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American Public Television announces the release of
nearly 30 new programs, including six HD premieres, for May 2008
Highlighted programs include The Pact, Men Get Depression,
and On a Wing and a Prayer: An American Muslim Learns to Fly
BOSTON, November 14, 2007 — American Public Television (APT), a leading distributor of programming to the nation's public television stations, today announced the release of 23 new programs and six feature films for broadcast on public television analog stations in May 2008. Six of the new releases are available for broadcast on public television HD stations nationwide. Three additional programs, previously released in analog, will make their HD debut.
"While many Americans are fans of our programming, few know the name of the company responsible for more than 300 new public television programs per year," says APT President and CEO Cynthia Fenneman. "APT consistently strives to bring our audiences the most compelling programming around. May's diverse selection of new releases spans a variety of genres, from documentaries and feature films to lifestyle and public affairs, and represents our increasing volume of HD content."
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
The Pact (One hour; Releases May 4)
Available for analog broadcast
This Newark-set documentary centers on the gritty and provocative true-life story of three African-American friends who overcame poverty, criminal records and drug-addicted parents in their quest for a medical degree.
On a Wing and a Prayer: An American Muslim Learns to Fly
(One hour; Releases May 1)
Available for national/ local public television HD schedules and analog broadcast
One Muslim-American man attempts to fulfill his dream of obtaining a pilot's license in the face of heightened domestic security and negative public perceptions of Islam.
Men Get Depression (One hour; Releases May 1)
Available for national/ local public television HD schedules and analog broadcast
Intimate profiles of a diverse group of men – including a former NFL quarterback, a Fortune 500 CEO, an unemployed Iraq War veteran, a university professor, a pastor and others – explore the corrosive effect of depression on the self, relationships and careers. (Available for National Mental Health Month.)
HD AND ANALOG PREMIERES
DOCUMENTARIES:
Little Manila: Filipinos In California's Heartland
(One half-hour episode; Releases May 1)
Available for analog and national / local public television HD schedules
Educators, historians, labor leaders and long-time residents of Stockton, California's "Little Manila" recount the experiences and impact of Filipino immigrants on the community.
SS United States: Lady in Waiting (One hour; Releases May 4)
Available for analog and national / local public television HD schedules
This poignant special documents the construction, triumphant travels and retirement of America's once-great passenger ship, as well as the efforts of a conservation group determined to save it.
Struggling in Silence: Physician Depression and Suicide
(One hour; Releases May 1)
Available for analog and national / local public television HD schedules
Through touching and sometimes tragic stories, the documentary explores the effect of depression and suicide on a diverse group of physicians, medical students, their families and entire communities. (Available for National Mental Health Month.)
LIFESTYLE:
Katie Brown Workshop III (Twenty-six 30-minute episodes; Releases May 3)
Available for analog and national / local public television HD schedules
Lifestyle expert Katie Brown and her crew share more fun and creative cooking, gardening and decorating ideas from her real-life workshop.
ANALOG PREMIERES
DOCUMENTARIES:
Citizen Tanouye (One hour; Releases May 1)
Students from Torrance, Calif. research the life and times of Ted Tanouye (1919-1944), a distinguished alumnus of their school posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic service during World War II. Through their investigation, the students learn about the war's impact on their city.
Destination: World (Four 52-minute episodes; Releases May 1)
This limited series of travel specials visits Paris, the rolling hills of England's Cotswolds region, the Qinghai-Tibet railway and Japan's Mt. Fuji.
Ice Blink (One hour; Releases May 4)
Ice Blink charts one family's four-year maritime journey aboard their floating home/schoolhouse – an adventure which tests their physical and mental limits.
Jail Talk (One hour; Releases May 1)
A revolutionary prison program in Nashville, Tenn. strives to help inmates break the cycle of abuse and addiction and successfully reintegrate them into the community.
Kung Fu Journey to the East (One hour; Releases May 1)
Two American Kung Fu students visit China to explore the origins of the 1,500-year-old martial arts tradition.
Placing Out: The Orphan Trains (One hour; Releases May 1)
Archival photography and interviews with surviving riders, their descendants, historians and local officials bring to life the Orphan Train Era. This 80-year span in America saw an estimated 200,000 orphaned, abandoned and runaway children from industrialized cities in the East board trains bound for Midwestern farming communities in search of a better life.
Where Do the Children Play? (One hour; Releases May 11)
Told largely through the voices of children, the film explores the dramatic disappearance of play and nature from the daily lives of children due to environmental factors such as urban sprawl.
NATURE AND SCIENCE:
Quest: Investigating Our World (Six 60-minute episodes; Releases May 2)
Scientists from a variety of disciplines explain their exciting innovations in the fields of archeology, marine biology, nanotechnology and more. Best-selling author and Maine fisherman Linda Greenlaw hosts.
NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS:
Scully/The World Show XI (Fifty-two 30-minute episodes; Releases May 2)
Host Robert Scully interviews some of the world's most prominent and famous figures, including: former President George H.W. Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carli Fiorina, former newspaper publisher Lord Conrad Black and Survivor host Jeff Probst.
TRAVEL:
Grannies on Safari II (Seven 30-minute episodes; Releases May 3)
Best friends Pat Johnson and Regina Fraser embark on expeditions to Canada, South America, Poland, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico in search of local characters, attractions and cultural treasures.
Rudy Maxa's World (Thirteen 30-minute episodes; Releases May 3)
In his new series, Rudy Maxa travels to the canals of St. Petersburg in Russia, explores the ancient ruins and royal tombs of Turkey's southern coast, visits India's Taj Mahal and the crowded alleys and villages of New Delhi, and tangos in San Telmo, Argentina.
Travelscope II (Thirteen 30-minute episodes; Releases May 31)
Travel journalist Joseph Rosendo uncovers the world's cultural treasures in Ottawa, Canada and on Alaska's coast, and exotic locales in Spain, Zambia and Thailand.
LIFESTYLE:
Farmers Almanac (Thirteen 30-minute episodes; Releases May 3, 2008)
With a focus on sustainability and conservation, the magazine-style series' compelling mix of stories celebrates nature, family, community and traditional living from all corners of the North American landscape.
HOW-TO:
Primal Grill With Steven Raichlen
(Thirteen 30-minute episodes; Releases May 17)
Barbecue expert Steven Raichlen returns with more of the best tips, tricks and recipes for delicious barbecue dishes and sides, cooked on an array of grills and cookers.
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Pavlo Mediterranean Nights (One 60-minute episode; Releases May 29)
Guitarist Pavlo performs his fiery, virtuosic music — a vibrant mixture of Greek, classical and Spanish styles — at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
Rochester International Jazz Festival II
(Six 60-minute episodes; Releases May 4)
An eclectic group of jazz and blues musicians, including Geri Allen, Harry Allen, Don Bryon, Bill Frissell, James Moody and Christian Scott, perform at Rochester, New York's Eastman School of Music. Between concerts, the artists candidly share thoughts on their music.
FEATURE FILMS:
The Apartment (1960) (125 min.; Available for broadcast May 1 - May 31)
Jack Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a go-getting office worker who loans his tiny apartment to his philandering superiors for their romantic trysts. Co-stars Shirley Maclaine.
Hello, Dolly (1969) (129 min.; Available for broadcast May 1 - June 30)
New York matchmaker Dolly Levy (Barbra Streisand) woos wealthy Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) in this glitzy adaptation of the Broadway show. Gene Kelly directed.
Some Like It Hot (1959) (120 min.; Available for broadcast May 1 - May 31)
This legendary comedy from director Billy Wilder finds two musicians (Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis) masquerading as women in order to elude mobsters while befriending a beautiful singer (Marilyn Monroe).
Strangers on a Train (1951) (101 min.; Available for broadcast May 1- July 31)
Two passengers meet accidentally and plot to "exchange" murders in this Alfred Hitchcock thriller. Screenplay by murder-mystery great Raymond Chandler.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 original film)
(102 min; Available for broadcast May 1-May 31)
This stylish Norman Jewison-directed caper stars Steve McQueen as a Boston tycoon who pulls off a daring bank heist and Faye Dunaway as the insurance investigator determined to nab the gentleman-thief, but falls for him instead.
Von Ryan's Express (1965) (117 min.; Available for broadcast May 1 -Oct. 31)
An American POW (Frank Sinatra) leads a group of mainly British prisoners planning to escape from the Germans in WWII.
HD-ONLY PREMIERES
(PREVIOUSLY RELEASED ON ANALOG)
Three additional APT programs will also have their high-definition-only premiere this May:
Mexico — One Plate at a Time With Rick Bayless VI
(Thirteen 30-minute episodes)
Beloved chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless presents start-to-finish, stress-free, Mexican-inspired fiestas packed with creativity, color and flavor.
Artist's Table: Jacques Pépin and Itzhak Perlman (One 60-minute episode)
Acclaimed chef, author and television personality Jacques Pépin and violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman explore the nature of creativity at the intersection of the culinary and non-culinary arts.
Demystifying Dyslexia (One 60-minute episode)
Hosted by Olympic champion Bruce Jenner, the program profiles inspiring individuals confronting the challenges of living with dyslexia and offers valuable insight into the inner-workings of the dyslexic mind.
For more information on broadcast dates and times, check local public television listings.
About American Public Television
With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation's public television stations for 47 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. It is responsible for many public television milestones including the first HD series and the 2006 launch of Create™ – the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert, Battlefield Britain, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves' Europe, Great Museums, Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way, America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia's Family Table, California Dreamin' – The Songs of The Mamas & the Papas, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Monarchy With David Starkey, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
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