FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS
Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!
ACC Inventure Prize 2023
Thursday, March 30 @ 7pm
The ACC InVenture Prize is a televised student start-up pitch competition open to teams from the 15 colleges and universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Consortium. The ACC InVenture finals feature a $30,000 prize package and are open to undergraduate students or students who have received their undergraduate degree within the past year and who are the original creators, inventors or owners of the intellectual property underlying their invention.
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Friday, March 31 @ 9pm
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell receives the 2023 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at an all-star tribute in Washington, D.C.
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Experience the splendors and compelling stories of the natural world from all over the globe.
March 15 – The Serengeti Rules
Explore some of the most remote and spectacular places on Earth alongside five pioneering scientists as they make surprising discoveries that flip our understanding of nature on its head, and offer new hope for restoring our world.
March 22 – Born in the Rockies: First Steps
From early spring to late summer, follow new animal mothers through the trials of raising a family in the Rocky Mountains. Cranes migrate north to give birth, a bison mother protects her lambs from threats and young mountain goats learn to climb.
March 29 – Born in the Rockies: Growing Up
Young animals face new challenges as winter envelopes the Rocky Mountains, and spring means the end of childhood. A grizzly mom prepares her cubs for hibernation, a mountain lion raises her kittens and a bison calf must learn to survive the snow.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premier science series.
March 15 – Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire
Thousands of Hawaiian residents were uprooted in 2018 when Kīlauea volcano erupted, sending rivers of lava through communities and into the ocean. This frightening spike in Kīlauea’s activity transformed parts of the island paradise into a roaring inferno, spewing rock and causing massive destruction. Join scientists and local residents as they head underground to investigate the geological cause of the eruption.
March 22 – Ancient Maya Metropolis
The ancient Maya built large complex cities with towering pyramids and temples that served as centers for a thriving civilization. Follow archaeologists exploring new evidence into the mystery of why after hundreds of years the cities were abandoned.
March 29 – Einstein's Quantum Riddle
Einstein called it “spooky action at a distance,” but today quantum entanglement is poised to revolutionize technology from computers to cryptography. NOVA follows a ground-breaking experiment in the Canary Islands to use quasars at opposite ends of the universe to once and for all settle remaining questions.
COMING IN APRIL TO BLUE RIDGE PBS!
American Experience: The Sun Queen
Tuesday, April 4 @ 9pm
Learn about inventor Mária Telkes, who spent nearly 50 years exploring how to harness the sun’s power. Battling sexism at MIT, she persevered to design the first successfully solar-heated house in 1948 and held more than 20 patents.
Antiques Roadshow
Mondays @ 8pm
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.
April 3 – Idaho Botanical Garden, Hour 1
Gem State treasures sparkle at Idaho Botanical Garden, including ca. 1941 Rolls Royce Wraith center caps & certificate, 1934 All-American basketball team autographs and a Maynard Dixon oil painting, ca. 1913. One is $50,000 to $80,000!
April 10 – Idaho Botanical Garden, Hour 2
Watch breathtaking appraisals at Idaho Botanical Garden, including Idaho State gems & gold nuggets, ca. 1905, 1935 Gum Inc. Mickey Mouse cards, and 1826 portraits attributed to the Guilford County Limner. Which is a $20,000 to $40,000 find?
April 17 – Idaho Botanical Garden, Hour 3
You won’t be-leaf the top treasure at the Idaho Botanical Garden treasure among a 1980 Topps basketball cards box, Marvel The Amazing Spider-Man comics, and an Alexej von Jawlensky Meditation oil. Can you guess the $50,000 to $100,000 find?
April 24 – Shelbourne Museum, Hour 1
Get wowed by shocking finds from Shelburne Museum, including a 1999 Pokémon Card collection, Winold Reiss Morning Star mixed-media art, ca. 1934 and a Raymond Yard platinum & diamond Ring, ca. 1940. Guess the find that's up to $100,000!
