Highlights Archive

Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band

Watch videos from Acoustic Rooster at https://pbskids.org/videos/acoustic-rooster

Get the kids in your life jazzed about jazz with Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band, premiering May 1! See schedule for TV and Livestream | Channels & Livestreams

Based on the beloved children’s book by bestselling author Kwame Alexander, the one-hour special will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz.

About the Series and Video Shorts:

Get ready to groove! Based on Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, the beloved children’s book by Emmy® Award-winning, Newbery medalist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander, the ACOUSTIC ROOSTER universe is coming to PBS KIDS with a special and a short-form series produced by GBH. This will feature ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, a one-hour special, and ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS, an upbeat new animated series of 20 shorts that will introduce viewers ages 3-5 to the vibrant world of the arts, specifically jazz music, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, creativity, and self-expression.

Centered on the titular character, a guitar-strumming rooster who joins the Barnyard Band of Jazz Greats, the series and special feature 24 original tracks composed by Juno Award-winning jazz musician Mark McLean, as well as special guests, including jazz icon Herbie Hancock and renowned jazz bassist Amy Shook. The music-filled special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, premieres on May 1. In addition to today’s sneak peek, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS will debut a second short on April 11, with the remaining rolling out weekly beginning May 9, 2025. The multiplatform world of Acoustic Rooster and his friends will also include an interactive game, Groovin’ with Acoustic Rooster, which allows kids to create their own music and play along with their favorite songs from the show.

“When my daughter was a baby, I was having a really hard time soothing her so I put on Ella Fitzgerald’s record ‘A Tisket-A Tasket,’ then I played Wynton’s Stardust, and she was captivated. Immediately stopped crying,” said Alexander. “Playing jazz for her inspired me to write Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band to share the history and the power of the music and the musicians with the world through a fictional barnyard band.”

The one-hour special, ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND, will teach kids about foundational music concepts and the importance of teamwork to inspire them to use their creativity as an outlet for self-expression as it opens their eyes—and ears—to the richness of jazz. The toe-tapping special follows the musical adventures of the precocious, young Acoustic Rooster, who dreams of joining a world-class jazz band alongside his talented friends, including Mules Davis, Lil’ Herdin, Ella Finchgerald, Duck Ellington, and the Chick-A-Dees (an adorable trio of preschool chicks), whose names are all playful nods to famous jazz greats.

“Music has the unique ability to inspire creativity, foster connection, and help children express themselves in meaningful ways,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “ACOUSTIC ROOSTER uses the magic of jazz to spark a love for music as it supports personal growth, making it a truly inspiring and fun experience for young viewers.”

Each 3-minute episode of ACOUSTIC ROOSTER: JAZZY JAMS follows Rooster and his friends as they go on musical adventures about friendship, fun, and jazz. These short stories highlight styles of jazz, musical concepts, as well as kid-relatable everyday experiences, each featuring an original song. Whether they’re helping a friend overcome sadness with a blues song or jumpstarting the day with a jazzy tune, Rooster and his friends will help kids understand the importance of expressing their emotions and how music can be a meaningful part of their everyday lives.

The Trump Administration’s First 100 Days • April 30 at 8 p.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9)

NPR marks the 100th day of the Trump Administration with a Special Report, hosted by Michel Martin.

The Trump Administration’s First 100 Days airs Wednesday, April 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. on FM 105.9 and streaming on WXXINews.org.

This two-hour live special will look at what the Administration has accomplished, what has changed and what might be next.

Part 1, the first (8 PM ET) hour, will focus on what’s changed here in the U.S. since President Trump was inaugurated. We’ll look at everything from the culture to the shape of the federal government. From tariffs to the downsizing of the Department of Education, how has Trump made good on his campaign promises? And what could be next?

Part 2, the second (9 PM ET) hour, will focus on the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world. From shifting alliances to trade agreements to changes at the U.S. border, we’ll ask how President Trump has altered international relations since January 20.

ASD Band: The Movie • WXXI-TV

Musicians on the autism spectrum embark on a journey to record their first studio album.

