'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.