Image: The cast of “Downton Abbey,” courtesy of Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2015 for MASTERPIECE. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Nurse Mary Phinney and Josh Radnor as Jedediah Foster, courtesy of Antony Platt/PBS.
– Lineup features MASTERPIECE favorites including the final season of “Downton Abbey,” a “Sherlock” special and the return of “Grantchester”; the premiere of Civil War drama MERCY STREET;
and Ken Burns’s new two-part JACKIE ROBINSON –
– PBS explores diverse American history with in-depth documentary THE BLACK PANTHERS
and the third season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS –
ARLINGTON, VA; October 19, 2015 -- PBS’ winter/spring primetime schedule offers a number of exciting new beginnings, awaited returns and a few goodbyes: most notably to one of television’s most beloved dramas, “Downton Abbey” on MASTERPIECE, whose final season premieres January 3 (see a clip here). PBS welcomes the highly anticipated premiere of its Civil War drama MERCY STREET on January 17 (see a clip here), and the return of the MASTERPIECE hits “Sherlock”on New Year's Day and the British mystery series “Grantchester” this spring.
On April 11-12, America’s preeminent documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, brings viewers the two-part film JACKIE ROBINSON, memorializing the life of the Major League Baseball legend — the first African-American player in the major leagues. Commemorating the centennial of “America’s best idea,” PBS presents an encore of Burns’s acclaimed THE NATIONAL PARKS series beginning April 25. Compelling historical films are highlighted by THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION: INDEPENDENT LENS by award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, premiering February 16 (see a clip here); and genealogical journeys with the third season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS on January 5, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who also presents BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, which debuts April 18 and asks profound questions about the state of black America — and the nation as a whole.
PBS offers expanded British drama on Sundays in early 2016, satisfying viewers who crave more of the genre. Spring marks the fifth season of CALL THE MIDWIFE on April 3 with stories of midwives and nuns in London’s East End, and the final season of MASTERPIECE “Mr. Selfridge” (March/April, dates TBA) with Jeremy Piven as the flamboyant American entrepreneur of London department store fame. Set in 1950s England, the second season of MASTERPIECE “Grantchester” (April/May, dates TBA) follows sleuths Sidney Chambers, played by James Norton (“Happy Valley”), and Inspector Geordie Keating, played by Robson Green (MASTERPIECE “Reckless”), as they solve murders.
“As ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE premieres its highly anticipated final season, we bid a fond farewell to the fan favorite and also look forward to a powerhouse of drama throughout the entire season — including our new original American drama MERCY STREET, MASTERPIECE mysteries ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Grantchester,’ and the fifth season of ‘CALL THE MIDWIFE,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “Beyond the season’s strong drama lineup, our schedule showcases PBS’ commitment to a diverse programming slate, highlighted by Stanley Nelson’s THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION from INDEPENDENT LENS, Ken Burns’s new epic film JACKIE ROBINSON and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, as well as captivating new and returning specials across science and nature, biography, history, genealogy and the arts.”
To honor Black History Month, and as part of its commitment to celebrating the diversity of America year-round, PBS’ lineup enriches viewers’ understanding of African-American history, culture and experience. THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION: INDEPENDENT LENS on February 23 and INDEPENDENT LENS “A Ballerina’s Tale,” a documentary about Misty Copeland, the first African-American female principal dancer with the renowned American Ballet Theatre, on February 8.
On January 15, PBS presents WILLIE NELSON: GERSHWIN PRIZE, a tribute to the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Leading into Women’s History Month, AMERICAN MASTERS focuses on three notable women musicians – Carole King, Janis Joplin and Loretta Lynn – beginning February 19.
PBS explores individual and American history on GENEALOGY ROADSHOW. The third season premieres May 17 with a diverse cast of participants from cities around the country, including Boston, Providence, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and one city TBD. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores personal histories for a third season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS, which features Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, creator/writer/executive producer of “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy” Shonda Rhimes, television stars Neil Patrick Harris and Julianna Marguiles and more, starting January 5. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE marks its return January 12 and recounts the stories behind iconic figures in American history, including President James Garfield and outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.
PBS continues its commitment to independent film with provocative and moving stories from INDEPENDENT LENS, such as “Autism in Love,” conveying the relationships and challenges of four adults on the autism spectrum; “No Más Bebés (No More Babies),” which examines the case of Mexican-American women who claim they were coercively sterilized at a Los Angeles hospital in the late 1960s and 70s; and “In Football We Trust,” a behind-the-scenes look at the Polynesian pipeline to the NFL.
