Stories and history of La Crosse...

Next Monday night, WPT will present the second installment in an ongoing series of Wisconsin Hometown Stories. Tune in at 8 for the premiere of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: La Crosse. The film tells the stories and history of the people and the region.

A special public preview of the film will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 at the Rivoli Theatre in La Crosse.

Read an article about the program and a Q&A with producer David Hestad at the La Crosse Tribune.

To give viewers a bit of insight into the program, Be more Tuned In brings the teaser trailer to the Web.

WPT Be more Tuned In Videocast -- Mark Pender...

For our inaugural Be more Tuned In Videocast, we went behind the scenes at the Kohl Center to speak with Mark Pender, trumpeter and vocalist from Late Night With Conan O'Brien's Max Weinberg Seven. Pender recently made his second appearance as a featured artist at the University of Wisconsin Spring Varsity Band Show.

In the insightful interview, Pender spoke about his career working with performers like Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Little Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi and others; working on Late Night; and performing with Michael Leckrone and the UW Band.

Enjoy the two parts of the interview below and make sure to watch his performance from There's a Place for Us: The 34th Annual UW Varsity Spring Band Show at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3 on Wisconsin Public Television.

Be more Tuned In Videocast -- Mark Pender: Part One


Be more Tuned In Videocast -- Mark Pender: Part Two

Calling All Quilters: Your Quilt Could Be a Winner...

A message from public television's Nancy Zieman

This fall, Sept. 11 through 13, WPT and Nancy Zieman Productions will present the fourth-annual Quilt Expo in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

I encourage all quilters to take part in one of the most exciting elements of this premier quilting forum -- the 10-category juried and judged quilt contest.

Last year's contest was the highlight of the event with more than 260 spectacular quilts competing, and on exhibit for attendees to peruse and admire. Many non-quilters also visited to marvel and take in the varied beauty of these splendid works of personal expression. It was truly magnificent and inspiring.

All of the 2007 award-winning contest quilts may be viewed on the Web at wiquiltexpo.com.

The contest awards first-, second- and third-place cash prizes in each of the 10 categories. The first-place winner in each category receives $500, second-place $300 and third-place $200, plus one Best of Show winner is awarded $1,500. Each winner also receives a ribbon. In addition, quilt contest exhibit viewers may vote for their favorite quilt in the exhibit to win a special $500 Viewers' Choice award.

Quilt Expo also offers the chance for kids up to 15 years of age to win prizes for their quilts in the youth contest. Nancy's Notions sponsors the Kids' Quilt Challenge and awards $200, $100 and $50 gift certificates for the three top quilts.

Visit the Web site to download entry forms for both contests.

Other Quilt Expo highlights include educational lectures by quilting experts, Sit & Sew, and hands-on workshops where attendees can learn and practice a new skill, stage presentations with innovative tips and techniques, and a vendor mall, brimming all that's new in the quilting industry.

Please join me to learn, laugh and draw inspiration.

-Nancy Zieman

A WPT guilty pleasure...

A new Wisconsin State Journal article explores the guilty pleasures of prominent Madison and Wisconsin personalities. Patty Loew, host of WPT's In Wisconsin, was one of those queried...

"For me, it's marshmallow Peeps, but only if they're stale. Every Easter, my parents would hide baskets for my brother and me. He and I would open up the box of Peeps and put them in a window sill to 'season.' There was an art to it. You couldn't let them get too stale, as in rock hard. There's a point when a properly seasoned Peep loses its softness and gets really chewy ... almost 'pull-your-teeth-out' taffylike.

"To me, a proper Peep requires the same attention to detail as an aged cheese, a fine wine or a single malt scotch. Stale Peeps have become a Loew family tradition. Even today when my brother and I get together for Easter, we'll bring each other Peeps. The full measure of our love is evidenced by the energy we invest in the weeks leading up to Easter and the 'ta-DA' moment when we present the gift and announce ... 'and they're stale!' "

In Wisconsin can be seen on WPT at 7 p.m. every Thursday.

