Sesame Street - WETA · centering on the theft of a cursed but priceless Indian diamond. When...

50 Years & Still Sunny!Sesame Street:

A celebration of the iconic seriesDecember 4 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

Seasonal programming on WETA Television & Classical WETA

PBS NewsHour & Politico Democratic Debate, December 19

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Stream select TV programs via WETA Passport and the free PBS Video App.

W E T A B R O A D C A S T S A N D S E R V I C E S

Among our most important duties at WETA as we pursue our mission of public service is to strive to help keep Americans informed about news developments that affect their lives. In a busy news cycle, and as the election campaigns gather steam, millions of Americans rely on trusted WETA productions PBS NewsHour and Washington Week to stay informed about issues, events, policies and much more. Presenting in-depth reporting and analysis with balance and integrity,

our superb news and public affairs productions report on, and make sense of, the news — providing vital context and insight into matters of true consequence.

We at WETA are very proud of the stellar journalism produced on behalf of the public by Judy Woodruff and the PBS NewsHour team, and by Washington Week moderator Robert Costa and the program’s roundtable of top reporters. On December 19, we will co-produce and present to PBS viewers nationwide the broadcast PBS NewsHour & Politico Democratic Debate; we look forward to drawing out the participating presidential candidates’ views for Americans to consider. Thank you for tuning in, and thank you for your support, which helps make our service possible.

WETA Focus

Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President & CEO, WETA

New Morning News BlockMondays-Saturdays, 6-8 a.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

Starting in December, WETA adds news and public affairs programming to the morning WETA TV 26/HD schedule on weekdays and Saturdays. Anchoring the block Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7 a.m. is the preceding night’s PBS NewsHour newscast. The morning repeat presents the West Coast feed of the broadcast, which features updates added after the East Coast broadcast from the previous night. Additional morning news and public affairs programming includes NHK Newsline (international news from Japan public media), Monday through Friday at 6 a.m.; BBC World News, Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m.; and encore presentations of WETA production Washington Week, Saturdays at 6 a.m. and Mondays at 7:30 a.m. See the December TV Listings on pages 6-13 for details.

Washington WeekWETA production airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

and streams on the free PBS Video AppFor insights on each week’s news, tune into WETA’s Peabody Award-winning series Washington Week, moderated by accomplished Washington Post reporter Robert Costa. Each Friday night, the half-hour news analysis program features Costa leading a dynamic, engaging roundtable discussion of the week’s major news developments with the nation’s top journalists. The program broadcasts live each week on WETA TV 26/HD from WETA’s Shirlington television studios and, as of December, repeats Saturdays at 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Washington Week can be streamed on the series website pbs.org/washingtonweek, via the free PBS Video App, on Facebook and on YouTube. WETA also produces an online Washington Week Extra at 8:30 p.m. each Friday, streamed live on the series’ website.

Major funding for Washington Week is provided by Fidelity Investments, the Yuen Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS.

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Stream select TV programs via WETA Passport and the free PBS Video App.

COVER: SESAME STREET, PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD TERMINE

W E T A B R O A D C A S T S A N D S E R V I C E S For program and membership inquiries, visit weta.org or call 703-998-2724.

PBS NewsHour & Politico Democratic Debate

WETA co-production airs Thurs., Dec.19 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

WETA production PBS NewsHour and political journalism enterprise Politico are co-hosting a live, televised presidential candidates debate on December 19 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. The debate will be the sixth of the Democratic primary cycle. Event moderators, who will draw out candidates’ views on the issues, will be announced in coming days, as will the list of participating candidates, who must qualify by reaching specifi c thresholds in polls and in quantities of unique donors. At the conclusion of the debate event, the PBS NewsHour team will provide analysis of the proceedings. Check television listings at weta.org for the most up-to-date scheduling information for the debate. The debate will stream at pbs.org/newshour.

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December Highlights on WETA TV 26/HD

Stream Silk, DCI Banks & The Moonstone on WETA Passport

Available for streaming starting December 1 at watch.weta.org

With a qualifying monthly donation of $5 (or $60 per year), you can access thousands of hours of programming on WETA Passport, a popular WETA member benefi t that offers an extensive library of superb public television offerings past and present, including drama, public affairs, science, history, arts, “how-to” programs and more, all available for viewing at watch.weta.org. From select Masterpiece series, Ken Burns documentaries and Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., to PBS NewsHour, Washington Week and much more, stream programming on your TV, computer, tablet or smartphone via WETA Passport, which this month includes three engaging dramas, available for binge viewing as of December 1.

Silk, a fast-paced contemporary BBC legal drama that features three seasons (18 episodes), follows the rivalries, passions and intrigues of criminal law stars and barristers in London. Martha Costello (Maxine Peak, Little Dorrit), is a brilliant, passionate defense lawyer, and her rival, Clive Reader (Rupert Penry-Jones, MI-5; Whitechapel; The 39 Steps) is ruthless, charming and gifted. The two vie to attain the status of Queen’s Counsel.

Contemporary mystery series DCI Banks, featuring fi ve seasons (16 episodes), stars Stephen Tompkinson (Ballykissangel) as the tenacious, stubborn sleuth Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Andrea Lowe as the feisty, headstrong Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot in crime thrillers set in the Yorkshire countryside. Caroline Catz (Doc Martin) joins the team as Detective Inspector Helen Morton in Series 2.

The Moonstone, a 2016 BBC fi lm featuring fi ve episodes, is a fresh adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ novel about Victorian England, starring Joshua Silver and Terenia Edwards and centering on the theft of a cursed but priceless Indian diamond. When Franklin Blake returns to England, he faces events he fl ed a year before: Rachel Verinder, his cousin, inherited the Moonstone on her 18th birthday and it went missing that evening. Blake must probe the mystery.

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For the Holidays, on WETA TV 26/HD

Holiday Music on Classical WETA 90.9 FMEnjoy the sounds of the season on Classical WETA 90.9 FM as Greater Washington’s exclusive classical music radio service adds holiday music into its broadcasts in December. Seasonal offerings air throughout the month, increasing substantially during the week of December 16 and culminating with the “Home for the Holidays Weekend” (December 20-22) and special programming on December 24-25. Christmas Eve specials include the traditional Christmas Eve Carolfest (noon.-5 p.m.); Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge (5 p.m.); and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker (7 p.m.). On Christmas Day, Classical WETA presents Christmas in Washington (10 a.m.), featuring performances of holiday music by D.C.-area choral and instrumental ensembles; Handel’s Messiah (3 p.m.); and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (9 p.m.). Also tune in to Classical WETA’s Sunday-night program Choral Showcase (9 p.m.), which is devoted to Christmas music all month. For more seasonal music on Classical WETA, see pages 16-17; and visit weta.org/happyholidays.

Seasonal Programming

My Music: A Classic Christmas Thur 12/5, 8pm; Rpts Fri 12/6, 3pm; Sun 12/8, 9am, 7pm; Tue 12/10, 4pm

Hip Hop Nutcracker Sun 12/8, 11pm; Fri 12/13, 3pmChristmas with the Tabernacle Choir (featuring): Kristin Chenoweth Mon 12/16, 9pm; Rpts Fri 12/20,

10pm; Tue 12/24, 9pm; Wed 12/25, 5pm Sutton Foster & Hugh Bonneville Tue 12/24, 8pm Rolando Villazón Tue 12/24, 10pmLidia Celebrates America: The Return of the Artisans

Fri 12/20, 9pm; Rpts Wed 12/25, 9amHandel’s Messiah (see below) Sun 12/22, 8pmChristmas at Belmont 2019 Mon 12/23, 9pm;

Rpts Wed 12/25, 4pmA Chef’s Life Holiday Special Wed 12/25, 8amChristmas at St. Olaf: Ris’n with Healing in His Wings

Wed 12/25, 10amA Classic Christmas with the Bach Festival Society

Wed 12/25, 11amWheaton College Christmas Festival: Messiah, Prince

of Peace Wed 12/25, noonChristmas at Concordia: Gather Us In, O Child of

Peace Wed 12/25, 1pmA St. Thomas Christmas: Comfort & Joy Wed 12/25, 2pmHoliday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers Wed 12/25, 3pmLucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas

Wed 12/25, 8pmCall the Midwife Holiday Special 2019 Wed 12/25, 9pm;

Rpts Thur 12/26, 3:30pm(Watch WETA UK, Wed 12/25, 12:30-8pm for more

Call the Midwife specials.)

London New Year’s Day Parade 2020 Tue 12/31, 4pmVisit weta.org/happyholidays for holiday program details.

Handel’s MessiahSunday, December 22 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

A 90-minute docudrama by Lee Groberg (Joseph Smith: American Prophet; First Freedom: The Fight for Religious Liberty) and Mark Goodman and presented by WETA tells the story of prodigious musical genius George Frideric Handel: how he was discovered in Halle, Germany at age 9, his meteoric rise to celebrity composer at age 18, and his great oratorio, Messiah. Jane Seymour narrates the fi lm, a story of redemption that examines how the debut performance of Messiah in Dublin, Ireland in 1742 was a turning point for Handel — and for Charles Jennens, the man who wrote the oratorio’s libretto, and Susannah Cibber, who soloed in the performance.


