New Documentary Highlights Filmmaker Robert A. Nakamura In THIRD ACT from INDEPENDENT LENS Leading PBS SoCal’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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Nicole Kavros
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Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access through PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – April 20, 2026 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced its programming slate in honor of 2026 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Tadashi Nakamura’s new INDEPENDENT LENS documentary, THIRD ACT, pays tribute to his filmmaker father, Robert A. Nakamura, whose legacy of activism and storytelling earned him the title “Godfather of Asian American media.” When Robert is diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Tadashi captures a bittersweet account of his father’s revolutionary life, highlighting the resilience of WWII internment camp survivors, status-quo breakers and Asian American trailblazers. THIRD ACT will premiere on Mon., May 25 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 30 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus. Following the broadcasts, the documentary will be available to stream on the free PBS App and at pbssocal.org/AAPI.
Select episodes of FINDING YOUR ROOTS will make a return to the air this month. Featured is the episode “Dreamers One and All,” which follows actress Sharon Stone and model Chrissy Teigen as they trace their genealogies back to Eastern Europe, Medieval France and rural Thailand. Teigen dives deeper into Thai family history on her mother’s side, and to her surprise, uncovers generations of musical talent and nomadic living. Other episodes to broadcast include actresses Jamie Chung and Lea Salonga exploring their Korean and Filipina heritage, as well as novelist Amy Tan learning more about her parents’ past in central China. FINDING YOUR ROOTS: “Dreamers One and All” will air on Tues., May 26 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 27 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.
Also included in the AAPI lineup is SNAPSHOTS OF CONFINEMENT, which reveals how Japanese Americans were able to document their time in WWII internment camps despite photography bans. Photo albums and personal anecdotes help uncover stories of those in the camps, preserving their memories and solidifying their perspectives in history. SNAPSHOTS OF CONFINEMENT is set to broadcast on Thurs., May 21 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 16 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus. An encore presentation of PBS SoCal’s Emmy® Award-winning original arts and culture series ARTBOUND tells the influential stories of artists who played a pivotal role in shaping both the cultural identity of Southern California and its impact across the country. The documentary, “Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement,” focuses on the life and artistic career of storyteller activist Nobuko Miyamoto. Having grown up in Japanese American internment camps, Miyamoto inspired fellow Asian Americans during the Vietnam War with powerful statements integrated into song and dance. ARTBOUND’s “Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement” will air on Mon., May 25 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
Select content slated to air during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is listed as follows (*schedule subject to change):
GREAT PERFORMANCES: “Now Hear This ‘The Composer is Yoo’” – Fri., May 1 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Tues., May 5 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Scott Yoo takes on the challenge of composing music – his first time ever doing so. Along the way, he enlists the help of renowned musician Susan Cahill and composer Stuart Goodyear, who brings his own Trinidadian influence, inspiring Yoo to travel to Japan and draw on his own musical roots.
HOME IS A HOTEL – Fri., May 1 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
For immigrants and lower-income families in San Francisco, one tiny hotel room can mean home. This documentary explores the realities of those navigating the new landscapes, languages and cultures of a bustling city from its single room occupancy units.
FOOD ROOTS – Sun., May 3 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
After a devastating loss, Billy Dec travels from Nashville to the 7,641 Islands of the Philippines to connect with his relatives and retrieve the recipes of his ancestors. His trip unlocks a new understanding of not only his own identity and palette, but a newfound appreciation for his cultural background.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: “Far from Home” – Tues., May 12 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 13 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Actress Jamie Chung investigates her ancestral past, discovering ties to Korea and recovering stories that got lost in her families’ immigration to the states.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: "Larger Than Life” – Tues., May 12 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Actress Lea Salonga unveils her family history of war, murder and drama across the globe, from naval bases in the Philippines to ships traversing the Atlantic Ocean.
SNAPSHOTS OF CONFINEMENT – Sat., May 16 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Thurs., May 21 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Despite a photography ban within WWII internment camps, the Japanese Americans inside were able to document their lives and shed light on the truth. Through resurfacing photo albums and telling stories, the perspectives of these families are remembered.
