Child soldiers exhibit

Many heard about child soldiers for the first time while watching the movie Blood Diamond. But this atrocity started way before the Hollywood production and still continues today.

Artist Serafima Solokov, 22, captured the horror of this situation through her brushes as she created a collection of oil canvas on the subject. Her main goal was to bring awareness to the 250, 000 child soldiers throughout the world. Each of her painting captures the anguish, fear, and emotional toll on the souls and consciences of these children.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2

A Four-Part Series Explores Roots, Race and Identity Through the Ancestry of Remarkable Individuals, Including Maya Angelou, Bliss Broyard, Don Cheadle, Morgan Freeman, Peter Gomes, Kathleen Henderson, Linda Johnson Rice, Tom Joyner, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Chris Rock and Tina Turner –

“These stories of adversity, sacrifice, achievement and empowerment transcend the realm of color with a universal resonance.”
– Henry Louis Gates Jr., series host and participant

Building on the widespread acclaim of AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES (2006) and OPRAH’S ROOTS (2007), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 will again journey deep into the African-American experience to reveal the triumphs and tragedies within the family histories of an all-new group of remarkable participants. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. returns as series host, guiding genealogical investigations down through the 20th century, Reconstruction, slavery and early U.S. history, and presenting cutting-edge genetic analysis that locates participants’ ancestors in Africa, Europe and America.  AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 airs Wednesdays, February 6-13, 2008, 9:00-11:00 p.m. pn WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami.

The Survey says....

In the business of broadcasting, there is nothing that gets you more excited than statistical analysis. As an industry, we live and die with ratings and demographics and the science of how these numbers are determined is as fascinating as any reality program for those of us who "crunch" them for a living. In much the same way, pollsters use a similar approach to determine our tendencies and peculiarities.  At times (New Hampshire's primary for example) even the best of this information can be difficult to interpret and in the end the real question is "what does it tell us about ourselves?"

This morning was a rare opportunity to go behind the numbers a bit and hear from a man who has dedicated his live to compiling and interpreting the collected data, John Zogby.  He released the Second Quarterly Survey for South Florida and on the heels of this week's election, it was interesting to hear from an expert what it all means for South Florida today and how we can use this information to build a future for the region.  The event was sponsored by Bank of America and Argent Ventures and was a co-presentation by Zogby International and South Florida CEO Magazine.

You can watch the entire presentation courtesy of uVu, WPBT's video sharing website by clicking here.

Michelle Serves Up a Taste of Check, Please!

Check, Please! South Florida brings together all different types of people, from all walks of life to discuss their favorite subject: FOOD.  And for me, it's kind of like meeting new friends.  It's great!  There is nothing better than food to bring family and friends together....so called 'breaking bread' as they say. 

We're all so busy in our lives.  My life revolves around my restaurant, and to be able to meet these people on the show and to get to sit down with them for an hour to chit chat about their lives and the food they like to eat was a truly enjoyable experience!  I feel like I have made friends for life.....and I have found restaurants for life!

Living in Miami, I very seldom get to venture to Palm Beach or the Northern parts of Fort Lauderdale to visit new restaurants, especially some of the tiny, little, hidden-away places we featured on the show.  As I stopped in at each of these places, I discovered there are such beautiful stories - and histories behind these restaurants.  It would be a shame not to find out a little bit about that history.  Through Check, Please! South Florida, I get the opportunity to sit and talk to some of the chefs and managers, behind-the-scenes in their own restaurants -- something I very rarely get to do.  It was great to witness the unbelievable passion and drive that exists in the people who make the magic happen.

I find that owning a restaurant is almost like producing a play -- you all are the audience, and we are behind the curtains preparing all day.  Finally, when the curtains open, we are on stage all night long.  But, for me, to get in there and see the backstage of a restaurant is always fascinating.

On Check, Please! South Florida, I hope that you'll discover some restaurants that may have fallen under the radar, perhaps because of their size or location.  I'd never even heard of some of these spots before, and now that I've gone to visit, I have fallen in love with the places, as well as the people who work so tirelessly, and often so thanklessly, behind the scenes.  I hope this show will reveal something new to you, as we whet your appetite for the great variety of cuisine that can be found all over South Florida.

Visit our website at www.checkpleasefl.com - where you can learn more about the series, apply to be a guest on a future episode, or just tell us what you think of South Florida's cuisine scene.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Bon Appetit!

