Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Photographer Corky Lee used his camera as a “weapon against injustice” and his images of Asian American life empowered generations. Meet the man behind the lens on PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY – tonight at 10 on PBS NC.

Check out a trailer for Treasure, the latest film starring Stephen Fry (Jeeves And Wooster).

Historian Kate Williams explores shocking stories about the residences of the British monarchy. Tune in for season four of SECRETS OF THE ROYAL PALACES – Tuesday at 8pm on the Explorer Channel.

Disney+ has released a first look at its new adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals. Set in the cutthroat world of 1980s independent television, the upcoming series features David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Aidan Turner (Poldark).

Join archaeologists as they embark on the biggest dig in a generation at the world’s most famous preserved ancient city. Don’t miss POMPEII: THE NEW DIG – Wednesday night at 10 on PBS NC.

And Hannah Waddingham (Tom Jones) has been called an icon for her meme-worthy response to losing at the Television BAFTA Awards Sunday night.

Now, we celebrate those who age because it’s the nice thing to do…

13 May

Iwan Rheon (Vicious) has his 39th

Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders) is 41

Milton Johns (Moll Flanders) marks 86

Zoë Wanamaker (My Family) turns 75

Frances Barber (Rhodes) celebrates 66

14 May

Francesca Annis (Home Fires) marks 79

Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) turns 42

Anais Granofsky (Degrassi High) is 51

John Burton (Father Brown) celebrates 57

Siân Phillips (Aristocrats) has her 91st

Martine McCutcheon (EastEnders) is 48

15 May

Nicola Walker (Unforgotten) celebrates 54

Paul Shelley (Timuss Regained) marks 82

Greg Wise (The Buccaneers) turns 68

Neil Stacy (To Serve Them All My Days) is 83

16 May

Christie Abbott (Wishbone) celebrates 42

Rebecca Front (Inspector Lewis) hits 60

Richard Dempsey (Chronicles Of Narnia) is 51

Joseph Morgan (Mansfield Park) has his 43rd

Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Wolf Hall) marks 34

17 May

Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey) turns 39

18 May

Allen Leech (Downton Abbey) celebrates 43

Holly Aird (Flame Trees of Thika) has her 55th

Miriam Margolyes (Miss Fisher) marks 83

Nathaniel Parker (Inspector Lynley) is 62

19 May

Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) turns 32

James Fox (The Choir) celebrates 85

Stephen Boxer (The Politician’s Wife) marks 74

Geraldine Somerville (Aristocrats) has her 57th

Madge Hindle (The Rector’s Wife) turns 86

Michael Cochrane (No Job For A Lady) is 77

Polly Walker (Mr. Selfridge) celebrates 58

Paul Moriarty (EastEnders) has his 78th

Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

What’s our name? Currently, it is PBS North Carolina. Previously, we were known as UNC-TV. That identity lasted for decades. And if you visited our lobby in years gone past you may have seen this sign hanging…

Flashback: 9 May 1994

Here’s what we were showing 30 years ago today on the airwaves of UNC-TV…

NORTH CAROLINA NOW began the evening at 7:30pm with a profile of legendary NC journalist Charles Kuralt.

At 8pm, we cast our eyes to Egypt with PYRAMID and THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS.

The Emmy-winning documentary BOSNIA: WE ARE ALL NEIGHBORS was up next at 10, followed by British comedy and public affairs to round out the evening (we signed off in the wee hours back then to give the transmitter a rest).

Shout out to anyone who was watching way back then and still watches today!

Sounds Familiar

“You know, speaking of space, my Uncle Dan was an astronaut. Supposed to go on the moon voyage back in ’69. Trained for years. He was in peak, physical condition. All was in readiness. Blast off day came. But Dan couldn’t find a sitter for his pig. So he stayed home and practiced his waltz while the pig napped through the whole thing. Well, it was a small step for Dan, but a great sleep for Dan’s swine.” – The Chief (Lynne Thigpen), WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?

Wednesday Trivia Question

What is the name of the puppeteer known closely for working with Jim Henson who voiced such iconic characters as Bert, Grover and Cookie Monster?

A quick one and an easy one (I hope) for true Muppet fans. Back in those early days, this puppeteer worked in conjunction with Henson to create and bring to life memorable characters on SESAME STREET, THE MUPPET SHOW and other programs and films. He’s known as a filmmaker, actor and puppeteer and has had a long and storied career.

So who is it? Who’s the puppeteer who worked with Jim Henson and voiced Bert, Grover and Cookie Monster in those early days of SESAME STREET?

Deep Dive: Kids Breaks 1997

When I look for old station breaks on YouTube, I’m often looking for particular spots I remember from my years working in on-air promotions. As I’ve mentioned, there’s no archive available for perusal – and any old tapes we once had with these elements have since been lost, recorded over or degraded to the point of worthlessness.

One of the spots I recalled was “Short McShort Short.” We aired it in kids breaks in the late ’90s. I found it online as part of a KERA Dallas break featuring a Bill Nye The Science Guy promo, a signaling value spot, some funding credits and elements from “The Game.” Here’s that break…

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Watch NASA psychologists prepare astronauts for the extreme isolation required by a Mars mission as INDEPENDENT LENS presents SPACE: THE LONGEST GOODBYE – tonight at 10 on PBS NC.

Check out a trailer for the Netflix series Eric starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock). It looks seriously dark and creepy and I, for one, can’t wait.

Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

Another dip into the archives I acquired some years ago. Among the many booklets, articles, slides and miscellaneous materials, I find vintage photographs like this. Sadly, there is often little to no context so all I have to go on are guesses and visual clues which seem to indicate who, what and when.

Flashback: May 2009

Here’s the cover of our monthly program magazine from 15 years ago…

The featured program was WWII BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: STALIN, THE NAZIS AND THE WEST, a six-episode series that provided a new history of the Second World War. Also mentioned were a SECRETS OF THE DEAD titled Michelangelo Revealed, MASTERPIECE (The Old Curiosity Shop and Wallander being the presentations this month) and CRY FOR HELP, a program about teens and depression.

Sounds Familiar

“Well, kids, the Spinosaurus is the world’s largest therapod and the world’s largest land carnivore.” – Mr. Conductor (Ian James Corlett), dispensing dino-knowledge, DINOSAUR TRAIN