This Month on CPTV
April showers may bring May flowers, but at CPTV we’re in full bloom – offering a vast selection of new shows and premieres throughout the month. From the continuing seasons of “Call the Midwife” and “The Brokenwood Mysteries” to new episodes of “The Forsytes” and “The Count of Monte Cristo,” the opportunities to be entertained have never been better. Also, new shows from “Shakespeare & Hathaway Private Investigators,” “Death in Paradise" and “The Puzzle Lady” will have drama lovers engaged in all of the mystery unfolding this month. Just in time for Earth Month, “Nature,” NOVA and “Shared Planet” uncover novel insights into some of our world’s biggest challenges and mysteries. Plus, arts and culture aficionados will discover an abundance of music, art and history knowledge in the upcoming “Great Performances: Now Hear This!” and “Chatsworth Through Time” shows. Even the movies from the Public Television Feature Film Collection showcase important times on our history, told through a storyteller’s lens.
On CPTV
Our New World: The Pulse of Change
Wednesday, April 1 at 10 p.m.
Four people on four continents face environmental change driven by climate change. As resources grow scarce, they witness shifts in wildlife behavior. Each actively seeks solutions to adapt and prevent conflict between humans and wildlife.
SEE A PREVIEW
Shakespeare & Hathaway Private Investigators | Season 5
Thursdays at 8 p.m.
Private inspector Frank Hathaway has always worked alone. But Frank isn't doing so well. He's out of shape and low on cash. Frank needs a partner. Frank needs ex-hairdresser and people-person Lu. He just doesn't know it yet. The two eventually join forces and form a highly unlikely and hugely entertaining detecting duo. Frank and Lu quickly discover that all is not as peaceful as it seems in their pretty theatre town. The mayor is murdered, vengeful lovers stalk the streets and a magician's trick fatally misfires. Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon, where low life criminals get caught up in deliciously high drama.
Father Brown: The Battle of Kembleford
Thursday, April 2 at 9 p.m.
Based on the short stories by G K Chesterton, “Father Brown” follows the kindly cleric as he solves crimes in his community. It is a quintessentially English world: drawing rooms in large country houses, miles of countryside, village halls and secret gardens, as well as country fairs, railway stations and rural parish churches. His newest case: Father Brown investigates when a medieval murder is committed at a battle re-enactment.
The Brokenwood Mysteries | Seasons 6 & 7
Thursdays at 10 p.m.
With the assistance of Detective Kristin Sims, Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd investigates a wide range of murder mysteries in Brokenwood, a small town in the countryside of New Zealand.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The Puzzle Lady
Fridays at 9:30 p.m.
Meet Bakerbury's newest and most famous resident -- Cora Felton, AKA "The Puzzle Lady." Cora's eccentric, no-nonsense approach proves a perfect way to outwit the murderers, con men and corrupt officials that stand in her way. Despite hiding a secret which would ruin her and those around her, she has a remarkable talent for solving murders. And, Bakerbury isn't as sleepy as it looks.
WATCH NOW WITH PASSPORT
Secrets of the Royal Palaces: Royal Scandals
Saturday, April 4 at 8 p.m.
The controversy around Russian spy Anthony Blunt's long stay at the Palace in the 80s, and the revelation that Blunt had performed a secret mission retrieving incriminating evidence linking Queen Elizabeth's family with the Nazis are explored. Also, the tumultuous history of the Scottish Crown Jewels, Diana's ascent to fashion icon status with her "Black Sheep" jumper, and Princess Kate's first international speech and hibiscus Alexander McQueen gown at Istana Negara in Malaysia.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Call the Midwife | Season 15
Sundays at 8 p.m.
This moving, intimate, funny and true-to-life series, based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, tells colorful stories of midwifery and families in London's East End. The drama follows Jenny Lee, a young woman raised in the wealthy English countryside and now a qualified midwife, as she meets her patients and learns to love the people who live in the East End. The new season of shows begins in 1971 as several of the ladies embrace Women’s Lib. Over the year, the team handles challenging cases including premature birth, placenta previa, kidney cancer, tuberculosis and slavery.
WATCH AHEAD WITH PASSPORT
The Forsytes on MASTERPIECE
Sundays at 9 p.m.
Desire, ambition and betrayal simmer in this sumptuous costume drama about a wealthy family torn between tradition and happiness. Inspired by the celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, “The Forsytes” portrays events set before John Galsworthy's books.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The Count of Monte Cristo on MASTERPIECE
Sundays at 10 p.m.
Sam Claflin and Jeremy Irons star in this bold new TV adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' iconic French novel featuring Edmond Dantes, who, on the eve of his wedding, is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned. After escaping and discovering a hidden treasure, he reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo in this captivating tale of revenge, betrayal and redemption.
BINGE WITH PASSPORT
Antiques Roadshow: Castle Farms, Hour 2
Monday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
See Michigan marvels unveiled during a stop at Castle Farms in Charlevoix including a WWII painted A-2 flight jacket, a John Bailey dwarf clock, ca. 1800 and a 1973 Charles Schulz-signed drawing & book. Which find has a $75K value?
