with Wes Moore

Wes Moore

What is it like to be a U.S. soldier returning home from war? What is going through their minds? How do they reintegrate into society, establish new identities, and find a new mission? Coming Back with Wes Moore answers these and

many other questions — providing a window into the lives of the brave men and women who have served our country during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We all have integration challenges,” says Wes Moore, the show’s executive producer, who is also an Army combat veteran and best-selling author. “We can’t expect people to go into a combat zone on Friday and be back in their hometown on Saturday and for everything to be smooth.” You’ll accompany Moore as he visits Bonnie Collins, the mother of Brian Collins, one of Moore’s oldest friends and a fellow officer. After getting married and beginning a new career, Collins abruptly took his own life. This tragedy motivated Moore to learn more about why some veterans can move forward with their lives, while others cannot.

Episode one, “Coming Back,” introduces you to veterans as they return home from the war. More than 2.6 million soldiers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. Episode two, “Fitting In,” explores the concept of identity — how it’s first altered during de-ployment and again when a veteran returns home. “Moving Forward,” the final episode, examines the veterans’ drive to find a new mission and continue making a contribution here at home.

You’ll meet Bobby Henline of San Antonio, Texas. A veteran of Desert Storm by age 19, he re-enlisted in the Army and deployed to Iraq three times. In 2007, Henline’s Humvee was hit

by a roadside bomb and over 38 percent of his body was burned. He has had more than 40 surgeries. Henline is now working to heal himself and others through his stand-up comedy and motivational speaking. You’ll also learn more about the inspira- tional story of Army National Guard Lieuten-ant Colonel and Congresswoman Tammy

Duckworth of Schaumburg, IL. In 2004, Duckworth was deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, and was one of the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation

Iraqi Freedom. When her helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm. She spent the next year recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Duckworth was elected to Congress in 2012, and since her recovery, she has taken up scuba diving and has completed several marathons. “They allowed our cameras into their homes and workplaces... [and] let us ask questions they’ve never been asked before. They’ve done it with a sense of optimism and pride about their service,” Moore continued. “This miniseries is not the end of the conversation; it’s the beginning.” Airs Tuesday, May 13, at 8 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

Photo credits: Courtesy of Mark Sobhani; Marc PiscottyGetty Images; Pfc. Reese Von Rogatsz/Released.

Bobby Henline

Tammy Duckworth

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MAY/JUNE 2014

Thomas Edison is a household name, but do you know who Charles Proteus Steinmetz was? Steinmetz found solu-tions to problems even Edison couldn’t solve — the secrets to controlling electricity. Divine Discontent takes you into the world of Charles Proteus Stein-metz, a man who was barely 4 feet tall and suffered lifelong physical ailments, yet he possessed one of the bright-est minds in science. He emigrated to the United States from Europe in 1889, and for years he maintained a small cabin overlooking the Mohawk River

near Schenectady. The press called him a wizard, however, his discoveries came from complex mathematical logic and they formed the foundation of modern electrical engineering. You might assume that he spent all of his time in the lab, but this genius was no recluse. His colorful life outside of science intrigued a nation and his fame

rivaled the best-known celebrities of the day. You will marvel at how his brilliance touched humankind forever. Airs in May on WMHT-TV; go to WMHT.org for air times. n

Scientists are discovering the simple rules that allow swarms to work so well. Relatively simple animals form a “collective brain” that enables them to make decisions and move like a single organism. “Swarms,” a NATURE presentation, examines some of the most extraordinary swarms on the planet, including a view from inside a locust swarm, mayflies along the Mississippi, and 17-year cicadas. Some super swarms like those of finchlike quelea in

Africa can be controlled through assaults on their roosts, but aggressive swarms of silver carp in North America seem able to overcome any kind of restraint. Dangerous swarms of killer bees, however, can be controlled to the point that they can be worn as a human bee suit. Swarms are probably not something you think of every day... but isn’t that the point of public television — opening your mind to the new and unexpected? Airs on Wednesday, May 21, at 8 p.m. n

To mark the 70th anniversary of the heroic escape of 300 Jewish prisoners from the Nazi death camp of Sobibór, in East Poland, Escape from a Nazi Death Camp travels back to Sobibór with the last remaining survivors to tell their extra- ordinary story of courage and determination. Gut-wrenching firsthand accounts and detailed dramatic reconstruction reveal the complete story, from the last-minute change of plans forced by the unexpected arrival of a trainload of SS soldiers and the systematic luring of camp guards to separate locations to the most successful escape from any Nazi camp during World War II. Airs Tuesday, May 20, at 9 p.m. on WMHT-TV.

