This Month on CPTV
November is known for its holidays and special remembrances. From Thanksgiving and Veteran’s Day to the countdown to Christmas and Hanukkah, this month has an abundance of special days of observances to celebrate.
Election Day falls within early November. PBS News Hour and Connecticut Public’s coverage of Connecticut’s local political races offer updates and perspectives on the run-up to the election.
In addition, new show premieres from Antiques Roadshow, Nature and NOVA, and programs commemorating Native American Heritage Month and the service and sacrifice of military heroes, both past and present, round out the program schedule. Plus, Great Performances puts a spotlight on several music icons who have had an enduring impact on the entertainment industry. See all the highlights on CPTV and CPTV Spirit.
Election 2024
Frontline | The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump
Monday, November 4 at 10 p.m. on CPTV
Examine the lives and characters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as they seek the presidency. In anticipation of the historic election, those who know the candidates best reveal key moments that shape how they would lead America.
WATCH NOW
PBS News Vote 2024: Election Coverage
Tuesday, November 5 at 6 p.m. on CPTV
Tune in for live coverage of the 2024 presidential and congressional elections. Co-anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett, including reports from campaign correspondents Lisa Desjardins and Laura Barron-Lopez.
The Wheelhouse: CT Election Night 2024
Tuesday, November 5 at 7 p.m.
An unprecedented election cycle finally winds down. On election night, The Wheelhouse will analyze the stakes of the presidential race and catch up with Connecticut Public reporters on some local races, too.
On CPTV
Death in Paradise | Series 13
Fridays at 10 p.m.
Solving impossible murders set on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte Marie takes center stage in the show’s newest season. Take a trip down memory lane during each episode as commissioner Selwyn Patterson celebrates 50 years of police service at the Yacht Club...but with twists and turns that are very unexpected.
The First Lady
Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Starring Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford, and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, this revelatory reframing of American leadership through the lens of former First Ladies highlights their personal and professional lives. Delve into the Ladies’ accomplishments, and discover the impact of the women of the White House.
WATCH ANYTIME WITH PASSPORT
Ridley | Season 2
Sunday, November 3 at 8 p.m.
The season series concludes with the follow-up to the shocking discovery of a body. Ridley must intensify his efforts to unravel what happened to the missing mother and wife. With Carol and the team, he races against time to prevent further tragedies before it's too late.
BINGE WITH PASSPORT
The Marlow Murder Club on Masterpiece
Sundays at 9 p.m.
An all-new adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s novel, “The Marlow Murder Club” is a thrilling, four-part series starring Samantha Bond who is joined by Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Nature | San Diego: America’s Wildest City
Wednesday, November 6 at 8 p.m.
The hidden wonders of the country's most biodiverse urban landscape, where humans and wildlife collide in spectacular fashion are featured. From the playful antics of ground squirrels to the thrilling hunts of orcas and the moonlit spawning of grunion, this film showcases nature's resilience and beauty amidst the urban sprawl.
SEE A PREVIEW
NOVA | Decoding the Universe: Quantum
Wednesday, November 6 at 9 p.m.
Welcome to the quantum universe, where particles can spin in two directions at once, observing something changes it, and a thing on one side of the galaxy can instantly affect something on the other, as if the space between them didn't exist. Buckle up for a wild ride through the discoveries that proved all of this to be true and paved the way for the digital technologies enjoyed today -- and the powerful quantum sensors and computers of tomorrow.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Father Brown | Series 11
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
Many years spent hearing his parishioners' confessions have given Father Brown an uncanny insight into the origins of evil and the workings of the criminal mind. But the stories are not concerned with judgement -- Father Brown is more interested in saving souls than in bringing the guilty to justice. Tune in as Brenda faces ghosts from her past and becomes embroiled in a local dispute that ends in murder.
Sister Boniface Mysteries
Thursdays at 10 p.m.
It's the 1960s and police forensics are rudimentary. Luckily the residents of Great Slaughter have a secret weapon, Sister Boniface, a Vespa driving, crime-solving Catholic nun. If there's evidence to be found, Boniface will find it, with a little help from dashing DI Sam Gillespie and buttoned-up Bermudan DS Felix Livingstone.
Salute to Service 2024
Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m.
Hosted by Jon Stewart and featuring the United States Army Field Band, this heartfelt Veterans Day event honors heroes both past and present, in a celebration of their service, sacrifice and the enduring spirit of America.
SEE EXTRAS
Antiques Roadshow: Extraordinary Finds 3
Monday, November 11 at 8 p.m.
Revisit some remarkable finds whose stories didn't stop even after the show was finished! Antiques Roadshow reveals what happened with some intriguing treasures through all-new interviews with fan-favorite appraisers, standout guests and more.
WATCH MORE EXTRAORDINARY FINDS
Peleliu: WWII’s Most Well-Preserved Battlefield
Monday, November 11 at 9 p.m.
