This Month on CPTV
June signals the start of the summer season… and summer fun. Plus, in anticipation of America's 250th anniversary, officially called the United States Semiquincentennial, programs highlighting our country and its people, places and memorable moments are on tap as we roll into the July 4th celebration. In addition, tune in for new dramas, biographies that educate and inspire and special programs that commemorate Connecticut’s own rich history and historic significance. There’s a lot to celebrate this month, so cheers to the beginning of a summer to remember!
On CPTV
Celebrating America 250: Made with Love
Monday, June 1 at 9:30 p.m.
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the series travels across the country, celebrating the traditions of makers who helped shape this nation. From the impact of boatbuilders during the Revolutionary War to the printing press that helped spread ideas of independence, experience the history of craftsmanship that helped unify and lay the foundation for this nation.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Women of World War II: More Untold Stories
Tuesday, June 2 at 8 p.m.
Digging deeper into the archives, uncover even more never-before-seen stories of the greatest secret weapon of World War II --women. They broke codes and split atoms, gathered the news and crossed the frontlines, and even rescued children from the Nazis, creating an enduring legacy that serves as a guiding light for everyone. The history and experience of the women who lived through the turbulent wartime era returns with more rediscovered interviews, new reflections and unearthed archival materials.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure
Wednesday, June 3 at 8 p.m.
In 1976, Sir David Attenborough embarked on an ambitious journey to create a documentary of unprecedented scale, changing his life and natural history filmmaking forever. Discover the story behind TV's first wildlife blockbuster: “Life on Earth.”
WATCH NOW
Nature | Equus: Story of the Horse: Origins
Wednesday, June 3 at 9:30 p.m.
The relationship between man and his noble steed is almost as old as civilization itself. Ever since the mysterious beginning of our extraordinary partnership, horses helped shape the human world. At the speed of a horse, our ancestors conquered distances and built empires. Together, humans and horses flourished side by side. What makes us so perfect for each other?
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
What’s the Story, Wishbone?
Thursday, June 4 at 8 p.m.
Explore the creation and cultural impact of a beloved public television children's series that introduced a generation of viewers to classic literature through imaginative storytelling. Featuring cast, creators and behind-the-scenes stories, the film reveals how a small Texas production became one of the most memorable educational programs in public television history.
Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like
Thursday, June 4 at 10 p.m.
Join host Michael Keaton to celebrate "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," the pioneering children's series that premiered nationally 50 years ago. Celebrities, cast members and Joanne Rogers reveal their favorite memories from the series.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Our Favorite Things About Grantchester
Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.
This new PBS special unpacks all the favorite moments that have made this “Masterpiece” series and its many beloved characters such a hit over the years, reminding viewers why they fell in love with the show, and why its story deserves to be cherished. Revisit the seemingly quiet Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester, where there's no shortage of murder, mystery and mayhem -- and police detective Geordie Keating (Robson Green) and the resident vicar (played by James Norton, Tom Brittney and Rishi Nair, respectively) are always on the case. Featuring exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, rare behind-the-scenes footage and archival clips spanning 10 seasons, discover how Grantchester became a uniquely British crime drama about faith, justice and the power of friendship.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
The Susan Ryeland Mysteries
Friday, June 5 at 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 7 at 8:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Susan Ryeland Mysteries – “Magpie Murders,” “Moonflower Murders,” and the upcoming “Marble Hall Murders” -- based on the bestselling novels by Anthony Horowitz. Go behind the scenes and hear from the cast and crew about these three “Masterpiece Mystery!” series, each of which offers a wonderfully imaginative set of characters, plotlines, locations and of course, mysteries.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
Antiques Roadshow: Never Seen That Before
Monday, June 8 at 8 p.m.
Discover amazing items even our “Roadshow” experts had never seen, in person or possibly ever. Finds include a Michelin Bibendum ad figure, a WWI surgical kit and a 19th c. southern basket.
WATCH HERE
Suburbia: The Good Life in Connecticut
Monday, June 8 at 9 p.m.
Our love for the suburbs is a defining part of life in the state. Connecticut is one of the most highly suburbanized states in the country. The suburbs are where we want to be, but at what price?
WATCH ON CT PUBLIC+
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation: American Experience
Tuesday, June 9 at 9 p.m.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the concert that became a touchstone for a generation. The film brings the three-day concert to life through the voices of those who were present at what became the defining moment of the counterculture revolution.
Connecticut and the Sea
Wednesday, June 10 at 9 p.m.
Part of The Connecticut Experience series co-produced by CPTV and the Connecticut Humanities Council in association with Mystic Seaport, “Connecticut and the Sea” takes a sweeping look at the many different ways that the sea has influenced Connecticut's history, economy and culture. Narrated by the late, legendary broadcast journalist and sailing enthusiast Walter Cronkite, this documentary begins with the Native American perspective in the years before European settlement and follows the rapid growth in the 19th century of Connecticut's port cities and the industries of shipbuilding, fishing and coastal commerce.
WATCH ON CT PUBLIC+
Shakespeare & Hathaway Private Investigators | Season 5
Thursday, June 11, 18, 25 at 8 p.m.
Private inspector Frank Hathaway and ex-hairdresser and people-person Lu 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, Stratford-upon-Avon, where low life criminals get caught up in deliciously high drama.
Father Brown: The Blessing of the Father
Thursday, June 11 at 9 p.m.
Father Brown is a kindly cleric who 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 must stop a killer from ruining Mrs. Devine and Sullivan's big day.
The Brokenwood Mysteries
Thursday, June 11, 18, 25 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
Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream
Friday, June 12 at 9:30 p.m.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, “Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream” asks one urgent, unifying question -- what happened to the American Dream -- and explores if it is still attainable for many today. Filmed across all 50 states over two years, the program features unscripted interviews with everyday Americans, from blue-collar workers, veterans and immigrants to students, entrepreneurs and community leaders.
