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Week Long Memorial Day Celebration

Featured HighlightJoin HoustonPBS for our week long celebration leading up to Memorial Day as we honor our military veterans. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. Throughout the week HoustonPBS will showcase an expansive lineup of programs to honor the service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, and their families.

Click here for a complete schedule listing.



Playdate Week on Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Featured HighlightIt’s a whole week filled with new adventures from everyone’s favorite little tiger.

Enjoy a grrr-rific week of playdates with “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” May 20 – 24 at 10 a.m. on HoustonPBS!



Here are this week's highlights:
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American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise
American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise
In 60 years in show business, Mel Brooks has earned more major awards than any other living entertainer. A comedy giant of our time, scrawny Melvin Kaminsky developed his aggressively funny personality on the mean streets of Brooklyn, to protect against bullies. His first public success came in the early 60s with the 2000 Year Old Man albums, recorded with Carl Reiner and unleashing Brooks' wacky mind on the world -- his brazen satirical film The Producers won the 1968 Oscar for best screenplay and such cult classics as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The Twelve Chairs, High Anxiety, To Be or Not to Be, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights followed. Ironically, this larger-than-life, loud-mouthed little man is very private and has been fairly reclusive since his wife of 41 years, Anne Bancroft, died in 2005. He has never authorized a biography and has requested that his friends not talk about him, making his full participation with American Masters a genuine first.
Monday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Saturday, May 25 at 10:30 p.m. on 8.2
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InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse – Eva Saint Marie
InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse – Eva Marie Saint
Eva Marie Saint began her career in early television and then found success on the Broadway stage, but it is her work in film that we best know her for today. From two classic films, North by Northwest and On the Waterfront, to the more recent Superman Returns, she continues to work as she nears her 90th birthday.
Monday, May 20 at 10:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Thursday, May 23 at 11:30 p.m. on 8.2
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Sunday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. on 8.2
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The Ghost Army
The Ghost Army
This program tells the true story of American G.I.s -- many of whom would go on to have illustrious careers in art, design and fashion -- who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects and visual illusions during the World War II. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops staged a traveling road show of deception designed to con the Germans right on the front lines. From Normandy to the Rhine, they conjured up phony convoys, phantom divisions and make-believe headquarters to fool the enemy about the strength and location of American units. Every move they made was top secret and their story was hushed up for decades after the war's end. Many of the men chosen to carry out these deceptions were young artists recruited from art schools across the country. Some would go on to become famous, including fashion designer Bill Blass, painter Ellsworth Kelley and photographer Art Kane.
Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Constitution USA with Peter Sagal: Created Equal
Constitution USA with Peter Sagal: Created Equal
The high ideals of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal" didn't make it into the Constitution in 1787. It took three-quarters of a century, and a bloody civil war, before the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 made equality a constitutional right and gave the federal government the power to enforce it. The far-reaching changes created by that amendment established new notions of citizenship, equal protection, due process and personal liberty. Today, those notions are being used to fight for same-sex marriage, voting rights, affirmative action and immigration reform.
Tuesday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Secrets of the Dead – Airmen and the Headhunters
Secrets of the Dead – Airmen and the Headhunters
This program investigates a fantastic WWII tale of jungle ambushes, extreme engineering, blow darts defenses, and enemy headhunting. In 1945, an American B24 bomber is shot down over Japanese-controlled Borneo. The airmen bail out and survive, only to find themselves isolated and lost in the impenetrable jungle. Briefed to fear the "savage" Dayak inhabitants, the Americans are instead taken in by these tribes and become witness to a compassionate, resourceful people who shatter stereotypes, protect them from the Japanese, and eventually deliver them safely into the hands of an eccentric British Major who orchestrates their rescue by building a bamboo runway deep in the Borneo interior.
Wednesday, May 22 at 9:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.2
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Into Harm’s Way
Into Harm’s Way
Into Harm’s Way takes an honest and unflinching look at the shadow the Vietnam War continues to cast on surviving members of the West Point Class of 1967. Compelling interviews, archival photographs and footage, animated sequences and contemporary clips chronicle the men's experiences - from their challenging first year as plebes to the fierce hand-to-hand jungle combat to their post-Vietnam lives. A collection of West Pointers poignantly share, sometimes with great emotion, their first-hand stories about the carnage of war, the war's impact on their lives and beliefs, and their enduring bonds of brotherhood.
Wednesday, May 22 at 10:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Arts InSight – Exxopolis
Arts InSight – Exxopolis
Think of it as a bouncy castle for adults! Architects of Air's luminous structure at Discovery Green called "Exxopolis" helps commemorate the park’s 5th anniversary. This monumental, inflatable, walk-in sculpture transforms the main lawn of Houston’s downtown park.
Thursday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Friday, May 24 at 9:30 a.m. on 8.1
