Blue Ridge PBS - Featured Programs

Join us for these featured programs

	Antiques Roadshow
	Great Performances - From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2009
	Make 'em Laugh: The Funny Business of America

	Masterpiece Classic
	Nature
	Soundstage
	the Story of India

Antiques Roadshow

Mondays at 8:00 p.m.

- ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Debuts Lucky 13th Season; When PBS' Most-Watched Series Deals the Cards in 2009, One Guest Walks Off With All the Chips -

It's a fast game when ANTIQUES ROADSHOW returns for its 13th season on PBS, with host Mark L. Walberg and a cast of thousands: collectors from six U.S. cities, who bet that their prized possessions will win them a slot on the six-time Emmy Award-nominated PBS series. At the top of the heap: a guest at the Palm Springs, California, ROADSHOW event who antes up an old housewarming gift only to discover that the 1937 painting, by noted American abstract expressionist artist Clyfford Still, is conservatively estimated to be worth $500,000 - making it the most valuable object ever appraised on the series.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's new season begins January 5. Palm Springs, California, also wins the toss for first slot in ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's new 2009 season. In addition to the exciting Clyfford Still discovery, the premiere episode features a segment with a completely different spin on hidden treasures: a conversation with private collector Jim McCarty, who lost more than half his large collection of coveted California plein air paintings to theft. McCarty reveals the tactics that led to his recovery of many of the works of art; he invites the public to join the hunt.

From Palm Springs, ROADSHOW trots off to Dallas, Texas, to inspect antique state flags; uncovers the history of air travel posters in aviation hub Wichita, Kansas; fires a real Civil War cannon in Chattanooga, Tennessee; takes an appraising look at modern, locally manufactured furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and navigates Mystic Seaport's outstanding collection of maritime paintings near Hartford, Connecticut.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/index.html

Great Performances

From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2009
Thursday, January 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Stage, screen and recording legend Julie Andrews rings in the new year as the host of the annual holiday celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic. In the stately splendor of Vienna's Musikverein, Daniel Barenboim leads a rousing program of Strauss favorites, including the breathless "Eljen a Magyar" polka, the "Radetzky March" and the beloved "Blue Danube" waltz.

"What a joy to return to Vienna, which has always been a magical place for me," Andrews says. "And to go at holiday time makes it very special indeed. You've never really heard 'The Blue Danube' waltz until you've heard it played by the very orchestra Strauss once led." Andrews carries on for longtime host Walter Cronkite, who relinquishes the post with this telecast. "Though ending this tradition comes with some sadness for me, I am very much looking forward to resuming the long-held custom of spending the holidays with my family and friends," notes the venerable newsman, who hosted the first international telecast in 1985. "I am also deeply honored that Julie Andrews has been chosen to carry on what has become a holiday high point for millions across America."

This year also will mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Joseph Haydn, whose more than 100 symphonies and 68 string quartets laid the groundwork for the 18th-century classical style and served to inspire the countless musical minds who came after him, including Mozart and Beethoven. To honor "Papa Haydn," the Philharmonic will perform the fourth movement of the composer's masterful Symphony No. 45, the "Farewell," as a tribute to his enduring legacy.

Cyrano de Bergerac
Wednesday, January 7 at 8:00 p.m.
His nose knows, and so do New York's toughest critics. Assessing Kevin Kline's foray into the treacherous waters of Broadway - as Edmond Rostand's proboscisly challenged 17th-century warrior-poet Cyrano de Bergerac - The New Yorker summed it up for all: "Kevin Kline is sensational."

"I've wanted to play this part ever since I saw it in high school," Kline says. "He's living a life as large as life gets, if not larger. I think it's very romantic." The sold-out limited-engagement, which also starred Jennifer Garner and Daniel Sunjata, closed last January, but not before being captured by the HDTV cameras of GREAT PERFORMANCES.

Visit the GREAT PERFORMANCES companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/

Make 'em Laugh: The Funny Business of America

Wednesdays, January 14-28
Did you hear the one about Blue Ridge PBS airing a comedy series? It's no joke, but it is funny. On three consecutive Wednesdays in January 2009, Blue Ridge PBS presents MAKE 'EM LAUGH: THE FUNNY BUSINESS OF AMERICA, a six-hour comedy epic showcasing the most hilarious men, women and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh. Hosted by funnyman Billy Crystal and narrated by Amy Sedaris, the documentary explores the currents of American comedy throughout a century of social and political change, illuminating how comedy has tackled and poked fun at our political system, race relations, gender issues and the prevailing American standards and taboos in everyday life.

