Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the TV listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.
Saturday, February 26, 2011,
8-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“It's Good to be President " (behind the scenes at the White House)
You may think you know the president, but do you know what it's like to be the President? This documentary report ranges from the mundane tasks and the oddities, the perks and perils of being the most powerful man in the world. It reveals hitherto secret details of the President's every-day life inside the White House. Featuring interviews with past presidents, rarely seen recordings, and home movies, the program explores and exposes the day-to-day lives of our Commanders in Chief. Get a fresh perspective on the men you thought you knew. A look that trades everyday politics for their everyman side. TV - PG
Sunday, February 27, 2011,
7-8 p.m. E/P
CBS
Economics and World History
Middle and High School
”60 Minutes” (U.S. crooks and foreign spies)
This newsmagazine presents a special hour with two stories featuring hidden cameras that capture conmen at work. “21st CENTURY SNAKE OIL” –is an expose’ of medical conmen who prey on dying victims by using pitches that capitalize on the promise of stem cells to cure almost any disease. “STEALING AMERICA’S SECRETS” - CBS has obtained an FBI videotape showing a Defense Department employee selling secrets to a Chinese spy that offers a rare glimpse into the secretive world of espionage and illustrates how China’s spying may pose the biggest espionage threat to the U.S.
Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml?tag=hdr;snav#ixzz1EC6FLXtU
Monday, February 28, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History and Economics
Middle and High School
"AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Triangle Fire” (tragedy and workplace safety laws)
This is a documentary about events on March 25, 1911, when a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York’s Greenwich Village. The blaze ripped through the congested loft; huge piles of trimmings fed the flames. Petrified workers desperately tried to make their way downstairs, but the factory owners kept the doors on the ninth floor locked and the woefully inadequate fire escape soon crumpled. Hundreds of horrified on-lookers arrived just in time to see young men and women jumping from the windows. By the time the fire had burned itself out, 146 people were dead. Less than two years earlier, the workers of the factory had been leaders in an industry-wide strike to protest dismal wages and dangerous working conditions. Despite unlikely support from some of the wealthiest women in the city, including Anne Morgan, most of the workers returned to their shops without having their demands met. It took the tragedy of the fire and the ensuing public outrage to force government action. The landmark legislation that followed gave New Yorkers the most comprehensive workplace safety laws in the country. TV- 14
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/triangle
Tuesday, March 1, 2011,
9:00-10:00 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History and Economics
Middle and High School
"FRONTLINE: College, Inc.” (paying for a college degree)
This documentary investigates how a new breed of for-profit universities are transforming the way we think about college in America. Higher education is a $400 billion industry fueled by taxpayer money. One of the fastest-growing — and most controversial — sectors of the industry is the for-profit colleges and universities. Unlike traditional colleges that raise money from wealthy alumni and other donors, many for-profit schools sell shares to investors on Wall Street. But what are students getting out of the deal? Critics say a worthless degree and a mountain of debt. Proponents insist they’re innovators, widening access to education. The program follows the money to uncover how for-profit universities are transforming the way we think about college in America.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/etc/synopsis.html
Wednesday, March 2, 2011,
9:00-10:00 p.m. E/P
CNBC
U.S. History and Economics
Middle and High School
"Cigarette Wars" (healthy profits from unhealthy products)
In this documentary, Correspondent Brian A. Shactman reports on an industry that continues to thrive despite all we know about the dangers of smoking. 50 million Americans, and nearly a billion people overseas, still light up every day. And as cigarette taxes continue to skyrocket in the United States, driving the price up to as much as $14 per pack, a crime wave is booming, with black market profiteers cheating the U.S. government out of $5 billion in cigarette tax dollars each year.
We follow American tobacco farmers as they endure one of the worst growing seasons in four decades, facing record drought and increased pressure from the anti-tobacco movement. Increasingly marginalized, these growers refuse to give up or give in, trading their overalls for suits and traveling overseas to sell American tobacco in emerging markets. Their efforts, and those of the tobacco industry, to sell their product in places like China, India, and Eastern Europe, have prompted accusations that they are exporting a public health crisis.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/41644550/?__source=vty|cigarettewars|&par=vty
Thursday, March 3, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Geography
Middle and High School
”Naked Science: Surviving Ancient Alaska” (ancient hunter-gatherers)
Melting glaciers have exposed perfectly preserved human remains and prehistoric weapons in Alaska. Who were these ancient people, and how did they survive the harsh Alaskan wilderness? This documentary shows archaeologists in Alaska who have uncovered startling evidence of ancient hunter-gatherers who colonized North America some 14,000 years ago. At Denali National Park, excavators found stone tools, weapons, bone fragments and hundreds of artifacts. Then, in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, melting glaciers have exposed perfectly preserved human remains and prehistoric weapons. Who were these ancient people, and how did they survive the harsh Alaskan wilderness?
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4233/Overview
Friday, March 4, 2011,
6-7 p.m. E/P
History Channel
Science
Middle and High School
"Modern Marvels: Gas Tech " (chemistry)
Gas--it makes a balloon go up, cooks our food, and fills our lungs. But this invisible state of matter does far more, and has a very visible impact on the world. We follow natural gas from well tip to stove top and trace its use from 3rd century BC Chinese salt producers to modern appliances. Next, we investigate the most plentiful gas in the universe--hydrogen--which may also prove to be the most powerful. We also experience the cryogenic world of industrial gasses--what they do and where they come from--as we travel to the British Oxygen Company's Braddock Air Separation Plant to see how they freeze millions of tons of oxygen and nitrogen. And at the Bush Dome Helium Reserve in Texas, we learn why the US government sits atop 36-billion cubic feet of the stuff. Finally, we look inside the colorful world of gas and neon lights. So lay back, breathe deep, and count backwards from 10. TV-PG
Friday, March 4, 2011,
9-10 p.m. ET. 6-7 p. PT
CNBC
Economics and U.S. History
Middle and High School
"The Truth About Shoplifting" (what thieves cost you)
Every single day in North America, there are more than 600,000 shoplifting incidents. Eighty percent of us have stolen at least once in our lives. One out of every 10 of us shoplifts often. And now, organized crime has discovered that it’s a low risk way to turn a handsome profit. The truth is... stealing from stores is a big part of our consumer culture. And it’s a crime you pay for every time you step up to the cash register. This documentary examines the rise in retail crime and how the consumers’ quest for the lowest discount price fuels the market for stolen merchandise. Featuring surprising security camera footage, the latest crime-fighting technology and interviews from both sides of the law, this documentary investigates why people steal, who is doing the stealing, what others are doing to fight it, and how retail crime affects us all.
