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The 50+ Best PBS Documentaries, Ranked

PBS has forged a legacy as a revered broadcaster of enlightening and entertaining content. In the realm of documentary series, PBS has played an immaculate role, showcasing a collection of critically acclaimed productions that delve into vital pieces of history with a stunning level of detail and narrative prowess. The amalgamation of captivating storytelling and factual precision exhibited in these films makes them not just educational but also engrossingly enjoyable. 

The exceptional programs and docuseries featured on PBS weave together intricate layers of historical narratives, making the viewing experience akin to turning the pages of a well-researched book. These PBS documentary series are masterclasses in maintaining the delicate balance between education and entertainment, providing audiences with remarkable insights into periods and events that shaped our world. From the profound societal shifts to the personal trajectories of influential figures, these documentaries present a kaleidoscopic view of history that is as instructive as it is captivating. 

Consider The Dust Bowl , an evocative exploration of one of the most challenging periods in American history . It leaves viewers with a profound understanding of this disastrous ecological event and its economic and social ramifications. Or take The Vietnam War , a comprehensive analysis of one of the most contentious wars in history, revealing the complexities and lasting impact of the conflict on U.S. and Vietnam. Other notable mentions include New York , a history of America's infamous metropolis, and Country Music , which unravels the rich tapestry of this quintessentially American music genre. Audiences seeking to immerse themselves in these compelling stories can easily do so with streaming options like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime integrated beneath each documentary description, alongside others such as Paramount+, Disney+, and Max for an enhanced viewing experience. 

PBS documentaries stand as paragons of insightful storytelling, each one a unique lens through which we perceive the past and its indelible influence on our present. Their masterful blend of history and entertainment serves to both inform and delight audiences, strengthening PBS's enduring reputation as a premier purveyor of quality documentary series. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a documentary devotee, these exceptional productions provide a front-seat view into fascinating narratives that continue to shape our understanding of the complex world around us.

The Vietnam War

This gripping and immersive series dives headfirst into one of the most contentious chapters in American history. Featuring powerful interviews, expert analysis, and rarely seen archival footage, it brings to light the complexities of the Vietnam War and its lasting impact on both the US and Vietnam.

Is The Vietnam War Worth Your Time?

The Civil War

March into the heart of one of the most divisive periods in American history with this gripping documentary series. Unveiling the human stories, political upheaval, and brutal conflict that defined the era, it offers an unflinching examination of the lasting legacy of the Civil War.

Is The Civil War Worth Your Time?

• # 6 of 217 on The 145+ Best Mini Series List
• # 1 of 37 on The Greatest Ken Burns Documentaries, Ranked
• # 4 of 106 on The 95+ Best Docudrama Shows To Watch On TV

Country Music

Pull up a chair and tune in to this toe-tapping exploration of America's quintessential musical genre. From its roots in Appalachian folk to contemporary chart-toppers, this captivating series showcases the legends, stories, and evolving styles that have made country music an enduring part of the American fabric.

Is Country Music Worth Your Time?

Benjamin Franklin

Revealing the incredible life and times of one of America's founding fathers, this documentary delves into Benjamin Franklin's brilliant mind, innovative spirit, and countless contributions to the fledgling United States. Through expert analysis and fascinating stories, viewers come to appreciate the true genius of this extraordinary individual.

Is Benjamin Franklin Worth Your Time?

• # 876 of 1,137 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2022
• # 468 of 472 on The 400+ Best Documentary Miniseries, Ranked
• # 40 of 77 on The Best PBS Shows of 2022

The city that never sleeps takes center stage in this fascinating documentary. Exploring the diverse history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods that have shaped New York City, viewers are transported through time to witness firsthand the evolution of this bustling metropolis.

Is New York Worth Your Time?

Experience the harrowing reality of World War II through the eyes of those who lived it in this powerful documentary series. Sharing the personal stories of soldiers and civilians alike, it paints a vivid picture of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience that defined an entire generation.

Is The War Worth Your Time?

The Dust Bowl

Step back in time to the devastating environmental catastrophe that ravaged the Great Plains during the 1930s. This poignant documentary paints a vivid picture of the desperation felt by those affected, and sheds light on the human resilience that ultimately persevered in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Is The Dust Bowl Worth Your Time?

American Experience

Take a thrilling ride through the nation's past with this enthralling series that uncovers the extraordinary stories and characters that have shaped America. Blending expert insights with captivating storytelling, viewers are treated to an eye-opening look at the events that have defined the nation's history.

