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Highlights

Cranford
sun, may 4, 11 & 18 | 8 p.m.
Based on three serialized Elizabeth Gaskell novels Cranford chronicles the absurdities and tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford during one extraordinary year. Cranford in the 1840s is a small Cheshire market town on the cusp of change. The railway is pushing its way relentlessly towards the town from Manchester, bringing fears of migrant workers and the breakdown of law and order. Starring Francesa Harris, Michael Gambon and Judi Dench as Miss Matty Jenkyns.

George H.W. Bush
mon & tue, may 5 & 6 | 7 p.m.
This program examines Bush’s service in World War II and his early career in Texas, to his days in the Oval Office, first as Vice President to Ronald Reagan, then as the leader who presided over the first Gulf War. Drawing upon Bush’s personal diaries and interviews with his closest advisors and most prominent critics, the film also explores Bush’s role as the patriarch of a political family whose influence is unequaled in modern American life.

Secrets of the Dead
Doping For Gold
wed, may 7 | 7 p.m.
In the 1970s, female East German athletes came from nowhere to dominate international sports. But behind their success lay a secret, state-sponsored doping program that distributed untested steroids and male hormones to athletes as young as age 12. Many of these girls had no knowledge that they were being doped, and now, as grown women (and men), their broken bodies and damaged psyches bear witness to the cruelty of a government that pursued international glory and gold at the expense of its most acclaimed citizens. The program digs deep into the secretive, Cold War world of East German athletes, examining what drugs were used, how they were distributed and what horrific damage they did to many of the athletes who were forced to take them. This program will re-air on Thursday, May 8 at 9 p.m.

American Masters
Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On
wed, may 7 | 8 p.m.
One of the great, enduring figures of American music, Marvin Gaye combined gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, and jazz to create his own intimate style. A style that reflected his “path of the heart” and, essentially, gave the world his autobiography in lyrics and melody. He was a huge, glamorous and sometime flamboyant performer. He was a Motown star who challenged and changed the face of popular music with records such as his What’s Going On in 1971 — full of honesty, vulnerability and, above all, integrity. Yet, his life was also tainted by the bizarre — full of torment, bitter-sweet success, constant battling with demons and, ultimately, death at the hand of his own father.

Live From Lincoln Center
Camelot
sun, may 11 | 12:30 p.m.
Live From Lincoln Center presents the New York Philharmonic performing a semi-staged version of the Lerner & Loewe classic Camelot. It’s one of the most endearing musicals of all time telling the unforgettable tale of the legendary King Arthur, whose idealized kingdom meets a tragic end, as well as the wake of the disastrous affair between Sir Lancelot, the King’s most trusted knight, and Guenevere, his beautiful Queen. The program features such classic songs as If Ever I Would Leave You, The Lusty Month of May, and I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight.

American Experience
FDR
mon, may 12 & 19 | 8 p.m.
The mini-series begins by exploring Roosevelt’s family background and education, looking for clues as to how the coddled child of rich parents managed to climb the ladder to political success. It follows him from his very first run for political office as New York state senator through his years in Washington as assistant secretary of the Navy, as he pursued one goal — the highest office in the land. The story is also told of FDR’s courtship of his distant cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, and their troubled marriage, including FDR’s affair with Eleanor’s social secretary, Lucy Mercer. The affair, which nearly ended the marriage, encouraged Eleanor to embrace a life of her own and become politically active. The program continues with Roosevelt’s bout with polio at age 39 and follows his relentless struggle to rehabilitate his body and his seemingly moribund political career and to teach himself to appear to walk. A remarkable sequence of events led FDR back from despair to win his party’s nomination as president of the United States. The series includes archival film, home movies and audio clips; newly-filmed footage of significant landmarks in FDR’s life; an album of family photographs; and interviews with family members, friends and witnesses to history.

tue, may 13 | 8 p.m.
Frontline
Storm Over Everest
As darkness fell on May 10, 1996, a fast moving storm of unimaginable ferocity trapped three climbing teams high on the slopes of Mount Everest. The climbers, exhausted from their summit climb, were soon lost in darkness, in a fierce blizzard, far from the safety of High Camp at 26,000 feet. World-renowned climber and filmmaker David Breashears returns to Everest to tell the story of the climbers who perished in that storm, marking the worst climbing tragedy in Mount Everest’s history. But more remarkably, it is the story of 11 climbers caught in the storm and the eyewitness accounts of their astonishing survival in the world’s most unforgiving environment.

wed, may 14 | 8 p.m.
The Adirondacks
The documentary interweaves modern-day stories with fascinating historical tales about the region. Following the four seasons in the protected land in the continental U.S., viewers will come to understand the rhythm of life in the park and the delicate relationship between progress and preservation that Adirondackers confront every day.

wed, may 21 | 8 p.m.
Depression: Out of the Shadows
The documentary profiles the dramatic stories of people who live with various forms of depression and explores the causes and treatments for clinical depression. Among
the personal profiles are novelist and journalist Andrew Solomon, whose mother’s suicide contributed to his depression and left him unable to work or take care of himself;
Ellie Zuehlke, whose bout with post-partum depression after the birth of her first child
led her to thoughts of suicide; and Philip Burguieres, once the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company, who resigned unexpectedly from his position after collapsing from untreated depression.

sun, may 25 | 7 p.m.
National Memorial Day Concert 2008
Live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol, the perennial favorite features
a blend of patriotic musical performances, documentary footage and dramatic readings that honor our country’s servicemen and women. Joe Mantegna, Gary Sinise and
the National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of maestro Erich Kunzel, join
an all-star line-up of dignitaries, actors and musical artists.

This annual special will re-air on Monday, May 26 at 1 p.m.

sun, may 25 | 8:30 p.m. & mon, may 26 | 8 p.m.
American Experience
Truman
He was a farmer, a businessman gone bankrupt, an unknown politician from Missouri who suddenly found himself president. Of all the men who had held the highest office, Harry Truman was the least prepared. But he would prove to be a surprise. The mini-series recounts his early struggles and failures as a young adult, and his undying determination to have an accomplishment to call his own. Truman’s success as an Army captain during World War I gave him the confidence to marry his lifelong sweetheart, Bess, and begin his path into the world of politics. When he landed the vice presidency with FDR in 1944, he had no idea that his world was about to change forever.

tue, may 27 | 7 p.m.
Legislative Review
Make your voice heard! Join WSRE for an hour with your elected officials, the Northwest Florida Legislative Delegation. The delegation will be speaking about issues from the recent legislative session in Tallahassee. If you have a question you would like the delegation to address, you may call or email WSRE during the program (email questions to: questions@wsre.org; telephone number to be provided during the broadcast). This is your opportunity to communicate with your state legislators and make your voice heard.