Celebrate the holiday season with WKAR TV!
Check out a variety of holiday and religion and spirituality specials on WKAR-HD 23.1 and WKAR WORLD 23.2
5 | Sun | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Craft In America: “Holiday”
Embrace familiar and new winter celebrations, part of our American experience with the handmade. Featuring the work of artisans on Nordic wood carvings, clay Chanukah menorahs, lavish gingerbread houses, sparkling Navidad luminarias, colorful glass ornaments, and more.
6 | Mon | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
In Their Own Words: “Pope Francis”
Learn what experiences led Jorge Bergoglio to the highest office in the Catholic Church. Taking the name Francis, he is the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European and first Jesuit priest to be named pope.
6 | Mon | 9:30 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Stories From The Stage: “Take A Stand”
Sometimes, you have to stick up for yourself–or somebody else–even when that little voice tells you it's safer to keep quiet. In this episode, Reverend Mariama White-Hammond gets down and dirty for a cause. Myles Green stops ignoring his stutter and takes a turn as a public speaker. And Tereza Lee speaks up about her undocumented status-and changes the world. Hosted by Theresa Okokon.
7 | Tue | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
America ReFramed: “Hamtramck, USA”
Once known as a Polish Catholic town, Hamtramck, MI is now home to America's first Muslim-majority city. As election season approaches, candidates set out to win hearts, minds and votes in this rapidly changing city. Going behind the scenes of small-town politics, Hamtramck, USA explores the beauty and challenges that come with multiculturalism.
7 | Tue | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Spiritual Audacity: “The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story”
This documentary chronicles Heschel's life and legacy, offering an engaging profile of one of the 20th century's most prominent Jewish theologians and philosophers. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called Heschel a "great prophet" and their social justice views aligned; noted theologian Reinhold Niebuhr also spoke of his friend Heschel as "an authoritative voice not only in the Jewish community but in the religious life of America."
8 | Wed | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Independent Lens: “Two Gods”
In an East Orange, N.J. casket shop, casket makers work with mentors in the Islamic burial tradition. Countering tumultuous home lives and the dangerous undertow of the streets, they have found a way of teaching their young charges to embrace life.
9 | Wed | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
NOVA: “Secrets Of Noah’s Ark”
A 3,700-year-old inscribed clay tablet reveals a surprising new version of the Biblical flood story, complete with how-to instructions for assembling an ark. Following the directions, expert boat builders assemble and launch a massive reed boat.
9 | Thu | 8:30 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Under The Radar Michigan: “Holiday Extravaganza”
We’ll take you to a Christmas parade in Ida that’s so bright, you can probably see it from space. Then we hit Midland for a school where Santa learns his jolly thing. And if that’s not enough, we’ll also take a classic train ride from Owosso all the way to the North Pole and go back in time for a holiday night at Dearborn’s Greenfield Village. We even see Rochester's Big Bright Light Celebration.
11 | Sat | 10 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Craft In America: “Holiday”
Rebroadcast from 12/5.
12 | Sun | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
A Chef's Life Holiday Special: “Deck the Halls, Y’all”
Delectable fudge. Crispy peanut brittle. Gooey chocolate-covered cherries. Old-fashioned caramels. It's the stuff of holiday memories… with a little bit of a twist. Doing what she knows best, Chef Vivian Howard hosts her own vision of the season's celebrations in this one-hour special - exploring holiday traditions, Kinston, NC style.
12 | Sun | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Earth’s Sacred Wonders: “House of the Divine”
Meet a Muslim paramedic who helps fasting worshipers during Ramadan in Jerusalem. A Cambodian man risks his life to save his ancestral spirits from the jungle. A Buddhist warrior monk in China faces a test that will change his life forever.
12 | Sun | 11 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Standing On Sacred Ground: “Pilgrims & Tourists”
Around the world, indigenous communities stand in the way of government megaprojects. In the Russian Republic of Altai, traditional native people create their own mountain parks to rein in tourism and resist a gas pipeline that would cut through a World Heritage Site. In northern California, Winnemem Wintu girls grind herbs on a sacred medicine rock, as elders protest U.S. government plans to enlarge one of the West's biggest dams and forever submerge this touchstone of a tribe.
13 | Mon | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
20 Years of Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir
Tony® Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the Choir and Orchestra for this 2-hour 20th anniversary retrospective with performances from Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Gladys Knight, Angela Lansbury, Hugh Bonneville, Renée Fleming and more.
13 | Mon | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
This documentary thoughtfully examines the religious beliefs and practices shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims to illustrate how many in the Abrahamic faith communities are dealing with historical conflicts and charts their dedication to facilitating understanding and respect. This work captures a broad range of voices and ideas of ordinary people and respected scholars in the interfaith field. The program contrasts the religious practices of the three faiths, including the rituals of fasting and marriage. Later, the program features a dramatic and moving example of reconciliation as the father of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter opens a dialogue between Muslims and Jews to create better understanding between the two faiths. In the same spirit, a conflict-resolution workshop engages in an intensive dialogue as they attempt to dispel myths, misconceptions and stereotypes about each others' religion.