Is American Experience Worth Your Time?

• # 12 of 31 on The Best Shows On The PBS Video App
• # 17 of 85 on The Best PBS Shows of 2023
• # 27 of 29 on The Most Relaxing TV Shows In 2019

Swing into the irresistible world of jazz music with this enthralling documentary series. Chronicling the genre's rich history, trailblazing artists, and enduring impact on American culture, this series hits all the right notes for music lovers and history buffs alike.

Is Jazz Worth Your Time?

Saddle up for an unforgettable ride through the history of the American frontier. From the Indigenous people who first called it home, to the cowboys and pioneers who tamed the wild west, this series paints a vivid portrait of the triumphs and tribulations that unfolded in America's backyard.

Is The West Worth Your Time?

Batter up for an enthralling journey through America's favorite pastime! This in-depth series delves into the rich history, cultural impact, and unforgettable moments that have made baseball an enduring national treasure.

Is Baseball Worth Your Time?

Delve into the fascinating realm of science with this informative and engaging series. Tackling some of the most pressing questions and groundbreaking discoveries in the scientific community, Nova opens the door to the wonders of the universe and the limitless potential of human ingenuity.

Is Nova Worth Your Time?

• # 211 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
• # 73 of 298 on 285+ Smart TV Shows That Only Intellectuals Appreciate
• # 5 of 74 on The Best PBS Shows Of 2024, Ranked

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Explore the breathtaking beauty and rich history of America's most cherished natural treasures in this stunning documentary series. Delving into the creation and significance of each park, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the vital role these protected spaces play in preserving the nation's diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage.

Is The National Parks: Am... Worth Your Time?

Step into the enigmatic world of one of America's most celebrated authors in this illuminating documentary series. Featuring rare archival footage and insights from literary experts, it unravels the complex life and enduring legacy of Ernest Hemingway.

Is Hemingway Worth Your Time?

• # 747 of 949 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2021
• # 86 of 472 on The 400+ Best Documentary Miniseries, Ranked
• # 14 of 37 on The Greatest Ken Burns Documentaries, Ranked

Eyes on the Prize

Gain a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement with this landmark documentary series that chronicles the pivotal moments, key players, and enduring legacy of the struggle for equality. Featuring firsthand accounts and unforgettable stories, Eyes on the Prize is an indispensable resource for all who seek to learn from our nation's past.

Is Eyes on the Prize Worth Your Time?

Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the natural world with this stunning series that showcases the beauty, diversity, and wonder of Earth's most incredible wildlife and habitats. Captivating cinematography and fascinating insight make this a must-watch for any nature enthusiast.

Is Nature Worth Your Time?

• # 10 of 98 on The Most Chill Nature & Animal Shows To Watch High
• # 2 of 74 on The Best PBS Shows Of 2024, Ranked
• # 8 of 24 on The Best Shows On The PBS Video App

Muhammad Ali

Step into the ring with one of the greatest boxers of all time in this fascinating documentary series that explores the life, career, and enduring legacy of Muhammad Ali. Through captivating interviews and rare archival footage, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the gloves and his impact on sports and society.

Is Muhammad Ali Worth Your Time?

• # 28 of 138 on The Best Black TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 46 of 78 on The Best Black TV Shows In 2021
• # 880 of 949 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2021

American Masters

Celebrate the lives and achievements of some of the nation's most influential artists, writers, and thinkers with this inspiring documentary series. Through intimate interviews and rare archival footage, viewers gain a newfound appreciation for the creative genius and lasting impact of these American icons.

Is American Masters Worth Your Time?

• # 24 of 29 on The Best "American" TV Shows
• # 13 of 85 on The Best PBS Shows of 2023
• # 14 of 77 on The Best PBS Shows of 2022

Stay informed with this award-winning investigative journalism series that tackles the most pressing issues, controversial topics, and untold stories facing the nation and the world. Offering unparalleled access and insight, Frontline keeps viewers up to date on the subjects that matter most.

Is Frontline Worth Your Time?

• # 29 of 85 on The Best PBS Shows of 2023
• # 25 of 77 on The Best PBS Shows of 2022
• # 19 of 421 on The 350+ Best Documentary TV Shows

Austin City Limits

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of live music with this legendary television series that showcases some of the biggest names and brightest talents in the industry. From rock legends to country superstars, Austin City Limits offers an unforgettable front row experience for music lovers of all genres.

