TV12 Best Bets

Swan Lake with American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre artistic director Kevin McKenzie interprets the timeless story of a young man's love and eventual betrayal of a swan queen for a new generation in this breathtakingly beautiful presentation, part of Great Performances' "Dance in America" series. Set to one of Tchaikovsky's most enduring scores and shot in high definition, the production stars ABT sensation Gillian Murphy as the Swan Queen and renowned dancer Angel Corella as her suitor, Prince Siegfried. Caroline Kennedy hosts the broadcast, which was filmed before an audience at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and then revised by McKenzie for television -- allowing him to realize grand ideas he couldn't accomplish within the confines of the theater. Monday, June 20 at 9 p.m.

Stay Tuned: At 11 p.m., WHYY takes you behind the scenes of the Pennsylvania Ballet's 2004 production of Swan Lake in Backstage at the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Frontline "Private Warriors"

Correspondent Martin Smith travels to Iraq for this revealing look at the role private contractors and security firms continue to play in the rebuilding and stabilization of Iraq. With the number of new military recruits dwindling, private firms such as Halliburton subsidiary KBR (which has a $16 billion deal in Iraq), Blackwater, Aegis and Erinys have stepped in to do some of the country's most dangerous work, including running U.S. military bases and supply lines and providing armed protection for U.S. government officials and military commanders. Frontline explores the pros and cons of the Pentagon's growing reliance on outsourcing military functions to these private contractors, which are often seen as "hired guns" and have become prime targets of insurgent attacks. And, the family and friends of four contractors whose charred remains were strung over a bridge in Fallujah recall this shocking display of hatred against Americans. Tuesday, June 21 at 9 p.m.

Quincy Jones: In the Pocket

Composer, arranger, performer, entertainer and producer Quincy Jones can easily be called the godfather of the music industry. After all, dozens of celebrities (think Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith) owe much of their fame and fortune to "Q." This American Masters biography reveals the man behind the mogul through footage of recording sessions (including one that featured the unlikely pairing of Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson), live performances, television appearances, home movies and candid interviews with Jones' eldest daughter and two former wives. This film also pays particular attention to Jones' unique ability to touch people's feelings and emotions across all musical genres, and remembers some of his highest-profile projects, such as Jackson's "Thriller" music video, the film A Color Purple and his 1985 crowning glory, "We Are the World." Wednesday, June 22 at 9 p.m.

Online Extra: President Bill Clinton shares his thoughts on the legacy of his longtime friend Quincy Jones and the relationship between jazz and politics.

Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk

Do the realities of higher education measure up to the dreams of millions of individuals, and to the educational needs of America? Peabody Award-winning journalist John Merrow visits four very different college campuses across the country -- Massachusetts' Amherst College, the University of Arizona, Western Kentucky University and the Community College of Denver -- to examine both the promises and perils in higher education today, as seen through the eyes of 30 students, parents, professors, college administrators and expert commentators. In a time of increased preoccupation with college rankings and grade inflation, Merrow questions whether student learning is suffering as a result, with many merely “treading water” rather than engaging and challenging themselves on the road to receiving a diploma. Pictured: Students at the University of Arizona. Thursday, June 23 at 9 p.m.

Online Extra: Host John Merrow outlines the changes that he believes must be made to America's higher education system.