WXXI TV

 A new three-part miniseries starring Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack), Eve Best (House of the Dragon), and Stockard Channing (The West Wing).

MaryLand on Masterpiece airs Sundays, May 5-19 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

MaryLand is a story about two sisters, about what binds them together and what has driven them apart. Becca (Jones) and Rosaline (Best) find themselves thrown together by the sudden death of their mother, Mary. They come to find out that she was living an entirely secret life on the Isle of Man, far from her home with her husband, Becca and Rosaline’s father.

As the sisters travel through the early days of grief and discover their mother’s secrets, they meet their mother’s quirky friend Cathy (Channing) who seems to know more about their mother than they do. Becca and Rosaline find themselves asking fundamental questions about their identities and the relationships with the men in their lives. Mary’s death offers them a chance to not only reframe their relationship but fundamentally reshape who they are. At its heart, MaryLand is a love story of two sisters.

Click here to watch the trailer.

In this 2018 documentary, WXXI offers a unique opportunity to see first-hand Wendell Castle at work.

Wendall Castle: A Portrait airs Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

In Wendall Castle: A Portrait, WXXI’s production crew follows him through the creation of his “Dizzy” chair – from his original drawings to the finished work of art. Through Castle’s own words and interviews with family, friends, you’ll learn about his early years as an artist, his creative process, and the vision for his work.

Filmed over the course of a year by WXXI-TV’s production team, Wendell Castle: A Portrait captures the life of the master furniture artist, designer, sculptor, and educator.

Through Castle’s own words and interviews with family, friends, and colleagues, viewers will learn about his early years as an artist, his creative process, and the vision for his work.

The hour-long documentary also providesaunique opportunity to see first-hand Castle at work, as WXXI’s production crew follows him through the creation of his “Dizzy” chair – from his original drawings to the finished work of art. It was one of the last chairs Castle created before passing away on January 20, 2018 at the age of 85.

Castle was born in Kansas and received a BFA from the University of Kansas in Industrial Design and an MFA in sculpture, graduating in 1961. He then moved to Rochester in 1962 to teach at the School of American Craftsmen at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was on staff as an “Artist in Residence” at the time of his death. An artist for more than 60 years, he is often credited as the father of American Studio Furniture and Art Furniture Movements. More than 100 of his works are installed in museums worldwide, including the Memorial Art Gallery.

The film visits Castle in his Scottsville home and studio, and looks at his masterpieces in wood, including his stack lamination method, his Technicolor gel-coated fiberglass pieces, and the Steinway 500,000^th piano he was commissioned to create. Castle’s wife Nancy Jurs, well known as a potter who trained at Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsmen, shares how they met, how he landed his teaching job at RIT, and details about his work and technique. Castle’s daughter Alison and step son Bryon Jurs also give insight into Castle’s medium and process.

The designer, sculptor, and educator continually pushed the boundaries of inventiveness, imagination and sustained innovation. “He defined an entire world of creativity,” explains Jonathan P. Binstock, PhD, Director of the Memorial Art Gallery, in the film. Others featured in the film include:

• Josh Owen, Designer, Professor and Chair of Industrial Design, Rochester Institute of Technology
• Rick Hirsch, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology
• Peter Kenney, Craftsman, Wendell Castle Studio
• Marvin Pallischeck, Former Studio Director, Wendell Castle Studio
• Marc Benda, Co-Owner, Friedman Benda
• Loic Le Gaillard, Co-Founder, Carpenters Workshop Gallery
• Grant Holcomb, Director Emeritus, Memorial Art Gallery
• Evan Snyderman, Co-Founder, Creative Director, R & Company
• Daniel Herberger, Studio Director, Wendell Castle Studio
• Carole Hochman, Director, Friedman Benda
• Bridget Sheehan, Craftsman and 3D Modeler, Wendell Castle Studio

Funding for Wendell Castle:  A Portrait is generously provided by Nocon and Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Incorporated. And, by the Sands Family Foundation. Additional support provided by Waldron Rise Foundation, Lilliputian Foundation, Louise Epstein, Tom and Ebets Judson, Martin Messinger, Mimi and Sam Tilton, Alan Cameros, Reenie and Stan Feingold, Jane Ellen Parker and Fran Cosentino, and Essie Germanow

The impact of food choices, electrification, the future of rainfall, the choice of whether or not to have children, this half-hour weekly series hosted by Jasmin Singer discusses what matters — and what should — when it comes to environmental preservation.

Environmental Connections airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WXXI-TV.

THIS WEEK (8/30 + 9/1): Air Travel: In this episode of Environmental Connections, we dive into the environmental impact of air travel and explore potential solutions for reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. 

With the threat of increased rain, and smoke from nearby wildfires affecting our area, anxieties about climate change are rising for many people. To address these concerns, WXXI has launched a new monthly series, Environmental Connections, which explores all things climate. The program launched on the radio in February as a two-hour spinoff of the daily talk show, Connections with Evan Dawson, and will launch a weekly half-hour television version in April, which is also Earth Month.

The televised version of Environmental Connections curates the best discussions from the taped, live radio broadcast and mixes in video packages from the field. Listen to the Environmental Connections Radio Series here to hear monthly episodes of the related radio series.

