Highlights Archive

American Masters “Bella! This Woman’s Place is in The House” • WXXI-TV

In 1970, activist Bella Abzug stormed Congress, taking on Nixon and the patriarchy to fight for women’s rights, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ equality.

American Masters “Bella! This Woman’s Place is in The House” airs Tuesday, March 17 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming on the WXXI app.

During a time when women couldn’t get a credit card in their own name and other marginalized groups were fighting for political, social and economic rights, Bella Abzug became an outspoken leader for equality. She opened The National Women’s Conference, the largest gathering of feminists in US history, which was seen as a turning point for a new wave of feminism. Considered one of the first feminists to be elected to Congress, Abzug challenged an almost all-male Congress head first, blazing a path for future gender equality in all aspects of American government. In celebration of Women’s History Month, follow the meteoric rise of this firebrand politician and activist on this American Masters presentation.

Photo: Bella
Credit: Bettye Lane

Julia Child’s Best Bites • WXXI-TV

Celebrate the first lady of cooking with Martha Stewart, Jacques Pepin, Vivian Howard, Marcus Samuelsson, Jose Andres, Eric Ripert, Rick Bayless and more.

Julia Child’s Best Bites airs Monday, March 9 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Chefs and celebrities share personal insights as they screen Julia’s most-beloved episodes.

Barbara Streisand: Timeless — Live in Concert • WXXI-TV

Enjoy a magical evening of songs filmed on New Year’s Eve in 1999 at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel.

Barbara Streisand: Timeless — Live in Concert airs Thursday, March 5 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Staged as an original, Broadway-style musical in which Barbra looks back at her past, the production featured an orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch.

Photo: Barbara Streisand/Credit: Firooz Zahedi

Of the People: The Women of the Civil Rights Movement • WXXI-TV

Discover the stories of four extraordinary women who shaped the course of the civil rights movement.

Of the People: The Women of the Civil Rights Movement airs Monday, March 2 at 9:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Discover the powerful stories of Fannie Lou Hamer, Elaine Brown, Ella Baker, Dolores Huerta and Yuri Kochiyama — extraordinary women whose courage, intellect and activism helped shape the course of the civil and human rights movements in America.
all.

Photo: Akemi Kochiyama/Credit: Kwesi Abbernsetts

Indie Lens Pop-Up: The Tallest Dwarf • The Little Theatre

Join WXXI and Move to IncludeTM for a special FREE 1-hour preview screening of The Tallest Dwarf, produced by filmmakers: Julie Forrest Wyman (director/producer), Jonna McKone (producer), Lindsey Dryden (producer), and Shaleece Haas (producer). A filmmaker seeks belonging in the little people community and explores dwarfism within her family. The preview screening will be followed by a moderated panel discussion. Registration is required. The film is part of the Indie Lens Pop-up Series.

About the Film: The Tallest Dwarf follows filmmaker Julie Forrest Wyman as she searches for her place in the little people community and unpacks rumors of dwarfism in her own family. Through intimate stories, creative collaborations, and archival history, the film delves into identity and medicine, asking whether society should change people or the structures that limit them.

Indie Lens Pop-Up presents this free preview screening:
On Monday, March 30, 2026 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Doors Open at 6 PM)
At The Little Theatre, Theatre 1
240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604

Accessibility: This film is presented with open captions. ASL interpretation will be provided for opening remarks and post-screening panel discussion. For more information on parking and accessibility, please visit https://thelittle.org/accessibility/. Please contact Sarah Murphy Abbamonte, Project Manager for Move to Include(TM), at sabbamonte@wxxi.org with any questions.

Free & registration is required

Reserve Your Spot

Moderator and Panelists will be announced soon.

Learn More About The Tallest Dwarf

Watch the Preview

Great Performances “Samara Joy at Royal Albert Hall” • WXXI-TV

Jazz vocalist Samara Joy makes her debut at London’s Royal Albert Hall, offering unique twists on classic songs ranging from bossa nova to the Great American Songbook.

Great Performances “Samara Joy at Royal Albert Hall” airs Friday, February 27 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Following a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards for Best Jazz vocal album and double wins at the Grammys in 2023 and 2025, Bronx native Samara Joy makes her much-anticipated debut at the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

WXXI Community Town Hall with Chris Hastings • WXXI-TV & WXXI YouTube

WXXI President & CEO Chris Hastings invites you to join him Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. on WXXI’s YouTube channel or on WXXI-TV for a Community Town Hall, where he’ll share his vision for the future and talk with key members of our team about our commitment to serving this region. The Town Hall will conclude with a moderated Q&A, with questions submitted by YOU!

Chris will be joined by:

Julio Sáenz, Chief Content Officer
Cara Rager, MS. Ed., Director of Early Learning
Evan Dawson, host of “Connections”

Here are ways you can participate:

Submit a question below
Enter for the chance to be part of the studio audience below
Then watch Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. on WXXI-TV and WXXI YouTube channel

WXXI Community Town Hall

Ask a question + enter to win a seat at the Town Hall

Name

ASL interpretation will be provided at this event. If selected to attend in-person, please share any additional access needs or accommodation requests.

For any questions regarding the accessibility of this event, please contact Sarah Murphy Abbamonte at sabbamonte@wxxi.org.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask WXXI President & CEO Chris Hastings?

How did you hear about WXXI's Town Hall?

Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me • Now on PBS Passport

If you are a WXXI member and have PBS Passport, you can watch Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me on demand.

Click here to watch on Passport

Not a member? You can join here and then you’ll have access to everything on PBS Passport.

Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me shares the story of legendary singer Teddy Pendergrass, the man who would have been the biggest R&B artist of all time. It’s a story of a childhood in a Philadelphia ghetto; of the scandalous deaths of his father and first manager; of sex, drugs, money and global fame; of the triumph against injustice; and of the tragic accident that changed his life forever, at the age of only 31.

Despite poverty, racism, and violence, Pendergrass managed to become one of the first African American artists to go multi-platinum repeatedly. He was a man who actively championed the rights of Black artists when discrimination was rife, and a man who, in the years after becoming quadriplegic, overcame depression and thoughts of suicide and resumed doing what he loved best — making music. He left a priceless legacy after his death with the music he made and the people he touched.