The story of the man who made public parks an essential part of American life.

“Fredrick Law Olmsted: Designing America ” airs Monday, August 24th at 9pm on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Known as the father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted was co-designer of Central Park, head of the first Yosemite commission, leader of the campaign to protect Niagara Falls, designer of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, site planner for the Great White City of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, planner of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” of green space, as well as designer of park systems in many other cities. To Olmsted, a park was both a work of art and a necessity for urban life. His efforts to preserve nature created an “environmental ethic” decades before the environmental movement became a force in American politics.

Photo Credit:   Buffalo Toronto Public Media

Recorded live at New York’s Madison Square Garden in August 2008

“Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC” airs Sunday, August 23th at 7pm on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Features career-spanning hits from Neil’s phenomenal four-night sold-out run at the fabled concert hall. Songs include “Beautiful Noise,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Thank the Lord for the Night Time,” “I Am…I Said,” “Solitary Man,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “America,” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline.”

Photo Credit:  Mercury Studios

A romantic tragedy based on Alexander Pushkin’s novel.

“Great Performances at the Met ‘Eugene Onegin’ ” airs Friday, August 21th at 9pm on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

The opera tells the story of Tatiana, a young, lovestruck heroine, and Onegin, a man who realizes his love for her too late. The narrative is enriched by a narrator who provides an intimate, worldly perspective on the social and intellectual world of the characters

Photo Credit:  KPBS

Reba McEntire headlines a special night of music from New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“Reba McEntire Live from Madison Square Garden” airs Thursday, August 13th at 8pm on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

 Featuring some of Reba’s biggest hits like “Turn On The Radio”, “Can’t Even Get The Blues”, “Going Out Like That” and “Fancy”, this concert was the final night of the Reba: Live In Concert tour which visited over 50 cities throughout 2022 and 2023. This concert, filmed on April 15, 2023 marked Reba’s first-time headlining the iconic New York City venue. Special appearance by Terri Clark who joins Reba for a Linda Ronstadt medley.

Photo Credit:  White Light International Media Ltd

In memory of Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25th, WXXI presents an encore of this special.

“Dolly Parton: Here I Am” airs Saturday, August 29 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Join the legend for a moving, musical journey through the people and places that shaped her iconic career. Featuring career-spanning archival footage of the undisputed queen of country music, the film reveals the spirit, soul and hard work of an artist who has inspired countless others. Interviews include Jane Fonda, Mac Davis and Lily Tomlin.

Please note: This will pre-empt Midsomer Murders, which will move to the following Saturday at 8:55 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

The special is also available on-demand through Passport. Click here to access.

Photo Credit: Rob Hoffman

 ELVIS ’56 opens a time capsule to reveal the legendary performer at the very beginning of his meteoric career.

“Elvis ’56” airs Sunday, August 9th at 1pm on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

In 1956, Elvis Presley was a 21-year-old new singing sensation and both he and his rockabilly sound were unknown outside of the South. Narrated by Levon Helm (The Band). It captures the sights and sounds of that pivotal year using exclusive tour photographs, kinescopes of Presley’s controversial appearances on TV, newsreel clips, and radio interviews. Footage of performances captures the young, explosively talented Presley on the brink of his soon-to-be superstardom. Just one year later, he achieved widespread fame, selling a billion records worldwide and becoming the highest-paid star in Hollywood.

Photo Credit: DCD