13 | Mon | 9:30 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Stories from the Stage: “Holiday Spirit”
Top storytellers share stories that conjure the holiday spirit. David Dean Bottrell discovers his passion after stealing the school play's spotlight; Andrea Kamen’s bright menorah cuts through the darkness of anti-semitism; and Joe Charnitski tries to break a nightmare-before-Christmas bad luck streak.
14 | Tue | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
America ReFramed: “Brooklyn Inshallah”
Father Khader El-Yateem, is campaigning to be New York City's first Arab American councilman. As a Lutheran Pastor and Palestinian American, El-Yateem's bid to make history reveals the aspirations and divisions of his multicultural district. With the support of local organizers and activists, including Aber Kawas and Linda Sarsour, can he bring his community together to win the race?
14 | Tue | 9 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
This film is a re-imagination of the classic Nutcracker story, featuring the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and narrated by Alan Cumming.
14 | Tue | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
POV Shorts
Two films exploring creed and conviction. A Muslim hospital chaplain honor his Southern heritage and fights white supremacy in "Redneck Muslim." Three London neighbors share their devotion to Islam, Christianity and football in "The Masses."
15 | Wed | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Nature: “Santa's Wild Home”
Get an intimate look into life in Lapland, fabled land of Santa Claus and actual home of tenacious wildlife such as reindeer, wolverines, brown bears and more.
15 | Wed | 8:30 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Independent Lens: “‘Til Kingdom Come / The Debate”
Pastors encourage an impoverished Kentucky community, "the forgotten people of America," to donate to Israel in anticipation of Jesus's return. See the controversial bond between Evangelicals and Jews in this story of faith, power, and money.
16 | Thu | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
NOVA: “Dead Sea Scroll Detectives”
What can new technology reveal about the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls? Join scientists as they investigate suspicious, newly surfaced fragments to see if they're forfeited, and use imaging techniques to digitally unravel the charred remains of a scroll.
17 | Fri | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Wheaton College Christmas Festival: “Through His Own Redeeming Love”
This traditional Christmas Festival shares the wonder of creation, the sorrow of its brokenness, and the hope of redemption through the birth of Jesus Christ. Alternating between choral and instrumental pieces performed by 250+ talented musicians of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music ensembles, this production presents a mixture of traditional and contemporary Christmas music.
19 | Sun | 7:30 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown becomes the director of the gang's holiday play. Can he overcome his friends’ preference for dancing over acting, find the “perfect” tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas?
19 | Sun | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Lucy Worsley's 12 Days of Tudor Christmas
Join Lucy Worsley on a 12-day extravaganza as she discovers that much of what we enjoy in contemporary Christmas -- from carols to turkey, gift-giving to mistletoe and mulled wine -- has surprising Tudor origins, rooted in devotion and charity.
19 | Sun | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Nature: “Santa's Wild Home”
Rebroadcast from 12/15.
19 | Sun | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Earth’s Sacred Wonders: “Closer to the Divine”
Travel to Japan, where a Shinto devotee undertakes a grueling challenge at a sacred waterfall. A young Muslim helps re-plaster a mosque in Mali. At a New York City cathedral, an Episcopal priest brings people and their pets closer to God.
19 | Sun | 11 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Standing On Sacred Ground: “Profit and Loss”
From Papua New Guinea rainforests to Canada's tar sands, Profit and Loss exposes industrial threats to native peoples' health, livelihood and cultural survival. In Papua New Guinea, a Chinese government owned nickel mine has violently relocated villagers to a taboo sacred mountain, built a new pipeline and refinery on contested clan land, and is dumping mining waste into the sea. In Alberta, First Nations people suffer from rare cancers as their traditional hunting grounds are stripmined to unearth the world's third-largest oil reserve. Indigenous people tell their own stories-and confront us with the ethical consequences of our culture of consumption.
20 | Mon | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Antiques Roadshow: “Naughty or Nice”
The holiday special that makes a list and checks it twice. Enlivening the year-end holiday season, this lineup of favorite appraisals from past seasons will satisfy everyone’s wish list.
20 | Mon | 9 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Christmas at Belmont
Join Belmont University students along with host, unannounced, and the Nashville Children’s Choir for Christmas at Belmont 2021. Taped in Belmont’s McAfee Concert Hall, the show includes classic holiday songs and festive tunes.
21 | Tue | 9:30 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Will to Preach
This half-hour documentary offers viewers an unprecedented look at a pastor moving from scripture to sermon. In the program, Reverend Doctor William H. Willimon accepts an invitation from a young clergyman to guest preach at a small Episcopal church in Salisbury, North Carolina. The congregation is planning a weekend discussing racism and Rev. Willimon will deliver the sermon that culminates the weekend. Compounding the challenge of speaking about a sensitive subject, the Episcopal Church's assigned scripture for that Sunday does not appear to offer anything on racism. How will Willimon take the allotted biblical text and connect it to the topic, at a church of a different denomination, in a town he does not know? Through interviews with family and colleagues, plus intimate camera access to Willimon and his process, A Will To Preach offers a fascinating study of story, homiletics, humor, faith, and ultimately, the art of preaching.
