KAET Exclusive

Featured Programs - 2005

December 2005

Japanland
December 15, 22, 29 and January 6 at 10 p.m.
Japanland is a journey into the soul of Japan. For twelve months Karin Muller traveled from one end of the country to the other, living among the people and exploring Japan’s ancient cultural heritage and its modern ways. Karin followed the dervish mountain-cults as they undertook shamanistic austerities like fire walking, icy waterfall immersion and exorcism. She joined a samurai mounted archery team and learned how to handle a longbow on a galloping horse. She made a 900-mile pilgrimage in the footsteps of Japan’s most famous saint, and helped light ten thousand floating lanterns during Obon, the Festival of the Dead. Each episode provides a rare glimpse behind the tatemai, or external image, to see the honne, or true inner character of Japan.
Read the review by Ian Miller, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Arizona State University

November 2005

Masterpiece Theatre
The Virgin Queen
November 13 and 20 at 9 p.m.
A lavish new production based on the life and tumultuous 40-year reign of one of Britain's most fascinating monarchs, this four-hour epic explores the full sweep of the life of Elizabeth I - a teenage princess imprisoned in the Tower of London; her great love affair with Robert Dudley; her years of triumph over the Armada; her last, enigmatic relationship with the young Earl of Essex; and her death at the age of 70. Scripted by Paula Milne (The Politician's Wife), "The Virgin Queen" stars BAFTA Award-winning actress Anne-Marie Duff (The Magdalene Sisters) as the iconic Queen in a film set against the backdrop of some of Britain's most beautiful landscapes.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

Masterpiece Theatre "Kidnapped"
October 30 and November 6 at 9 p.m.
A mysterious inheritance. A wicked uncle. A luckless orphan befriended by a daredevil rogue. Shipwreck. Swordfights. True love. Who could ask for more? Masterpiece Theatre lives up to Robert Louis Stevenson's gripping tale of Highland adventure with a swashbuckling adaptation of “Kidnapped”
Iain Glen ( Kingdom of Heaven , Wives & Daughters ) stars as the legendary Scottish rebel Alan Breck, with James Anthony Pearson as Davie Balfour, the young hero whose abduction on the eve of inheriting the family title sets the story on its wild ride through mid-18 th -century Scottish history.
Also appearing are Adrian Dunbar ( The Crying Game ) as Davie's loathsome Uncle Ebenezer and Kirstin Coulter Smith as Catriona (pronounced Katrina), a crack-shot Highland lass who wins Davie's heart.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

October 2005

The Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition:
In the Heart of Music
October 9 at 5 p.m.
This program examines the competition and the competitors in the "Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition" held in Ft. Worth, Texas, in June of 2005.
Read the review by Robert Hamilton, Professor of Music, Arizona State University

Signpost to Freedom: The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott
October 24 at 10:30 p.m.
In 1953, the nation's first large-scale boycott challenging segregation was led by a handful of determined young men and women, the African American citizens of Louisiana's capital city. They staged a quiet revolt by refusing to ride city buses. In just eight days, they brought the city's bus system to the brink of bankruptcy. Word of the successful action spread like wildfire, influencing others like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read the review by Thomas Davis, Ph.D, J.D., Professor, Department of History, Arizona State University

Masterpiece Theatre
Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Silk Stocking
October 23 at 9 p.m.
When the body of a young girl is discovered, police assume she's a prostitute. However, Sherlock Holmes (Rupert Everett) concludes that the body is, in fact, that of the missing debutante Lady Alice Pentney. Her clothes later turn up on the body of another debutante, who has been killed in the same manner. Will her missing clothes appear on the next victim? And what about the shabby outfit discovered on Lady Alice? Did it belong to an as-yet-unknown first victim? Ian Hart portrays Dr. Watson and Helen McCrory is Watson's American fiancée.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

September 2005

American Masters
"Willa Cather: The Road is All"
September 7 at 8 p.m.
In 1883, the young Willa Cather was plucked from her luxurious home in Virginia and dropped into the vast, tall grass prairies of Nebraska. It was an experience that terrified but exhilarated her, and became the force behind all of her great novels: O Pioneer, The Song of the Lark, My Antonio, Death Comes for the Archbishop and the Pulitzer-Prize winning One of Ours. She has been a great inspiration to women writers and a great hero to women readers, rediscovered in every decade for the past 100 years. The program is filmed in widescreen HD, enhancing the beauty of the endless prairie and giving palable texture to Cather’s writings while bringing the frontier to life, restoring its grandeur, its desolation and this truly American literary genre. David Strathairn narrates, Marcia Gay Harden, an Oscar winner for Pollock, provides the voice of Willa Cather.
Read the review by Sarah Fedirka, Department of English, Arizona State University

