Culture

Reggie in the season 11 'Call the Midwife' Christmas special. Photo: BBC/Nealstreet Productions/Sally Mais

Celebrate the Holidays with WTTW

Believe it or not, we're nearing the end of 2021 and the beginning of the holiday season. We've got plenty of programming to get you in the holiday spirit—find it here.

Cookie Monster, Elmo, Ji-Young, Tamir, Abby Cadabby, and Big Bird. Image: Sesame Workshop

'Sesame Street' Is Debuting an Asian American Muppet

The seven-year-old Korean American Muppet Ji-Young, who will officially debut on Thanksgiving, is Sesame Street's first Asian American Muppet.

Tribals members pay their respects at Little Chief's reburial at Sharp Nose Cemetery, Wind River Reservation, WY (From Left: Fay Ann Soldier Wolf, Mark Soldier Wolf, Hubert Friday, Nelson White, Crawford White, Yufna Soldier Wolf), 2017. Photo: Caldera Productions

Native American Heritage Month 2021 on WTTW

November is Native American Heritage Month. "Heritage" often implies looking towards the past, and while that does figure into the documentaries and series we're airing in honor of the month, present lives and growth are equally important.

'For the Left Hand' Tells the Story of an Indomitable, Late-Blooming Pianist

Norman Malone can play piano only with his left hand due to a traumatic childhood injury, but in a new documentary he prepares to make his orchestral debut at the age of 79. “The beating heart of this film is who Norman is," says Howard Reich, the writer and co-producer.

The Last Ride: Angelo Sage, Northern Arapaho, at Sharp Nose Cemetery, Wind River Reservation, WY, 2018. Photo: Sophie Barksdale

What to Watch in November

A documentary for Native American Heritage Month, a sign of the holidays, a series exploring the wonders and mysteries of the universe, and more are on the docket for November.

Celebrate the Holidays with the Peanuts on WTTW

For the second year in a row, you can join Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, and all the rest of the Peanuts on WTTW to celebrate the holidays.

The Copernicus Center in Chicago's Jefferson Park. Photo: Meredith Francis/WTTW

Geoffrey Baer Explores Polish Chicago

October is Polish Heritage Month, the perfect time to explore Polonia, or Polish Chicago. Geoffrey Baer takes you on a tour of some sites that evoke the community's rich and influential continuing history in Chicago.

The Penthouse Hyde Park. Photo: Anna Munzesheimer

Where to Go During Open House Chicago 2021

Open House Chicago is back, allowing you to peek inside more than 100 sites across Chicagoland on October 16 and 17. Given all the standout options, we've chosen a few highlights that we think are especially worth visiting.

Viola Spolin. Courtesy: Viola Spolin Estate

Exploring the Surprising Chicago Roots of Improv

Improv "was born out of a need to communicate with a new immigrant population, from a woman who loved theater," says the producer of our new upcoming documentary Inventing Improv: A Chicago Stories Special.

Celebrate the Holidays with Charlie Brown on WTTW

Last year, WTTW and other PBS stations started a new holiday tradition by airing the Peanuts Thanksgiving and Christmas specials, but missed out on Halloween. This year, the tradition gets even better: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will air on public television in addition to the other beloved classics.

Alma and her family in 'Alma's Way.' Image: Courtesy Fred Rogers Productions

A New PBS Kids Series from a Veteran of 'Sesame Street'

Sonia Manzano, who broke ground as one of the first Latino characters on national television by playing Maria on Sesame Street, is the creator of a new PBS Kids show produced by Fred Rogers Productions that focuses on a young girl's adventures in the Bronx.