Because of your generosity, programs produced at NHPTV are available to viewers across the region, including Windows to the Wild, Our Hometown, and Granite State Challenge.

Because of your commitment, NHPTV can provide resources to communities in the areas of literacy, education, and health, as well as online professional development for educators.

 The new year on NHPTV and PBS promises another stream of excellent programs! Two favorites return: Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife. And Ken Burns has a new documentary about cancer that promises to be stunning.

NHPTV is proud to be your home for public television, bringing you first-rate drama, world-class performances, independent news, and unique local perspectives. We look forward to a new year with you, filled with ideas, music, art, nature, science and exploration.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season from everyone at New Hampshire Public Television.

Thank you for your support.

Peter Frid, NHPTV President & CEO

Happy Holidays From NHPTV to You!

Attend A Free Preview Screening!Join us in Concord,

Keene or Manchester for a special preview screening of the first episode of season 5, weeks before it premieres on NHPTV!

It’s 1924. The United Kingdom has its first

Labor Party prime minister. The radio is the latest miracle of the age. And Downton’s traditional ways are besieged on all fronts.

Lady Mary’s courtship contest, Lady Edith’s trials as a secret single mom, Thomas’s scheming against Bates, Robert’s battles against modernity, a surprising marriage proposal, and much more are on the horizon for the family and its staff. Life goes on at Downton Abbey, and we can’t wait to watch it all happen! Screening details: nhptv.org/events

NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC TELEVISION • nhptv.orgQuestions or Comments? Call 800-639-8408 or email themailbox@nhptv.org

NHPTV Connections December 2014

Holiday Treats From The BritsCall the Midwife SpecialRehearsals for the Sunday School Christmas concert are underway, creating an inconvenience for the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House. Two unmarried patients are dispatched to York Lodge, a badly managed home for pregnant women, and Chummy takes over after an outbreak of chicken pox.

Dr. Turner treats an older couple, former residents of a closed mental hospital. As residents of Nonnatus welcome the new year, the question on everyone’s mind is, what will 1960 bring?December 26 at 9 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Vicious Holiday Special Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek

Jacobi) host a holiday soiree in their small London flat. Ash (Iwan Rheon), their young upstairs neighbor, has volunteered to cook the meal, their feisty best friend Violet (Frances de la Tour) is up to her old tricks, and a wicked game of Truth or Dare brings up hidden truths — and surprises, too.December 20 at 10 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Downton Abbey RediscoveredRelive treasured moments from

the first four seasons and get a tantalizing preview of what’s in store for the Crawleys and the staff in Downton Abbey Season 5. Clips, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage speak to some burning questions: Is Lady Mary ready for romance? Did Mr. Bates kill Mr. Green? What will become of Edith’s

baby? Carson and Mrs. Hughes — will they or won’t they? Enjoy the intrigue taking place at Downton Abbey — upstairs and down.December 10 at 7:30 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Catch Up On Season 4 Before January! Warm up for the exciting premiere of season 5 of Downton

Abbey by watching season 4 again! Mary, Branson and Edith find hope after loss, and Bates and Anna struggle after a horrible event. Season 5 of Downton Abbey on Masterpiece premieres Sunday, January 4th at 9 PM. December 14, 21 & 28 starting at 8 PM on NHPTV PRIME

A Chef’s Life Holiday SpecialJoin Chef Vivian Howard, star of

the Peabody Award-winning PBS show and proprietor of the Chef and the Farmer restaurant, on a journey to find holiday traditions. She serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Chanukah traditions her husband Ben Knight grew up with.

From a simple corned ham to an upscale oyster dressing, from humble Hoppin’ John to an elegant red velvet cake, sample one of the most charming and delicious holiday celebrations of the season.December 18 • 9 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Libera: Angels Sing ChristmasWarm your heart and soul

with the angelic voices of one of the world’s most acclaimed Irish boys choirs, Angel Voices. It’s a lovely performance of traditional Christmas carols infused with the musical sounds of Ireland.

Recorded in the spectacular St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, the concert also features virtuoso musicians, including Irish flute player Brian Dunning and violinist Zoe Conway. December 5 • 8 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Program Top Picks

For complete listings, previews and more go to nhptv.org

Celtic Woman: Home for ChristmasPack your stockings with

cheer and celebrate the holidays with timeless favorites performed with a Celtic twist in this new chapter of musical enchantment from the popular all-female ensemble Celtic Woman. A visual and aural feast, this moving and festive celebration is held at Dublin’s Helix Theatre.

See Celtic Woman live in Manchester in March! Go to nhptv.org/events for tickets and details.December 3 • 7:30 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Sugarplum Dreams: Staging the Nutcracker Ballet

Each holiday season, Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet The Nutcracker is brought to life in a colorful production by the Ballet Theater of Indiana University’s School of Music. Go behind the scenes of the 43rd annual presentation of this classic, showing the preparation, talent, and sheer effort exerted to bring this production to the stage. December 24 • 8 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Independent Lens: Don’t Stop Believin’

For Arnel Pineda, the past five years have been the stuff of dreams. Neal Schon, guitarist for the iconic rock band Journey, saw a YouTube video of the aspiring Filipino singer and flew him to San Francisco to audition for the band. The rest is history.