A chronological listing of winter and spring 2016 PBS programs follows, grouped by month and by premiere dates:
JANUARY ON PBS:
GREAT PERFORMANCES “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2016” – The Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Mariss Jansons performs favorite Strauss Family waltzes at the opulent Musikverein accompanied by the Vienna City Ballet. Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns as host, touring the picturesque city. – Friday, January 1, 2:30-4:00 p.m. and 7:30-9:00 p.m. ET
MASTERPIECE "Sherlock: The Abominable Bride" – Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the acclaimed modern retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories. But now our heroes find themselves in 1890s London. Beloved characters Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington), Inspector Lestrade (Rupert Graves) and Mrs. Hudson (Una Stubbs) also turn up at 221b Baker Street. – Friday, January 1, 2016, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET
MASTERPIECE “Downton Abbey, The Final Season” – The top PBS drama of all time approaches its climactic chapter. The year is 1925. Momentous changes threaten the great house, and its owners and its servants, while past scandals loom. The beloved ensemble is back for the farewell season, closing the book on a television legend. – Sundays, January 3 – February 21, 9:00 p.m. ET; series finale March 6, 9:00 p.m. ET
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW – On Monday, January 4, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW turns 20! PBS’ most-watched ongoing series celebrates 20 seasons with a new look, new hidden treasures and more appraisals than ever. Tune in to discover finds from Spokane, Washington; Tucson, Arizona; Little Rock, Arkansas; Charleston, South Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; and Omaha, Nebraska. – Mondays, beginning January 4, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “Chuck Norris vs. Communism” – The power of cinema ignited a revolution in 1980s Romania, as an intrepid VHS bootlegger and a brave translator brought Western movies to audiences behind the Iron Curtain. – Monday, January 4, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET
FINDING YOUR ROOTS – The third season continues its exploration of America’s family tree to reveal how our diverse racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds challenge many of our long-held national myths. Hosted and written by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this new season features 28 new guests, including Julianne Moore, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Senator John McCain, Norman Lear, Shonda Rhimes and others. – Tuesdays, January 5-March 8, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
FRONTLINE “Obama, Netanyahu and the Bomb” (w.t.) – In a two-hour investigation, FRONTLINE traces the increasingly contentious relationship between America and Israel and their bitter clash over Iran’s nuclear program. − Tuesday, January 5, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “Autism in Love” – Follow four adults on the autism spectrum as they open up about their personal lives and navigate dating and romantic relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that love can find a way. – Monday, January 11, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET
“The Mine Wars” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Go inside the coal miners’ bitter battle for dignity at the dawn of the 20th century. The struggle over the material that fueled America led to the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War and turned parts of West Virginia into a bloody war zone. – Tuesday, January 12, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
NATURE “Natural Born Hustlers” – Visit with the planet’s greatest animal hustlers. Meet the shape shifters, mimics, masters of disguise and illusion, cheats and sneaks in the animal world. From double-crossing cuttlefish to shady squirrels, bearded lady lions and criminal monkeys, this series reveals the modus operandi of remarkable animals going to elaborate lengths to claw their way to the top. – Wednesdays, January 13-27, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
“Staying Alive” (1/13)
Every day, animals must outwit predators, find or catch food, and then raise the next generation. Would they lie, cheat or steal from one another to survive? Of course they would.
“The Hunger Hustle” (1/20)
Animals the world over have adapted their bodies or behavior in extreme ways to create a tantalizing trap. It’s all the result of millions of years of artful adaptation – all in the name of luring in the next meal.
“Sex, Lies & Dirty Tricks” (1/27)
From artful illusions to blatant cheats, some males will do whatever it takes to trick the competition and beguile the girl. Size, style, and skill are all used to best advantage – or faked, if necessary.
