WTCI : Tennessee Valley PBS Station

WTCI's Alison Lebovitz interviews Rafael Eledge, a Roadshow Appraiser and Mark Walberg the host of Antiques Roadshow, during their visit to the Incline. Watch Online

Thursday's Antiques Roadshow kick-off event was a lot of fun.  Executive producer Marsha Bemko and host Mark Walberg braved "America's Most Amazing Mile", the Incline Railway as we welcomed them to the scenic city.  Our cameras were there for the event.  Be sure to watch online and keep an eye out for more exclusive web video in the coming days!

Steve Inskeep began today's Last Word in Business on NPR's Morning Edition as I drove past Enterprise South on my way to work with these words:

"...another major car corporation has decided to build a factory overseas.  It's the story we've come to know so well..."

Of course, the "overseas" in this case is the United States, the company, Volkswagen, and the factory will be right here in Chattanooga. It's likely to be the second-biggest story in our area over the next week (clearly Antiques Roadshow's number one, right?) and we're interested to hear what you have to say about it.

Oh, and in the great tradition of NPR's clever instrumental music breaks between segments, they selected Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Clean out your closets! Antiques Roadshow will be here in just under two weeks!

To help welcome Roadshow to town, please plan on joining WTCI at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, for a special event at the Incline in St. Elmo. In addition to welcoming some special guests from the series, an appraiser will be on hand to appraise one of Chattanooga's most treasured antiques – the Incline Railway. Mayor Littlefield and Mayor Ramsey will be on hand to proclaim next week WTCI ANTIQUES ROADSHOW WEEK in Chattanooga and Hamilton County. We hope to have a HUGE turnout to welcome the Roadshow crew to Chattanooga.

WTCI still has a limited number of tickets available to attend this once in a lifetime event. For a pledge of 400 dollars, you are guaranteed admission to the event on July 19 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. These tickets allow each ticket holder to bring two items for appraisal. You may be lucky enough to tell your story to a national televised audience. Ask fast. These tickets are almost gone.

We're excited to let you know that Antiques Roadshow will also be taping segments at AT&T Field, the Walnut Street Bridge and Chickamauga Battlefield telling stories of local treasures and history. The segments will air as part of the three episodes from Chattanooga premiering in Spring 2009. This is simply another example of how WTCI is helping share our local stories on a national level.

As some of you may know, there's been some controversy surrounding the series "The War of the World: A New History of the 20th Century". Part two of the three-part series, "A Tainted Victory", airs this evening at 10pm. We anticipate strong reactions to some of the opinions voiced in the program. In fact, some of the staff here at WTCI who have previewed tonight's program are troubled by some of the conclusions drawn by the program's host, historian Niall Ferguson.

However, because we believe in diversity of opinion and we stand by our opposition to the censorship of ideas, we've decided to continue airing the program. We hope you'll watch the program and offer your comments here at the WTCI blog. Just click on the word "comments" below to share your thoughts and to read the comments of others who've watched the program. Dialogue is essential to our understanding of any issue and we're glad to provide a forum for this discussion and others.

-Peter G. DeLynn, Vice President of Production

Many of us are looking forward to fireworks on the 4th of July.  But what does it take to create these magnificent displays?  Tune in to WTCI Tuesday at 8pm to see NOVA's hour on the science & history of pyrotechnics.

P.O.V. continues the tradition of powerful PBS documentaries with the premiere episode of its 21st season.  Join us Tuesday, July 1st at 11pm for Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep North.  Filmmaker Katrina Browne analyzes her own family's role in bringing thousands of Africans to New England in the slave trade.  In an interview on the P.O.V. website, she says:

Slavery is not just a Southern sin, it's a national one, and it was the foundation of the American economy. Recognizing that means that the legacy of slavery becomes the responsibility of more Americans than I personally assumed at the outset. So it was a combination of being a deeply personal connection and realizing it's a collective issue that made me go on this journey.

Click here to read the complete interview

(Note: If you just can't wait, set your DVR/TiVo/VCR to see a sneak peek June 26th at 3am.)

