PBS reveals new programming at Day 1 of Virtual Winter 2022 TCA Press Tour
Following the executive session, featuring remarks from PBS President & CEO, Paula Kerger, Sylvia Bugg, PBS’s Chief Programming Executive, and General Manager, General Audience Programming, introduced critics to The GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE, an uplifting cooking competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food unique and iconic.
Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, the new eight-part series will give talented home cooks from different regions of the country the opportunity to showcase their beloved signature dishes and compete to win the national search for “The Great American Recipe.”
From family favorites passed down through generations to internationally influenced recipes that are quickly becoming mainstays in American cuisine, the series mixes camaraderie with competition, revealing rich personal stories and the inspiration behind the contestants’ favorite recipes.
Judges and chefs Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry, and Graham Elliot joined Alejandra Ramos along with series executive producer Jilly Pearce and Virginia Public Media’s Steve Humble to discuss the series with critics. The program airs Friday, June 24 through August 12.
Next, David Horn, series executive producer for GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET introduced “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” He also shared a sneak peek at the upcoming season.
“Fire Shut Up in My Bones” marks The Metropolitan Opera’s return for their 2021–22 season following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard’s adaptation of Charles M. Blow’s memoir tells a powerful and profound story about a young man’s journey to overcome a life of trauma and hardship. The Met’s first production of a new opera by a Black composer, the production features a libretto by filmmaker Kasi Lemmons and is co-directed by James Robinson and Camille A. Brown (2020’s GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”).
Brown also choreographed, becoming the first Black director to create a mainstage Met production. The show premieres Friday, April 1
Terence Blanchard, Oscar®-nominated and six-time Grammy®-winning trumpeter and composer, Charles M. Blow, author, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” Peter Gelb, general manager, Metropolitan Opera, David Horn, series executive producer and Kasi Lemmons, librettist joined the virtual panel to discuss.
Cameo George, executive producer of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE introduced critics to the new documentary “Riveted: The History of Jeans.”
“Riveted: The History of Jeans” is the fascinating and surprising story of the iconic American garment. Worn by everyone from presidents to supermodels, farmers to rock stars, they’re more than just a pair of pants — America’s tangled past is woven deeply into the indigo fabric. From their roots in slavery to the Wild West, youth culture, the civil rights movement, rock and roll, hippies, high fashion, and hip-hop, jeans are the fabric on which the history of American culture and politics are writ large. Premieres Monday, February 7.
Tanisha C. Ford, history professor, The Graduate Center, CUNY, and author of Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style, and the Global Politics of Soul, and Emma McClendon, fashion historian, former associate curator, Costume at The Museum at FIT, and author of Denim: Fashion’s Frontier join Anna Lee Strachan, producer, writer, director and Cameo to discuss the film with critics.
Lois Vossen, executive producer of INDEPENDENT LENS presented “Try Harder!” to critics on Tuesday.
The film looks at San Francisco’s Lowell High School, one of the best public schools in the country, which draws high achievers from across the city into a fiercely competitive universe. Nearly 70% are Asian Americans. Follow seniors as the pressure intensifies to impress admissions officers at elite universities with their report cards, test scores, and overall awesomeness. The students proudly own their identity as nerds and tell their stories with candor and humor. The film asks, how do these kids define their identities outside of acceptance letters? Premieres Monday, May 2
Debbie Lum, director and producer, Donna Schmidt, parent of former Lowell student and film subject, Richard Shapiro, former Lowell physics teacher and film subject, and Ian Wang, former Lowell student and film subject, join Lois to discuss their experiences.
Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, introduced the final press conference for Day 1 of PBS’s Virtual Press Tour, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG.
The award honors living musical artists whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with George and Ira Gershwin, by promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations of musicians.
This year, Lionel Richie is the 2022 honoree and he joined producer Tim Swift to discuss his career and this award. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG premieres Tuesday, May 17.
