UNC-EX will run a marathon of the entire second season of the Masterpiece Theatre hit series "Downton Abbey" starting Saturday (May 19) at 1 p.m. The marathon concludes with the wonderful season finale Christmas episode at 9:15 p.m.
If you haven't seen this yet, I encourage you to make some time for it.
UNC-EX is available over-the-air on channel 4.3 and on channel 173 if you have Time Warner Cable. If you have satellite, check your local channel guide.
UNC-TV will profile NASCAR legend Junior Johnson in a series of "Biographical Conversations" episodes that begin airing tonight.
Johnson, a Wilkesboro native with a larger-than-life history, is interviewed for the show by Shannon Vickery. Whether you're a fan of NASCAR or not, Johnson's personal story -- from moonshine runner to NASCAR mogul and back to the moonshine biz -- is pretty incredible.
The first episode featuring Johnson airs tonight at 10 p.m. on UNC-TV. The next two episodes air on consecutive Thursdays at 10 p.m.: May 24 and May 31. In tonight's episode, Johnson talks about his childhood in Wilkes County, his moonshining career, and the beginning of his NASCAR driving career.
On May 24, Johnson talks about his time as a race car driver and being a team owner. The May 31 episode covers his success as a team owner, leaving NASCAR, his current family life and new business pursuits.
Photo by John D. Simmons of The Charlotte Observer
An 8-year-old from Moore County will appear on Monday's installment of "Biz Kid$," a public television series about financial literacy.
Maggie Batson of Whispering Pines is featured in the episode titled "Businesses that Give Back," because she sells necklaces made with recycled materials and donates profits to the Humane Society in Carthage.
Maggie isn't the only North Carolina kid to make the show. Some students from Smith Elementary School in Burlington appeared in an April 19 episode about understanding media manipulation and commercial messages, and an episode airing May 2 will have three siblings who opened their own business (FlipOutz bracelets) in Davidson.
"Biz Kid$" airs on UNC-KD, a UNC-TV channel devoted to programming for young people, at 5:30 p.m. It will repeat at 1:30 a.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Democratic candidates for Governor will have three hour-long debates this week, each airing live on local television stations.
Good news. Season 4 of "Live from the Artists Den" begins tonight on UNC-TV. Well, actually it airs on Sunday morning at 1 a.m. (which is when all Season 4 episodes will air).
But either way, you're going to want to record it.
The first episode features an intimate concert by Adele. Other artists featured this season are Death Cab for Cutie, The Fray, Amos Lee (with Calexico), Kid Rock, and Iron and Wine.
The good people at Artists Den sent us a really cool prize pack to give to a lucky reader. The pack includes a Death Cab for Cutie t-shirt (size Large), a cd of "Arists Den vol. I" featuring Ed Harcourt, David Poe, Motel Bed and others, and a dvd of The Swell Season's performance on the show from 2008.
To win, send me an email with your mailing address by midnight on Wednesday, April 4, and we'll randomly select a winner.
Good luck!
The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - It's the season finale and it seems pretty certain the doofus bachelor picks the witchy bachelorette, right? Enh, who cares anymore. Courtney and Lindzi meet Ben's mom and sister, and Ben proposes to someone (cough-Courtney-cough). In the 10 o'clock hour, Ben and the "winner" review their very public courtship and reveal their plans for the future.
The Voice (8pm, NBC) - The Battle Round continues.
Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - An innocent man from Alcatraz resurfaces to commit crimes.
Live from the Artists Den (10pm, UNC-TV) - The full season of this music series doesn't begin until April 1, but thanks to UNC-TV's pledge drive, we're getting an early taste: a performance by Adele recorded in February 2011 at the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club.
Smash (10pm, NBC) - Vocal problems begin to plague Ivy. Meanwhile, Julia finds it difficult to stay away from Michael and Karen books a gig as a Bar Mitzvah singer.