Call The Midwife, Season 12
Sundays @ 8pm
It’s 1968, and the nuns and nurses from Nonnatus House return for more midwifery and family life.
April 2 – Episode 3
As she sets about helping a mother whose newborn baby is suffering from a clotting disorder, Nancy is harboring a secret of her own. Sister Veronica meets a newlywed on her rounds, and the case shocks the women of Nonnatus house.
April 9 – Episode 4
Nurse Crane is shocked when her fitness comes into question during a ventouse training course. Trixie cares for a Hindu mother and her newborn twins, but it’s not long before an emergency gastroenteritis outbreak is declared at the maternity home.
April 16 – Episode 5
Nancy oversees a child born out of wedlock, but things take a very unexpected and shocking turn. Dr. Turner and Sister Veronica discuss a new contraception procedure: the Vasectomy. The Board of Health delivers some unwelcome news to Sister Julienne.
April 23 – Episode 6
One of the boys of Buckle’s paper shop becomes unwell. Sister Veronica spearheads a new council initiative to monitor the health of working children in the borough. Trixie is thrown into a challenging case involving an underage mother.
April 30 – Episode 7
Preparations for Trixie and Matthew’s wedding are underway as a joyous occasion that brings the community together. Nancy visits a homeless family, and it is not long before their plight is brought to the attention of Nonnatus house.
Changing Planet
Wednesday, April 19 @ 9pm
In its second year, CHANGING PLANET revisits six of our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems and catches up with the truly inspiring people introduced in the first season: scientists and local experts fighting to safeguard their communities and wildlife, and charting the progress of their game-changing environmental projects. Join conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan to meet new faces who’ll deepen our understanding of these habitats and introduce new potential solutions to combat the effects of the climate crisis.
Classic Cinema
Thursdays @ 8pm
Grab the popcorn and enjoy classic movies uninterupted!
April 6 – Jamaica Inn (1939)
Orphan Mary (Maureen O'Hara, in her first lead role) moves in with her aunt and uncle who run the Jamaica Inn in Cornwall. Mary soon discovers a secret band of smugglers, but can she trust the town’s mysterious magistrate (Charles Laughton) to help her escape?
April 13 – Love Affair
Michel (Charles Boyer) and Terry (Irene Dunne) meet on a ship and fall in love. Unfortunately, they are both engaged to be married to someone else. They agree to meet six months later, at the top of the Empire State Building, if neither of them has married.
April 20 – Meet John Doe (1941)
Frank Capra directs this story of a recently fired reporter (Barbara Stanwyck) who prints a fake letter from an unknown "John Doe," threatening suicide in protest of social ills. When the note causes an uproar, the newspaper hires her back, along with a homeless man (Gary Cooper) to play the mysterious Doe.
April 27 – The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
Acclaimed actor Charles Laughton won his only Best Acting Oscar for his performance as the English king who was married six times without producing the male heir he desired most.
Elvis Presley: ’68 Comeback Special
Saturday, April 1 @ 9:30pm
Watch one of the great moments in rock and roll history as Elvis performs some of the best music of his life. Taped in Burbank, California, this television special — his first — was a brilliant milestone for Elvis and saved his career.
John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High
Saturday, April 8 @ 9:30pm
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic title track from Denver’s 1972 album with a 1974 concert filmed at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater. The concert features Denver in his prime performing at this stunning outdoor venue.
La Frontera with Pati Jinich – NEW SEASON!
Mondays @ 9pm
Savor the sights, sounds and flavors of the US-Mexico borderlands alongside acclaimed chef and James Beard Award-winning host Pati Jinich as she experiences the region's rich culture, people and cuisine. Travel with Pati to Southern California, Baja, Arizona, Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua as she shares meals with self-described fronterizos or borderlanders from all walks of life, and reflects on the melding of cultures.
April 3 – Fronterizos of the Golden Coast
Chef and James Beard Award winner Pati Jinich travels the California part of the US-Mexico border. She meets the fronterizos, or borderlanders, of the golden coast to experience melding of cultures, cross-border collaborations, and explosive growth.