-- Michelle Bernstein, Host of Check, Please! South Florida

NOTE: Check, Please! South Florida premieres January 28 at 7:30 p.m. exclusively on WPBT Channel 2 in Miami

As The Wrench Turns

“CLICK & CLACK’S AS THE WRENCH TURNS” LAUNCHES IN SUMMER 2008

FIRST-EVER ANIMATED PRIMETIME SERIES INSPIRED BY NPR’S POPULAR “CAR TALK”

PBS confirmed today the title of its first-ever animated primetime series, a spin-off of Tom and Ray Magliozzi’s hit NPR show “Car Talk.” Tom and Ray announced the title on their Saturday, January 26 program, saying they had lured submissions with the misleading promise of everlasting fame.

CLICK & CLACK’S AS THE WRENCH TURNS will premiere in summer 2008 on PBS. The program takes off from the hit NPR show and follows the “on- and off-air” escapades of Tom and Ray Magliozzi (known to their listeners as “Click and Clack,” the Tappet brothers) as they try to fix cars, fend off disgruntled customers and seek out increasingly creative ways to goof off.

The Check Arrives

Everyone is talking about it, and now it is finally here.

Check, Please! South Florida arrives Monday night at 7:30pm, exclusively on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami and click here to find all the buzz.

Miami Herald
Stuart News
Chicago Sun Times
The Menu Pages
South Florida Gourmet

Want in on the action, click here to go to the Check, Please! South Florida website.

PRINCE AMONG SLAVES

PRINCE AMONG SLAVES airs February 4 at 10pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami.
By Co- Executive Producer Michael Wolfe 
Four years in the making, PRINCE AMONG SLAVES explores the dramatic story of a young African general slated to rule a nation larger than the Thirteen Colonies, who instead was captured during battle in 1788 and sold into slavery in Mississippi.
He served on a single plantation in Natchez for almost 40 years, before negotiating his freedom with the U.S. State Department and the White House in 1828.

This amazing piece of American history is perhaps the best detailed biography of an enslaved African in our annals, yet it has fallen out of the history books, until now.

Loch and Keys

Thanks to our video sharing site, uVu, I had the chance to spend some time in Key West last week. While this is hardly a tough assignment it wasn'€™t a vacation either. Due to the remarkable confluence of The Key West Literary Seminar, The 2008 Sculpture Key West installation and exhibition  and the first TSKW (The Studios of Key West) artist-in-residence, Curt Richter who presented his photograph series, Faces & Voices at The Studios Key West, there was an awful lot of interesting material to record and presented on our online site.

My trip from Miami was relatively short, certainly shorter than Curt'€™s travel from Helsinki or the replica Loch Ness Monster’s road trip from the swamps of Brooklyn, but in the end, you can actually catch up on much of the action from your own desktop.  The focal point of the week was The Studios of Key West, in the Armory on White Street. TSKW has emerged as a real catalyst for the arts and an incubator for artists all the way from Mallory Square to Helsinki

Celtic Thunder

NOTE: For a limited time you can become a member of CHANNEL 2/WPBT and receive tickets to Celtic Thunder in concert.  Visit this link

I went to New York City on Monday and Tuesday to meet the producers and cast of Celtic Man. Only they aren't Celtic Man anymore. They changed their name and I didn't get the memo! But we had a good laugh about. The program and the group are "Celtic Thunder". Musical Director Phil Coulter and Producer Sharon Browne decided the original name "Celtic Man in Celtic Thunder" was unwieldly and shortened it to "Celtic Thunder." And I think it's a good choice because it captures the guys perfectly.

Check, Please! gets 'the dish'

The Check, Please! South Florida crew made an appearance at the annual Great Taste of the Grove festival this past weekend.  That's where local foodies converged to sample dishes from Coconut Grove's trendy restaurants.  The offerings ranged from a fresh, spicy ceviche, to Cajun-style jerk chicken, to a sophisticated lobster croquette.  And the colorful fun-seekers at the event were as diverse as the menu.