Saturday, March 5, 2011,
6-8 p.m. E/P
Planet Green Channel
Science and Geography
Middle and High School
"Tuna Wranglers " (where food comes from)
This a broadcast of the initial two episodes of a documentary miniseries about an important food source and where it comes from. Hundreds of miles offshore, a crew of brave men battle the elements and predators for the ultimate catch that could be worth millions of dollars. It takes a certain kind of person to willingly jump into a tuna pen 120 miles offshore and wrestle deadly sharks out with their bare hands. For South Australia's tuna fishermen, though, it's all in a day's work. TV-PG
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Media Menu for February 19, 2011
Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the TV listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.
Saturday, February 19, 2011,
5:30-8 p.m. ET, 3:30 – 5 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Sergeant York " (American hero in WWI)
This Oscar-winning movie tells the true story of the farm boy who made the transition from religious pacifist to World War I hero. Cast: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Director: Howard Hawks. On the eve of American involvement in WWII, the final scenes were being filmed at the Warner Brothers studio lot for one of the greatest war film biographies. It took many years to bring to the screen this account of America's most famous and honored war heroes, resulting in a film which would boost morale of an American public faced with the prospect of worldwide changes. TV-G
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Sunday, February 20, 2011,
7-8 pm ET/PT
CBS
U.S. and World History
Middle and High School
”60 minutes” (Tunisia, Sen. Scott Brown, “The King’s Speech”)
In the first story in this newsmagazine, “The Spark”, Bob Simon reports from Tunisia, where protests against the repressive government not only toppled its autocratic ruler, but sparked the uprising in Egypt that forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign. In the second story, “Against All Odds”, Massachusetts senator Scott Brown describes his traumatic childhood, including revelations of sexual and physical abuse. Lesley Stahl reports. Lastly, in a story about the movie “The King’s Speech”, reporter Scott Pelley talks to its starring actor, Colin Firth, and reports on the historic find in an attic that helped make the “The King’s Speech” an Oscar favorite.
Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml?tag=hdr;snav
Monday, February 21, 2011,
9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
PBS
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Jimmy Carter" (profile of President Carter)
Jimmy Carter is the protagonist of one of the most dramatic resurrections in American political history transforming his reputation as failed president to that of a successful diplomat and humanitarian. Jimmy Carter's story is one of the greatest dramas in American politics. In 1980, he was overwhelmingly voted out of office in a humiliating defeat. Over the subsequent two decades, he became one of the most admired statesmen and humanitarians in America and the world. This documentary traces the ascent of the ambitious farm boy from Georgia to the White House; the nature of Carter's political leadership in the context of the turbulent 1970s; the internal conflicts with his own Christian religion; the role of his confidant and advisor, wife Roslynn, and his eventual emergence as a world politician.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/carter
Monday, February 21, 2011,
10-11 pm ET/PT
MSNBC Channel
U.S. and World History
Middle and High School
” President Of The World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon" (interview with President Clinton)
Since President Clinton left office in January 2001, he’s taken on a new and very successful role as an international humanitarian—his Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton Health Access Initiative, the William J. Clinton Foundation and countless other worthy efforts have made him a hero to peoples across the globe. Clinton’s innate talent for diplomacy gained him international recognition in 2009 when he aided in the release of two imprisoned American journalists from North Korea. In the last year alone, he’s provided invaluable political support to President Obama, hitting the campaign trail for countless Democratic candidates leading up to the November 2010 midterm elections. In “President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon,” “Hardball” host Chris Matthews managed to spend a whirlwind week with Bill Clinton—hopping from the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City to Ireland, where Matthews sat down for a one-on-one interview with the former president. In addition, the hour includes intimate interviews with many of Clinton’s close friends and colleagues, including Tony Blair, Terry McAuliffe, John Podesta, Mary Steenburgen and Kevin Spacey.
Log on http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/msnbc/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2011/01/31/presidentofthew1296501542202.xml
Tuesday, February 22, 2011,
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
PBS
World History
Middle and High School
”FRONTLINE: Revolution in Cairo” (youth in revolt)
FRONTLINE dispatches teams to Cairo, going inside the youth movement that helped light the fire on the streets. We follow the “April 6th” group, which two years ago began making a bold use of the Internet for their underground resistance — tactics that led to jail and torture for many of their leaders. Now, starting with the “Day of Rage,” we witness those same leaders plot strategy and head into “Liberation Square” to try to bring down President Mubarak. Also in this hour, veteran Middle East correspondent Charles Sennott of GlobalPost lands in Cairo for this program to take a hard look at Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood — the most well-organized and powerful of the country’s opposition groups — as a new fight for power in Egypt begins to takes shape.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/revolution-in-cairo/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=proglist&utm_source=proglist
Wednesday, February 23, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science
Middle and High School
” NOVA scienceNOW: What’s the Next Big Thing?” (cutting-edge science developments)
In this episode of NOVA scienceNOW, come face to face with social robots that understand human feelings, carry on conversations, even make jokes. Then travel to Haiti, where geologists investigate the 2010 earthquake not long after it struck for clues to how to better forecast future quakes. Afterwards, join engineers at General Motors who are testing tiny, two-wheeled cars called EN-Vs, which one day might drive themselves through city streets. Learn about proposals for making our outdated electric grid "smart." And meet Nebraska native Jay Keasling, a pioneer in synthetic biology who shares his work on developing "designer" microbes that produce biofuels and medicines.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/what-is-the-next-big-thing.html
Thursday, February 24, 2011,
7-8 p.m. ET, 4-5 p.m. PT
Natural Geographic
Channel
Science and
Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Naked Science: Birth of the Grand Canyon” (earth science)
The Grand Canyon: It’s one of the most famous natural wonders of the world, yet little is known about how it came to be — and even less is agreed upon. NGC experts investigate the diverse theories about the canyon’s age, formation and iconic rock layers. Join us as we peel apart the mysteries of the powerful forces that, even today, continue to incise the Grand Canyon.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/6114/Overview
Thursday, February 24, 2011,
9-10:30 p.m. E/P
HBO
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Thurgood” (the life of civil rights pioneer and Supreme Court justice)
This is a film of the one-man show based on the life of the late Civil Rights great and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall starring Tony winner Laurence Fishburne. Filmed in front of a live audience at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in Washington, D.C., the play was written by Academy Award and Emmy Award winner George Stevens, Jr.; directed by Emmy Award winner Michael Stevens. The form of the play is a present-tense narration revisiting the turning points in Marshall’s life and career as he remembers them. Recalling childhood stories of his family and home life in Baltimore, to his college days in North Carolina as an aspiring lawyer, Marshall recollects his triumphs over adversity to pursue a successful career in the judicial system fighting for human rights. Establishing benchmarks in Civil Rights advancement, Marshall tried the historic case of Brown vs. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, successfully challenging the unconstitutional segregation of black and white students in public schools. His achievements eventually led him to become the first African-American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.