Can a man who has overcome many obstacles — orphaned at 12, living on the streets, no music training — deal with the demands of his newfound fame? December 29 • 10 PM on NHPTV PRIME

NOVA: Making StuffWhat happens when engineers

open up nature’s toolbox? David Pogue explores bold innovations inspired by the Earth’s greatest inventor, life itself. From dolphin inspired underwater wi-fi, to robotic “mules” and “cheetahs” for the military, to swarms of robotic bees, Pogue travels the world seeing ideas put into action. He looks at

new inventions and technologies, where bizarre new properties of matter are the norm and the basis of new technologies like levitating trains and quantum computers. December 17 • 9 & 10 PM on NHPTV PRIME

NHPTV Is On-Air • Online • In Your CommunitySacred Journeys

Join host Bruce Feiler on an unprecedented journey to the world’s most meaningful landscapes and rigorous religious pilgrimages. Follow a modern-day pilgrim on a private spiritual journey and discover the practice of pilgrimage in its varied expressions around the globe, over thousands of years.

Lourdes & Shikoku Travel to southwest France in

search of healing with former and active U.S. military. Then visit the island birthplace of the key figure that brought Japanese Buddhism to the public. December 16 at 8 & 9 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Jerusalem & Hajj Travel with Jewish and

Christian pilgrims to the sacred city. Then gather in the valleys outside the city of Mecca in modern-day Saudi Arabia with Muslim pilgrims.

December 23 at 8 & 9 PM on NHPTV PRIMEKumbh Mela & Osun-Osogbo

Explore the great Hindu festival in India. Then witness the journey of African Americans to Niger, the birthplace of their enslaved ancestors. December 30 at 8 & 9 PM on NHPTV PRIME

New Year’s Eve CelebrationIt’s the classiest New

Year’s Eve around! The NY Philharmonic serves up an all-Gershwin celebration with a special appearance by the astonishing jazz superstar Dianne Reeves. The show is conducted by Bramwell Tovey, “whose personality is as ebullient as this music,” according to the New York Times. It’s a perfect celebration to harken in the new year!Live From Lincoln Center: Gershwin Celebration at the NY Philharmonic • December 31 at 8 PM on NHPTV PRIME

Ring in the New Year with two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein! He performs along with celebrity performances including Darren Criss, star of Glee, Aaron Tveit from the new

series Graceland, Leslie Odom from Smash, Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, nightclub legend Marilyn Maye, two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole, Michael’s newest discovery, 17-year-old Julia Goodwin, and many more brilliant moments. All this takes place at the legendary New York nightclub, the Rainbow Room, where stars were born and legends perform! Michael Feinstein New Year’s Eve at the Rainbow Room• December 31 at 10 PM on NHPTV PRIME

The FUN CLUB for Kids!

NHPTV

nhptv.org/kidsclub

DELIGHT THE BIRDERS ON YOUR GIFT LIST WITH OUR AWARD-WINNING BIRD PROGRAM DVDS!

HOLIDAY SPECIALS 800-206-4788 themailbox@nhptv.org

Great Perks For NHPTV MembersEnjoy your NHPTV PerksConnect card! It’s a member card that offers you savings every day. Look for discounts with over 50,000 merchants in person and online, and for savings from stores like L.L. Bean, or events near and far! nhptvperksconnect.com

New Hampshire’s only statewide locally owned and operated television network engages minds, connects communities, and celebrates New Hampshire with programs that entertain, educate and enrich. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, NHPTV is a leader in education and community outreach. nhptv.org

268 Mast Road • Durham, NH 03824 (603) 868-1100 • themailbox@nhptv.org

NHPTV EventsThese events support NHPTV’s programs.Free Downton Abbey Preview ScreeningsDecember 7 - Red River Theatres, Concord December 14 - Currier Museum of Art, Manchester December 14 - Colonial Theatre, KeeneCommunity Cinema: A Path AppearsJanuary 15 - Red River Theatres, ConcordCeltic WomanMarch 17 - Verizon Wireless Arena, ManchesterCeltic ThunderApril 8 - Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord

DETAILS at nhptv.org/events

nhptvperksconnect.comAs a New Hampshire Public Television member, you have access to money-saving discounts across New England and more than 50,000 locations nationwide. Visit nhptvperksconnect.com for full details.Questions about NHPTV PerksConnect? 1-866-671-3322

Questions about your NHPTV Membership?membership@nhptv.org | 800-639-8408Thank you for your support!

New Hampshire Public Television268 Mast Road Durham, NH 03824

Return service requested

Non-ProfitU.S. PostageP A I DPermit No. xxxx., NH xxxxx

December 2014

Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler • Tuesdays at 8 PM

CONNECTIONS is printed by

NHPTV CONNECTIONS VOLUME 2, NO. 12