Trusted. Valued. Essential. JANUARY 2017 Vegas PBS A Message from the Management Team General Manager General Manager Tom Axtell, Vegas PBS Educational Media Services Director Niki Bates Production Services Director Kareem Hatcher Communications and Brand Management Director Shauna Lemieux Individual Giving Director Kelly McCarthy Business Manager New Year, New Service Brandon Merrill he beginning of a new year offers new opportunities to start afresh. One Engineering, IT & Emergency Response Director George Molnar of our corporate resolutions is to strive to serve children better. In the Content Director last two decades, the status of children in our community has deterio- Cyndy Robbins rated. Approximately half are considered socioeconomically disadvan- Workforce Training & Economic Development Director taged and qualify for free or reduced price meals at public schools. In Debra Solt Tmany of these homes, free over-the-air TV is an educational lifeline. Corporate Partnerships Director Bruce Spotleson More than a third of homes with children are “technology poor,” with internet Southern Nevada Public Television Board of Directors access only via a single shared smart phone. Alternatively, more than 40 percent live Executive Director in a “technology rich” home with high-speed internet access, multiple desktop and Tom Axtell, Vegas PBS tablet computers, and individual smartphones. As an educational nonprofit television President service committed to serving ALL children with 21st century technology solutions, we Bill Curran, Ballard Spahr, LLP have a challenge! Vice President Nancy Brune, Guinn Center for Policy Priorities Our free over-the-air broadcasting services I am thrilled to are remarkably effective. Nielsen data shows Treasurer and Chair, Planned Giving Council announce that Vegas Mark Dreschler, Premier Trust of Nevada that Vegas PBS weekday children’s programs “ PBS will launch Chair, Community Council command 73 percent of ALL local TV viewing Charlotte Hill, Carlisle Collection between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in homes with a VEGAS PBS KIDS...” Chair, Desert Meadows AHEC Council child aged 2-11.Talk about market share! Yet Loretta Moses, Clark County Medical Society of Nevada research also shows that children watch TV at all hours of the day.With so many par- CCSD Liaison to SNPT Board ents working second and third shift in the 24-hour Las Vegas economy, a safe and Carolyn Edwards, Clark County School District Trustee educational place on TV for latchkey kids is essential. Board Members I am thrilled to announce that Vegas PBS will launch VEGAS PBS KIDS, a 24- Tracy Bower, National Security Technologies, LLC Cheri Colbus, US Bank hour children’s educational channel, on January 16. If you use an antenna, it will be Mo Denis, Nevada State Senator channel 10.3 replacing Vme. It will be Cox Cable channel 113 and CenturyLink Prism Dema Guinn, Community Volunteer channel 11.The service will also be streamed for internet and mobile device viewing. Sandi Herrera, “Got Core Values!” Although negotiations are ongoing, neither Direct TV or Dish will carry the service at Albert Z. Kovacs, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Lori Lea, AECIndustryPro.com its launch. Nora Luna, Nathan Adelson Hospice An important extension of the service will be a large number of enhanced interac- Marydean Martin, Marydean & Associates tive educational games for mobile devices, and parent engagement resources to assist John Restrepo, RCG Economics, LLC Irene Vogel, Community Volunteer parents in extending the lessons embedded in the TV programs. Through these new 24/7 services,Vegas PBS will help level the playing field for all children – making our Contact Vegas PBS with comments and suggestions: Vegas PBS & Southern Nevada Public Television educational content available to more Southern Nevada families than ever before, and 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89121 giving parents (and grandparents or caregivers) more free opportunities to actively 702.799.1010 • Fax 702.799.2806 VegasPBS.org • email: [email protected] engage with their kids and the digital media they enjoy. Vegas PBS Source, Volume No. 1, 2017 The academic success of ALL children is essential to the long-term strength of our Vegas PBS Source Art Director community and our nation. That is why your annual financial support of free, over- Anton Tielemans the-air educational television is so important. As we enter the new year, your support will be delivering educational services in an even more impactful way through the nation’s only free 24/7 educational service for families, allowing them to watch and learn together – anytime and anywhere. Tom Axtell This magazine is printed on recycled paper JANUARY 2017 5 January 2017 Contents Cover Story 8 New Year, New Drama! It is a brand new year, and we are celebrating with an incredible lineup of brand new drama! Departments 5 Message to Our Members Letter from General Manager Tom Axtell 14 Upcoming Member Events 22 Message from the Director of Content Features 10 History Fascinating Stories From the Past 12 The Arts The Art Scene on Friday Nights 13 How To Outdoor Nevada 8 18 Science and Nature Think Wednesday 20 Special Event Splendor in the Glass 2017 21 Special Thanks to 2016 Donors 32 Ellie’s Real Good Food 33 Earthflight, A Nature Special Presentation 34 Robin Williams Remembered: A Pioneers of Television Special 35 Clark County School District Spelling Bee 2017 37 Vegas PBS Rewind/Worldview/Jackpot! 