Log on http://www.hbo.com/#/movies/thurgood/synopsis.html
Friday, February 25, 2011,
10-11 p.m. ET, 7-8 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
”Surviving the Future" (good and bad news about the future)
What will life be like a hundred years from now? "Surviving the Future" explores the reality behind the most extreme predictions. Astonishing and provocative, this one-hour documentary examines why some predictions come true while others fade into obscurity, and concedes that, however fraught and inexact they may be, the effort to predict the future has a powerful hold on us. After all, human life and the life of the planet depend on it.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/15837856
Saturday, February 26, 2011,
8-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“It's Good to be President" (behind the scenes at the White House)
You may think you know the president, but do you know what it's like to be the President? This documentary report ranges from the mundane tasks and the oddities, the perks and perils of being the most powerful man in the world. It reveals hitherto secret details of the President's every-day life inside the White House. Featuring interviews with past presidents, rarely seen recordings, and home movies, the program explores and exposes the day-to-day lives of our Commanders in Chief. Get a fresh perspective on the men you thought you knew. A look that trades everyday politics for their everyman side. TV - PG
Saturday, February 19, 2011,
5:30-8 p.m. ET, 3:30 – 5 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Sergeant York " (American hero in WWI)
This Oscar-winning movie tells the true story of the farm boy who made the transition from religious pacifist to World War I hero. Cast: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Director: Howard Hawks. On the eve of American involvement in WWII, the final scenes were being filmed at the Warner Brothers studio lot for one of the greatest war film biographies. It took many years to bring to the screen this account of America's most famous and honored war heroes, resulting in a film which would boost morale of an American public faced with the prospect of worldwide changes. TV-G
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Sunday, February 20, 2011,
7-8 pm ET/PT
CBS
U.S. and World History
Middle and High School
”60 minutes” (Tunisia, Sen. Scott Brown, “The King’s Speech”)
In the first story in this newsmagazine, “The Spark”, Bob Simon reports from Tunisia, where protests against the repressive government not only toppled its autocratic ruler, but sparked the uprising in Egypt that forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign. In the second story, “Against All Odds”, Massachusetts senator Scott Brown describes his traumatic childhood, including revelations of sexual and physical abuse. Lesley Stahl reports. Lastly, in a story about the movie “The King’s Speech”, reporter Scott Pelley talks to its starring actor, Colin Firth, and reports on the historic find in an attic that helped make the “The King’s Speech” an Oscar favorite.
Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml?tag=hdr;snav
Monday, February 21, 2011,
9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
PBS
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Jimmy Carter" (profile of President Carter)
Jimmy Carter is the protagonist of one of the most dramatic resurrections in American political history transforming his reputation as failed president to that of a successful diplomat and humanitarian. Jimmy Carter's story is one of the greatest dramas in American politics. In 1980, he was overwhelmingly voted out of office in a humiliating defeat. Over the subsequent two decades, he became one of the most admired statesmen and humanitarians in America and the world. This documentary traces the ascent of the ambitious farm boy from Georgia to the White House; the nature of Carter's political leadership in the context of the turbulent 1970s; the internal conflicts with his own Christian religion; the role of his confidant and advisor, wife Roslynn, and his eventual emergence as a world politician.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/carter
Monday, February 21, 2011,
10-11 pm ET/PT
MSNBC Channel
U.S. and World History
Middle and High School
” President Of The World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon" (interview with President Clinton)
Since President Clinton left office in January 2001, he’s taken on a new and very successful role as an international humanitarian—his Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton Health Access Initiative, the William J. Clinton Foundation and countless other worthy efforts have made him a hero to peoples across the globe. Clinton’s innate talent for diplomacy gained him international recognition in 2009 when he aided in the release of two imprisoned American journalists from North Korea. In the last year alone, he’s provided invaluable political support to President Obama, hitting the campaign trail for countless Democratic candidates leading up to the November 2010 midterm elections. In “President of the World: The Bill Clinton Phenomenon,” “Hardball” host Chris Matthews managed to spend a whirlwind week with Bill Clinton—hopping from the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City to Ireland, where Matthews sat down for a one-on-one interview with the former president. In addition, the hour includes intimate interviews with many of Clinton’s close friends and colleagues, including Tony Blair, Terry McAuliffe, John Podesta, Mary Steenburgen and Kevin Spacey.
Log on http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/msnbc/pressreleases?pr=contents/press-releases/2011/01/31/presidentofthew1296501542202.xml
Tuesday, February 22, 2011,
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
PBS
World History
Middle and High School
”FRONTLINE: Revolution in Cairo” (youth in revolt)
FRONTLINE dispatches teams to Cairo, going inside the youth movement that helped light the fire on the streets. We follow the “April 6th” group, which two years ago began making a bold use of the Internet for their underground resistance — tactics that led to jail and torture for many of their leaders. Now, starting with the “Day of Rage,” we witness those same leaders plot strategy and head into “Liberation Square” to try to bring down President Mubarak. Also in this hour, veteran Middle East correspondent Charles Sennott of GlobalPost lands in Cairo for this program to take a hard look at Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood — the most well-organized and powerful of the country’s opposition groups — as a new fight for power in Egypt begins to takes shape.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/revolution-in-cairo/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=proglist&utm_source=proglist
Wednesday, February 23, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science
Middle and High School
” NOVA scienceNOW: What’s the Next Big Thing?” (cutting-edge science developments)
In this episode of NOVA scienceNOW, come face to face with social robots that understand human feelings, carry on conversations, even make jokes. Then travel to Haiti, where geologists investigate the 2010 earthquake not long after it struck for clues to how to better forecast future quakes. Afterwards, join engineers at General Motors who are testing tiny, two-wheeled cars called EN-Vs, which one day might drive themselves through city streets. Learn about proposals for making our outdated electric grid "smart." And meet Nebraska native Jay Keasling, a pioneer in synthetic biology who shares his work on developing "designer" microbes that produce biofuels and medicines.