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Friday, May 24 at 9:30 p.m. on 8.1
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Antiques Roadshow – Seattle, Hour Two
Antiques Roadshow – Seattle, Hour Two
It wouldn't be a visit to Seattle without a ride up the Space Needle! Host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Nicholas Lowry visit the tower to talk about World's Fair posters. Seattle's discoveries run the gamut with a circa 1964 "Star Trek" script and pitch letter; a Civil War dog collar; and Harriet Frishmuth bookends valued at $10,000.
Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Saturday, May 25 at 9:00 a.m. on 8.1
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Saturday, May 25 at 6:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Death in Paradise – Episode 8
Death in Paradise – Episode 8
A woman is found murdered in her bed with thirty coins in her mouth, and Dwayne's police shield under the bed initially makes him a suspect. On investigation, the woman is found to have been living under a false name and under protection as an informant of London's Serious Organized Crime Agency, who have a man on the island. Poole believes the killer is still on the island looking for incriminating documents the woman had. Events and people conspire to prevent Poole returning to his old job in London. Can Richard solve the case and meet a deadline that means he'll finally get what he wants - a return home?
Thursday, May 23 at 10:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Friday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.2
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Red, White & Blue – Hot Political Headlines
Red, White & Blue – Hot Political Headlines
The way in which we consume news is ever evolving. As a result of a 24-hour news cycle, the creation of on-line news agencies and social media we are bombarded daily with “in your face” and “up to the minute” coverage of any and everything happening in the world today. On this episode, Red, White & Blue takes the time to break down some of the big political issues and dig deeper to discuss how we are impacted by events and decisions made on hot button issues like immigration, gun control, and the media. This week’s guests include Paul ‘Iesa’ Galloway (Interfaith Ministries), Charles Kuffner (Houston Chronicle blogger), Jan Woodward Fox (Jan Woodward Fox PLC) and Chris Begala (Begala McGrath LLC).
Friday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. on 8.1
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Sunday, May 26 at 12:30 p.m. on 8.1
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Monday, May 27 at 11:30 p.m. on 8.2
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Live from Lincoln Center – Audra McDonald In Concert
Live from Lincoln Center – Audra McDonald In Concert
Live From Lincoln Center’s season finale features series host Audra McDonald taking center stage at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. At this special gala concert, the five-time Tony Award winner shines a light on her favorite music, including songs from a wide range of musical theater composers featured on her highly anticipated new recording, Go Back Home, her first solo album in seven years.
Friday, May 24 at 9:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Voces on PBS – Rebel
Voces on PBS – Rebel
Rebel chronicles the story of Loreta Janeta Velazquez, a Cuban-born teenager from New Orleans who fought disguised as a man during the American Civil War. Based on a 600-page memoir published in 1876, this film tells the story of an unusual Civil War soldier who was considered a hoax for over 100 years, but contemporary historians have found evidence of her existence.
Friday, May 24 at 10:00 p.m. on 8.1
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The Last Reunion: A Gathering of Heroes
The Last Reunion: A Gathering of Heroes
In 2004, the United States dedicated a long-awaited memorial to the 16 million men and women who served in the armed forces during World War II, the 400,000 who died in Europe and the Pacific and those who toiled in factories on the home front. A Gathering of Heroes recounts the touching and inspirational story of World War II veterans from Indiana who embarked on a cross-country trek to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorial which honors their sacrifice. On the 12-hour bus ride, the veterans (most in their 80s and 90s) reminisce about their war experiences, sharing their emotional tales of struggle and survival.
Friday, May 24 at 11:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Monday, May 27 at 9:30 p.m. on 8.2
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Mexico: One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless
Mexico: One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless
Everything tastes better cooked over a wood or charcoal fire - at least that's the Oaxacan credo. From soup to barbacoa, burning embers influence the flavor of Oaxaca's food in just the right ways. For starters, Rick guides us through the "taco corridor" at the 20 de Noviembre market just off the main square in Oaxaca. We can almost taste the richly-burnished chiles and onions as they grill alongside super-thinly sliced beef and pork and robust chorizo sausages. Then we see hot rocks plucked from the glowing embers and dropped into hot soup for making caldo de piedra (stone soup), a specialty from the village of San Felipe Usila. La Capilla, a campestre (open air) restaurant, in the town of Zaachilla, has served lamb and goat barbacoa for more than 47 years. Rick's so enamored with the process of burying the chile-seasoned meat in glowing embers that he creates his own version on the backyard grill. Served with Oaxacan pasilla tomatillo salsa, there's meat, fire and smoke in every bite.
Saturday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m. on 8.1
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The Daytripper – Fort Davis, TX
The Daytripper – Fort Davis, TX
Chet heads to West Texas to visit the Davis Mountains and explore the U.S. Fort that helped settle this vast desert. Chet visits a broom-maker, a rattlesnake museum, and gets a one-of-a-kind view of the stars at the McDonald Observatory.
Saturday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. on 8.1
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Sunday, May 26 at 3:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Globe Trekker – Around the World: Silk Road – Kashgar to Istanbul
Globe Trekker – Around the World: Silk Road – Kashgar to Istanbul