Is Austin City Limits Worth Your Time?

Asian Americans

Explore the rich and diverse history of Asian Americans in this enlightening documentary series. From early immigration to the present day, it sheds light on the unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped the lives of millions of people from a wide variety of Asian backgrounds.

Is Asian Americans Worth Your Time?

Finding Your Roots

Join renowned genealogist and historian Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. as he helps celebrities and ordinary people alike uncover their family histories in this captivating series. Revealing surprising connections and deeply emotional stories, Finding Your Roots offers a unique glimpse into the diverse tapestry of America's past.

Is Finding Your Roots Worth Your Time?

• # 17 of 75 on The Best Shows On Tuesday Night In 2024
• # 10 of 74 on The Best PBS Shows Of 2024, Ranked
• # 15 of 24 on The Best Shows On The PBS Video App

Independent Lens

Discover the power of storytelling with this critically acclaimed anthology series that showcases the work of independent filmmakers from around the world. Featuring thought-provoking documentaries, compelling narrative films, and innovative animation, Independent Lens offers viewers a window into diverse perspectives and experiences.

Is Independent Lens Worth Your Time?

Experience the world from unique perspectives with this groundbreaking series that presents diverse and personal documentaries from independent filmmakers. Covering an array of topics that range from poignant to provocative, POV offers viewers a chance to see the world through someone else's eyes.

Is POV Worth Your Time?

• # 25 of 85 on The Best PBS Shows of 2023
• # 29 of 77 on The Best PBS Shows of 2022
• # 27 of 39 on The 35+ Best Nonfiction TV Shows

College Behind Bars

Venture into the world of higher education within America's prison system in this eye-opening documentary series. Focusing on the transformative power of education, it highlights the challenges, triumphs, and life-changing potential of providing college courses to incarcerated individuals.

Is College Behind Bars Worth Your Time?

Changing Planet

Is Changing Planet Worth Your Time?

• # 93 of 98 on The Most Chill Nature & Animal Shows To Watch High
• # 52 of 55 on The 45+ Best PBS Shows Of All Time, Ranked
• # 234 of 502 on The 350+ Best Documentary TV Shows

Southern Storytellers

Is Southern Storytellers... Worth Your Time?

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland

Is Once Upon a Time in No... Worth Your Time?

Fight the Power

Get inspired by the stories of grassroots activists who have stood up against injustice and inequality in this empowering documentary series. Chronicling the successes and challenges of social movements from the past and present, Fight the Power highlights the resilience and determination of those seeking change.

Is Fight the Power Worth Your Time?

Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness

Open up the conversation surrounding mental health in young people with this impactful documentary series. Featuring candid interviews with individuals, families, and experts, it explores the challenges, stigmas, and solutions surrounding youth mental illness in America today.

Is Hiding in Plain Sight:... Worth Your Time?

• # 219 of 1,137 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2022
• # 309 of 472 on The 400+ Best Documentary Miniseries, Ranked
• # 41 of 77 on The Best PBS Shows of 2022
• Entertainment
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• Watchworthy

Lists that rank the most fascinating, most trusted documentaries on every subject, from poverty and addiction to Wall Street and the oil industry.

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179 History Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now (No Membership Required)

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All of these programs are available to watch right now without a membership — but, bear in mind that some won’t stay free-to-watch forever, so catch them now before they’re gone.

Have you decided that it’s high time to take a step back and look at the big picture? Is your teenager sick of your attempts to remember history class in your newly-founded home school? Or are you just desperate to watch a story that doesn’t include a certain word that rhymes with Arizona? Whatever your motivation, we’ve got you covered. Here are 179 history documentaries available to watch right now without a membership. Just click the links and press play. Or better yet, find them in the free PBS Video app for your Roku, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV Stick, phone or tablet. Enjoy!

Firestone and the Warlord

Lost Boys of Sudan

More free program lists

252 Food Shows You Can Watch Right Now (No Membership Required)

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161 Science Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now (No Membership Required)

After Stonehenge

Cleopatra’s Lost Tomb

Decoding the Great Pyramid

Egypt’s Darkest Hour

Lost Ships of Rome

The Nero Files

Nero’s Sunken City

The Silver Pharaoh

Architecture

10 Monuments That Changed America

10 Modern Marvels That Changed America

10 Streets That Changed America

10 Towns that Changed America

Grand Coulee Dam

Hollywood’s Architect

Paul Revere Williams

The Big Picture

Blank on Blank

History Detectives

The Origin of Everything

Beach Culture

Before the Dodgers

Bootlegger Tunnels: A Journey Through LA’s Prohibition Lore

Borderlands

Building the Metropolis

Coded Geographies

Descanso Gardens

Desert Fantasy

Discovering the Universe

Dream Factory

Fantasyland

Griffith Park: The Untold Story

Pacific Rim

Reshaping L.A.