This Old Television -- The digital TV transition is coming...

The digital TV transition is coming next February. In the video below, Norm Abrams and Kevin O'Connor from This Old House explain what you need to do to make sure you can still receive WPT in your homes... For more information, visit this site.

WPT Be more Tuned In Podcast -- David Newell a.k.a. Mr. McFeely...

We spoke with David Newell, better known as Mr. McFeely, the friendly "Speedy Delivery" man on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The mp3 podcast conversation can be downloaded here and can be enjoyed on your personal computer or loaded onto your personal mp3 player for on-the-go listening. You can also subscribe to our monthly podcasts via iTunes by clicking here.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood has been a hallmark of educational public television for 40 years. The program still airs on WPT at 12:30 p.m. weekdays. Throughout the show's ongoing run, Newell has been along for the ride. In addition to playing Mr. McFeely -- a role he continues to occupy during numerous public appearances each year -- he is also the public relations director for the show's production company, Family Communications Inc. The company has kept working toward the program's child development mission since Rogers' death in 2003.

In our interview, Newell talks about his experiences on the long-running show, the legacy of Fred Rogers and some special outreach work that is planned in celebration of what would have been Rogers' 80th birthday on March 20. On that day, Newell is inviting everyone to wear a sweater in memory of Rogers and the good work that he accomplished. To find out more about "Good Neighbor Days," visit the Family Communications Web site.

An exclusive sneak peek...

During the past few years, WPT has been an innovative leader in public television as it has told the stories of Wisconsin soldiers through the groundbreaking and award-winning Wisconsin World War II Stories and Wisconsin Korean War Stories projects.

The next installment in this series will be a sweeping look at the experiences and impact of the Vietnam War on Wisconsin soldiers with Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories. The project is expected to air on WPT in 2010, but work has already begun around the state to find veterans who are willing to tell their stories.

As a special Web exclusive, Be more Tuned In is proud to present a sneak preview of two of the show's interviews. To learn more about Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories, visit WisconsinStories.org.



Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories is being produced as a partnership of the Wisconsin Historical Society and WPT, in association with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

An award-winning blog...

Good news, Be more Tuned In fans!

Our little insider's blog from Wisconsin Public Television, was recently awarded the prize for Best Web site/Large Market at the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

Since March of 2006, we've provided an innovative look at WPT's programs with regular postings and articles -- taking you beyond the shows you see on television, venturing behind-the-scenes at WPT events and introducing you to PBS personalities through interviews and downloadable podcasts.

The NETA award was one of 24 prizes given out to public broadcasters from around the country during a celebratory presentation at the association's annual conference. A full list of award winners is available here.

We hope to keep up this high level of blogging with more new and exciting features coming soon!

A 40-year landmark...

40 years ago today -- on Feb. 18, 1968 -- the first national broadcast of Mister Rogers Neighborhood was aired on educational public television stations throughout the United States.

And, while Fred Rogers passed away in 2003, his show is still on the air on those original (and undoubtedly many other) stations. On WPT, you can find the program at 12:30 p.m. weekdays.

His influence in child development remains as a beacon of compassion, mentoring and understanding. In fact, a recent annual study from Beloit College that gauges the mindset of modern college freshmen pointed out that for today's 18-year-olds, Walter Cronkite was never the most trusted man in America. For them, Fred Rogers was, and still is.

To celebrate the anniversary, NPR's Morning Edition offered a special tribute to Rogers that can be found here.

And, digging way back into the archives, this link leads to an interview with Fred Rogers that was conducted by Be more Tuned In's blogger back in 2002.

A successful Expo...

The thousands of people who attended this past weekend's 15th-annual Garden Expo in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison found a warm and inviting respite from the bitter cold temperatures outside. The central-garden display, thanks to the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association (WLCA), created a unique oasis and a showcase for the latest trends in landscaping.

