What to Watch in October

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 is excited for and thinks you should watch.

Wild Metropolis

Wednesdays at 10:00 pm, beginning October 2

The WTTW digital series Urban Nature covers surprising instances of flora and fauna coexisting with humans in cities ranging from Chicago to Austin to San Francisco. Wild Metropolis is a similar concept on an international level, showing how animals like adorable otters make their homes in cities, travel in and out of them for food and shelter, and cope with displacement in the face of urban growth.

Retro Report on PBS

Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00 pm, beginning October 7

News stories don’t come out of nowhere. There’s always history behind them, whether known or not. Retro Report offers a new perspective on the news that bombards us every day, revealing the story behind the story and showing how today’s developments have been shaped by history. Journalist Celeste Headlee and artists Masud Olufani dig into NFL protests, the #MeToo movement, social media, and lead levels, while the humorist Andy Borowitz offers witty takes on other topics.

Look for interviews with Headlee and Olufani on our website soon before the series premieres!

Independent Lens: Made in Boise

Monday, October 28 at 10:00 pm

There are two surprising things about this documentary. One, that Boise, Idaho is a center of surrogate births for gay couples, single men, and people struggling with infertility, and two, that there are women out there who love being pregnant so much that they’re happy to do it over and over again for other people! It is estimated that one in fifteen mothers in Boise will carry a baby for a stranger at some point in their life. Made in Boise follows the stories of four women as they do just that.