Offair Listings

The acclaimed mini-series ELIZABETH I chronicles the life of England’s Greatest queen. Historians Suzannah Lipscomb and Dan Jones tell the heady tale of jealousy, treachery, ambition and tragedy alongside the lavish dramatizations that transport audiences back to the key clashes that shaped Elizabeth and England.

• #101 – Battle of the Throne – A look at Elizabeth’s turbulent early years from age three when her mother was executed and she was declared illegitimate and banished from court, to the start of her reign. Airs 5/5 at 7 p.m.
• #102 – The Enemy Within – For the first 25 years of her reign, Elizabeth never feels secure. Catholic plots abound at home and abroad, and there is the problem about what to do with Mary Queen of Scots. Meanwhile, her councilors want her to marry.  Airs 5/12 at 7 p.m.
• #103 – Death of a Dynasty – As the Spanish Armada approaches, Elizabeth rallies her troops with a famous speech at Tilbury. However, even Elizabeth is powerless against the march of time. 

Airs 5/19 at 7 p.m.

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Still Dreaming documents a unique take on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as performed by a group of retired actors, dancers and musicians at the Lillian Booth Actors Home, an assisted living facility, just outside New York City. These former Broadway stars (Charlotte Fairchild, Aideen O’Kelly, Robert A. Evans, Joan Stein, and Dimo Condos) embark on a journey as they stage the magical play at the urging of the Home’s administrators, who see this as an opportunity to boost quality of life for the residents. As the rehearsal process unfolds, the actors find themselves experiencing both the pain and exhilaration of re-immersion in their life’s work amidst the difficulties of old age.

Airs 5/4 at 4:30 p.m.

Website

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

In this one-hour special, Rick Steves travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe – taking millions of people with it. He traces fascism’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 totalitarian societies they built. In addition, Rick chronicles the brutal measures the leaders used to enforce their ideologies, and discusses the horrific consequences of genocide and total war. And yet despite all this, inspiration can be found by those who resisted. Along the way, Rick visits poignant sights throughout Europe relating to fascism, and talks with Europeans whose families lived through those times. The goal of the RICK STEVES SPECIAL: THE STORY OF FASCISM IN EUROPE is to learn from the hard lessons of 20th-century Europe, and to recognize that ideology in the 21st century.

Airs 5/4 at 3:30 p.m.

Website

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Take a mind-blowing journey through human history, told through six iconic objects that modern people take for granted, and see how science, invention and technology built on one another to change everything.

• #101 – The Telescope – Meet the brilliant minds throughout history, from Galileo to Edwin Hubble, responsible for creating the telescope. Today, their invention allows humanity to reach the furthest limits of seeing 13 billion light-years out. Aired 4/17 at 10 p.m.
• #102 – The Plane – Take to the sky with the dreamers whose work gave humans the ability to fly. From Leonardo da Vinci’s “flying machines” to the modern commercial plane, without these inventions, we may have never left the ground. Aired 4/24 at 10 p.m.
• #103 The Robot – Learn how robots were first conceptualized in ancient Rome and see how their use has evolved over the centuries, from the calculator to the Roomba. Then, take a sneak peek at what future robots will be able to do. Airs 5/1 at 10 p.m.
• #104 – The Car – Go for a ride through the 9,000-year history of the car, from its roots in dogsleds to Henry Ford’s affordable and assembly line-built Model T, and meet the scientists working on the next generation of self-driving automobiles. Airs 5/8 at 10 p.m.
• #105 – The Rocket – Learn the explosive history of the rocket, from its origin in ancient China, to its use as a weapon of war, to how adding hydrogen allowed it to carry astronauts all the way to the moon. Airs 5/15 at 10 p.m.
• #106 – The Smartphone Dial in to the fascinating history of the smartphone, from its roots in Morse Code to 2007, when Apple unveiled the first-ever iPhone. Plus, see how the next generation of smartphones will allow us to communicate through them just by thinking. Airs 5/22 at 10 p.m.

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Disabilities Today is a positive, informative, resource for persons with disabilities, by providing current information regarding rehabilitation trends, technological advances, travel, recreation, and community based opportunities for persons or families with disabilities. It is estimated that 80% of American families will acquire some type of disability at some point in their lifetime.

• #1927 airs 5/4 at 9:30 a.m.
• #1928 airs 5/11 at 9:30 a.m.
• #1929 airs 5/18 at 9:30 a.m.
• #1930 airs 5/25 a 9:30 a.m.

Website

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Shedding new light on a geopolitical hot spot, the film — written and produced by John Maggio and narrated by Korean-American actor John Cho — confronts the myth of the “Forgotten War,” documenting the post-1953 conflict and global consequences.

Airs 5/3 at 7 p.m.; 5/4 at midnight; 5/4 at 8 a.m.; 5/4 at 2 p.m.

Website

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

The extraordinary history of San Francisco’s water system as well as the engineering and delivery of an urban water system in the era of climate change. Situated on a mostly arid coastal peninsula, the population boom that came with the California Gold Rush underscored San Francisco’s need to develop a source of fresh water for the growing city. The 1906 earthquake finally spurred city fathers to create a public water utility. When the city chose a site in the pristine Hetch Hetchy valley, inside Yosemite National Park, an epic battle was led by John Muir. Today, with the impact of climate change keenly felt, the politics of water remain front page news. “Water from the Wilderness” explores the ways an urban water utility, and those who depend on it, are learning to adapt and plan for an uncertain future.

Airs 4/30 at 2-3 a.m.

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Website

Parents of teens on the autism spectrum form a competitive swim team, training them with high expectations. Follow the rise of three athletes as the film captures a moving quest for inclusion, independence and a life that feels like winning.

Airs 4/27 at 4 p.m.

Website

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

A journey of artistic discovery: 100,000 miles, 1,000 destinations in the search for 100 under-recognized American artists for one unforgettable exhibition. The curatorial team of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas crisscrossed the nation to find extraordinary contemporary art happening in unexpected places. This film captures the personal stories of seven diverse artists from Crystal Bridges’ groundbreaking exhibit who are redefining the American aesthetic.

Airs 4/26 at 9 p.m.

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

The story of Josiah Henson (voiced by actor Danny Glover), the real-life inspiration for Uncle Tom in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic 1852 novel, which has been recognized as one of the sparks that ignited the Civil War. Josiah Henson was born into slavery near Port Tobacco, Maryland around 1789. As a child, he was sold to Isaac Riley, who later appointed him superintendent of the farm at an unusually young age because of Henson’s strength and intelligence. Riley entrusted Henson with exceptional responsibilities and permitted him to become a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. However, when Henson attempted to buy his freedom, Riley cheated him and made plans to sell him south. Fearing separation from his family, he fled north with his wife and children in the summer of 1830. After escaping through Ohio and New York, they eventually settled in Ontario, Canada.

Airs 4/26 at 3-4 a.m.

REQUEST THIS RECORDING

Full Video