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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Jackson 5, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder On PBS? Yes, It’s Pledge Time Again

PBS stations sing a new tune this week – not that there’s anything wrong with that.

On WCET-TV and CET Arts you’ll see some great old shows (with pledge breaks), such as  HBO’s 1981 Simon & Garfunkel concert in New York’s Central Park, and a repeat of the 1983 Jackson 5 reunion at the “Motown 25” celebration (following performances by Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Martha Reeves).

Fund-raising time also means a fun time with old clips of John Denver, Julie Andrews, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Dick Van Dyke, Joel Gray, Richard Burton, Neil Sedaka, Harry Chapin, Andy Williams, Charlie Rich, Dusty Springfield and Dolly Parton.

Plus you’ll see more tenors… and a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert!

The prime-time highlights for CET, CET Arts and KET:

TODAY

8 p.m., Ch 48: “The Tenors: Under One Sky.” Concert special to promote new album by The Tenors: Clifton Murray, Fraser Walters, Remigio Pereira and Victor Micallef.

8 pm, CET Arts, Ch 48.3: “Alfio In Concert.  Tenor Alfio Bonanno, born in Australia to Italian parents, performed his favorite songs for public TV in April at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts near Detroit.

9:30 p.m., Ch 48: “Mannheim Steamroller 30/40 Live” It’s Christmas in August! Highlights from Mannheim Steamroller’s 2014  Christmas tour celebrating 30 years of its Christmas sound and the 40th anniversary of the group's first release of its Fresh Aire series.

9 p.m., Ch 54: “Elvis: Return to Tupelo.”  Kris Kristofferson narrates a look back at Elvis Presley from his childhood in Tupelo, Miss., to finding fame in the 1950s.

9:30 p.m., Ch 48.3: “Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show.” Shirley Jones presents clips featuring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Joel Gray, Richard Burton and others performing songs from “My Fair Lady,” “Camelot,” Oklahoma!,” “West Side Story,” Annie Get Your Gun,” “Sweet Charity,” “George M!” and “Man Of La Mancha.”

10 p.m., Ch 54: “Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance.”  A look back at one of radio’s most popular programs, the “National Barn Dance,” first broadcast by Chicago’s WLS-AM from 1924 to 1959.

WEDNESDAY AUG. 12

7 p.m., Ch 54: “The Appalachian Trial – An American Legacy.” The one hour documentary showcases the famous footpath in all four seasons.

8 p.m., Ch 48:  "Il Volo: Live from Pompeii." The three young operatic tenors -- Piero Barone, Gianluca Ginoble and  Ignazio Boschetto – sang Italian favorites and original songs at the ancient ruins of Pompeii.

8 p.m., Ch 48.3: “Classical Rewind (My Music).” SiriusXM host Martin Goldsmith presents masterpieces by Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart, Strauss Tchaikovsky and others.

9:30 p.m., Ch 48:  “John Denver: Country Boy.” This one-hour documentary, which premiered on the BBC in 2013, includes interview with his widow Annie Denver, manager Jerry Weintraub, musicians who worked with him and many others.

9:30 p.m., Ch 48.3: "Downton Abbey Rediscovered." Highlights from the first four seasons.

THURSDAY, AUG. 13

8 p.m., Ch 48: “Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park.” You’ll be feelin’ groovy watching this 1981 HBO concert when the duo sing their greatest hits:  “Mrs. Robinson,” “Homeward Bound,” “April Come She Will,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover,” “The Boxer,” “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” and “The Sound of Silence.”

8 p.m., Ch 48.3: “Il Volo: Live from Pompeii.”

9:30 p.m. Ch 48: 60s & 70s Slow Songs (My Music).”  Cheryl Ladd host this special featuring "Laughter in the Rain" (Neil Sedaka); “Annie's Song”  (John Denver); “She Believes in Me” (Kenny Rogers); “Brandy” (Looking Glass); “Cat's in the Cradle” (Harry Chapin); “Love Story Theme” (Andy Williams); “The Look of Love” (Dusty Springfield); “Here You Come Again” (Dolly Parton); “The Most Beautiful Girl” (Charlie Rich); and “Precious and Few” (Climax).

9:30 pm, Ch 48.3: “Alfio In Concert.”

FRIDAY AUG. 14

8 p.m., Ch 48.3: “Great Performances: Pavarotti: A Voice for the Ages.” 50th anniversary celebration of Luciano Pavarotti’s career.

9 p.m., Ch 48: “Motown 25.” This wonderful time capsule from 1983 – for Motown’s 25th anniversary – features terrific performances by the Four Tops, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes (Cindy Birdsong and Mary Wilson), Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Martha Reeves, Mary Wells –and a Jackson 5 reunion to close the show.

9:30 p.m., Ch 48.3: “Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park.”

Some of these shows also may repeat during the “Viewer’s Choice” marathon noon-11 p.m. Saturday.

And if you’re lucky like me, and also get WPTO-TV (Channel 14) or WPTD-TV (Channel 16), you can also catch:

TODAY

8 p.m., Ch 14: “60s & 70s Slow Songs (My Music).”

8 p.m. Ch 16: “Mannheim Steamroller 30/40 Live.”

9:30 p.m., Ch 14: “Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert In Central Park.”

9:30 p.m., Channel 16: “60s & 70s Slow Songs (My Music)."

WEDNESDAY AUG. 12

8 p.m., Ch 14: “Starlight Ballroom (My Music)."  A salute to big band swing music with Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald,  Perry Como, Peggy Lee, the Mills Brothers, Rosemary and Betty Clooney, Harry James, Bob Crosby, Tommy Dorsey and Dinah Shore.

8 p.m., Ch 16: “John Denver: Country Boy.”

9:30 p.m., Ch 16:  “Rock Rewind 1965-67 (My Music)."  Adam West hosts great old clips of “California Girls” (The Beach Boys), “Unchained Melody” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” (Righteous Brothers); “Cherish” (The Association); “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (The Byrds); “A Groovy Kind of Love” (The Mindbenders); “Monday, Monday” (The Mamas and The Papas); “Last Train to Clarksville” (The Monkees); “The Letter” (The Box Tops); “Up, Up and Away” (5th Dimension); “Groovin’” (The Rascals) and “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” (Spanky & Our Gang).

10 p.m., Ch 14: “Ken Burns: The Civil War.” A 25th anniversary special looking at the making of and impact of Ken Burns’ “Civil War” documentary.

THURSDAY, AUG. 13

8 p.m., Ch 14: “Great Broadway Musical Moments from the Ed Sullivan Show."

8 p.m., Ch 16:  “Ken Burns: The Civil War.”

9 p.m.: “Motown 25.”

9:30 p.m., Ch 14: “Rock Rewind 1965-67.”

FRIDAY AUG. 14

8 p.m., Ch 14: “Downton Abbey Rediscovered."

9 p.m., Ch 16: “John Sebastian Presents: Folk Rewind (My Music).” Folk music’s greatest hits by the Chad Mitchell Trio, Barry McGuire, Roger McGuinn, Jesse Colin Young, Ed Ames and the Limeliters.

9:30 p.m., Ch 14: “Country Pop Legends (My Music)." Mixed with archival tributes to Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Tammy Wynette, Eddy Arnold and Gene Autry are performances of “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Southern Nights (Glen Campbell); “Tennessee Waltz” (Patti Page); “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”(Crystal Gayle); “Let Your Love Flow” (Bellamy Brothers); and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Hooked on a Feeling” (B.J. Thomas).

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.