As part of the 2016 BBC Shakespeare Festival, this comedy series celebrates the life of William Shakespeare, 400 years after the acclaimed writer's death. The leading role is played by David Mitchell, while Harry Enfield and Paula Wilcox star as the playwright's parents. Beginning in the year of 1592, Shakespeare's life is about to take an interesting turn. Influenced by his family, friends, and profession, the bard begins to write the stories that will become legendary. Shakespeare finds inspiration from unlikely sources for the character of Romeo, his sonnets get him into trouble with wife Anne Hathaway, as three witches predict his success. Premieres Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.
From The GM's Desk
Hi Everyone!As I mentioned last month, our first ever virtual Connoisseurs Dinner started last weekend with chef demonstrations and will conclude this Saturday with an evening of celebrating WPSU TV.We have appearances by 4 of our previous chefs, a sneak peak at next year’s chef, a recap of WPSU’s 2020 and awesome auction items up for bid. Please join us if you are able. The rest of our month is full of great programming, many productions, a Board meeting and a virtual summit to help us prepare to talk to our elected officials about the importance of the work we do. Hope you have a great February.
All my best…
Birthdays
(None this time.) :-(
WPSU Radio Highlights
BookMark 02/04 & 02/07 – "The Shadow King" by Maaza Mengiste
This week — a novel about Ethiopian women warriors. The book explores what it means to be a woman at war. Reviewer Maria Truglio is a professor of Italian and women's studies at Penn State.
In Case You Missed It . . .
Solar Panels From A Wastewater Authority? In Centre County, Renewable Energy Has An Unlikely Booster WPSU’s Anne Danahy reported on a unique project that involves the University Area Joint Authority, which handles wastewater treatment in the State College area, and their plans to be getting about 80% to 85% of its power from solar annually.
Democracy Works: Extreme Maps, Extreme Politics Jenna Spinelle talks with David Daley, journalist and author of "Unrigged: How Citizens are Battling Back to Save Democracy." His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Slate, the Washington Post, and New York magazine. Daley spent the past decade covering attempts by politicians to draw those maps to their advantage in a practice known as gerrymandering. He's also covered the groups of citizens across the country who pushed back against them to win some major reforms that will make the process look different now than it did in 2010.
Take Note: Michael Mann On His New Book On Climate Change, "The New Climate War” WPSU’s Kristine Allen spoke with Dr. Michael E. Mann, distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State and director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center. His latest book is “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet.”
WPSU Television Highlights
Josephine Baker: The Story of An Awakening - Tuesday, February 2 at 9:00 pm
WPSU’s celebration of Black History Month begins with a documentary that details the fascinating story of the first Black superstar. Josephine Baker, born into poverty in Missouri in 1906, moved to France where she became a dancer hailed as the Queen of Paris, joined the French Resistance, and became a civil rights activist.
Frontline “China’s COVID Secrets” - Tuesday, February 2 at 10:00 pm
The untold story of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and how China responded. Chinese scientists and doctors, international disease experts and health officials reveal missed opportunities to suppress the outbreak, and lessons for the world.
Beyond the Elements - A NOVA three-part special - Wednesdays, February 3, 10 and 17 at 9:00 pm
Discover the fascinating chemistry that makes our world and everything in it—including us. David Pogue sets out on a worldwide quest to find the key molecules and chemical reactions that have paved the way for human civilization, life, and even the universe as we know it.
Midsomer Murders “The Dagger Club" (Season 17 Premiere) - Thursday, February 4 at 9:00 pm
The unveiling of a newly-discovered novel by deceased Midsomer crime-writer George Summersbee at the Luxton Deeping Crime Festival is jeopardized when the manuscript is stolen and a woman is fatally electrocuted by a booby-trapped roulette wheel. Can new dad Barnaby untangle a web of jealousy and obsession to find the killer?
Upstart Crow (WPSU Premiere) - Saturdays at 7:30 pm beginning February 6
WPSU’s newest British comedy pays fitting comic tribute to the greatest writer in the history of the English language – Willam Shakespeare — and reveals some rather surprising stories about where his best ideas came from.
American Experience “Voice of Freedom” - Monday, February 15 at 9:00 pm
Explore the fascinating life of celebrated singer Marian Anderson. In 1939, after being barred from performing at Constitution Hall because she was Black, she triumphed at the Lincoln Memorial in what became a landmark moment in American history.
Our Town Hour - Saturdays at 3:30 pm
Set aside an hour to revisit the people, places and happenings of the unique towns and communities of our area. Each week we’ll showcase one of the featured towns from WPSU’s long-running original production. Coming up: Bald Eagle Valley (2/6), Boalsburg (2/13), and Brockway (2/20).
Governmental Relations
From the Grassroots organization : Protect My Public Media - "A New Washington"
With a new president, vice president, and Congress sworn in this year, the political landscape in Washington has changed. Protect My Public Media is organizing and leading viewer and listener outreach to the Administration and the 117th Congress, requesting healthy federal funding to support the public services provided by local public radio and television stations.
If you haven’t already done so, WPSU encourages you to head HERE to make your voice heard. Sign up today and help advocate for funding. WPSU has this link posted on the Home page for ease of use.
Advocates can email the White House, sign a petition or text PUBLIC MEDIA to 52886 to sign a petition in support of public media funding. The White House comment line is currently closed. Once it's available, advocates can call the White House as well.
After an advocate contacts the White House, they will be encouraged to send an email to their legislators as part of our 117th Congress outreach effort. To date, more than 12,000 messages have been sent to Members of the 117th Congress, and we look forward to boosting these numbers in the weeks to come.
WPSU’s Leadership team and several Board members will be attending a virtual National summit in late February as well as requesting virtual meetings with our Congressmen. More on this in the next edition of The NOOZ.
Industry News
Service-Boosting ATSC 3.0 Technology Clears ‘Important Hurdle’ With FCC Ruling
In its final major decision of the Trump era, the FCC issued a Report and Order Jan. 19 setting new technical standards for the distributed transmission systems that public broadcasters hope to use to provide more robust ATSC 3.0 digital signals to more viewers. The ruling was a split decision, with the two Democratic commissioners issuing partial dissents in their last actions in the minority. “It’s a good order,” said Lonna Thompson, EVP of America’s Public Television Stations. “It’s very fair.”
Nicholas Debetes, 18, was finally placed in handcuffs in Titusville, Florida, on Jan. 14, after Brevard County officers chased him as he drove "at an extremely high rate of speed" to his mother's trailer. Debetes, Click Orlando reported, had a unique excuse: "If I would have tried to stop quicker I would have crashed the vehicle," he told police. He went on to say that his mother wanted him home for an unknown reason. Debetes had an outstanding warrant and was driving a stolen Hyundai Elantra. [Click Orlando, 1/18/2021]
Quotables
"This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.” - Phil Connors (aka Bill Murray) from “Groundhog Day.”
Resources and Tips
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