Shindana Toy Company: Changing the American Doll Industry

Three Views of Manzanar: Adams, Lange, Miyatake

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

American Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

The Business of Disaster

The Facebook Dilemma

The Gilded Age

Money, Power and Wall Street

The Secret History of the Credit Card

Civil Rights

First Freedom: The Fight for Religious Liberty

Memories of the March

Underground Railroad: The William Still Story

The Big Burn

Ebola in Congo

Fire in Paradise

Early America

Ben Franklin's Bones

Secrets of Spanish Florida

Battle for Hong Kong

China's Terracotta Warriors

Myanmar’s Killing Fields

On the President’s Orders

The Tank Man

Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft

James Beard: America’s First Foodie

LA Foodways

The Poison Squad

Great Britain

Arthur’s Lost Kingdom

Resurrecting Richard III

The Age of AIDS

Chasing Heroin

Flint’s Deadly Water

Right to Fail

The Holocaust

Escape from Auschwitz

The Last Survivors

The Last Laugh

Memory of the Camps

Immigration

Immigration Battle

Targeting El Paso

Marcos Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

North Korea’s Deadly Dictator

Separated: Children at the Border

Zero Tolerance

American Patriot

The Gang Crackdown

Last Days of Solitary

Life on Parole

A More or Less Perfect Union

The Mueller Investigation

Out of Gitmo/Forever Prison

Second Chance Kids

Supreme Revenge

The Trial of Ratko Mladić

Latin America

Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty

Into the Amazon

Teotihuacán’s Lost Kings

Middle East

Bitter Rivals: Iran and Saudi Arabia

Children of Syria

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Losing Iraq

Mosul/Inside Yemen

Netanyahu at War

Saudi Arabia Uncovered

Our Man in Tehran

RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World

Anti-Abortion Crusaders

The Abortion Divide

America’s Great Divide: From Obama to Trump

Bannon’s War

Emma Goldman

Gunned Down

Hillary’s Class

Ken Burns’ The Roosevelts

Secrets, Politics and Torture

Trump’s Road to the White House

Trump’s Takeover

Trump’s Trade War

United States of Secrets

Waco: The Inside Story

War on the EPA

Left Behind America

Poverty, Politics and Profit

First Face of America

Great Human Odyssey

Making North America Human

Making North America: Life

Making North America: Origins

The Chinese Exclusion Act

The Eugenics Crusade

Roads to Memphis

Separate and Unequal

Tell Them We Are Rising

Two American Families

Bones of the Buddha

From Jesus to Christ

God in America

The Mormons

Secrets of the Vatican

Renaissance

Building the Great Cathedrals

Decoding da Vinci

The Mona Lisa Mystery

Putin’s Revenge

Putin’s Way

Apollo’s Daring Mission

Chasing the Moon

Forgotten Genius

The Gene: An Intimate History

Leonardo, the Man Who Saved Science

The Secret of Tuxedo Park

Ken Burns’ Baseball

Ken Burns’ Jackie Robinson

League of Denial: The NFL’s Corruption Crisis

American Terrorist

Confronting ISIS

The Man Who Knew

My Brother’s Bomber

The Rise of ISIS

The Secret History of ISIS

Terror in Europe

Who Was Lee Harvey Oswald

War and Revolution

Carthage’s Lost Warriors

The Hunt for Nazi Scientists

Hallowed Grounds

The Man Who Saved the World

The Mine Wars

Obama at War

Slave Ship Mutiny

The War of 1812

World War Speed

Annie Oakley

The Klondike Gold Rush

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PBS Documentaries

3. The Civil War

4. The Vietnam War

5. The Great War: 1914-1918

6. Baseball

7. American Experience

8. New York: A Documentary Film

9. American Masters

10. Frontline

11. Independent Lens

13. American Cinema

14. Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle

16. China from the Inside

17. Napoleon

18. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

19. Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth

20. Rebels and Redcoats

21. Secret Files of the Inquisition

22. Shadow World

23. The Desert of Forbidden Art

24. Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance

25. The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

26. Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream

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The 10 Best Documentaries on PBS

Whether your interest lies in nature, history, politics, the arts, or all of the above, PBS has a documentary for nearly every subject out there.

