TV Highlights

Premieres Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app. Handel’s 18th-century masterpiece “The Messiah” is reimagined by Conductor Marin Alsop and colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson. Handel’s arias, choruses, and orchestration are infused with Gospel, Jazz, and R&B, creating an uplifting reinterpretation of this seasonal favorite.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport and YouTube. Rick begins in Reykjavík, with endearing sights and thermal pools, plus a side-trip to the Golden Circle's gorges, geysers, and waterfalls. After fording rivers in a desolate valley and spotting puffins on volcano-shaped islands, we drive the 800-mile Ring Road — connecting glaciers, fjords, geothermal hotspots, sod-roofed settlements, and majestic Icelandic nature.

Encore Thursdays, Feb. 13 - March 6, 2025 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Encores Saturdays, Feb. 15 - March 8 at 9:45 p.m. on KPBS 2 (Not in the PBS app). Each episode follows DCI Barnaby and his trusty sidekick, DS Jamie Winter, as they endeavor to solve perplexing crimes while also exploring the quirks of this delightful yet deadly county. The duo finds themselves thrust into new weird and wonderful worlds, from doomsday prepping and police retirement villages to artisan bakeries and drag shows.

Premieres Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app + Encore Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. on KPBS TV. It’s Christmas 1969, and the funfair and carol concert add color to frosty Poplar. Yet, the festive spirit at Nonnatus House is dampened by the spread of influenza alongside growing fears of an escaped prisoner after a spate of break-ins.

Premieres Monday, Dec.16, 2024 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport + Encore Sunday, Dec. 22 at Noon on KPBS TV. Discover the story behind Brenda Lee and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her music, including the classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” The film features interviews with Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo and more.

Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS 2 / Stream now with KPBS Passport! The show puts a modern spin on the 19th Century fairy tale. Strains of Duke Ellington dovetail with the buzz of neon, driven by the heartbeat of Tchaikovsky, blending classic ballet, urban tap, hip hop, step and jazz into something special. You could say it is a fusion of modern and classical dance....but it's more! It's a celebration of our multi-cultural community!

Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with the PBS app. The program is filled with musical highlights from award-winning legends, buzzworthy new artists and longtime fan favorites, among them (in order of appearance): Duane Betts, Blind Boys of Alabama, Waxahatchee featuring MJ Lenderman, Noah Kahan, Jobi Riccio, Fantastic Negrito, Larkin Poe, Sarah Jarosz, Dwight Yoakam, Shelby Lynne, Sierra Ferrell and Emmylou Harris with Rodney Crowell.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV / stream now with the PBS app. Discover the story of the deadly 1898 race massacre and coup d’état in Wilmington, North Carolina, when white supremacists overthrew the multi-racial government of the state’s largest city through a campaign of violence and intimidation.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app. Explore the work of one of the most renowned, respected and popular cultural historians with this new retrospective documentary, which explores his work and how it has made history come alive for tens of millions of Americans.

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with KPBS Passport + Encore Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. KPBS 2. Explore Mexico's rich cultural landscape through the work of talented artisans who craft beautiful objects infused with warmth, color and soul. The program celebrates the artists' exceptional skills while showcasing Mexico's captivating beauty.