The Ornament of the WorldTuesday, December 17 at 8 p.m. and streaming via the free PBS Video App

Filmed in Cordoba, Granada, Seville and Toledo, a two-hour program explores a story from the past that is especially relevant today: a remarkable period of 800 years in medieval Spain when Muslims, Christians and Jews forged a

common cultural identity that frequently transcended their religious differences. From 711, when Muslim armies swept across the Mediterranean, until 1492, when Christian power was consolidated under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, an era known as La Convivencia led to a vibrant shared culture of arts, architecture, science, music and letters, raising Spain to dazzling heights of glory and power. A journey through the cities at the center of the story, The Ornament of the World reveals what made this collaboration possible, and what ultimately tore it apart. The film, based on the book by Maria Rosa Menocal, examines the complexities and contradictions of this era through portraits of major figures of the period. The program also highlights architectural wonders such as the Great Mosque of Cordoba (left), medieval synagogues in Toledo, the Alcazar in Seville, and the Alhambra in Granada.

Major funding for The Ornament of the World provided by the National Endowment for the Humani-ties. Additional funding provided by King Philanthropies; the Mosaic Foundation; the Enid and Crosby Kemper Family Foundation; the R.C. Kemper, Jr. Charitable Trust; and Sheila and Mark Wolfson.C

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December Dramas on WETA TV 26/HDMorse, Call the Midwife, Frankie Drake, Victoria and more

For drama programming, also tune in to WETA UK or stream shows via WETA Passport and the free PBS Video App

From heart-warmers to thrillers, WETA presents an array of drama programs in late December after the conclusion of the annual WETA membership campaign. Among the offerings, on December 25 at 9 p.m., Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2019 unfolds, following the Nonnatus House nurse-midwives as they venture far afield once again, in this year’s special visiting Scotland’s Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage. On Saturday, December 28 at 8 p.m., WETA features the first installment of three-part series Capital, starring Toby Jones, Gemma Jones, Rachael Stirling (daughter of Dame Diana Rigg) and an ensemble cast in an adaptation of John Lancaster’s novel about urban gentrification that rattles the residents of a South London neighborhood. Also this month, detective series Inspector Morse continues, Thursday, December 26 at 8 p.m. with two back-to-back cases starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately, and Frankie Drake Mysteries

continues Saturdays, December 21 & 28 at 9 p.m., featuring further adventures of 1920s Toronto sleuth-duo Frankie (Lauren Lee Smith) and Trudy (Chantel Riley) of Drake Private Detectives. Wrapping up drama offerings for the month, on Sunday, December 28, 4-6 p.m. & 7-11 p.m., WETA presents a stack of reprised episodes of Masterpiece blockbuster Victoria, Series 3, starring Jenna Coleman as Britain’s famed monarch and Tom Hughes as Prince Albert.

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Live from Lincoln Center: N.Y. Philharmonic: Celebrating Sondheim

Tuesday, December 31 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD and streaming via the free PBS Video App

On New Year’s Eve, enjoy a Live from Lincoln Center special featuring the New York Philharmonic performing the music of Pulitzer-, Tony-, Oscar- and Grammy-winner Stephen Sondheim with Tony Award-winning stage and screen actress/vocalist Katrina Lenk in her New York Philharmonic debut. Alexander Gemignani conducts the performance, and Lonny Price directs. The program will include selections and suites from popular musicals A Little Night Music, Assassins, Company, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Lenk, who will star in the Broadway revival of Sondheim’s Company in 2020, won the 2018 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her originating role as Dina in the Broadway musical The Band’s Visit.

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My Music: A Classic ChristmasThursday, December 5 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat) and Marion Ross (Happy Days) host a nostalgic celebration of traditional carols and popular holiday standards performed by legends of song. Among the great artists featured in rare, archival footage from the 1950s through the 1970s are Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters, Andy Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Gene Autry, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, The Lennon Sisters, Mahalia Jackson, Jose Feliciano, The Drifters and, in an all-new performance, Ronnie Spector. Songs include carols “Silent Night” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”; as well as standards “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; children’s tunes “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty The Snowman”; and much more. The program repeats Sunday, December 8 at 7 p.m.

Sesame Street: 50 Years & Still Sunny!

Wednesday, December 4 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDA new documentary celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic WETA PBS Kids children’s series with favorite memories and special guests. The program, hosted by musical artist Gloria Estefan, features interviews with Jodie Foster; Itzhak Perlman; LL Cool J; fi lmmaker Ken Burns; PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger; and Jeffrey D. Dunn, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop. It includes interviews with many of the award-winning writers and puppeteers who brought the series’ beloved characters to life — and features video clips of Sesame Street’s most unforgettable moments. The program examines the series’ signifi cant and lasting impact on families across America. Throughout the years, the critically acclaimed program has remained experimental, each year researching issues that affect kids and adapting to the cultural and social trends of the time. The program repeats Friday, December 13 at 8:30 p.m.

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Ken Burns: Country MusicSunday, December 1 at 7 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HD

Join host and award-winning singer Kathy Mattea to learn more about the making of the epic documentary series and WETA co-production Country Music, devoted to the history of the American art form. The special features music, video clips and interviews with musical artists and series participant Rosanne Cash, along with Ken Burns, his long-time collaborator Dayton Duncan and other members of the creative team who helped make the documentary series so riveting. Ken Burns: Country Music highlights the most passionate, inspiring and revealing moments from the 16-hour fi lm, which premiered in September, exploring how country music evolved over the course of the 20th century and focusing on trailblazers who created and shaped it. The special repeats December 5 at 10 p.m. and December 10 at 9:30 p.m.C

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Great Performances: An Intimate Evening with David Foster

Wednesday, December 4 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDIn his third concert special on Great Performances, 16-time Grammy Award-winner David Foster takes the stage for a show-stopping concert celebrating hits from his musical career of four decades as a composer, producer and performer. Songs performed include Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love,” Whitney Houston’s famed interpretation of the Dolly Parton song “I Will Always Love You,” Earth Wind & Fire’s “After the Love Is Gone,” Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration,” and many more. Joining Foster for the star-studded special evening of performances are Pia Toscano, Sheléa, Fernando Varela, Loren Allred, and “Smash” and Broadway’s “Waitress” star Katharine McPhee. The program repeats December 7 at 10 p.m. and December 9 at 8 p.m.


WETA TV 26 & WETA HD December Primetime Listings.

Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations

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10:309:308:308:00 9:00 10:00(from 7pm:) Ken Burns: Country Music Downton Abbey Returns! (to 11pm) & Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like (to 12:30am)

Il Volo: Ten Years Memory Rescue with Daniel Amen, MD (to 11pm) & Downton Abbey Returns! (to 1am)

Aging Backwards 3 with Miranda Esmonde-White

My Music: Aretha Franklin: Remembered (to 10:30pm) & The Brain Fitness Program (to 12:30am)

Sesame Street: 50 Years & Still Sunny! Great Performances: An Intimate Evening with David Foster (to 11:30pm) & Memory Rescue with Daniel Amen, MD (to 1am)

My Music: A Classic Christmas Ken Burns: Country Music (to 11:30pm) & Retire Safe & Secure with Ed Slott (to 1am)

Washington Week The Brain Fitness Program Il Volo: Ten Years (to 12m)

My Music: The Big Band Years Great Performances: An Intimate Evening with David Foster (to 12m)

(from 7pm:) My Music: A Classic Christmas

My Music: John Sebastian Presents: Folk Rewind (to 11pm) & Hip Hop Nutcracker (to 1am)

Great Performances: An Intimate Evening with David Foster The Brain Fitness Program (to 11:30pm)

Rick Steves: Fascism in Europe Ken Burns: Country Music (to 11:30pm) & Memory Rescue with Daniel Amen, MD (to 1am)

My Music: John Sebastian Presents: Folk Rewind 3 Steps to Pain-Free Living (to 11:30pm) & Ken Burns: Country Music (to 1am)

Memory Rescue with Daniel Amen, MD Downton Abbey Returns! (to 12m)

Washington Week Sesame Street: 50 Years & Still Sunny! Aging Backwards 3 with Miranda Esmonde-White

WETA Viewer Favorites

WETA Viewer Favorites

Antiques Roadshow: New Orleans, LA (Hour 3)

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kristin Chenoweth

Independent Lens: Attla

The Ornament of the World Frontline: Weinstein

Nature: Animals of Winter NOVA: Inside Animal Minds: Who’s the Smartest?