Newsflash: we’re living in a golden age of documentary filmmaking. All too often maligned as an educational bummer, the genre that once struggled to find a mainstream audience is now pulling down tens of millions of dollars in lucrative streaming deals. Remember when the idea of cozying up with a documentary on a Friday night date was utterly laughable? Now, Netflix and chilling with the documentary sensation of the week is an absolute must for anyone who hopes to remain culturally literate.

If you’re hooked on documentaries and want to explore further, don’t stop at what the streaming heavy-hitters are offering. Here’s your guide to ten of the best offerings available from tried and true PBS.

American Insurrection

Ever since its debut in 1983, PBS’ Frontline has delivered hard-hitting longform storytelling on the often-controversial topics gripping the nation. One of the best segments of Frontline ’s most recent season is American Insurrection , a feature-length documentary tracing Donald Trump’s efforts to galvanize far-right militias, culminating in January 6’s insurrection at the Capitol. Produced in partnership with ProPublica and constructed from years of grassroots reporting on the surge of far-right political violence, American Insurrection represents the very best of what PBS can bring to the documentary landscape.

The Vietnam War

Of Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s many venerable PBS documentaries, their most ambitious is The Vietnam War , an eighteen-hour series, ten years in the making, tracing the epic story of the divisive and consequential Vietnam War. Featuring testimony from eighty witnesses on all sides of the conflict, The Vietnam Wa r revisits a dark chapter in American history with an eye turned unfailingly toward the human story.

One Woman, One Vote

With a powerful introduction by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this documentary takes a sweeping look at the history of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s call to arms at the Seneca Falls Convention to the ratification of the nineteenth amendment. The film goes deeper than a rote history lesson, offering a fascinating look at the divisions within the suffrage movement, including the degree to which Black women were largely left behind by white feminism.

Through the Night

On its surface, Through the Night is the heartfelt story of two working mothers and their childcare provider, whose lives intersect at a 24-hour daycare center in New Rochelle, New York. Beneath the human story is the systemic story: a rigorous indictment of the eroded American social safety net, which has left working parents in extraordinarily precarious positions.

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary, For Sama is the heartbreaking story of Waad Al-Kateab, a journalist and rebel in the Syrian uprising. Opening in 2009, when Al-Kateab was a freshman at the University of Aleppo, the documentary features Al-Kateab’s self-documentation of the next five years, wherein she married a doctor and gave birth to their daughter, Sama. As Aleppo erupted in bloody conflict, Al-Kateab and her husband faced a difficult decision: flee to safety, or stay behind in the war-torn city to care for the innocent, potentially endangering Sama’s life. At once political and personal, For Sama is a searing meditation on the human casualties of war.

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Veteran documentarian Stanley Nelson delivers a vital feature-length documentary about the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party, featuring over thirty exclusive interviews with surviving Panthers, as well as the FBI agents who sought to bring them down. Thoroughly reported and brimming with rarely-seen archival footage, the documentary offers powerful insight into the continued terror our law enforcement visits on Black Americans.

Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir

As part of American Masters , a long-running PBS documentary series profiling outstanding artists, filmmaker James Redford turned his lens on Amy Tan, the pioneering author of The Joy Luck Club . Unintended Memoir charts Tan’s turbulent childhood, shaped profoundly by her depressed and often suicidal mother, and how it shaped her development as a writer uniquely gifted in exploring intergenerational differences. After you stream the documentary, read Esquire’s exclusive interview with Tan.

Growing Up Poor in America

In this follow-up to 2012’s Poor Kids , director Jezza Neumann delves once again into child poverty, but this time, she assesses its convergence with COVID-19. Neumann embeds with three children in Ohio, who share their families’ struggles to stay afloat during the pandemic, while also worrying about their futures in a country riven by racism and inequality. Growing Up Poor in America shines an unflinching spotlight in one of the places that needs it most, reminding us that child poverty remains an epidemic every bit as odious as COVID-19.

Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos has built a gargantuan business empire unparalleled in the history of American capitalism—but just how did he do it? With Amazon warehouse workers joining the labor movement and politicians considering anti-trust action against the corporation, this Frontline documentary traces how Amazon got so big—and how far it has to fall.

