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WTTW announces FALL 2017 Program Highlights

For immediate release
Chicago, IL - September 27, 2017

WTTW, one of the Midwest’s premier public media organizations, announces notable new programs and season premieres in its primetime schedule for October and November 2017. In addition to the continuing national public television series, including Antiques Roadshow, NOVA, POV, and more, below are some special “popout” programs, including several notable WTTW productionsthe 17th season premiere of CHECK, PLEASE! (October 13); MAKING A NEW AMERICAN NUTCRACKER (November 16); and THE RIVER TOUR WITH GEOFFREY BAER (November 27).

OCTOBER

  • POLDARK SEASON 3 ON MASTERPIECE
    – Sundays beginning October 1, 8:00 pm
    The popular British drama series, based on the novels by Winston Graham. Throughout the day on October 1, WTTW presents a marathon of season two, leading up to the premiere of season three, which finds Ross and Demelza attempting to repair their relationship. Weekly recaps will be posted on WTTW’s Playlist.

  • FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH DR. HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.
    – Tuesdays beginning October 3, 8:00 pm
    The acclaimed series returns with Professor Gates exploring the mysteries, surprises, and revelations hidden in the family trees of a diverse group of popular figures. In the season premiere, politician Bernie Sanders and comedian Larry David discover they have far more in common than they ever imagined.

  • NATURE
    Wednesdays beginning October 4, 8:00 pm
    A new season of the award-winning series commences with the story of NALEDI – ONE LITTLE ELEPHANT; a look at the secret life of the red fox in FOX TALES; caretakers coming together with wild animals they once raised in ANIMAL REUNIONS; and the story of CHARLIE AND THE CURIOUS OTTERS, as a filmmaker follows three orphaned otters along a Wisconsin river.

  • FRONTLINE
    Wednesdays beginning October 4, 10:00 pm
    The acclaimed public affairs series moves to Wednesdays with new, timely, and incisive stories on NORTH KOREA’S DEADLY DICTATOR; WAR ON THE EPA; FIGHT FOR MOSEL; and PUTIN’S REVENGE.

  • HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH – Various dates and times
    Content for Hispanic Heritage Month includes HAVANA TIME MACHINE, the annual HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS, MY NEIGHBORHOOD: PILSEN, BEYOND LA BAMBA, and more.

  • THE COLLECTION ON MASTERPIECE
    Sundays beginning October 8, 9:00 pm
    This new series, part gripping family drama and part entrepreneurial fable, is set in a post-war Paris fashion house. It exposes the grit behind the glamour of a rising business, spearheaded by two clashing brothers. Weekly recaps will be posted on WTTW’s Playlist.

  • CHECK, PLEASE!
    Friday, October 13, 8:00 pm
    The 17th season of WTTW’s popular restaurant review series premieres with host Catherine De Orio. Restaurants on the season premiere: Forbidden Root (Ukrainian Village), Miss Saigon (Uptown), and Sofi (Printer’s Row). Online at wttw.com/checkplease, audiences will find videos, blogs, recipes, tweets, a searchable database of restaurants by cuisine, price range, and location — everything for the dedicated local foodie.

  • THE DURRELLS IN CORFU ON MASTERPIECE
    Sundays beginning October 15, 7:00 pm
    The Durrell family is back for season two of this popular British comedy-drama series set in the 1930s, about an intrepid widow who decamps from dreary England to a sun-dappled Greek island with her four recalcitrant children. Weekly recaps will be posted on WTTW’s Playlist.

  • BEST OF BROADWAY
    Fridays, October 20 and 27, 9:00 pm
    WTTW brings you the smash Broadway musicals SHE LOVES ME, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's classic 1963 musical of two feuding clerks in a Budapest parfumerie who don't realize they're romantic penpals (10/20); and FALSETTOS, a poignant and hilarious look at a modern family set amidst the emerging AIDS crisis. (10/27).

NOVEMBER

  • HOT DOUG’S: THE MOVIE
    Thursday, November 2, 8:00 pm
    This new local documentary is an affectionate look at Hot Doug’s, a unique Chicago culinary and cultural institution, introducing the people who worked there, the customers who loved it, and founder Doug Sohn, the manwhose vision, personality, and taste defies conventional wisdom in all the best ways.

  • MORE BEST OF BROADWAY
    Fridays, November 3, 10, 17, and 24, 9:00 pm
    More Broadway hits will air on Friday evenings in November: PRESENT LAUGHTER, a sparkling revival of Noël Coward’s comedy about a self-obsessed actor (Kevin Kline) in the midst of a mid-life crisis; IN THE HEIGHTS: CHASING BROADWAY DREAMS, about the making of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical; INDECENT, Paula Vogel’s play with music that tracks the creation of Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance; and HOLIDAY INN, based on the 1941 movie musical.

  • INDEPENDENT LENS: CHASING TRANE - THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY
    Monday, November 6, 10:00 pm
    This new profile illuminates a remarkable jazz artist whose boundary-shattering music continues to influence people around the world. The program reveals the critical events, passions, experiences, and challenges that shaped the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds.

  • MAKING A NEW AMERICAN NUTCRACKER
    Thursday, November 16, 8:00 pm
    WTTW partnered with Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet on this new documentary, a revealing behind-the-scenes look at the production of the Joffrey’s innovative new interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, set during the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The film is narrated by actress Neve Campbell (The Company).

  • DAVID LETTERMAN: THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE
    Monday, November 20, 8:00 pm
    Late-night television icon David Letterman is the 20th recipient of the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. His fellow comedy stars pay tribute to his work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

  • ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: THE GOOD STARS
    Thursday, November 23, 7:00 pm
    In this sequel to last year’s film airing on Thanksgiving night, Anne Shirley is now 13 years old and finds herself torn between her free-spirited nature and her own perceived need to become sensible, which leads to some unfortunate yet amusing mishaps. Ella Ballantine stars as Anne, and Martin Sheen returns as Matthew Cuthbert.

  • THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
    Saturday, November 25, 7:00 pm
    Oscar-winning director Ron Howard explores the history of The Beatles through the lens of the group’s concert performances, from their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg to their world tours in packed stadiums around the globe. This is the first feature-length documentary authorized by The Beatles since the band’s breakup in 1970.

  • THE RIVER TOUR WITH GEOFFREY BAER
    Monday, November 27, 7:30 pm
    In this all-new special, Geoffrey Baer presents an in-depth exploration of all three branches of the Chicago River, an outing that is much wider in scope than his previous tours in 1995 and 2005. The website, at wttw.com/river, will trace the River’s history, development, iconic structures, recreational offerings, environmental challenges, and more. The site will also feature a phone- and tablet-ready interactive tour guided by Geoffrey, fun trivia and a quiz about the River, web-exclusive video stories, and a place to watch the documentary.

About WTTW
WTTW is a premier public media organization committed to creating and presenting unique television and digital media content across four distinct television channels – WTTW11, WTTW Prime, WTTW Create/WTTW WORLD, and WTTW PBS Kids – and on wttw.com. Recognized for award-winning local and national productions such as Chicago Tonight, Check, Please!, and MEXICO – One Plate at a Time, WTTW presents the very best in public affairs, arts and culture, nature and science, history and documentary, and children’s programming. Visitors to wttw.com can access a full library of local and national video content for kids and adults, immersive web-exclusive stories and features, event and membership opportunities, and more. Connect with WTTW on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.