FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS
Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!
Alan Jackson: Precious Memories
Saturday, May 28 @ 9pm
Recorded to honor his mother's request that he release an album of gospel classics, Alan Jackson's Precious Memories CD quickly made its way to the top of the sales charts and into the hearts of fans, selling over 1.8 million copies. The concert that followed was taped at the historic Ryman, known as "The Mother Church of Country Music" in Nashville, TN, and features signature renditions of traditional hymns and gospel favorites.
American Experience
Tuesdays @ 9pm
Discover the incredible characters and epic stories that have shaped America’s past and present.
May 3 - Flood in the Desert
Explore the 1928 dam collapse, the second deadliest disaster in California history. A colossal engineering failure, the dam was built by William Mulholland to ensure the growth of Los Angeles by bringing water to the city via aqueduct.
May 24 – Plague of the Golden Gate
Discover how an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1900 set off fear and anti-Asian sentiment in San Francisco. This new documentary tells the gripping story of the race against time by health officials to save the city from the deadly disease.
American Masters – Waterman: Duke Ambassador of Aloha
Tuesday, May 10 @ 9pm
Narrated by Jason Momoa, discover the inspiring story and considerable impact of five-time Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku. He shattered swimming records and globalized surfing while overcoming racism in a lifetime of personal challenges.
Antiques Roadshow - NEW EPISODES
Mondays @ 8pm
Now in its 26th season - part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt!
May 2 – Grounds for Sculpture, Hour 3
Enjoy fascinating finds at scenic Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ, including a German Hanukkah menorah, a 1946 David Burliuk oil painting, and a 1988 Ai Weiwei “One Man Shoe” sculpture. Can you guess which is appraised for $100,000?
May 9 – Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 1
Journey back in time with enchanting appraisals at Colonial Williamsburg, including a Tiffany & Co. Pansy brooch, ca. 1905, a Bahne skateboard, and a North Carolina walnut cellarette, ca. 1800. Guess which one is $50,000 to $125,000!
May 16 – Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 2
Discover more standout treasures from Colonial Williamsburg, including a Tony Walton "Mary Poppins" design sketch, an astronaut signed Mercury Project book, and a Gallet flying officer "Red Tail" chronograph. Which one is up to $100,000?
May 23 – Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 3
Catch captivating appraisals at Colonial Williamsburg during ROADSHOW’s final hour in Virginia, including a Marvel Silver Age comics collection, a 1969 Rolex Explorer watch, and a 17th C. Tibetan bronze Buddha. One is $30,000 to $100,000!
May 30 – Musical Scores
Get ready for rockin’, rollin’ and ROADSHOW with a collection of musical moments, including a Rock-Ola juke box, a French automation music box, and a “Stormy Weather” Lyrics and Koehler painting. Which musical appraisal is up to $220,000?
Best of the 60s: Ready, Steady, Go!
Saturday, May 21 @ 9pm
Relive the Swinging Sixties with the iconic UK rock and pop music TV series. "Ready, Steady, Go!" featured the biggest acts of the decade, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lulu, Otis Redding, The Who, Dusty Springfield, Marvin Gaye and more.
Call The Midwife, Season 11
Sundays @ 8pm
The return of the multi-award-winning drama, which regularly draws in audiences of over 10 million. Following an eventful Christmas special, the series continues with an episode set in Easter 1967. Celebrations are underway for a colorful Easter Bonnet parade outside Nonnatus House. Sister Monica Joan and Reggie are excited about the Eurovision song contest and Nancy, having just passed her midwifery examinations, is about to don her red cardigan for the first time.
May 1 – Episode 2
An unforeseen event in Poplar means that Nonnatus House suffers its biggest threat yet. Timothy returns home from university after falling ill. Sister Hilda and Sister Julienne expect more from Nancy and decide to show her what she is capable of.
May 8 – Season 11 Finale!
The aftermath of a tragic incident in the heart of Poplar ripples through the community. As Nonnatus House faces its darkest day, the team must overcome personal anguish to help the injured.
Colombia: Wild & Free
Wednesday, May 25 @ 10pm
Journey to South America to explore the magnificent flora and fauna of Colombia, from the wild, largely deserted Pacific coast to the snow-covered volcanoes of the Andes, from the plains of the Orinoco region to the rainforests of the Amazon.
