'Downton Abbey,' Prince bolster WUCF TV's June drive
By Hal Boedeker
Orlando Sentinel |
May 24, 2019 | 10:33 AM
In 'Downton Abbey' from left: Dame Maggie Smith, left, as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary.
With a little help from Prince and "Downton Abbey," WUCF TV will stage its next membership drive in June.
The special "Downton Abbey Returns!" will celebrate the beloved "Masterpiece" series and preview the big-screen movie, which arrives Sept. 20 in theaters. Jim Carter, who plays Carson, hosts the program at 9 p.m. June 2.
Orlando's PBS station will present the Prince concert "Rave Un2 the Year 2000" at 10 p.m. June 1.
The program, which originally aired in 1999, features performances of "Let's Go Crazy," "Kiss," "Purple Rain," "1999" and "Nothing Compares 2 U." Prince, one of the most beloved figures in music, died in April 2016.
"We are excited to bring this popular concert to our viewers," said Phil Hoffman, WUCF executive director. He added that "Prince's legendary talent and peerless showmanship" reflect WUCF's diverse programming.
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The membership drive will run all of June, and WUCF hopes to raise $200,000. The station's last drive, which ended in March, raised $292,000, short of the $300,000 goal.
The donations pay for PBS programming, such as "NewsHour," "Frontline" and "Masterpiece," as well as local programs, such as the new "NewsNight."
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Other programming for the drive will include "Blenko Glass: Behind the Scenes" on June 3, "The Doobie Brothers Live at the Beacon Theatre" and "Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at O2" from 2010 with Central Florida's Norm Lewis as Javert.
WUCF also will preview "Chasing the Moon," an "American Experience" documentary detailing the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. That program will be part of PBS' "Summer of Space" in July.
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"Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making WUCF programs possible," Hoffman said. "WUCF offers all viewers from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content, and support from our local community helps secure public broadcasting in Central Florida."
In September, PBS will present Ken Burns' "Country Music," an eight-part, 16-hour look at the American art form.
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