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National Productions

For more than four decades, WETA has been a major producing station for PBS, creating exceptional television programs for audiences nationwide.

WETA is especially noted for its more than 20-year partnership with Ken Burns that has resulted in landmark television series such as THE WAR. In addition, our acclaimed news and public affairs series such as The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal are staples of the national public television schedule. More information about these and other WETA productions and co-productions are on the Ongoing Productions page.

Below are just a few examples of national television productions currently in WETA's pipeline. Look for them to be broadcast on public television stations nationwide in the months and years ahead!

Currently in production

Ken Burns (right) filming on location in Grand Canyon National Park for The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. (Photo credit: Craig Mellish, courtesy Florentine Films.)

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Coming in September 2009

This six-part Ken Burns documentary series chronicles the human story behind the creation of America's national parks.

Learn more »

Cuisine Culture

Coming in 2010

Ashley James, executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, visits chefs in the U.S. and abroad to examine the cross-cultural influences inspiring their cuisines.

Baseball: The Tenth Inning

Coming in 2010

Ken Burns and his producing partners Lynn Novick and David McMahon provide a follow-up to their landmark series on "America’s Pastime," continuing the story of baseball to recent events.

Benjamin Latrobe: America's First Architect

Coming in 2010

A one hour biography of the country's first architect — the man who created an "American" style and left his imprint on the U.S. Capitol and the White House.

Forgiveness

Coming in 2010

This two hour special explores forgiveness even in the most tragic of circumstances, following the stories of individuals facing forgiveness in its many forms, both public and private.

Faith and America's Founders

Coming in 2010

This documentary explores how the founders' religious backgrounds and beliefs shaped many of the enduring hallmarks of American society: religious freedom and tolerance, and the separation of church and state.

Lafayette: The Lost Hero

Coming in 2010

This documentary examines the life and legacy of one of the most important figures of both the American and French revolutions.

Hellen Keller (seated, middle), with Charlie Chaplin, Polly Thompson and Anne Sullivan, Hollywood, CA, 1918.

Becoming Helen Keller

Coming in 2011

For the first time, Helen Keller’s full life and legacy is placed in historical context. This American Masters program examines her fame and influence throughout the world, and explores 20th-century social change for people with disabilities.

Final Countdown: The Last Flight of the NASA Space Shuttle

Coming in 2011

This documentary takes a behind-the-scenes look at the work of scientists, engineers, and astronauts at the Johnson and Kennedy Space Flight Centers as they prepare the final shuttle launch.

Prohibition

Coming in 2011

The years of Prohibition — perhaps America's greatest social experiment — are examined in a series from the producers of THE WAR.

The War of 1812

Coming in 2011

An examination of the War of 1812, fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815.