With the news that PBS KIDS programming is ending one hour earlier on weekdays starting Feb. 6, afternoons on KAMU are about to get more diverse. The newly expanded 1-5 p.m. timeslot promises more options and opportunities for learning new things, tracking mysteries, enjoying culture and celebrating Texas.
The first hour of every weekday afternoon will be dedicated to different cooking and travel programs — but then the real fun begins, with each afternoon following a different theme.
The changes begin Feb. 6. Check our TV schedule for showtimes and more details on all of our afternoon programs.
Mondays: Drama
1 p.m. cooking program: “Sara’s Weeknight Meals”
1:30 p.m. travel program: “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love”
Classic drama programs cover most of KAMU’s Monday afternoons. Longtime mid-day favorite “Midsomer Murders” continues to air. You never know what you’ll get in this deliciously sinister mystery series. Also, catch “Death in Paradise,” as a detective is transferred from London to the Caribbean and is immediately greeted with complex cases. Later in the month, watch drama-documentary “Secrets of the Six Wives,” which explores the key events in the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives.
Tuesdays: Heartwarming
1 p.m. cooking program: “Pati’s Mexican Table”
1:30 p.m. travel program: “Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope”
Tuesdays are home to feel-good programs exploring our world and culture. At 2 p.m., catch episodes of America’s favorite treasure hunt: “Antiques Roadshow.” For the first few weeks of February, re-airings of the new episodes of period drama “All Creatures Great and Small” are also included. “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love” explores the emotional heart of travel at 4 p.m. And at 4:30 p.m., learn about books published at Texas A&M in the KAMU original production “The Bookmark,” which is new to this timeslot. Later in the month, “Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace” gives a historical and romanticized view of Hampton Court.
Wednesdays: History
1 p.m. cooking program: “Lidia’s Kitchen”
1:30 p.m. travel program: “Rick Steves’ Europe”
If history is your favorite genre, watch KAMU on Wednesdays. Genealogy program “Finding Your Roots” starts the afternoon. Henry Louis Gates Jr. uncovers the ancestries of celebrities like Julia Roberts, Claire Danes, Danny Trejo and Jeff Daniels. As February is Black History Month, many of the initial Wednesday afternoon history programs explore the lives and legacies of influential Black Americans. Watch profiles and documentaries about Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Sammy Davis Jr. and Fanny Lou Hamer.
Thursdays: Nature
1 p.m. cooking program: “America’s Test Kitchen”
1:30 p.m. travel program: “The Daytripper”
Some of PBS’ finest nature and wildlife programs will fill out Thursday afternoons on KAMU. Re-airings of the new miniseries “Dogs in the Wild” air at 2 p.m. in February. The ambitious series travels the globe, tracking the 37 different species of canids, from the recognizable to the lesser-known. Other programs to watch out for in February include the PBS-favorite “NATURE” and “First Peoples” — a documentary about how humans got to every continent on Earth.
Fridays: Science
1 p.m. cooking program: “Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television”
1:30 p.m. travel program: “Texas Parks and Wildlife”
The new schedule wraps up on Fridays with afternoons full of science shows. Longtime PBS show “NOVA” — which just began its 50th season — kicks things off at 2 p.m. In February, expect episodes about star chasers, the Amazon and the James Webb Space Telescope. Also, look out for “Ancient Skies,” as experts decode astronomical myths and uncover the science behind their origin. Finally, part detective story, part true-life drama, “Secrets of the Dead” unearths evidence from around the world to shed new light on historical mysteries.
We hope you enjoy our new approach to afternoon programming. Check our TV schedule for exact showtimes and more details about each show. And if nothing catches your eye, but you still want to watch PBS programming, join KAMU Passport for just $5 a month or $60 a year. You’ll gain access to thousands of educational, dramatic, heartfelt and bold programs from across the country and around the world.