Expo-goers received helpful hints, learned about new lawn, garden and landscaping technology and purchased new supplies from exhibitors, vendors, lecturers and educators. Volunteers from around the state contributed to the event's success. Many thanks to everyone involved!

To get a feel for a bit of the event's scope, Be more Tuned In captured a brisk tour through the event floor. If you were there, see if you can find yourself. If you weren't there, see a small bit of what you missed!



Mark your calendars now for next year's Garden Expo on Feb. 13, 14 and 15, 2009.

Garden Expo is presented by Wisconsin Public Television and the UW-Extension/Cooperative Extension Horticulture Team.

Garden Expo is generously supported by Blain's Farm & Fleet, Green Power Tomorrow from MGE, Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association and Zimbrick Volkswagen.

Snowfall marks Springtime...

While the snow on the ground might not indicate it, now is the perfect time to start thinking about Spring! This weekend is Garden Expo at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. To tell you more about the wonderful green oasis created in the convention hall, Be more Tuned In has a special message from Shelley Ryan, the host and producer of WPT's The Wisconsin Gardener.

Some might find it strange that as a gardener I look forward to February, but it's become one of my favorite times of the year. The second weekend of the month is when I get together with old gardening friends and meet some new ones at the Garden Expo.

Part of the fun of gardening is the planning and at Garden Expo, not only do I get to talk about gardening for a full weekend, I get to see all the latest gardening and landscaping trends in one place. It's become part on my annual planning process.

This year's Garden Expo -- in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison -- is Feb. 8, 9 and 10. The event will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Stop to chat with me. I'll be spending some time each day at the Wisconsin Public Television booth.

At 11 on Saturday morning, I'll be with Wisconsin Public Radio's "Garden Talk" Host Larry Meiller for the Ask the Hosts seminar. Come prepared to ask us your gardening questions. It's always a fun-filled informative hour.

My friends from UW-Extension and Wisconsin Master Gardeners will have booths where they'll answer questions, and offer tips and advice. It's also a great place to shop and get ideas with more than 400 vendor booths that feature the latest gardening tools, gadgets, lawn equipment and yard art. I always find some new things I just have to have.

The weekend offers a respite for winter-weary Midwesterners and an abundance of things to do and see. Visit wpt.org/gardenexpo on the Web to register for workshops, purchase tickets and to see the seminar and demonstration schedules.

Shelley

Garden Expo is presented by Wisconsin Public Television and the UW-Extension/Cooperative Extension Horticulture Team.

Garden Expo is generously supported by Blain's Farm & Fleet, Green Power Tomorrow from MGE, Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association and Zimbrick Volkswagen.

Wisconsin, from a digital perspective...

As the digital television transition approaches, there has been a lot of buzz about the end of analog broadcasting and the need for consumers to make sure they can receive digital transmission in their homes.

A new benefit to that digital transmission is the ability for stations to offer more than one channel on their digital feed. WPT has now started to use one of the multi-cast channels to launch The Wisconsin Channel.

The channel features a collection of the finest Wisconsin-created and -produced content, including the state's history, current events and other interesting music, arts and academic programs.

The channel is available over-the-air on WPT-DT 2. But, if you don't yet have digital reception at your home, you can find The Wisconsin Channel online.

To learn more about the upcoming digital transition, visit this site.

Be more civic-minded...

As the 2008 election year ramps up and important national, statewide and local races approach, WPT and its partner Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) have re-vamped the WisconsinVote.org Web site.

As before, the site is the best source for election news and information. Now, it also includes exciting new features that make it easy for voters to find the information they want.

Archived audio programs from WPR's talk shows offer insight and analysis into the upcoming races. An ever-growing collection of video clips provide a balanced look at the issues impacting and shaping campaigns. And, a large selection of candidate profiles paint a biographical sketch of each candidate, allowing voters to decide which candidate most deserves their vote.

