Highlights Archive

Norm & Company Special Edition: Honoring Norm Silverstein • Watch On-Demand

In a special final episode of “Norm & Company,” Norm Silverstein becomes the guest.

WXXI President Norm Silverstein will retire this year after 28 years at the helm of WXXI. In turning the tables on the very show where Norm has interviewed 22 guests, he sits down with Connections host Evan Dawson to discuss how his leadership transformed the station, his thoughts on the state of journalism in 2024, the documentaries produced over the years, and how public media enhances the lives of kids, families, and the community.

“I’ve never really thought much about my legacy, to be honest, but I always thought about the station. I wanted people to think about WXXI as being a place where they want to come to work — and being a place that makes a difference”.
– WXXI President Norm Silverstein

During his time, he has seen the organization grow from one television and two radio stations to a public media organization that now includes four public television stations, one cable channel for the city of Rochester, and six public radio stations. WXXI also operates the Little Theatre and CITY magazine. Norm is proud of how the organization has grown since he started in 1995, but what he’s most proud of is how WXXI and its various entities have been able to serve the Greater Rochester community.

Norm was recently interviewed by Randy Gorbman, of WXXI News and was asked about his mindset as he was coming to the end of his run as WXXI’s President: “We’re a much different station than we were when I got here 28 years ago, and of course, you’d expect that,” Norm said. “We have some terrific people, I think we’re respected for what we do, and people are going to continue to support us.”

Art + Medicine: Disability, Culture and Creativity • On-demand

Artists and healthcare clinicians create alternative perspectives on disability, through disability, stories and performances, and redefine what we perceive as normal. Hosted by artist and storyteller Kevin Kling, Professor Jessica Horvath Williams, PhD, and Doctor Tsegaensh Selameab. Created in collaboration with the Center for the Art of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Prelude: The Legacy of Garth Fagan Dance • WXXI-TV

Explore the life and career of Tony award winning choreographer Garth Fagan and meet three of his long-time disciples, who are now tasked with bringing his technique and legacy to the next generation.

Prelude: The Legacy of Garth Fagan Dance airs Friday, June 28 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

PRELUDE l The Legacy of Garth Fagan Dance takes you on a journey through the twists and turns of the Tony award-winning choreographer’s storied, collaborative, and prolific career. The WXXI production also looks at three of Mr. Fagan’s long-time disciples – William J. Ferguson II, Natalie Rogers-Cropper, and Norwood Pennewell – who are now tasked with bringing his technique and legacy to the next generation. Through an immersive, cutting-edge documentary film style, PRELUDE reveals the many facets of Garth Fagan.

In celebration of 50 years of Garth Fagan Dance, the hour-long documentary explores the experiences that make up this Jamaican-American dance treasure and his work. Through Mr. Fagan’s own words, PRELUDE sheds light on how he was able to build a multi-cultural dance company that incorporates African-American, Jamaican, and American dance styles into a whole new dance technique.

Mr. Fagan’s choreography was launched into the spotlight in 1997 in Julie Taymor’s Broadway production of The Lion King, and PRELUDE reflects on what that experience meant to the choreographer and his close collaborators. Using archival video of rehearsals, performances, and interviews shot throughout the last 50 years, the film looks at the evolution of the virtuoso and his company of dancers who shared his vision and mastered his technique.

Interviews with The Lion King director Julie Taymor, Kennedy Center award-winning dancer Judith Jameson, SUNY Brockport Dancer Professor Emeritus Jacquie Davis, and many others provide a multifaceted view of all stages of Fagan’s illustrious career and a look at the next generation of Garth Fagan Dance.

Produced by WXXI and distributed by American Public Television.

Photo: (L-R) Natalie Rogers-Cropper, William J. Ferguson II, Norwood Pennewell with Garth Fagan (center, seated)
Credit: Jason Milton

RIT Shorts • WXXI-TV

WXXI puts a spotlight on the work of Rochester Institute of Technology film and photo journalism students by presenting three short films.

RIT Shorts airs Friday, July 12 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV. Repeats Saturday, July 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The first edition of RIT Shorts features three short films themed around sports. They include:

Back to the Ballpark, which chronicles the heartwarming return of the Rochester Red Wings and their devoted fans as a new season kicks off at Innovative Field. It captures the joy and anticipation as players and supporters reunite after a prolonged hiatus. follows five days leading up to the Rochester Red Wings opening day at Innovative Field. The production team includes first-year students Liam McCammon, Max Alves, and Dillon Sharp.

Falling Forward, produced by Georgia Pressley, a fourth-year photojournalism student, follows the story of Pamela Tuety, Adele Long, and Lauren Ayes, who all found roller derby at different times. “It’s almost like an addiction or something,” says Tuety. Is it the pseudonyms and alternate personas, the ferocity of a full-contact sport, or the community of people? The documentary looks inside the lives of three of the players at the Roc City Roller Derby team and what makes the community unique.

Protect Our House, directed by Denna Alece-Dom, a fourth-year animation student, and produced by Michelle Snow, a fourth-year production student who is also pursuing an MBA, introduces viewers to three all-star players of the RIT Division 1 men’s hockey team. The mixed media documentary shares how the unique hockey fan culture impacts their lives both as students and as players.

