TV

NPR TV critic Eric Deggans picks his favorite performances of 2025 thus far, including Noah Wyle in The Pitt, Catherine O'Hara in The Last of Us and The Studio, and Carrie Coon in The White Lotus.

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.

Snook, who played Shiv Roy on Succession, was just nominated for a Tony for playing all the characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway. "I don't know what comes after this," she says.

As we enter wedding season, culture critic Linda Holmes suggests that we bring back the splashy TV wedding at full power.

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.

The Netflix series is Tina Fey's touching tribute and knowing update to a 1981 Alan Alda movie — a smart, nuanced take on marriage, friendships and the way changing circumstances can affect them both.

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.