Highlights May 20 to May 26

Monday, May 20th

Travel to all five cities of ROADSHOW's Season 28 Tour for never-before-seen appraisals, including a 1976 Mark Hamill-signed Star Wars poster, a 1979 Bob Ross landscape oil, and a 1973 Iditarod Race sled! Antiques Roadshow Junk in the Trunk 13 at 7:00 pm.

The final hour in Charleston, West Virginia, features standout appraisals that include a Newcomb College vase, ca. 1905, in need of a good cleaning; an 1875 W.S. Young landscape oil of the Greenbrier River in West Virginia; and a collection of Noel Coward "Sail Away" memorabilia gifted by Coward himself. Watch to find out which item is valued at $35,000 to $37,000! Also: Host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Rafael Eledge head to the Rosanna A. Blake Library of Confederate History at Marshall University to look at Civil War cigarette booklets. Antiques Roadshow Charleston, Hour 3 at 8:00 pm.

Over seven decades, actor and activist George Takei boldly journeyed from a WWII internment camp, to the helm of Star Trek's USS Enterprise, to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband Brad on this star's playful and profound trek for life, liberty, and love. To Be Takei at 9:00 pm.

What is the role of sound and what does it mean to listen? Hard of hearing filmmaker Alison O'Daniel uses a series of tuba thefts in Los Angeles high schools as a jumping-off point to explore these questions. Independent Lens The Tuba Thieves at 9:55 pm.

Tuesday, May 21st

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of journalist Sunny Hostin and actor Jesse Williams -- introducing them to ancestors from very diverse places. Finding Your Roots Far and Away at 7:00 pm.

Revisit 1967 when inner cities across America erupted in violence. LBJ appointed the Kerner Commission to investigate and the Commission's final report would offer a shockingly unvarnished assessment of race relations that still resonates today. American Experience The Riot Report at 8:00 pm.

A Conversation with Celine Song. On Story On Past Lives at 10:00 pm.

After 16 years of incarceration, Sol is released from prison, when she discovers that coming into her own freedom can be as challenging as living behind bars. Through a community gardening collective of formerly incarcerated horticulturalists in East Oakland, Sol strives to recover her humanity and sense of self. POV Shorts Sol in the Garden at 10:30 pm.

Wednesday, May 22nd

Follow the story of a pine marten as she takes us on a journey through a desert of gray stones called the Burren, home to some of Ireland's most enchanting wildlife. Nature Wild Ireland: Kingdom of Stone at 7:00 pm.

How big is the universe? Will it ever end? Why is so much of it made of mysterious dark matter and energy? See how mind-bending discoveries over the past 50 years have revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Nova Decoding the Universe: Cosmos at 8:00 pm.

At Pompeii, a new excavation continues to unearth rich discoveries, while a pioneering new investigation finds evidence that some Pompeiians survived the eruption of AD 79. Pompeii: The New Dig Escape at 9:00 pm.

Thursday, May 23rd

Longtime tech journalist and author Kara Swisher joins the program with her insight on the latest revolutions in tech, including AI and machine learning. Swisher's latest book, a memoir, is titled Burn Book: A Tech Love Story. Overheard with Evan Smith Kara Swisher at 7:00 pm.

Chet heads northwest of San Antonio to this historic enclave brimming with activities. He starts with local coffee and cream puffs before touring the historic buildings of town. He eats enchiladas at the local institution and goes zip lining through the Hill Country. He visits the dinosaur tracks of Government Canyon and finishes with some Texas music and tamales at John T. Floore's. The Daytripper Helotes, TX at 8:00 pm.

An Evanston, Illinois, man has some tough decisions to make when he's forced to downsize the family home after his mom moves into a care facility. Emotions run high as Matt helps him clear out the clutter and find cherished mementos that remind him of the woman who raised him. Legacy List with Matt Paxton Mom’s Moving Story at 8:30 pm.

A scarecrow festival to raise church funds takes a grisly turn when dead bodies are found staged like the festival's straw creations. Barnaby's investigation uncovers more going on than a simple competition. Guest stars include Emily Bevan (Grantchester). Midsomer Murders Scarecrow Murders, Part 1 at 8:59 pm.

Friday, May 24th

On this Oscar Awards edition, wet sit down with winners and nominees to talk about their commitment to their craft. Comedy duo Steve Martin and Martin Short, and the creators behind films like Black Panther and Free Solo share their secrets to success. Beyond The Canvas The Oscars at 7:30 pm.

Inventors and inventions are all around us, proving that we all have the power in our minds and hands to shape the world. However, even the most accomplished makers and creators often hesitate to identify as "inventors." PATHWAYS TO INVENTION explores the workshops, garages,laboratories and offices of accomplished inventors in the fields of materials, software, hardware, biotech and agriculture to understand the tools and traits of both successful invention and entrepreneurship. Invention is more accessible now than ever through low-cost electronics, rapid prototyping, and inexpensive global communication and collaboration. PATHWAYS TO INVENTION follows 12 different award-winning early to mid-career inventors to understand what makes them tick and to answer the question: "Are inventors born or are they made?" Pathways to Invention at 9:00 pm.

Saturday, May 25th

Electro pop duo Sylvan Esso and indie rock band Lucius provide an entertaining hour of imaginative music. North Carolina's Sylvan Esso play songs from their LP Free Love. Acclaimed act Lucius perform tunes from their album Second Nature. Austin City Limits Sylvan Esso/Lucius at 7:00 pm.

As the police officers investigate an arson attack, they discover a much more insidious crime. Meanwhile, Siobhan is determined to get back with Inspector Finn - little knowing that he's in a relationship with his colleague Leila. Hope Street at 8:55 pm.

Known as "America's storyteller," famed WWII correspondent Ernie Pyle remains one of American history's most beloved journalists. ERNIE PYLE: LIFE IN THE TRENCHES tells the story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist who reached millions each week with stories celebrating "ordinary" Americans doing extraordinary things. The colloquial charm and folksy style of Pyle's writings spoke to his readers as he captured snapshots of American life during the 1930s. Ernie Pyle: Life in the Trenches at 10:25 pm.

Sunday, May 26th

Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. A more than three-decades-long tradition unlike anything else on television, America's national night of remembrance takes us back to the real meaning of the holiday through personal stories and tributes interwoven with musical performances. Co-hosted by acclaimed actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, joined by Mary McCormack, and an all-star lineup with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly, the deeply moving and reverential night brings us together as one family of Americans to honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, military families and all those who have given their lives for our country. _National Memorial Day Concert_ 2024 at 7:00 pm.