Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Please be aware, I'm going to take another week off from the Sword in the Stone ride this week. I am aware that this is the second week in a row that we'll not be discussing the ride, but never fear, we will get back to it eventually. The ride is something, I believe, that will live on forever; not discussing it for a week won't weaken that. Instead, just a thought or two on Mr. Bond.
Sunday, November 9
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nature – "Clever Monkeys.” Those monkeys are some smart creatures. They have a lot of similar traits to humans. I like to think that makes them clever instead of us simple. This week Nature is going to follow along baby monkeys from two different species to see just what monkeys teach to little ones and how they go about it.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Masterpiece Contemporary – "God on Trial.” In this drama some prisoners in Auschwitz opt to put God on trial for abandoning his "chosen people." Over the course of the piece the prisoners actually hear evidence in their attempt to determine God's guilt or innocence. Me? I foresee letters being sent to PBS.
10:30 – 11:30PM
Secrets of the Dead – "Escape from Auschwitz". Rudolph Vrba and Alfred Wetzler were two young Jewish men who managed to escape Auschwitz during World War II. They tried to warn the world about what the Nazis were doing but for various and sundry reasons their messages were delayed. Watch and find out why.
Monday, November 10:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Antiques Roadshow – “Milwaukee (Hour One).” Wow, Milwaukee. This repeat episode has the show going to the land of beer. I imagine that's what people bring in too, old beer that no one really wants to drink. I promise you people, in at least one of these three episodes beer will come up. Wanna bet?
9:00 – 10:00PM
American Experience – “The Berlin Airlift”. How egocentric of us. This is part of the “American” experience, not, you know, the German experience, or the European experience. It’s funny, because I always thought Berlin was in Germany. Oh, I don’t disagree that the U.S. played a major roll in the airlift, but it still seems odd.
10:00 – 11:30PM
The Journey to Palomar. There once was a man named Hale. He had this pretty fancy-shmancy idea for building a million-pound telescope on Palomar Mountain. It actually took him about 20 years to get it done. Learn exactly how he went about it.
Tuesday, November 11:
8:00 – 9:00PM
Nova – “Alien From Earth." On the island of Flores in Indonesia there is a cave site. In this site very odd fossil bones were found. They're apparently being referred to as "Hobbit" bones. The scientific community is currently fiercely debating what exactly the bones mean. Nova not only covers the debate, they cover some new excavations at the site.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Frontline – "Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story." The 2008 election may be over, but that doesn't mean that PBS has to stop talking about politics. Atwater is the man credited with creating the Republicans' "take-no-prisoners" current campaign strategy (a strategy perfected by Karl Rove). Was he evil? Was he good? Do either of those words really explain him?
10:30 – 11:00PM
Get Ready for Digital TV. Two lovely gentleman from This Old House, Norm Abram and Kevin O'Connor, are here to tell you all about getting ready for digital TV (as the transition is coming in February 2009). Pretty much the answer is that if you have cable or satellite you're fine and that if you don't you're probably going to need a converter box and the government will give you a coupon to buy one.
Wednesday, November 12:
8:00 – 10:00PM
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work – “The State Visit.” As a whole, the series takes an inside look at the British monarchy. Up tonight, the show delves into exactly how people here in the colonies deal with a visit from the Queen. It goes into preparations in the White House for a white tie dinner and an archeologist at Jamestown getting ready for the Queen's visit among other things.
10:00PM – 12:00AM
Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work – “The State Visit.” As a whole, the series takes an inside look at the British monarchy. Up tonight, the show delves into exactly how people here in the colonies deal with a visit from the Queen. It goes into preparations in the White House for a white tie dinner and an archeologist at Jamestown getting ready for the Queen's visit among other things.
Thursday, November 13:
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. Seriously, The This Old House Hour is one of the finest home improvement hours on PBS. No joke.
9:00 – 10:30PM
Independent Lens – "Lioness." During the Iraq War five female Army support soldiers (mechanics, engineers, etc.) ended up fighting alongside Marines. How exactly did that happen? What went down? The co-directors of this piece, Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers, delve into just what occurred.
10:30 – 11:00PM
TBA.
Friday, November 14:
8:00 – 8:30PM
Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal #4819. 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 – 9:30PM
NOW on PBS #445. 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, you guys are awesome!
9:00 – 10:00PM
Bill Moyers Journal #1231. It’s Bill Moyers. It’s his 1,231st journal (not really, but I’m not going to explain to you the way in which TV shows are numbered at this point in time, maybe later if you’re nice). He’s a good journalist so I assume this will be good journalism (at least the odds are it will).
10:00 – 11:00PM
In Search of Myths and Heroes – "Arthur: The Once & Future King." I'll confess, I've always been a huge fan of King Arthur. Always. That probably has something to do with this whole Sword in the Stone ride I've been writing about for months on end. You know the ride, don't pretend like you don't.
Saturday, November 15:
9:00 – 10:00PM
Austin City Limits – "Aimee Mann/Iron & Wine." Aimee Mann starts off the evening here with songs from her new CD; Iron & Wine follow. That's not to say that Mann didn't get enough iron and/or wine in her diet prior to her appearance.
On November 14, James Bond sallies forth back onto the big screen. His newest film, Quantum of Solace, continues a wonderfully long tradition. To be quite honest with you, the very idea of going to see Bond's latest adventure pleases me to no end. I think the films have something in them for everyone, young and old, male and female, what and whatnot. Perhaps, if he'd been born in this country, we could have elected him president.
