WQED KICKS OFF TELEVISION SEASON WITH NEW NIGHTLY LOCAL PROGRAMMING
New to the lineup: conversation@WQED with Host Michael Bartley
PITTSBURGH – WQED kicks off the new television season beginning the week of October 8 with returning programs Experience Mondays at 7:30 pm; Horizons Tuesdays at 7:30 pm; Pittsburgh 360 Thursdays at 7:30 pm; and 480 2Fridays at 7:30 pm; and Filmmakers Corner Saturdays at 10 pm..
New to the local lineup this season is conversation@WQED, which will be seen Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. Hosted by Emmy-Award winning journalist Michael Bartley, conversation@WQED is a live, weekly discussion program focusing on topical issues. Guests will include local, regional and national newsmakers, community leaders, authors, educators, entertainers, athletes and more. Early guest bookings include racing legend Chip Ganassi and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Linda Lane. The televised program will also have a highly interactive component, through which viewers can interact using new media such as Twitter conversations and text polling.
Chip Ganassi will be the first guest on conversation@WQED on October 8 at 7:30 pm. Ganassi is an auto racing industry legend who calls Pittsburgh home and has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 30 years. He is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners in the sport.
“conversation@WQED is a new program that adds additional variety to our lineup of local programming,” said Deborah L. Acklin, President and Chief Executive Officer of WQED Multimedia.
“We’ve dedicated many years of effort to producing local shows that feature people in our community, shows that take the time to delve into issues, and shows that showcase the good things that are happening in southwestern Pennsylvania. Thanks to our members, the local foundation community, and loyal companies that underwrite our programming, we are able to produce and air a full schedule of locally-produced shows on WQED, more than any other PBS station in the country.”
WQED’s lineup of local programming for the first half of the 2012 – 2013 season includes:
Experience – Monday at 7:30 pm
October 8 – Pittsburgh’s Next Renaissance: Downtown Living.
Pittsburgh has often been named the nation's most livable city, but would you consider living downtown? Downtown Pittsburgh is in the midst of another major transformation and for the first time ever housing is a key part of the plans. WQED's Tonia Caruso explores this growing real estate trend, introduces people who live Downtown and shows the places they call home. From the practical to the posh, you might be surprised at what's available and what it means to the future of Pittsburgh.
October 15 – Woodworkers of Western Pennsylvania
They design furniture, craft sculpture and create fine collectibles. WQED takes you inside the studios and showrooms of Ron Layport, Tadao Arimoto and Thad Mosley to show how their special talent of blending art and nature results in some of the most fascinating woodwork around the region - and the world.
October 22 – Squirrel Hill in a Nutshell
Squirrel Hill is not only Pittsburgh's largest city neighborhood but also one of the most complex. In a time of declining city population, Squirrel Hill has grown. It has become the Pittsburgh's own Ellis Island, a mecca for varied ethnic groups moving to Pittsburgh, and home to the most unusual restaurants and stores in town. It's also becoming a model for city living. There's so much to see - in only 30 minutes, but you'll enjoy Squirrel Hill in a nutshell.
October 29 – Attachment Parenting
The Mommy Blogosphere was abuzz when Time magazine asked "Are you Mom Enough?" That question was accompanied by a provocative cover photo of a mother breast feeding her three year old toddler. "Attachment Parenting" is a practice that commonly includes: breast feeding into the toddler years, baby wearing, responding quickly to baby's cries, and for some parents co-sleeping with their infants and toddlers. WQED goes inside the homes of three families who practice Attachment Parenting, while exploring the philosophy and showing where it fits into the lives and realities facing parents today.
November 5 – Never a Spectator: The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
At a time when the electorate is clearly divided, even angry, WQED's Michael Bartley brings you the story of a Pittsburgh political giant who spent 40 years working both sides of the political aisle. Michael brings viewers a candid interview with Elsie Hillman, and takes viewers to an exclusive University of Pittsburgh gala, where political leaders and celebrities lauded her voice of reason, compromise, and friendship.
November 12 – Rose’s Garden: Surviving My Mother’s Mental Illness
Rose Clancy plants gardens in urban areas that could use green space. Her work brings beauty to the neighborhoods, but it also brings healing to Rose. She was raised by a mother who suffered from mental illness, and now Rose's gardens are helping her cope with memories of a troubled childhood, while raising awareness of an issue that impacts millions. This documentary focuses on how mental illness affects not only the person with the illness, but everyone in the family.
November 19 – Tamburitzans 75 Year Anniversary
Travel with the world-renowned Tamburitzans on the road and behind-the-scenes.The "Tammies" have delighted audiences for over 75 years as they perform, preserve and perpetuate the cultural heritages of Eastern Europe and its neighbors. WQED explores the legacy of the country's longest-running live stage show, and one of Pittsburgh's cultural gems.