Melding performance, biography and history, MAKE 'EM LAUGH features interviews with more than 90 comedians, writers, producers and historians, including Judd Apatow, Roseanne Barr, Anne Beatts, the Smothers Brothers, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, George Carlin, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Leonard Maltin, Cheech Marin, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Mort Sahl, Dick Van Dyke and many, many more.

Each one-hour episode focuses on a distinct genre of American comedy - from the most ingenious physical schtick to those fast-talking wiseguys to incisive satire and parody - re-acquainting viewers with some of their favorite classics. Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/makeemlaugh/

January 14, 8:00 p.m. - "Would Ya Hit a Guy with Glasses? Nerds, Jerks, & Oddballs"
In a country that has championed the idea of inclusiveness, the outsider has been a source of constant amusement. Featured: Harold Lloyd, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Jonathan Winters, Andy Kaufman, Robin Williams, Cheech & Chong, Woody Allen and Steve Martin.
January 14, 9:00 p.m. - "Honey, I'm Home! Breadwinners and Homemakers"
The domestic farce, maybe the most American of comic concepts, reflects ongoing changes at home and in the workplace. Featured: "The Goldbergs," "I Love Lucy," "The Honeymooners," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "All in the Family," "The Cosby Show," "Roseanne," "Seinfeld" and "The Simpsons"
January 21, 8:00 p.m. - "Slip on a Banana Peel: The Knockabouts"
Slapstick, always popular in America, has evolved into a sophisticated art. Featured: Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, Martin and Lewis, the Marx Brothers and the one and only Lucille Ball.
January 21, 9:00 p.m. - "When I'm Bad, I'm Better: The Groundbreakers"
The most audacious comedians invoke "freedom of speech" to bring the biggest and most dangerous laughs to the American public. Featured: Mae West, Moms Mabley, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor and George Carlin.
January 28, 8:00 p.m. - "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break: The Wiseguys"
The wiseguy (or gal) always has the last - and funniest - word. Featured: Groucho Marx, Phil Silvers, Jack Benny, Paul Lynde, Joan Rivers, Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Larry David and Chris Rock.
January 28, 9:00 p.m. - "Sock it to Me? Satire and Parody"
Generations have reveled in the anarchic tradition of mocking American life, politics and preoccupations. Featured: Will Rogers, Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks and the "Saturday Night Live" gang.

Masterpiece Classic

Sundays at 9:00 p.m.

- Tess, Heathcliff and Cathy, David, the Dorrits, Little Nell and Oliver
Take a Bow on the MASTERPIECE CLASSIC Stage -

Tess of the D'Urbervilles & Wuthering Heights In 2009, MASTERPIECE CLASSSIC presents another hit parade of adaptations of novels by beloved British authors, including Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte and Thomas Hardy. Three new Dickens works and the return of an old favorite - fondly dubbed "The Incomplete Charles Dickens" - join new productions of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and "Wuthering Heights." Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/

January 4 & 11- "Tess of the D'Urbervilles"
Violated by one man, forsaken by another, Tess Durbeyfield is the magnificent and spirited heroine of Thomas Hardy's heartbreaking novel. The cast in this four-hour miniseries includes Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) as Tess, Hans Matheson ("Dr. Zhivago") as her seducer, Alec, and Eddie Redmayne (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) as Angel, the man she loves.
January 18 & 25 - "Wuthering Heights"
A thrilling new adaptation of Emily Bronte's haunting classic, which chronicles the passionate spiritual bond between Heathcliff, an abandoned Gypsy boy adopted by the Earnshaw family of Wuthering Heights, and the family's daughter, Cathy, stars Tom Hardy ("The Virgin Queen") as Heathcliff, newcomer Charlotte Riley as Cathy and Burn Gorman ("Bleak House") as Cathy's brother, Hindley, in the three-hour miniseries. Published in 1847, the novel was condemned by one critic as "abominably pagan" for the dark passion throbbing in the heart of its irredeemable hero-villain.

Nature

Sundays at 8:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
For more than 25 years, NATURE has been the benchmark of natural history programs on television, capturing the splendors of the natural world, from the African plains to the Antarctic ice. The series has won nearly 450 honors from the television industry, parent groups, the international wildlife film community and environmental organizations, including 10 Emmys, three Peabodys and the first award given to a television program by the Sierra Club. Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/

January 4 & 8 - "The Gorilla King"
Titus, king of the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, is one of only 700 of his kind alive today. Ian Redmond documents Titus' extraordinary life, from his early days to his rise to power as a silverback.
January 11 & 15 - "The Dragon Chronicles"
Reptile expert Romulus Whitaker sets off to find out if dragons are based on real animals and if any are still to be found.
January 18 & 22 - "Arctic Bears"
Polar bears, the descendents of grizzlies, long-ago evolved to live and hunt on the frozen ice of the Arctic, but now are living on borrowed time as their habitat changes and food sources become rare.
January 25 & 29 - "Is That Skunk?"
Intrepid researchers and cameramen track skunks day and night, uncovering how they hunt, forage, mate and raise their young.

