WXXI TV

This new six-part documentary series that explores innovative ways to think about the future.

A Brief History of the Future airs Wednesdays, April 3 – May 8 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

A Brief History of the Future will help you imagine – and work toward – a better tomorrow. Hosted by futurist Ari Wallach, the series challenges the dystopian framework embraced by popular culture by offering a refreshing take on the future exploring potential solutions to our existential threats. The program invites viewers to imagine a world that is full of discovery, hope, and possibility – inspiring each of us to understand our power to shape the future that future generations need us to so they can flourish. 

The series weaves together history, science, and unexpected storytelling to expand our understanding about the impact that the choices we make today will have on our tomorrows. Each episode follows those who are working to solve our greatest challenges. The series also features valuable insights from a wide range of thinkers, scientists, developers and storytellers including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur, musician Grimes, architect Bjarke Ingels, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, legendary soccer player Kylian Mbappé, and more.

Episodes and air dates:

“Beyond the Now” Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. (Series Premiere) Join Ari Wallach on his journey to seek the individuals and ideas that can shape a better, more sustainable future for each generation to build upon. 

“Chaos & Complexity” Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. Why are many of us feeling overwhelmed and afraid in this historically transformational moment in time? Ari Wallach explores how it offers unprecedented possibilities for new and needed futures we can create together. 

“Once Upon a Time” Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. How do stories shape the boundaries of belief about what is possible? Ari Wallach dives into the fundamental role storytelling plays in our lives and their potential to unleash the power of human imagination and creativity moving forward. 

“Human” Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. Ari Wallach investigates the human ability to increase empathy and compassion, what values we are instilling into artificial intelligence technologies, and creating a better world for human life to flourish on this planet. 

“Together” Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. Throughout history, humans’ unique capacity for cooperation has set us apart. Ari Wallach explores the internal changes we enact that have the potential to impact those around us, our broader communities, and societies. 

“Tomorrows” Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. Ari Wallach examines the ways we often see the concept of the future, the crucial need to think much, much bigger about what could come next, and how we all have more personal agency than we realize.

Explore each season in the Finger Lakes region visiting each lake with stunning aerial videography.

Journeys Through the Finger Lakes airs Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

From Susan B. Anthony and the women’s rights movement, to Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad, to spotlighting a proud and resilient Native American culture, Journeys Through the Finger Lakes takes you on a journey through the vibrant history, lush topography, and seminal moments that make up this extraordinary place.

How was the region created and defined?  What effects did the landscape and weather have on the industry, agriculture, and community development? Who were the historical figures that influenced national issues in critical ways? And, who is continuing to create an innovative and diverse cultural landscape that has become synonymous with the region?  

These lakes form a broader region rich in meaningful history and unique culture. We journey through lush topography, singular institutions and meet the visionary icons that make up the rich tapestry of this extraordinary place.

Journeys Through the Finger Lakes is dedicated to John Adamski, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the Finger Lakes and the Finger Lakes Museum. Produced by WXXI in partnership with Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance with support from Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance and I Love NY; Saunders Foundation; Nocon & Associates, an Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. private wealth advisory practice; and The Jane K. and Robert C. Stevens Fund for New Programming.

To learn more, click here.

A crew of 12 Mexican tree planters travel the United States re-growing America’s forests.

Independent Lens: A Thousand Pines premieres Monday, April 1 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Over the course of a grueling eight months, a crew of Oaxacan guest workers plant trees throughout the United States. This intimate portrait shows how hard it is to balance the physical demands of reforestation and extreme isolation while staying connected to the family back home.

Caption: Planter at work during the “golden hour”
Credit: Noam Osband

Olympic runners Linford Christie and Katharine Merry team up with Road Trip regulars in a race to make the most money from antiques.

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip airs Saturday, March 30 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

On their trip through Oxfordshire, Linford pins his hopes on a tiny brooch, despite it costing a three-figure sum. Katharine, meanwhile, buys an item from the 1920s on the hunch that it will appeal at auction.

About Antiques Road Trip: Hit the road in a gorgeous classic car for a tour through Great Britain with two antiques experts as they search the local stores for treasures, competing with each other to see who can turn an initial £200 budget into a small fortune. Their adventures take them off the beaten path and allow them to indulge their passion for the past, learning about the little-known stories behind some of the greatest events in British history.

Caption: (L-R) Christina Trevanion, Katharine Merry, David Harper, and Linford Christie

Can new engineering techniques help prevent deadly bridge collapses?

NOVA “Why Bridges Collapse” airs Wednesday, May 8 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

In 2018, Italy’s Morandi Bridge collapsed, tragically killing 43 people. For 50 years, the iconic bridge had withstood the elements—and stress from ever-increasing traffic. What went wrong that fateful day? And how can new engineering technology protect bridge infrastructure to prevent such tragic failures in the future? Through eyewitness testimony, expert interviews, and dramatic archival footage, NOVA investigates the Morandi disaster and other deadly bridge collapses. 

Photo provided by NOVA

Go behind-the-scenes at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, the world-famous home of art, design and performance, where only a fraction of the 2 million item collection is on public display.

Secrets of a The Museum, Season 1, Eps. 4 -6 of 6 airs Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Ep. 4: An original Star Wars costume with a missing head; renovating two of the largest galleries in the V&A museum; a rare David Bowie photo and an original road sign enter the collection.

Ep. 5: Cataloguing the costumes; Frankenstein’s monster must be brought back to life; photos of the real Alice in Wonderland; repairing Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Ep. 6: Transporting a unique car; a rare medieval jewel undergoes a deep clean; a mosaic piece has experimental surgery.

Photo Credit: APT