Programming News

We kick off our summer membership campaign on Saturday. Now more than ever, we need your support as state budget cuts are making it difficult to maintain our commitment to providing the best programming possible for Louisiana. Your support helps pay for the programming on LPB so please join LPB or renew your membership this month. We start the drive off Saturday with episode two of the award-winning Louisiana: A History series at 3:30PM followed by Daniel O’Donnell at 5 and The Big Band Years at 8PM.

On Sunday, August 1, it’s episodes three and four of Louisiana: A History starting at 1PM. Video Games Live (5PM) was filmed in New Orleans with the New Orleans Philharmonic and features the music from classic video games such as the Mario, Zelda, Sonic, Halo, Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Civilization, StarCraft and Guitar Hero franchises. At 7PM, In Performance at the White House salutes former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. That’s followed at 9:30 by John Denver: A Song’s Best Friend.

On Tuesday, we have star-studded salutes to Bill Cosby (8PM) and Billy Crystal (9PM) and they receive the Mark Twain Award.

On Wednesday at 7PM, we have a special Louisiana Public Square on agriculture that was taped last week at the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center in Alexandria. Thanks to everyone in Alexandria for their assistance in taping the show. especially our underwriters the Louisiana Forestry Association, First South Farm Credit and The Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center. That ‘s followed at 8 by Sir Paul McCartney in Performance at the White House receiving the Gershwin Award for Popular Music and Stevie Wonder in concert at 9:30.

**FOLSE AFTER THE HUNT WRAPS UP**

LPB We should be finished taping LPB and Chef John Folse’s new 26-part After the Hunt series on Thursday. It’s been wonderful as we have had some great music, a lot of fun and of course, some awesome food. Look for a special preview of the series on Tuesday, August 10 at 7PM. The series will premiere on Thursday, September 23 at 7PM with an encore showing every Saturday at 1:00PM.

LIDIA IS COMING TO TOWN!

LPB Famed PBS Chef Lidia Bastianich will be in Baton Rouge on Saturday, August 7 to appear live on LPB from 2:30 to 4:30PM during Lidia’s The Best of Italy.

In conjunction with National Farmers Market Week, Lidia will also make a special appearance at the Red Stick Farmers Market in Baton Rouge from 9 to 11AM, which will include a book signing for her latest book Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy from 9 to 10:30AM. Chef Peter Sclafani from Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant in Baton Rouge will also prepare some of Lidia’s favorite recipes from 10:30AM to 11AM. The Red Stick Farmers Market event is free and open to the public.

LPB and Lidia will hold a wine tasting from 7 to 9PM. Catering will be provided by White Oak Plantation. The cost is $75 per person. Call Friends of LPB at (225) 767-4214 or 1-800-272-8161, ext. 4214 for more information.

**RALNA ENGLISH FROM THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW TO BE AT LPB ON AUGUST 14TH**

LPB Singer Ralna English, the longtime star of The Lawrence Welk Show, will be here in Baton Rouge on Saturday, August 14th. Friends of LPB will host a special meet and greet with Ralna from 6 to 7PM in the LPB Auditorium. Tickets for the meet and greet are only $20 each. Call Friends at 800-272-8161, ext. 4214 or 767-4214 in the Baton Rouge area to get your tickets. You can also email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Starting at 7, Ralna will be live in the LPB Studios during the airing of The Welk Stars - Through the Years, a look back at the five decades of Welk shows and specials featuring performances by the Champagne Music Makers.

ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY DISCUSSION SET FOR THURSDAY

LPB Neil White’s In the Sanctuary of Outcasts is the summer selection for East Baton Rouge Parish’s One Book One Community project. The program creates a citywide book club that aims to use a common reading experience as the motivation for the intellectual and cultural exchange of dialogue and ideas in order to raise awareness and visibility about a relevant community issue or issues. OBOC organizing sponsors include: LPB, Baton Rouge Community College, Barnes & Noble, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Forum 35, LSU, Harper Perennial, Redstick Internet Services, The Greater Baton Rouge Literacy Coalition.

White’s compelling memoir recalls his 18-month prison sentence spent inside the last leper colony in the United States. In 1993, he was convicted of bank fraud and was sent to the minimum-security prison in Carville, Louisiana.. For more than a century, Carville served as the United States national leprosarium. Individuals who contracted the disease were quarantined within the prison’s walls. During White’s stay he finds friendship among, lepers and convicts, and undergoes a personal transformation.

Greater Baton Rouge area residents are encouraged to read In the Sanctuary of Outcasts, see the author speak when he comes to Baton Rouge this Thursday at 7PM and discuss the book with friends, family and co-workers as well as participate in other discussion events. Copies of the book can be found at your local library, bookstore or purchased online. For more information, visit the One Book One Community website.

HURRICANE & OIL SPILL INFO

LPB If you are looking for information about hurricanes and the BP oil spill in the Gulf, visit the LPB website to get up-to-the-minute information.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP ANYTIME YOU LIKE

Friends members can get a 15% discount on all ShopLPB purchases. Just type in your code when you check out.

More than 250 items are available for a contribution to LPB. It’s an excellent way to support your public television network in these tough financial times.

Visit ShopLPB or call 1-800-973-7246. For a copy of our new color catalog with descriptions of most of our documentaries, music specials and educational series just email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 1-800-272-8161 or 767-4274.

Thanks for watching!

July 26 - August 1, 2010

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July 2010

JULY 2010 MEMBER BENEFITS:

Lafayette Science Museum
Valid for 2-for-1 admission during the month.
For more information, contact Karen Miller at (337) 291-5544 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Princess Theatre
Valid for 2-for-1 admission to the Franklin Opry performing July 17th; subject to availability.
For more information, contact Gene Thompson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).