What to Watch in November

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 recommends 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, especially by WTTW Passport members. 

Chicago Stories

Fridays at 8:00 pm

We're wrapping up the latest season of WTTW's documentary series Chicago Stories with Al Capone's Bloody Business on Friday, November 1 and House Music: A Cultural Revolution on November 8. The first charts the rise and fall of the legendary Prohibition era gangster who became a defining part of Chicago's image; the latter tracks the origins of an influential genre of dance music in underground Black and gay clubs.

Visit wttw.com/chicagostories to stream all of the documentaries and dive deeper into each topic. While you watch, sample a cocktail from the era of Capone with a 1927 recipe adapted by a vintage Chicago bar. 

Election Coverage

WTTW News and PBS News Hour have been covering the upcoming election at all levels, from the municipal through state to federal, and they will continue. Election Day on Tuesday, November 5 will see live coverage from PBS News Hour beginning at 6:00 pm, while you can also receive updates at news.wttw.com and pbs.org/newshour and on social media. 

Check out WTTW News' Voter Guide for information on all the races that will appear on your ballot. 

NOVA: Building Stuff 

Wednesdays beginning November 13 at 8:00 pm

This NOVA miniseries casts engineering as the closest thing humans have to a superpower, from helping the blind see to changing how we get around and reshape the natural world.

Leonardo da Vinci

Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm

The latest documentary from the Ken Burns team goes a bit further afield in both time and space than his typical American subjects, venturing to Europe during the Renaissance to explore the life and work of the indescribable Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci wasn't just an artist, but a restlessly curious mind who grounded his iconic paintings in his observations of human anatomy and the natural world, making some discoveries centuries ahead of his time.

Check back for an interview with filmmakers Sarah Burns and David McMahon as well as a website bringing you more of Da Vinci at wttw.com/davinci.

Nature: Attenborough’s Life Journey

Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm

Sir David Attenborough is now 98 years old. This special episode of Nature turns the camera around to profile the legendary naturalist, just as he has spent decades capturing wildlife.

Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers

Tuesday, November 26 at 8:00 pm 

The latest special from Lidia Bastianich, coming two days before Thanksgiving, sees her traveling the country to meet everyday Americans who are working to transform our relationship to food in terms of sustainability, food access, and more. 

Try a recipe from the latest season of Lidia's Kitchen.