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/what-is-the-next-big-thing.html
Thursday, February 24, 2011,
7-8 p.m. ET, 4-5 p.m. PT
Natural Geographic
Channel
Science and
Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Naked Science: Birth of the Grand Canyon” (earth science)
The Grand Canyon: It’s one of the most famous natural wonders of the world, yet little is known about how it came to be — and even less is agreed upon. NGC experts investigate the diverse theories about the canyon’s age, formation and iconic rock layers. Join us as we peel apart the mysteries of the powerful forces that, even today, continue to incise the Grand Canyon.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/6114/Overview
Thursday, February 24, 2011,
9-10:30 p.m. E/P
HBO
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Thurgood” (the life of civil rights pioneer and Supreme Court justice)
This is a film of the one-man show based on the life of the late Civil Rights great and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall starring Tony winner Laurence Fishburne. Filmed in front of a live audience at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater in Washington, D.C., the play was written by Academy Award and Emmy Award winner George Stevens, Jr.; directed by Emmy Award winner Michael Stevens. The form of the play is a present-tense narration revisiting the turning points in Marshall’s life and career as he remembers them. Recalling childhood stories of his family and home life in Baltimore, to his college days in North Carolina as an aspiring lawyer, Marshall recollects his triumphs over adversity to pursue a successful career in the judicial system fighting for human rights. Establishing benchmarks in Civil Rights advancement, Marshall tried the historic case of Brown vs. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, successfully challenging the unconstitutional segregation of black and white students in public schools. His achievements eventually led him to become the first African-American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.
Log on http://www.hbo.com/#/movies/thurgood/synopsis.html
Friday, February 25, 2011,
10-11 p.m. ET, 7-8 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
”Surviving the Future" (good and bad news about the future)
What will life be like a hundred years from now? "Surviving the Future" explores the reality behind the most extreme predictions. Astonishing and provocative, this one-hour documentary examines why some predictions come true while others fade into obscurity, and concedes that, however fraught and inexact they may be, the effort to predict the future has a powerful hold on us. After all, human life and the life of the planet depend on it.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/15837856
Saturday, February 26, 2011,
8-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“It's Good to be President" (behind the scenes at the White House)
You may think you know the president, but do you know what it's like to be the President? This documentary report ranges from the mundane tasks and the oddities, the perks and perils of being the most powerful man in the world. It reveals hitherto secret details of the President's every-day life inside the White House. Featuring interviews with past presidents, rarely seen recordings, and home movies, the program explores and exposes the day-to-day lives of our Commanders in Chief. Get a fresh perspective on the men you thought you knew. A look that trades everyday politics for their everyman side. TV - PG
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Media Menu for February 12, 2011
Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the tv listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.
Saturday, February 12, 2011,
10 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET, 7-10 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Gone With the Wind”
This Oscar-winning movie provides an ideas of what life and the issues were before, during and after the Civil War. Viewers follow the story of a fictional family, the O'Hara’s, one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Georgia and their plantation Tara which is often host to the region's biggest social events. Among the O'Hara children, Scarlett is the most headstrong, vain and impetuous of three daughters. She has her choice of many suitors but becomes intent on marrying Ashley Wilkes, a sensitive intellectual. When the Civil War erupts and brings devastation and poverty to the O'Hara family, Scarlett becomes the one who fights the hardest to preserve her family's beloved Tara. Through the roughest period of the Reconstruction, Scarlett struggles to maintain ownership of her estate while resisting and eventually succumbing to her most ardent suitor, Rhett Butler, who matches her in stubborn determination . TV-G
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=414427
Sunday, February 13, 2011,
9-9:30 p.m. E/P
Nickelodeon Channel
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
Nick news with Linda Ellerbee: Beyond I Have A Dream”
In 1963, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said he had a dream of racial equality. But Dr. King had more than one dream, and his message went well beyond a plea for racial equality. In recognition of Black History Month, and in honor of the 25th year we’ve celebrated Dr. King’s birthday as a national holiday, this documentary focuses on what else the man said — and dreamed — and what it might mean to kids in this, the second decade of the 21st century. ”Kids sometimes tell us all they know, all they’re taught, is that he was the ‘I have a dream guy.’ And he was, but that’s not all he was,” said program host Linda Ellerbee. “For instance, Dr. King said, ‘Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.’ Well, there are some smart, strong kids out there planting their own apple trees. These are some of their stories.”
Each kids’ story segment begins with a related quote from Dr. King that does not come from his famous “I Have a Dream” speech:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
“Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals.”
“Life’s most urgent question is: what are you doing for others “Hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love.”
Log on http://news.nick.com/02/2011/04/beyond-i-have-a-dream
Sunday, February 13, 2011,
10:30-11:30 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Digital Media: New Learners Of The 21ST Century ”
Documenting five success stories both inside and out of the classroom, this program demonstrates how digital media, games, smart phones and the Internet are fundamentally transforming the way young people communicate, collaborate, participate and learn in the 21st century. Targeted at parents, teachers and anyone concerned with education in America, the program takes viewers to the front lines of an education revolution. It examines how digital media practices can empower young people to direct their own learning and both inside and out of the classroom. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/digital-media
Monday, February 14, 2011,
7-7:30 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
ABC
Science and Technology
Elementary, Middle and High School
”Jeopardy: A Computer Named "Watson" vs. Show’s Most Successful Prior Contestants - Round One”
Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, was built by a team of IBM scientists who set out to accomplish a grand challenge - build a computing system that rivals a human's ability to answer questions posed in natural language with speed, accuracy and confidence. The Jeopardy format provides a challenge because the game's clues involve analyzing subtle meaning, irony, riddles, and other complexities in which humans excel and computers traditionally do not. Competing against Watson will be two of the most celebrated players ever to appear on Jeopardy. Ken Jennings broke the Jeopardy record for the most consecutive games played by winning 74 games in a row during the 2004-2005 season, resulting in winnings of more than $2.5 million. Brad Rutter won the highest cumulative amount ever by a single Jeopardy! player, earning $3,255,102. (Rounds Two and Three air in this time slot February 15 and 16, respectively)
Log on http://www.jeopardy.com/news/watson1x7ap4.php
Monday, February 14, 2011,
10-11 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Explorer: Clash of the Americas”
It may have been one of the most cataclysmic geologic events of the last 60 million years, which shaped America as we know it today. The narrow, 400-mile-long Isthmus of Panama, once buried below the sea, rose up and connected North and South America. This new land bridge unleashed an astonishing animal encounter: Prehistoric predators and prey — each unique to their worlds — came face-to-face for the first time. An armor-plated ancestor of the armadillo. A saber-toothed marsupial. A horse-like creature with three-toed feet. Evolutionary history changed forever as animals from the continents clashed. Today, as shown in this documentary, scientists are on a quest to discover what happened and which creatures survived.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4831/Overview
Tuesday, February 15, 2011,
10-11 p.m. ET, 7-8 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
” 60 Minutes on CNBC: Science & Money”
This program takes viewers a step further into investigative reports, interviews, profiles, and features stories that have made "60 Minutes" important viewing. CNBC now presents updates and never before seen footage of these award winning business news stories. Included in this program :
The Cost of Dying - reports on the high cost of end-of-life care and the explosive political debate surrounding health care.
Are They Safe? Are everyday plastics dangerous to you health? 60 Minutes on CNBC investigates the questions surrounding the safety of chemicals found in plastics and their effects on humans and fetuses.
