Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day Throughout the Month of April
PBS SoCal and KCET are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with an exciting lineup of environmental programming in April. New series and specials will feature content that spotlights the best of Earth’s natural world, while other shows weigh potential solutions to combat climate change.
PBS SoCal's special lineup includes two new titles from the acclaimed and award-winning PBS programs "The Man Who Tried to Feed the World: American Experience” and "Independent Lens: Hottest August” as well two, all-new specials: "Climate Change – The Facts" and "H20: The Molecule That Made Us Flow" both set to premiere on Earth Day.
See the full line-up below.
Kamp Solutions: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Sunday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET
In a world where problems consistently dominate the news headline, "Kamp Solutions" stands out with a complete focus on solutions. In each episode, the series promises viewers an uplifting, inspiring, and impactful conversation with the goal of becoming a weekly destination for bringing a refreshing solution-driven perspective to global problems. In the premiere episode of the series, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. welcomes Jurriaan Kamp to his home in LA, to discuss the idea that reversing global warming requires a restoration of democracy. Additional episodes in April include interviews with Rosamund Stone Zander, Amory Lovins and Johan Rockström. Watch now.
New Environmentalists: From Liberia to Mongolia
Sunday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. on KCET
The New Environmentalists share a common goal — safeguarding the Earth's natural resources from exploitation and pollution, while fighting for justice in their communities. Narrated by Robert Redford, the series illustrates how ordinary people are effecting extraordinary change.
Nature: Remarkable Rabbits
Wednesday, April 8 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
There are more than 100 domestic and wild kinds of rabbits and hares, from snowshoe hares to Flemish giants. Despite their remarkable ability to reproduce, many wild rabbits are in danger of being eradicated. Join scientists in the field as they explore how rabbits and hares face incredible challenges in the wild, from habitat loss to climate change. Watch a preview.
The Good Road: Bangkok, Thailand: River of Change
Sunday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. on KCET
The innovative and inspiring documentary series premieres about two best friends who travel the world meeting philanthropists and change-makers, have dedicated their lives to addressing global humanitarian issues. From depressed inner-city neighborhoods, to border camps for refugees, to rural health clinics, hosts Earl Bridges and Craig Martin explore efforts to help Rohingya refugees, stop elephant poaching, end human trafficking, alleviate poverty and more.
Nature's Greatest Dancers: The Dance For Love
Sunday, April 12 at 9 p.m. on KCET
In the premiere of the two-part documentary special exploring the ways animals move, host Steve Backshall takes a look at some of the extraordinary dance-like moves that animals perform to survive. From ballets to tangos, witness the animals perform carefully coordinated, fascinating moves.
Nature: Naledi – One Little Elephant
Wednesday, April 15 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
The heartwarming journey from tragedy to triumph, baby elephant Naledi faces loss and rejection in the wilderness of Botswana. A team of guardians save her life, urge her to survive and help find her place in the herd. Watch a preview.
Nature's Greatest Dancers: The Dance For Life
Sunday, April 19, 9 p.m. on KCET
The second episode of the two-part special takes a look at some of the extraordinary dance-like moves that animals perform to survive all aspects of life — whether to get around, find a meal or escape from predators.
Independent Lens: The Hottest August
Monday, April 20 at 10 p.m. PBS SoCal
During one sweltering month in New York in 2017, the film seeks out New Yorkers across the five boroughs and records conversations about skyrocketing rents and rates of homelessness, mass shootings and marching white supremacists, economic crisis and political corruption. Watch a preview.
The Man Who Tried to Feed The World: American Experience
Tuesday, April 21 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Explore the life of 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, who tried to solve world hunger. He rescued India from a severe famine and led the "Green Revolution," estimated to have saved one billion lives. But his work later faced criticism.
Spy in the Wild, A Nature Miniseries – Friendship
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
"Spy Creatures" (robotic, uncanny look-alikes) infiltrate the natural world to film surprising behavior among wildlife from around the globe. Their new wild friends rely on each other to look out for predators. A Spy Meerkat babysits meerkat pups while a Spy Cobra pretends to attack the mob. Spy Crocs witness a convenient partnership between real crocodiles and birds. Watch a preview.
Climate Change: The Facts
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Thursday, April 23 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
After one of the hottest years on record, Sir David Attenborough joins experts to look at the science of climate change and potential solutions to this global threat. Watch a preview.
H2O: The Molecule That Made Us Flow
Episode 1: Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Episode 2: Wednesday, April 29 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Episode 3: Wednesday, May 6 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Sunday, April 26 at 10 p.m. on KCET
How did water arrive on Earth? How did it come to underpin every aspect of existence from dragonflies to deserts in bloom to human life? This three-part series tells the human story through our relationship to water. Part one examines how the growth of civilization also created a dangerous dependence on the precious resource. Watch a preview.
NOVA: Killer Floods
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
All over the world, scientists are discovering traces of ancient floods on a scale that dwarfs even the most severe flood disasters of recent times. Geologists study these strange features and reconstruct catastrophic Ice Age floods more powerful than all the world’s top ten rivers combined. Watch a preview.
NOVA: Japan’s Killer Quake
Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day) at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
In its worst crisis since World War II, Japan faces disaster on an epic scale: a death toll likely in the tens of thousands, massive destruction of homes and businesses, shortages of water and power as well as the threat of nuclear meltdown. With exclusive footage, NOVA captures the unfolding human drama and offers a clear-headed investigation of what triggered the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis. Watch a preview.
To the Ends of the Earth: Birds of East Africa
Sunday, April 26 at 8 p.m. on KCET
Introduced by esteemed conservationist Jane Goodall, narrated by National Geographic's Bill Jones and photographed by professional wildlife photographer Todd Gustafson captures stories of competition, courtship, family, hunting and flight to illustrate the hidden life of East African birds.
Gorilla Family and Me: Episode One
Sunday, April 26 at 9 p.m. on KCET
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan ventures deep into the Congo to find out more about the largest gorillas in the world living in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes.
NOVA: Poisoned Water
Wednesday, April 29 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
In this special report, NOVA investigates the water disaster in Flint and unravels a disturbing truth about the vulnerabilities of water systems across the country. Discover the delicate intricacies of water chemistry, the biology of lead poisoning and the engineering challenge of replacing this ravaged infrastructure. Watch a preview.