Navajo Cops (10pm, National Geographic Channel) - A new series following a Navajo police force on the largest Indian reservation in North America. In the premiere, officers try to track an unidentified creature after receiving numerous reports of people hearing strange noises in the middle of the night.
American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The judges reveal the remaining semifinalists. Several folks from NC are in the race right now.
Parks and Recreation (8:30pm, NBC) - Everyone forgets Jerry's birthday. To make up for it, Leslie throws him a post-birthday party at a special location. Meanwhile, Tom is surprised to learn that he and Ann have very different tastes in music.
Racing Dreams (10pm, UNC-TV) - A wonderful POV documentary that chronicles the experiences of three kids competing for the World Karting Association national title. Two of the kids are from North Carolina, including Brandon Warren (left). I don't even like racing and I loved this documentary. Read my full review of "Racing Dreams."
Private Practice (10pm, ABC) - Sam tries to care for his sister but her mental instability makes it very difficult. Also, Sheldon learns that Amelia has life-changing news, Cooper rejects Charlotte's suggestion to seek help with Erica's care, and Addison and Jake keep flirting.
Archer (10pm, FX) - Ray's younger brother is in trouble with a crooked sheriff in the West Virginia backwoods, and Archer must come to the rescue.
The American Experience documentary on Bill Clinton, which starts tonight on UNC-TV, opens on the darkest days of the Clinton presidency: in the thick of the Monica Lewinsky scandal as the president sheepishly admits to the American people that he lied about his relationship with the White House intern.
The Lewinsky scandal should have been the knockout blow for Clinton, both personally and professionally. And for most anyone else, it would have been. But not Bill Clinton.
The scandal is touched on briefly at the opening of "Clinton" (and revisited later) because it's the obvious place to emphasize an important recurring theme in Clinton's life -- loss and recovery -- and ask the question, where does Bill Clinton's capacity for Lazarus-like resurrections come from?
Gossip Girl (8pm, CW) - Nate hosts a Valentine's Day party, which Georgina crashes, and Blair tries her hand at matchmaking.
The Voice (8pm, NBC) - Round three of blind auditions continue.
Slavery by Another Name (9pm, UNC-TV) - Laurence Fishburne narrates this look at forced labor in post-Civil War America, when blacks were often arrested on and convicted of spurious charges, then leased or sold as laborers to various entities -- a practice that lasted well into the 20th century. Adapted from Wall Street Journal writer Douglas Blackmon's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name.
Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - An inmate resurfaces and plants bombs throughout populated areas of San Francisco.
BET Honors 2012 (9pm, BET) - Gabrielle Union hosts the tribute to successful black luminaries, including Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee and the Tuskegee Airmen.
Smash (10pm, NBC) - Derek makes the audition process rigorous for Karen and Ivy. Also, Eileen looks for financial backing and Julia and Frank hit bureaucratic obstacles with their international adoption plans (this storyline is the weak link in this otherwise entertaining series).
Castle (10pm, ABC) - In part one of a two-part story, Castle and Beckett work with the CIA as they hunt a killer who's connected to an international conspiracy, and the case reuintes Castle with a female CIA agent with whom he shares a past.
Not in Our Town: Class Actions (10:30pm, UNC-TV) - A look at students and communities joining forces to confront hate and bullying. Included: efforts to stop University of Mississippi football fans from chanting "the South will rise again," and the development of an anti-bullying program in Lancaster, California, after several teen suicides in nearby communities.
An Independent Lens documentary on Civil Rights leader Daisy Bates begins airing on UNC-TV this week.
In "Daisy Bates: First Lady of Arkansas," filmmaker Sharon La Cruise presents an unflinching look at the strong but complicated woman who led the integration of public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.
La Cruise uses archival news footage and old interviews with the charismatic Bates to tell the story, along with candid interviews with Bates' friends and Little Rock historians. Some of the most striking interviews are with members of the Little Rock Nine who famously integrated the Little Rock Public School System.
