WXXI TV

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors stretching back to the 1500s. 

Finding Your Roots “Mexican Roots” airs Tuesday, September 23 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Weaving together stories of migratory farmers, Spanish Conquistadors and Native Americans, Gates conjures up personal histories of diverse, sometimes conflicting, elements.

“If our contributions were written back into history textbooks, can you imagine how America would see us?’ says Leguizamo. “More importantly, can you imagine how we would see ourselves?”

When Alberto returns from his honeymoon with Cristina, he is shocked to find that his brother-in-law, Enrique, now is now in control of Velvet.

Velvet, Season 2 airs Thursdays, September 18-October 30 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

The second season premiere of Velvet from WALTER PRESENTS follows Alberto, who returns from his honeymoon to find a myriad of surprises. Missed Season 1? You can watch it on the PBS app.

In late 1950s Madrid, the golden age of haute couture, there is one place everyone would like to shop at least once in their lifetime: the Galerias Velvet. From Walter Presents, in Spanish with English subtitles.

Velvet (serie en español) — Jueves, 18 de septiembre a las 9 p. m. en WXXI-TV
El estreno de la segunda temporada de VELVET, de WALTER PRESENTS, sigue a Alberto, que regresa de su luna de miel y se encuentra con un sinfín de sorpresas. ¿Te has perdido la primera temporada? Puedes verla en la aplicación PBS.

Celebrate the recipients of the 38th annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. This year’s honorees include Cheech Marin, Felix Contreras, Rauw Alejandro, Gloria Trevi, and more. 

38th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards premieres Friday, September 26 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

The evening includes performances and appearances by some of the country’s most celebrated Hispanic artists and visionaries. This historic program, created by the White House to commemorate the establishment of Hispanic Heritage Month in America, is among the highest honors by Latinos for Latinos and supported by 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions. This year’s honorees include Cheech Marin, Felix Contreras, Rauw Alejandro, Gloria Trevi and more. 

Inspired by his quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions, this new three-part series brings acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo’s passion from the stage to the screen. 

VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, all three episodes air back-to-back on Saturday, September 27 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams on PBS.org and the PBS App.

In this series, Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history and contributions, spanning thousands of years from the Ancient Empires to the early 1970s. Through this exploration, he aims to shine a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos while showcasing how Latino history is American history.

Filmed on location in Mexico and throughout the U.S., American Historia features Leguizamo in conversation with over a dozen leading historians, anthropologists, authors and experts. The series also features actors, including Benjamin Bratt, Bryan Cranston, Rosario Dawson, Laurence Fishburne, Ethan Hawke, Edward James Olmos, Rosie Perez, Liev Schreiber, reading original source materials.

Episode 1: Echoes of Empires: Join host John Leguizamo as he examines the accomplishments and rise of the Great Empires and civilizations in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, from the Taino to the Olmec, Inca, Maya, Aztec, and more. Although they were ultimately decimated by the conquistadors, these societies had an enduring influence on culture, agriculture, and the sciences.

Episode 2: Threads in the American Tapestry: Explore how Latino DNA has been woven into the identity of the United States since before her inception, and has been pivotal all along the way. Despite facing severe discrimination and violence, Latinos were present and contributed in pivotal ways to the fabric of this nation. Highlighting key figures and events, host John Leguizamo shows how Latinos helped build the United States we know today.

Episode 3: Solidarity in a New Era: Host John Leguizamo explores the rise of the new empire, the United States. While Latinos were often relegated to the fringes of mainstream society, they made profound contributions to the fabric of the U.S. and beyond. Reflecting on his journey, John learns that Latinos were not just an asterisk in history, but that Latino history is the history of the United States.

“If our contributions were written back into history textbooks, can you imagine how America would see us?’ says Leguizamo. “More importantly, can you imagine how we would see ourselves?”

Photo: Creator and host John Leguizamo on the set of AMERICAN HISTORIA./ Credit: NGL Studios