WHYY Late Night

TV12's late night highlights
By Mary Eileen O'Connor

Toscana Globe Trekker
Not able to get away for the holidays? Then take a virtual vacation in the comfort of your favorite armchair! The intrepid travelers on Globe Trekker visit far-off and unforgettable places around the world, from bustling cities to remote beaches, sampling local delicacies, staying in traditional homes, and meeting with residents to bring new sights, sounds and cultures right into your living room.

On January 6, Megan McCormick Megan visits one of today's top tourist destinations -- Tuscany -- visiting Florence, home of the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo; the Leaning Tower in Pisa, and the rolling vineyards of Tuscany's wine country.
Tuesday, January 6 through Saturday, January 10 at 1 a.m.

Second Hand Stories
Independent filmmakers Christopher Wilcha and John Freyer chronicle their offbeat road trip across America in search of stories about second-hand treasures -- those rare and unique items that are tucked away in basements and attics or sold along the side of the road at garage sales and thrift stores.

Making their journey in a decommissioned ambulance they bought for $2,500 on eBay, the Wilcha and Freyer meet all sorts of interesting people, including the inventor of the highway wobble light and a man who recorded a priceless collection of country music performances, all the while offering insights into the forgotten history of American pop culture.
Sunday, January 18 at 6:30 a.m.

Without Fear or Favor: The Best in Broadcast Journalism
The past year has been one of international upheaval, and one during which the media has come under fire for some of their methods of reporting the news. NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw hosts this special celebrating the finest broadcast journalism of 2003, including coverage of breaking stories, investigative and documentary reports and outstanding local news reporting on television and radio.

Some of the country's most respected journalists, all recipients of the duPont-Columbia award in 2003, discuss the role of the media in the world today and what steps need to be taken to create superior reporting that the public can trust.
Wednesday, January 28 at 1 a.m.

Acts of Ardor: Two Dances by Paul Taylor
This Great Performances "Dance in America" special features two critically-acclaimed new performances by the Paul Taylor Dance Company inspired by contrasting but equally dark periods in American history.

Set to standard Tin Pan Alley songs and drawing on dance styles from the period, the first piece, "Black Tuesday," recalls the Great Depression, an era when movies and popular music helped people cope with the many hardships they faced during those years.

The second piece, titled "Promethean Fire," features music by Johann Sebastian Bach with orchestrations by Leopold Stokowski. With its passionate bursts of fury and frustration that end with a sense of renewal, this work is considered to be the choreographer's response to the tragic events of September 11.
Saturday, January 31 at 3 a.m.