Aurora: Fire in the Sky

PBS NewsHour & Politico Democratic Debate Washington in the 2000s

Washington Week The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Con-versations (Series 2, Ep 13)

Lidia Celebrates America: The Return of the Artisans


London: 2000 Years of History (Pt 4 of 4) Frankie Drake Mysteries, Series 1 (Pt 3 of 11. Summer in the City)

The WETA Movie: A River Runs Through It (to 12:03am)

Handel’s Messiah The Child in Time on Masterpiece

Antiques Roadshow: Mansion Masterpieces

Christmas at Belmont 2019 Independent Lens: Supergirl (to 11:30pm)

Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville


Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Rolando Villazón

Lucy Worsley’s 12 Days of Tudor Christmas

Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2019 Vicious Special(to 11:30pm)

Inspector Morse: The Last Enemy Inspector Morse: Deceived by Flight (to 11:30pm)

Washington Week The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Con-versations (Series 2, Ep 14)

Craft in America: Quilts Craft in America: Identity

Capital (Pt 1 of 3) Frankie Drake Mysteries, Series 1 (Pt 4 of 11. Healing Hands)

The WETA Movie: Love Story (to 12m)

(from 4pm:) Victoria, Series 3 on Masterpiece (Pts 1-6 of 8) (to 11pm)

Antiques Roadshow: St. Louis, MO (Hour 1)

Antiques Roadshow: St. Louis, MO (Hour 2)

POV: Midnight Traveler (to 11:30pm)

Live from Lincoln Center: N.Y. Philharmonic: Celebrating Sondheim

Live from Lincoln Center: N.Y. Philharmonic: Celebrating Sondheim (Encore)

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PBS NewsHour airs weeknights at 7 p.m. Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings).

Check weta.org for the most up-to-date schedule information.


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1 Sunday 6AM MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — See the

Monday, December 2, 9:30 p.m. listing. 7:30 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — See the Friday,

December 6, 8:30 p.m. listing. 9AM MY MUSIC: CLASSICAL REWIND — Experience the

beauty, romance and power of musical masterpieces in this joyride through the world of classical hits. Martin Goldsmith hosts, with refl ections from Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Stewart Copeland of the band The Police, and others. Repeats Mon 12/2, 3pm; Wed 12/11, 4:30pm

10:30 GROWING BOLDER’S LAUNCHPAD TO WHAT’S NEXT — Journalist Marc Middleton hosts a special that explores how to have active, purposeful lives after retirement, offering ways to empower healthy aging. Repeats Sun 12/8, 2pm

12N MY MUSIC: A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS — See the Thursday, December 5, 8 p.m. listing.

2:00 MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — See the Monday, December 2, 9:30 p.m. listing.

3:30 MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE — Michael Keaton hosts a celebration of Fred Rogers’ beloved children’s series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which premiered 50 years ago and became a landmark in children’s tele-vision. Repeats tonight; Sat 12/7, 8am

5:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 5:30 RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — Travel expert

Rick Steves explores how fascism rose and fell in Europe, tracing the ideology’s history and visiting sites throughout Europe relating to fascism. Repeats Mon 12/2, 4:30pm; Sat 12/7, 4pm; Tue 12/10, 8pm; Wed 12/11, 3pm

7:00 KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — Join host Kathy Mat-tea to learn more about the making of the epic docu-mentary series, a WETA co-production devoted to the history of this American art form. Features interviews with Rosanne Cash, along with Ken Burns and other members of the fi lmmaking team. Repeats Thur 12/5, 10pm; Sat 12/7, 11am; Sun 12/8, 3:30pm; Mon 12/9, 3pm; Tue 12/10, 9:30pm; Wed 12/11, 11:30pm

9:00 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS! — Join host Jim Carter (Mr. Carson) for a celebration of the beloved drama series. This reprised special program features interviews with the cast and creators and video clips. Repeats Mon 12/2, 11pm; Wed 12/4, 3pm; Thur 12/5, 4:30pm; Sat 12/7, 6pm; Mon 12/9, 11:30pm: Thur 12/12, 10pm

11:00 MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE — R 12:30AM AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-

WHITE — See the Tuesday, December 3, 8 p.m. listing.

2 Monday NEW WEEKDAY DAYTIME LINEUP: 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — R 7:30AM WASHINGTON WEEK — (new Monday repeat) R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS (weekdays) 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT (weekdays) 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — WETA production PBS NewsHour

provides in-depth analysis of current events with a news summary, live studio interviews and discussions of domestic and international issues. Judy Woodruff anchors. Visit pbs.org/newshour. Repeats tomorrow, 7am

8:00 IL VOLO: TEN YEARS — Celebrate 10 years of friendship, memories and music with popular international trio Il Volo in concert from Matera, Italy. The vocal artists perform new arrangements of their greatest hits and songs from their new album. Repeats Tue 12/3, 3pm; Fri 12/6, 10:30pm

9:30 MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — Psychia-trist, neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen offers advice on how to supercharge your mem-ory and remember what matters most to you. Amen identifi es brain risk factors and shares his mnemonic to help people remember them. Repeats Tue 12/3, 4:30pm; Wed 12/4, 11:30pm; Sun 12/8, 11am; Tue 12/10, 11:30pm; Thur 12/12, 8pm

11:00 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS! — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Christiane Amanpour

leads conversations with global thought leaders on contemporary issues.

• Programming is the same on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD.

• WETA TV 26 is devoted to children’s programming 8 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays and 6-9 a.m. Sundays. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA PBS Kids channel. See page 13 for schedule information.

Program Key■ — WETA productions, co-productions or presentations. R — Aired within the month.Listings are accurate as of press time. For late-breaking program updates, visit weta.org/tv or call 703-998-2724.

WETA TV 26 & WETA HDDecember Television Listings

Monday, December 2 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDIl Volo: Ten Years features the vocal trio in concert from Matera,Italy, celebrating their music and memories and performing newarrangements of greatest hits and songs from their new album.

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Tuesday, December 3 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDIn Aging Backwards 3, former ballerina Miranda Esmonde-White uses science to develop a six-point plan anyone can use to keep a sharp mind and active body with gentle daily movement.

NEW WEEKDAY DAYTIME LINEUP: 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — R 7:30AM WASHINGTON WEEK — (new Monday repeat) R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS

WETA programming may be preempted periodicallyduring the month of December by events not scheduledas of press time for this magazine. Please visit website

weta.org/tv for up-to-date WETA Television Listings.

Sunday

WETA programming may be preempted periodically

6 DECEMBER 2019 • Stream select programs via the free PBS Video App.

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WETA

Television

5 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MY MUSIC: A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS — Join hosts Gavin

MacLeod (The Love Boat) and Marion Ross (Happy Days) for this festive special of favorite carols and popular standards. Performers include Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters and many other musical artists. Repeats Fri 12/6, 3pm; Sun 12/8, 9am, 7pm; Tue 12/10, 4pm

10:00 KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — See the Sunday, December 1, 7 p.m. listing. R

11:30 RETIRE SAFE & SECURE WITH ED SLOTT — What do recent tax code changes mean for you and your family, and how can you protect your hard-earned savings? Retirement, tax and fi nancial expert Ed Slott, CPA, explores these topics and more in this special. Repeats Mon 12/9, 4:30pm

1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

6 Friday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK — In WETA’s long-running weekly

production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/7, 6am, Mon 12/9, 7:30am

8:30 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — Discover the inner workings of the brain and how we can harness the power of its neuroplasticity to make positive changes in our lives, using breakthrough research showing the incredible benefi ts of brain training with regard to dementia. Repeats Sat 12/7, 9:30am; Sun 12/8, 6am, 5:30pm; Mon 12/9, 10pm

10:30 IL VOLO: TEN YEARS — See the Monday, December 2, 8 p.m. listing. R

12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-WHITE — R


7 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — (new Saturday repeat) R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE — R 9:30 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — R 11AM KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — R 12:30 SESAME STREET: 50 YEARS & STILL SUNNY! — R 2:00 GI JEWS: JEWISH AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR II —

Discover the story of the Jewish Americans who served in World War II, fi ghting not only for their country, but for their beliefs and brethren across the world. Interviewees include Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Henry Kissinger.

4:00 RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — R 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:00 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS! — See the Sunday, Decem-

ber 1, 9 p.m. listing. R

3 Tuesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) Repeat of previous night 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-

WHITE — You have a choice in how you age and whether you remain mobile, healthy and pain-free throughout life. Former ballerina Miranda Esmonde-White presents a practical six-point plan for keeping one’s mind sharp and body active using gentle daily movement. Repeats Fri 12/6, 5pm, midnight; Sun 12/8, 1am; Tue 12/10, 3pm; Thur 12/12, midnight; Fri 12/13, 5pm, 10pm

9:00 MY MUSIC: ARETHA FRANKLIN REMEMBERED — Cel-ebrate the legendary Queen of Soul, the fi rst woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with her greatest hits from television appearances spanning the 1960s to 2000s. Repeats Wed 12/4, 4:30pm; Sat 12/7, midnight

10:30 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — See the Friday, December 6, 8:30 p.m. listing.

12:30AM RICK STEVES’ EUROPE: REMOTE, SACRED, WILD — The travel expert celebrates the wonder of the great outdoors and religious sites in Europe and beyond. The special fi nds Steves canoeing through Dutch canals, hiking in Northern England’s pristine Lake District, exploring Italy’s Riviera, and marveling at exquisite medieval art in the sister cities of Ravenna and Char-tres. In the Muslim and Arab half of the Holy Land, Rick ventures through the Judean Desert, and visits a remote monastery and the Dead Sea.