Photo: From “Back to the Ball Park.” Red Wings players standing for the National Anthem
Photo credit: Liam McCammon

PBS KIDS Day at The Ballpark/Día de PBS KIDS en el estadio de béisbol • July 28 at Innovative Field

Join WXXI Education and the Rochester Red Wings for PBS KIDS Day at The Ballpark!

Sunday, July 28 at 1:05 p.m. at Innovative Field

The Red Wings take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs while WXXI brings the fun with plenty of PBS KIDS activities, characters, and podcasters Christina Sanabria and Andrés Salguero, the music duo known as 123 Andrés, and Magic Beatmaster Boombox, voiced by Pierce Freelon from “Jamming on the Job.”

Kids can:
• Meet the team from “Jamming on the Job”
• Take selfies with special guests from PBS KIDS “Work It Out Wombats!” and “Lyla in the Loop!”
• Run the bases after the game
• Play and explore with some of our favorite community partners

Purchase your baseball tickets here!

“Jamming on the Job” is a multi-generational, music-inspired podcast for kids ages 4-8 and their parents and caregivers. Join Latin Grammy Award-winners Christina and Andrés and Magic Beatmaster Boombox, voiced by Grammy nominated musician, Pierce Freelon, as they tour the country and perform songs about the world of work. Each place they go, they meet a grown-up with a different kind of job who helps them along the way. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

ESPAÑOL DEBAJO

Día de PBS KIDS en el estadio de béisbol

El Domingo 28 de Julio a la 1:05 p.m. En el Campo de innovador

Únase a WXXI Educacion y a los Rochester Red Wings para el Día de los Niños de PBS en el estadio el domingo 28 de julio a la 1:05 p.m. Los Red Wings se enfrentan a los Lehigh Valley IronPigs, mientras que WXXI trae la diversión con muchas actividades, personajes y podcasters de PBS Kids, Christina Sanabria y Andrés Salguero, el dúo musical conocido como 123 Andrés, y Magic Beatmaster Boombox, con la voz de Pierce Freelon de “Jamming on the Job”.

Los niños pueden:
• Conocer al equipo de “Jamming on the Job”
• Tómarse selfies con invitados especiales de PBS KIDS “¡Work It Out Wombats!” y “Lyla in the Loop!”
• Correr las bases después del juego
• Jugar y explorar con algunos de nuestros socios favoritos de la comunidad.

¡Compra aquí tus boletos para el partido!!

“Jamming on the Job” es un podcast multigeneracional inspirado en la música para niños de 4 a 8 años y sus padres y cuidadores. Únete a los ganadores del Grammy Latino Christina y Andrés y a Magic Beatmaster Boombox, con la voz del músico nominado al Grammy, Pierce Freelon, mientras recorren el país y interpretan canciones sobre el mundo del trabajo. En cada lugar al que van, conocen a un adulto con un tipo de trabajo diferente que les ayuda en el camino. ¡Suscríbete donde quiera que recibas tus podcasts!

POV: Is There Anyone Out There • WXXI-TV

Watch as filmmaker Ella Glendening goes on a journey to find solidarity and community within her disability.

POV : Is There Anyone Out There airs Monday, July 8 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Born with a rare disability, filmmaker Ella Glendining wonders if there is anyone who can share the experience of living in a body like hers. This simple question–one which non disabled people take for granted, leads to a journey to not only others who live like her–but to the realization that meeting them changes how she views herself in the world, as well as many surprises along the way.

This film is presented as part of Move to Include™ , a national initiative in partnership with WXXI and The Golisano Foundation that uses the power of public media to promote inclusion. Click here to learn more.

A Capitol Fourth • WXXI-TV

Celebrate America’s 248th birthday with a star-studded musical celebration, plus a special tribute to our military heroes and their families.

A Capitol Fourth airs Thursday, July 4 at 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Celebrating America’s National Independence, A Capitol Fourth honors our country’s birthday with an all-star salute. America’s longest-running live national Independence Day TV tradition, this television event features performances by top stars from pop, country, R&B, classical and Broadway with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly to set the tone for a spectacular American birthday party. This top-rated extravaganza features coverage from 20 cameras positioned around Washington, D.C., ensuring viewers an amazing show featuring the greatest display of fireworks in the nation.

POV “Hummingbirds” • WXXI-TV

Hummingbirds- an upbeat documentary feature, centers on the lived experiences of its protagonist directors, Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras, who grew up in the shadow of the Texas borderlands.

POV “Hummingbirds” airs Monday, July 1 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Captured during the balmy summer nights of their fleeting youth in Laredo, Texas, best friends and directors Castaños and Contreras—the former from Laredo and the latter from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico—narrate their coming-of-age journey, transforming their border-town locale into a haven of creative expression and activist mischief. Through collaborative filmmaking, their cinematic self-portrait exalts the potency of friendship and joy as tools of survival and resistance.

Between drive-thru’s, friends’ couches, and the borderlands, both friends confront the stresses of survival, the future, and the imperative of community building. For them, this means protest action for legal abortion and against border militarization, in a politically divided America. But the summer heat is also a time for poetry and dreams. Their laughter and creative expression cement a sense of solidarity and belonging in togetherness.