What to Watch in April
Lisa Tipton
April 1, 2024
There's a huge amount of worthwhile TV out there nowadays, so it can be hard to choose what to watch. But who better to recommend shows than the person who programs them? Lisa Tipton, WTTW’s Head of Programming and Pledge, constructs the WTTW schedule by searching through offerings from many different sources which include the national PBS network, the BBC, and independent filmmakers to put together a varied and engaging broadcast schedule. Each month, she’ll recommend a few shows that she thinks you should watch.
Find all the ways to watch WTTW here. Many of the below shows are available to stream or will be once they premiere.
NOVA: Great American Eclipse
It will be twenty years before the U.S. experiences its next total eclipse, so the one coming on April 8 is a big deal. (Chicago isn't in the path of totality, but we're close enough to see a substantial effect.) NOVA takes a look at the phenomenon, and what we can learn from it.
A Brief History of the Future
Wednesdays at 8:00 pm beginning April 3
How can we reimagine our, and the human race's, future? Explore some of the possibilities in this six-part series.
New cooking shows
Saturday, April 6 brings three new seasons to our cooking line-up: season 10 of New Scandinavian Cooking at 11:00 am, Mary Berry Love to Cook at 4:00 pm, and at 11:30 am the new show America the Bountiful , which explores the culture of the heartland via individual ingredients and traditions. Check back later for an interview with the host of America the Bountiful.
Then, beginning Monday, April 29 at 8:00 pm (or available to stream now by WTTW Passport members), join The Great British Baking Show host in Paul Hollywood Goes to Hollywood as he travels across America and samples food in New York, Savannah, Santa Fe, and, of course, Los Angeles.
New mysteries
Saturdays beginning April 6
We've got two new mysteries from down under to darken (in a good way) your Saturday evenings: My Life is Murder is an Australian show following a retired detective, at 8:00 pm; and Brokenwood Mysteries takes place in a small New Zealand town, at 9:00 pm.
The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
The duo of Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin are the honorees of this year's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which has previously been awarded to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Lionel Richie, and Garth Brooks. The ceremonies for all three of those stars are available to stream, and always spotlight numerous other talented musicians performing the music of the honorees.
Chicago Mysteries
Did a UFO appear at O'Hare? Why is there a leaning tower in Niles? What's up with a submarine found in Lake Michigan? Geoffrey Baer investigates these mysteries and more in his latest special. Find even more oddities and eerie stories at wttw.com/mysteries, and check back for an interview.
American Experience – Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal
It's one of the most notorious environmental disasters in the United States, but it changed how the government addresses industrial waste areas, thanks to the efforts of justice-driven advocates.
