Top Picks: PBS's documentary on '1964,' a Fred Astaire album, and more
America in 1964
It all happened the same year: the Beatles landed on 鈥淭he Ed Sullivan 厂丑辞飞,鈥� Barry Goldwater launched his conservative revolution, Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali, and three civil rights workers were murdered. outlines what the writers of this 鈥淎merican Experience鈥� special call the watershed year for the nation in 1964, a documentary tracing the world Americans faced a mere five weeks after the assassination of J.F.K. in Dallas. It airs Jan. 14 (check local listings).
Love in a snowstorm
Tchaikovsky鈥檚 well-known lyric opera Eugene Onegin 鈥� about the selfish hero who lives to regret his callow rejection of love 鈥� was originally seen live in 64 countries as part of 鈥檚 outstanding 鈥淭he Met: Live in HD鈥� series. Hosted by soprano Deborah Voigt, who also conducts backstage interviews with stars Mariusz Kwiecien and Piotr Beczala, this October performance directed by Deborah Warner will be rebroadcast Jan. 17 at 9 p.m.
Astaire the crooner
Those who argue that sublime dancer Fred Astaire was also a crooner on par with the greats of his day can now pull out the evidence. and teamed up for a two-CD set, Fred Astaire: The Early Years at RKO. Featured are 31 songs from such classics as 鈥淭op Hat,鈥� 鈥淪wing Time,鈥� and 鈥淪hall We Dance.鈥� Composers include Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and George and Ira Gershwin.
Time-traveling authors
In The Dead Authors Podcast, comedian Paul F. Tompkins invites his funny friends to play history鈥檚 greatest authors. These monthly conversations dive into smart, humorous (and sometimes explicit) musings about a writer鈥檚 work. New listeners should check out the December episode with Walt Whitman, played feverishly by James Adomian, and the one from June with Ayn Rand, played by the quick-witted John Hodgman. It is available through iTunes or at .
Fantasy world
Photographer Kirsty Mitchell transports viewers into another world with her fantastical series, Wonderland 2009-2014, which is on display in Amsterdam and will soon be in book form. What began as a tribute to her literary and creative mother, 鈥淲onderland鈥� has become a collection of stunning photos of surreal nymphlike characters captured in wooded glades and floral fields. The elaborate costumes and staging were all created by Mitchell without the help of Photoshop. For a visual treat, go to or watch a film on the making of the image 鈥淕aia, The Birth of an End鈥� at .
Los Angeles thriller
In The Gods of Guilt, by Michael Connelly, lawyer Mickey Haller refers to jurors as 鈥済ods of guilt鈥� because of their power to determine who is punished and who is deemed innocent. The substantial gray area involved in any matter of justice, especially violent crime, once again takes center stage in the latest novel from bestseller Connelly.