As the primaries and regular elections approach, WisconsinVote.org will continue to bring the most up-to-date political news and information anywhere to the comfort of your own home computer.

Brrrr, that's cold...

Tuesday night's NOVA broadcast can help to put the cold Wisconsin winters into an interesting perspective. Airing at 7 is the first part of "Absolute Zero." The show, which will conclude next week Tuesday, explores a scientific race to reach the coldest temperatures physically possible.

People have been trying create artificial coldness since a court magician for England's King James I invented a rudimentary form of air conditioning. Now scientists aim for an even chillier goal of absolute zero -- -273 degrees Celsius.

Just how cold is that? And how does absolute zero stack up to what Wisconsin folks consider to be winter's bitterest cold? See this interactive tool to find out. And, if cold isn't quite your thing, take a look at the warmer, opposite scale.

And if the program has you intrigued to learn more about the scientists aiming to reach absolute zero, visit the project's official Web site, where you will find further information, educator's materials, and even temperature crosswords and sodoku puzzles to keep you busy.

'Tis the season...

As the season progresses, WPT is the place to find a wide array of holiday programming that will entertain and delight your whole family. And, the next few days are filled with specials that will enliven the spirit of the season -- from scientific wonders to international traditions, whimsical dramas to musical extravaganzas.

Friday afternoon, venture into the lab of University of Wisconsin chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri for his annual program, Once Upon a Christmas Cheery In The Lab of Shakhashiri. Saturday evening, Lawrence Welk and Hyacinth Bucket celebrate the holidays with festive specials. And, Monday and Tuesday are filled with choral programs, children's specials and a tour of European traditions with Rick Steves.

To find the broadcast times for all of these holiday programs and to see what other special programs WPT has in store, visit the station's holiday Web site.

New name, new host, same great programming...

A program that has been synonymous with public television for decades and a home for award-winning drama on WPT is receiving a new facade. Masterpiece Theatre has been the place to find the world's best actors interpreting some of the finest literature for more more than 35 years. Now, with its new season, the show has a new title, new formats and a new host. Gillian Anderson, who starred in the X-Files and in an Emmy-nominated role in last season's Masterpiece Theatre "Bleak House," will host the first segment of programs, which will now be called Masterpiece Classic. This series of programs will include the much-anticipated Complete Jane Austen series, as well as other period dramas.

In the summer, all of the great programs viewers used to see on Mystery! will now be found on Masterpiece Mystery! And, next fall, Masterpiece Contemporary will offer dramas from modern settings. Each of those two new parts of Masterpiece will have new hosts named at a later date.

The Complete Jane Austen can be seen at 8 p.m. Sundays, beginning Jan. 13. This coming Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. on WPT, viewers can enjoy an encore of Helen Mirren's award-winning two-part detective drama, Prime Suspect VII: The Final Act.

Supporting WPT...

As winter weather has overtaken much of Wisconsin, WPT is right in the middle of our end-of-year membership drive. And, while supporters from across the state have already called in to pledge their support for all of WPT's essential services, there is still plenty of time for you to call and let us know how important WPT is to you, your family and your friends.

There is also a chance to still catch a number of great programs coming up in the next few days.

At 7 on Wednesday night, WPT brings back a public television favorite. The Three Tenors: Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti is the original concert program that grasped the ears and hearts of millions in the early 1990s when these three operatic legends took the stage together.

At 7 p.m., Thursday, the statewide network presents Bob Dylan: Live in Newport -- 1963-1965. This program captures the innovative folk singer both in some of his earliest performances at the festival when he was still a relative unknown and in his later genre-bending appearances with an electric guitar.

And, at 8:30 p.m., Friday viewers can get a backstage and front row pass to this past summer's biggest concert event with Great Performances: Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago. This performance features Clapton hosting an all-star cast of the greatest guitarist alive in a special Chicago concert.


To find out more about these and other exiting program opportunities, visit WPT's Web site.