4 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 SESAME STREET: 50 YEARS & STILL SUNNY! — Join

host Gloria Estefan for a 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic children’s series. This new documentary includes celebrity appearances, interviews with pup-peteers and video clips of Sesame Street’s most unfor-gettable moments. Repeats Thur 12/5, 3pm; Sat 12/7, 12:30pm; Sun 12/8, 12:30pm; Fri 12/13, 8:30pm

9:30 GREAT PERFORMANCES: AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER — Enjoy a star-studded concert with celebrated 16-time Grammy Award-winner David Fos-ter as he explores the music of his career with guest artists Loren Allred, Pia Toscano, Fernando Varela, Sheléa, Katharine McPhee and more. Repeats Sat 12/7, 10pm; Mon 12/9, 8pm

11:30 MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

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Tuesday, December 3 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDMy Music: Aretha Franklin Remembered celebrates the Queen of Soul, the fi rst woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with her hits from TV appearances spanning the 1960s-2000s.

Thursday, December 5 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDMy Music: A Classic Christmas, with Gavin MacLeod and Marion Ross hosting, presents a festive, all-star lineup of favorite carols and popular standards. Performers include Nat King Cole (above).

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7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) Repeat of previous night

6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — (new Saturday repeat) R

For the most up-to-date schedules and program information, visit weta.org 7


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using breakthrough research showing the incredible ben-efi ts of brain training with regard to dementia. R

11:30 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS! — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

10 Tuesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 RICK STEVES: FASCISM IN EUROPE — Travel expert

Rick Steves explores how fascism rose and fell in Europe, tracing the ideology’s history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, and the totalitar-ian societies they built. Steves visits sites throughout Europe relating to fascism and talks to eyewitnesses. R

9:30 KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — Join host Kathy Mat-tea to learn more about the making of the epic docu-mentary series, a WETA co-production devoted to the history of this American art form. Features interviews with Rosanne Cash, along with Ken Burns and other members of the fi lmmaking team. R

11:30 MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

11 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MY MUSIC: JOHN SEBASTIAN PRESENTS: FOLK

REWIND — See the Sunday, December 8, 9 p.m. listing. R 10:00 3 STEPS TO PAIN-FREE LIVING — Eliminate the root

cause of many painful conditions with this easy-to-fol-low plan from neuromuscular therapist, yoga instructor and pain specialist Lee Albert, who teaches fi ve exer-cises to correct muscle imbalance. R

11:30 KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

12 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — Psychia-

trist, neuroscientist and bestselling author Dr. Daniel Amen offers advice on how to supercharge your mem-ory and remember what matters most to you. Amen identifi es brain risk factors and shares his mnemonic to help people remember them. R

10:00 DOWNTON ABBEY RETURNS! — R 12M AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-

WHITE — R 1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY


production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists

8:00 MY MUSIC: THE BIG BAND YEARS — Enjoy a “Big Band” retrospective featuring songs by Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Benny Goodman and many more art-ists from the 1930s and 1940s. Peter Marshall hosts.

10:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH DAVID FOSTER — See the Wednesday, December 4, 9:30 p.m. R

12M MY MUSIC: ARETHA FRANKLIN REMEMBERED — R

8 Sunday 6AM THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — R 7:30 3 STEPS TO PAIN-FREE LIVING — Eliminate the root

cause of many painful conditions with this easy-to-follow plan from neuromuscular therapist, yoga instructor and pain specialist Lee Albert, who teaches fi ve exercises to correct muscle imbalance. Repeats Wed 12/11, 10pm

9AM MY MUSIC: A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS — R 11AM MEMORY RESCUE WITH DANIEL AMEN, MD — R 12:30 SESAME STREET: 50 YEARS & STILL SUNNY! — R 2:00 GROWING BOLDER’S LAUNCHPAD TO WHAT’S NEXT — R 3:30 KEN BURNS: COUNTRY MUSIC — R 5:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 5:30 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — R 7:00 MY MUSIC: A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS — R 9:00 MY MUSIC: JOHN SEBASTIAN PRESENTS: FOLK

REWIND — A music special focuses on the folk singers and songwriters of the classic 1950s and 1960s folk era. Presented by John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful, the program features a trove of historical footage and concert performances by artists such as Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte, Trini Lopez, Rod McKuen, Bobby Darin, The Kingston Trio and others. Repeats Wed 12/11, 8pm; Thur 12/12, 3pm; Fri 12/13, 11pm

11:00 HIP HOP NUTCRACKER — A reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s classic score set in contemporary New York City features hip hop choreography. Dancers, a DJ, an electric violin-ist and emcee Kurtis Blow bring the Nutcracker story to life, celebrating love, community and the magic of the holiday season. Repeats Fri 12/13, 3pm

1AM AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-WHITE — R

9 Monday 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — R 7:30AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH

DAVID FOSTER — Enjoy a star-studded concert with celebrated 16-time Grammy Award-winner David Fos-ter as he performs the music of his career with guest artists Loren Allred, Pia Toscano, Fernando Varela, Sheléa, Katharine McPhee and more. R

10:00 THE BRAIN FITNESS PROGRAM — Discover the inner workings of the brain and how we can harness the power of its neuroplasticity to make positive changes in our lives,

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Tuesday, December 10 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDRick Steves: Fascism in Europe features the travel expert tracingthe ideology’s history on the Continent to explore the hard lessonsof the 20th century and to recognize fascism in this century.

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Monday, December 9 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDGreat Performances: An Intimate Evening with David Foster presents a star-studded concert with the celebrated 16-time Grammy Award-winner as he explores the music of his career with guest artists.

6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) (Mon-Fri)

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WETA

Television

17 Tuesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 THE ORNAMENT OF THE WORLD — Filmed in Cordoba,

Granada, Seville and Toledo, this is the story of a remarkable 800-year period when Muslims, Christians and Jews in medieval Spain forged a common cultural identity that often transcended their religious differ-ences. Repeats Fri 12/20, 3pm

10:00 FRONTLINE: WEINSTEIN — Frontline reprises an investigation into how Hollywood mogul Harvey Wein-stein allegedly sexually harassed and abused dozens of women over four decades. With allegations going back to Weinstein’s early years, the fi lm examines the elaborate ways he and those around him tried to silence his accusers.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats tomorrow, 5pm

18 Wednesday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 NATURE: SNOWBOUND: ANIMALS OF WINTER — Travel

across the snow globe with wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan to meet animal survivors of winter, from the penguins of Antarctica to the Arctic fox and the bison of Yellowstone. Snow looks magical, but it’s a harsh real-ity to these animals. Repeats Thur 12/19, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: INSIDE ANIMALS MINDS: WHO’S THE SMART-EST? — What makes an animal smart? Many scientists believe the secret lies in relationships. Could the skills required to keep track of friend and foe make animals smarter? To fi nd out, go inside the social lives of the smartest animals on the planet. Repeats Thur 12/19, 4pm

10:00 AURORA: FIRE IN THE SKY — A program examines legends about the origins and meaning of the aurora, the colorful glow that often brightens the night sky in Earth’s polar regions, investigating the myths of Fin-land’s Saami, Alaska’s Inuit, Canada’s Native Americans and New Zealand’s Maori. Repeats Sun 12/22, 2pm


19 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 PBS NEWSHOUR & POLITICO DEMOCRATIC DEBATE —

WETA newscast PBS NewsHour and Politico co-host a Democratic primary debate in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, spotlighting presidential candi-dates’ positions on current issues. See page 1.

10:00 WASHINGTON IN THE 2000S — A WETA TV 26 produc-tion, the most recent installment of the WETA “decades” series, revisits the major events, people and develop-ments of the new millennium in the national capital

who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/14, 6am; Mon 12/16, 7:30am

8:30 SESAME STREET: 50 YEARS & STILL SUNNY! — Join host Gloria Estefan for a 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic children’s series. This new documentary includes celebrity appearances, interviews with puppe-teers and video clips of Sesame Street’s most unforget-table moments. R

10:00 AGING BACKWARDS 3 WITH MIRANDA ESMONDE-WHITE — R

11:00 MY MUSIC: JOHN SEBASTIAN PRESENTS: FOLK REWIND — R

1AM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

14 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6PM-6AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

15 Sunday 6AM-5:30PM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES 5:30 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6PM-5AM WETA VIEWER FAVORITES

16 Monday 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — R 7:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: NEW ORLEANS, LA — Hour 3.

Featured are a Jamie Wyeth “Andy Warhol” portrait, a Chinese wine vessel, ca. 1795 and a Smith & Son pocket watch. Repeats Tue 12/17, 3pm

9:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-ING KRISTIN CHENOWETH — The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square are joined by Kristin Chenoweth, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer, for a traditional Christmas performance featuring favorite holiday music, dancing and storytell-ing. Repeats Wed 12/18, 3pm; Fri 12/20, 10pm; Sat 12/21, 2am; Tue 12/24, 9pm; Wed 12/25, 5pm

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: ATTLA — Discover the inspiring true story of Alaska Native dogsled champion George Attla, who, with one good leg and fi erce determination, rose to international fame. His racing prowess and ability to identify and train exceptional dogs made him a legend.


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Thursday, December 19 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDPBS NewsHour & Politico Democratic Debate features a presidential primary debate live from Loyola Marymount University in L.A., with moderators to be announced. Above: PBS NewsHour’s Judy Woodruff.

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Monday, December 16 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDChristmas with the Tabernacle Choir Featuring Kristin Chenoweth features the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Squarejoined by the award-winning actress and singer for a traditionalChristmas performance with holiday music, dancing and storytelling.