Climate Change: The Facts

Hosted by acclaimed naturalist Sir David Attenborough, this program gathers leading climate scientists and activists, including Greta Thunberg, to explain the consequences of rising temperatures on our global ecosystems, in the current moment and the impending future. Warning of potential tipping points, Climate Change: The Facts outlines how we can still turn things around, and how viewers can become climate activists in their own communities.

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October 28, 2015

500 Best PBS Documentaries for Free Online

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) offers many free educational documentaries, but you might not have the time to tune in and watch them. What you may not know is that they have 100s of their documentaries available for free online. Some of the popular series they offer which feature many free documentaries include:

Frontline – Documentaries that covers current political and social issues

American Experience – Documentaries that cover interesting events and people in American history

NOVA – Documentaries covering a wide variety of topics in popular science

Nature – Documentaries covering wildlife

Most of these documentaries can be streamed through the PBS.org website, while some of them PBS is offering on YouTube now as well. On LearnOutLoud.com we’ve collected some of the best free PBS documentaries that you can stream online and we’ve embedded many of them on our site along with links to them on PBS.org or YouTube. Before we start featuring these we will have you note:

Note: As far as we know users outside of the United States cannot play PBS documentaries on the PBS.org website. Sorry!

Start browsing these great PBS documentaries below:

Browse Over 150 Free PBS Documentaries (a variety of PBS documentaries from various PBS affiliates along with some PBS podcasts mixed in there)

Browse Over 150 Free Frontline Documentaries

Browse Over 100 Free NOVA Documentaries

Browse 50 Free Nature Documentaries

Browse 30 Free American Experience Documentaries

All in all about 500 free PBS documentaries to choose from! We’ll help you out with choosing some by highlighting ones that look the most interesting. Here’s a list of PBS documentaries we thought you might enjoy.

You might want to watch a few of the documentaries from the American Masters series which features biographies of great artists, actors and writers from the United States:

Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth

Billie Jean King

The Day Carl Sandburg Died

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train A Comin’

Johnny Carson: King of Late Night

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

And here is a variety of other PBS documentaries that might peak your interest:

10 Buildings that Changed America

The Ascent of Money – Niall Ferguson sets out to explain the financial history of the world in this ambitious 4-hour documentary.

Faces of America – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. hosts these biographical episodes profiling these 12 renowned Americans – professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s

Is School Enough?: Learning Beyond the Classroom

Martin Luther: Driven to Defiance and Martin Luther: Reluctant Revolutionary

Your Life, Your Money – Program to help you manage your money.

And here are some key programs from PBS Frontline. If you’ve never seen a Frontline documentary you simply must watch one. Frontline has won a total of 57 Emmys, and 15 Peabodys! They’re the best:

Can You Afford to Retire?

The Card Game – Investigating the massive consumer loan industry.

A Class Divided – One of the most requested programs in FRONTLINE’s history.

College Inc. – Investigating the $400 billion higher education industry.

Digital Nation – Exploring life in our digital age.

Dropout Nation – Looking at the hundreds of thousands of teenagers in the United States who quit high school.

From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians

Generation Like – Investigating the intersection of kids, corporations and the Internet.

God in America – Special 6-hour presentation brought to you by AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE.

The Interrupters – Fantastic 2-hour documentary from acclaimed director Steve James (Hoop Dreams).

Is Wal-Mart Good for America?

League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis

The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela

The Meth Epidemic

Money, Power and Wall Street – A 4-hour look at what the heck happened with the financial meltdown.

The Mormons – The history and contemporary practice of Mormonism.

The New Asylums – Why are nearly half a million mentally ill people serving time in America’s prisons and jails?

The Persuaders – A look at the advertising and public relations industries.

The Pot Republic – Investigates marijuana in California and the USA.

Secret State of North Korea

United States of Secrets – A look at the U.S. government’s massive and controversial secret surveillance program.

And we won’t stop there. Let’s take a look at a few of the programs from American Experience. One of their major series covers the Presidents of the United States so we’ll point out a few of those:

Clinton: The American Experience

The Presidents: Reagan

JFK: American Experience

The Presidents: Nixon

The Presidents: FDR

And a few more from American Experience:

The Abolitionists – Docudrama covering William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown and Angelina Grimke.

Cold War Roadshow – Nikita Khrushchev’s tour of the U.S. in the fall of 1959.