SEE A PREVIEW
Independent Lens: The Tallest Dwarf
Monday, April 6 at 11 p.m.
Through family archives and the voices of little people, dwarfism and belonging are examined. Filmmaker Julie Wyman highlights personal stories, creative collaborations and medical debates that challenge ideas of normalcy.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Finding Your Roots: Song of the South
Tuesday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of actor Danielle Deadwyler and musician Rhiannon Giddens, meeting heroes and villains -- and celebrating the virtue of accepting one's relatives whoever they may be.
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution
Tuesday, April 7 and 14 at 9 p.m.
Lucy Worsley investigates the 18th-century split between Britain and its 13 American colonies. She explores the motives for independence and how sabotage, espionage and unrest reshaped the empire. Could this historic break-up have been avoided?
SEE A PREVIEW
American Hemp Farmer
Tuesday, April 7 at 11 p.m.
After a wildfire nearly turns his family (and goats) into refugees on their remote New Mexico ranch, former suburbanite Doug Fine and two other families set out to discover food security and wildfire mitigation around the world via hemp and other crops.
WATCH HERE
Nature - Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti
Wednesday, April 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.
Set in the remote wilds of northern Kenya, follow the remarkable journey of orphaned elephants at Reteti, the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa.
SEE A PREVIEW
Our New World: A Wild Renaissance
Wednesday, April 8 at 10 p.m.
Five ecosystems are reshaped by climate change. Ice fields and underwater forests vanish, replaced by new ecosystems. Humans and animals must adapt as nature transforms at unprecedented speed.
WATCH A CLIP
Great Performances: Now Hear This! Season 7
Fridays at 10:30 p.m. beginning April 10
Travel with host Scott Yoo, Mexico City Philharmonic chief conductor, in this special mini-series taking viewers on a voyage of musical discovery for aficionados and neophytes alike.
WATCH A PREVIEW
Death in Paradise | Season 14
Saturdays at 8 p.m. beginning April 11
“Death in Paradise” features a series of impossible murders set on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte Marie. This season, the team anticipates a new recruit as Mervin prepares to leave the island. Before departing, Mervin investigates a young man's murder in a ravine. The victim leaves behind a mysterious message, complicating the case.
Antiques Roadshow: Castle Farms, Hour 3
Monday, April 13 at 8 p.m.
“Roadshow” found treasures in a castle during a stop in Charlevoix, MI, including Tiffany Studios lily sconces, ca. 1905, a 1904 Philadelphia quilt and a Chinese & Japanese decorative art collection. One family heirloom is a whopping $75K!
Independent Lens - Backside: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing
Monday, April 13 at 10 p.m.
Set at Churchill Downs, the immigrant grooms who care for Kentucky Derby racehorses year-round are portrayed. The lives of these workers showcase the unseen labor, class disparities and the human bond sustaining an iconic American sport.
WATCH THE TRAILER
The Legacy of Black Horsemen
Monday, April 13 at 11 p.m.
Explore the stories and contributions of Black jockeys, trainers, owners, grooms and exercise riders in the 1800s who persevered through enslavement, the outbreak of the Civil War, segregation and Jim Crow laws and were instrumental in laying the foundation of the Thoroughbred industry in America.
WATCH HERE
Finding Your Roots: Rags to Riches
Tuesday, April 14 at 8 p.m.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller -- telling stories of sacrifice and exploring a profound question: what do we inherit from ancestors whose lives were far more challenging than our own?
Chatsworth Through Time
Tuesday, April 14 at 10 p.m.
Discover the history, architecture, landscape and artworks of Chatsworth House, an English estate and home of one of Europe's most significant collections of fine art. Hosted by Chatsworth’s senior curators, the program begins in the Tudor Period, progresses through five hundred years of history all the way to the 21st century, and culminates in an extended interview with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
LEARN MORE
NOVA - Athens: Birth of Democracy
Wednesday, April 15 at 9 p.m.
Follow archaeological investigations into the dramatic origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago. Mass graves and ancient ruins where tyrants were murdered shine new light on the birth of a revolutionary form of government.
SEE A PREVIEW
Project Chapel
Wednesday, April 15 at 10 p.m.
One of the world's only quantum computers is installed at a university for the first time in history. Experts and laymen alike struggle to understand this unfathomable tool as it is constructed in its unlikely home: a century old chapel.
LEARN MORE
Father Brown: The Horns of Cernunnos
Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m.
“Father Brown” follows a kindly cleric as he solves crimes in his community. It is a quintessentially English world: drawing rooms in large country houses, miles of countryside, village halls and secret gardens. His latest investigation: Father Brown probes into a troubling situation when an old friend's daughter is plagued by other-worldly visions.