November 26 – What Makes Rick Tick?
Rick Sebak is a Pittsburgh treasure whose award-winning documentaries have entertained and educated local and national viewers for 25 years. As he celebrates this anniversary at WQED, we look back at Rick's memorable programs and hear about the stories behind them. Rick talks about his inspiration as a filmmaker, while colleagues and fans share their thoughts on Rick's appealing and timeless body of work.
Horizons – Tuesday at 7:30 pm
October 9 – Hunger: Our Hidden Crisis
This special series on hunger and food insecurity in our region is made possible by a grant from Highmark. The series will be featured on Horizons and Pittsburgh 360, and include a televised town hall meeting.
October 16 - The Million Man March: 17 Years Later
In 1995 Minister Louis Farrakhan called one million black men to a march in the nation's capitol. Some estimates say that 1.8 million men came. Standing on the capitol steps Farrakhan cajoled those present to return home and become leaders in their communities, to establish businesses, take care of their families, and to stop the violence that results when one black man turns a weapon on another. Seventeen years later we look at the anniversary of that Million Man March to see what the Nation of Islam is doing in Pittsburgh to fulfill that pledge.
October 23 - Homewood is My Harlem
Vanessa German is an award winning performance poet actress and sculptor. She's had exhibits mounted at The Warhol, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and the August Wilson Center. Vanessa currently resides in the Homewood section of the city where she has established the love porch for kids to create art in the summer months, and reclaimed an abandoned home near her own, turning it into what she calls "The Art House." Come visit with Vanessa who say there is a great deal of overlooked culture where she lives. It is why she proclaims, "Homewood Is My Harlem.”
October 30 – Pittsburgh Literacy Council. A look at this organization, which teaches English as a second language.
November 6 - The Yanlai Dance Academy
Chosen from more than 7000 candidate Yanlai Wu was trained in classical Chinese dance at the Beijing Dance Academy. She came to America and established herself as the reigning ballerina for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Now she has established the Yanlai Dance Academy in Pittsburgh's North Hills and is training the future prima ballerina's of America.
November 13 – Nazi Olympics. How the 1936 Berlin Olympics started out as a propaganda display for Nazi Germany.
conversation@WQED – Wednesdays at 7:30 pm
Guests will be announced as they are scheduled.
Pittsburgh 360 – Thursdays at 7:30 pm
October 11 – Hunger: Our Hidden Crisis. An overview of the problem of hunger in the Pittsburgh region followed by a televised Town Hall meeting from the Fred Rogers Studio at WQED at 8 pm.
October 18 – One Young World.
One Young World is coming to one of the most livable cities in America – and in this Pittsburgh 360 segment, viewers will be introduced to the One Young World organization, its mission, and its impact around the globe. The segment will preview the 2012 Summit; hear from local organizers; and meet Pittsburgh-based delegates. In an exclusive interview with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, this story also highlights why Pittsburgh was chosen as the host city; and reveals why our city’s own vibrancy and progress provides the perfect backdrop for an organization dedicated to positive change, innovation, and leadership.
October 25 – Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys. This series continues from last season with how people are “teaching success” to young African American men. The Portrayal & Perception project is made possible by a grant from The Heinz Endowments.
4802 – Fridays at 7:30 pm
WQED’s popular Friday evening program that re-caps the news of the week continues with Host Chris Moore and regular guests Bill Green, Lynn Cullen, Valerie McDonald Roberts, and Heather Heidelbaugh.
Filmmakers Corner – Saturdays at 10 pm
Portions of interviews with filmmakers featured on the program will be available at WQED Interactive at www.wqed.org.
October 6 - The season kicks off with a visit from Mitch Lieb, executive director of the Reel Q, Pittsburgh's LGBT Film Festival which runs from October 12 through the 21st. Festival highlights and history are discussed and we get a peek at trailers from some of Reel Q's most anticipated films. Also, Nina Gibbs and Kahmeela Adams, co-producers of the Pittsburgh edition of the 48 Film Project. Nina and Kahmeela talk about what it takes to put together a complete film in just 48 hours. The episode will also feature the Projects big winners as well as audience favorites.
October 20 - Artist Frank Ferraro and singer John Vento were born only hours apart in a local hospital. Fate reunited them for the documentary Wine and Dust, with Frank acting as writer/director/producer and John serving as executive producer and inspiration. Wine and Dust is a honest look at the lives of a group of local musicians and the toll their passions have taken on their personal relationships.
WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).
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