Henry Ford – A biography of the man who led the American auto industry.

Mount Rushmore – Everything you wanted to know about America’s most famous granite cliff.

Silicon Valley – The story of the invention of the microchip.

War of the Worlds – Documentary on Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast.

And here are some interesting science-related documentaries from NOVA:

Ape Genius – What separates humans from our closest living relatives.

Car of the Future

Finding Life Beyond Earth

Life’s Greatest Miracle – Trace human development from embryo to newborn through stunning microimagery.

Marathon Challenge

The Pluto Files – Neil deGrasse Tyson looks at Pluto.

Rise of the Drones

Solar Energy: Saved by the Sun

Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine

And a few from the PBS series Nature:

American Eagle – Learn about our national bird!

The Beauty of Ugly

The Gorilla King

My Life as a Turkey

An Original DUCKumentary

Why We Love Cats and Dogs

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New Teilhard de Chardin film produces thoughtful, inspiring biography

A bust at China's Nihewan Museum celebrating Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin overlooks the vast valley still under excavation. Teilhard — among other things a paleontologist and geologist — is the subject of a new documentary that will be available on the PBS app May 20. (Courtesy of  Frank and Mary Frost)

by Rose Pacatte

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In "Teilhard: Visionary Scientist," a new documentary to be broadcast on PBS, four key ideas emerge from the life and mind of Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955): evolution, integration, fire and passion. 

The fascinating visionary, paleontologist, theologian, geologist, philosopher, evolutionary theorist and mystic provides ample subject matter for a two-hour documentary. In an exclusive interview for NCR, producer Mary Frost told me the film had taken 13 years to accomplish — shot in four countries on three continents (France, China, England and the U.S.) in 25 locations. 

French Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin is seen in this 1947 photo. (CNS/Public domain/Archives des Jesuits de France) 

Mary and her co-producer husband Frank Frost made seven research trips to prepare for the film, followed by seven shooting trips. They interviewed 30 experts and banked 200 hours of video material that took them two years to edit. Jesuit Fr.  Eddie Siebert of Loyola Productions did the cinematography and Taiwan-based Jesuit Fr. Jerry Martinson (who consulted on Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film " Silence ") was their Mandarin interpreter on shoots in China. Sadly, Martinson passed away in 2017, before "Teilhard" was completed.

Born and educated in France,  Teilhard de Chardin was introduced to the study of stones and rocks by his father, Emmnuel, and to the life of faith by his mother, Berthe-Adele. While still a young boy, Teilhard had an existential crisis about the impermanence of matter, but as he matured spiritually, he began to understand that spirit and matter, the divine, the world, the universe, humanity and all creation are connected. He entered the Jesuits just before his 18th birthday and began to express these ideas in his writing from the front during World War I, during which he served as a medic.

Documentary debuts

"Teilhard: Visionary Scientist" debuts on  PBS Maryland on May 19 at 4 p.m. Beginning on May 20, you can watch the documentary streaming on the  free PBS app .

Teilhard believed in evolution, and at his death he continued to believe that the world was still "becoming" under God’s creative action. While his influence on the Second Vatican Council is well documented, anyone who has read and studied " Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home " will recognize Pope Francis' own high regard for Teilhard's vision of God, respect for creation and the transforming power of love.

American Catholic novelist Flannery O'Connor described  Teilhard's words as the work of an artist, saying, "Teilhard's view of evolution as the spiritualizing of matter is close to the poet's." 

The producers of "Teilhard: Visionary Scientist," interviewed Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's great-nephew, a parish priest in Paris. Fr. Olivier Teilhard de Chardin's church houses World War I memorials that list two of Teilhard's brothers as killed in action. (Courtesy of  Frank and Mary Frost) 

As a film, "Teilhard: Visionary Scientist" accomplishes two goals. First, it is an exceptional narrative made from documentary footage, recent interviews with key experts and Teilhard’s relatives in the United States, France and China; old photographs and new photos taken during the filming; and the select use of the Jesuit's writings. From these, a substantive, thought-provoking and inspiring biography emerges.

Second, the film introduces Teilhard's ideas — such as the " noosphere ," a term he coined that refers to the interconnected realm of human thought and consciousness evolving toward collective spiritual unity. This profound film reveals much about a man whose life, work and ideas are only becoming more relevant to science, philosophy and theology. "Teilhard" never loses you.