"People have these amorphous things they call values they bring to the seat in the theater when they sit down.  And i like to find out where their line may be and deliberately cross it, disturb them a little, make them uncomfortable, then bring them with me, across the line, and make them glad they came.  That's what I do.  I'm an entertainer.  I'm not a doomsayer.  I'm not here to preach.  I don't do political tracts, but I do entertain, I do a lot of jokes, but I want you to feel a little endangered along the way."

That's a quote from George Carlin's 1996 conversation with Charlie Rose.  You'll be seeing a lot of clips and tributes online and on television in the coming days about the great deconstructor of mores and language.  Here's one more:

Sesame Street's own Cookie Monster made a very funny guest appearance with Stephen Colbert last week. Be sure to watch the show's conclusion as well:

A new season of the concert series Soundstage on WTCI premieres Thursday, June 26th at 11pm.  The first artist of the new season is a young man with a great voice, Josh Groban.  Josh continues the tradition of great musical diversity on the program which has featured everyone from George Jones to Buddy Guy to Wilco.  This season you're likely to be impressed by artists you don't yet know and those that feel like old friends.  Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, and Stevie Nicks are just a few of the artists you can expect to hear in the coming weeks.

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there!  I hope you're enjoying your time with family as much as I am.  My two year-old keeps me pretty busy at home and I'm excited about all the great work we're doing here at WTCI to help make the Tennessee Valley a great place for families through our PBS Kids programs, and family-centered programs for adults like the locally-produced First Things First.  I'd also like to bring your attention to a great site you may not be aware of. 

PBS Parents draws on all the resources available to PBS to provide information about your child's physical health, education, and creative exploration.  Sign up for a PBS Parents account to start receiving the free PBS Parents newsletter.  You'll get information about what's new on PBS Parents, new games on pbskids.org, and upcoming PBS Kids and PBS primetime shows of interest to kids and parents.

We just received a letter from a viewer in LaFayette about his switch to our digital broadcasts.  Here's an excerpt:

I recently purchased the digital receiver required to upgrade my old television and rooftop antenna. I set the receiver and found WTCI at 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4. For the last month my TV has not left your broadcast! What a wonderful surprise to find programming geared to serious education.

If you have satellite or cable television, you may already be receiving our digital channels.  Our online programming guide details the variety of programs available via these channels.  If you've not yet made the move to our digital broadcasts, it's easy. Click here for more information.

Father's Day is less than a week away.  If you've not yet found that perfect gift, check out the great selection of DVDs for dad on shoppbs.org.  Get Carrier, The War, Baseball, or Dad's favorite episode of shows like Frontline and American Experience.    

Be sure to join WTCI this coming Friday, June 13th for an evening with Richard Blenko, president of Blenko Glass.  If you're familiar with Blenko Glass, you know the beauty and quality produced by this family business.  If you're not familiar with Blenko, take a look at the above photo from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  All of the window's glass was hand-made by Blenko artisans.  It's just stunning.  

"The rose window in the SOUTH TRANSEPT has as

its theme The Church Triumphant, with its imagery taken

from the biblical book of Revelation. All of the glass in

this window was manufactured by the Blenko Glass

company of West Virginia." - Description from the National Cathedral Self-Guided Tour brochure

The November 4th election will be here before we know it.  It seems we now have two candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.  In fact, it's the first time in the history of this country that we've had two current senators running in a head to head competition for the presidency.  

There are a number of questions still to be answered and there is much debate to come in the 152 days preceding the election.  Who will the Senators choose as their running mates?  Will there be major changes in the way that the general election campaigns are funded and run?  It's sure to be a fascinating five months.  The Vote 2008 section of wtciTV.org will continue to provide the latest information about the election to help you make an informed decision in November.

If you've never seen Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night, do yourself a favor and check it out this Sunday night at 10:30 on WTCI.  The concert film, recorded about a year before Orbison's death, features many of his best songs and the most amazing backing group I've EVER seen.  Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Tom Waits, KD Lang, & Bonnie Raitt are just a few of the faces (and voices) you'll recognize.  Produced by T-Bone Burnett (the man behind the recent Alison Krauss / Robert Plant collaboration), it's a joyful listening experience for fans of great music.