23 | Thu | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Your Health: A Sacred Matter
This documentary explores how religion, spirituality and health care interrelate. The program weaves together compelling individual stories from doctors, patients, nurses, chaplains and caregivers who speak to the benefits of incorporating a patient's spirituality as part of a whole-patient/whole-person model of care. The two-hour documentary examines how the medical profession is not only looking to the origins of medicine in order to move forward, by re-integrating religiously based tenets into the healing process, but also responding to contemporary research findings that support earlier accepted wisdom. The film's interviewees provide a representative sampling of the leading medical schools, teaching hospitals and research centers across the nation recognized for their work in this field.
23 | Thu | 8:30 | WKAR-HD 23.1
Ask This Old House: “Holiday Projects”
Identifying and caring for holly plants; how dishwashers work; troubleshooting dishwashers when they don't drain properly; turning Christmas ornaments.
23 | Thu | 9:30 | WKAR-HD 23.1
Under The Radar Michigan: “Christmas”
Hold onto your sleigh bells and boughs of holly because here comes another UTR Christmas special. We’ll cut down our own tree, see one that actually sings and find out where Rudolph and all the other reindeer romp. Heck, we’ll even take you to a Christmas superstore you can probably see from space.
24 | Fri | 9 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
20 Years of Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir
Rebroadcast from 12/13.
24 | Fri | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
American Conscience: “The Reinhold Niebuhr Story”
An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story tells Niebuhr's story through photographs, recordings, and interviews with his former students, his daughter, and eminent public figures including New York Times writer David Brooks, Civil Rights icon Andrew Young, Susannah Heschel and others. It also includes academic experts who discuss his life and influence. The stories and insights that emerge are critical to preserving and portraying Niebuhr's seminal role in American life. Perhaps the clearest indication of the scope of his appeal is the popularity of his Serenity Prayer, most prominently used by Alcoholics Anonymous.
25 | Sat | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Purdue 87th Anniversary Christmas Show
A one-hour condensed version of Purdue University's 87th Anniversary Christmas Show. It features performances from five of the university's major musical organizations, namely, the University Choir, the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, the Purdue Bells, Heart & Soul, and the Purduettes.
25 | Sat | 8 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Lucy Worsley's 12 Days of Tudor Christmas
Rebroadcast from 12/19.
25 | Sat | 8 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Call The Midwife Holiday Special 2021
Christmas 1966 promises to be a memorable one. The Nonnatus House team are faced with their busiest Christmas Day ever as the Maternity Home is filled with expectant moms and challenging cases. Luckily Mother Mildred is on hand to support the team.
25 | Sat | 11 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
America's Forests with Chuck Leavell: “U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree”
We travel from the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests to Washington, DC to celebrate the 50th annual series of celebrations bringing the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
26 | Sun | 7:30 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Call The Midwife Holiday Special 2019
Mother Mildred and the Nonnatus House team go to the Outer Hebrides in response to a nursing shortage. Navigating the terrain, they strive to keep up with the needs of the locals.
26 | Sun | 9 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
Earth’s Sacred Wonders: “Visions of the Divine”
Follow a young Yazidi woman as she searches for salvation in Iraq. Meet an orthodox Christian who must deliver a holy flame into the hands of his bishop in Jerusalem. In Nepal, a Buddhist painter battles the elements to honor Buddha's birthday.
26 | Sun | 11 p.m. | WKAR WORLD 23.2
“Standing On Sacred Ground: Fire & Ice”
From Ethiopia to Peru, indigenous customs protect biodiversity on sacred lands under pressure from religious conflicts and climate change. In the Gamo Highlands of Ethiopia, scientists confirm the benefits of traditional stewardship even as elders witness the decline of spiritual practices that have long protected trees, meadows and mountains. Tensions with evangelical Christians over a sacred meadow erupt into a riot. In the Peruvian Andes, the Q'eros, on a pilgrimage to a revered glacier, are driven from their ritual site by intolerant Catholics. Q'eros potato farmers face a more ominous foe: global warming is melting glaciers, their water source. Andes farmers, scientists and visiting Ethiopians struggle to adapt indigenous agriculture to the changing climate.
31 | Fri | 9 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
United In Song: Celebrating the American Dream
Ring in the New Year with PBS and an all-star concert performed on location at Philadelphia's historic Independence Hall. Hosted by Chita Rivera with performances by David Archuleta, Paulo Szot, Midori, Lea Salonga, Pepe Romero, Deborah Cox, Judy Collins, Cassadee Pope, Brandee Younger, members of The Washington Ballet, and more -- joined by Luke Frazier and the American Pops Orchestra.
31 | Fri | 10:30 p.m. | WKAR-HD 23.1
Great Performances at the MET: "New Year's Eve Gala"
Celebrate the new year with Met stars Angel Blue, Pretty Yende, Javier Camarena and Matthew Polenzani performing arias, duets and ensembles and more from the Parktheater in Augsburg, Germany.