The final documentary of American Experience before the series pauses new production explores the life and career of the controversial Nobel Prize-winning diplomat Henry Kissinger.
Playlist Interview
Interview
WTTW's 'Chicago Stories' Revisits Legendary Blizzards That Changed Chicago History
Julia MaishA new season of WTTW's Chicago Stories begins with a tale of two blizzards, including one that dealt a fatal blow to a political career. We spoke to the producer.
A 'Frontline' Documentary Shows "What You Risk in Standing Up to Putin"
Daniel HautzingerAntidote follows a journalist who has exposed alleged Russian assassins – and faced threats to his life as a result, as the filmmaker explained on a recent trip to Chicago.
Rick Steves Explores the Spectacular Landscapes and Unique Culture of Iceland in a New Special
Daniel HautzingerRick Steves Iceland takes viewers not just to Reykjavík and the popular day trips outside it but also to remote peninsulas, fjords, and towns that are less frequently visited. We spoke to Steves' travel companion and producer of the special.
The "Architect" of Conservatism in America is the Subject of a New 'American Masters'
Daniel HautzingerThe Incomparable Mr. Buckley examines the life of William F. Buckley, Jr. with an eye toward the rise of the conservatism he espoused and how it was eclipsed – how we got to our present moment. We spoke to the filmmaker.
"My Way of Thanking America": Lidia Bastianich Celebrates Immigrants Like Herself in a New Special
Daniel HautzingerThe celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich came to America as a child and found a new home and life. In a new special, she visits, cooks, and eats with immigrants, especially those who have settled in less urban parts of America, as a way of thanking her adopted home country.
From the Archive: 'New Yorker' Writer Jane Kramer
Daniel HautzingerNew Yorker writer Jane Kramer discusses the myth of the American West, the rise of big agribusiness and its effect on both traditional ranching and cows, and what bringing her daughter along on her reporting could do, in this 1978 interview from the WTTW archives.
An Interview with the Writer and Producer of Ken Burns's 'Country Music'
Daniel Hautzinger“Country music is a different way to look at who we are as people and what our shared history is," says Dayton Duncan, the writer and producer of Ken Burns's upcoming eight-part Country Music documentary series. "It is uniquely American in its origin."
30 Years of Frontera Grill
Daniel HautzingerWhen Rick and Deann Bayless opened their regional Mexican restaurant, they shared a wall with a bar called the Rendezvous -- for a reason -- and a ceiling with rent-by-the-hour flophouses. 30 years later, it's a staple of Chicago's culinary scene.
The Secret Life of Animals: An Interview with a Producer of 'Spy in the Wild'
Daniel HautzingerTonight at 8:00 pm, "Meet the Spies" in the finale of Spy in the Wild. We talked to series producer Philip Dalton about how the cameras can capture animals' most intimate behavior.
America's Test Kitchen's Thelma and Louise
Daniel HautzingerBridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, the new co-hosts of America's Test Kitchen, have been with the show since day one. They give a behind-the-scenes look at how recipes are developed, and crack each other up in the process.
"Her Life is History": The Universality of Maya Angelou
Daniel HautzingerMaya Angelou was beyond prolific, and her life touched on many of the most significant people and events of the twentieth century. The creators of a film about the great woman discuss the difficulty of capturing her multi-faceted life on film, why they admire her, and what she was like.
Enlarging the Historical Framework: Pamela D. Toler's Look at the Amazing Women of the Civil War
Daniel HautzingerThe author of Heroines of Mercy Street discusses the determination and accomplishments of female Civil War nurses, the importance of writing about women in history, and her broad historical interests.
From Storefront Theater to PBS Drama: Gary Cole
Daniel HautzingerActor Gary Cole began his career in the small experimental theaters of Chicago, became famous for roles like the bureaucratic monster Bill Lumbergh, and now plays the patriarch of the Green family on Mercy Street.
'Meat and Candy': An Interview with Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey
Daniel HautzingerThe lead singer of the country band, who can be seen on Soundstage Thursday, February 9 at 9:00 pm, talks about the band's upcoming album and the story behind the delightful title of their debut.
