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What to Watch in February

Lisa Tipton
Miles Davis, Round Midnight Recording Session June 1956. Photo: Don Hunstein/Sony Music Archives
Miles Davis, Round Midnight Recording Session June 1956. Photo: Don Hunstein/Sony Music Archives

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.

NOVA: Dog Tales and Cat Tales

Wednesdays, February 12 and 19 at 8:00 pm


Most people are either a dog person or a cat person—so at least one of these NOVA specials is bound to please you. Dog Tales, which airs February 12, explores how dogs were domesticated and the relationship between humans and dogs, while Cat Tales (February 19) does the same thing for our feline friends.

Frontline—Amazon Empire: The Rise of Jeff Bezos

Tuesday, February 18 at 9:00 pm


Amazon is one of the largest, most powerful companies in the world, touching many people’s lives in numerous ways. How did Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, build such a frightfully successful company—and what kind of power does he now hold?

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool

Tuesday, February 25 at 9:00 pm


He’s one of the most influential musicians of all time. Discover the story of Miles Davis in this documentary by one of our favorite filmmakers, Stanley Nelson. It shows you a side of the legend that you haven’t often seen, with outtakes from recording sessions, new interviews, and unreleased footage.

Lucy Worsley: A Very British Romance

Sundays, February 9 and 16 at 7:00 pm


PBS viewers love all things British and historical, and Lucy Worsley is an expert in both. In this two-part series, she examines the history of courting and romance, with special focus on the novels that have captivated the public, including those of Jane Austen—whose Sanditon you can enjoy in more episodes of a new adaptation immediately after this series!