Explore the impact that World War II had on a small island in the Palau archipelago in Micronesia. The remote island of Peleliu is considered the most well-preserved battlefield in the world -- a living testament to one of the Marines' most bitter and eye-opening fights in World War II. Because it is illegal to remove any relic from the island, the battlefield remains almost as it was when the fight here ended in the fall of 1944. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Marine and Army battle, which was supposed to last three days but instead took 72 days of hard fighting to eliminate the Japanese from 500 caves on the island.
Independent Lens | Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen
Monday, November 11 at 10 p.m.
Riddled with survivor's guilt after his unit lost 17 men during "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan, Marine veteran Anthony Marquez makes it his mission to reconnect with the Gold Star families of the fallen. By carving and hand-delivering a battlefield cross for each of the families affected by loss, Anthony finds the path to heal himself.
SEE A PREVIEW
American Experience | American Coup: Wilmington 1898
Tuesday, November 12 at 9 p.m.
Discover the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina's largest city in 1898 -- the only coup d'etat in the history of the US. Stoking fears of "Negro Rule," self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington's democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Dozens of Black residents were murdered, and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants -- Black and White -- seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Nature | Lions of the Skeleton Coast
Wednesday, November 13 at 8 p.m.
In this captivating tale, lion researcher Dr. Philip Stander follows three orphaned desert lion cubs as they navigate the harsh realities of survival in one of the world's most unforgiving places, Namibia's brutal Skeleton Coast. Stander's passion for these majestic creatures began 40 years ago, when he encountered a lone desert lioness on the Coast shores. But the desert lions soon disappeared from the region, and more than a decade later, he discovers a female cub called "Queen" whose life unlocks the survival secrets of desert lions.
WATCH A PREVIEW
NOVA | Building Stuff: Boost It!
Wednesday, November 13 at 9 p.m.
Around the world, engineers are finding ingenious ways to amplify human abilities and senses. From helping a blind man see without the use of his eyes to building a sling so powerful it can shoot rockets into space, see why engineering just might be the closest thing to a superpower that humans have.
Secrets of the Dead | Lost Treasures of Angkor - The Discovery
Wednesday, October 13 at 10 p.m.
A recent discovery of gold and silver artifacts in Laos tells the story of the Khmer Empire and may point to a lost city of immense power and wealth older than the megacity of Angkor.
SEE A PREVIEW
Edward VIII: Britain’s Traitor King
Sunday, November 17 at 8 p.m.
Edward VIII is most famous for abdicating his throne less than a year after his coronation in 1936 to be with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. But the true scandal lies in what happened afterward. New documents unearthed by historians explore how the former king was involved in a plan to reinstall himself as monarch in the event of a Nazi victory in World War II.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Leonardo Da Vinci
Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19 at 8 p.m.
This two-part, four-hour documentary, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, explores the life and work of the 15th century polymath Leonardo da Vinci. The film looks at how the artist influenced and inspired future generations, and it finds in his soaring imagination and profound intellect the foundation for a conversation we are still having today: what is our relationship with nature and what does it mean to be human.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Nature | Attenborough’s Life Journey
Wednesday, November 20 at 8 p.m.
As Sir David Attenborough enters his 98th year, this unique and charming film documents the highlights of his incredible life. Follow Attenborough's journey from his boyhood days as a fossil hunter, through his early days as a host on Zoo Quest, to his programs using pioneering technology of the day such as 3D and 4K.
WATCH THE TRAILER
NOVA | Building Stuff: Reach It!
Wednesday, November 20 at 9 p.m.
Not content to stay in one place, humans schemed and invented and built so they could move from one place to the next. From affordable deep-sea subs to flying taxis to next-gen space habitats, see how today's engineers are designing and building creative new ways for people to get all around -- and even off -- the planet.
Mona Lisa Is Missing
Wednesday, November 20 at 11 p.m.
It’s the most famous painting in the world. Nearly 8.5 million people visit her every year. Yet few individuals have ever heard about the time the Mona Lisa actually vanished from the Louvre in Paris for nearly two and a half years, until now.
WATCH HERE
Great Performances | Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight
Sunday, November 24 at 8 p.m.
Patsy Cline's music has transcended generations, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of American music. With her unmistakable voice and heartfelt delivery, she became a trailblazer in country music and beyond, a crossover artist who paved the way for countless artists who have followed in her footsteps.
NOVA | Building Stuff: Change It!
Wednesday, November 27 at 9 p.m.
From accessing ancient wisdom to build a better water filter to designing a robot that uses acoustics to bring coral reefs back to health, see how today's engineers are applying their craft to reshape the natural world and create new human-made environments to enhance lives in amazing ways.
60s and 70s Soul Celebration (My Music Presents)
Friday, November 29 at 8 p.m.
The legends of ‘60s and ‘70s soul music return to perform their biggest hits. Featuring The Temptations, James Brown, Patti LaBelle, The Chi-Lites, The Spinners, Sam Moore and more in this classic R&B and soul showcase.
Great Performances | Henry Mancini 100 at the Hollywood Bowl
Friday, November 29 at 9 p.m.
