WXXI TV

A stunning and immersive look at the cost of opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

The Boys Who Said No! airs Monday, May 12 at 9 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

During the Vietnam War, American men were required to carry their draft card at all times, and a refusal to participate when called up would land you in prison. The seeds of resistance would begin to grow when one man stood up and publicly burned his draft card in protest against the war. By the war’s end, thousands were imprisoned for refusing to fight.

The film features original interviews with activists and historians of the movement, including folk singer Joan Baez, journalist and activist David Harris, and Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.  From the support of Martin Luther King, Jr. when Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Armed Forces, to the countless demonstrations and marches from resistors whose names have been almost lost to history – these actions together built a movement of principled and powerful nonviolent resistance to America’s most problematic war, that have become a touchpoint for subsequent movements around social justice and peace today.

Through dynamic archival footage and compelling interviews, this film is the first documentary to profile the youth-led movement of nonviolent civil disobedience against the Vietnam War, a critical part of the antiwar movement that eventually forced an end to both the war and draft conscription

Photo: Young men and women protesting • Photo provided by APT

A four-part global investigation into insect declines, exploring their diversity and their critical roles on the planet.

Bug That Rule the World airs Wednesday, May 7-28 at 10 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Explore the fascinating world of bugs, their beauty, and ecological importance. From pollinators and insect predators to the clean-up crews purifying our planet, scientists examine the decline of these essential yet least appreciated creatures.

Insect Apocalypse I May 7 Scientists and enthusiasts investigate the global insect “apocalypse,” revealing the crucial roles bugs play on our planet and the bleak picture future without them.

Life-Givers I May 14 Dive into the colorful world of Earth’s essential pollinators – bees, moths, and butterflies. Scientists and enthusiasts discuss life without these resilient creatures, whose impact goes far beyond their delicate appearance.

Eat or Be Eater I May 21 Uncover the ruthless realm of some of the stealthiest insects in the animal kingdom. From praying mantises and aquatic insects to dragonflies, nature has equipped these creatures with intelligence, agility and necessary hunting skills for survival.

Beetlemania I May 28 As the world’s most diverse and abundant species, the tiny yet mighty beetle plays crucial ecological roles in nearly every environment. Why are these colorful and ingenious creatures often regarded as “the most important species on the planet”?

A stunning and immersive look at the cost of opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

FRONTLINE “Antidote” airs Tuesday, May 6 at 10 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Antidote chronicles the lives of Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist whose reporting has exposed hundreds of Russian spies, assassins, and those involved in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny; and Evgenia Kara-Murza, the wife of prominent political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was poisoned twice and sentenced to 25 years in a Russian prison. 

The feature documentary lays bare the grave consequences that come with speaking out against the Putin regime, revealing the threats Grozev, Kara-Murza and their families face as they seek to expose the actions of the Kremlin to the world.

Photo: Edgar Dubrovskiy, credit: Passion Pictures

A portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how the disease transforms roles and relationships.

Independent Lens “Matter of the Mind: My Alzheimer’s” airs Monday, May 5 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming on the WXXI app.

Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s is an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how this progressive neurodegenerative disease transforms roles and relationships. Whether it’s a partner becoming a caregiver or an adult child shifting into being their parent’s caretaker, these stories show how families evolve when a loved one is diagnosed.

Roy Orbison fans won’t want to miss these two concert performances that celebrate the singer-song writer legend.

Roy Orbison Marathon airs Saturday, April 26 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

At 3 p.m. it’s Roy Orbison Forever, featuring Interviews and archive performances that celebrate the life and career of the five-time Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

At 4:30 p.m. enjoy Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black and White Night. The singer performs with Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Warnes, Jackson Browne, Tom Waits, T-Bone Burnett in Los Angeles.

To mark the passing of Pope Francis, WXXI presents an encore broadcast of this In Their Own Words episode.

In Their Own Words “Pope Francis” airs Monday, April 21 9 p.m. on  WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Learn what experiences led Jorge Bergoglio to the highest office in the Catholic Church. Taking the name Francis, he was the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European and first Jesuit priest to be named pope.

Please note: Due to this program change, Single-Use Planet, which was originally slated for this time slot will debut at a later date, To Be Determined.