Monday, February 17
"Inside NASA's Space Centers" (Travel Channel, 9-10 pm E/P) This
documentary, filmed prior to the Columbia tragedy, provides a look at the
inner workings of the main centers of the U.S. National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. Further details are available at
http://www.nasa.gov/forkids.
"The White House: In Tune With History" (PBS, 10-11 pm E/P) This
documentary, premiering on Presidents' Day, profiles the music and
musicians featured at the White House during the past two centuries.
Since the Marine Band performed on New Year's Day 1801, White House
occupants have enjoyed the sounds of jazz, blues, opera, classical, folk,
country and western, and rock n' roll. Performers and historians who
recount their personal experiences at White House events include Isaac
Stern, Willie Nelson, Marta Casals Istomin, Geoffrey Holder and Mary
Chapin Carpenter. Other commentators include presidential historians
Doris Kearns Goodwin and William Seale, and journalist Hugh Sidey. Sam
Waterston narrates.
Tuesday, February 18
"A Letter From the Deep" (Cinemax Channel, 7-8 pm E/P) This documentary,
rated TV-PG for adult content, is about an event in August of 2000 when a
mysterious explosion sank Russia's state-of-the-art nuclear submarine,
Kursk, killing all 118 men on board. But could some of them have been
saved? This is a chronicle of the agony, uncertainty and frustration one
Russian woman faced upon learning that her husband was trapped at the
bottom of the Barents Sea -- and later that the government was holding onto
a letter he had written her in his final hours. Interviews with Olga
Kolesnikov provide a riveting testament to the human scale of the
tragedy, as well as how the cloak-and-dagger secrecy surrounding the
former Soviet Union still endures today.
Wednesday, February 19
"Dogs with Jobs" (National Geographic Channel, 6-7 pm E/P) This broadcast
consists of two episodes in the National Geographic Channels about dogs
who earn their keep just as if they were people. Included in Part 1 are:
Annie is the only basset hound in the U.S. who's competing for the Master
Agility Excellent title. Casey shows his grandson how to muck out
stables, but this workaholic border collie doesn't want to retire! Sailor
the pug learns to be calm, patient and generous in order to qualify as a
therapy dog who visits hospital patients. In Part 2, it's: Zelda is a
photogenic bulldog who appears in her own multi-million dollar line of
greeting cards, magnets, notepads and books. Azili, a Turkish Akbash
guard dog, works to keeps a flock of 75 fancy fowl safe by fighting off
foxes, possums, vultures and hawks. With a bell around her neck, Amy
helps Emma, a blind dog, avoid the obstacles in her path.
Thursday, February 20
"Witness James Baldwin" (A&E Network, 8-9 pm, E/P) This documentary
profiles the life of the celebrated African-American writer and civil
rights activist James Baldwin. Included are his expatriate days in Paris
and work with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, his personal and
professional successes and controversial struggles. In addition to
showcasing such texts as "Go Tell It on the Mountain", "Notes of a
Native Son", "Giovanni's Room", and his play "Blues for Mr. Charlie",
there are rare recordings of Baldwin reading his works. Narrated by Danny
Glover. Rated TV-G. A resource file for students and teachers is at
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/baldwin.htm.
