TV Worth Blogging
by David Thiel, Program Director for WILL-TV
An insider's view of public television programming and the issues that help determine what and how you watch
Showcasing PBS - Final Report
As PBS Showcase began to wind down, I had the opportunity to preview many programs that will appear on WILL-TV this fall and beyond. There's a lot to be excited about!
First up were our ongoing weekly series. Here are some of the high points:
Independent Lens will once again bring us fascinating works by indie filmmakers, including "Helvetica," a look at the omnipresent typeface, and "Dinner with the President," a sit-down meal with Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf.
Nature's offerings will include "Cats vs. Dogs," about the very real differences between "cat people" and "dog people," and "American Eagle," a beautiful look at our national bird, recently removed from the endangered species list.
Frontline will, as it does for every Presidential election, present its in-depth examination of the two prime contenders,"The Choice." "Heat" will take on the political and social challenges of global climate change.
The American Experience will profile Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb. They'll also tell the histories of "The Polio Crusade" and "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln."
Nova will take an archaeological expedition into the earlest days of Judeo-Christian faith in "Digging the Bible," and will follow astronauts on an orbital rescue in "The Last Mission to Hubble."
The highlight of American Masters' new season will be a multipart look at Warner Bros. Studios in "You Must Remember This." They'll also take us into the lives of Louisa May Alcott, Robert Altman, Joan Baez, Jerry Lewis and Garrison Keillor.
Upcoming miniseries and specials include Monarchy, the Royal Family at Work, an insider's look at the British Royal Family, airing this November. Also in November, we'll hear the personal stories of those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Producer Michael Wood will explore one of our world's oldest cultures in The Story of India, coming sometime in 2009. Looking for Lincoln, premiering in time for the Lincoln Bicentennial in February 2009, will separate the myth from the man. Make 'Em Laugh will chart the business of comedy in America, with classic clips and new interviews from the country's funniest performers. And coming in Fall 2009, filmmaker Ken Burns will return with another of his epic histories: The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
I hope that you've enjoyed this sneak peek at what's to come. I'll be hitting the road soon, tired...but well-fed.
Showcasing PBS - Wednesday Morning
Wednesday morning at PBS Showcase was all about kids. New kids' series and new hosts for our morning preschool block made for a great deal of fun!
As you can see, characters from most PBS Kids' shows participated en masse, and at the center of this photo are the two new human hosts--"Mr. Steve" and "Miss Rosa"--who will be joining "Miss Lori" and Hooper in songs and activities surrounding some of our most popular preschool shows, weekdays from 7:00 - 9:00 am. "Mr. Steve" brought his guitar and provided musical introductions for several of the guest speakers; he was a big hit with the assembled crowd of PBS station personnel.
We also got our first look at two new series that will be joining our morning lineup this September: Martha Speaks and Sid the Science Kid. Martha is a traditionally animated series from the folks who brought us Arthur, and it's based on the classic children's book about a dog named Martha who eats a bowl of alphabet soup and gains the power of speech. Naturally, it's about the power of words, and Martha herself is empowered to take on a number of jobs, such as becoming a radio talk show host. We were treated to several clips from the show, and all suggested that it will bring a lot of breezy humor that should delight children and their adults.
Sid the Science Kid is from Jim Henson Associates, and while it has a computer animation look, it's actually created through an innovative "digital puppetry" process which allows Henson puppeteers to animate the characters in real-time. Sid is an inquisitive child who asks a lot of questions: for example, why do bananas turn brown? Through his investigations, children 3 to 6 years old will be introduced to a variety of science concepts.
I'm very much looking forward to adding both series to the WILL-TV lineup, beginning this September!
Showcasing PBS - Tuesday Afternoon
The first full day of the PBS Showcase conference kicked off with a preview of the revamped kids' classic, The Electric Company and the announcement of a new host for Masterpiece Mystery!
Sesame Workshop, producers of Sesame Street, hosted the breakfast session. First they presented "Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes;" it's a multimedia outreach project designed to help support military families with children ages 2-5 who are experiencing the effects of multiple deployments or parents who have returned home with combat related injuries. Muppet characters Elmo and Rosita help illustrate the anxiety that these young children feel during homecomings. Such outreach programs are likely invisible to most public TV viewers, but they're an important part of what we do to help our communities.