American Masters
"Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea"
September 14 at 8 p.m.
More than 40 years after his death, Hemingway is one of the most widely read, and widely written about, American authors. His distinct style and profound influence are indisputable; his larger-than-life persona is still the stuff of heated debate. As well-known in his lifetime as any movie star, Hemingway was a dashing international figure who challenged the notion that writers exist in an ivory tower. An enormous critical success, his major works — The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls? are still in print, some in as many as 20 languages.
Read the review by Michelle Martinez, Department of English, Arizona State University

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
September 15 at 8 p.m.
PBS presents a rebroadcast of this groundbreaking nine-time Emmy Award-winning television movie from the 1970s. Based on the best-selling novel by Ernest J. Gaines, the fictionalized historical drama from director John Korty follows 110-year-old Jane Pittman, played by Cicely Tyson, on her incredible life journey from the end of the Civil War in the 1880s through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The broadcast includes an introductory segment hosted by Queen Latifah.
Read the review by Neal Lester, Chair, Department of English, Arizona State University

Great Performances
"John Lennon's Jukebox"
September 29 at 8 p.m.
A glimpse inside the musical development of one of the 20th century's greatest songwriters: John Lennon's personal, portable jukebox from the early 1960s. Its track list, scrawled in Lennon's own handwriting, cataloged 41 records of American soul, R&B and rock 'n' roll – the songs that inspired his rock 'n' roll dreams and shaped the Beatles' sound. "Narrated" by Lennon himself, via archival radio interviews, this performance-documentary takes the jukebox on tour to meet some of the artists whom Lennon strove to emulate as a young rocker.
Read the review by KOOL FM Radio's Bill Gardner
Visit the program Web site

August 2005

American Masters
"F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams"
August 31 at 9 p.m.
From St. Paul to the top of Long Island to Paris, this compelling documentary about the man wrote This Side of Paradise, Tender Is The Night and The Last Tycoon takes viewers on a uniquely American journey. F. Scott Fitzgerald's writings about the "beautiful people" of the 20th century — flappers, tycoons, young cosmopolitans in love — revealed a "wasteland" that lay begind the glitter of the Jazz Age, where dreams were shattered and lives were wrecked by extravagance, greed and grand illusions. This film, winner of a 2001 Peabody Award, is a literary biography based on his life and work, his tortured relationship with his wife Zelda and his troubled friendships with other literary giants, and includes insights from people who knew Fitzgerland and have never been interviewed.
Read the review by Ron Carlson, Regents Professor of English, Arizona State University

American Masters
"Ralph Ellison: An American Journey"
August 24 at 9 p.m.
Ralph Ellison's stature and respect emanate from a single novel, The Invisible Man, which changed forever the way Americans and people around the world think about race. A monumental work about a black man whose intellect and talents could not overcome barriers of his day, it won the National Book Award in 1953 and is widely read, dissected and debated to this day. Ellison's own story is no less remarkable than his fiction. He never completed his second novel — a fire in 1967 destroyed much of it — and he spend the remainder of his flife reconstructing its 2,000-page manuscript. He died in 1994, leaving it unfinished. In 1999, his literary executor edited the raw draft and released it under the title Juneteenth. In this film — named Outstanding Achievement in Documentary at Sundance 2002 — American Masters offers provocative re-creations from the novel and important interviews with Cornel West, Amiri Baraka, Stanley Crouch and Henry Louis Gates Jr., among others.
Read the review by DoVeanna Fulton , Assocaite Professor, English Department, Arizona State University

July 2005

The Open Road: America Looks at Aging
July 17 at 4 p.m.
This documentary examines the impending retirement of 77 million baby boomers — the most active, educated and vital demographic group of retirees the country has ever seen — and the staggering impact it will have on American society. This film explores the lives and work of dynamic and thoughtful individuals whose choices in life reveal the obstacles and opportunities all boomers will confront as they enter life's third stage. The program contains stories of people from all walks of life who have shaped and continue to shape their golden years. It also profiles retirees who found themselves unprepared for the financial hardships and are forced to return to work, as well as those who choose to volunteer.
Read the review by Laraine Stewart, Area Agency on Aging, Region One