Antiques Roadshow: 250 Years of Americana
Monday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
Celebrate history and nostalgia with discoveries reflecting 250 years of American art, artifacts, crafts and
collectibles including a flag quilt, ca. 1880, a Tiffany Studios turtle back glass shade, ca. 1915 and an 1884 Edison light bulb. One reaches $300K.
The American Revolution: In Order to Be Free
Monday, April 20 at 9 p.m.
Opposition in colonial North America to British policies over taxes, land and sovereignty escalates into violent confrontations. Fighting in Massachusetts ignites a war that gives common cause to thirteen otherwise disunited colonies.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Finding Your Roots: Puritans and Pioneers
Tuesday, April 21 at 8 p.m.
Actors Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and William H. Macy trace their nonconformist ancestors through American conflicts -- the Civil War and the American Revolution, all the way back to the Puritan establishment.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The American Revolution: An Asylum for Mankind
Tuesday, April 21 at 9 p.m.
As New Englanders work to force the British Army from Boston, Congress puts George Washington in command of a new Continental Army. In July 1776, Congress declares American independence, insisting on the people's right to resist tyranny.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Nature: Legendary Tigers of India
Wednesday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
Ranthambore National Park in northern India is known for its spectacular wildlife and, specifically, its magnificent tigers, and these big cats have an extraordinary story to tell. Once hunted by Queen Elizabeth II, then protected by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, these tigers have grown from a group of twelve terrified cats into a fearless clan 70-odd strong. For the last half-century, one man has followed, photographed and filmed them: the world's leading tiger expert, Valmik Thapar. Thapar has collated his archive, together with that of family and friends, to tell the definitive story of this tiger dynasty for the first time. Their rich history will open the world's eyes to the secret life of the tiger.
NOVA: Rain Bombs
Wednesday, April 22 at 9 p.m.
An invisible, unpredictable atmospheric force is wreaking havoc across the globe -- sinking superyachts, flattening forests and bringing down airliners. Follow scientists as they race to understand these catastrophic weather events, exploring how they form, what causes their devastating impacts and how we might someday learn to predict them.
SEE A PREVIEW
Wilding
Wednesday, April 22 at 10 p.m.
The story of a young couple who dare to bet the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate on the power of nature is told. Relive how the pair battled entrenched traditions, and entrusted their farm's recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding projects in Europe.
WATCH THE TRAILER
Antiques Roadshow: Grants Farm, Hour 1
Monday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
Meet us in St. Louis as “Roadshow” discovers treasures including an Andrew Clemens sand bottle, ca. 1885, a 1933 Goudey baseball card set 239/240 and a Joan Miro pencil on paper, ca. 1965. One memorable find is valued at $110K-$130K.
The American Revolution: The Times That Try Men’s Souls
Monday, April 27 at 9 p.m.
British General Howe soundly defeats General Washington at Long Island and in Manhattan, forcing the Americans to abandon New York City. After fleeing across New Jersey, Washington's army regroups before attacking an outpost at Trenton.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Finding Your Roots: Hidden in the Genes
Tuesday, April 28 at 8 p.m.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels solve family mysteries through DNA detective work, illuminating both history and their own identities.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The American Revolution: Conquer by a Drawn Game
Tuesday, April 28 at 9 p.m.
After beating General Washington in battle, General Howe takes Philadelphia, forcing Congress to flee the city. But the Americans' surprising victory over General Burgoyne at Saratoga encourages France to openly support the United States.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
NOVA: Return to the Moon
Wednesday, April 29 at 9 p.m.
A half-century after Apollo, the Artemis missions aim to bring astronauts back to the Moon and establish a lunar space station. Follow the Artemis II engineers and crew on the perilous 10-day journey to orbit the Moon.
SEE A PREVIEW
Shared Planet: Cities
Wednesday, April 29 at 10 p.m.
With 60 percent of the world's population in cities, urban spaces are more crowded than ever. From New York to Kolkata, discover the surprising and beneficial ways urban wildlife is transforming our concrete jungles into thriving, shared ecosystems.
WATCH A PREVIEW
America 250
The Flood of ‘55
Monday, April 6 at 9 p.m.
In 1955, two hurricanes – Connie and Diane – turned Connecticut streams into torrents, resulting in a devastating flood. Follow the dramatic story of tragedy and heroism, of the lives ended and the lives renewed.
WATCH NOW
The Blizzard of ‘78
Monday, April 13 at 9 p.m.
The destructive Blizzard of ’78 and its impact on Connecticut are explored through home movies, photos, and local news footage.
WATCH HERE
The 1964 World’s Fair
Tuesday, April 21 at 11 p.m.
Explore the sights and sounds of the 1964 World's Fair, an exhibition that symbolized the epitome of innovation. Judd Hirsch narrates this documentary.
WATCH NOW
Colt: Legend and Legacy
Tuesday, April 28 at 11 p.m.
The industrial and cultural legacy of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt is explored in this documentary from CPTV and the Connecticut Humanities Council.
WATCH HERE