Patented - reports on the controversy over the practice of biotech companies patenting of specific human genes.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/40795923
Wednesday, February 16, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
” NOVA scienceNOW ”
Where Did We Come From? Where did the very first living thing on Earth come from? Can a simple injection erase a painful memory? In this episode of NOVA scienceNOW, journey back in time to the birth of our solar system to examine whether the key to our planet's existence might have been the explosive shockwave of an ancient supernova. Meet a chemist who has yielded a new kind of "recipe" for natural processes to assemble and create the building blocks of life. And see how the head louse, a creepy critter that's been sucking our blood for millions of years, is offering clues about our evolution. Finally, meet neuroscientist André Fenton, who is looking into erasing painful memories with an injection. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/where-did-we-come-from.html
Thursday, February 17, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science
Middle and High School
” Naked Science: Finding the Origin of Life”
Some scientists think life began on earth when it arrived on an extraterrestrial meteorite. Others claim it began in a warm pond on early Earth. Or could volcanoes and lightning have sparked early life? Now, research teams from Denmark to Hawaii are racing to understand how life may have begun — by creating it themselves. In this documentary watch as a scientist mixes up a batch of primordial soup and then zaps it with a bolt of electricity, a la Dr. Frankenstein. The results: amino acids, the building blocks of all life.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Friday, February 18, 2011,
9-10 p.m. ET, 6-7 p.m. PT
CNBC
Technology and Economics
Middle and High School
” The Selling Game"
TV advertising used to be such an easy business. They played the ads, we watched the ads. But along came hundreds of new channels, and Tivo, and the internet, and scattered audiences, and as the visionary ad man Peter Sealey tells us..."in the mid-1960s I could reach 80% of the women in the United States of America with three daytime black and white commercials... Today, it would take 97 prime time 30-second ads to get that same reach." This documentary is about how marketers not only survived the so called Panic on Madison Avenue, but rang in a new gilded age of advertising. Digital media, the internet and cable tv, have handed marketers incredibly powerful new keys to our hearts and minds, and wallets. We take you inside the Trojan Horses that dominate the business nowadays to show you the latest tricks in ad land. It's a new world of persuasion. You'll never look at ads the same way again. (This program repeats February 20, 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT)
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Saturday, February 19, 2011,
5:30-8 p.m. ET, 3:30 – 5 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Sergeant York "
This Oscar-winning movie tells the true story of the farm boy who made the transition from religious pacifist to World War I hero. Cast: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Director: Howard Hawks. On the eve of American involvement in WWII, the final scenes were being filmed at the Warner Brothers studio lot for one of the greatest war film biographies. It took many years to bring to the screen this account of America's most famous and honored war heroes, resulting in a film which would boost morale of an American public faced with the prospect of worldwide changes. TV-G
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Saturday, February 12, 2011,
10 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET, 7-10 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Gone With the Wind”
This Oscar-winning movie provides an ideas of what life and the issues were before, during and after the Civil War. Viewers follow the story of a fictional family, the O'Hara’s, one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Georgia and their plantation Tara which is often host to the region's biggest social events. Among the O'Hara children, Scarlett is the most headstrong, vain and impetuous of three daughters. She has her choice of many suitors but becomes intent on marrying Ashley Wilkes, a sensitive intellectual. When the Civil War erupts and brings devastation and poverty to the O'Hara family, Scarlett becomes the one who fights the hardest to preserve her family's beloved Tara. Through the roughest period of the Reconstruction, Scarlett struggles to maintain ownership of her estate while resisting and eventually succumbing to her most ardent suitor, Rhett Butler, who matches her in stubborn determination . TV-G
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=414427
Sunday, February 13, 2011,
9-9:30 p.m. E/P
Nickelodeon Channel
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
Nick news with Linda Ellerbee: Beyond I Have A Dream”
In 1963, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said he had a dream of racial equality. But Dr. King had more than one dream, and his message went well beyond a plea for racial equality. In recognition of Black History Month, and in honor of the 25th year we’ve celebrated Dr. King’s birthday as a national holiday, this documentary focuses on what else the man said — and dreamed — and what it might mean to kids in this, the second decade of the 21st century. ”Kids sometimes tell us all they know, all they’re taught, is that he was the ‘I have a dream guy.’ And he was, but that’s not all he was,” said program host Linda Ellerbee. “For instance, Dr. King said, ‘Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.’ Well, there are some smart, strong kids out there planting their own apple trees. These are some of their stories.”
Each kids’ story segment begins with a related quote from Dr. King that does not come from his famous “I Have a Dream” speech:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
“Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals.”
“Life’s most urgent question is: what are you doing for others “Hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love.”
Log on http://news.nick.com/02/2011/04/beyond-i-have-a-dream
Sunday, February 13, 2011,
10:30-11:30 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Digital Media: New Learners Of The 21ST Century ”
Documenting five success stories both inside and out of the classroom, this program demonstrates how digital media, games, smart phones and the Internet are fundamentally transforming the way young people communicate, collaborate, participate and learn in the 21st century. Targeted at parents, teachers and anyone concerned with education in America, the program takes viewers to the front lines of an education revolution. It examines how digital media practices can empower young people to direct their own learning and both inside and out of the classroom. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/digital-media
Monday, February 14, 2011,
7-7:30 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
ABC
Science and Technology
Elementary, Middle and High School
”Jeopardy: A Computer Named "Watson" vs. Show’s Most Successful Prior Contestants - Round One”
Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, was built by a team of IBM scientists who set out to accomplish a grand challenge - build a computing system that rivals a human's ability to answer questions posed in natural language with speed, accuracy and confidence. The Jeopardy format provides a challenge because the game's clues involve analyzing subtle meaning, irony, riddles, and other complexities in which humans excel and computers traditionally do not. Competing against Watson will be two of the most celebrated players ever to appear on Jeopardy. Ken Jennings broke the Jeopardy record for the most consecutive games played by winning 74 games in a row during the 2004-2005 season, resulting in winnings of more than $2.5 million. Brad Rutter won the highest cumulative amount ever by a single Jeopardy! player, earning $3,255,102. (Rounds Two and Three air in this time slot February 15 and 16, respectively)
Log on http://www.jeopardy.com/news/watson1x7ap4.php
Monday, February 14, 2011,
10-11 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Explorer: Clash of the Americas”
It may have been one of the most cataclysmic geologic events of the last 60 million years, which shaped America as we know it today. The narrow, 400-mile-long Isthmus of Panama, once buried below the sea, rose up and connected North and South America. This new land bridge unleashed an astonishing animal encounter: Prehistoric predators and prey — each unique to their worlds — came face-to-face for the first time. An armor-plated ancestor of the armadillo. A saber-toothed marsupial. A horse-like creature with three-toed feet. Evolutionary history changed forever as animals from the continents clashed. Today, as shown in this documentary, scientists are on a quest to discover what happened and which creatures survived.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/4831/Overview
Tuesday, February 15, 2011,
10-11 p.m. ET, 7-8 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
” 60 Minutes on CNBC: Science & Money”
This program takes viewers a step further into investigative reports, interviews, profiles, and features stories that have made "60 Minutes" important viewing. CNBC now presents updates and never before seen footage of these award winning business news stories. Included in this program :
The Cost of Dying - reports on the high cost of end-of-life care and the explosive political debate surrounding health care.