PBS NEWSHOUR & POLITICODEMOCRATIC DEBATEA WETA CO-PRODUCTION


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6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, SERIES 4 — Part 10 of 10. 8:00 LONDON: 2000 YEARS OF HISTORY — Follow the story of

the evolution of one of the largest and most famous cit-ies in the world. Presenters Dan Jones (Secrets of Great British Castles), Dr. Suzannah Lipscomb (Elizabeth I), and Rob Bell (Great British Royal Ships) explore the history of England’s capital. Episode 4 of 4.

9:00 FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES — Lauren Lee Smith and Chantel Riley star as private detectives in 1920s Toronto. Episode 3 of 11. Summer in the City. When a body is found in a young man’s trunk, the case brings the ladies to the city’s upper crust.

10:00 THE WETA MOVIE: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT — In Robert Redford’s 1992 drama, two Montana boys become different men (Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt), one reserved, one rebellious, under the infl uence of fl y-fi shing and their minister father (Tom Skerritt). (2:03) Repeats Sun 12/22, 11:30am

12:03AM A CHEF’S LIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL — Join Vivian Howard as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Chanukah traditions of her husband Ben. From humble Hoppin’ John to elegant red velvet cake, sample a charming and delicious holi-day celebration. Repeats Wed 12/25, 8am

1AM LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: THE RETURN OF THE ARTISANS — R

2AM CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-ING KRISTIN CHENOWETH — R

22 Sunday 6AM-9AM WETA KIDS — Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood/Dinosaur

Train/Sesame Street/Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood/Pinka-licious & Peterrifi c/Molly of Denali

9AM WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE 9:30 TO THE CONTRARY WITH BONNIE ERBE 10AM THIS IS AMERICA AND THE WORLD WITH DENNIS

WHOLEY 10:30 THE OPEN MIND 11AM FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT —

(2:03) R 1:33 BBC ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 2:00 AURORA: FIRE IN THE SKY — R 3:00 IN THEIR OWN WORDS: QUEEN ELIZABETH II — Enjoy

profi les of notable fi gures, using their most memorable quotes to frame their stories. Episode 1 of 3. Follow Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkable life, from her youth to her uncle’s abdication, her father’s coronation as King George VI, her experience during World War II, her sud-den ascension to the throne and her eventful reign of more than 60 years.

4:00 IN THEIR OWN WORDS: MUHAMMAD ALI — Episode 2 of 3. Follow Muhammad Ali’s path from a gym in Louisville to boxing successes, conversion to Islam, opposition to the Draft, exile from the ring, comeback fi ghts, Parkinson’s disease and his inspirational re-emergence at the Atlanta Olympics.

5:00 IN THEIR OWN WORDS: JIM HENSON — Episode 3 of 3. Follow Jim Henson’s career, from his early television work with the Muppets in the 1950s to his commercial

area. From the 9/11 terrorist attack and the D.C. sniper to the return of Major League Baseball and a baby panda’s birth, the region experienced great lows and highs. Washington also experienced a wave of invest-ment and growth, and became a foodie scene. Weaving together stories of local politics, sports and culture, the fi lm spotlights a city reshaped by the times. Donnie Simpson narrates.



production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/21, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 12/23, 7:30am

8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER-TO-PEER CONVERSATIONS, SERIES 2 — The renowned Washing-ton, D.C.-based fi nancier and philanthropist explores successful leadership through interviews with infl uential people in prominent fi elds of endeavor. Episode 13. Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin CEO. Repeats Sun 12/22, 6:30pm

9:00 LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: THE RETURN OF THE ARTISANS — Join Emmy and James Beard Award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich as she travels America to meet people mastering the art of meat curing, cooper-ing, jam-making, cider-making and more and to fi nd out what inspires and motivates them. Repeats Sat 12/21, 1am; Sun 12/22, 7pm; Wed 12/25, 9am

10:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-ING KRISTIN CHENOWETH — R

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

21 Saturday 6AM WASHINGTON WEEK — R 6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — R 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM JOANNE WEIR GETS FRESH 8:30 RICK STEVES’ EUROPE 9AM JOSEPH ROSENDO’S TRAVELSCOPE 9:30 BARE FEET IN NYC WITH MICKELA MALLOZZI 10AM THE THIS OLD HOUSE HOUR 11AM A CHEF’S LIFE 11:30 JACQUES PÉPIN: HEART & SOUL 12N YAN CAN COOK: SPICE KINGDOM 12:30 CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION 1:00 NICK STELLINO: STORYTELLER 1:30 LIDIA’S KITCHEN 2:00 IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS 2:30 SARA’S WEEKNIGHT MEALS 3:00 MARTHA STEWART’S COOKING SCHOOL 3:30 MARTHA BAKES 4:00 COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN 4:30 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED 5:00 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE 5:30 SAMANTHA BROWN’S PLACES TO LOVE 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND

Saturdays, December 21 & 28 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDFrankie Drake Mysteries stars Lauren Lee Smith and Chantel Riley (right, portraying Trudy Clarke) as detectives in 1920s Toronto.

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Sunday, December 22 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDDocudrama Handel’s Messiah, a fi lm by Lee Groberg, chronicles thelife of composer George Frideric Handel, exploring his path tosuccess and the creation of his magnum opus, the oratorio Messiah.

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HANDEL'S MESSIAHA WETA PRESENTATION



WETA

Television

ITV

Thursday, December 26 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDWETA presents a double feature of mystery series Inspector Morse,starring John Thaw in his iconic role as the Oxford detective.The cases probe the deaths of a professor and a cricket player.

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Wednesday, December 25 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDCall the Midwife Holiday Special 2019 follows Mother Mildred andthe Nonnatus House midwives as they respond to a nursing shortage, visiting Scotland's Outer Hebrides and aiding the locals.

work and network appearances, his breakthrough with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, his fantasy fi lms and his sudden death in 1990.

6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER-TO-PEER

CONVERSATIONS — Episode 13. Marillyn Hewson, Lock-heed Martin CEO. R

7:00 LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: THE RETURN OF THE ARTISANS — R

8:00 HANDEL’S MESSIAH — A docudrama by fi lmmaker Lee Groberg (Joseph Smith: American Prophet; First Freedom: The Fight for Religious Liberty), and narrated by Jane Seymour, tells the story of prodigious musical genius George Frideric Handel; how he was discovered in Halle, Germany at age nine, his meteoric rise to celebrity com-poser at age 18, and the turning point that came in his career with the debut of his great oratorio, Messiah, in Dublin, Ireland in 1742. Rpts Mon 12/23, 3pm

9:30 THE CHILD IN TIME ON MASTERPIECE — A moment of distraction triggers a crisis in the lives of a happy, successful British couple in Ian McEwan’s haunting tale of a lost child and redeemed love, starring Bene-dict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire).

11:00 AMERICA REFRAMED: SAVING BRINTON — History teacher Mike Zahs uncovers a trove of 19th-century showreels of one of America’s fi rst motion picture impresarios, William Franklin Brinton. Zahs sets out to restore these showreels and present them to today’s audiences. In this portrait of an unlikely Mid-western folk hero, the documentary offers a medita-tion on the legacy of illusionist Frank Brinton, and the magic of living history.

23 Monday 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — R 7:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: MANSION MASTERPIECES —

History meets fantasy with treasures fi t for a period costume drama, plus a $500,000-$700,000 fi nd.

9:00 CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT 2019 — The special features Belmont University students in performance along with Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans and the Nashville Children’s Choir. Taped in Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the show includes holiday songs and festive tunes. Repeats Wed 12/25, 4pm

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: SUPERGIRL — Meet Naomi, a seemingly ordinary Orthodox Jewish preteen from New Jersey whose extraordinary talent — breaking world powerlifting records — turns her into an international phenomenon in this unique coming-of-age story.

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24 Tuesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM-6PM DICKENSIAN — TV 26 features a ten-part BBC period

drama series, airing in back-to-back episodes, that presents a reinvention of Charles Dickens’ timeless nov-els — featuring romance, scandal and intrigue — with the author’s most iconic characters living side by side in the same neighborhood in Victorian London as Inspector Bucket investigates the murder of Ebenezer Scrooge’s partner Jacob Marley. The stellar cast includes Stephen Rea, Pauline Collins, Caroline Quentin, Peter Firth and Anton Lesser. Creator and co-writer of the series is Tony Jordan (Life on Mars and Hustle).

6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-

ING SUTTON FOSTER AND HUGH BONNEVILLE — Join Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville, guest musical artist and narrator for a 2018 Christmas celebration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

9:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-ING KRISTIN CHENOWETH — This year, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square are joined by Kristin Chenoweth, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer, for the annual Christmas perfor-mance featuring favorite holiday music, dancing and storytelling. R

10:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-ING ROLANDO VILLAZÓN — The 2017 season’s cross-cultural spectacular features the world’s leading tenor, Rolando Villazón, performing seasonal favorites with the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

25 Wednesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — R 8AM A CHEF’S LIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL — R 9AM LIDIA CELEBRATES AMERICA: THE RETURN OF THE

ARTISANS — R 10AM CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF: RIS’N WITH HEALING IN HIS

WINGS 11AM A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH FESTIVAL

SOCIETY 12N WHEATON COLLEGE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL: MESSIAH,

PRINCE OF PEACE 1:00 CHRISTMAS AT CONCORDIA: GATHER US IN, O CHILD

OF PEACE 2:00 A ST. THOMAS CHRISTMAS: COMFORT & JOY 3:00 HOLIDAY HANDBELLS: THE RALEIGH RINGERS 4:00 CHRISTMAS AT BELMONT 2019 — R 5:00 CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR FEATUR-

ING KRISTIN CHENOWETH — R 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS (weekdays)


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Sunday, December 29, 4-6 p.m. & 7-11 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDWETA reprises Victoria, Series 3 on Masterpiece, with Jenna Colemanportraying Britain’s famed queen. The Series 3 storyline is set in 1848, when revolution threatened chaos throughout Europe.