We were there to capture some 'video auditions' from those interested in snagging a spot as a guest food critic on an upcoming episode of Check, Please! South Florida.  Once on-camera, these aspiring reviewers were asked to describe their favorite South Florida restaurants.  They raved about all kinds of local eateries, from a restaurant that offers Italian dishes with a Cuban twist, to an ultra-affordable taco joint that's become a popular hangout for college students, to a great spot for authentic, moderately-priced Thai cuisine.  When asked about the most important aspects of a dining experience, they rattled off the list: first-rate food, impeccable service, and a great atmosphere.  For at least one dining enthusiast, the company around the table was as crucial as the meal.  Surprisingly, price did not seem to be a factor for most.

We want to know what YOU think.  Visit us at www.checkpleasefl.com, download an application and recommend your favorite restaurants.  Remember to include those that would appeal to both spendthrifts and penny-pinchers.  That will increase your chances of being selected as an amateur restaurant reviewer on a future show.

In the meantime, don't forget to catch the premiere of Check, Please! South Florida during the last week of January: Monday through Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 2.  We'll see you then!

-- Joyce in Production

PBS KIDS PLAY!

PBS LAUNCHES PBS KIDS PLAY! BETA TEST


New educational Internet service will help children learn a comprehensive curriculum by playing computer-based activities with PBS KIDS characters.
 
ARLINGTON, VA, JANUARY 15, 2008 – Beginning today, PBS is opening the beta test for a new Internet-based educational service designed to provide children ages 3 to 6 with a comprehensive early childhood curriculum. PBS KIDS PLAY!, which will be offered as a subscription service later this calendar quarter, uses interactive games and activities to provide a personalized learning experience at home. The PBS KIDS PLAY! Beta is currently available as a download from www.pbskidsplay.org and requires a high-speed Internet connection to use.

THE JEWISH AMERICANS

The second part of The Jewish Americans airs Wednesday, January 16 at 9:00 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami with the next two hours: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

As Jewish Americans tried to enter the mainstream of American life, they were frustrated by anti-Semitism even as they developed their own resources, often succeeding in businesses on the margins of American life. Irving Berlin, an immigrant from Russia, began writing tunes just as Tin Pan Alley was taking off, transforming himself into one of America’s greatest songwriters with iconic songs such as “White Christmas” and “God Bless America.” But in 1918, the year “God Bless America” was composed, America was closing its doors to foreigners and anti-Semitism was on the rise. Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, faced anti-Semitism in his confirmation hearings and then on the court itself. Leo Frank, a Jewish American living in Atlanta, was unjustly convicted by a Georgia court of murdering a 13-year-old girl and lynched. Henry Ford, one of the most powerful men in the country, published strident attacks on Jewish Americans. America’s elite colleges and universities limited the number of Jewish students they would admit.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Oswald’s Ghost

The assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, left a psychic wound on America that remains today. Few Americans then or now accept that a lone, inconsequential gunman could bring down a president and alter history. That event gave rise to a culture of conspiracy that points to sinister forces at work in the shadows. This film features interviews with authors Norman Mailer and Edward J. Epstein, politician Gary Hart, news anchor Dan Rather, activist Tom Hayden, attorney Mark Lane and others. Drawing upon these interviews and rarely seen archival footage, “Oswald’s Ghost” takes a fresh look at Kennedy’s assassination, the public’s reaction to the tragedy and the government investigations that led to a widespread loss of trust in the institutions that govern American society.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Oswald’s Ghost airs Monday, January 14 at 9:00 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami

Celtic Man

From the producers who brought us the chart-topping female ensemble "Celtic Woman", we will soon have "Celtic Man". This new Irish ensemble feature five guys from Ireland. They range in age from 14 to 39, and they all have fantastic voice. I've been invited to meet them next week in New York and tape interviews with them for our March pledge drive. But you can test drive them by checking out the "Celtic Man" website at www.celticman.ie.

The Complete Jane Austen 'Persuasion'

MASTERPIECE™ kicks off the long awaited Complete Jane Austen with 'Persuasion' on Sunday, January 13, at 10 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami.

Sally Hawkins ("Little Britain") appears as Anne Elliot, destined for spinsterhood at age 27 after being persuaded eight years earlier to refuse the proposal of dashing Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones, "Casanova"). Then chance brings them together again. While her better days are past, his are definitely ahead as he's now rich and free to play the field among eligible young beauties. Anthony Head ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") co-stars as Anne's spendthrift father.

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION: Late Night

The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television. Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for PIONEERS was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat — the inventor of “Tonight.” The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.
PIONEERS OF TELEVISION continues with Late Night premiering on Wednesday, January 9 at 10 p.m.on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami.