Are They Safe? Are everyday plastics dangerous to you health? 60 Minutes on CNBC investigates the questions surrounding the safety of chemicals found in plastics and their effects on humans and fetuses.
Patented - reports on the controversy over the practice of biotech companies patenting of specific human genes.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/40795923
Wednesday, February 16, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
” NOVA scienceNOW ”
Where Did We Come From? Where did the very first living thing on Earth come from? Can a simple injection erase a painful memory? In this episode of NOVA scienceNOW, journey back in time to the birth of our solar system to examine whether the key to our planet's existence might have been the explosive shockwave of an ancient supernova. Meet a chemist who has yielded a new kind of "recipe" for natural processes to assemble and create the building blocks of life. And see how the head louse, a creepy critter that's been sucking our blood for millions of years, is offering clues about our evolution. Finally, meet neuroscientist André Fenton, who is looking into erasing painful memories with an injection. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/where-did-we-come-from.html
Thursday, February 17, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science
Middle and High School
” Naked Science: Finding the Origin of Life”
Some scientists think life began on earth when it arrived on an extraterrestrial meteorite. Others claim it began in a warm pond on early Earth. Or could volcanoes and lightning have sparked early life? Now, research teams from Denmark to Hawaii are racing to understand how life may have begun — by creating it themselves. In this documentary watch as a scientist mixes up a batch of primordial soup and then zaps it with a bolt of electricity, a la Dr. Frankenstein. The results: amino acids, the building blocks of all life.
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Friday, February 18, 2011,
9-10 p.m. ET, 6-7 p.m. PT
CNBC
Technology and Economics
Middle and High School
” The Selling Game"
TV advertising used to be such an easy business. They played the ads, we watched the ads. But along came hundreds of new channels, and Tivo, and the internet, and scattered audiences, and as the visionary ad man Peter Sealey tells us..."in the mid-1960s I could reach 80% of the women in the United States of America with three daytime black and white commercials... Today, it would take 97 prime time 30-second ads to get that same reach." This documentary is about how marketers not only survived the so called Panic on Madison Avenue, but rang in a new gilded age of advertising. Digital media, the internet and cable tv, have handed marketers incredibly powerful new keys to our hearts and minds, and wallets. We take you inside the Trojan Horses that dominate the business nowadays to show you the latest tricks in ad land. It's a new world of persuasion. You'll never look at ads the same way again. (This program repeats February 20, 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT)
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Saturday, February 19, 2011,
5:30-8 p.m. ET, 3:30 – 5 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
U.S. and World History
Elementary, Middle and High School
” Sergeant York "
This Oscar-winning movie tells the true story of the farm boy who made the transition from religious pacifist to World War I hero. Cast: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Director: Howard Hawks. On the eve of American involvement in WWII, the final scenes were being filmed at the Warner Brothers studio lot for one of the greatest war film biographies. It took many years to bring to the screen this account of America's most famous and honored war heroes, resulting in a film which would boost morale of an American public faced with the prospect of worldwide changes. TV-G
Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/naked-science/4284/Overview
Friday, February 4, 2011
Media Menu, February 5, 2011
Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the tv listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.
Saturday, February 5, 2011,
6-7 p.m. ET 3-4 p.m. PT
Ovation Channel
Arts and U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Satchmo: Louis Armstrong”
This is a documentary about one of the 20th century's most loved jazz performers, Louis Armstrong. The program pieces together the life of Satchmo using never-before-seen homemade films, clips from stage shows, and excerpts from some of his movies including Hello, Dolly, Atlantic City, and High Society. Armstrong's songs are prominently featured, including the classics "West End Blues," "Potato Head Blues," "Weather Bird," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and "When You're Smiling". The documentary also includes commentaries from Armstrong's contemporaries and musicians influenced by his music, including legends Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, and Wynton Marsalis.
Log on http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/
Saturday, February 5, 2011,
8-10 p.m. ET , 5-7 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
Math and U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Stand And Deliver”
This movie tells the true story of a dedicated East Los Angeles high school teacher who transforms some of his students into math scholars. Edward James Olmos delivers n Oscar-nominated performance in the role of the late Jamie Escalante, a Colombian-born engineer who left the business world to teach the youth of L.A.'s barrio slums and used unorthodox methods to inspire them to learn. Film co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Andy Garcia.