April 10 – Ancient Seeds and Desert Ghosts
Pati Jinich travels the Arizona-Sonora border through some of the most untouched places in North America. She hunts for an ancient chile, meets a ghost town caretaker, drops water for migrants, meets a painter with a dark past, and more.
April 17 – Back to the Middle
Pati Jinich travels the New Mexico and Chihuahua border region, one of the most unique and bio-diverse places in the world. She meets architect Ronald Rael, observes migratory species, visits a remote Mennontie camp, and more.
Marie Antoinette
Sundays @ 10pm
Marie Antoinette (Emilia Schüle, “Berlin Dance School”) is just a teenager when she leaves Austria to marry the dauphin of France (Louis Cunningham, “Bridgerton”). With pressure to continue the Bourbon line and secure the Franco-Austrian alliance, she must follow the complex rules of the French court while attempting to charm her reluctant king-to-be, Louis XVI. Transforming into the Queen of Style and a true fashion icon, Marie Antoinette tries to recreate Versailles in her image: free, independent, and feminist. But defamatory pamphlets and persistent rumors about her private life undermine her status, and her opponents within the Royal Family will do everything they can to bring her down.
April 2 – Pick a Princess
The Royal Family goes on holiday at Fontainebleau. Marie Antoinette discovers du Barry’s plan to welcome Provence’s betrothed. Antoinette’s escalating hostilities with du Barry threaten her relationship with the King.
April 9 – Queen of France
Marie Antoinette and Louis are about to make their first official visit to Paris. But the King becomes seriously ill and succession becomes a reality. Du Barry knows that she needs to protect herself from the future Queen of France.
April 16 – Rebel Queen
Louis may now be King, but Marie Antoinette is determined to launch her reign as the Queen of France. First steps--organize a glittering Inauguration Ball and convince Louis to choose her pro-Austrian candidate as his new Prime Minister.
April 23 – Deus Ex Machina
Surprisingly, the person who comes to Versailles to save the royal marriage is Marie Antoinette’s brother, Joseph, who realizes he will have his work cut out if he’s going to unite the couple and save the Franco-Austrian alliance.
April 30 – The Ostrich
Surprisingly, the person who comes to Versailles to save the royal marriage is Marie Antoinette’s brother, Joseph, who realizes he will have his work cut out if he’s going to unite the couple and save the Franco-Austrian alliance.
My Grandparents’ War – NEW SEASON!
Tuesdays @ 9pm
Follow leading Hollywood actors as they re-trace the footsteps of their grandparents and learn how World War II changed the lives of their families and the world.
April 11 – Kit Harington
Learn how actor Kit Harington, who has played soldiers, spies, and – in Game of Thrones – warriors, as he discovers that his grandparents played comparable roles in their real lives during WWII and gains a new appreciation of their courage and sacrifice.
April 18 – Keira Knightly
Follow actress Keira Knightley, as she learns, through conversations with family members and historians, of the extraordinary triumphs and tragedies her grandparents faced during some of the biggest conflicts of World War II.
April 25 – Toby Jones
Watch as actor Toby Jones uncovers the remarkable World War II stories of his maternal grandparents, who rarely spoke about their wartime experiences when he was growing up. He learns how their love endured, despite the hardships they faced.
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Experience the splendors and compelling stories of the natural world from all over the globe.
April 5 – Remarkable Rabbits
There are more than 100 domestic and wild kinds of rabbits and hares, from snowshoe hares to Flemish giants. Despite their remarkable ability to reproduce, many wild rabbits are in danger of being eradicated.
April 12 – The Hummingbird Effect
Explore Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. From rainforests to volcanos, tiny architects and caretakers at the heart of this vast wildlife diversity keep this ecological giant running: the hummingbirds.
April 19 – Niagara Falls
Embark to Niagara Falls and witness its stunning beauty and a wide variety of wildlife—mammals, birds, and reptiles— that call it home. Through the eyes of passionate scientists, uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water.
