Highlights Archive

Nature: Big Little Journeys

Dive into the worlds of six tiny animals on the greatest adventures of their lives.

Nature: Big Little Journeys airs Sundays, January 14 – 28 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD

While the distances may not seem monumental to us, grasses appear like skyscrapers and raindrops fall as big as cars to these little creatures. Meet six heroic, tiny travelers – a turtle, a bushbaby, a pangolin, a lion tamarin, a water vole and a chameleon – risking it all to complete big journeys against the odds. Working with scientists and conservationists around the world and using the latest camera technology, this three-part series captures insights into the lives of the small but mighty. Each episode explores the journeys of two distinctive little animals.

Photo: A painted turtle in Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada. l Credit: Deya Swift / © BBC NHU

https://youtu.be/qO50fpKzXFQ

New York Now Special Edition: State of the State • WXXI-TV and WXXI News

Governor Kathy Hochul delivers her 2025 State of the State Address.

New York Now Special Edition: State of the State airs Tuesday, January 14 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-TV and WXXI News and streaming at WXXINews.org.

New York Now presents live coverage of the Governor’s State of the State Address. Since early December, Hochul has announced several proposed initiatives, including inflation refund checks, an expansion of the child tax credit, free meals for students, and investments in child care facilities and education. New York NOW host Dave Lombardo hosts this broadcast from WMHT.

Photo: Governor Kathy Hochul l Credit: Max Shulte

Best of the Joy of Painting • Weekdays at 11:30am on WXXI-CREATE

The late Bob Ross delights and encourages the painting hobbyist in The Best of the Joy of Painting.

Best of the Joy of Painting airs weekdays at 11:30 a.m. on WXXI-CREATE.

In these episodes selected from a vast library, soft-spoken host Ross paints his trademark “happy” clouds, mountains and trees, while soothingly offering words of encouragement to those painting along at home. He shares his “wet-on-wet” technique for painting natural scenes that incorporate cliffs, waterfalls, green valleys and seascapes.

Photo: Bob Ross • Provided by APT

J Schwanke’s Life in the Bloom • Sundays at 11 a.m. on WORLD

Learn how to incorporate flowers into your life and create a “flower lifestyle.” J shares techniques for arranging & entertaining with flowers, and encourages viewers to think outside the box with flower crafts & recipes that include flowers.

J Schwanke’s Life in the Bloom airs Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WXXI-CREATE.

J’s signature presentation style empowers you to enjoy a lifestyle arranged around flowers, with simple techniques that ensure success. His love of flowers guides crafting, cooking and flower beverage segments, with special guests (aka “flower friends”) and on-location visits to flower destinations such as a flower and herb farm in Michigan and a Japanese garden and sculpture park. Throughout the series, J encourages viewers to relax with flowers and enjoy the health and wellness benefits that accompany a flower lifestyle.

Photo: J Schwanke • Provided by APT

The Dooky Chase Kitchen: Leah’s Legacy

This cooking series celebrates Leah Chase, featuring members of the legendary chef’s family.

The Dooky Chase Kitchen: Leah’s Legacy airs Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and Midnight, and Sundays at 5 p.m. on WXXI-CREATE.

Showcasing the Tremé restaurant and local landmark where Chef Leah Chase became known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine. Shot on location at Dooky Chase, the 26 episodes feature dishes that trace the history and cultural significance of the restaurant, prepared by younger generations of the Chase family who have led since Leah’s death.

Photo: (L-R) Leah’s grandson Edgar “Dook” Chase IV, great-granddaughter Zoe Chase, niece Cleo Robinson and granddaughter Eve Marie Haydel • Provided by APT

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love • Fridays at 10:30 a.m. on WXXI-CREATE

Samantha takes viewers on a discovery of the emotional heart of travel by highlighting the people who are changing, challenging and strengthening a destination to deliver a decidedly refreshing and enriching travel experience.

Samantha Brown’s Places to Love airs Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on WXXI-CREATE.

In each episode, Samantha seeks out the little-known spots and haunts where innovators and disrupters are creating a brand new travel experience. Whether it’s through food and drink, art and design, culture or adventure, at the end of each episode viewers will have a well-curated list of new experiences that focus on not just how to visit a destination, but how to fully immerse in it. Season 7 encourages the viewer to experience the passion of people and the soul of a place in a way that only traveling can do.

Photo: Samantha eating Laksa noodle soup at Mindi Beach night market in Darwin, Australia • Provided by APT

Elinor Wonders Why • WXXI-TV

Elinor and her friends set out to return Ms. Mole’s glasses to her after she forgets them at school. Ms. Mole can’t see anything without her glasses!

Elinor Wonders Why: Ms. Mole’s Glasses airs Tuesday, January 14 at 12 p.m. on WXXI-TV

When Ms. Mole forgets her glasses at school, Elinor and her friends follow her to return them. Ms. Mole can’t see anything without her glasses! The kids travel throughout Animal Town, just missing Ms. Mole at every turn. During their travels, the kids realize Ms. Mole has been shopping and getting around using different senses. By the time they finally reach Ms. Mole and return her glasses, she’s got all her shopping done without them. Cool!

Then in the second half of the episode, in Elinor Stops the Squish, Elinor and her friends want to bring Ms. Mole a cupcake for her birthday, but they’re worried it will get squished on the way to school. The kids find inspiration in nature when they observe how different animals/creatures stay safe using their shells as a defense mechanism. Elinor, Ari and Olive use this idea as inspiration to make a shell around the cupcake using a hard coconut. Because of the kids’ hard work and ingenuity, the cupcake makes it all the way to school without being squished, just in time for Ms. Mole to enjoy her present. Yum!

This children’s program is presented as part of Dialogue on Disability, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies – in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series. Dialogue on Disability is supported by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation with additional support from The Golisano Foundation. The weeklong initiative runs January 13-19, 2025

WXXI and Al Sigl have been hosting Dialogue on Disability since 2005. In 2014, with the support of businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, Move to Include™ was formed. This initiative enables WXXI to present and develop programming that promotes inclusion year round.

Independent Lens – Matter of Mind: My ALS • WXXI-TV

Three people with ALS confront complex choices in this intimate exploration.

Independent Lens – Matter of the Mind: My ALS airs Sunday, January 28 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease with an average survival time of 2-5 years from diagnosis. In this intimate exploration, three people with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, bravely face different paths as they live with this progressively debilitating illness.

This program is presented as part of Dialogue on Disability, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies – in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series. Dialogue on Disability is supported by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation with additional support from The Golisano Foundation. The weeklong initiative runs January 22 through January 28, 2024.

Photo: Phil Freelon and his son Pierce Freelon pose for photo in Durham, NC • Credit: David Alvarado