NATURE’s “Swarms”

Escape from a Nazi Death Camp

You’ll sing along with all your favorites as the legendary folksinger performs both her classics and Celtic songs when Judy Collins: Live In Ireland premieres this May. Filmed on September 29, 2013, at Dromoland Castle in County Clare, the special features “Chelsea Morning,” “Cat’s in the Cradle,” and “Bird on the Wire,” as well as Irish tunes including “Wild Mountain Thyme,” “Danny Boy,” and “She Moved Through the Fair” featuring Irish singer Mary Black. One of Collins’ first musical influ-ences was her Irish tenor father, Charles “Chuck” Collins. When the family moved to Denver, Chuck began performing on radio with a repertoire that included music of his father’s native Ireland. Judy Collins has inspired audi-ences with her sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism over a five-decade career. Now 75, she is as creatively vigor-ous as ever, thrilling new generations as well as older admirers. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman who continues to create music of hope and healing that speaks to the heart.

Airs in June on WMHT-TV; go to WMHT.org for air time. n

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The wait is over! Last Tango in Halifax, Season 2, a six-part series, is about to begin. Your favorite actors return — including Derek Jacobi as Alan, Anne Reid as Celia, Sarah Lancashire as Caroline, and Nicola Walker as Gillian. You’ll probably remember that when Season 1 ended, Alan had just suffered a near-fatal heart attack. Having come close to losing each other forever, he and Celia decide to live life to the max. They plan a romantic secret wedding as soon as possible, but they are concerned how their daughters will react.

The uptight Caroline and rebellious Gillian are discovering they actually like each other, however Gillian’s need to own up to her night with Caroline’s ex-husband John could jeopardize the soon-to-be stepsisters’ fledgling friendship. What will Alan and Celia’s first days as a married couple be like? What huge personal secret will Celia reveal? Who is pregnant? As secrets from the past come tum-bling out and family members adjust to

changing relationships, can Alan and Celia find the long-awaited happiness they deserve? Season 2 returns Sunday, June 29, at 8 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

Imagine embark-ing on a voyage through the largest undersea battlefield in the world — hundreds of ships, tanks, and explosive mines that have been buried with their secrets for 70 years! NOVA takes you on this remarkable journey through its two-hour special, D-Day’s Sunken Secrets. Few battles of the war were more strateg- ically important than the D-Day Invasion at Normandy. On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the invasion against the heavily defended Normandy beaches to liberate Europe from the Nazis. In less than 24 hours, more than 5,000 ships crossed the English Channel, along with thousands of tanks, landing craft, and 200,000 men. You’ll witness firsthand the six-week under- water expedition led by Sylvain Pascaud,

director of opera- tions. Using sub-mersibles, under- water robots, and the latest 3D map-ping tools, teams of military historians, archaeologists, and specialist divers plotted the most extensive survey ever done of the

Normandy beachheads. The expedition was made possible through a unique collaboration between NOVA and organizations in Great Britain, Canada, and France. In addition to exploring ghostly remains of the vessels, the special reveals more informa-tion about the innovations that led to the Allied Forces’ success and the personal histories of WWII heroes. After all these years, you’ll still be in awe of what was accomplished. Airs Wednesday, May 28, at 9 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

Photo credit: Courtesy of Pascal LeFloch.