May 18 - Two Rivers
Explore the magnificent eastern region of Colombia, a land defined by two powerful rivers: the Orinoco and the Amazon. Along the way, meet amazing wildlife, including jaguars, capybaras, anacondas, and pygmy marmosets, the world’s smallest monkeys.
May 25 – From the Pacific to the Andes
Journey to the largely uninhabited Pacific coast of Colombia, where humpback whales give birth and fish hunt crabs in the mangrove forests. Then ascend to snow-capped Andean volcanoes, home to stunning spectacled bears, condors and hummingbirds.
Finding Your Roots
Tuesdays @ 8pm
May 3 – Reporting on the Reporters
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling that the stories within their own family trees are every bit as compelling as the news stories they have been covering for the world.
May 10 – No Laughing Matter
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows comedians Seth Meyers, Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman that their family trees are filled with people whose struggles laid the groundwork for their success. Gates also reveals to each one news of an unexpected DNA cousin.
May 17 – Freedom Tales
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. delves deep into the roots of two African-American guests, actor S. Epatha Merkerson and athlete and television personality Michael Strahan. Both discover unexpected stories that challenge assumptions about black history.
May 24 – Flight
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets actors Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong’o and chef Lidia Bastianich, whose families crisscrossed the globe to escape oppression and find opportunity, leaving them with questions about those who stayed behind.
May 31 – Dreaming of a New Land
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores with Marisa Tomei, Sheryl Sandberg and Kal Penn the tremendous challenges faced by their immigrant forebears. From Italy, Russia and India to America, their histories show success could take generations to achieve.
Great Performances – NEW EPISODES!!
Fridays @ 9pm
Watch television’s longest-running performing arts anthology to enjoy the best in music, dance and theater.
May 13 – Anything Goes
Enjoy this London production of Cole Porter’s classic musical led by Tony winner Sutton Foster who reprises her Tony-winning role as Reno Sweeney directed by Kathleen Marshall with favorite songs like “I Get A Kick Out of You” and “You’re the Top.”
May 20 – Merry Wives
Experience Shakespeare’s comedic masterpiece from the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park set in South Harlem telling the story of the trickster Falstaff and the wily wives who outwit him in a celebration of Black joy, laughter and vitality.
May 27 – Keeping Company with Sondheim
Take an inside look at the reimagined gender-swapped production as it returns to Broadway during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features new interviews with Tony and Grammy-winning cast members Katrina Lenk, Patti LuPone, Sondheim and more.
Inside the Vatican
Friday, May 6 @ 9pm
Go inside the daily lives of those who live and work in the Vatican. From the Pope to the gardener to the head of security, the film gives rare, behind-the-scenes access to the inner workings of the city-state.
Junior Appalachian Musicians Presents: Bridging the Gap
Saturday, May 7 @ 9pm
This program features Junior Appalachian Musicians Program Director Jim Lloyd, who takes us on a musical journey that traces the history of Appalachian music from the arrival of the original colonial settlers through the present day. It features performances from an all star cast of players from Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Tuesday, May 17 @ 9pm
Singer-songwriter Lionel Richie receives the 2022 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at an all-star tribute in Washington, D.C.
Lucy Worsley Investigates
Sundays at 8pm
Lucy Worsley re-investigates some of the most dramatic chapters in British history. She uncovers forgotten witnesses, re-examines old evidence and follows new clues.
May 15 – Princes in the Tower
What really happened to the Princes in the Tower? Lucy Worsley uncovers the story of the two boys whose disappearance in 1483 has led to centuries of mystery and speculation.
May 22 – Madness of King George
How did George III’s mental illness change Britain? Lucy Worsley uncovers Royal papers and explores how the assassination attempt on his life by a mentally ill subject changed psychiatry forever.
My Grandparents’ War
Sundays at 10pm
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.