WATCH NOW
Death in Paradise: Episode 7
Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m.
“Death in Paradise” features a series of impossible murders set on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte Marie. This season, Mervin investigates his mother's death, finding a suspect but no proof of murder. As evidence mounts that Dorna's drowning wasn't accidental, Sterling interferes. Can Selwyn help solve the case as Mervin faces his past?
Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow
Saturday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m.
Tom 'Papa' Ray, a DJ, musician and owner of Vintage Vinyl (Voted One of the 10 Best Record Stores in the U.S. by USA Today) visits record stores around the U.S. and the world interviewing other indie store owners, musicians (and indie record store enthusiasts) of all genres, and customers/music lovers around the world. Each store has a crucial role in their city's music scene.
WATCH NOW
Patience | Season 2
Sundays at 8 p.m. beginning June 14
Witness Patience's powerful deduction skills as she helps the York Police solve crimes. Patience's autism and extraordinary ability to make connections that others overlook impress Detective Metcalf, who believes she could be an asset to her team.
WATCH EARLY WITH PASSPORT
Grantchester on MASTERPIECE | Season 11
Sundays at 9 p.m. beginning June 14
There's no shortage of murder, mystery and mayhem in the seemingly quiet 1950s Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester when a drive-in fundraiser turns deadly, leaving Alphy with a surplus of confessions and a painful truth.
SEE A PREVIEW
The Last Twins
Monday, June 15 at 10 p.m.
Learn about the never-before-told story of an unsung hero of the Holocaust, Erno 'Zvi' Spiegel, who risked everything to save dozens of young twins from almost certain death at Auschwitz. Under the shadow of Dr. Josef Mengele's horrific experiments, Erno used his courage, compassion and ingenuity to shield the most vulnerable -- the sets of twins targeted for brutal medical experimentation.
WATCH NOW
Becoming Katharine Graham
Tuesday, June 16 at 9 p.m.
From shy socialite to Nixon's nemesis, witness Graham's history-making rise as a legendary newspaper publisher who fought for truth, broke barriers in a sexist world and won a Pulitzer Prize, inspiring generations with her courage and resilience.
WATCH HERE
The Kimberley: Australia’s Wild West
Wednesdays at 10 p.m. beginning June 17
Discover a breathtaking world where fearsome crocodiles lie in wait, wallabies risk it all for water and marsupial gliders soar over the savannah. See a jaw-dropping Australian wonder with terrain that's as harsh and unforgiving as it is beautiful.
WATCH A PREVIEW
George H.W. Bush: American Experience
Friday, June 19 and 26 at 9 p.m.
This in-depth assessment of the 41st president of the United States draws upon unparalleled access to figures in Bush's private and public life, to reveal Bush as a pivotal player during a critical moment in American and world history and in a powerful political dynasty. Bush's personal letters, and interviews with his closest advisors and prominent critics inform the film, including First Lady Barbara Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Mikhail Gorbachev, and more.
SEE A PREVIEW
Death in Paradise: Episode 8
Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m.
It’s never a quiet day on the fictional Caribbean island of Sainte Marie, especially after a murder victim is found in Mervin's locked shack before his flight home. The team investigates her links to a turtle charity while Selwyn must share life-changing news with Mervin.
Downton Abbey
Sunday, June 21 and 28 at 10 p.m.
Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), "Downton Abbey" depicts the lives of the noble Crawley family and the staff who serve them, set at their Edwardian country house in 1912. Featuring an all-star cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith (Harry Potter) and Elizabeth McGovern. Laura Linney hosts.
WATCH WITH PASSPORT
New England and the Civil War
Monday, June 22 at 9 p.m.
Seventy-five years after the Revolutionary War and decades since the ideal of all men being created equal first emerged, New England states were still reaping the benefits and spoils of slavery despite their abolitionist beliefs. From the small towns of Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and New Hampshire to the large cities of Massachusetts and Connecticut, patriotic rallies and recruiting drives heralded a second revolution aimed at guaranteeing civil rights to all people. The powerful program illustrates the stories of this pivotal time in American history with archival photographs and dramatic reenactments that capture the essence of life on the battlefield, sick bed, factory and prison.
WATCH ON CT PUBLIC+
Independent Lens: Assembly
Monday, June 22 at 10:30 p.m.
Artist Rashaad Newsome prepares to showcase 'Assembly,' a groundbreaking exhibit at New York's Park Avenue Armory. By blending visual art, performance and artificial intelligence, the project centers the global evolution of vogue while honoring Black and queer resistance and calling for a more liberated future.
WATCH THE TRAILER
The American Revolution
Saturday, June 27 at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 12 p.m.
Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence and found the United States. Watch the entire six-part, 12-hour documentary directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt during CPTV's two-day marathon event.
WATCH HERE
Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War
Monday, June 29 at 10 p.m.
In 1776, the Founders' promise of "all men are created equal" remained distant for many. Trace the heroic stories of the enslaved and freed Black Americans who fought to define democracy and their liberty through the Revolutionary War.
Rise and Fall of Newgate Prison: Crime and Punishment in Connecticut
Tuesday, June 30 at 8 p.m.
This award-winning documentary explores the history of crime and punishment in Connecticut through the lens of Old New-Gate Prison. Now a museum, this former prison and mine was founded in 1773 in what was then part of Simsbury and is now East Granby. A National Historic Landmark, Old New-Gate was America’s first state prison and first chartered copper mine. Learn how it helped shape both the state and the nation in this co-production from CPTV and the Connecticut Humanities Council.