Praise for her character...

If you missed American Masters "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character" on WPT a few weeks back, the network is presenting an encore presentation of the entertaining documentary at 7 Monday night.

Outlining Burnett's long and illustrious career in television, stage and film, the program drew critical acclaim from news outlets around the United States. Be more Tuned In collected some of the media coverage and offers it below:

"By the end of "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character," you'll want to give the actress a big fat hug. Not a pity hug, just a well-earned warm embrace."
-Matthew Gilbert
The Boston Globe

"You'll be so glad we had this time together, too, to have a laugh or sing a song. Or choke up with sentiment. Or roll on the floor helplessly to convulsive comedy."
-Diane Werts
Newsday

'Pardon the imitation of the thoroughly unlikable Andy Rooney, but why aren't our joke tellers likable anymore? Margaret Cho or Sarah Silverman might make you laugh... But the comedian you'd really want at the table, still, after all these years, is Carol Burnett."
-Neil Genzlinger
The New York Times

"Burnett's character sketches could be heartbreakingly human and hilarious at once: Picture the charwoman, alone in a building after hours, doing a striptease; the heartbroken lover singing 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix,' first in a car that won't start and, ultimately, on a tricycle."
-Joanne Ostrow
Denver Post

'The film is a complete valentine to Burnett, but how could it not be? Does anyone have a negative thing to say about her? Probably not."
-David Wiegand
San Francisco Chronicle

"It illustrates the value of zigging when everyone else is zagging. It demonstrates the importance of great material, whether it's a clever song or the funniest costume in the history of television - a send-up of Scarlett O'Hara's velvet-drapery dress with the curtain rod still attached. Most of all, it suggests that making a fool of yourself, whether by singing a love song to a bureaucrat or tripping noisily over the scenery, can be a very smart career move."
-Joanne Weintraub
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A Green Gables Thanksgiving...

As a Thanksgiving special, WPT will present the entire lineup of the longtime family favorite Anne of Green Gables Thursday starting at 7:30 a.m. and running until 5:30 p.m.

If you -- like many public television fans -- are an Anne fanatic, you can take your viewing experience beyond the T.V. screen and onto the Web. The films' producer offers a home for fans from around the world, with in-depth film and character information, fun online activities and even a forum to discuss the films and future projects.

For an even further exploration of Green Gables, why not travel to the real-life site of the fictional Avonlea. Sure, you can plan a trip to Canada's Prince Edward Island. But, via the Web, you can make the trip right on your home computer thanks to the Prince Edward Island Tourism Board. Learn about plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the books that inspired the films. Or, take a virtual tour of the Anne-related sites.

A puzzling program...

Friday night, the hit documentary Wordplay returns to WPT. The Independent Lens presentation begins at 9:30.

The award-winning film follows the work of New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz and visits with crossword fans from across the United States -- including celebrity enthusiasts like Ken Burns, Jon Stewart and President Bill Clinton. The film also takes viewers into the heart of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which Shortz founded in 1978.

If all of this puzzle talk has your mind eager for a challenge, there are a couple of puzzles related to the film available online. If you like scratching out a solution with pencil and paper, print out this puzzle. If you're in an online solving mood, try this flash-based version.

And to learn everything else you wanted to know about the show, find the film's official site here.

Green Bay coming soon...

Next Monday night, WPT will present the second installment in an ongoing series of Wisconsin Hometown Stories. Tune in at 8 for the premiere of Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Green Bay. To give viewers a bit of insight into the program, Be more Tuned In brings the teaser trailer to the Web.

A note from the autumn garden...

With a new program set to air at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, Be more Tuned In is happy to present a guest column from Shelley Ryan, the producer/host of The Wisconsin Gardener. Ryan writes a regular column like this for The Wisconsin Gardener E-Newsletter. If you would like to sign up for this newsletter, delivered monthly in your E-mail inbox, or to sign up for other WPT E-newsletters, visit this site.