- May 1 – Helena Bonham Carter
Follow actress Helena Bonham Carter as she explores the heroism of both sets of her grandparents during WWII—her grandmother, an air warden and outspoken politician, and her grandfather, a diplomat who save hundreds from the Holocaust. - May 8 – Mark Rylance
Follow actor Mark Rylance as he explores the extraordinary story of his grandfather, who spent nearly four years as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II, and examines his own beliefs about war and peace in the process. - May 15 – Kristin Scott Thomas
Follow actress Kristin Scott Thomas as she pieces together a lost chapter of her family history, learning how her grandfather, a Royal Navy officer, saved thousands at Dunkirk and survived some of World War II’s most devastating battles. - May 22 – Carey Mulligan
Follow actress Carey Mulligan as she travels to Japan to learn about her grandfather’s experience as a British naval officer during World War II, including the kamikaze aircraft attack he survived, and the extent of the devastation he witnessed.
Music of Lerner & Loewe: I Could Have Danced All Night: A Broadway in Concert
Saturday, May 14 @ 9pm
Celebrate the iconic songwriting duo with music from My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi, Brigadoon and more. Includes performances from Jenn Colella, Aisha Jackson, Jose Llana, Aaron Lazar, Michael Maliakel, Sean Thompson and Bayla Whitten.
Nature
Wednesdays at 8pm
Experience the splendors and compelling stories of the natural world from all over the globe.
May 4 – My Garden of a Thousand Bees
A story of surprise and revelation. A wildlife cameraman spends his time during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown filming the bees in his urban garden and discovers the many diverse species and personalities that exist in this insect family.
May 11 – The Egg: Life’s Perfect Invention
The egg is perhaps nature’s most perfect life support system. Step by step as the egg hatches, host David Attenborough reveals the wonder behind these incredible miracles of nature.
May 18 – Big Bend: The Wild Frontier of Texas
Roam the Wild West frontier land of the Rio Grande’s Big Bend alongside its iconic animals, including black bears, rattlesnakes and scorpions.
May 25 – Equus: The Story of the Horse – Origins
Travel around the world with anthropologist Niobe Thompson to uncover the history of mankind’s relationship with the horse. Discover the habits and biology of these majestic animals and ride along with the world’s last nomadic tribes.
National Memorial Day Concert 2022
Sunday, May 29 @ 8pm & 9:30pm
For over three decades, the National Memorial Day Concert has brought us together as one family of Americans to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm (except where noted)
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premier science series.
May 4 – Hindenburg: the New Evidence
Eighty years after the world’s largest airship ignited in a giant fireball, newly discovered footage sparks a reinvestigation of what exactly caused the Hindenburg disaster.
May 11 – Dinosaur Apocalypse: the New Evidence
In North Dakota, scientists use new fossils to reconstruct what life might have been like just before an asteroid killed the dinosaurs. The site reveals remarkable evidence, including the unhatched egg of a pterosaur, a huge flying reptile.
May 11 @ 10pm – Dinosaur Apocalypse: The Last Day
The search continues for signs of what might have happened on the day the dinosaurs died. Scientists uncover remarkable evidence, including a near perfectly preserved dinosaur leg and what could be pieces of the asteroid itself.
May 18 – Why Ships Crash
When the colossal Ever Given container ship crashed into the bank of the Suez Canal in March 2021, international supply chains ground to a halt. How could such a disaster happen? And can the investigation help prevent future accidents?
May 25 – Ice Age Footprints
Thousands of prehistoric footprints in New Mexico’s White Sands National Park capture moments when Ice Age humans crossed paths with enormous ground sloths and mammoths. What can this new evidence reveal about the peopling of the Americas?
Ridley Road on Masterpiece
Sundays @ 9pm
Summer 1962: London is swinging with new music, hip fashions, and an irresistible hedonistic spirit. It’s also seething with antisemitic violence incited by homegrown neo-Nazis. MASTERPIECE presents a riveting four-part drama set in this colorful but tumultuous time on Ridley Road, based on Jo Bloom’s acclaimed novel. Inspired by true events, Ridley Road stars newcomer Agnes O’Casey as Vivien Epstein, a young Jewish hairdresser who fits right into London’s mod scene, while secretly infiltrating the British neo-Nazi hierarchy on behalf of Jewish antifascists, Rory Kinnear as Colin Jordan, the real-life leader of Britain’s post-World War II Nazi movement, and Tom Varey as Jack, Vivien’s true love.