6:30 NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT (weekdays) 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 LUCY WORSLEY’S 12 DAYS OF TUDOR CHRISTMAS —

Join English historian Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extrav-aganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy in contemporary Christmas — from carols to turkey, gift-giving to mistletoe and mulled wine — has surprising Tudor origins, rooted in devotion and charity.

9:00 CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2019 — In the midwifery drama’s annual holiday special this year, Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team travel to the Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage. Navigating the new terrain, they strive to keep up with the needs of the locals. Repeats Thur 12/26, 3:30pm

10:30 VICIOUS SPECIAL — A special episode of the drama charts a year in the life of Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi) as they enjoy their inheritance and a birthday. Violet (Frances de la Tour) moves on from her divorce and Ash (Iwan Rheon) arrives with news.


26 Thursday 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 INSPECTOR MORSE: THE LAST ENEMY — Morse (John

Thaw) goes to Oxford University to unravel the mystery of a missing college professor and a mutilated corpse floating in a nearby canal. Repeats Fri 12/27, 3pm

9:30 INSPECTOR MORSE: DECEIVED BY FLIGHT — Morse (John Thaw) and Sgt. Lewis (Kevin Whately) investigate the apparent suicide of an old acquaintance of Morse, who happens to be a member of the Clarets XI cricket team. Lewis is sent in to work undercover, but before the case is solved, a second tragedy unfolds and Lewis himself is attacked. Repeats Mon 12/30, 3pm



production, join moderator Robert Costa for a robust roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of the major news stories emanating from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek. Repeats Sat 12/28, 6am, 6:30pm; Mon 12/30, 7:30am

8:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER-TO-PEER CON-VERSATIONS, SERIES 2 — Ep. 14. Condoleezza Rice, for-mer U.S. Secretary of State. Repeats Sun 12/29, 6:30pm

9:00 CRAFT IN AMERICA: QUILTS — Learn about contempo-rary quilters as we celebrate the role quilts have played in our country’s story. Featured are Susan Hudson, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Michael A. Cummings, Judith Content, the International Quilt Museum and special guest Ken Burns. Repeats Sat 12/28, midnight; Sun 12/29, 2pm; Tue 12/31, 3pm

10:00 CRAFT IN AMERICA: IDENTITY — Artists explore issues of gender, race, culture and place, offering true expres-sions of their experiences in this world. Featured are potter Diego Romero, photographer Cara Romero,

furniture maker Wendy Maruyama and sculptor Cris-tina Córdova. Repeats Sat 12/28, 1am; Sun 12/29, 3pm

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Repeats Monday, 5pm

28 Saturday 6AM-6PM See the Saturday, December 21 listings. 6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND 6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 7:00 GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW, SERIES 5 — Part 1 of 10. 8:00 CAPITAL — Part 1 of 3. Set on a street in South London,

a drama spotlights a neighborhood transformed by soaring property prices and gentrification. The fictional residents come from different social classes and experience the changes in varying ways as they receive anonymous postcards saying “We want what you have,” but they all interconnect. The cast includes Toby Jones, Gemma Jones and Rachael Stirling.

9:00 FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES — Lauren Lee Smith and Chantel Riley star as private detectives in 1920s Toronto. Episode 4 of 11. Healing Hands. Protecting a faith-healer unexpectedly takes the ladies into Toron-to’s fledgling jazz scene.

10:00 THE WETA MOVIE: LOVE STORY — In Arthur Hiller’s 1970 romance-drama, an old-money Harvard man (Ryan O’Neal) woos and weds a no-money music student (Ali MacGraw) from the wrong side of the tracks, and tragedy strikes. Ray Milland co-stars. (2:00) Repeats Sun 12/29, 11:30am

12M CRAFT IN AMERICA: QUILTS — R 1AM CRAFT IN AMERICA: IDENTITY — R (60 min.)

29 Sunday 6AM-11:30AM See the Sunday, December 22 listings. 11:30 THE WETA MOVIE: LOVE STORY — (2:00) R 1:30 BBC ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 2:00 CRAFT IN AMERICA: QUILTS — R 3:00 CRAFT IN AMERICA: IDENTITY — R 4PM-6PM VICTORIA, SERIES 3 ON MASTERPIECE — WETA

reprises Series 3 of the drama. As the storyline opens, it is 1848, and revolution is breaking out across Europe. In Britain, one woman stands between order and chaos: Queen Victoria. Jenna Coleman stars as the young monarch, and Tom Hughes portrays Prince Albert. Parts 1-2 of 8 (Series resumes at 7pm): Part 1. Revolution sweeps across Europe and pressure builds on Victoria with new arrivals at the Palace. Part 2. Vic-toria must decide whether to fight the Chartists with force or allow them to present their petition.

6:00 PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND — Repeats Monday, 7am 6:30 THE DAVID RUBENSTEIN SHOW: PEER-TO-PEER CON-

VERSATIONS, SERIES 2 — Episode 14. Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State. R

7PM-11PM VICTORIA, SERIES 3 ON MASTERPIECE — Parts 3-6 of 8: Part 3. At Osborne House, Albert relishes the oppor-tunity to spend time with the family away from London, but Victoria is desperate to get back to the Palace and the business of politics. Part 4. When Albert leaves the Palace for Cambridge, Victoria faces the impact of a cholera epidemic on the streets of London. Part 5. After an assassination attempt, the Royal household visits Ire-land. Intrigue, conflict and romance all blossom during

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Saturday, December 28 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDCapital, a three-part drama starring Toby Jones (above) among anensemble cast, follows the gentrification of a London neighborhoodand its impact on one street’s residents, who come from differentsocial classes and each experience the changes in varying ways.



a stay at the Palmerston estate. Part 6. A Georgian ball at the Palace could not come at a worse time as private pictures of the royal family are made public.

11:00 AUSTIN CITY LIMITS: AUSTIN CITY LIMITS 6TH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME HONORS — Celebrate the 2019 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame with host Robert Earl Keen as Shawn Colvin, Buddy Guy and Lyle Lovett are inducted. Guest performers include Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmie Vaughan, Sarah Jarosz and more.

30 Monday 6AM NHK NEWSLINE (Mon-Fri) 6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS (Mon-Fri) 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND— R 7:30 WASHINGTON WEEK — R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 BBC NEWS AMERICA 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: ST. LOUIS, MO — Hour 1. Finds

include a 1901 “Longest Bearded Man” banner, a Chaucer book from 1602 and a15th-century Bodhisattva bronze.

9:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: ST. LOUIS, MO — Hour 2. Fea-tured are a Rookwood Shirayamadani vase, an Elijah Pierce preaching stick and an Ozark Airlines poster.

10:00 POV: MIDNIGHT TRAVELER — When the Taliban puts a bounty on Afghan director Hassan Fazili’s head, he is forced to fl ee with his wife and two young daughters. Fazili shows fi rsthand the dangers facing refugees seeking asylum and the love shared between a family on the run.


31 Tuesday 7AM PBS NEWSHOUR — (Tue-Sat) R 8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING (weekdays) 3PM-6PM AFTERNOON PROGRAMMING & REPEATS 6PM BBC WORLD NEWS 6:30 BBC NEWS AMERICA 7:00 PBS NEWSHOUR — Repeats tomorrow, 7am 8:00 LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: N.Y. PHILHARMONIC:

CELEBRATING SONDHEIM — Ring in the New Year with the New York Philharmonic performing Stephen Sond-heim’s most beloved works. The orchestra and guest vocalist Katrina Lenk, a Tony Award winner, perform suites from “Sunday in the Park,” “Into the Woods,”

“Sweeney Todd,” and more. Repeats tonight 9:30 LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER: N.Y. PHILHARMONIC:

CELEBRATING SONDHEIM — R 11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

WETA Magazine is published monthly by the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Associationfor its members. Three dollars of each member’s dues are designated for its subscription. WETA occasionally exchanges member names with other organizations. If you wish that your name not be exchanged, please call Audience Services at 703-998-2724. ©2019 by Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA 22210 and additional offi ces. Send address changes to WETA, 3939 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia 22206. Volume 32, Number 12. ISSN No. 1041-2700.

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Publisher Mary StewartEditor Jeff GieseDesign MANIFEST LLC

Editorial and Advertising Offi ces3939 Campbell Ave.Arlington, VA 22206

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A new one-hour special, Nature Cat: A Nature Carol, airs on theWETA Kids channel this month; for airtimes, visit weta.org/kids.