“Bonnie & Clyde” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Discover the true story of the most famous outlaw couple in U.S. history. Though their exploits were romanticized, the Barrow gang was believed responsible for at least 13 murders, including two policemen, as well as numerous robberies and kidnappings. – Tuesday, January 19, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
WILLIE NELSON: GERSHWIN PRIZE – Rosanne Cash, Edie Brickell, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Raul Malo, Neil Young and more pay tribute to singer and songwriter Willie Nelson, the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Nelson’s lyrics give voice to America’s heartland and his music pushes genre boundaries. – Friday, January 15, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET
MERCY STREET – Follow a diverse cast of characters — doctors, nurses, contraband laborers and Southern loyalists — who intersect in the chaotic world of Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia, and the Mansion House Hospital in the early years of the Civil War. Starring Josh Radnor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Gary Cole, Peter Gerety and Norbert Leo Butz. – Sundays, January 17-February 21, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET; rpt. Thursdays, January 21-February 25, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET “Il Trovatore” – Verdi’s classic opera stars Anna Netrebko in her Met role debut as Leonora. Dmitri Hvorostovsky sings Count di Luna, with Yonghoon Lee as lead character Manrico, Štefan Kocán as Ferrando and Dolora Zajick as the gypsy Azucena. – Friday, January 22, 9:00p.m.-12:00 a.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “No Más Bebés (No More Babies)” – Follow the case of Mexican-American women who claim they were coercively sterilized at a Los Angeles hospital in the late 1960s and 1970s. Meet the mothers, their young Chicana lawyers and the whistle-blowing doctors who exposed the shocking practice. – Monday, January 25, 10:00-11:00 pm ET
MIKE NICHOLS: AMERICAN MASTERS – Meet one of America’s late, great directors (The Graduate, Angels in America), who discusses his life and 50-year artistic career, from the comedy duo Nichols and May to his final film, Charlie Wilson’s War. The program includes new interviews with Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and more. – Friday, January 29, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
FEBRUARY ON PBS:
INDEPENDENT LENS “In Football We Trust” – Learn the story behind the Polynesian pipeline to the NFL through the lives of high-school players in Utah, as they enter the high-stakes world of college recruiting and the promise of pro sports while struggling with gang violence and poverty. – Monday, February 1, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET
“Murder of a President” on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Explore James Garfield’s unprecedented rise to power, his shooting by a madman and its bizarre and tragic aftermath. Based on the best-seller Destiny of the Republic, the story follows the life of one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. – Tuesday, February 2, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “A Ballerina’s Tale” – Explore the rise of Misty Copeland, who made history as the first African-American female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theater. Get an intimate look at this groundbreaking dancer during a crucial period in her life. – Monday, February 8, 10:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. ET
NOVA “Memory” (w.t.) – Discover how researchers on the cutting edge of mind-control can implant, change and even erase memories. On this thought-provoking journey into the mind, NOVA investigates the mysterious nature of how we remember. – Wednesday, February 10, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION: INDEPENDENT LENS – Revisit the turbulent 1960s, when a revolutionary culture emerged with the Black Panther Party at its vanguard. Stanley Nelson tells the vibrant story of a pivotal movement that feels timely all over again. – Tuesday, February 16, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
NOVA “Iceman Reborn” (w.t.) – Murdered more than 5,000 years ago, Otzi the Iceman is the oldest human mummy on Earth. Now, newly discovered evidence sheds light not only on this mysterious ancient man, but on the dawn of civilization in Europe. – Wednesday, February 17, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
AMERICAN MASTERS “Carole King: Natural Woman (w.t.)” – Delve into the hit singer-songwriter’s life and career from 1960s in New York to the music mecca of 70s LA to the present. King joins collaborators and family in new interviews, while rare home movies, performances and photos complete the tapestry. – Friday, February 19, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “(T)ERROR” − Watch a covert terrorism sting unfold as a longtime counterterrorism informant takes on what he swears is his last job for the FBI and invites filmmakers to follow efforts to befriend a suspected jihadist, without informing his superiors. – Monday, February 22, 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET
FRONTLINE “Once Upon a Crime” (w.t.) – The two-hour extraordinary story of two New York City detectives who are convicted of the sensational murder of a businessman — and their decades-long fight to clear their names. – Tuesday, February 23, 9:00-11:00 pm ET
NOVA “Robots are Coming” (w.t.) – Machines with human-like capabilities have long been the stuff of science fiction. Until now. Meet the world’s most advance humanoid robots as they leave the lab, battle real-world challenges and endeavor to become part of our everyday lives. – Wednesday, February 24, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
AMERICAN MASTERS “Janis: Little Girl Blue” – Observe Janis Joplin’s life through intimate letters and rare footage in the first in-depth celebration of the iconic rock singer. Director Amy Berg presents a portrait of a complicated, driven, often beleaguered artist. Chan Marshall narrates. – Friday, February 26, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “Wilhelmina’s War” – A Southern grandmother struggles to help her family through a life marked by HIV, but may be unable to save those she loves. AIDS is a grim reality and a leading cause of death for black women in the rural south. – Monday, February 29, 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET
MARCH ON PBS:
AMERICAN MASTERS “Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl” – Explore the country legend’s hard-fought road to stardom. From her Appalachian roots to the Oscar-winning biopic of her life, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Lynn struggled to balance family and her music career and is still going strong after nearly 60 years. – Friday, March 4, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
MASTERPIECE “Mr. Selfridge, Season 4” – Jeremy Piven returns for a fourth and final season as the flamboyant American entrepreneur who founded London’s famous Selfridge’s department store. The acclaimed cast includes Katherine Kelly, Amanda Abbington and Tom Goodman-Hill. – Sundays, March/April, dates TBA
APRIL ON PBS:
CALL THE MIDWIFE, Season 5 – It’s 1961 and Poplar is beginning to feel the winds of social change, along with improvements in housing, sanitation and healthcare. In new episodes, the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House encounter complex and challenging cases, from an outbreak of typhoid to the increase in lung cancer, a pregnant teenager and a mother who vanishes. All are shaken when, several months apart, two babies are born with severe deformities. As they struggle to understand why, they must find ways to deal with the resulting medical and emotional fallout. – Sundays, April 3-May 22, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
JACKIE ROBINSON – Ken Burns examines the life and times of Jack Roosevelt Robinson, who in 1947 lifted a nation and an entire race on his shoulders when he crossed baseball’s color line. Burns reveals fascinating stories about the legend’s life on and off the field. – Monday-Tuesday, April 11-12, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
“Part One” (4/11)
Jackie Robinson, the grandson of slaves, rises from humble origins to integrate Major League Baseball, performing brilliantly in spite of the threats and abuse he faces on and off the field, and in the process, challenges the prejudiced notions of what a black man could achieve.
