MARCH/APRIL 2022
A WORD FROM OUR INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER, NANCY WORLIE
Spring is around the corner and with it comes beginnings and celebrations. In fact, on the official first day of spring, two fan favorites return with all new stories. Season two of “Sanditon” will premiere and answer the question we have all been wondering: What’s next for our heroine, Charlotte Heywood? And, “Call the Midwife” returns with Season 11 and more heartwarming and moving stories. Remember, you can watch episodes of your favorite shows—including the first season of “Sanditon”—on the PBS Video app with your KPBS Passport member benefit. If you need assistance activating your Passport account, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are also celebrating San Diego State University’s 125th anniversary. KPBS has been part of SDSU from our very beginning. Thanks to a visionary professor and the support of the campus, KPBS began as a student-run radio station from the Speech Arts Building back in 1960. We have grown alongside SDSU, and I am proud to say our collective service to the San Diego region is unmatched. As an alumni myself (class of ’95) I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this significant milestone for San Diego State’s history and its bright future.
As always, thank you for your continued support of KPBS!
“Benjamin Franklin”
Ken Burns Presents “Benjamin Franklin”
Benjamin Franklin was one of the 18th century’s most complex and influential figures. He was an inventor, a scientist, a printer, an essayist, a statesman and so much more. But who was he as a man, and how did he come to help create the United States of America?
Directed and executive produced by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan and produced by David Schmidt, this powerhouse team chronicles the life and legacy of Franklin in this new two-part documentary, “Benjamin Franklin.”
The film explores the founder’s lifelong commitment to our country, his discovery of electricity and his role in winning America’s independence, but also all the contradictions of Franklin’s life.
Premieres Monday, April 4, and Tuesday, April 5, at 8 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
Explore the Border on New Episodes of “Crossing South”
A new season of “Crossing South” premieres March 24—and you won’t want to miss host Jorge Meraz’s new explorations of the sights and sounds of the California-Mexico border.
In eight brand-new episodes, Meraz trains and fights fires alongside the Rosarito Fire Department, visits a baby panther and group of monkeys at the Pai Pai Zoo in Ensenada and faces his fear as he dives into a hive of stinging bees.
In addition to visiting top tourist destinations and under-the-radar spots, this season will showcase some of the charitable work happening in Baja, California.
Airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app and the KPBS YouTube page.
“Great Performances” Showcases the Met’s First Black Composer
This season on “Great Performances,” we’re proud to share “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” at the Met.
The second opera from six-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” makes history as the first opera by a Black composer to be performed by the Metropolitan Opera. But beyond this important milestone, the work itself takes audiences on a profound, often painful, musical and dramatic journey. The opera is based on the memoir by Charles M. Blow.
Blanchard conjures a story that creatively weaves together jazz and gospel idioms, probing and incisive melodies and an intricate orchestral palette.
Airs Friday, April 1, at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
Sunday Night Dramas Return
Two favorite drama series return this spring with all-new episodes on March 20!
“Call the Midwife”
“Call the Midwife” Season 11 kicked off with a Christmas special celebrating the
holidays with tiny gifts and new beginnings but we can expect game-changing twists for everyone at Nonnatus House.
“Call the Midwife” Season 11 premieres Sunday, March 20, at 8 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Sanditon”
Right after, the second season of “Sanditon” takes us back to the buzzing seaside resort, where we meet our characters again nine months after we left them.
This season, you can expect Charlotte to continue her journey after heartbreak, watch many unforeseen issues awaiting Tom Parker and see how the secrets and lies of the dysfunctional Denhams continue to rock the foundations of the
sunny seaside town.
“Sanditon” Season two debuts Sunday, March 20, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“The Takeaway”
In this era of complicated and ever-changing news stories, it’s never been more important to have a source for perspectives and analysis that helps you make sense of it all.
Enter “The Takeaway,” an hour-long national news program hosted by Melissa Harris-Perry. The show features critical conversations, live reports from the field and listener participation. “The Takeaway” is designed to provide a breadth and depth of world, national and regional news coverage that is unprecedented in public media.
Airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on KPBS Radio.
“NOVA: Determined: Fighting Alzheimer’s”
Since 1974, “NOVA” has explored innovations and discoveries from the world of science and technology while also highlighting the human side of science. In this special, you’ll dive into the world of Alzheimer’s disease—a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior.
On “NOVA: Determined: Fighting Alzheimer’s,” three women at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease offer their brains and bodies to a medical study. After the deaths of their mothers, these daughters are determined to contribute to the search for a cure. Meanwhile, they anxiously watch for signs of the disease in their own brains.