SHELLEY RYAN'S COLUMN: CELEBRATE FALL!

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. Unlike spring when it's hurry, hurry, get the plants in the ground, fertilize, prune the trees ... autumn is a slower time of year. And thanks to global warming, autumn seems to last longer than it used to. I like that. I remember snow in early October.

A longer fall gives me time to get my houseplants cleaned up and put back in the house. It means my mums and ornamental kales will look great outdoors for weeks to come. It means I don't have to rush to get my garlic planted. Good thing, too, since I haven't gotten to that particular chore yet.

Many of my favorite plants are at their best in the fall, such as ornamental grasses, ornamental kales and cabbages, and the many colorful squashes and gourds. The newest episode of The Wisconsin Gardener, entitled "Celebrate Fall," highlights some of these wonderful plants.

It was a fun show to create. We discovered new gardens and made new friends along the way. We traveled to Bailey's Harbor in Door County to learn how to keep garden beds colorful and interesting well into late fall and even early winter. My guest, Caleb Whitney, was great fun and had tons of wonderful ideas. I particularly liked his colorful bottle trees. You’ll be seeing more of him in the future.

We also welcomed Wave Kasprzak, chef and co-owner of The Dining Room at 209 Main St. in Monticello, to our program. Wave created some wonderful recipes using onions, leeks and garlic. The caramelized onion pizza was a real hit with our camera crew. Okay, not just the crew; I think I ate about six pieces myself. I love having chefs on the show!

UW-Extension Plant Pathologist Brian Hudelson is a regular guest on The Wisconsin Gardener. In this episode he shared some of his favorite plant viruses. It's fun to watch Brian get excited about things the rest of us gardeners hate to see in our gardens.

We also traveled to Galesville near La Crosse to look at some wonderful ornamental grasses. My guest was La Crosse County UW-Extension Horticulture Educator Joyce Cielecki. She was great and you'll definitely be seeing more of her in the future as well. Thanks to her I'm thinking (once again!) of re-doing my garden with more ornamental grasses and fewer labor-intensive plants.

I sometimes think the greatest challenge of hosting The Wisconsin Gardener is creating only four new shows per year. I meet so many super people and wonderful gardeners. We get to talking and pretty soon we've come up with another five or 10 great ideas for future shows. Then I have to figure out how to cram all those people and ideas into only four shows. Maybe this is a problem for all gardeners. We have limited space, limited time, and yet there are still so many plants, trees and grasses we are just dying to possess. It hurts, but boy is it fun.

Shelley Ryan

Wired takes viewing beyond the television...

The newest science show on WPT is gaining all kinds of buzz from critics and viewers alike. Airing at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Wired Science -- from the folks at Wired Magazine -- offers a unique and innovative look at science in the world around us.

And just as the content of Wired Magazine expands from its pages, Wired Science isn't merely relegated to the television screen. This show's Web presence is immense. And it is as interactive as possible.

A current contest invites people to challenge master paper folder Robert Lang and upload images of their own origami creations. A Flickr community has been created to showcase all of the entries.

A series of blogs brings together scientists from Antarctica to Iowa to discuss their fields and research. Users on the go can follow the blogs via text updates or get instant updates from Twitter.

Also, a collection of online-exclusive features offers interesting information about wide-ranging topics, including how the United Nations listens for nuclear testing, what makes a curve ball curve and how a new wheelchair walks instead of rolling.

WPT Be more Tuned In Podcast -- UW Women's Hockey Coach Mark Johnson...

We spoke with Mark Johnson, the head coach of the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team, via telephone from his office in Madison. The mp3 podcast conversation can be downloaded here and can be enjoyed on your personal computer or loaded onto your personal mp3 player for on-the-go listening. You can also subscribe to our monthly podcasts via iTunes by clicking here.

