Great Performances “Land of Gold” – Friday, November 1st at 9 p.m.
This documentary explores the making of John Adams and Peter Sellars’ San Francisco Opera premiere of their latest collaboration, “Girls of the Golden West,” dramatizing the turbulent history of the California gold rush. With the new opera’s title referencing Puccini’s 1910 romantic favorite “The Girl of the Golden West,” Adams and Sellars’ work tells a harsher and more complex story through the letters of writer Louise Clappe, who lived in a miners’ settlement for a year and a half. “Land of Gold” examines the historical characters of 1851 on a cultural collision course and goes behind the scenes at San Francisco Opera with the cast and creatives excavating that same history within today’s cultural turmoil. Amid the backstage hubbub, composer Adams, singers Julia Bullock, Paul Appleby, J’Nai Bridges, and director Sellars wrestle their bittersweet opera onto the stage.
PBS News Election Coverage – Tuesday, November 5th at 8 p.m.
Live special coverage of the 2024 presidential and congressional elections will air on PBS stations and stream on PBS News’ digital and social platforms on Tuesday, November 5. Co-anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett, coverage will include reporting from the PBS News Hour team, analysis from guests, and results for the presidential, vice presidential, House of Representatives and Senate elections.
Nature “San Diego: America’s Wildest City” – Wednesday, November 6th at 8 p.m.
This is a story of dazzling biological diversity thriving incongruously in a transformed landscape of manmade wilderness. Despite its 3.3 million human residents and utterly transformed landscape, San Diego County is the most biologically diverse county in America. Follow three animal families through the ups and downs of life in San Diego: western grebes, California ground squirrels, and harbor seals. Woven through these three main stories are cameos by a colorful cast of supporting characters, whose lives have been equally transformed by our re-shaping of San Diego’s ecosystems: gray whales, coyotes, skunks, hummingbirds, leopard sharks, and mountain lions.
NOVA “Decoding the Universe: Quantum” – Wednesday, November 6th at 9 p.m.
When we look at the world at the tiniest scales, the subatomic realm, things get weird – very weird. Welcome to the quantum universe, where particles can spin in two directions at once, observing something changes it, and a thing on one side of the galaxy can instantly affect something on the other, as if the space between them didn’t exist. Buckle up for a wild ride through the discoveries that proved all of this to be true and paved the way for the digital technologies we enjoy today – and the powerful quantum sensors and computers of tomorrow.
Salute to Service: A Veterans Day Celebration – Friday, November 8th at 9 p.m.
On Veterans Day, Country Music superstar Mickey Guyton hosts Salute to Service, a musical celebration of our nation's heroes past and present. Country music legend Craig Morgan joins jazz bassist Christian McBride and pop trombonist Aubrey Logan with the United States Army Field Band for this hour long special, which also shares inspiring stories of distinguished veterans such as General Patrick Brady, our nations most decorated living veteran and Colonel Danielle Ngo who escaped Saigon just before it's fall and went from refugee to Army Colonel. This program unites the nation in gratitude and serves as a reminder that servicemembers represent the American ideal of unity, regardless of backgrounds or beliefs.
American Experience “Wilmington 1898: An American Coup” – Tuesday, November 12th at 9 p.m.
Discover the little-known story of the deadly 1898 race massacre and coup d’état in Wilmington, North Carolina, when white supremacists overthrew the multi-racial government of the state’s largest city through a campaign of violence and intimidation that destroyed Black political and economic power and imposed white control. The film combines the story of the coup with an examination of present-day efforts to seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.
Nature “Lions of the Skeleton Coast” – Wednesday, November 13th at 8 p.m.
Expert lion filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp (Nature “The Leopard Legacy”) have set their sights on the lions of the Skeleton Coast of Namibia, a place they know well. Here they have been following three orphaned cubs, left abandoned by their mother who died unexpectedly. At less than a year old, they were not expected to live, but they defied the odds. Over the course of five years, the Steenkamps returned to the desert to follow the story of the cubs as they matured – starting with their scavenging abilities that secured their survival as orphaned youngsters, to their specialized bird hunting strategies at the oases, and their endless explorations across unknown desert territory to their newfound food source on the coast.
NOVA “Building Stuff: Boost It!” – Wednesday, November 13th at 9 p.m.
Around the world, engineers are finding ingenious ways to amplify our abilities and senses– allowing us to access and shape the world way beyond our natural abilities. From helping a blind man see without the use of his eyes to building a sling so powerful it can shoot rockets into space, see why engineering just might be the closest thing to a superpower we humans have.
Great Performances “Waitress: The Musical” – Friday, November 15th at 9 p.m.
Starring composer-lyricist Sara Bareilles as Jenna Hunterson, this presentation is about a waitress and expert pie-maker stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna fights to reclaim a long-forgotten part of herself. Through the support of her fellow waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to take a long-abandoned dream off the shelf. “Waitress: The Musical” celebrates the power of friendship, dreams, the family we choose and the beauty of a well-baked pie.
