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PBS Announces Fall 2018 Primetime Schedule


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– More than 1.5 Million Votes Strong and Growing: THE GREAT AMERICAN READ Counts Down to the Selection of America’s Best-Loved Novel –

– FRONTLINE Announces New Documentary “The Facebook Dilemma” –

– Drama Reigns on Sunday Nights With ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: FIRE & DEW, THE WOMAN IN WHITE, and New and Returning Favorites from MASTERPIECE: “The Miniaturist,” “Poldark” and “The Durrells in Corfu” –

– WE’LL MEET AGAIN With Ann Curry Returns, Along With New Programs NATIVE AMERICA, NATURE’S “Super Cats,” and

“THE MAYO CLINIC” –

PBS today announced its fall 2018 schedule lineup, anchored by THE GREAT AMERICAN READ (Tuesdays, September 11- October 23). Exploring the power, passion and joy of reading, the series is hosted by Meredith Vieira and features reflections from everyday Americans as well as notables. Margaret Atwood, Lauren Graham, John Irving, Bill T. Jones, Devon Kennard, Gayle King, Diane Lane, George R.R. Martin and many more reflect on their favorite books. The series will culminate with the results of the first-ever national vote for “America’s Best-Loved Novel.”

FRONTLINE dives into the recent controversies plaguing Facebook with its new documentary “The Facebook Dilemma” coming this fall. The popular social network was first created with the goal of connecting the world, but several high-profile issues, including selling users’ personal information, exposed its darker side. The yearlong FRONTLINE investigation reveals how these problems have led some to wonder whether Facebook creates more harm than good.

Sunday nights on PBS continue to be the destination for drama. Highlights include new MASTERPIECE series “The Miniaturist” premiering September 9, a new special ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: FIRE & DEW (September 23) and the new five-part series THE WOMAN IN WHITE premiering October 21. September 30 marks the return of MASTERPIECE series “The Durrells in Corfu” (Season 3) and “Poldark” (Season 4).

WE’LL MEET AGAIN with Ann Curry returns Tuesday, October 30 for a second season of We’ll meetpowerful personal stories that explore some of history’s most dramatic events. Premiering Wednesday, October 24 is SUPER CATS, A NATURE MINISERIES, which uncovers the secret lives of the big cats that thrive across the continents. And the four-part NATIVE AMERICA, premiering Tuesday, October 23, combines modern science with Native knowledge to explore the splendor and ingenuity of the world created by America’s First Peoples watch a clip here. Premiering September 25 is THE MAYO CLINIC: FAITH – HOPE – SCIENCE, executive produced by Ken Burns and directed by Burns, Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, which reveals how one institution has met the changing demands of healthcare for 150 years — and what that can teach us about patient care today.

PBS will showcase some of the best programs of its upcoming season at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Summer Press Tour on July 30 and 31. During its two days, PBS will present a diverse array of talent from the arts, entertainment, news, science and history. Those appearing on panels include host Meredith Vieira, film and television actor Wil Wheaton, and authors Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) and Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) for THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, and actress Judy Greer, who stars as the title character in PBS KIDS’ LET’S GO LUNA. Ann Curry returns in a new season of WE’LL MEET AGAIN and as a featured guest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in the fifth season of FINDING YOUR ROOTS. For BETTY WHITE: FIRST LADY OF TELEVISION we welcome Georgia Engel and Gavin MacLeod on a panel to discuss the TV legend. Christiane Amanpour will come to TCA to discuss her new series, AMANPOUR AND COMPANY, and Judy Woodruff, Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins will be on stage with insights from PBS NEWSHOUR. Johnathan Lee Iverson, the first African American ringmaster for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, is on the panel for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’s “The Circus,” and Itzhak Perlman, 16-time Grammy-winning violinist and four-time Emmy winner, appears via satellite as the subject of a new AMERICAN MASTERS special. The PBS line up also includes a special performance by Grammy-winner Raul Malo of The Mavericks with featured guests The Sweet Lizzy Project from next season’s BLUEGRASS UNDERGROUND.