Johnson has a long history with Wisconsin hockey. He played for the Badgers under the coaching of his dad, the legendary "Badger" Bob Johnson in the 1970s. In 1980, Johnson led the U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal with eleven points, including two goals in the "Miracle on Ice" game against the Soviet Union. Following a long professional career, Johnson returned to UW-Madison as an assistant coach for the men's team. Since 2002, he has led the women's team to national prominence, including back-to-back NCAA championships the past two years.

After a successful two-win opening weekend, the Badger women's hockey team will have their home opener at 7 p.m. Friday night at the Kohl Center in Madison.

The Badgers women's team will also be a part of WPT this year, with four games broadcast on the statewide network. They will join men's hockey and volleyball on the WPT Sports lineup. The first women's hockey broadcast is at 10:30 p.m. on Oct.13 against Ohio State. Volleyball kicks off the WPT Sports season at 11 p.m. Friday night with a match against Purdue. Find the full broadcast schedule of WPT Sports here.

In our interview, Johnson talked about his family's hockey heritage, his own hockey triumphs and how he is watching the sport of women's hockey grow.

Ken Burns does The Daily Show...

Thursday night, filmmaker Ken Burns appeared on Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Be more Tuned In is happy to share the insightful video with our readers. The final three installments of Ken Burns' The War will air at 7 p.m., next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The film will also be repeated in coming weeks, so check out wpt.org for future air times.

'The War' arrives on WPT

After months of anticipation, Ken Burns' The War arrives on WPT Sunday night. The first installment of the epic documentary that tells the story of World War II through the residents of four American towns airs at 7. The remaining episodes of the 14-and-a-half-hour film will air during the following two weeks. Check the schedule at wpt.org for air times.

A few months ago we had a chance to chat with Ken Burns about the film in a Be more Tuned In podcast. You can find that exclusive conversation here.

If you are moved to share your own family's war story or want to learn more about Wisconsin veterans' experiences in World War II, visit the site of Wisconsin World War II Stories.

And, as is expected for a film that touches the history of so many families across the country, The War is receiving massive critical examination and praise. We've compiled a collection of recent articles about the program below:

Jo Anne Weintraub, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Many Battles of 'The War'

Gary Strauss, USA Today
Ken Burns' rush to capture voices of a fading generation in 'The War'

Charles Storch, Chicago Tribune
Documenting 'The War'

Sam Allis, Boston Globe
It's War

Gazing at the sky...

Wednesday night at 7, WPT will present Citizen Astronomers: Seeing in the Dark on both the regular statewide network and WPT-HD. This film by Timothy Ferris explores the world of amateur astronomers and the night sky that they spend hours poring over. When watched in high-definition, the sparkling stars of the night sky bound brilliantly from the screen.

After watching the program, take a turn as an astronomer yourself. The show's producers make it easy with a customizable star chart that will display exactly what is visible from your vantage point at any given time. An added observation guide helps city-dwellers learn how to find the best places to look for stars.

And to see how the pros view the stars, there are tour opportunities available to visit the Yerkes Observatory -- the world's largest refracting telescope. It is located on the shores of Wisconsin's Geneva Lake.

A Quilt Expo sneak peek...

The third-annual Quilt Expo has arrived!

This year's event, which is again presented by WPT, Friends of WHA-TV and Sewing With Nancy, runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Tickets are available from advance ticket vendors and are $8 at the door. There are hundreds of vendor booths filling more than 10,000 square feet of exhibition space, a judged and juried quilt contest with hundreds of quilts and a series of special lectures, Sit & Sew workshops, quilting celebrity events and special exhibits to visit. For more details about the event, visit the exclusive Quilt Expo Web site.

We headed to the Quilt Expo at its opening to provide a sneak peek at all of the wonderful aspects of the event that visitors can partake in through Saturday. Click the link below to see the photos from Thursday morning's opening hours. You can also click on the photos for a larger view. (Exclusive photos from the 2007 Quilt Expo after the jump...)


