Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Ah, April. I love April. That’s because April leads to May and May leads to summer, and I love summer. I don’t like the cold weather. You may have heard me complain about the cold months ago, and as I complained about something I now feel the need to praise the weather. I thank you weather folks for the return of the sun, and warmth, and general good and happiness. Woo-hoo! Go spring!
Sunday, April 1:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nature – “Unforgettable Elephants”. Those clever folks at Nature! This is a play on words and upon common thoughts on elephants, because we always think “an elephant never forgets” and here we are seeing ones that can’t be forgotten. Clever, clever, clever.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Masterpiece Theatre. “Kidnapped, Episode Two.” Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, the story follows Davie Balfour on his trials and tribulations. At one point, as I recall, he gets kidnapped. I don’t know why exactly I think that’s the case, but I do. For those of you that are curious, this isn’t the show with Timothy Hutton.
10:00 – 11:00PM
America’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie. There once was prairie. The prairie is no more. In the prairie’s place is farmland. Understandably this has led to change for people, wildlife, and the environment. The description of the show seems to indicate that this is all a good thing. PBS, just so you know, Al Gore is not amused.
Monday, April 2:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – “Mobile (Hour Two)”. I know what you’re thinking and you’re wrong (and not funny, but who am I to throw stones); this week’s episode is not literally on the road moving around, it’s in Alabama. But, I do want you to know that I appreciate the notion that you’d try and tell a joke, no matter how badly you failed at it. Good on you.
9:00 – 10:000PM
American Experience – “Sister Aimee”. I never knew I had a sister named Aimee. I just didn’t. And then I read this and found out I did. Then I read it more accurately and found out I didn’t, because it turns out that Sister Aimee was a “wildly popular evangelist” back in the early 20th century.
10:00 – 11:00PM
Terry Sanford and the New South – Sanford was this guy who wanted to be governor and by February of 1960 had been trying to get there for more than half a decade. Then four African American men tried to get served at Woolworth's and changed the course of history in the South. What would Sanford do?
Tuesday, April 3:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nova – “Kings of Camouflage”. Yup, all about army surplus. Wow. Stunning, deafening silence. Bad joke. Not funny. I hereby withdraw it. Mea culpa. This is actually an in-depth investigation into the cuttlefish. The easier joke, the one about cuddling, I will avoid, having already offended your senses in this description.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Frontline – “So Much So Fast”. At 29, Stephen Heywood was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). This episode of Frontline follows Heywood and his family’s confrontation with the disease.
10:30 – 11:30PM
Independent Lens – “China Blue”. Jasmine left her village in China to get a job and help the family. Now she makes blue jeans (I have to assume they’re exported to some nameless developed nation). The entire episode is shot “clandestinely” and reveals horrific work conditions.
Wednesday, April 4:
8:00 – 9:00PM
In Performance at the White House – “Theolonius Monk Institute of Jazz”. President and Mrs. Bush have a celebration at the White House in honor of jazz and the Theolonious Monk Institute. Hosted by Barbara Walters. Good times.
9:00 – 11:00PM
Novel Reflections… The American Dream. This program looks at the way different American novelists have written about the American dream. Every book discussed has some passages dramatized through still photography.
Thursday, April 5:
8:00 – 9:00PM
The This Old House Hour – Episode TBA. It’s This Old House and Ask This Old House. It’s like maintenance… for your home. Wait, no, that’s exactly what it is. That doesn’t mean it’s not awesome though.
9:00 – 10:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – “Mobile (Hour Two)”. I know what you’re thinking and you’re wrong (and not funny, but who am I to throw stones); this week’s episode is not literally on the road moving around, it’s in Alabama. But, I do want you to know that I appreciate the notion that you’d try and tell a joke, no matter how badly you failed at it. Good on you.
10:00 – 11:00PM
A Wayfarer’s Journey: Listening to Mahler. An “exploration of the critical relationship of music, healing, and survival centers” that focuses on Gustav Mahler. Apparently Mahler’s work is used as a part of some sort of innovative therapy. They tried Mozart, but he just makes people rock.
Friday, April 6:
8:00 – 8:30PM
Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal #4640. Another whole week has gone by and good old Gwen Ifill and National Journal are here to fill us in. For the record, I like to pretend the National Journal is a sidekick, like Robin to Batman, Starsky to Hutch, or chocolate sauce to chocolate ice cream.
8:30 – 9:00PM
NOW #314. It’s the Emmy award-winning weekly newsmagazine. It looks at issues facing our democracy. The show is hosted by David Brancaccio. And, even better, they still send me e-mails (I think that makes me cool and them nice). Thanks, Now!
9:00 – 10:00PM
America’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie. Please see above joke.
10:00PM – 11:00PM
In Performance at the White House – “Theolonius Monk Institute of Jazz”. Please see above non-joke.
Saturday, April 7:
9:00 – 10:0PM
Austin City Limits – “Elvis Costello”. I think we all know Elvis Costello. He’s a singer. He’s a musician. He’s a man. His name is Elvis. See, now you know the guy I’m talking about, right? I knew you would.
In closing, I’d like to reiterate: go spring, go spring. You the man, spring! You the woman, spring! Spring, you’re my everything! That is until summer comes along, cause I’m fickle like that. I do promise I won’t cheat on you for fall though, I don’t like fall at all. Fall leads to winter, and winter stinks.