Soundstage

Thursdays at 10:00 p.m.
Tune in for a new season of SOUNDSTAGE featuring a wide variety of artists. Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/

January 8 - "Counting Crows: Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings"
In this set, Counting Crows performs the majority of their fifth studio release, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings , a tightly crafted concept album that's the perfect combination of high and low. The Saturday Nights songs are upbeat, pairing subtle but expressive lyrics with fast-paced, brazen electric guitar; the Sunday Mornings selections have a more reflective, subdued tone. An energized Adam Duritz starts the night off right with a raucous version of the CD opener "1492." He sings of loss in the moody "Washington Square," accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar. His no-holds-barred emotion also resonates in slower songs like "Le Ballet d'Or" and "When I Dream of Michelangelo." Other must-sees include "Los Angeles" and "Cowboys."
January 15 - "Idina Menzel With Josh Groban and Ravi Coltrane"
Fans and newcomers alike will be delighted with actress/singer/songwriter Idina Menzel's powerhouse voice and effervescent stage presence. Tony Award-winner Menzel was featured in Rent and Wicked , two of the best-selling musical cast recordings of all time. Throughout this special episode of SOUNDSTAGE, taped in New York City inside the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Centert, Menzel reveals her quirky personality, maintaining a truly personal connection with the audience by sharing stories of her upbringing, early career and lyrics before launching into songs from her third album, I Stand . Menzel performs "Better to Have Loved," "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Brave." Critically acclaimed saxophonist Ravi Coltrane contributes to her signature sound on "Perfume and Promises." "Gorgeous" yields an uplifting message. In a show-stopping finale, Josh Groban drops by and joins Menzel in a duet of his hit single "Awake."
January 22 - "Foreigner"
Hailed as one of the most popular rock acts of the 70s and 80s, Foreigner still puts on a thrilling and sensational show 30 years later. Singer Kelly Hansen and lead guitarist Mick Jones are a combustible combination on songs like "Hot Blooded" and "Double Vision." Foreigner's showmanship is outstanding - this episode is packed with smash hits like "Cold as Ice," "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent," as well as the newest single, "Too Late."
January 29 - "B.B. King"
The man needs no introduction. Truly the reigning king of blues, B.B. King over the last 60 years has developed one of the world's most identifiable guitar styles and has influenced thousands of musicians. Known for integrating precise and complex string bends with left-hand vibrato, King has a uniquely regal and velvety tone, making every note count. With his trademark Gibson "Lucille" settled on his lap, King presents a set filled with staggering guitar jams on hits like "The Thrill Is Gone" and "One Kind Favor." In between songs, King's characteristic affable persona shines through as he introduces the band with whom he's always toured and shares stories from his life. Special guests Terrence Howard, Solange and guitarist Richie Sambora stop by to jam and pay tribute to this renowned blues master. The legend is in his element on this episode of SOUNDSTAGE.

The Story of India

Mondays, January 5-19 at 9:00 p.m.
Michael Wood's fascinating journey through the history of the Indian subcontinent, the first history of India on western television, chronicles the incredible richness and diversity of its peoples, cultures and landscapes; outlines the originality and continuing relevance of its ideas; and relates some of the most momentous and moving events in world history.

The world's largest democracy and a rising economic giant, India is now as well known in the U.S. for its mastery of computer technology and its business and industrial strength as it is for its many-armed gods and its spiritual traditions. But India is also the world's most ancient surviving civilization, with unbroken continuity stretching back into prehistory.

Like other great civilizations, India has renewed itself several times, enjoying several brilliant golden ages in art and culture. Its great thinkers and religious leaders have permanently changed the face of the globe. Now, in the era of globalization, India is once again becoming a leading player in the world and an increasingly important strategic partner and friend of the U.S. Home to more than a billion people, it is a land of amazing contrasts: It contains both the high-tech brilliance of Bangalore's Silicon Valley and the archaic splendor of the Kumbh Mela festival, where 25 million pilgrims bathe in the sacred river Ganges on a single night. While moving at high speed into the modern world, India is still in touch with her ancient past.

Visit the companion website at www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/

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