Whether it's national, local, new, or an encore of a favorite, here's what to watch this December on Rhode Island PBS!
Shakira: Live from Paris, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.
Shakira, the highest-selling Colombian recording artist of all time with more than 70 million albums sold worldwide, was captured on film in June 2011 performing at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. Live from Paris is a concert special from the multiple Grammy, Latin Grammy, and American Music Award winner's successful Sale El Sol (The Sun Comes Out) tour, launched to promote her eighth and ninth albums (She Wolf and Sale El Sol). The tour set includes her biggest hits from "Whenever, Wherever" to "Inevitable" to "Hips Don't Lie." She also pays tribute to Frances Cabrel by singing "Je L'aime? Mourir." From beginning to end, it is Shakira at her best.
All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas in the Dales, Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m.
Celebrate the heartwarming MASTERPIECE series with clips and behind-the-scenes memories of its Christmas finales. Experience the kindness, empathy, and love in the magical village of Darrowby and the stunning Yorkshire Dales during the holiday season.
Cyndi Lauper Live...At Last, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. & Dec. 9 at 9 p.m.
Twenty years after her debut album She's So Unusual made her an icon, singer Cyndi Lauper performed an intimate concert at New York's Town Hall. Filmed in 2004, this special features dramatic renditions of her greatest hits, including "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," "Money Changes Everything," "Time After Time," and "True Colors."
Rolling Stones: Rock and Roll Circus, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. & Dec. 10 at 9:30 p.m.
In 1968, the Stones headlined "Rock and Roll Circus," a planned TV special that mated aerialists, fire-eaters, and acrobats with the day's top rock talent. Serving as both the show's hosts and featured attraction, the Stones performed a six-song set which climaxed with singer Mick Jagger writhing like a man possessed through "Sympathy For the Devil." The program also includes performances by The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, Marianne Faithfull, Yoko Ono, and The Dirty Mac, a supergroup featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The Stones chose to keep "Rock and Roll Circus" in the vaults for nearly three decades, making it one of the most elusive of rock artifacts. Songs include "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and "Yer Blues."
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Celebrating 50 years, Dec. 4 at 8:30 p.m.
Join the definitive Southern rock band for a 2022 concert from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Skynyrd fuses blues rock with their Southern hard rock swagger in this final performance by the last original band member Gary Rossington.
Native America: Episode #204, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m.
Celebrate the power of Native languages and the inspirational people who are saving them. From secret recordings to "Star Wars" films dubbed in Navajo, follow the revolutionary steps transforming Native America.
St. Thomas Christmas: Bloom Eternal, Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m.
An hour-long performance special that celebrates the Advent and Christmas season by drawing from both familiar traditional carols and innovative contemporary selections. This year offers a specifically commissioned piece for the concert, "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming" by Roger Cichy.
Eddy's World, Dec. 15 at 9 p.m.
The entertaining story of toy inventor Eddy Goldfarb, best known for the iconic Yakity-Yak Teeth and 800 classic toys. At 102 years old, Eddy still prototypes new toys in his garage machine shop and creates projects on his 3D printer
Clown by Quentin Blake, Dec. 15 at 9:30 p.m.
A half-hour animation that brings to life the adventures of a little toy clown, who has been thrown away. On Christmas Eve he goes on an exciting journey to find a new home for himself and his toy friends. After a series of unhappy incidents, he finds a poor but loving family (two children and a single mother) happy to welcome them in their humble home and love them. It's the story of an unusual outcast that talks about resilience and hope, which will resonate with many viewers in the difficult times we live. At the end of the film, we learn that toys only come alive when children love them.
The Great American Recipe: Episode 208, Dec. 17 at 10 p.m.
Gather one last time with the final three home cooks as they get ready for the grand finale feast. In the final round, their challenge is to prepare an entire meal that represents their Great American Recipe. Who will be named the winner?
Purdue 89th Anniversary Christmas Show, Dec. 18 at 10 p.m.
This one-hour condensed version of the 89th Anniversary Purdue Christmas Show features musical highlights from the full two-hour show. The first act of this fast-paced high-energy production features holiday favorites from Purdue Musical Organizations ensembles including the University Choir, Purdue Bells, Heart & Soul, the Purduettes, and the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. The second half features selections performed by the massed choirs of Purdue Musical Organizations.
Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Reading and Carols, December 20 at 1 p.m., Dec. 24 at 10 p.m., Dec. 25 at 7 p.m.
Westminster Choir College presents their yearly holiday music concert. Recorded in the Princeton University Chapel, the program features more than 400 musicians in five different choirs. The musical numbers performed in the hour-long special encompass a variety of styles, including traditional Christmas carols with audience participation, beloved choral works, a diverse array of holiday standards, and contemporary arrangements that both surprise and delight. Together with a number of secular readings, the evening brings beauty and comfort to viewers at this special time of year.
Carols at the Cathedral, Dec. 22 at 9 p.m. & Dec. 25 at 3 p.m.
Enjoy the architectural beauty of Saint John's Cathedral in Denver as the Cathedral Choir sings beloved Christmas carols. Dean Richard Lawson offers a hopeful message for all people of goodwill.
Christmas in New England, Dec. 25 at 4:30 p.m.
From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the traditions and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Season of Light: Christmas with Tabernacle Choir, Dec. 25 at 9 p.m.
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square join with award-winning artists Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet for Season of Light: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir, a festive and uplifting Christmas special. This concert will illuminate your holiday experience with timeless carols, treasured songs, and a story of heroic service.
Bob Ross Experience, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m.
From 1983 to 1988, Bob filmed The Joy of Painting in a makeshift studio in the L.L. Ball home near the campus of Ball State University. The Bob Ross Experience is an hour-long program documenting the transformation of his original studio into an intimate museum experience designed for those he inspired.
Karamu: Feast for the 7th Day, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m.
Hosted by lifestyle expert Sira Williams, Karamu: Feast for the 7th Day explores the tradition of Kwanzaa, focusing on the final feast that concludes the annual celebration. The half-hour program explores the history, principles, and symbols of Kwanzaa while celebrating the culinary traditions of West Africa. Featuring dishes from Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria, Karamu: Feast for the 7th Day focuses on food and culture, and their integral relationship to building community. Sira also shares her personal story as a child born in Mali, West Africa, to her American mother and Malian father, giving viewers insight into her experience growing up and the importance of African roots in American culture.
Music Row: Nashville's Most Famous Neighborhood, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m.
Music Row: Nashville’s Most Famous Neighbor tells the story of how a group of unremarkable bungalows became the heart of the country music industry and led to Nashville's title as Music City USA. Narrated by singer-songwriter Pam Tillis, the documentary focuses on the rise of the Grand Ole Opry and the subsequent opening of recording studios in the downtown area. It also looks at the beginning of Music Row and how it developed into a complete neighborhood housing the full spectrum of the music industry - from session musicians and recording engineers, to record labels and entertainment lawyers. Chronicled through vintage photos and archival footage, as well as interviews with a range of industry professionals and musicians, the hour-long film also recounts the establishment of Nashville's musical community and reflects on what Music Row means today in the changing music business.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36. Rhode Island PBS is now available to subscribers of YouTubeTV. The full schedule is available to live stream for free within the broadcast viewing area at watch.ripbs.org/livestream. An expansive catalog of PBS series, documentaries, and specials is available to Rhode Island PBS members through Rhode Island PBS Passport.