The program provides a close look at the science behind the disease and shares the firsthand perspective of families who have been through its devastating effects themselves.
Airs Wednesday, April 6, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV. Watch this program live or stream anytime with the PBS Video app.
“Independent Lens” Shares New Perspectives
“Independent Lens” is America’s home for documentaries—and this spring, we’ll share two new films that will help you think differently about the world.
“Writing with Fire”
First, “Writing with Fire” examines how—in the midst of a crowded, patriarchal news landscape—the reporters of India’s only all-female news network cover their country’s inequities with unflinching and intrepid determination. Armed only with their smartphones, these fearless journalists roam the state of Uttar Pradesh, exposing the rampant corruption that victimizes those without a voice or power.
“Writing with Fire” airs Monday, March 28, at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness”
On “Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness,” you’ll follow six brilliant researchers approaching human consciousness from radically different perspectives. Explore psychedelic substances, high-tech brain research and more.
“Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness” airs Monday, April 25, at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
Earth Day is April 22
The annual observance is dedicated to raising awareness about the various environmental challenges that face our planet. This year, KPBS is marking the occasion with a series of programs that give you a broader view of our amazing world!
Here’s a glimpse of the special programming: “FRONTLINE: Climate Wars” will explore the science and politics of climate change. “Our Changing Planet” explores the Arctic, the Maldives and the Amazon rainforest. And, on “Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline” discover how life is being affected as Ade Adepitan scours the globe for potential solutions.
“FRONTLINE: Climate Wars” premieres Tuesday, April 19, at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Our Changing Planet” airs Wednesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline” premieres Wednesday, April 20, at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“Before We Die” Will Leave You Breathless
Craving a heart-stopping drama? Look no further than “Before We Die,” a six-episode series that’s chock full of twists and turns.
Adapted from the hit Swedish series of the same name, the crime thriller stars Lesley Sharp as DI Hannah Lang, Patrick Gibson as her son Christian, and a powerful cast of co-stars who embark on a nail-biting mission to solve a mysterious murder.
Premieres Sunday, March 20, at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV. You can also binge the entire series with KPBS Passport and with the PBS Video app beginning on March 20.
Binge the German-Language Drama “Luna & Sophie” on March 31
Luna Kunath is strong-willed, but her naivete gets her into trouble. Sophie Pohlmann seems more mature, but her desire for harmony and fairness can be her weakness. Join these two partners and best friends as they solve perplexing mysteries in “Luna & Sophie,” a German crime mystery series with English subtitles.
“Luna & Sophie,” is available to stream with KPBS Passport beginning March 31.
Celebrate the Accomplishments and Vital Contributions of Women in History
Relive the most remarkable stories of women’s history, told by the women who were there, on “Witness: Women’s History Month,” a radio show from the BBC World Service. You’ll hear moving, inspiring and even outrageous stories about a few of the most important women and events in living memory, including Sandra Day O’Connor, America’s first female Supreme Court justice; China’s “Kingdom of Women”; and Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who is known as the woman who got America talking about sex.
Tune in Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m. on KPBS Radio.
“The Parker Edison Project” Returns for Season Two
What comes to mind when you think of American culture? “The Parker Edison Project” works to expand the cliché answer to that question.
The podcast zooms in on what really makes a culture—food, music, style, sex, fashion and more. Join host and co-creator Parker Edison for insightful conversations about creativity and community, all through the lens of Black America. Each episode starts with a thought-provoking talk and ends with a musical bang.
LIsten to the new season beginning in March or catch up anytime at kpbs.org/parkeredison or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sponsor Message
See art in bloom this spring as Art Alive returns to The San Diego Museum of Art April 28-May 1. The weekend includes a black-tie Premiere Dinner in a Museum gallery, followed by a Friday night BLOOM BASH—a high voltage celebration to kick off the weekend exhibition. All weekend long, Art Alive showcases nearly 100 floral arrangements interpreting works of art from the Museum’s collection, large-scale art and flower installations, a garden of activities for families and the opening of an extraordinary new exhibition.
Art Alive is The San Diego Museum of Art’s most important annual fundraiser, providing essential support for the Museum’s exhibitions, education, outreach and public programs. With the support of generous corporate sponsors, individual donors, charitable foundations and numerous volunteers, Art Alive helps provide free admission and education programs for 50,000 children each year, as well as cultural offerings for adults.
Join us this spring to enjoy an immersive fusion of flowers and art and show your support for the arts in your community!
For tickets and information visit SDMArt.org.
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