Log on http://www.thefutureschannel.com/jaime_escalante/jaime_escalante_math_program.php
Sunday, February 6, 2011,
10-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
“Nancy Reagan: The Role Of A Lifetime”
Loving spouse, close confidant and savvy political observer, Nancy Reagan was a powerful force behind Ronald Reagan’s political success. Criticized for taking a seemingly traditional role as first lady during an era focused on women’s rights, those within Ronald Reagan’s inner circle recognized Nancy Reagan as much more than the supportive and stylish spouse who redecorated the White House. Historians have now concluded that Nancy Reagan was one of the most influential first ladies in modern times. She had far-reaching impact on personnel and policy issues. She is credited with moving President Reagan to a more moderate position toward the Soviet Union and getting her husband to publically admit his involvement in Iran-Contra, a move that likely saved his presidency. She was, and continues to be, a formidable and influential political adviser, skills she uses as she guards her husband’s legacy and champions stem cell research. In an extended interview with Judy Woodruff, Nancy Reagan reflects on her childhood, her life as an actress, her marriage to Ronald Reagan, their lifelong romance and her role as his most trusted adviser in a political career that would take them from the back lots of Hollywood, to the California governor’s mansion and then to the White House. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/newshour/nancy-reagan/
Monday, February 7, 2011,
8-9 p.m. ET , 5-6 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
“The Facebook Obsession"
This documentary tells thestory behind the rise of the largest social-media site in the world, told through the company's founders, friends and foes. Reporter Lester Holt looks at how this Internet phenomenon, with half a billion users, is affecting society in ways most people are unaware of. From a girl who is reunited with her birth mother with the help of Facebook, to a woman who lost her job because of her online postings, The program examines how the site is fundamentally altering American life for better or worse; even the White House and many police departments have their own Facebook pages. Holt explores the intense privacy debate that Facebook has provoked, and explains the business model that has turned a dorm-room venture into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/39618344
Tuesday February 8, 2011,
9-11:30 p.m. ET, 6-8:30 p.m. PT
TCM – Turner Classic Movies
U.S. History
High School
“Glory”
This Oscar-winning movie dramatizes historical events during the American Civil War, including the formation of the first black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. It stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, and is especially memorable for its attention to physical detail. It deals with the plight of African-American troops during the War Between the States, a topic that is barely touched upon in this country's history books. Many of the narrative's key battles were fought between men who were supposed to be comrades in arms. TV-MA
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=76506&category=Articles
Wednesday, February 9, 2011,
9-11 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Reagan”
As a leader, he changed the course of history. As a man, he was surrounded by myth and intrigue. His popularity and his politics may have been straightforward, but presidential scholars and historians have yet to define exactly what made our 40th President “bigger than life.” This documentary brings insight to Ronald Reagan’s ascent from an impoverished childhood to the nation’s highest office. It looks at the trajectory of Reagan’s 93-years – from his nomadic youth in the mid-west, his Hollywood career, his election as Governor of California and ultimately as Commander-in-Chief, and finally, his gracious journey into the sunset of his life. The program explores the makings of a man who was both admired as a hero, and criticized. Yet whatever one thought about his policies, his resiliency communicated hope and strength to a divided America. “When a guy gets up and takes a bullet and walks away with a smile,” says David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst and former Director of Communications for Reagan, “people just think differently about him.” Rare archival footage, audio and photos help to shed new light on Reagan’s enigmatic character, as do interviews with those who knew him. Along with Gergen, they include former White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Gen. Colin Powell, and CBS news correspondent Bob Schieffer, among others. Also weighing in is Secret Service agent Jerry Parr, who was with Reagan at the time of the attempted assassination, recounting the harrowing ordeal and the decision Parr made which saved the President’s life.
Log on http://www.history.com/topics/ronald-reagan
Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 10-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Technology
Middle and High School
“NOVA: Smartest Machine on Earth”
This documentary investigates the world of artificial intelligence and profiles the computer that could be the “Smartest Machine on Earth.” Known as “Watson,” this IBM supercomputer is so advanced it’s pursuing the first-of-its-kind challenge of competing against “Jeopardy!” champions to prove its uncanny ability to mimic the human-thought process. Augmenting human intelligence is a lot tougher than it looks, and the promise of "Hal" from 2001: A Space Odyssey is still just a fantasy. With a brain the size of 2,400 home computers and a database of about 10 million documents, will Watson be able to compute its way to victory? Given the complexity of human language, could any computer truly understand it? It remains to be seen if this amalgam of circuits and silicon can really take us closer to the dream of a fully developed artificial intelligence, a truly "conscious" machine. Win or lose, the difficulty of mimicking the human thought process with software is showing artificial-intelligence researchers that there's more than one way to be "intelligent." TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/smartest-machine-on-earth.html
Thursday, February 10, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P
Science Channel
Science
Middle and High School
“Dive to the Bottom of the World”
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has assembled a team of experienced scientists and engineers to explore the 'Challenger Deep' which lies in the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific. At 35,000 feet, it is the deepest place on Earth. This documentary chronicles the dedication of biologists, engineers, geologists and oceanographers as they collaborate to deploy a unique, state-of-the-art deep-sea vehicle. The underwater machine is known as 'Nereus', named after the mythical Greek god with a fish tail and a man's torso and is currently the deepest-diving vehicle in operation. It is designed to function in the conditions of the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Earth's oceans, where the environment is harsh and intense. Its mission is to provide researchers with an eye to the bottom of the ocean floor, and retrieve invaluable biological and geological samples for further study. If it succeeds, 'Nereus' will change deep sea exploration forever. TV-PG
Friday, February 11, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
Ovation Channel
World History and Geography
Middle and High School
“Royal London”
London is a city filled with historical wonders. This is a tour of London the way the monarchs saw it. We'll tour Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Greenwich Observatory, and the magnificent Kew Gardens. 'These are the sites the royals have enjoyed for ages, and much like the monarchy have proven to be unforgettable bastions of England.
Saturday, February 12, 2011,
10 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET, 7-10 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movies
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Gone With the Wind”
This Oscar-winning movie provides an ideas of what life and the issues were before, during and after the Civil War. Viewers follow the story of a fictional family, the O'Hara’s, one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Georgia and their plantation Tara which is often host to the region's biggest social events. Among the O'Hara children, Scarlett is the most headstrong, vain and impetuous of three daughters. She has her choice of many suitors but becomes intent on marrying Ashley Wilkes, a sensitive intellectual. When the Civil War erupts and brings devastation and poverty to the O'Hara family, Scarlett becomes the one who fights the hardest to preserve her family's beloved Tara. Through the roughest period of the Reconstruction, Scarlett struggles to maintain ownership of her estate while resisting and eventually succumbing to her most ardent suitor, Rhett Butler, who matches her in stubborn determination . TV-G
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=414427
Saturday, February 5, 2011,
6-7 p.m. ET 3-4 p.m. PT
Ovation Channel
Arts and U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Satchmo: Louis Armstrong”
This is a documentary about one of the 20th century's most loved jazz performers, Louis Armstrong. The program pieces together the life of Satchmo using never-before-seen homemade films, clips from stage shows, and excerpts from some of his movies including Hello, Dolly, Atlantic City, and High Society. Armstrong's songs are prominently featured, including the classics "West End Blues," "Potato Head Blues," "Weather Bird," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and "When You're Smiling". The documentary also includes commentaries from Armstrong's contemporaries and musicians influenced by his music, including legends Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, and Wynton Marsalis.
Log on http://www.louisarmstronghouse.org/
Saturday, February 5, 2011,
8-10 p.m. ET , 5-7 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movie Channel
Math and U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Stand And Deliver”
This movie tells the true story of a dedicated East Los Angeles high school teacher who transforms some of his students into math scholars. Edward James Olmos delivers n Oscar-nominated performance in the role of the late Jamie Escalante, a Colombian-born engineer who left the business world to teach the youth of L.A.'s barrio slums and used unorthodox methods to inspire them to learn. Film co-stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Andy Garcia.