My wife's parents kept a lot of her childhood books, which is great because when we visit, we're able to read them to my two year old son. Earlier this month, I was reading the Sesame Street "Circus of Opposites" book and came across a drawing of Elmo dressed as a clown. Elmo is, of course, one of the most popular characters in Sesame Street history but at age 30, I'm much more familiar with Cookie Monster & Big Bird.

I thought it strange to see Elmo because I could have sworn he hadn't been created when the book was published in 1981. Intriguing. So, I did a little research and found out that it was at least two years later that puppeteer Kevin Clash, the man behind the Elmo we know and love today, was given a random red puppet and told to see what he could do with it. My research also revealed that the illustration I was looking at is the first known published illustration of the Elmo character. Cool, right?

The book isn't worth more than a couple bucks. There are a lot of them out there. It is, however, a reminder that the characters we identify with, whether it's Elmo, Huck Finn, or Indiana Jones, are the results of hard work, inspiration, and boundless creativity. They don't spring to life fully formed. Elmo was just a piece of red fabric until Kevin Clash breathed life into him. Often we forget that it's our duty to nurture the creativity around us in order to shape the culture that our children will inherit.

We all look forward to the unofficial start to summer with the Memorial Day weekend kicking off what we hope will be a wonderful, fun-filled summer.

Parades, cookouts, family and friends fill the 3 days. Some take advantage of the long weekend to open the pool, launch the boat, or tend the garden while others will just enjoy having 3 days to themselves.

It's hard to believe that the "3 day holiday" has only been in effect since Congress passed the National Holiday Act in 1971 which moved this day of Remembrance (originally called "Decoration Day") from May 30th to the last Monday in May. Many of the traditions have faded from the holiday as it merges with the weekend and the start of the summer. Many put out their flag for the summer season, but forget that it should be flown at half staff in the morning in honor of all the fallen who gave their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have.

It came as a surprise to me to discover that since 2000, 3pm on Memorial Day is also set aside as a Moment of Remembrance when all Americans are asked to "voluntarily and informally" pause for a moment of silence in remembrance and respect. In lieu of silence, the playing of Taps is also considered acceptable. I don't know of any other place in the world where such an important observance is on a voluntary basis.

Join WTCI as we bring you some of the best Memorial Day holiday music and celebrations on Sunday, May 25th. Begin the evening at 7pm with WTCI local productions, Heroes From the Valley, and A Veterans Honor Roll. At 8pm, WTCI brings you the National Memorial Day Concert followed by American Experience, a two part study of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States. Part 1 on Sunday at 9:30pm covers his service during World War I and his two terms as a Missouri senator. Part 2 on Monday at 9pm recalls his post World War II economic policiies, his 1948 presidential campaign, the Korean War, and his clash with General MacArthur. Jason Robards narrates both episodes. As you celebrate the start of summer with family and friends this holiday weekend, be safe and take a moment on Monday to remember all those who gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedoms, known and unknown.

Happy Memorial Day!

Sara Maloney, Director of Annual Giving

Our Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators contest winners were announced Monday night at WTCI studios.  Families from across our viewing area turned out to celebrate the creativity of our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from pre-K to fifth grade. 

There's real value in helping kids realize their artistic potential and that's one of the important roles we're proud to play in the community.  To see the animated stories from last year's winners, click here.

This photo was taken on our recent trip to Iris City Gardens in Primm Springs, TN.  It's just one of the stops on the upcoming episode of Southern Accents that you'll see right here on WTCI on saturday, May 24th at 5:30pm and again the next day at 1:30pm.  

We're in the midst of editing the program now.  It also includes a tour of Falls Mill in Belvidere, TN.  Built in 1873, the mill produces cornmeal, flour, and grits for restaurants around the southeast.  The US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is a great family destination.  You'll get a chance to see the enormous Saturn V rocket that took the Apollo missions into space.  We'll also depart from Chattanooga on an eco-tour along the Tennessee River with Blue Moon Cruises.  

There's a little something for everyone on the next edition of Southern Accents.  

We hope you'll join us.

-Karen Elliott & Shaun Townley, Producers

I remember watching The Electric Company in elementary school.  Sure, it was educational, but it was fun.  Where else could you see Rita Moreno, Spider-Man, and Morgan Freeman in the same show?  It's being reported that an updated version of The Electric Company is coming back to PBS in January.  I'm glad my son will have the opportunity to enjoy it too!