April 26 – Treasure of the Caribbean
The year is 2013, in the waters of Belize and Guatemala. A desperate fisherman guns his small boat into the open ocean in search of fish. With engine trouble, the fisherman peers over the side of his boat. Below is an uncharted, massive crown of rocks and corals, teeming with life. The discovery marks a new chapter in understanding corals and fish that need each other and in saving reefs globally.
NOVA – NEW EPISODES!
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's long running science series.
April 12 – Weathering the Future
As extreme weather in the U.S. impacts more people – with longer heat waves, more intense rainstorms, megafires, and droughts – discover how Americans are fighting back by marshaling ancient wisdom and innovating new solutions.
April 26 – Chasing Carbon Zero
Can the U.S. reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and avoid the biggest impacts of climate change? Experts say it can be done. Here’s the technology that could get us there.
Reba McEntire: My Chains Are Gone
Saturday, April 22 @ 9:30pm
Two-time Grammy-winning country music superstar Reba McEntire shines in concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, singing selections from her debut gospel album "My Chains Are Gone." Reba lends her unmistakable voice to classic hymns and songs of hope and is joined on stage by the Issacs, Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson. Hosted by Bill Gaither (Classic Gospel series).
Sanditon, Season 3, on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 9pm
The third and final season returns viewers to the seaside resort of Sanditon for the conclusion of Charlotte and Georgiana’s stories. Drama, laughter and romance are all in store for the ensemble of new and returning characters.
April 2 – Episode 3
The day of Georgiana’s trial arrives, and she gets a surprise visit from an old friend. Colbourne’s shooting party goes ahead, and as he gets closer to Lydia, Charlotte must confront all that she’s lost.
April 9 – Episode 4
Charlotte attempts to distance herself from Colbourne, but as they are repeatedly thrown into each other’s orbit, their chemistry rises along with Ralph’s suspicions. Meanwhile, Georgiana is unraveling and makes a surprising decision to protect herself.
April 16 – Episode 5
Charlotte and Colbourne rush to Augusta’s aid, and it’s revealed whether Edward has really changed. Georgiana is reunited with a ghost from her past, and Charlotte must make a difficult decision about her future.
April 23 – Episode 6
Charlotte desperately wants to tell Colbourne the truth about her feelings, but a shocking revelation stops her in her tracks. Having opened her heart, Georgiana’s worst fears are realized when she discovers she has been abandoned.
The Seven Ages of Elvis
Saturday, April 15 @ 9:30pm
If the world is a stage, then Elvis Presley was its finest performer; his sound and style personified an era. The ultimate "rise and fall" megastar, he defined the heights and pitfalls of modern super-celebrity. His humble childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, exposed him to Black cultural influences that created an electric fusion of elements that shaped a new musical sensation. Director David Upshal's acclaimed film delves deeply into the life and world of Elvis, revealing the true evolution of modern pop music. The film also explores why Elvis became an even bigger phenomenon after his death, worth more annually than John Lennon, Frank Sinatra and David Bowie combined. By dividing his life into seven distinct phases, the film marries his achievements to his times and their historical context.
Tom Jones on Masterpiece - SERIES PREMIERE!
Sunday, April 30 @ 9pm
One of the greatest novels in the English language comes to MASTERPIECE in a four-part adaptation of Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, giving a new twist to the tale of a young man’s love for a wealthy heiress. Solly McLeod stars as Tom, with Sophie Wilde as Sophia, the heroine and Hannah Waddingham as the iconic temptress Lady Bellaston. Joining the cast are James Fleet, Shirley Henderson, Alun Armstrong, Pearl Mackie, and a torrent of other talent, bringing mid-18th-century England to life in all its passion and prejudice, luxury and loose morals.
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
Saturday, April 29 @ 9:30pm
Grab a front-row seat to this 1984 Tokyo concert, one of Nelson’s live legendary performances. Filmed at Budokan, the famous martial arts hall, the show features an amazing collection of Nelson’s greatest hits.