ASD Band: The Movie airs Friday, August 1 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Follow the members of ASD Band as they embark on the journey to record their first studio album and proudly own their unique perspectives as individuals on the autism spectrum. Audiences will also experience heartfelt accounts from friends and family members, focused on fostering a community that understands, accepts and values their children.

This program is presented by Move to Include^TM, an award-winning national initiative to promote disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media..

Roy Orbison MARATHON • WXXI-TV

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.

CANCELLED! MASTERPIECE presents a Miss Austen • Virtual Event

This event has been cancelled!
Join us for a sneak peek of the new MASTERPIECE series Miss Austen, followed by a live Q&A with the cast, screenwriter, and executive producer.

MASTERPIECE presents a Miss Austen virtual event on Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m.

Enjoy this early look at the new MASTERPIECE series Miss Austen followed by a live discussion with actors Synnøve Karlsen (Young Cassandra Austen) and Rose Leslie (Isabella Fowle), as well as screenwriter Andrea Gibb and Executive Producer Christine Langan (Bonnie Productions). Jenelle Riley, Features Editor at Variety is our moderator.

Click here register!

Once registered, you’ll receive a unique, nontransferable link for the virtual event. (Please note, due to rights restrictions, this event is only available to U.S. and Canadian-based audiences. Apologies to our global fans!) The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required.

More about the series:
Miss Austen takes a literary mystery – Cassandra Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters – and reimagines it as a fascinating, witty and heart-breaking story of sisterly love. The drama begins in 1830, a while after Jane has died. Cassandra races to see her friend Isabella who is about to lose her home following her father’s death. Cassandra is ostensibly there to help, but her real motive is to find a stash of private letters which, in the wrong hands, could destroy Jane’s reputation.

Miss Austen on Masterpiece premieres on WXXI-TV on Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m.

In Their Own Words “Pope Francis” • WXXI-TV

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.

World’s Most Scenic River Journeys • WXXI-TV

Explore the wealth of stories nestled along the world’s iconic waterways.

World’s Most Scenic River Journeys airs Sundays, March 30-May 4 at 7 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

Narrated by Bill Nighy, explore the wealth of stories nestled along the world’s iconic waterways – from the Niagara and the Potomac, to Scotland’s River Spey and France’s River Dordogne.

Episodes include:
“Guadalquivir, Spain” – Sunday, March 30 Follow in the footsteps of explorers down Spain’s Guadalquivir River.
“The Potomac, USA” – Sunday, April 6 The Potomac River winds through America’s capital, passing a number of historic sites on its way.
“Dordogne River , France” – Sunday, April 13 France’s Dordogne River weaves past castles and greenery in the heart of Southwest France.
“River Spey, Scotland” – Sunday, April 20 The breathtaking River Spey in Scotland is home to world-famous whiskey and salmon fishing.
“The Hudson River, USA” – Sunday, April 27 The Hudson River winds through much of New York State’s most beautiful natural scenery.
“Niagara River, Canada & the US” – Sunday, May 4 Home to the iconic falls, the Niagara River boasts a storied history and scenic landscape.

PBS KIDS Creates Safe Spaces for Kids & Families

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Watch: PBS KIDS series use rich stories to help kids learn, explore, and feel secure. Children and adults trust the characters, families, and embedded learning. Use PBS KIDS videos to create an immersive, safe space for kids and families. Watch using the free PBS KIDS Video app, PBS KIDS on YouTube, or your local New York PBS station.

Listen: PBS KIDS stories are not only for watching but also for listening! Kids and families can listen to stories from their favorite PBS KIDS friends – Arthur, Molly of Denali, Work it Out Wombats!, and more. Just like the video stories, the audio stories create an immersive space for kids to turn to anytime, anywhere. Listen to PBS KIDS podcasts.

Play: PBS KIDS games are interactive spaces designed for young children to practice, play, explore, and learn. They are built for young children to play independently or with a grownup. And align to the same learning goals embedded in each PBS KIDS series. Play using the free PBS KIDS Games app or PBSKIDS.org/games.

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