PBS at Virtual TCA Summer 2022 Press Tour — Day 2
We’re back at it for our final day of the Summer 2022 TCA Press Tour.
MASTERPIECE was first to present, opening with a few announcements. Series executive producer, Susanne Simpson announced the 2023 return of “All Creatures Great & Small,” and “Miss Scarlet and the Duke.” In addition, MASTERPIECE is developing “Mrs. Churchill,” a new five-part series based on Winston Churchill’s wife, Clementine.
“Magpie Murders” session followed with Jill Green, executive producer, Eleventh Hour Films, Anthony Horowitz, writer and executive producer, Lesley Manville, actor, “Susan Ryeland” and Tim McMullan, actor, “Atticus Pünd.”
The new series opens when a mystery author dies under suspicious circumstances, with his last book seemingly unfinished. This leaves two mysteries: What happened to him? And how does his latest potboiler end?
Oscar nominee Lesley Manville stars as the author’s editor, Susan Ryeland, who assumes the role of detective in the case. Meanwhile, Tim McMullan plays the fictional sleuth in the incomplete novel, whose investigation parallels Susan’s.
Based on Anthony Horowitz’s ingenious bestselling novel, the six-part series also stars Conleth Hill, Michael Maloney, Alexandros Logothetis, and Claire Rushbrook. It premieres Sundays, October 16 — November 20, 2022, at 9:00 p.m. ET.
For MASTERPIECE’s second session, they previewed the new season of “All Creatures Great and Small.” Colin Callender, executive producer, Playground was joined by cast members Anna Madeley, “Mrs. Hall,” Nicholas Ralph, “James Herriot,” Rachel Shenton, “Helen Alderson,” Samuel West, “Siegfried Farnon,” and Callum Woodhouse, “Tristan Farnon.”
In the new season, James Herriot and crew deal with animals, courtship, and a brewing world war. Change is the order of the day as professional and emotional relationships mature in the rural Yorkshire veterinary practice immortalized by author James Herriot’s charming stories. Themes for Season 3 include new partnerships, romance, ghosts from the past, and doing one’s duty — and of course doing right by the animals.The new season begins Sunday, January 8, 2023.
PBS NEWSHOUR followed MASTERPIECE with its team of leading journalists. Managing editor and PBS NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff was joined by PBS News Weekend anchor and chief Washington correspondent Geoff Bennett, senior editor, Communities Initiative, Aaron Foley and senior executive producer and senior vice president, Sara Just.
PBS KIDS was the third to present with its new series ROSIE’S RULES. The new animated preschool comedy series features inquisitive and hilarious Rosie Fuentes, a 5-year-old Mexican American girl just starting to learn about the amazing world beyond her family walls.
Produced by 9 Story Media Group and its award-winning studio, Brown Bag Films, the show aims to teach children concrete social studies lessons about how a community works, helping them develop their awareness of themselves as individuals and as part of a broader society. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Rosie’s multicultural identity is a big part of who she is, and Mexican, Southwestern and Midwestern art, traditions, food, and music figure prominently in the series. The new series premieres Monday, October 3.
Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager, PBS KIDS joined Mariana Diaz-Wionczek, Ph.D., executive producer, Jennifer Hamburg, creator and executive producer and the adorable Ellora Lopez, voice actor, “Rosie” to discuss the series.
Next, GREAT PERFORMANCES from The WNET Group previewed the new production, “Black Lucy and The Bard.”
This production spotlights the mysterious love life of William Shakespeare and his illustrious muses, the “Dark Lady” and the “Fair Youth.” A cross-disciplinary tour de force performed by Nashville Ballet, the film explores themes of love, otherness, equality and beauty as the narrator embarks on a journey to discover her own power and worth.
“Black Lucy and The Bard” is based on the book and narrated by award-winning Nashville poet Caroline Randall Williams and features an original score by Grammy Award-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens. Williams and Giddens joined David Horn, series executive producer, and Paul Vasterling, choreographer and stage production director; and artistic director, Nashville Ballet to discuss the program premiering on Friday, September 16.
Following GREAT PERFORMANCES, Stanley Nelson and Nicole London presented two new films coming to PBS this fall.
BECOMING FREDERICK DOUGLASS is the inspiring story of how a man born into slavery became one of the most prominent statesmen and influential voices for democracy in American history. Featuring the voice of Wendell Pierce as Frederick Douglass. Premieres Tuesday, October 11.
HARRIET TUBMAN: VISIONS OF FREEDOM is a rich and nuanced portrait of the woman known as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, who repeatedly risked her own life and freedom to liberate others from slavery. Narrated by Alfre Woodard and featuring the voice of Wendell Pierce as Frederick Douglass. Premieres Tuesday, October 4.
Nelson and London were joined by Farah Jasmine Griffin, author and professor of English and comparative literature, Columbia University, and Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, author, Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman to discuss the film.
To close Day 2 of PBS Press Tour, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. presented two series he’s hosting this fall.
MAKING BLACK AMERICA: THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE is a four-part series from executive producer, host and writer Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In this latest series from the acclaimed Harvard scholar and documentarian, Gates and directors Stacey L. Holman and Shayla Harris, chronicle the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people.
The series recounts the establishment of the Prince Hall Masons in 1775 through the formation of all-Black towns and business districts, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, destinations for leisure, and the social media phenomenon of Black Twitter.
MAKING BLACK AMERICA premieres Tuesdays, October 4, 11, 18 and 25. Gates, Harris, and Holman were joined by Jason King, chair, Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to discuss the series.
And finally, Professor Gates shared a first look at the all-new season of acclaimed series FINDING YOUR ROOTS. Premiering January 3, 2023, the new season explores the family stores of more than 21 people across 10 episodes. Professor Gates was joined by Joe Manganiello and Tamera Mowry-Housley to discuss their family discoveries and series participation.
