Whether it's national, local, new, or an encore of a favorite, here's what to watch this May on Rhode Island PBS!
Through Our Eyes - Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25
From the producers of Sesame Street, Through Our Eyes is an intimate and inspiring journey into the lives of American families from the perspective of children as they navigate formidable yet all-too-common challenges along with parents and siblings. The series reveals the strength and perseverance of kids experiencing parental incarceration, climate displacement, the wounds of war, and homelessness. Episodes also delve into kids learning about their own race, ethnicity, and culture; facing and fighting racism; and taking positive steps toward building the future they wish to inhabit.
My Life is Murder - Continues on Saturdays at 10 p.m., May 4, May 11, May 18
Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Parks and Recreation) stars as retired cop Alexa Crowe in My Life is Murder, a contemporary Australian detective drama. Her old boss (Bernard Curry, Once Upon a Time) regularly asks for her insight on cold cases and a young police data analyst (Ebony Vagulans) is eager for mentorship. Whether Alexa wants to or not, she can't seem to stop solving crime.
Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! - May 5 at 2 p.m.
When Johnny Mathis decided to celebrate his 50th anniversary in the music business in 2006, he gathered 2,000 of his closest friends at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City and regaled them with an amazing concert replete with Mathis standards and unforgettable hits.
Newport: In This Together - May 5 at 10 p.m. and May 7 at 1 p.m.
Newport: In This Together highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Newport, Rhode Island – a city whose economy mostly runs off of tourism – and the importance of community in times of hardship. Filmed during 2020-2021 at the height of the pandemic, Newport: In This Together explores how class, race, and even age became intertwined in the face of a crisis. The film shares the story of how Newport citizens from all backgrounds were tested and then pulled together as a community to overcome the evolving challenges of the pandemic.
Petit Rat - May 12 at 10 p.m.
In 1940, a French Jewish girl's dream of becoming a ballerina is cut short by World War II. She vows that if she has daughters, they will become dancers. Nearly 80 years later, she and her two daughters confront the impact of that pledge. Petit Rat is a portrait of three women, bonded by the intergenerational trauma of war and uplifted by the resilience of familial love.
A Brief History of the Future - Continues on Mondays at 10 p.m., May 6, May 13, and May 20
A Brief History of the Future is a unique six-part documentary series about our futures and how we can reimagine them. Hosted by renowned futurist Ari Wallach, the show invites viewers on a journey around the world filled with discovery, hope, and possibility about where we find ourselves today and what could come next.
Possible Selves: Overcoming the Odds in Foster Care - May 14 at 2 p.m.
Alex and Mia are two brave teenagers living in foster care during their tumultuous high school years. The L.A. County Children's Court granted the filmmakers exclusive access to document their lives within the foster care system. The resulting documentary opens a heartfelt window into the lived experience of one of our least understood and most vulnerable populations: young people in foster care.
Village of Death: Oradour-sur-Glane 1994 - May 19 at 10 p.m.
In response to French Resistance activities in the area and the D-Day landing of June 6, 1944, a German SS (Schutzstaffel, or "Protection Squads") division arrived in the small French village of Oradour-sur-Glane on June 10, 1944, and massacred 643 innocent civilians. It was one of the worst atrocities of World War II. Four hundred women and children were taken into the village church and murdered. The men were shot. Only seven people managed to escape. Oradour remains a monument to the brutality of war and how civilians paid the price in WWII when the battle passed through their town, city, or village. Narrated by actor Jeff Daniels, Village of Death: Oradour-sur-Glane 1994 captures the lasting impact that this atrocity had on the region and the world at large.
National Memorial Day Concert - May 27 at 9:30 p.m.
Tune in to the 35th annual broadcast of America's national night of remembrance. Commemorate and honor our armed forces with a star-studded lineup concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra. Pay tribute to the men and women in uniform, the military families, and all who have given their lives for our country.
A Final Landing on Iwo Jima - May 30 at 3:30 p.m.
A Final Landing on Iwo Jima follows two men as they visit the historic war site. One is a 100-year-old veteran of the 4th Marine Division who returns to Iwo Jima for the final time after being wounded there in the savage battle decades earlier. The other is the son of a marine who has spent decades searching for details of his father's time on the island with little luck. He finally visits Iwo Jima to piece his dad's wartime puzzle together. Narrated by sportscaster Jim Nantz, the film details events leading up to, through and after the Battle of Iwo Jima via veteran interviews, archival material and recreations.