WETA PBS KIDS AIRINGS IN BLACK; WETA TV 26 IN BLUE• Cyberchase, 6am, 6:30am (5:30am)• Arthur, 7am • Odd Squad, 7:30am• Ready Jet Go!, 8am • Peg + Cat, 8:30am • Clifford the Big Red Dog, 9am• Pinkalicious & Peterrifi c, 9:30am • Sesame Street, 10am • Super WHY!, 10:30am (5am)• WordWorld, 11am• Splash and Bubbles, 11:30am (1:30pm)• Sid the Science Kid, 12n• Caillou, 12:30pm• Peep and the Big Wide World, 1pm• Martha Speaks, 1:30pm• Sesame Street, 2pm (11am, 1pm)• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 2:30pm, 3pm (10am, 10:30am)• Pinkalicious & Peterrifi c, 3:30pm (11:30am, 2pm)• The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!, 4pm (12:30pm)• Dinosaur Train, 4:30pm (noon)• Let’s Go Luna!, 5pm (9:30am, 2:30pm)• Nature Cat, 5:30pm • Wild Kratts, 6pm, 6:30pm (8am)• Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, 7pm (9am)• Molly of Denali, 7:30pm (8:30am)• Odd Squad, 8pm• Arthur, 8:30pm• Ready Jet Go!, 9pm• WordGirl, 9:30pm• Sesame Street, 10pm• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, 10:30pm, 11pm• Pinkalicious & Peterrifi c, 11:30pm

"Family Night" Kids programming airs Fridays, 7-10pm

WETA PBS KIDS ON WEEKDAYS

The WETA PBS Kids channel offers a safe haven for young viewers, presenting educational programming 24 hours each day, seven days a week.

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Visit weta.org/kids for full listings of

children’s programs on WETA PBS Kids

& WETA TV 26.


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Friday, December 27 at 9 & 10 p.m. on WETA TV 26/HDCraft in America explores the vitality, history and signifi cance ofthe craft movement in the U.S., featuring episodes spotlightingquilters (9 p.m.) and artists exploring issues of gender, race andculture (10 p.m.), including sculptor Cristina Córdova, above.

As of December 1, children'sprogramming airs 8 a.m.-3 p.m.,

weekdays on WETA TV 26.



British Television at Its BestThe WETA UK channel is devoted to the best in British television programming, presenting beloved classics and contemporary series around the clock, seven days a week. WETA UK offers a full schedule of great entertainment programming — featuring drama, mystery, comedy and documentary series — all delivered with an accent from the Isles. Visit wetauk.org for a complete schedule and program descriptions.

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VISIT WETAUK.ORG FOR A PRINTABLE FULL-DAY SCHEDULE.

P.M. PROGRAMMINGON WETA UK

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

12pm Love, Lies & Records

Are You Being Served?


Are You Being Served? (ex. 12/25)



Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 5

12:30pmAs Time Goes By As Time Goes By As Time Goes By

(except 12/25)As Time Goes By As Time Goes By

1pm Shakespeare & Hathaway, Series 1

New Tricks New Tricks New Tricks(except 12/25)

New Tricks New Tricks Love, Lies and Records

1:30pm

2pm Midsomer Murders, Series 14 (Series 15 starts 12/29)

MI-5 MI-5 MI-5 (except 12/25)

MI-5 MI-5 Father Brown, Series 6 & 7)

2:30pm

3pm Shetland, Series 4 (Series 5 starts 12/15)

Waking the Dead Waking the Dead Waking the Dead(except 12/25)

Waking the Dead Waking the Dead • Wonderful World of Gordon Watson

• Doc Martin, Series 8 (12/28)3:30pm

4pm Frankie DrakeMysteries

• Joanna Lumley’s India

• Great Indian Railway Journeys (starts 12/16)

• Miss Marple, 4pm (10am-7pm on 12/24)

• Wonderful World of Gordon Watson, 5:30pm (except 12/24); 4-5:30pm on 12/31

• Pie in the Sky, Series 2, 6pm (except 12/24)

Shetland, Series 4 & 5 (except 12/25)

Midsomer Murders, Series 14 & 15

Frankie Drake Mysteries

Agatha Raisin

4:30pm

5pm• Hetty Wainthropp

Investigates, Series 4

• London: 2000 Years of History (starts 12/15)

• Super Skyscrapers• Magical Land of Oz

(starts 12/9)• Meet the Lords

(12/30)

Father Brown, Series 6 & 7 (except 12/25)

Agatha Raisin EastEnders Pie in the Sky, Series 2

5:30pm

6pm• Madagascar (12/1)• Joanna Lumley’s India• Great Indian Railway

Journeys (starts 12/22)

Shakespeare & Hathaway, Series 1

Poldark, Series 4 on Masterpiece (except 12/25)

Doc Martin, Series 8

• Super Skyscrapers

• Magic Land of Oz (starts 12/13)

Death in Paradise, Series 7

6:30pm

7pm • Super Skyscrapers

• Magical Land of Oz (starts 12/15)






Shetland, Series 4 (Series 5 starts 12/14)

7:30pmAs Time Goes By As Time Goes By As Time Goes By As Time Goes By As Time Goes By

8pm • Joanna Lumley’s India

• Great Indian Rail-way Journeys (starts 12/15)

Pie in the Sky, Series 2

Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 5 (two-hour fi lm on 12/31)

Midsomer Murders, Series 14 (Series 15 starts 12/25)

Father Brown, Series 6 (Series 7 starts 12/12)

• Press on Masterpiece

• Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors (12/27)

Shakespeare & Hathaway, Series 1

8:30pm

9pm • Super Skyscrapers• Magical Land of Oz

(starts 12/8)• Meet the Lords

(starts 12/29)

Shetland, Series 4 (Series 5 starts 12/9)

Love, Lies and Records (except 12/31)

Doc Martin, Series 8

• Jonathan Creek, Series 5

• Hinterland, Series 2 (starts 12/12)

Poldark, Series 4 on Masterpiece

Vera, Series 8

9:30pm

10pm Atlantis, Series 1 Silent Witness, Series 19

Agatha Raisin Death in Paradise, Series 7

• Murder in Suburbia, Series 2

• DCI Banks, Series 1 (90 min)(starts 12/19)

Frankie Drake Mysteries

10:30pm• Hetty Wainthropp

Investigates, Series 4• London: 2000 Years

of History (starts 12/14)11pm Shakespeare

& Hathaway, Series 1

BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News BBC World News(11:30 on 12/19, 12/26)

BBC World News

11:30pmFather Brown, Series 6 & 7

Pie in the Sky, Series 2

Doctor Blake Mysteries, Series 5

Midsomer Murders, Series 14 & 15

Father Brown, Series 6 & 7

Press on Masterpiece

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

DECEMBERWed., December 25:

Call the Midwife Holiday Specials

2015-2019; 12:30pm-8pm (90 min. each)


Call the Midwife Holiday SpecialsWednesday, December 25, 12:30-8 p.m. on WETA UK

The BBC period drama Call the Midwife, spotlighting a group of nurse-midwives serving the impoverished Poplar neighborhood of London’s East End, produces an annual holiday special and this year WETA UK presents fi ve of the specials back to back on Christmas Day. Starting at 12:30 p.m. (after an 11:30 a.m. Upstart Crow holiday program), the fi ve 90-minute specials (2015-2019) unfold. The 2015 program follows an unexpected surprise for a grieving mother; the 2016 special visits South Africa; the 2017 show is set during an especially cold winter; the 2018 special features four orphans who bring joy and chaos; and 2019’s special brings the midwives to the Outer Hebrides off the coast of Scotland.

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Vera, Series 8Saturdays at 9 p.m. starting December 7 on WETA UK

Featuring BAFTA- and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn, the crime drama Vera follows the investigations of the unorthodox but brilliant police sleuth DCI Vera Stanhope. In this Vera series (2018), based on the bestselling Inspector Stanhope novels by 2017 CWA Diamond Dagger recipient Ann Cleeves, the detective and her team are drawn into four compelling cases set around Newcastle: the body of a police offi cer discovered in an abattoir incinerator, a mysterious car crash, a suburban back-garden murder, and the circumstances that led to the death of a teenage boy.

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Also this month: DCI Banks, Series 1 airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. starting Dec. 19; Doctor Blake Mysteries Movie: Family Portrait airs Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.; and Miss Marple (Julia McKenzie) episodes air Tuesday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Magical Land of OzSundays, December 8, 15 & 22 at 9 p.m. on WETA UK

A dazzling three-part nature series spotlights fauna of Australia as cameras capture diverse animals and their behavior in the continent’s highest snowy peaks, frigid southern seas and suburban backyards. Episode 1, Land, travels from wintery mountains to tropical Queensland, discovering how animals have learned to thrive across the continent’s harsh and beautiful extremes. Episode 2, Ocean, visits South Australia to spotlight coastal denizens, including sea lions, giant cuttlefi sh, humpback whales, Australian spider crabs, stingrays, petrels and more. Episode 3, Human, explores humankind’s impact on the continent’s wildlife, documenting species thriving or struggling.

