May 2002

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Past Issues

• April 2002
• March 2002
• February 2002
• January 2002
• December 2001
• November 2001

Best Bets

The Dancing Man
Gene Kelly's exuberant dance with an umbrella in the movie Singin' in the Rain (9 p.m.), which turns 50 this year, remains one of Hollywood's most memorable moments. The American Masters special "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer" at 10:45 p.m. reveals Kelly's life and legacy through rare interviews and new recollections from co-stars Debbie Reynolds, Leslie Caron and Cyd Charisse. -- Mary Eileen O'Connor
Saturday, May 4 beginning at 9 p.m.

Ulysses S. Grant
During the Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant was a leader for whom thousands of Northern soldiers were willing to fight and die. However, his two terms as a president of the United States were rocked by racial conflict and corruption scandals. This American Experience portrait examines Grant's tumultuous presidency as he struggled to reestablish national unity after the bloody and divisive conflict. -- Abigail Esten
Sunday, May 5 & 12 at 9 p.m.

Search for the First Human
In October 2000, a team of scientists excavated 13 bones in a remote part of Kenya, asserting that they had discovered the oldest direct ancestor of humankind. This Secrets of the Dead film follows the scientists as they analyze the evidence in support of their claims, which challenges long-held theories about early human life and could ultimately rewrite the story of human evolution. -- AE
Wednesday, May 8 at 9 p.m.

Muslims
Although recent opinion polls report a collective sense of mistrust toward Muslims in the wake of the events of September 11, Islam continues to be America's fastest growing religion. What is Islam? What do Muslims believe in? Through interviews with ordinary Muslims in the U.S. and around the world, Frontline examines how their faith shapes their lives, their identities and their political ideologies. -- AE
Thursday, May 9 at 9 p.m.

Rizzo
Whether he was revered, reviled, feared or simply misunderstood, Frank Rizzo is indelibly etched into the history of Philadelphia. This original WHYY production examines the life and career of the high school dropout who became the city's mayor, sheds light on the alleged corruption and brutality in the Philadelphia police department during his era and explores Rizzo's uneasy relationship with the press. -- AE
Friday, May 10 at 10 p.m.

The Road from Coorain
Based on the best-selling memoirs of author Jill Ker Conway, this Masterpiece Theatre film follows her life from her youth in the remote Australian bush country to her brilliant career in academia. Centering on her tragic relationship with her mother, the story examines Conway's devastation over her father's death, her transition to adulthood and her journey to find her place in the world. Juliet Stevenson and Katherine Slattery (pictured) star. -- AE
Monday, May 13 at 9 p.m.

The Polar Bears of Churchill with Ewan McGregor
The star of the new film Stars Wars: Episode II trades his light saber for a parka as he visits the remote Canadian outpost of Churchill in this Nature special. McGregor witnesses the town's annual invasion of hungry polar bears on the hunt for seals and learns how residents and authorities deal with the furry marauders. -- MEO
Sunday, May 19 at 8 p.m.

All-State Music Festival
More than 500 of Pennsylvania's top high school vocalists and musicians, chosen from highly competitive district and regional auditions, gather to celebrate their dedication to music. Held this year at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the annual festival showcases individual and group performances of chorus, orchestra and band selections. -- MEO
Monday, May 27 at 5 p.m.

Futurewar
Biological weapons, computer-generated power outages and threats to banking, communications and transportation systems are just some of the potential crises we face in the information age. This revealing program examines the United States' preparations for warfare in the 21st century, giving viewers a glimpse at some of the high-tech gadgetry, such as thermal cameras, designed to make war more precise and less lethal. -- AE
Tuesday, May 28 at 9 p.m.

The Diamond Project
This Live From Lincoln Center broadcast showcases eight new ballets by America's top choreographers, including Ulysses Dove, Kevin O'Day and Angelin Preljocog. Created in 1992 by New York City Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins, the Ballet's Diamond Project is a biennial festival giving choreographers the opportunity to create new works of classical ballet. -- MEO
Thursday, May 30 at 8 p.m.