10 18 Program Menu 23 Weekdays/Children’s Lineup 24 Primetime Programming 32 Weekend Daytime Programming 36 Vegas PBS Create Programming Vegas PBS Channels 38 Vegas PBS Sponsors 33 37 JANUARY 2017 7 COVER STORY NEW YEAR, Mark Gatiss and Benedict Cumberbatch back once more on British soil as Doctor NEW DRAMA! Watson (Martin Freeman) and his wife Mary (Amanda Abbington) prepare for their Throughout the Month biggest challenge yet: becoming parents. Please note: Sherlock, Season 4 on Masterpiece Jenna Coleman runs for an extend length, so subsequent It is a brand new year, and we are celebrating with an incredible lineup of brand new programs on those evenings will begin late. drama! Every Sunday evening, we are bringing you unsurpassed entertainment with The Six Thatchers sumptuous era TV drama and intriguing new Sherlock mysteries. Come join us – Sunday, January 1 at 9 p.m. we'll save you a seat! Repeats same day at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 8 at 7 p.m. Victoria on Masterpiece at 5 p.m. and January 29 at 6 p.m., followed The Lying Detective Sundays beginning January 15 by the fabulous Great British Baking Show Sunday, January 8 at 9 p.m. at 9 p.m. at 6 p.m. Who will be crowned the best ama- Repeats same day at 10:30 p.m. Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) stars as the teur baker in the U.K.? The Final Problem young Queen Victoria at the outset of her Sherlock, Season 4 Sunday, January 15 at 7 p.m. epic reign, setting the stage for an entire era on Masterpiece Mercy Street (Season 2) that would be named in her honor.The eight- Sundays, January 1–15 Sundays beginning January 22 hour drama follows Victoria from the time The highly anticipated new season returns at 8 p.m. she becomes Queen in 1837 at the age of 18 with three episodes that promise laughter, The much acclaimed Civil War-era drama through her relationship with Lord tears, surprises and extraordinary adven- set in the occupied city of Alexandria, Melbourne (Rufus Sewell), her first prime tures. Season 4 begins with the mercurial Virginia, returns this month. Allegiances minister and intimate friend, and her Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), blur, loyalties shift and the drama intensifies courtship and marriage to Prince Albert (Tom Hughes). Famous for her candor and spirit, she was the first woman who seemed to have it all: a passionate marriage, nine children and the job as queen of the world’s most important nation. The series paints a portrait of a monarch who was raised to be the pawn of her pow- erful elders but who wasted no time in show- ing the empire who was in charge. Her often tumultuous reign lasted for 63 years. Repeats the following Sundays, January 22 The series paints a “portrait of a monarch who was raised to be the pawn of her powerful elders...” Mercy Street 8 VEGAS PBS SOURCE as the scope of the war pushes beyond Mansion House, the former hotel comman- deered by northern troops to serve as a Union hospital. The second season moves closer to the war and into the halls of Confederate power, all set against the inten- sifying war, as the bonds of family, love and freedom are tested. The new season also delves deeper into the lives of newly freed African Americans, exploring – among other areas – life in a contraband camp, where for- merly enslaved African Americans are forced to confront horrific living conditions and disease, but also get a glimpse of freedom. Secrets of the Six Wives Sundays, January 22- February 3 at 10 p.m. Travel with historian Lucy Worsley back to the Tudor court to witness some of the most dramatic moments in the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives, each of whom found Secrets of the Six Wives a method of exerting influence. The three- part program combines drama with histori- Bureau, the existence of MI6 was not for- cal comment. Repeats the following Sundays mally acknowledged until 1994 — which at 5 p.m. goes a long way toward understanding the THE DRAMA CONTINUES modus operandi of this government agency. with our Saturday night lineup! With unprecedented access to some of the key players in British espionage, this film Midsomer Murders at 7:30 p.m.