Stay CURIOUS

REAL SCIENCE, REAL LIFE CONVERGE IN CURIOUS, A NEW SERIES THAT TAKES VIEWERS INSIDE BRAIN CENTERS OF INNOVATION TO WITNESS BREAKTHROUGHS THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD
Two Documentaries Follow Researchers Working On A Revolutionary Cancer Drug, An “Artificial Leaf” That Uses Sunlight To Produce Earth-Friendly Fuel And Other Cutting-Edge Concepts       

Mark Davis was enjoying a successful career as a chemical engineer – until his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After chemotherapy treatments compromised her immune system and made her gravely ill, she insisted to her husband, “There’s got to be a better way – you can fix this.”  Davis didn’t think he could.  “Cancer – what did I know about it?” he wondered.  “It was way out of my comfort zone from a scientific point of view.”  Ultimately, he rose to that very personal challenge, and 10 years later, the first drops of IT-101, a revolutionary nanoparticle drug he invented, were injected into the first human, Ray Natha.  A terminal cancer patient, Natha was expected to live only a few months, but IT-101 reversed that grim prognosis and, today, more than a year later, his cancer remains stable.  In addition to his dramatic improvement, Natha experienced virtually no side effects during the drug trial. 
While Davis focuses his efforts on human survival, other researchers are trying to save planet Earth.  Spurred by the looming energy crisis, Nathan Lewis and Sossina Haile are working to invent a new kind of fuel that uses the sun to power the planet.  They are attempting to produce a prototype for a truly alternative fuel source – an artificial leaf that emulates natural photosynthesis, converting solar energy into a usable, clean chemical fuel.  They hope their pioneering solar cell and fuel cell technologies will eventually end our dependence on petroleum and provide an energy source that won’t pollute our planet. 
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) make up the cast of CURIOUS, premiering in Miami on Tuesdays, January 8 and 15 at 9 p.m. 

FRONTLINE: Growing Up Online

MySpace. YouTube. Facebook. Nearly every teen in America is on the Internet every day, socializing with friends and strangers alike, "trying on" identities, and building a virtual profile of themselves--one that many kids insist is a more honest depiction of who they really are than the person they portray at home or in school.

In "Growing Up Online," FRONTLINE peers inside the world of this cyber-savvy generation through the eyes of teens and their parents, who often find themselves on opposite sides of a new digital divide. From cyber bullying to instant "Internet fame," to the specter of online sexual predators, FRONTLINE producer Rachel Dretzin investigates the risks, realities and misconceptions of teenage self-expression on the World Wide Web.

Watch a preview clip here and watch the program on January 22 at 10pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami

Converter Coupons Going Fast

The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced that the largest consumer electronics retailers (Best Buy, Circuit City, Kmart, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart) will participate in the TV Converter Box Coupon Program along with more than 100 other retailers, representing more than 14,000 stores throughout the nation.

Thus far more than 500,000 people have requested more than 1 million $40 coupons toward the purchase of converters in the first 40 hours of the program. (Request yours here).

The requests are coming from every state via online and phone orders. Almost all were applying for the maximum two coupons per household.

The NTIA was given enough money by Congress to subsidize a total of 33.5 million coupons.

During the ordering process requesters are told that the coupons will not be mailed until Feb. 17, 2008.

NATURE: The Desert Lions

NATURE: The Desert Lions airs Sunday, January 6 at 8:00pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami. Watch a preview clip here.
The world’s most extraordinary population of lions lives in the Namib Desert on Africa’s wild and forbidding Skeleton Coast. Philip Stander, a Namibian carnivore specialist, first spotted these desert lions in the mid-1980s, watching in disbelief as a lioness killed a fur seal in the waves and dragged it five miles inland to feed her cubs. Before he had a chance to study them further, they disappeared; Stander became obsessed with their fate and their story. Twenty years later, the lions reappeared, giving him a second chance to unravel their secrets. Program is presented in high definition.

FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY MONTH

FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY MONTH FOCUSES ON POLITICS AND KICKS OFF ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2008 AT JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA

The fifth annual observance of Florida Jewish History Month (FJHM) will kick-off at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at the Jewish Museum of Florida on South Beach. There will be no admission charge for this or any other event at the Museum during Florida Jewish History Month.