We also saw clips from the 39th season of Sesame Street, which introduces a new human character with an Indian background. And, of course, the Muppets will have fun spoofing pop culture in segments such as "Are You Smarter than an Egg-Layer," "Pre-School Musical" and my favorite, "30 Rocks," which recasts Tina Fey's TV character Liz Lemon, as--naturally enough--an actual lemon.
Finally, we got to see the first extended clip from the newfangled version of The Electric Company, which will premiere as a weekly series in early 2009. While it covers basic reading and grammar skills just as the original series did--and incorporates Rita Moreno's famous introductory cry, "Hey, you guuuuuuys!"--it's been reconceptualized to meet the expectations of today's young viewers, incorporating hip-hop rhythms in addition to animated and comedy segments.
PBS President Paula Kerger (pictured) was the keynote speaker. In a rousing speech she addressed some of the programming areas that PBS will focus upon in the coming year, including a renewed emphasis on the performing arts, and made the case that PBS remains an essential part of the TV landscape.
The first of several sessions devoted to primetime PBS programming featured previews of what will be coming up in the fall and beyond. Upcoming Great Performances highlights include Sir Ian McKellen in "King Lear," and Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner in "Cyrano de Bergerac." There will also be a special tribute to a recently departed opera star in "Luciano Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias."
Rebecca Eaton, longtime producer of Masterpiece, had a big announcement for the group. As you may know, Mystery! will be folded into its parent series beginning this summer and rebranded Masterpiece Mystery! We saw the new title sequence, which retains the charming, familiar Edward Gorey illustrations, and we treated to the first official announcement of the new host, Scottish actor Alan Cumming.
Lunchtime was sponsored by The American Experience, which presented its upcoming miniseries "We Shall Remain," a provocative project that establishes Native American history as an essential part of American history. In addition to the five televised episodes, many different Native Americans have been invited to share their own stories online, and some of those segments will also be seen in film festivals. It will delve into the duality of today's Native Americans, who retain their tribal identities while remaining Americans.
Showcasing PBS
Once a year, public television professionals from many different disciplines gather for the PBS Showcase conference. It's an opportunity to meet both formally and informally, to share ideas, to discuss developments affecting the industry, and most of all, to preview upcoming PBS shows. Over the next couple of days, I'll be blogging from the conference site in Palm Springs, California.
The first night of PBS Showcase was typically low-key. Attendees continued to arrive throughout the day, so the only official event was a welcome reception sponsored by the producers of the PBS kids' series Super Why!. Wonder Red (pictured) and Princess Presto were in attendance, but Super Why himself couldn't make it because--and I am not making this up--the costume was stolen from the conference site. I was surprised to hear this, as I've portrayed Super Why at a couple of WILL-TV events and can tell you that the head of the costume is huge; I had a hard time walking through a door without smacking my super noggin on the frame. So, if you're in the Palm Springs area and see someone walking around in a green superhero suit and sporting an unusually large head, please contact the local PBS station.
First thing Tuesday morning, we'll be getting a preview of the new version of the classic PBS series The Electric Company. I'll report about it and other upcoming shows as the week progresses.
PBS Shows Clean Up in Nominations and Awards
Over the past year, many shows which have aired on WILL-TV have been singled out for recognition. Both the Emmys and Peabodys recently have seen fit to honor PBS programs with nominations and awards.
Yesterday, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences handed out fifty Daytime Emmy nominations to PBS programs. Only CBS received more, nearly all of which were for their daytime dramas.
Our kids' series did well: Design Squad made the list for "Outstanding Children's Series;" Between the Lions, Sesame Street and SuperWhy! for "Outstanding Preschool Children's Series;" and Arthur and Curious George for "Outstanding Children's Animated Program." The parenting series A Place of Our Own was nominated for "Outstanding Talk Show (Informative)." Kevin Clash (Elmo on Sesame Street) was honored for "Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series," and Christopher Lloyd (Hacker on Cyberchase) for "Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program."
The complete list can be found on the Emmy website.
And while this news is a few weeks old, it’s worth noting that public television was once again well represented in this year’s Peabody Awards, announced April 2. Winners included the series Art:21 – Art in the 21st Century, Craft in America and Design Squad.
Nova won for its episode “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial;” Frontline got the nod for “Cheney’s Law;” Nature for “Silence of the Bees;” and Independent Lens received two awards for “Billy Strayhorn – Lush Life” and “Sisters in Law.” All of the winning shows have aired on WILL-TV.
Awards will be handed out in a ceremony on June 16, and the entire list of winners is available on the Peabodys website.
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