Shortly after the doors opened for the event, eager quilters filed into the Alliant Energy Center.

Throughout the Exhibition Hall, hundreds of vendors from throughout the United States offered innovative quilting and textile products, along with in-depth information and helpful hints for interested Expo-goers.











At the WPT booth in the front of the hall, WPT staff volunteers provided event information, offered entry forms for the free drawing and sold this year's official Quilt Expo t-shirts and tote bags.



Life-sized cut-outs of Nancy Zieman greeted visitors to the event. The real Nancy Zieman will be appearing at the WPT booth throughout the weekend to chat with quilters and other fans of Sewing With Nancy.



Throughout the event, expo attendees will find spectacular specialty quilt exhibits that showcase quilting work from around North America.

A series of Sit & Sew Workshops give quilters a chance to try out new products and techniques in person with the help of industry professionals and television personalities. Visit the information booth at the front of Quilt Expo to inquire about registration availability.







Elsewhere, a hearty collection of free lectures on dozens of topics are available for drop-in quilters.

The centerpiece of Quilt Expo is the quilt contest exhibit. Occupying the center of the hall, the enormous exhibit is home to hundreds of finely handcrafted quilts from artists and hobbyists from all throughout North America. Within the exhibit, visitors can get an up-close look at the colorful, intricate designs. Docents are available to provide insight into the quilts and to give viewers an opportunity to see the stitching and design-work that is hidden on the backs of many of the quilts.



Visitors admire the Best of Show quilt, which was created by Linda Roy of Knoxville, Tenn.

A real American Master...

Tony Bennett is the theme on WPT Wednesday night. Beginning at 7, the legendary performer is featured in Tony Bennett Duets: The Making of an American Classic. Then at 8, WPT will present the much anticipated American Masters "Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends." The film was produced by Clint Eastwood and interweaves Bennett's musical life story within a number of fantastic musical performances.

This article explains how the 77-year-old actor and 81-year-old singer met and describes how the film was created.

As one of the last of the great crooners, Bennett is still working a regular touring schedule. And, his music continues to get rave reviews. To hear some of the songs from the Duets album that is featured in Wednesday's first program, head on over to Bennett's official Web site.

And, to see how multi-faceted Bennett's talents are, you can find galleries of his paintings online at this site.

The markets and pumpkins in our own backyard...

Wednesday night, WPT will present an encore presentation of To Market To Market To Buy a Fat Pig at 7. The program will be followed at 8 by Lords of the Gourd: The Pursuit of Excellence.

Even though Wisconsin isn't featured in these programs, both of them fit perfectly with this time of year in the state. Curious about the ties? Read on...

In Wisconsin, this is a prime time of year to take advantage of the many markets, stands and farms that offer fresh produce. And with autumn approaching faster than we'd like, it's not too early to look toward apple and pumpkin picking opportunities, too.

In Madison, the Dane County Farmers Market continues on at the Capitol Square through the first week of November. Visit this site or this site to find other great markets and fruit and vegetable stands around the state. Apple aficionados can find their local orchards here.

And the giant gourds? Well, each year Nekoosa presents an annual Giant Pumpkin Festival. The festival draws growers from all over the state to bring their largest gourds for a weigh-in contest. The huge pumpkins are only part of the event that includes a car show, craft fair and pumpkin bake-off. To learn about the other activities (including a giant pumpkin drop from the top of a crane) visit this site. This year's festival is Oct. 6 and 7.

And for those already plotting their pumpkin-gathering trips, this site will help you out.

Finally don't forget our podcast interview with Rick Sebak. You can find it here.

Nature's fury...

Tuesday night, WPT will present an encore presentation of NOVA's "Storm That Drowned a City." Airing at 7, the program is a stunning episode that dives into the depths of a natural catastrophe that severely affected New Orleans and other parts of Americas Gulf Coast.

As waters surged and man-made levies broke down, the city was flooded. The