They knew how dangerous it was,

yet volunteers risked their lives to shatter the foundations of white supremacy in Mississippi. Freedom Summer, presented by American Experience, takes you back to 1964 when fewer than 7 percent of Mississippi’s African Americans could vote. Students from the North joined activists and local African Americans to canvass for voter registration, set up Freedom Schools, and establish the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party that challenged the all-white delegation at the Democratic National Convention. You’ll witness their struggles, pain, and triumphs as you listen to personal accounts from Bob Moses, the main organizer of Freedom Summer; folksinger Pete Seeger who performed for the volunteers; Julian Bond, who was then communications director for the Student Nonviolent Coor-dinating Committee (SNCC), is Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP, and is a Distin-guished Visiting Professor at American University; and many of the volunteers. “The Voting Rights Act of 1965 solidified the importance of the basic civil rights that organizers, volunteers, and Mississippians were fighting for,” says filmmaker Stanley Nelson. “It’s still a relevant fight today.” Airs Tuesday, June 24, at 9 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

Photo credit: Courtesy of Ted Polumbaum; Newseum.

D-Day’s Sunken Secrets

Last Tango in Halifax

country was in crisis. He had been there four months when at a game in Port Said, opposition-team fans attacked Pharaohs fans: 79 died; more than 1,000 were injured. As a result, the domes- tic league was suspended and several players retired. Bradley could have left, but didn’t. Then the team started winning.

“This is not just a film about soccer,” said Egyptian filmmaker Hossam Aboul-Magd. “I see the goal of developing a strong team, in the middle of a revolution, as a metaphor for the rebuilding of Egypt.” Airs Monday, June 16, at 10 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

MISSISSIPPI. 1964.

A Word from … SCOTT SAUER

Dear WMHT Member, For the next few weeks, WMHT will explore the lives of Americans who helped define us, especially those who have served in the US military. Coming Back will help you feel the experi-ence of a soldier’s return from war. Unsung Heroes honors the women who served in our armed forces from as far back as the Ameri-can Revolution. NOVA digs below Normandy’s beaches to discover new evidence of Ameri-cans’ sacrifices. And we’ll end May, as we always do, with live coverage of the uplifting Memorial Day Concert from Washington. All these programs have something that the media often ignores these days, respect for

those whose stories they tell. Members like you allow us to maintain high standards and always be fair to everyone you see and hear on WMHT. Thank you for your continued support. You give us the power to create television and radio programs that make the Capital Region a better place to live. Sincerely,

Scott Sauer Sr. VP External Affairs, & Assistant GM & Fellow Member

You’ll have the best seat in the house as the spectacular National Memorial Day Concert airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, May 25, at 8 p.m. As more soldiers come home from Afghanistan, it is especially important that we honor the courageous men and women who have served so valiantly, as well as all those who have given their lives for our freedom throughout U.S. history. Cohosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, this musical extravaganza features an all-star lineup with the National Symphony Orchestra, musical artists, and actors. In addition to enter-taining the audience in Washington and millions of home viewers, the concert will be beamed to troops around the world on the American Forces Network. Photo credit: Courtesy of Capital Concerts.

ANNIVERSARY

National Memorial Day Concert

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It is hard to believe that his life was lived by just one man. Presented by American Masters, PLIMPTON! gives you new insights into the many George Plimptons: legendary writer, cofounder of The Paris Review, friend to the rich and famous, and participatory journalist. What is a participatory journalist? Plimpton boxed Archie Moore, played quarterback for the Detroit Lions, worked in the circus, acted alongside John Wayne — and lived to write about his experiences. In his own words: “I enter other people’s professions in order to write articles and books on what

happens. You become what you want to become.” Filmmakers Tom Bean and Luke Poling interviewed and researched people from every aspect of Plimpton’s life in order to reveal the many facets of this one-of- a-kind person. You’ll hear from Sarah Dudley Plimpton, George’s widow; Medora and Taylor Plimpton, his daughter and son; Gay Talese, writer; Peter Mat-

thiessen, childhood friend and cofounder of The Paris Review; and many others. It’s a story about a life well lived. Airs Friday, May 16, at 9 p.m. on WMHT-TV. n

The quest for excellence in the face of turmoil...

American Pharaoh

In 2011, coaching the Egyptian soccer team was not on former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley’s radar screen, but when the Egyptians sought him out, he embraced the challenge of leading the “Pharaohs” to their first World Cup since 1990. A challenge it was. Bradley arrived just months after the military takeover — the

PLIMPTON! Starring George Plimpton as Himself

Courtesy of Matt Squire © Antony & Cleopatra Series Ltd.

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