–10-Day Multi-Platform Initiative Encourages Viewers to Celebrate Julia’s Legacy Through Episodes, Special Tributes and Recipes–
ARLINGTON, VA; JULY 11, 2012 – For decades, following her screen debut on WGBH Boston, culinary pioneer and beloved public television icon Julia Child opened up new worlds for generations of Americans, showing them that cooking, even French cuisine, was enjoyable and within reach for all. In celebration of what would have been her 100th birthday on August 15, 2012, PBS will honor Child’s legacy through a multi-platform initiative spanning on-air, online, and social media engagement.
The public television celebration of this effort, from August 5 to 15, begins in the kitchen. PBS viewers and Julia Child fans are encouraged to cook their own versions of a classic Julia dish and share the experience through pictures and blogs on PBS Food and by using the Twitter hashtag #CookforJulia. Julia Child content can also be shared through various other social media channels, such as PBS’ Facebook page, PBS Food’s Facebook page, YouTube and Pinterest.
PBS invites fans to visit PBS Food as the home for all Julia Child content and to view nearly 100 exclusive limited-time full episodes from: IN JULIA’S KITCHEN WITH MASTER CHEFS, COOKING WITH MASTER CHEFS, THE FRENCH CHEF CLASSICS, BAKING WITH JULIA and three COOKING IN CONCERT specials, as well as recipes and other fun Julia-related content, including articles, links, quotes and a Julia personality quiz.
“At PBS, we are focused on serving the public with content that educates, enlightens and entertains. Julia Child embodied those characteristics, which made her a beloved public broadcasting icon,” said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. “With this multi-platform celebration, we’ve not only created a way for people of any age to explore Julia’s life and legacy, but we’re also encouraging them to get into the kitchen and cook, which is exactly what Julia would have wanted.”
The broadcast component of the celebration includes an encore presentation of JULIA CHILD MEMORIES: BON APPETIT! as part of PBS’ special August programming, as well as exclusive broadcasts of THE FRENCH CHEF CLASSICS, three episodes of Child’s original program THE FRENCH CHEF, which haven’t aired since debuting in the early 1960s (courtesy of WGBH Boston and distributed by American Public Television [APT]). A Julia Child marathon on August 18 and 19 on public television’s lifestyle channel, Create TV (also distributed by APT), will top off nearly three weeks of birthday activities (check local listings for all programs).
Additionally, PBS, Create and APT will honor her legacy through special tributes from well-known food personalities, producers, food bloggers and fans by encouraging the submission of testimonials, video blogs or favorite Julia memories by all who knew her personally or admired her from afar.
“Julia and I saw cooking the same way — a simple meal made with great care and the best ingredients, and a love for sharing the food with family and friends. She taught me to be more easy-going and casual and, more importantly, to have fun as we were teaching, and because of that (and her), I’ve been fortunate to have 13 series on public television, including my current one, Essential Pepin,” said public television chef Jacques Pépin. “I think it’s fitting to pay tribute to Julia by inviting people to share their own Julia-inspired creations.”
Fans can visit ShopPBS for a complete collection of all Julia Child cookbooks, THE FRENCH CHEF WITH JULIA CHILD DVDs, biographies and more. Throughout August, ShopPBS will run exclusive promotions, Facebook offers and more, to celebrate 100 years of this culinary icon. The JULIA CHILD’S FRENCH CLASSICS DVD, released on July 3, is available from ShopPBS.
About PBS PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 123 million people through television and more than 21 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.
About APT American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top rated programming to the nation’s public television stations since 1961. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT has distributed about half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles for nearly 10 years. APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Rick Steves’ Europe, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Moyers & Company, NHK Newsline, Lidia’s Italy in America, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, BBC World News and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. These programs include: For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots, Diana Ross: For One and For All, The Best of Soul Train, Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 7th year, Create®TV -- featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming and on the Web at CreateTV.com – is distributed by APT. APT is also a partner in WORLD™, in its 6th year, now featuring a mix of public television’s premier news, science and documentary programming and stories from the world over, with a complementary website at WORLDchannel.org. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
About Create®: Create® is the dynamic TV channel and website featuring the best of public television's llifestyle programming. Create programming spotlights public television's most popular hosts featured in cooking, travel, how-to, gardening and arts and crafts series and specials. Additional content, including the national CreateTV schedule may be found on CreateTV.com, including streaming video, projects, tips, recipes and detailed information about the hosts, programs and special features such as marathon programming. Create is produced and distributed by American Public Television, WNET/New York Public Media and WGBH Boston in association with National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA)and PBS.
– PBS –
CONTACTS: Michaé Godwin, PBS Communications, mmgodwin@pbs.org, 703-739-8483 Jennifer Byrne, PBS Communications, jrbyrne@pbs.org, 703-739-5487 Jamie Haines, APT Communications, jamie_haines@APTonline.org, 617-338-4455 ext.129
For images and additional up-to-date information on this and other PBS programs and initiatives, visit PBS PressRoom at pbs.org/pressroom.