Log on http://www.thefutureschannel.com/jaime_escalante/jaime_escalante_math_program.php
Sunday, February 6, 2011,
10-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
U.S. History
Elementary, Middle and High School
“Nancy Reagan: The Role Of A Lifetime”
Loving spouse, close confidant and savvy political observer, Nancy Reagan was a powerful force behind Ronald Reagan’s political success. Criticized for taking a seemingly traditional role as first lady during an era focused on women’s rights, those within Ronald Reagan’s inner circle recognized Nancy Reagan as much more than the supportive and stylish spouse who redecorated the White House. Historians have now concluded that Nancy Reagan was one of the most influential first ladies in modern times. She had far-reaching impact on personnel and policy issues. She is credited with moving President Reagan to a more moderate position toward the Soviet Union and getting her husband to publically admit his involvement in Iran-Contra, a move that likely saved his presidency. She was, and continues to be, a formidable and influential political adviser, skills she uses as she guards her husband’s legacy and champions stem cell research. In an extended interview with Judy Woodruff, Nancy Reagan reflects on her childhood, her life as an actress, her marriage to Ronald Reagan, their lifelong romance and her role as his most trusted adviser in a political career that would take them from the back lots of Hollywood, to the California governor’s mansion and then to the White House. TV-G
Log on http://www.pbs.org/newshour/nancy-reagan/
Monday, February 7, 2011,
8-9 p.m. ET , 5-6 p.m. PT
CNBC
Science and Economics
Middle and High School
“The Facebook Obsession"
This documentary tells thestory behind the rise of the largest social-media site in the world, told through the company's founders, friends and foes. Reporter Lester Holt looks at how this Internet phenomenon, with half a billion users, is affecting society in ways most people are unaware of. From a girl who is reunited with her birth mother with the help of Facebook, to a woman who lost her job because of her online postings, The program examines how the site is fundamentally altering American life for better or worse; even the White House and many police departments have their own Facebook pages. Holt explores the intense privacy debate that Facebook has provoked, and explains the business model that has turned a dorm-room venture into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/39618344
Tuesday February 8, 2011,
9-11:30 p.m. ET, 6-8:30 p.m. PT
TCM – Turner Classic Movies
U.S. History
High School
“Glory”
This Oscar-winning movie dramatizes historical events during the American Civil War, including the formation of the first black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. It stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman, and is especially memorable for its attention to physical detail. It deals with the plight of African-American troops during the War Between the States, a topic that is barely touched upon in this country's history books. Many of the narrative's key battles were fought between men who were supposed to be comrades in arms. TV-MA
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=76506&category=Articles
Wednesday, February 9, 2011,
9-11 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Reagan”
As a leader, he changed the course of history. As a man, he was surrounded by myth and intrigue. His popularity and his politics may have been straightforward, but presidential scholars and historians have yet to define exactly what made our 40th President “bigger than life.” This documentary brings insight to Ronald Reagan’s ascent from an impoverished childhood to the nation’s highest office. It looks at the trajectory of Reagan’s 93-years – from his nomadic youth in the mid-west, his Hollywood career, his election as Governor of California and ultimately as Commander-in-Chief, and finally, his gracious journey into the sunset of his life. The program explores the makings of a man who was both admired as a hero, and criticized. Yet whatever one thought about his policies, his resiliency communicated hope and strength to a divided America. “When a guy gets up and takes a bullet and walks away with a smile,” says David Gergen, CNN senior political analyst and former Director of Communications for Reagan, “people just think differently about him.” Rare archival footage, audio and photos help to shed new light on Reagan’s enigmatic character, as do interviews with those who knew him. Along with Gergen, they include former White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Gen. Colin Powell, and CBS news correspondent Bob Schieffer, among others. Also weighing in is Secret Service agent Jerry Parr, who was with Reagan at the time of the attempted assassination, recounting the harrowing ordeal and the decision Parr made which saved the President’s life.
Log on http://www.history.com/topics/ronald-reagan
Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 10-11 p.m. E/P
PBS
Science and Technology
Middle and High School
“NOVA: Smartest Machine on Earth”
This documentary investigates the world of artificial intelligence and profiles the computer that could be the “Smartest Machine on Earth.” Known as “Watson,” this IBM supercomputer is so advanced it’s pursuing the first-of-its-kind challenge of competing against “Jeopardy!” champions to prove its uncanny ability to mimic the human-thought process. Augmenting human intelligence is a lot tougher than it looks, and the promise of "Hal" from 2001: A Space Odyssey is still just a fantasy. With a brain the size of 2,400 home computers and a database of about 10 million documents, will Watson be able to compute its way to victory? Given the complexity of human language, could any computer truly understand it? It remains to be seen if this amalgam of circuits and silicon can really take us closer to the dream of a fully developed artificial intelligence, a truly "conscious" machine. Win or lose, the difficulty of mimicking the human thought process with software is showing artificial-intelligence researchers that there's more than one way to be "intelligent." TV-PG
Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/smartest-machine-on-earth.html
Thursday, February 10, 2011,
9-10 p.m. E/P
Science Channel
Science
Middle and High School
“Dive to the Bottom of the World”
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has assembled a team of experienced scientists and engineers to explore the 'Challenger Deep' which lies in the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific. At 35,000 feet, it is the deepest place on Earth. This documentary chronicles the dedication of biologists, engineers, geologists and oceanographers as they collaborate to deploy a unique, state-of-the-art deep-sea vehicle. The underwater machine is known as 'Nereus', named after the mythical Greek god with a fish tail and a man's torso and is currently the deepest-diving vehicle in operation. It is designed to function in the conditions of the Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Earth's oceans, where the environment is harsh and intense. Its mission is to provide researchers with an eye to the bottom of the ocean floor, and retrieve invaluable biological and geological samples for further study. If it succeeds, 'Nereus' will change deep sea exploration forever. TV-PG
Friday, February 11, 2011,
8-9 p.m. E/P
Ovation Channel
World History and Geography
Middle and High School
“Royal London”
London is a city filled with historical wonders. This is a tour of London the way the monarchs saw it. We'll tour Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Greenwich Observatory, and the magnificent Kew Gardens. 'These are the sites the royals have enjoyed for ages, and much like the monarchy have proven to be unforgettable bastions of England.
Saturday, February 12, 2011,
10 a.m. – 2 a.m. ET, 7-10 p.m. PT
TCM- Turner Classic Movies
U.S. History
Middle and High School
“Gone With the Wind”
This Oscar-winning movie provides an ideas of what life and the issues were before, during and after the Civil War. Viewers follow the story of a fictional family, the O'Hara’s, one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Georgia and their plantation Tara which is often host to the region's biggest social events. Among the O'Hara children, Scarlett is the most headstrong, vain and impetuous of three daughters. She has her choice of many suitors but becomes intent on marrying Ashley Wilkes, a sensitive intellectual. When the Civil War erupts and brings devastation and poverty to the O'Hara family, Scarlett becomes the one who fights the hardest to preserve her family's beloved Tara. Through the roughest period of the Reconstruction, Scarlett struggles to maintain ownership of her estate while resisting and eventually succumbing to her most ardent suitor, Rhett Butler, who matches her in stubborn determination . TV-G
Log on http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=414427
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)