May 2012 Programming Highlights on PBS SoCaL

Tuesday, May 1, 8 p.m. – “American Experience: Jesse Owens” – PREMIERE
This episode of “American Experience” traces the story of Jesse Owens’ remarkable victories in the face of Nazi racism during the 1936 Olympics.

Tuesday, May 1, 9 p.m. – “Frontline: Money, Power and Wall Street – Part II” – PREMIERE
The final part of this hit series examines the story of the big banks - how they developed, how they crashed and whether they still present dangers.

Wednesday, May 2, 10 p.m. – “America Revealed: Made in the U.S.A.” – PREMIERE
Host Yul Kwon examines the American manufacturing machine with this final episode and introducers viewers to the men and women who are changing the system.

Friday, May 4, 10 p.m. – “Art in the Twenty-First Century: Balance” – PREMIERE
This episode views the works and techniques of artists Rackstraw Downes, Robert Mangold and Sarah Sze.

PBS SOCAL CELEBRATES CINCO DE MAYO WITH THREE SPECIALS:

• Saturday, May 5, noon – “The Storm that Swept Mexico”

This film tells the epic story of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Fueled by the Mexican people’s growing dissatisfaction with an elitist ruling regime, the revolution was led by two of the most intriguing and mythic figures in 20th-century history — Emiliano Zapata and Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

• Saturday, May 5, 3 p.m. – “Mexico: The Royal Tour”

“Mexico: The Royal Tour” showcases Mexico through the eyes of its leader Mexican President Felipe Calderón. Produced and hosted by Peter Greenberg.

• Saturday, May 5, 9 p.m. – “Quest for the Lost Maya”

This episode explores archaeological evidence of a previously unknown Mayan society based in the Yucatan Peninsula of southern Mexico.

Sunday, May 6, 9 p.m. – “Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: A Scandal in Bergravia” – PREMIERE
In this episode, Sherlock and Watson are plunged into a case of blackmail involving crafty dominatrix Irene Adler, whose motto is "know when you are beaten."

Sunday, May 6, 10:30 p.m. – “Independent Lens: Circo”- PREMIERE
This episode accompanies the Ponce family circus as it struggles to make a living in Mexico’s collapsing rural economy.

Monday, May 7, 8 p.m. – “Antiques Roadshow: Minneapolis, MN” – PREMIERE
“Antiques Roadshow” begins a three-part tour in Minneapolis, Minn. Highlights include a 1900 McKinley-Roosevelt poster discovered at a flea market, a circa 1885 Franz Roubaud oil painting, valued at $100,000, and a 1863 Ulysses S. Grant letter.

Wednesday, May 9, 8 p.m. – “Nature: The White Lions” – PREMIERE
This special follows two rare white lion cubs on their journey to adulthood on the South African savanna.

Friday, May 11, 10 p.m. – “Craft in America: Threads” – PREMIERE
This Los Angeles based special explores textiles and quilts by Faith Ringgold, Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, Terese Agnew and Randall Darwall.

SALUTE TO MOTHER’S DAY

• Sunday, May 13, May 20, 1-6 p.m. – “Downton Abbey: Season Two”

PBS SoCaL celebrates Mother’s Day with a special back-to-back marathon of its smash hit series “Downton Abbey.” Episodes one through four will air Sunday, May 13 and episodes five through seven will air Sunday, May 20.

Sunday, May 13, 9 p.m. – “Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: The Hounds of Baskervilles” – PREMIERE
In this episode, Sherlock and Watson pursue information about research on genetically engineered animals for military use.

Sunday, May 13, 10:30 p.m. – “Independent Lens: Summer Pasture” – PREMIERE
This episode provides a rare view of an insular community seldom seen by outsiders: nomads living in the high grasslands of eastern Tibet.

ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS!

• Monday, May 14, 9 a.m. – “Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs A to Z” – PREMIERE

In this special episode, students practice the letters of the alphabet while learning about the diversity of dinosaurs that once lived on Earth.

Monday, May 14, 9 p.m. – “American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night” – PREMIERE
This special explores the career, complexities and contradictions of the biggest late night talk show host television has ever produced.

Wednesday, May 16, 8 p.m. – “Nature: Cracking the Koala Code” – PREMIERE
This episode of “Nature” follows individual koalas from an Australian island to learn just how they manage to survive and thrive on a diet poisonous to almost all other herbivorous mammals.

