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.
Playlist TV Highlights
TV Highlights
Coming Up on WTTW
Daniel HautzingerFrom a special examining the U.S.-Mexico border via the medium of food, to profiles of pioneering women Sandra Day O'Connor and Rita Moreno, to a scientific examination of marijuana as it becomes increasingly accepted, take a look at upcoming PBS shows.
What to Watch in August
Lisa TiptonA look at the myth-filled life of Princess Diana in her own words, two documentaries marking the approaching twentieth anniversary of 9/11, a marathon mystery, and a popular musical in concert form.
What to Watch in June
Lisa TiptonA look back on a comedy troupe whose influence has been likened to that of the Beatles on music, some Pride Month programming, a new Masterpiece drama, and more.
Celebrate Pride Month with WTTW in 2021
Daniel HautzingerJune is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, in honor of the June, 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York that was a turning point in the movement for LGBTQ rights and recognition. Celebrate with our programming.
What to Watch in May
Lisa TiptonA look at the courageous life of a civil rights activist, suffragist, and investigative journalist sits alongside a longstanding PBS tradition, a glazed documentary, and more exciting programs this May.
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with WTTW in 2021
Daniel HautzingerMay is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the fastest growing group in the United States. Find WTTW's coverage and content for Asian Pacific Heritage Month here.
What to Watch in April
Lisa TiptonSpend time with three extraordinary people—Ernest Hemingway, Princess Diana, and Greta Thunberg—plus take a deep dive into the effects of the pandemic across the globe over the past year with Frontline.
Coming to WTTW in Spring, in Arts, History, and Drama
Daniel HautzingerSpotlights on great books, theater, art, music, and dance are all coming this spring, whether as filmed performances or tours or profiles of creators. Look back on World War II and dark periods of American history, plus test your knowledge of Chicago with Geoffrey Baer.
Coming to WTTW in Spring, in Science and Public Affairs
Daniel HautzingerSpring is a good time to cover science and nature, with Earth Day a chance to follow Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, plus Nature and NOVA on bias in science, leopards, and more. Plus, an in-depth series on a reforming District Attorney and an investigation into the rise of extremism in America.
What to Watch in March
Lisa TiptonA St. Patrick's Day special to fill the hole of the cancelled parade, an investigation into the bias inherent in complex technological codes, a profile of Dr. Fauci, a look at an overlooked civil rights incident, and more.
What to Watch in February
Lisa TiptonCelebrate stories of African American resilience, resistance, and culture, with documentaries about Marian Anderson, the Black church, a groundbreaking public television show, and more.
Celebrate Black History Month with WTTW in 2021
Daniel HautzingerThis February, celebrate Black History Month with a variety of WTTW programming over air and online that explores African American history, stories in the larger African diaspora, and Black culture in America.
What to Watch in January
Lisa TiptonA series exploring the response to natural disasters, a self-portrait of America, a new British mystery as well as a remake of a classic, more Finding Your Roots, and more.
Celebrate the Holidays with WTTW
Daniel HautzingerLittle about 2020 has been normal, but the holidays are still here to be enjoyed and celebrated, albeit in an adapted, safe manner. WTTW has as much holiday cheer as you need this December, in the form of PBS KIDS specials, holiday concerts, festive travel shows, and more.