The theme for this year's observance is Floridian Jews in Politics. A panel discussion with current and former public office holders, moderated by former State Representative Elaine Bloom, will feature a discussion on how Jewish traditions and values have impacted Jewish politicians, as well as laws written by the politicos and experiences with antisemitism and prayer breakfasts.

The Jan. 6 program is in memory of Kenneth M. Myers, who served in the Florida House of Representatives 1964-1969 and in the State Senate 1969-1980. Myers, who passed away 7-29-07, was known as "one of the best friends the people of Florida had."

You can watch previous events from FJHM on uVu by clicking here

Converter Coupons now available

Millions of $40 government coupons became available Tuesday to help low-tech television owners buy special converter boxes for older TVs that might not work after the switch to digital broadcasting.
Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, anyone who does not own a digital set and still gets their programming via over-the-air antennas will no longer receive a picture.
That's the day the television industry completes its transition from old-style analog broadcasting to digital.
The converter boxes are expected to cost between $50 and $70 and will be available at most major electronics retail stores. Starting Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin accepting requests for two $40 coupons per household to be used toward the purchase of the boxes.
Viewers who have satellite or cable service will not need a box.

PAVAROTTI IN CENTRAL PARK

Experience One of the Legendary Tenor’s Greatest Concerts in PAVAROTTI IN CENTRAL PARK

Celebrate the life of legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti in the once-in-a-lifetime concert special PAVAROTTI IN CENTRAL PARK. Captured at the height of Pavarotti’s immense popularity, this is one of the master’s most triumphant and memorable performances.

Recorded live in New York City’s Central Park on June 26, 1993, before an audience of 500,000 adoring fans, and backed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Pavarotti dazzles the crowd with a virtuoso performance of some of the greatest opera arias of all time. Included in this special are “Quando le sere al placido” from Verdi’s Luisa Miller; “Fra poco a me ricovero” from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor; “Il lamento di Federico” from Cilea’s L’arlesiana; and “La Girometa” by Sibella.      

Pavarotti is also joined by renowned Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli for a performance of “Act III prelude” from La Traviata and “Occi de fata” by Donza. He finishes the concert with a list of his all-time classics, including “Recondita Armonia” and “E lucevan de stelle” from Puccini’s Tosca, “O sole mio,” and, as a rousing encore, Pavarotti’s signature aria, “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot.

One of the most unforgettable concerts in Luciano Pavarotti’s enormously successful career, PAVAROTTI IN CENTRAL PARK, airing Thursday, January 3 at 9:00 p.m., shows the master of modern opera at his absolute finest. 

MARIA CALLAS: LIVING AND DYING FOR THE ART OF LOVE

Tragic Life of the World’s Greatest Opera Singer Explored in MARIA CALLAS: LIVING AND DYING FOR THE ART OF LOVE

“To be believable vocally, as an actress, as a style and technique, and then to have the charisma for the public. I think that is what Maria did for the theatre. She creates a new dimension..”
                                                                       - Placido Domingo, composer and tenor

Perhaps the greatest opera singer of all time, Maria Callas’ life was defined by her immense voice and her titanic heartbreak—rejected by her true love, Callas’ remarkable talent slipped away, and she died young and alone.

Callas’ tragic life is chronicled in vivid detail in the new American Public Television-distributed special MARIA CALLAS: LIVING AND DYING FOR THE ART OF LOVE, an intimate, revealing biography of one of the world’s greatest musical talents.

Famed for both her legendary, unique voice and majestic stage presence, Callas’ life paralleled that of her most famous role, in Puccini’s Tosca. Her scandalous affair with Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis produced a child that died shortly after birth. Onassis’ various affairs and eventual marriage to Jackie Kennedy devastated Callas and diminished her stage performances; heartbroken, she died in Paris in 1953.

MARIA CALLAS: LIVING AND DYING FOR THE ART OF LOVE, airing on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Thursday, January 3 at 8:00 p.m., features interviews with fellow opera stars, such as Tito Gobbi (her Scarpia in numerous productions of Tosca), Placido Domingo and Grace Bumbry, as well as director Franco Zefferilli, opera director John Copley and actress Judi Dench, all sharing their memories of Callas.

Including clips of interviews with Callas, rare archival footage and segments of stunning arias from her many classic shows, MARIA CALLAS: LIVING AND DYING FOR THE ART OF LOVE is a memorable look back at a life full of remarkable performances and heartbreaking tragedy.