens their partnership.
The Highwayman: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Saturday, June 6 @ 9pm
Join Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson - "the Mt. Rushmore of country music" - for this live concert recorded in 1990. They perform classics like “Big River”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Me and Bobby McGee”, and “Always on My Mind”. Recorded at the famous arena in Hempstead, Long Island.
The Kimberley: Australia’s Wild West
Wednesdays @ 10pm
Discover a breathtaking world where fearsome crocodiles lie in wait, wallabies risk it all for water, and marsupial gliders soar over the savanna. See a jaw-dropping Australian wonder with terrain that’s as harsh and unforgiving as it is beautiful.
June 17 – River of Life
Avoid scaly and feathery dangers with wallabies, see koolamana lizards battle for mates, and feast with crocodile hatchlings. Brave raging rapids to reveal the cultural and biological importance of a local river as the rainy season arrives.
June 24 – Tidal Territory
Battle for dominion over the river with crocs, then catch glimpses of an ultra-rare mangrove snake and an endangered nabarlek wallaby. Take to the ocean to see humpback whale mothers raise their calves, then be hunted by false killer whales.
The Last Twins
Monday, June 15 @ 10pm
Discover the extraordinary story of Erno “Zvi” Spiegel, an unsung hero of the Holocaust who risked everything to protect twin boys targeted by Dr. Josef Mengele for brutal medical experimentation in Auschwitz.
Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure
Wednesday, June 3 @ 8pm
In 1976 David Attenborough embarked on his most ambitious project ever. No-one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before. His reputation was on the line. This is the story behind TV’s first wildlife blockbuster, Life on Earth.
Lucy Worsley Investigates the American Revolution
Wednesday, June 3 @ 9:30pm and Tuesdays, June 23 & 30 @ 9pm
Lucy Worsley investigates one of history’s most explosive break-ups: the 18th century split between Britain and its 13 North American colonies. With access to expert insights and original evidence, Lucy explores the motivations behind the Americans’ will for independence; uncovers how the American Revolution affected Britain with sabotage, espionage, and political unrest reshaping the empire and asks whether this explosive break-up could have been avoided?
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Forty years on, it is the premier voice for the natural world, an essential lens on the creatures, great and small, that sustain us all on our living planet.
June 10 – Museum Alive with David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough explores London’s Natural History Museum where extinct creatures come alive.
June 17 – Wildheart
Immerse yourself in Scotland’s wild highlands with its magnificent 500-year-old Scots pine tree.
June 24 – American Horses
Meet the uniquely American horse breeds that helped shape our nation.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premiere science series.
June 10 – Alaskan Dinosaurs
Paleontologists discover that dinosaurs thrived in unlikely places such as the cold and dark Arctic Circle.
June 17 – Secrets of the Forest
Researchers around the globe gather data on how forests work and try to figure out how these ecosystems can help tackle threats of climate change and species extinction.
June 24 – Ancient Desert Death Trap
Explore mysterious 9,000-year-old Stone Age megastructures found in the Arabian Desert.
Our Favorite Things About Grantchester
Sunday, June 7 @ 8:30pm
Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew to explore how this British crime drama about faith, justice and the power of friendship became an enduring hit. Featuring archival clips spanning 10 seasons and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew.
Patience – NEW SEASON!
Sundays @ 8pm, Encore presentations Thursday @ 9pm
Patience returns to help tackle crimes in York. When new detective Frankie Monroe bursts on the scene, there’s initially tension but soon they learn to work as a team. Meanwhile, Patience faces challenges in love and loss.
June 14 – Vampire
Patience and new DI Frankie work to find a logical answer to a vampire killing mystery.
June 21 – Music in the Minster
After two deaths connected to music, Patience leads police to a showdown in York Minster.
June 28 – The Magpie
A businessman is shot dead. Could a dead magpie at the scene be a clue for Patience?
Samantha Brown’s Places to Love: Williamsburg
Thursday, June 11 @ 7pm
Sam explores Virginia’s history starting at Jamestown, seeing 17th-century artifacts. In Colonial Williamsburg, she meets “Patrick Henry,” visits the Bray School, and learns about the First Baptist Church’s legacy. She enjoys Punjabi cuisine at Masala Craft, discovers rare instruments at the Virginia Musical Instrument Museum, and explores Yorktown’s battlefields and Revolution Museum, witnessing a naturalization ceremony.
Secrets of the Dead: Ben Franklin’s Bones
Wednesday, June 10 @ 10pm
When skeletal remains of at least 10 people turned up in the basement of Benjamin Franklin’s British residence, people wondered if the Founding Father might have had a much darker side. Franklin was aware of the bodies in his basement, but they weren’t the victims of violent acts. Rather, they were used for the purposes of an illegal anatomy school that helped shaped modern medicine.
Solving the Puzzles of the Marlow Murder Club
Sunday, June 7 @ 7pm
Celebrate the three amateur sleuths of this cozy mystery series who use their unconventional methods to solve a series of murders. Discover how this trio of spunky women comes to rely on each other’s strengths to bring killers to justice.
The Susan Ryeland Mysteries
Thursday, June 4 @ 9pm & Friday, June 5 @ 9pm
Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew of these three MASTERPIECE Mystery! series. Lesley Manville stars as a book editor who reluctantly takes on the role of amateur sleuth when she finds herself involved in murder.
Victoria and Albert: The Wedding
Thursday, June 11 @ 9pm
Enjoy a recreation of the wedding that changed British matrimonial ceremonies forever. This series, hosted by Lucy Worsley, celebrates an enduring love that was to melt the nation's heart and set the standard for generations of brides to come.
Women of World War II: More Untold Stories
Tuesday, June 2 @ 8pm & Saturday, June 6 @ 10:30pm
Explore even more never-before-seen stories of women, the greatest secret weapon of World War II. They broke codes and split atoms, gathered news, crossed frontlines and rescued children, creating an enduring legacy that serves as a guiding light.
Woody Guthrie at 100! Live at the Kennedy Center
Tuesday, June 2 @ 9:30pm
Join us for a centennial celebration of American's greatest folk musician, Woody Guthrie. This concert brings John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, Ry Cooder, Ani DiFranco, Rosanne Cash, The Old Crow Medicine Show, and others together to honor the music and the man. It's a celebration like no other, recorded live at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.