Be more Tuned In

Wonder Women!

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Marcus

Watch Independent Lens “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroes” at 9 p.m. Monday, April 15 on Wisconsin Public Television.

I will never forget the Saturday afternoon I was channel surfing and came across the first Resident Evil movie. My first thought of course was that I’d look in the corner of the screen and see a logo for Spike or Syfy or maybe even FX. To my surprise, I found the Oxygen logo instead. I thought to myself, is this a joke? Perhaps just a commercial… why would the Oxygen network be airing a zombie movie based on a video game? Then it came to me - Milla Jovovich, the strong female lead.

At the time, there really weren’t that many movies or shows out there featuring a heroine as the lead. Years later, there is still a sizable balance issue of hero over heroine, but we are slowly bridging the gap.

I for one am excited to see what the future holds, if for nothing else but the sake of variety. We’re living in an era of remakes and sequels mixed in with only a few truly original ideas. And quite honestly, swapping out the lead character of a story and inserting a new back-story and personality and then meshing it with essentially the same story arc can tell a completely different tale. Just imagine your favorite book or movie and change the main character(s) age, race or gender. Paints a new picture, right?

So to bring it all back around, I can’t wait for the entertainment melting pot to continue to stir. Having female leads and people from different backgrounds has opened up so many opportunities for everyone to find their own personal role model. Because I think we can all agree it’s getting a little boring to constantly see the same stereotypical muscular Caucasian male saving the day every time something goes wrong (sorry Bruce Wayne).

Enjoy!

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged Documentary, Independent Lens, PBS, Program, public television, Wisconsin Public Television, Wonder Woman, Wonder Women, WPT

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New Mystery Friday

Posted on April 11, 2013 by David

Already a hit on the BBC, Scott & Bailey premieres 9 p.m. Friday, April 12 on Wisconsin Public Television.

Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp as Scott & Bailey

The murder mystery genre has long served Wisconsin Public Audiences well. Poirot, Morse, Wainthropp, Lewis, Watson and Holmes, and Marple are familiar names to most of you.

Over the last few months, we’ve introduced some new names to the murder mystery lineup on WPT. DCI Banks, Miss Fisher, and this Friday, we introduce Scott and Bailey.

They’re billed simply as two ordinary women with an extraordinary job. Which becomes apparent from the start — the very first mystery that all of us armchair detectives get to help solve is the murder, made to resemble a suicide, of a pregnant Turkish girl.

Throughout its 14 episode run, no murderous plot line — from a porn actress turned murderer, to kidnappings and elaborate murders with ties to the past — is too extraordinary for Scott & Bailey.

But recall that these are ordinary women. A Sherlock Holmes or Miss Fisher, entertaining as they are, can appear as fantastic caricatures who seem almost superhuman. Scott and Bailey appear more real beneath the surface.

Detective Constable Rachel Bailey (Suranne Jones, remember her from Doctor Who, Season 6?) is 30, down-to-earth, noisy, argumentative and single — well, she begins the series in a relationship, but I don’t want to divulge any spoilers. DC Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp, Cranford, also Doctor Who), on the other hand, is 40, a diplomat, and wife and mother.

While we get mystery and suspense in watching them deal with serious crime, we also get a dose of real-life drama as they cope with their own complex personal lives. I’d say that’s a perfect mix that will make Scott and Bailey household names to several public television fans.

Posted in Show Previews |

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Outdoor Wisconsin

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Marcus

Watch Outdoor Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11 on Wisconsin Public Television.

With flood warnings and snow in the week’s forecast, I’m sure the last thing any of us want to do is be outdoors in Wisconsin right now. That being said, what a great opportunity we have to sit inside and be nice and warm and dry while watching someone else venture out to enjoy what our state has to offer. Maybe we’ll even get a dose of inspiration and some great ideas of things to do once the weather finally decides to start cooperating.

I can see it now… sunshine and warm weather, shorts and T-shirts, the smell of meat on the grill every night and more daylight to burn than ever seemed possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love every season. Spring and fall are wonderful transitions and even winter has it’s place, but the snow is only beautiful for so long. I certainly can’t describe what ‘season’ we’re currently in, but I’m more than ready for summer. What about you - what are you looking forward to the most this summer?

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged Dan Small, Milwaukee Public Television, MPTV, Nature, PBS, Program, public television, Wisconsin Public Television, WPT

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Carol Burnett: Still Making Us Laugh

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Erik

Watch American Masters: Carol Burnett at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 on Wisconsin Public Television, followed by Pioneers of Television: Carol Burnett & The Funny Ladies at 8:30.

Carol Burnett has long been lauded as one of TV’s funniest ladies. Forget that narrow distinction. She is one of the medium’s funniest people. (Not to mention her talents in film and theater!)

The humor of her groundbreaking television variety show still resonates (and still makes audiences roar with laughter.) So, instead of writing about how great she is, I want to send this post straight to the video tape. Whether you’ve never watched The Carol Burnett Show, or you’ve seen these segments a hundred times, I guarantee they will still add a few chuckles to your afternoon.

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged American Masters, Carol Burnett, Carol Burnett Show, Carol Burnett Show video clips, Funny ladies, PBS, Pioneers of Primetime, Program, public television, video, Wisconsin Public Television, WPT, youtube

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The War on Drugs

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Marcus

Watch Independent Lens “The House I Live In” at 9 p.m. Monday, April 8 on Wisconsin Public Television.

Anytime someone mentions a ‘war on drugs,’ all I can think of is going through the DARE program. Then I start to remember how young the program began and how by and large, it did absolutely nothing to deter kids from trying drugs and alcohol years later. By the time I made it to high-school, there were already college students coming to visit to interview us on if we thought the program was effective or not.

You would think that more research and brain storming would have gone into such a large scale project targeted at America’s youth with the intention of winning a war that had been waging for decades. Almost seems like the idea of DARE was thought up one day, shared with a select group who thought it was a good call, then fast-tracked into elementary schools across the country. Yet despite so many kids going through the program year after year, the drug problem in America still hasn’t improved.

Other countries have actually seen the biggest improvements in drug problems and drug-related violence by legalizing their use. Now obviously this has just improved the problem, not solved it - and chances are the U.S. is never going to go this route. So I guess the real question is: can this war even be won?