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, along with special guests, celebrate the centennial birthday of Henry Mancini, the peerless composer for film, television and popular song. The 4-time Oscar and 20-time Grammy-winning composer of "Moon River" and the "Pink Panther" made 29 conducting appearances on the iconic Bowl's stage. Michael Buble, Cynthia Erivo, saxophonist Dave Koz and Mancini's daughter Monica Mancini gather to perform Mancini's signature songs, interspersed with clips from his beloved movies and TV shows.
American Masters | Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around
Saturday, November 30 at 10 p.m.
Discover the story behind singer Brenda Lee's iconic songs and explore how her early fame and life of poverty shaped her artistry across pop, rock 'n' roll and country. Known for her Christmas classic and Billboard hit "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," she is still a force in music today.
On Spirit
The Oratorio: A Documentary with Martin Scorsese
Friday, November 1 at 9 p.m.
Martin Scorsese reveals the story of a single performance in 1826 that forever changed America's cultural landscape with the introduction of Italian opera to New York City – an event Mozart's great librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte helped orchestrate.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Da Ponte’s Oratorio: A Concert for New York
Friday, November 1 at 10 p.m.
An Italian opera company restages an oratorio last performed in 1826. Organized by Mozart’s librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, the 1826 event changed America’s cultural landscape with the introduction of Italian opera to New York City.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Velvet
Thursdays at 9 p.m.
In late 1950s Madrid, the golden age of haute couture, there is one place everyone would like to shop at least once in their lifetime: the Galerias Velvet. This love story between a humble seamstress and a young man destined to inherit the fashion empire ruled by his father showcases the depths they will go to follow their hearts.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Dear Sirs
Wednesday, November 13 at 9 p.m.
After discovering an archive detailing the horrifying journey of his grandfather as an American POW during World War II, a young man sets out 75 years later to retrace his footsteps across Germany on bicycle, piecing together an untold story in an effort to understand the man who helped raise him.
Native American Heritage Month
Native Horse
Sunday, November 3 at 8 p.m. on CPTV Spirit
The history of the evolution of the horse in North America, exploring the horse-human connection throughout history to today is told. Through new research, the true origin story of the horse examines the notion that the horse was introduced by Europeans. Rooted in Lakota and Western science, the film offers a more complete understanding of the horse, its evolution and its bond with Indigenous people.
WATCH NOW
Native America
Sundays at 9 p.m. on CPTV Spirit
Native America is a groundbreaking portrait of contemporary Indian Country. This Native directed series reveals the beauty and power of today’s Indigenous world. Smashing stereotypes, it follows the brilliant engineers, bold politicians, and cutting-edge artists who draw upon Native tradition to build a better 21st century.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Antiques Roadshow: Celebrating Native American Heritage
Monday, November 4 at 8 p.m. on CPTV
Celebrate incredible art and artifacts from Indigenous creators and history makers. Was a Sioux beaded vest, ca. 1876, a Ruth Muskrat Bronson archive, or a Carrie Bethel basket the top $75,000 to $150,000 find?
Independent Lens | Home from School: The Children of Carlisle
Wednesday, November 13 at 10 p.m. on CPTV Spirit
"Kill the Indian in him, and save the man.” This was the guiding principle that removed thousands of Native American children and placed them in Indian boarding schools. Among the many who died at Carlisle Indian Industrial School were three Northern Arapaho boys. Now, more than a century later, tribal members journey from Wyoming to Pennsylvania to help them finally come home.
WATCH THE TRAILER
We’re Still Here
Friday, October 15 at 8 p.m. on CPTV Spirit
Through their music and work in communities and in schools, First Nation Indigenous hip-hop artists in Canada lead an effort to right long-standing social injustices, heal personal traumas and preserve their cultures.
Little Bird
Fridays at 11 p.m. beginning November 15 on CPTV
Bezhig Little Bird was adopted into a Jewish family at the age of five, being stripped of her identity and becoming Esther Rosenblum. Now in her twenties, Bezhig longs for the family she lost and to fill in the missing pieces. Her quest lands her in the Canadian prairies where she discovers that she was one of the generation of children forcibly apprehended by the Canadian government through a policy, later coined the 60s Scoop.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The American Buffalo
Wednesdays at 9 p.m. beginning November 20 on CPTV Spirit
THE AMERICAN BUFFALO, a new two-part, four-hour series, takes viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American history and across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, significance to the Great Plains, near demise, and relationship to the Indigenous People of North America.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The Electric Indian
Tuesday, November 26 at 9 p.m. on CPTV
A documentary from filmmaker Leya Hale, The Electric Indian follows Ojibwe hockey legend, Henry Boucha. A stand-out hockey star from Warroad, Minnesota, Boucha impressed on the ice from the 1969 Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament to the 1972 Olympics to the NHL, but an on-ice assault and injury ended his athletic career that unexpectedly led to a journey of healing and cultural reclamation.
WATCH NOW