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Shetland, Series 5Mondays at 9 p.m. starting December 9 on WETA UK

Douglas Henshall (left) returns in his BAFTA-winning role as Shetland Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez in the acclaimed crime drama based on the novels of Ann Cleeves and set in the Scottish archipelago. In Series 5, Perez and his team — including DS Alison “Tosh” Macintosh (Alison O’Donnell) and DC Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson) — must investigate discoveries of body parts washing ashore on a Shetland beach, their connection to a modern slave-traffi cking ring, related crimes and tragedies in the local community, and the disappearance of an identifi ed Nigerian victim’s sister that sparks a missing-persons search. The narrative arc of the story unfolds through the series’ six episodes.

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Great Indian Railway JourneysSundays, December 15, 22 & 29 at 8 p.m. on WETA UK

In a four-part series, British journalist, broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo (Great American Railroad Journeys) sets off to visit the majestic mountains and ornate palaces of India, with guidebook “Bradshaw’s 1913 Handbook of Indian, Foreign and Colonial Travel” in hand. Episode 1 travels from Amritsar to Shimla; Episode 2 trains from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur to Delhi, including the Jaipur-Agra-Delhi triangle; Episode 3 goes from Mysuru (Mysore) to Chennai (formerly Madras); and Episode 4 journeys from Lucknow to Kolkata.

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WETA UK Highlights


Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM HagerstownVivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org Stream Audio at classicalweta.org

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Freer-Sackler & Phillips Concertso n Front Row Washington

Mondays at 9 p.m.By John Banther, On-Air Host and Producer

This month on Front Row Washington, Classical WETA 90.9 FM’s Monday evening program, we enjoy performances from the Freer|Sackler and the Phillips Collection. The Shanghai Quartet is featured on December 2 with their concert from the Freer|Sackler earlier this year. They perform quartets by Beethoven, Dvorák and Tan Dun. The Quartet No. 1, Feng-Ya-Song (Ballad-Hymn-Ode) by Tan Dun was composed in 1982 and earned him international acclaim in 1983 when it won second prize at the Weber Chamber Music Composition Competition. His music was subsequently banned in China for 6 months. The quartet is inspired by Shi Jing, a collection of songs likely written by Confucius in 484 BC. The sound of the original songs is lost to history, but within three sections the quartet deals with aspects of ordinary people’s lives, politics, and songs of ritual.

On December 9, we listen to a Phillips Collection concert of an ensemble The Washington Post calls “versatile, intelligent, and deeply musical.” The Boreal Trio, made up of graduates from Juilliard and the New England

Conservatory of Music, performs the Kegelstatt Trio by Mozart, Märchenerzählungen (Fairytales) composed in 3 days by Robert Schumann, and 20th-century music by Max Bruch and Jean Françaix.

The December 16 program is a combination of two concerts from the Phillips Collection, starting with pianist Alexander Schimpf, who made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2011. He plays Eight Piano Pieces, Op. 76 by Brahms and the Piano Sonata No. 7, Op. 64 “White Mass” by Alexander Scriabin. Then, performing piano music by Liszt, it’s Leon McCawley, who took fi rst prize at the 1993 International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna.

We listen to pianist Somang Jeagal on December 23, who won Grand Prize at the 61st Washington International Competition for Piano. In this concert from the Phillips

Collection he performs the Piano Sonata No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Scherzos Nos. 1-4 by Frédéric Chopin. We fi nish the year on December 30 with the award-winning Smetana Trio’s performance at the Phillips Collection.

You might be familiar with the later works of composers Alexander von Zemlinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich. The Trio opens the concert with early works by von Zemlinsky and then performs compositions by teenaged Dmitri Shostakovich. The fi nal piece on the program is Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1.

Tune in Monday nights at 9 p.m. for world-class local concert performances on Front Row Washington.

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Jeannette Sorrell

NSO Showcase Presents Handel’s Messiah

Wednesday, December 4 at 9 p.m.on Classical WETA 90.9 FMBy Nicole Lacroix, Afternoon On-Air Host

The National Symphony Orchestra has a December tradition: each year, a new conductor leads the ensemble in Handel’s Messiah, offering a personal interpretation of the beloved masterpiece. A 2017 performance, recorded at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, featured the NSO debut of Baroque specialist Jeannette Sorrell. Ms. Sorrell is renowned as the founder and music director of Apollo’s Fire, one of the country’s premier early-music ensembles. The four soloists, Sophie Daneman, Ann McMahon Quintero, Karim Sulayman and Christian Immler, were also making their NSO debuts, while the University of Maryland Concert Choir (prepared by Edward MacLary) was singing its third consecutive Messiah appearance with the NSO.

Classical WETA kicks off the holiday season with Handel’s Messiah. Be sure to join us Wednesday, December 4 at 9 p.m. for what The Washington Post called a “cheerful and colorful” performance of this treasured musical tradition.

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Shanghai Quartet

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Pianist Alexander Schimpf


Music for the Season on Choral Showcase

Sundays at 9 p.m.By Bill Bukowski, Midday On-Air Host

We present Christmas cantatas, and carols old and new, this month on Classical WETA’s Sunday evening program, Choral Showcase. On December 1, a new recording of Hector Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ (The Childhood of Christ) features the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis (who together were in town this fall for a concert at the Kennedy Center). Featuring “The Shepherd’s Farewell,” Berlioz’s dramatic oratorio recounts the Holy Family’s fl ight into Egypt. It takes some liberties with scripture, but the tale of the infant Jesus and his family fl eeing persecution and seeking refuge in a foreign land remains timeless.

Music for Advent is on the bill on December 8, with hymns sung by Chanticleer and the Choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside Antonio Vivaldi’s Magnifi cat, a setting of Mary’s song of praise from the Gospel of St Luke. Vivaldi’s music will also be part of the Folger Consort’s Christmas program at St Mark’s on Capitol Hill, December 13-15. We’ll also hear A Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten’s 1942 reimagining of 15th-century texts. This Yuletide favorite will be presented at this year’s “Christmas at the Cathedral” concert at Washington National Cathedral, Sunday, December 15.

Holiday music from another 20th-century British composer is presented on December 15, with two works by Ralph Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols from 1912, and from 1954, the cantata Hodie (This Day). We’ll explore the mystery of Christmas on December 22, with cantatas retelling the appearance of the angels to the shepherds: Felix Mendelssohn’s Vom Himmel hoch (From heaven high), and Lauda per la Natività del Signore (Laud for the Nativity) by Ottorino Respighi. Our seasonal celebration concludes December 29 with Carols from the Old and New Worlds: Czech and Polish Christmas songs; a cantata from Latvia; and carols from early America.

Classical WETA: 90.9 FM Greater Washington; 88.9 FM Frederick; WGMS 89.1 FM Hagerstown

Classical WETA

90.9 FM

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Anna Netrebko as Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth (2014-15 season)

VivaLaVoce on vivalavoce.org Stream Audio at classicalweta.org

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Classical for Washington

2019-2020 Met Opera SeasonSaturday afternoons starting December 7

The 89th season of Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcasts gets underway in December as Classical WETA 90.9 FM presents weekly 1 p.m. Saturday matinees on Classical WETA Opera House. December performances are a premiere of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten (Dec. 7); Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades (Dec. 14); Verdi’s Macbeth (Dec. 21), with Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani and Željko Lucic; and Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Dec. 28), in an abridged English-language version.

The 2019-2020 season presents 23 matinee performances airing each Saturday through May 9 from New York’s Lincoln Center and features the world’s greatest contemporary opera vocalists. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in his second season as Metropolitan Opera Music Director, leads performances of Berg’s Wozzeck (Jan. 11) and Massenet’s Werther (March 28). On the broadcasts, Mary Jo Heath returns for her

5th season as Met matinee broadcast host, alongside Ira Siff, in his 13th season as commentator. In addition to December offerings, the new season features three Puccini operas: La Bohème (January 25), with

Ailyn Pérez, Olga Kulchynska and Matthew Polenzani, Tosca (April 11), with Anna Netrebko, and Turandot (April 25), with Nina Stemme; two additional Mozart operas: Le Nozze di Figaro (Feb. 22) and Così fan tutte (March 7); two additional Verdi operas: La Traviata (Jan. 18) and Simon Boccanegra (April 18); and an additional Massenet opera: Manon (Feb 15). The season’s presentations also include R. Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier (Jan. 4); the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Feb. 1), in a new production with Eric Owens, Angel Blue and Denyce Graves; Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust (Feb. 8), with Elina Garanca and Michael Spyres; Handel’s Agrippina (Feb. 29), a Met premiere starring Joyce DiDonato; and more. For monthly opera details, visit classicalweta.org.

The 2019-2020 Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast season is sponsored by Toll Brothers, America’s luxury homebuilder®, with generous long-term support from The Annenberg Foundation and GRoW @ Annenberg, The Neubauer Family Foundation, and the Vincent A. Stabile Endowment for Broadcast Media, and through contributions from listeners worldwide. Local support for the broadcasts is provided by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and Center for the Arts at George Mason University.

The Holy Night, Correggio, 1522

(Feb. 8), with Elina Garanca and Michael Spyres; Handel’s


Fairfax, VAGMU Center for the Arts

JAN 16–19 & MAR 10–11

Baltimore, MDHippodrome Theatre

JAN 31–FEB 2

Washington, DCKennedy Center Opera House

APR 7–12

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ALL-NEW 2020 PRODUCTIONWITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

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5,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION REBORN

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