June 2005

One Dog at a Time with Dennis Hill
June 4 at 9 a.m.
Professional dog trainer Dennis Hill's knowledge, skill and passion inspired him to create a new system of dog training which empowers - not overpowers - a dog. According to Hill, training systems involving submission, correction and fear come at a high cost; owners become taskmasters, and many of the joys of dog ownership are lost. Hill provides compelling, logical and easy-to-understand explanations of the five basic principles of his training system, including how to teach a "behavior-challenged" dog the meaning of "no."
Read the review by JoAnn Spencer, Arizona Humane Society

Mystery!
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
"In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner"
June 26 at 9 p.m.
Elizabeth George's crime-cracking duo is back to investigate four new contemporary murder mysteries — building to a dramatic climax that threatens Detective Inspector Lynley's relationship with the two women closest to him,
While tackling cases from the wilds of Derbyshire to the seedy world of London prostitutes, Detective Inspector Lynley and Detective Havers' prickly relationship is tested in a way it has never been before. Havers is demoted to a desk job, and she suspects that Lynley supported the action.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

May 2005

Independent Lens
"Red Hook Justice"
May 24 at 10 p.m.
In 2000, an experimental court opened in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a neighborhood plagued by a cycle of unemployment, poverty and crime. Instead of jail time, offenders are sentenced to job training, drug counseling and community service. Follow th eups and downs of several defendants and staffers involved in this legal revolution that has become a model for courts nationwide.
Read the review by Paul Bender, Professor of Law, Arizona State University
Visit the program Web site

Great Performances
"John Lennon's Jukebox"
May 18 at 10 p.m.
When it came to musical inspiration, even the Beatles got by with a little help from their friends. Like so many young aspiring musicians, John Lennon learned and improved his playing by covering and imitating his idols. This special explores some of the artists whose 45s were found in Lennon's jukebox and whose work contributed to his musical education.
Read the review by KOOL FM Radio's Bill Gardner
Visit the program Web site

Great Performances
"The Art of Violin"
May 22 at 4 p.m.
This program covers a vast panorama of the world's most celebrated 20th century violinists, including Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Eugene Ysaye, and many others. Thanks to a treasure trove of rare footage, today's audiences can now re-experience the unique sound and style of each of these influential artists. Complementing this rich archival material is a cross section of contemporary virtuosos, including Itzhak Perlman, Ida Haendel, Hilary Hahn, Ivry Gitlis, and Mstilav Rostropovitch, providing insight on the tradition of the violin and its 20th century
masters.
Read the review by Katherine McLin, Associate Professor, School of Music, Arizona State University

April 2005

Prisoner of Paradise
Ian Holm narrates the startling, true story of Kurt Gerron, a well-known German-Jewish actor, director and cabaret star in Berlin in the 1920s and '30s. He co-starred with the legendary Marlene Dietrich in the film classic The Blue Angel and sang "Mack the Knife" in the original production of Threepenny Opera. Gerron was captured and sent to a concentration camp, where he was ordered to write and direct a pro-Nazi propaganda film. This program follows Gerron's career and remarkable odyssey, offering a unique perspective on an extraordinary period in history.
Read the review written by Michael Rubinoff, Ph.D.
Dept. of Religious Studies, Arizona State University
Read the review written by Shai Ginsburg,
Langauges & Literatures, Arizona State Univeristy

The Meaning of Food
What we eat, how we eat it and with whom we share our meals reveals a lot about who we are. Food symbolizes life, joy, hope and home. It is how we define ourselves as members of a particular culture. Hosted by chef Marcus Samuelsson, this series travels the country exploring just what food means to America socially and culturally.
Read the review by Barbara Fenzl, Les Gourmettes Cooking School

Mystery! Malice Aforethought
This riveting two-part comedy centers on a popular country doctor whose ill-conceived decision to murder his "difficult" wife sets his life spinning out of control. Ben Miller stars as Dr. Edmund Bickleigh.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

Mystery! Miss Marple "The Murder at the Vicarage"
Peace-loving residents of the surprisingly homicidal village of St. Mary Mead can rest easy: Miss Marple's solving another baffling murder. The world's best-loved spinster sleuth returns to Mystery! in a new series, starring acclaimed British actress Geraldine McEwan as the lady with the knitting needles and the needle-sharp powers of deduction. Derek Jacobi and Janet McTerry are also featured.
Read the review by Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