INDEPENDENT LENS: “Light of the Setting Sun” – Mon., May 18 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 23 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Documentarian Vicky Du follows her own family’s history of mental illness back to the Chinese Communist Revolution and into Taiwan and New Jersey. Looking at how multigenerational trauma manifests itself, Du dissects time, location, gender roles and healing in her quest to break a cycle.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: “Stranger Than Fiction” – Tues., May 19 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 20 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Novelist Amy Tan traces her family back to a village in central China, reconnecting with cultural identities and remembering those that laid foundations and inspired their writing.
FIELD TRIP WITH CURTIS STONE: HONG KONG - Sun., May 24 at 5 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Curtis Stone embarks on a trip to Hong Kong, where he discovers the integration of traditional practices and modern culture. From the exploration of local food and ancient ingredients to meeting face-to-face with a legendary martial artist, Stone quickly learns that the history of this region runs deep.
INDEPENDENT LENS: THIRD ACT – Mon., May 25 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sat., May 30 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Headlining the slate is Tadashi Nakamura’s new documentary honoring the legacy of his filmmaker father, Robert A. Nakamura. The father-son duo reflects on a history of Asian American activism and resilience in film, including personal anecdotes of WWII internment, aging and Parkinson’s diagnosis.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: “Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage” – Mon., May 25 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
In this Roadshow special, the focus is on objects of Asian and Pacific Islands descent. A Hawaiian Kou bowl, a Gandhi presentation spinning wheel and an 1888 Joseph Nawahi oil painting.
ARTBOUND “Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement” – Mon., May 25 at 11:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Beloved storyteller Nobuko Miyamoto grew up in Japanese American internment camps during WWII. Decades later, she inspired the nation through her art, blending activism, song and dance to make a powerful statement about Asian Americans and the Vietnam War.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: “Dreamers One and All” – Tues., May 26 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., May 27 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Model Chrissy Teigen traces her ancestry back to rural Thailand to find a lineage of resilience and ambition learning she wasn’t the first in her family to dare to dream.
SECRETS OF THE DEAD: “China’s Bronze Kingdom” – Wed., May 27 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
When an ancient city hidden in the Sichuan mountains is found, so are more than 10,000 unique items from its people. Uncovering bronze heads and masks covered in gold foil, traces of this lost kingdom are pieced together to restore a veiled history.
ASIAN AMERICANS: “Breaking Ground” – Thurs., May 28 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
This program’s premiere follows immigrants arriving to the United States from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and more regions of Asia. Battling anti-Asian laws and discrimination, the first Asian Americans built railroads, pursued acting careers and advocated for their rights in court.
ASIAN AMERICANS: “A Question of Loyalty” – Thurs., May 28 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The first Asian Americans born in the states grapple with their dual identities as the children of immigrants and citizens of America. When WWII introduces an influx of anti-Asian propaganda and hatred, putting families in internment camps and separating communities, the community’s loyalty is tested.
ASIAN AMERICANS: “Good Americans” – Thurs., May 28 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
As the Cold War era unfolds in the United States, Asians are labeled as a “model minority” and face persistent stereotyping. As political tensions boil, Asian Americans run for national office and take on the role of cultural change-makers.
ASIAN AMERICANS: “Generation Rising” – Thurs., May 28 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Asian Americans take on a new sense of identity and purpose amidst the Vietnam War, pursuing a fight for equality on the field, on campuses and in culture. The community continues to grow as post-war immigrants and refugees relocate to the states.
ASIAN AMERICANS: “Breaking Through” – Thurs., May 28 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
As a new millennium and changing world dawns on the country, younger generations face issues related to immigration, inequality and classism. Asian Americans are inspired by growing numbers and influence, but must face the difficult reality of what it means to be a minority group in modern America.
GREAT PERFORMANCES: “Yellow Face” – Fri., May 29 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
David Henry Hwang’s musical comedy tells the semi-autobiographical story of an Asian American playwright who protests the use of “yellowface” in casting “Miss Saigon.” But when he accidentally casts a white actor for an Asian lead, he faces the repercussions of his actions and finds himself trapped in a lie.
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