If you're interested in guaranteed tickets to Antiques Roadshow in Chattanooga this summer, you've gotta be sure to tune in Monday night at 8pm.  You'll catch a swingin' new episode of Antiques Roadshow from Las Vegas (apparently what happens there tends to stay there, but somehow we got footage...) AND we'll tell you how to get your Chattanooga Roadshow tickets...guaranteed.

I've been a Marvin Gaye fan since the very first time I listened to "What's Going On" so I was quite excited to see that American Masters was doing a show about his career. The documentary was great and for me, added new value to his music. Knowing the album "Here My Dear" was written for Gaye's ex-wife as part of a divorce settlement really gave a new angle to the music.

American Masters has also provided some great additional online-only content about the program. Additional footage from the program, an interview with the Filmmaker and more can be found at the American Masters website.

Be sure to tune in to Charlie Rose thursday night.  He plans to talk to Bill Moyers.  Rose and Moyers have known each other for over thirty years.  It should be a great conversation.

There's a poll over at parade.com asking readers whether US tax dollars should support PBS.  As of this posting, over thirty thousand votes are cast and I'm glad to say that 61% of you believe, as the Parade contributors so elegantly put it, that Big Bird should NOT be given "the ax".  Let your voice be heard.  Vote at Parade.com and send a letter to your representatives in Congress expressing your support of public broadcasting.  Click to find your representatives in the HOUSE and SENATE.

What a fabulous event!  "The Art of Dining" was Chef Daniel Lindley and his St. John's staff at their best.  WTCI's  Angela Lee did an amazing job of bringing together a full house of wonderful guests to enjoy the 2^nd annual, multi-course wine dinner.  My personal menu favorite was the sauteed Hawaiian Walu with a potato-ramp puree & citrus gastrique (I learned last night that a ramp is a seasonal, locally grown onion and is celebrated at the Polk County Ramp Festival!).  The dish was paired with an incredible Italian Fiano called Mandra Rossa IGT.  A nice, not too sweet, white wine that led perfectly into the next course, a smoked Hudson duck breast with quinoa, porcini mushrooms and a huckleberry compote.  Excellent!!   My "girl's night out" table had a wonderful time and thanks to Comcast we were even able to take home chocolate cigars for our husbands.  (Some men are easier to please than others.)  Thanks WTCI for an incredible evening!    

Monday and Tuesday, The Presidents on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE premieres the latest in a series of presidential biographies: our 41st, George H.W. Bush.  You'll hear from his wife, Barbara, Secretary of State Rice, Mikhail Gorbachev, and others.  Tune in Monday, May 5th at 9pm and Tuesday, May 6th at 9pm for this two-part profile of one of the most important patriarchs in American political life.  For more information about the series and upcoming episodes, click here.  Here's a brief look at the series:

Missed an episode of "Charlie Rose"? 

Here's some good news, you can log on to www.charlierose.com to view programs from this week as well as previous episodes.

Tune in to WTCI  tonight at 12 midnight for another exciting episode of "Charlie Rose".

David Hinton retired yesterday after working 39 years at WTCI.  David started in 1969 helping to install and wire the equipment at the original studio on Amnicola Highway.  WTCI signed on the air in March, 1970, and David went to work as a master control operator.  He later transferred to the production department where he eventually worked his way up to Production Manager.  Passing the torch to a younger generation, David transferred back to the engineering department and worked the last 17 years as a master control operator where he started so many years before.  

The station held a surprise retirement party for David in the board room of our new studio on Bonnyshire Drive yesterday.  Family, friends, and staff were in attendance to honor David.  He was presented with an engraved crystal award for his long and dedicated service to the station.  We wish him all the best.

Bryan Fuqua, Vice President of Technical Services

We were all so pleased to meet Jim Lehrer when he joined us for the opening of our new building in November, so we were understandably concerned to hear about his surgery.  We're glad to be able to pass on the following information about his current condition:

"On Wednesday, April 23, Jim Lehrer, anchor and executive editor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, underwent a successful heart valve procedure.  Jim plans to be back at full speed and on the program within a few weeks."

If you'd like to send a get well message to Jim, click here.