WXXI News’ Jasmin Singer is the host and producer of Environmental Connections and is uniquely qualified, given her personal and professional experiences. Relocating to Rochester from Los Angeles (by way of lower Manhattan) because of this city’s relatively positive long-term climate implications, she and her wife transformed their home into a near-net-zero dwelling, embodying the essence of environmental stewardship. Her journey to Rochester initially connected her with WXXI, leading to coverage of her story as a climate migrant, a subject also explored by Evan Dawson on Connections. Since then, Singer has evolved within WXXI, serving as the Weekend Edition host and a regular fill-in for Connections, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered. As a published author (“Always Too Much and Never Enough” [Penguin Random House’s Berkley, 2016] and Fabulous Vegan [Hachette, 2020]), podcast host (Webby-recognized “Our Hen House,” and the “VegNews Podcast”), interviewer and long-time vegan with a deep-rooted commitment to environmentalism, Singer brings a wealth of knowledge and a personal connection to the topic, making her an ideal host for this groundbreaking show. 

Environmental Connections also air on WXXI-WORLD Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and Mondays at 6:30 a.m., as well as on City 12 Saturdays at 10 p.m.

Travel with host, Mexico City Philharmonic chief conductor Scott Yoo, in this special mini-series taking viewers on a voyage of musical discovery for aficionados and neophytes alike. 

Great Performances: Now Hear This airs Fridays through May 5 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Each episode reveals the creative process behind a diverse range of classical music in both historic and modern-day periods. This season explores themes and stories of gifted young artists, virtuosos, and even Scott Yoo’s own experiences as a composer.

Rachmaninoff Reborn • April 25 Yevgeny Sudbin and Scott Yoo explain the premise behind Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on Paganini” and then perform the piece.

Barrios: Chopin of the Guitar • May 2 Explore the work of two legendary virtuosos, Niccolò Paganini and Robert Johnson, along with stars of today, Augustin Hadelich and Keb’ Mo’. Joined by Cirque du Soleil acrobats, discover the secrets of being a virtuoso.

Photo: Scott Yoo • Provided by PBS

An Alaska native family is blindsided when their son, the youngest ever to harpoon a whale for his village, is targeted by animal activists.

Independent Lens: One With the Whale airs Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Hunting whales is a matter of life or death for the residents of St. Lawrence. When a shy Alaska Native teen becomes the youngest person ever to harpoon a whale for his village, his family is blindsided by thousands of keyboard activists brutally attacking him online—without full perspective on the importance of the hunt to his community’s well-being.

Renowned jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman performs songs from his new album, where are we, as he explores the myths and realities of life in America. 

Next at Kennedy Center “Joshua Redman, Where Are We” airs Friday, April 19 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Joshua is accompanied on this journey by soulful vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa and an all-star ensemble featuring Aaron Parks (piano), Joe Sanders (bass), and Brian Blade (drums).

Lucy Lawless stars in this modern-day Australian drama series as retired cop Alexa Crowe

My Life is Murders airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

With her old boss regularly asking for her insight on cold cases and a young police data-analyst eager to be mentored–whether Alexa wants to or not–Alexa can’t seem to stop solving crime.

Lividity in Lycra, Ep. 3 airs April 18 – When Hugh Miller, the CFO of a hospitality empire, dies on a cycling ride with friends, the coroner rules it death by misadventure. But Kieran suspects the involvement of Hugh’s boss, hard-driving entrepreneur Roger Simms, and asks Alexa to look into it.

Can’t Stand The Heat, Ep. 4 airs April 25 – When culinary student Ivan Zhang is found dead in the school’s kitchen after slipping on oil and smacking his head, Kieran considers the scene suspicious—where did the oil come from, when the dish Ivan was preparing didn’t call for it? It might all boil down to Ivan’s archrival, Ling, the last person to see him alive. Alexa goes undercover to the cooking class to smoke out the killer.

Feet of Clay, Ep. 5 airs May 2 – A year ago, beautiful young PR assistant Christina Cortez was killed in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver who turned herself in a few days later. It seems like a tragic—but closed—case. But who sent Christina the mysterious message that prompted her to be at that fatal spot in the first place? Alexa investigates Christina’s boss, glamourous social-media queen Morgana Finch, for answers.

Another Bloody Podcast, Ep. 6 airs May 9 – When a true-crime podcast blames Kieran for the lack of progress on an investigation into the killing of a young gay man, who was found with a cult-like symbol on his forehead, Alexa is determined to help Kieran out. It soon becomes clear that not only does the podcaster want to remain anonymous, but that he or she knows intimate details about the victim.

Old School, Ep. 7 airs May 16 – Alexa revisits better days—or at least younger ones—after her beloved high-school teacher is crushed to death by a boat rack. Acting on Kieran’s hunch that the rack didn’t collapse by accident, Alexa looks into Miranda Lee, the new principal–who also happens to be her old classmate and frenemy.

Remains to Be Seen, Ep. 8 airs May 23 – While jogging one morning, Alexa collapses on the bridge named in honor of her late husband. As she confronts her mortality, Kieran takes the opportunity to hand her the case of Patrick Mandel, a gambling addict found buried in an already occupied grave. Alexa investigates the victim’s girlfriend—who is suspiciously a funeral director.

Fake Empire, Ep. 9 airs May 30 –When Kieran presents Alexa with another unsolved murder—a nurse stabbed in the back a week after proposing to his girlfriend—Alexa declines until Kieran mentions the involvement of clairvoyant Chloe Angel, who knows details about the case not released to the public. Ever the skeptic, Alexa is determined to find the killer and prove that Chloe is a phony.

Mirror, Mirror, Ep. 10 airs June 6– As Alexa’s birthday approaches, Kieran gives her an early present: the case of a plastic surgeon obsessed with getting her own cosmetic procedures, who died after self-administering an anti-wrinkle drug she developed. Alexa questions the husband-and-wife team that owns the clinic where the victim worked.