Leonardo Da Vinci – Tuesday, November 18th at 8 p.m.
Leonardo Da Vinci, Ken Burns’s first non-American subject, explores the life and work of the 15th century polymath Leonardo da Vinci. The film looks at how the artist influenced and inspired future generations, and it finds in his soaring imagination and profound intellect the foundation for a conversation we are still having today: what our relationship is with nature and what it means to be human. Set against the rich and dynamic backdrop of Renaissance Italy, at a time of skepticism and freethinking, regional war and religious upheaval, Leonardo Da Vinci brings the artist’s towering achievements to life through his prolific personal notebooks, primary and secondary accounts of his life, and on camera interviews with modern scholars, artists, engineers, inventors, and admirers.
Nature “Attenborough's Life Journey” – Wednesday, November 20th at 8 p.m.
As Sir David Attenborough enters his 98th year, this unique and charming film documents the highlights of his incredible life. Follow Attenborough’s journey from his boyhood days as a fossil hunter, through his early days as a host on Zoo Quest, to his programs using pioneering technology of the day such as 3D and 4K. This intimate portrait depicts Attenborough’s years on the road, from the islands of the Galapagos to the mountains of Canada to the jungles of Borneo. Combining exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, candid interviews with Sir David on location, and stunning excerpts from his ground-breaking documentaries, this episode captures an Attenborough you have never seen before.
NOVA “Building Stuff: Reach It!” - Wednesday, November 20th at 9 p.m.
From the time our species first evolved, we’ve been on the move. Not content to stay in one place, we’ve schemed and invented and built our way from one place to the next. From affordable deep-sea subs to flying taxis to next-gen space habitats, see how today’s engineers are designing and building creative new ways for us to get all around – and even off – our planet.
Great Performances “Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight” – Friday, November 22nd at 9 p.m.
With her music transcending generations, country music legend Patsy Cline was a crossover trailblazer in her genre, paving the way for artists who followed in her footsteps. Featuring commentary from fellow artists and those who knew Patsy Cline, the star-studded concert filmed from the Ryman Auditorium celebrating her life, legacy and music includes performances by Annie Bosko, Ashley McBryde, Beverly D'Angelo, Crystal Gayle, Grace Potter, Home Free, The Isaacs, Kellie Pickler, Kristin Chenoweth, Mandy Barnett, Mickey Guyton, Natalie Grant, Rita Wilson, Pam Tillis, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Reyna Roberts, Tami Neilson, Tiera Kennedy, Tigirlily Gold, Wynonna and more. Music legend Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline’s husband Charlie Dick, and other personal friends also share anecdotes about her life and music.
POV “The Body Politic” - Monday, November 25th at 10 p.m.
The Body Politic is a harbinger of hope in a country plagued by gun violence. In Baltimore, Brandon Scott, an idealistic young leader with an ambitious plan to stop chronic violence in the city, is elected mayor. Throughout his first year in office, we follow him as he fights powerful political forces to save lives in Baltimore and reveals a pathway toward healing for the nation.
Lidia Celebrates America “The Changemakers” – Tuesday, November 26th at 9 p.m.
Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich was born in Pula, a small city on the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula. While she grew up in a poor community where food was scarce, when it came to cooking, and eating, she and her neighbors demonstrated a remarkable spirit of ingenuity. Resourcefulness remains a fundamental part of who Lidia is today, a chef bolstered by the belief that food is increasingly being wasted, and increasingly scarce. With this in mind, Lidia Celebrates America will follow Lidia on her 13th journey across America – this time meeting up with chefs, farmers, and artisans who are all actively trying to rechart what the future of food could look like.
NOVA “Building Stuff: Change It!” – Wednesday, November 27th at 9 p.m.
For as long as humans have been around, we’ve been altering the spaces around us to better suit our needs. From accessing ancient wisdom to build a better water filter to designing a robot that uses acoustics to bring coral reefs back to health, see how today’s engineers are applying their craft to reshape the natural world and create new human made environments to enhance our lives in amazing ways.
Great Performances “Henry Mancini 100 at the Hollywood Bowl” – Friday, November 29th at 9 p.m.
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, along with special guests, celebrate the centennial birthday of Henry Mancini, the peerless composer for film, television and popular song. The four-time Oscar and 20-time Grammy-winning composer of “Moon River” and the “Pink Panther” made 29 conducting appearances on the iconic Bowl’s stage. Michael Bublé, Cynthia Erivo, saxophonist Dave Koz and Mancini’s daughter Monica Mancini gathered to perform classic renditions of Mancini’s signature songs, interspersed with clips from Mancini’s beloved movies and TV shows. In addition, behind-the-scenes documentary footage captures the recording sessions for “The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions - Henry Has Company,” a new, all-star album featuring a diverse range of artists including Gustavo Dudamel, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, Pat Metheny, Take 6, Snarky Puppy, and more.