TV Highlights

Premieres Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app. The U.S. broadcast debut of the award-winning film exposing the cost of opposing Vladimir Putin. The stories of an investigative journalist and a political activist putting their lives on the line standing up to the Kremlin, and the consequences.

Mondays, May 12 - June 2, 2025 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV. This is a four-part series revealing the unknown history of America's Wild West. Beyond gunslingers and lawmen, we meet the diverse pioneers who shaped the country, including Black and Hispanic cowboys, female homesteaders, immigrants, and tribal leaders.

Monday, May 5, 2025 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app. Martin Sheen narrates this one-hour documentary that celebrates the promise of increased longevity while addressing crucial and unprecedented public policy challenges. Using Dr. Robert Butler’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, Why Survive? as a guide, the film explores critical topics such as ageism, healthcare, economic insecurity, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Premieres Friday, May 2, 2025 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app. Agustin Barrios was born and raised in rural Paraguay, far from the world's artistic capitals, and brought up on folk music. He identified more strongly with the Guarani Indians of his home than the European culture of Spain's former colonies, and faced many rejections, personal and professional. Yet through hundreds of concerts and innovative new compositions, he captured the soul of Latin America to become the most important guitar composer of the 20th century.

Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with the PBS app + Encores Saturday, June 21 at 3:30 p.m. on KPBS TV and Monday, June 23 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS 2. Explore the craftsmanship and passion behind the world-renowned electric guitars at the Ensenada Fender guitar factory.

Premieres Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. on KPBS TV. A talented young guitar-playing Rooster comes to the Bebop Barnyard to join Jazz Greats Duck Ellington, Mules Davis, Ella Finchgerald, and Lil Herdin. Even though he's a star on solo guitar, he must learn new skills to play together in a jazz band. The Acoustic Rooster universe also includes the digital shorts series, Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams, and the digital game, Groovin’ with Acoustic Rooster.

Thursday, June 12, 2025, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app + Encore Monday, June 16 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS 2. In this special memorial episode we honor the remarkable Dea Hurston, a trailblazing playwright and philanthropist whose legacy includes the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad, California.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app + Encores Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. on KPBS TV and 9 p.m. on KPBS 2. This two-hour feature documentary produced by acclaimed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson traces the roots of systemic racism in our medical system and the biological impacts of discrimination on the body to understand why Black Americans experience such disproportionately poor health outcomes.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with the PBS app. Hosted by Dr. Jon Hallberg and Dr. Tseganesh Selameab, the film connects the arts and healthcare through the power of storytelling. Physicians share their experiences with race, racism, disparities in health care and representation, and anti-racist efforts in the medical community.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2 / Stream now with KPBS Passport! The documentary features the impact of service-dog agency K9s For Warriors on the lives of three American veterans struggling with trauma sustained in service overseas. Founded by Shari Duval and her son Brett Simon, who served two tours in Iraq, K9s For Warriors matches veterans Adam, Shilo and Louis with companion dogs. Each learns to manage issues such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, and invisible psychological damage.