March 2005

One Dog at a Time with Dennis Hill
March 5 at 9 a.m.
Professional dog trainer Dennis Hill's knowledge, skill and passion inspired him to create a new system of dog training which empowers - not overpowers - a dog. According to Hill, training systems involving submission, correction and fear come at a high cost; owners become taskmasters, and many of the joys of dog ownership are lost. Hill provides compelling, logical and easy-to-understand explanations of the five basic principles of his training system, including how to teach a "behavior-challenged" dog the meaning of "no."
Read the review by JoAnn Spencer, Arizona Humane Society

February 2005

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
Final episode airs February 2 at 9 p.m.
Airing during the 60th anniversary of the death camp's liberation, this three-part series is a chronological portrait of history's greatest mechanized mass murder site, focusing on the people involved and the evolution of their goals and decisions. Learn the gruesome facts about why Auschwitz was chosen for a concentration camp site, how the Nazis mechanized mass exterminations, and the complexity of the Nazi extermination plan.
Read the review by Michael Rubinoff, Ph.D.
Department of Religious Studes, Arizona State University
Visit the program Web site

Slavery and the Making of America
February 9 and 16 at 9 p.m.
This groundbreaking series chronicles the insitution of American slavery from its origins in 1619. New perspectives challenge many long-held notions (such as the idea that slavery was strictly a southern institution, in fact, a national institution) and highlight the contraditions of a country that was founded on the principle of "liberty and justice for all" but embraced slavery. Morgan Freeman narrates.
Read the review written by ASU professor Matthew Whitaker
Visit the program Web site

The Quiltmakers of Gee's Bend
February 21 at 9 p.m.
This one-hour film documents the modern lives and history of the black quiltmakers of Gee's Bend, Alabama. For more than 150 years, the women of Gee's Bend have made quilts reflecting their world. Over generations, they worked in isolation and poverty, continuing to inhabit the remote plantation land their forefathers once slaved. Today, art critics worldwide are comparing them to the great creative enclaves of the Italian Renaissance. Michael Kimmel of the New York Times says the quilts are "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced." Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, contemporary art curator of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, says, "It ask us all about genius, and where does it reside."
The film follows the quiltmakers on a poignant and sometimes comical bus journey to see their quilts exhibited at a major museum.
Read the review by Mark Newport, ASU School of Art

Nature "Snowflake: The White Gorilla"
February 20 at 8 p.m.
The only known albino gorilla in the world, Snowflake lived nearly 40 years as a beloved resident of the Barcelona Zoo. His appearance made him a star, but also led to his death from a rare skin cancer. Scientists and handlers who knew him and worked with him tell his remarkable story, and reflect on his legacy.
The Phoenix Suns' Gorilla offers his review

Read the review by Kevin Wright, DVM,
Director of Conservation, Science and Sanctuary
The Phoenix Zoo

Great Performances
"John Lennon's Jukebox"
February 18 at 11 p.m.
When it came to musical inspiration, even the Beatles got by with a little help from their friends. Like so many young aspiring musicians, John Lennon learned and improved his playing by covering and imitating his idols. This special explores some of the artists whose 45s were found in Lennon's jukebox and whose work contributed to his musical education.
Read the review by KOOL FM Radio's Bill Gardner
Visit the program Web site

January 2005

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
January 19, 26 and February 2 at 9 p.m.
Airing during the 60th anniversary of the death camp's liberation, this three-part series is a chronological portrait of history's greatest mechanized mass murder site, focusing on the people involved and the evolution of their goals and decisions. Learn the gruesome facts about why Auschwitz was chosen for a concentration camp site, how the Nazis mechanized mass exterminations, and the complexity of the Nazi extermination plan.
Read the review by Michael Rubinoff, ASU Faculty Associate
Visit the program Web site

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
January 17 and 18 at 9 p.m. on KAET
This film by Ken Burns chronicles the life and career of boxer Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion and one of the greatest fighters of the 20th century. Johnson ultimately lost in a bout in Cuba in 1915, after fleeing the United States following his conviction for allegedly violating the Mann Act, a progressive-era law used against Johnson to create an example against, to quote the prosecutor, "the evils of miscegenation."
Read the review by ASU professor Matthew Whitaker
Read comments from Arizona Senator John McCain
Visit the program Web site