PBS SpecialsTemporada 2011
TV-Y
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American non-profit public broadcasting television service with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. However, its operations are largely funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Its headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia.
PBS is the most prominent provider of programming to U.S. public television stations, distributing series such as PBS NewsHour, Masterpiece, and Frontline. Since the mid-2000s, Roper polls commissioned by PBS have consistently placed the service as America's most trusted national institution. However, PBS is not responsible for all programming carried on public TV stations; in fact, stations usually receive a large portion of their content (including most pledge drive specials) from third-party sources, such as American Public Television, NETA, and independent producers.
PBS is the most prominent provider of programming to U.S. public television stations, distributing series such as PBS NewsHour, Masterpiece, and Frontline. Since the mid-2000s, Roper polls commissioned by PBS have consistently placed the service as America's most trusted national institution. However, PBS is not responsible for all programming carried on public TV stations; in fact, stations usually receive a large portion of their content (including most pledge drive specials) from third-party sources, such as American Public Television, NETA, and independent producers.
Where to Watch PBS Specials • Temporada 2011
24 Episodes
- PBS Nature: Elsa's Legacy (The Born Free Story)E1
PBS Nature: Elsa's Legacy (The Born Free Story)A book and then a film that changed forever the way we think about wildlife. Elsa, an orphaned lion cub raised by George and Joy Adamson then released back into the wild, captivated audiences around the world, and became a symbol for all animals' right to live free. But behind the film and book lies the real story of the Adamson's life with Elsa. Their diaries, home movies, and detailed records reveal an intimate look into their pioneering work and unique relationship with lions. Recollections of the actress who portrayed Joy in the film, and memories of people who knew and worked with the Adamsons leave us with a new appreciation for the world of animals we never knew until Elsa and Born Free opened our eyes. - Clearing the Smoke: The Science of CannabisE2
Clearing the Smoke: The Science of CannabisMontanaPBS's new documentary, Clearing the Smoke, reveals how cannabis acts on the brain and in the body to treat nausea, pain, epilepsy and potentially even cancer. Extensive interviews with patients, doctors, researchers and skeptics detail the promises and the limitations of medicinal cannabis. - Behind the Britcoms: From Script to Screen
E3Behind the Britcoms: From Script to ScreenMoira Brooker and Philip Bretherton (Judith and Alastair from As Time Goes By (1992)) host this behind-the-scenes look at the work of the writers behind many of our favorite "Britcoms" (British situation comedies), revealing how their ideas make it to the screen. - Earth: The Operators' ManualE5
Earth: The Operators' ManualEarth: The Operators' Manual presents an objective, accessible assessment of the Earth’s problems and possibilities that will leave viewers informed, energized and optimistic. Host Richard Alley, a geologist, contributor to the United Nations panel on climate change and former oil company employee, leads the audience on this engaging one-hour special about climate change and sustainable energy. - Hitler On TrialE7
Hitler On TrialIn the summer of 1931, a young lawyer called Hans Litten put rising political star, Adolf Hitler, in the witness box of a Berlin court. He wanted to expose Hitler's hypocrisy and secret commitment to violence and shatter the Nazi party's political respectability. In an audacious and hostile cross-examination, Hitler was forced to defend his beliefs, his ambitions, his methods and the essence of Nazism, in open court. Litten wanted to challenge the public as Germany and the rest of Europe seemed to be sleep-walking to fascism. If Litten's warnings had been taken seriously, Hitler's financial support might well have collapsed. There would have been no Nazi election victory. No Reichstag fire, no Third Reich, no Final Solution. Litten didn't win, but Hitler never forgot and once the Nazis were in power, Litten was arrested and imprisoned in Dachau concentration camp where he ultimately committed suicide. A brave and complex individual, Litten was left-wing, Jewish, and passionately committed to the idea of justice. This documentary explores Litten's personal story while also examining the broader historical and ethical debate. It discovers the consequences of Litten's heroism both for himself and for those closest to him, tracking his tragic journey from court room to suicide. - The War of 1812E10
The War of 1812The War 1812 is a two-hour film history of a deeply significant event in North American and world history. The war shaped American, Canadian and British destiny in the most literal way possible: had one or two battles or decisions gone a different way, a map of the United States today would look entirely (and shockingly) different. The U.S. could well have included Canada - but was also on the verge of losing much of the Midwest, and perhaps the entire West to boot. The New England states, meanwhile, were poised on the brink of secession just months before a peace treaty was signed. The fires of this war forged the nation of Canada; at the same time, the result tolled the end of Native American dreams of a separate nation. By war's end, the process of Native nation removal had already begun in the southeast, paving the way for a Cotton Kingdom powered by slavery, and a United States that had been on the verge of collapse was ready to announce its arrival as a global power. The U.S. did not win the War of 1812, but the noble experiment of democracy had managed to survive intense pressure from without, and within. - Angle of Attack
E11Angle of AttackFrom the very first shipboard landing by Eugene Ely in 1911 to the latest debates surrounding unmanned aerial vehicles, Angle of Attack: How Naval Aviation Changed the Face of War chronicles the triumphs and challenges that Naval Aviation has faced since its invention, and brings to life the largely untold story of one of the pillars in our national defense structure. Angle of Attack tells the story of a hundred years of Naval aviation, from wobbly gliders to supersonic jets. The two-part series charts how technological innovations shaped strategic choices and, conversely, how strategic imperatives propelled Naval aviation toward innovation and reinvention. While chronicling the technological and strategic advancements of Naval aviation, Angle of Attack also highlights the aviators, the people in the cockpits who give life to the machines and their mission. - Steve Jobs: One Last Thing