“Part Two” (4/12)
Robinson uses his immense fame to speak out against the injustice he sees nearly everywhere, alienating many who had once celebrated him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he seeks new ways to fight discrimination, but as the civil rights movement he once seemed to embody becomes more militant and he faces a crippling illness, Robinson struggles to remain relevant.
BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the last 50 years of African-American history, from the victories of the Civil Rights Movement to the first black president, asking profound questions about the state of black America — and the nation as a whole. – Monday-Tuesday, April 18-19, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA (Encore) – The six-part documentary directed by Ken Burns and co-produced with his longtime colleague Dayton Duncan is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. The series originally aired in September 2013. – Monday-Saturday, April 25-30, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
MASTERPIECE “Grantchester, Season 2” – The whiskey-drinking and jazz-loving vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton) returns alongside his friend and veteran cop Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green) for a second season of crime solving in the small country parish of Grantchester. – Sundays, April/May, dates TBA
MAY ON PBS:
INDEPENDENT LENS “Peace Officer” – Dub Lawrence is a crusading former sheriff whose investigations highlight the increasingly militarized state of American police. He established Utah’s first SWAT team, only to see that same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff. – Monday, May 9, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET
INDEPENDENT LENS “The Armor of Light” – Two Christians — an Evangelical anti-abortion activist and an African-American mother whose son was murdered — find common ground in the fight against a rising tide of gun violence. – Tuesday, May 10, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET
GENEALOGY ROADSHOW – A diverse cast of participants takes an emotional journey that uses history and science to uncover fascinating family stories, histories and mysteries from Boston, Providence, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles and one city TBD. Each individual’s past reveals a piece of America’s rich cultural tapestry. – Tuesdays, beginning May 17, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
THE NINE MONTHS THAT MADE YOU (w.t.) – This is the thrilling story of how we were all made, from the moment of conception to the moment of birth 280 days later. The film takes viewers through the gestation process, perhaps the most exquisite biological choreography in all nature. – Wednesdays, May 18-June 1, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
AMERICAN MASTERS “The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End” (w.t.) – Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music super group that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio. – Friday, May 27, 9:00 p.m. ET
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT – Co-hosts Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna lead the 27th broadcast of this night of remembrance honoring the service and sacrifice of American soldiers, their families, and all those who have given their lives. The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT airs live from the U.S. Capitol to an audience of hundreds of thousands, millions at home, and American troops around the world. – Sunday, May 29, 2016, 8:00-9:30 pm ET; 9:30-11:00 p.m. ET
PBS LearningMedia, a digital library of more than 100,000 resources for educators and students, will offer classrooms a host of educational resources, including video clips and interactives that inspire learning, from MERCY STREET, THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION: INDEPENDENT LENS, FINDING YOUR ROOTS, JACKIE ROBINSON, BLACK AMERICA SINCE MLK: AND STILL I RISE, THE NINE MONTHS THAT MADE YOU (w.t.), GENEALOGY ROADSHOW, NATURE and NOVA. The team will further support MERCY STREET by creating a series of webisodes and teacher support materials such as activities, discussion questions and teaching tips. Each webisode will focus on a topic related to the Civil War and tie it to contemporary issues, including government surveillance, innovations in medical technology and the roles of women during wartime.
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