Holly Morris takes over the journey in Central Asia, where silk was traded for "flying horses" from the fertile Ferghana Valley. Crossing the Jiptik Pass to Osh, she then explores the ancient Kingdom of Samarkand and Bukhara before crossing the stony desert of Turkmenistan to the lost city of Merv. Then it's on to the modern capital of Baku in oil-rich Azerbaijan, her last stop before reaching the caravanserais of Turkey and finally the rich bazaars of Istanbul.
Saturday, May 25 at 4:00 p.m. on 8.1
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The Lawrence Welk Show – Something About A Hometown Band
The Lawrence Welk Show – Something About A Hometown Band
This show boasts an eclectic mix of musical styles including the polka, waltz, country, Broadway and patriotic songs. Larry Hooper is a "Ding Dong Daddy", Sandi & Salli invite us to "Keep A Little Sunshine In Your Heart", and Andra Willis recalls Wee Bonnie Baker with "Oh Johnny". The whole casts salutes Lawrence's birthplace with "My North Dakota Home".
Saturday, May 25 at 5:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Eisenhower’s Secret War
Eisenhower’s Secret War
This two-part documentary examines Dwight D. Eisenhower's unwavering commitment - both public and covert - to peaceful co-existence with the USSR in the tumultuous and uneasy Cold War years. Based on recent research by established scholars and writers, it provides a fresh understanding of how Eisenhower's national security policies and tactics kept a divided world at peace during the 1950s and in the ensuing decades. "The Lure of the Presidency," chronicles the movement to draft Eisenhower - then NATO commander in Europe - as the Republican candidate for president in 1952. "Building Weapons, Talking Peace" recounts President Eisenhower's battles against the Soviet Union in the escalating arms race.
Saturday, May 25 at 11:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Great Performances at the Met – Rigoletto
Great Performances at the Met – Rigoletto
Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer makes his Met debut with a new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto. The new staging moves the opera’s tragic events from a decadent 16th-century Italian court to the glitzy, depraved setting of the Las Vegas strip circa 1960. Polish tenor Piotr Beczala sings the Duke, an amoral lounge singer whose entourage includes the world-weary comedian Rigoletto, sung by Serbian baritone ?eljko Lu?i?. German soprano Diana Damrau sings the role of the innocent Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter and the victim of the predatory Duke. Slovakian bass Štefan Kocán sings the assassin-for-hire Sparafucile and Belarusian mezzo-soprano Oksana Volkova makes her Met debut as his seductive sister, Maddalena. Italian conductor Michele Mariotti conducts his first company performances of the Verdi masterwork, which features one of the most famous arias in all of opera, “La donna è mobile.”
Sunday, May 26 at 3:30 p.m. on 8.1
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D-Day: The Price of Freedom
D-Day: The Price of Freedom
D-Day: The Price of Freedom pays tribute to the courageous men who began the liberation of France more than 60 years ago. Throughout this moving documentary, former paratroopers, gunners, landing craft operators and others representing the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy share their harrowing tales of survival. Five veterans - some of whom were returning to Normandy for the first time since 1944 - make an emotional journey to the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, the final resting place of 9,000 of their fallen comrades. There, each speaks candidly about the unimaginable horror, despair and fear of the day. The program also explores why these aging men remain heroes to the French people. During their visit, young and old alike honor their liberators with toasts, ceremonies and other tokens of gratitude.
Sunday, May 26 at 6:00 p.m. on 8.1
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National Memorial Day Concert
National Memorial Day Concert
The National Memorial Day Concert honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform, their families and all those who have given their lives for our country. The show is broadcast live from the West Lawn of the US Capitol before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, to millions more at home and on the American Forces Network to troops serving around the world. The broadcast is co-hosted by Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise and Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna, two acclaimed actors who have dedicated themselves to veterans' causes and supporting the troops in active service, and features an all-star line-up in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Sunday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Sunday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. on 8.1
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Monday, May 27 at 8:00 p.m. on 8.2
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A Company of Heroes
A Company of Heroes
Easy Company, the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, widely known as the "Screaming Eagles," remains one of the most revered combat units in U. S. military history. The Army company's legendary exploits in World War II inspired Stephen Ambrose's book, “Band of Brothers,” and the Emmy®-winning HBO miniseries of the same name. In 2009, 20 of the few remaining survivors from Easy Company shared their rarely told stories of sacrifice and courage for Marcus Brotherton's oral-history book project, “We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories From the Band of Brothers.” In A COMPANY OF HEROES, those same veterans - along with the families of three deceased others - recount the horrors and the victories, the bonds they made, the tears and blood they shed, and the friends they lost.
Monday, May 27 at 9:00 p.m. on 8.1
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Community Cinema – <i>The Revolutionary Optimists</i>
Community Cinema – The Revolutionary Optimists

The Revolutionary Optimists focuses on Amlan Ganguly, a lawyer turned social entrepreneur, who has made a significant impact in Calcutta by empowering children to improve health and sanitation conditions. Filmed over the course of several years, The Revolutionary Optimists follows Amlan and three of the children he works with on an intimate journey through adolescence, as they fight for the better future he encourages them to imagine is deservedly theirs.

When: Thursday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, TX 77004
Map & Directions
Cost: Free
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