E12Steve Jobs: One Last ThingFew men have changed our everyday world of work, leisure and human communication in the way that Steve Jobs, Apple's former CEO, has done. The scope of his impact was evident in the outpouring of tributes from around the world — voiced on Twitter as well as through makeshift memorials in front of Apple stores — following his death, from complications of pancreatic cancer, on October 5, 2011. Steve Jobs – One Last Thing not only examines how his talent, style and imagination have shaped all of our lives, but the influences that shaped and molded the man himself. The documentary takes an unflinching look at Jobs' difficult, controlling reputation and through interviews with the people who worked closely with him or chronicled his life, provides unique insight into what made him tick. Among those interviewed for the film are Ronald Wayne, co-founder of Apple Computer, Co. with Jobs and Steve Wozniak; Bill Fernandez, who is credited with introducing Jobs to Wozniak and was also Apple Computer's first employee; Robert Palladino, calligraphy professor at Reed College whose classes Jobs acknowledged with inspiring his typography design for the Apple Mac; Walt Mossberg, who covered Jobs as the principal technical journalist for The Wall Street Journal; Dean Hovey, who designed the mouse for Apple; Robert Cringley, who interviewed Jobs for his documentary Triumph of the Nerds; and Dr. Alvy Smith, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, which Jobs acquired in 1986. - The Incredible Journey of the ButterfliesE15
The Incredible Journey of the ButterfliesOrange-and-black wings fill the sky as NOVA charts one of nature's most remarkable phenomena: the epic migration of monarch butterflies across North America. To capture a butterfly's point of view, NOVA’s filmmakers used a helicopter, ultralight, and hot-air balloon for aerial views along the transcontinental route. This wondrous annual migration, which scientists are just beginning to fathom, is an endangered phenomenon that could dwindle to insignificance if the giant firs that the butterflies cling to during the winter disappear. - Hockey: More Than a Game
E16Hockey: More Than a GameHockey: More Than A Game is an hour-long documentary that explores hockey history and culture and offers an insightful, intimate look at the game described as “Canada’s gift to the world.” While capturing the timeless excitement of competition, the film relays the spirit of hockey among Canadians, its traditions, dramatic human stories and family commitment. Viewers also learn how hockey has evolved over nearly 200 years — from open-pond outdoor games to professional play in packed National Hockey League arenas. - Visions of New York CityE17
Visions of New York CityA soaring view of the world’s most famous city The legendary allure of New York has brought millions of dream seekers to the Empire City. From Wall Street to Washington Heights, down Fifth Avenue, through Central Park, over bridges, and across the grid, Visions of New York City celebrates the irresistible attraction of the magnificent metropolis in a breathtaking aerial tour. High-definition, helicopter-mounted cameras capture all the striking juxtapositions of nature and progress, geometry and geography. Soar over the harbour from Lady Liberty’s perspective, view sparkling skyscrapers at night, and roam through famous neighbourhoods from Little Italy to Chinatown, Harlem, and the Upper West Side. Informative narration, an evocative soundtrack, and stunning aerial and ground footage highlight the island’s iconic images, boundless energy, and enduring appeal. - Rotaries: Avalanche on the MountainE18
Rotaries: Avalanche on the MountainIt’s called “the Hero” and has been know to save the mountain for more than a century. It’s the railroad’s final line of defense against savage Sierra winters. The Rotary snow plow slept dormant in it’s comfortable lair in the railyards since 1998 until Mother Nature herself summoned the snow eating beast into action in March, 2011. Watch the Rotary’s massive power as it chews up the “Sierra Cement” just in time to save a rail crew caught in an avalanche! - Visions of IsraelE19
Visions of IsraelA stunning aerial tour of the ancient land Make an aerial pilgrimage to Israel, the world’s only Jewish state and Holy Land to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Stunning high-definition footage showcases Israel in all its diverse glory, flying over sites where Jewish rebels gave their lives; where Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans built outposts of their empires; and where Jesus Christ lived and died. Witness the magnificence of the country’s many holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, alongside exotic seaside resorts and the austere beauty of the Judean desert. With informative narration by Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman and ethnic music, Visions of Israel presents the natural and historical wonders of this sacred landscape. - Iceman Murder MysteryE20
Iceman Murder MysteryHe's been dead for more than 5,000 years and probed by scientists for the last 20. Yet today, Otzi the Iceman, the famous mummified corpse pulled from a glacier in the Italian Alps nearly two decades ago, continues to keep many secrets. Now, a new autopsy yields fresh clues to his way of life and the mysterious circumstances of his murder. If he was a warrior or a hunter, what was he doing so high up in the mountains, armed with an unfinished bow and useless arrows? If he was fleeing for his life, why did he eat a big meal less than an hour before he was killed? Besides clues to this original "cold case," Otzi's frozen remains reveal intriguing details of his life and times in the ancient Copper Age. Join NOVA as we defrost the ultimate time capsule, the 5,000-year-old man. - Raiders of the Lost GoldE21
Raiders of the Lost GoldIt might be the greatest haul of treasure ever accumulated in one place – but does it exist? This documentary examines the legend of Yamashita's Gold. Japanese imperial expansion across South East Asia during the 1930s and early 1940s saw an orgy of systematic looting across a dozen countries. Banks, government treasuries, temples and monasteries were all targeted and stripped bare. The spoils were intended to be shipped back to Japan, but this was effectively rendered impossible after 1942 as American naval superiority came to dominate the Pacific. - Alone in the Wilderness, Part 2E24
Alone in the Wilderness, Part 2Dick Proenneke's simple, yet profound account of his 30-year adventure in the remote Alaska wilderness continues in this sequel to Alone in the Wilderness. He continues to document his journey through his 16mm wind-up Bolex camera, capturing his own amazing craftsmanship, the stunning Alaskan wildlife and scenery, and even a visit from his brother, Jake.