Wednesday, May 16, 10 p.m. – “Bones of Turkana” – PREMIERE
“Bones of Turkana” follows Richard Leakey, his family and colleagues as they work to unravel the mysteries of human evolution.

Sunday, May 20, 9 p.m. – “Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: The Reichenbach Fall” – PREMIERE
In this episode, Sherlock faces Moriarty’s diabolical plot to “get Sherlock,” which begins innocently enough when the criminal mastermind breaks into the Crown Jewels. As the scheme unfolds, Moriarty poses the “final problem,” and a tabloid reporter reveals the “shocking truth” about the great detective.

Sunday, May 20, 10:30 p.m. – “Independent Lens: Precious Knowledge” – PREMIERE
“Precious Knowledge” follows student leaders in Tucson High School’s Mexican American Studies Program as they fight to save their classes.

Monday, May 21, 9 p.m. – “Burt Bacharach and Hal David: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Performance at the White House” – PREMIERE
This program is a tribute to the songwriting team who penned such classics as “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and “Walk on By.”

Monday, May 21, 10 p.m. – “California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown” – PREMIERE
Directed by Sascha Rice (granddaughter of Pat Brown), “California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown” gives an inside look into political power and into a family dynasty some call “the West Coast Kennedys.”

Tuesday, May 22, 7 p.m. – “PBS SoCaL: Teacher Town Hall” – PREMIERE
The American Graduate Teacher Town Hall, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, convenes teachers, parents and local leaders to create a conversation about education and the challenges teachers face.

Tuesday, May 22, 8 p.m. – “Civilization: The West and the Rest with Niall Ferguson” – PREMIERE
This two-part series examines the rise of the West’s economic ascendancy based on Niall Ferguson’s six principles of prosperity: competition, science, modern medicine, democracy, consumerism and work ethic. The programs are adapted from Ferguson’s book, “Civilization: The West and the Rest.”

Friday, May 25, 10 p.m. – “Goat Sessions Live: Yo Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile” – PREMIERE
Musicians Yo Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile blend classical and bluegrass music to create a distinct sound.

Sunday, May 27, 8 p.m. – “National Memorial Day Concert 2012” – PREMIERE
Co-hosts Gary Sinise ("CSI: New York") and Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds”) celebrate a night of remembrance featuring an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra. The 23rd annual broadcast of the “National Memorial Day Concert” airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, and to our troops around the world on the American Forces Network. Encore performance at 9:30 p.m.

Monday, May 28, 10 p.m. – “Independent Lens: Hell and Back Again” – PREMIERE
This episode follows the overlapping stories of a Marine at war and of the same Marine in recovery at home.

Tuesday, May 29, 7 p.m. – “Long Road Home” – PREMIERE
“Long Road Home” offers compelling stories of Pittsburgh-area military veterans of Iraq, Vietnam, Korea and World War II still coming to terms with the emotional wounds of war.

Tuesday, May 29, 8 p.m. – “Civilization: The West and the Rest with Niall Hall Ferguson” – PREMIERE
The finale of this two-part series continues to examine the rise of the West’s economic ascendancy based on Niall Ferguson’s six principles of prosperity: competition, science, modern medicine, democracy, consumerism and work ethic. The programs are adapted from Ferguson’s book, “Civilization: The West and the Rest.”

Thursday, May 31, 1:30 p.m. – “National Geographic Bee” – PREMIERE
State Geographic Bee Winners from across the country compete for the 2012 National Title.

About PBS SoCaL

PBS SoCaL, formerly KOCE-TV, is Southern California’s PBS station dedicated to interactively educating, entertaining, and enlightening the greater Los Angeles area. With its three unique broadcast channels. PBS SoCaL HD, PBS OC, and WORLD TV, PBS SoCaL provides award-winning programs like Frontline, NewsHour, NOVA, Nature, and Masterpiece, as well as local productions Real Orange, SoCaL Insider With Rick Reiff, and Bookmark With Maria Hall-Brown. Through community outreach initiatives including PBS SoCaL Education, PBS SoCaL provides local schools access to new media materials that engage students in 21st century learning. Explore the future of PBS in Southern California at www.pbssocal.org.