Biographer  Ursula King 's contributions — as well as those of others — help develop the portrait of a man who was at once prophet, priest, Jesuit, scientist and mystic. Their research is keenly evident in the choice of Teilhard's words, voiced by Frank Frost, and the smooth tenor of narration by media producer (and Franciscan friar) Greg Friedman. 

Teilhard was a controversial theologian. When he tried to reconcile science and faith by questioning whether humanity descended from Adam and proposed another way original sin may have entered the world, he was obliged to affirm six doctrinal teachings or risk being expelled by the Society of Jesus. Though he did affirm the teachings, he lost his position as a teacher and was exiled to China, where he worked as a paleontologist (and is still revered today).

In November 1957, after his death, the church decreed that his books could not be held in libraries of seminaries and religious institutes, nor carried in Catholic bookstores. It is interesting, however, that none of his books were ever placed on the  Index of Forbidden Books , which until 1962 was still adding titles, in whole or in part, that were deemed dangerous or against faith and morals. 

But the filmmakers find little, if anything, to critique in Teilhard's life or writings, though they are open about the doctrinal issues with his Jesuit superiors and the somewhat controversial influence that women had in his life as a celibate religious.

What would Pierre Teilhard de Chardin think about the experimentation with evolution happening today? For example, the genetic editing and DNA technology being used to "de-extinct" the  woolly mammoth ? I asked Mary Frost this question and she admitted we cannot know for sure, though she pointed out that he "said in his later years that he was not interested so much in the past but in the future, particularly the evolution of consciousness."

Most important, Frost emphasized, is that those interested in the work of Teilhard de Chardin "not shut down medical or scientific research because it seems beyond the pale, but do be concerned that the most important choices we make are furthering the evolution of union and love."

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Jesuit scientist who bridged faith and science recounted in new PBS documentary

(RNS) — In the history of the Catholic Church, too many innovative thinkers were persecuted before they were accepted and then embraced by the church.

The list includes St. Thomas Aquinas (whose books were burned by the bishop of Paris), St. Ignatius Loyola (who was investigated by the Spanish Inquisition) and St. Mary MacKillop (an Australian nun who was excommunicated by her bishop for uncovering and reporting clergy child sex abuse).

It’s not surprising, then, that a French Jesuit scientist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who tried to bridge the gap between faith and science, got himself in trouble with church officials and his Jesuit superiors in the 20th century. Only after his death was he recognized as the inspired genius that he was.

His story is magnificently told in a new PBS documentary, “ Teilhard: Visionary Scientist ,” which was produced by Frank Frost Productions in a 13-year labor of love. It took Frank and Mary Frost to four countries on three continents, a total of 25 locations, and included more than 35 interviews.

Teilhard was born in 1881, entered the Jesuits in 1899 and was ordained a priest in 1911. His father nurtured in him a scientific curiosity, and he studied geology, botany and zoology at the University of Paris, ultimately becoming an eminent paleontologist who was involved in the discovery of the Peking Man.

If he had stuck to science, he would have led the quiet life of a scholar, but it was his attempt to bring together science and faith that got him in trouble. He went beyond the traditional argument that faith and science were not in conflict and used science as an input to theology and spirituality. Thus, his writings on Christ were enhanced by an evolutionary perspective.

He was not allowed to publish during his lifetime, although some manuscripts did circulate among friends and colleagues. Luckily, his literary executors were laypeople, not Jesuits, or his papers would have been buried in the archives.

After his death in New York City, “The Phenomenon of Man” (1955) and “The Divine Milieu” (1957) were published, leading to a condemnation of his writing by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1962.

His influence grew at and after the Second Vatican Council. Even Benedict XVI picked up on his thinking in an Easter homily where the pope spoke of the risen Christ as the next step in human evolution.  

Teilhard believed that “(s)omeday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire.”

“Teilhard: Visionary Scientist” tells this story well, with historical photos and onsite video of places where Teilhard lived and worked, including China. His important influence on theology is revealed through interviews with theologians and others who have been touched by his writings.

The film is a great opportunity to learn about a man who is still influencing the development of theology today.

“Teilhard: Visionary Scientist” will premiere on Maryland Public Television on May 19 and be available for national and international streaming for two years, beginning on May 20, on the free PBS app. 

Another PBS documentary being released this month is “ Hollywood Priest: The Story of Fr. ‘Bud’ Kieser ” by Paulist Productions, which is also working on “ Statue of Limitations: Father Serra and the California Natives.”

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