TV Schedules

Kentucky Muse

Merle Travis: Guitar Man

Raised in the Western Kentucky coalfields during the Great Depression, songwriter and guitarist Merle Travis grew to worldwide stardom by the 1940s and 1950s. Today he is one of country music's most celebrated stylistic pioneers. His life story and his musical legacy are the focus of the documentary, "Merle Travis: Guitar Man". Perhaps best recognized as the original balladeer of the classic "Sixteen Tons" as well as hits like "Nine Pound Hammer" and "Dark as a Dungeon" - which all drew inspiration from the struggles of coal miners - Travis, who died in 1983, is also celebrated as the developer of a unique thumb-picking guitar-playing style eventually dubbed "Travis pickin.'" A 2016 KET Production.

bookclub@ket

Lonesome Road

Bill Goodman and a panel of guests discuss Martha Bennett Stiles' novel about a mother whose child has been kidnapped. A 2006 KET production taped before a live audience at the London branch of the Laurel County Public Library.

Kentucky Collectibles

"Sword of Perryville" and Antique Bourbon Bottles

The "Sword of Perryville" is examined and evaluated as well a collection of antique Kentucky bourbon bottles found in the garbage. A 2015 KET Production.

Downstream

Bourbon County

This episode features Hartfield & Co., a Bourbon County distillery in Paris; fishing on Hinkston Creek by the Colville Covered Bridge; kayaking on the Russell Fork River, and sampling homemade apple wine. A 2020 Production.

Kentucky Life

Kentucky's Native Pollinators, Kentucky's Oldest Business, Meet the Rogers

Explore Kentucky's hidden network of vital pollinators; ride the historic Valley View Ferry across the Kentucky River between Fayette and Madison counties; and Don and Grace Rogers from Owingsville carry their family's musical tradition forward. A 2026 KET production.

Distinguished Kentuckian

Margaret Willis

Margaret Willis served as state librarian from 1954 to 1972, under six different governors. A 1977 KET production.

Tim Farmer's Country Kitchen

Minestrone Soup, Rolled Cheesy Chicken Parmesan and Homemade Italian Bread

Italian recipes include minestrone soup with cavatelli pasta and a new take on chicken parmesan.

Kentucky Afield

Kentucky Collectibles

"Sword of Perryville" and Antique Bourbon Bottles

The "Sword of Perryville" is examined and evaluated as well a collection of antique Kentucky bourbon bottles found in the garbage. A 2015 KET Production.

WoodSongs Kids

Pickin' Thistles & Sylvie Coogie

Pickin' Thistles are a family band that plays Celtic, Folk, and Bluegrass music. Sylvie Coogie, a 14-year-old ukulele player joins the program.

The Beat of a Different Drummer

The Beat of a Different Drummer: The Story of America's Last All-Female Military Band

The 14th Army WAC (Women's Army Corps) Band existed from 1948 to 1976, during a time when America was struggling with equal rights. The WAC Band was a rare place where a woman could work as a professional musician. This story tells how these trailblazers helped change the landscape for American women while performing the everyday rigors of an Army musician. A 2013 production.

On the Ohio with John Ed Pearce

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and columnist John Ed Pearce cruises down the Ohio River, stopping frequently along the way to relate historical anecdotes and facts about the river, its people, and its towns. A 1987 KET production.

Appalshop @ 40: Classics from the Collection

Big Lever

In 1978 Richard Nixon chose Leslie County, Ky., for his first public appearance since resigning the presidency. Priceless footage of his visit introduces this incisive and sometimes hilarious look at the engines that drive American politics. The film explores the machinations of party politics in this rural and staunchly Republican county. A 2011 Production.

Bywords

Paul Patton

Paul Patton discusses economic and transportation development and the coal industry in Eastern Kentucky. A 1980 KET production.

Our Kids

Discover how students are earning college credit, learn about the Explore program and meet a former student who is now a teacher. Hosted by Moore High School correspondent Marcus Mahan.

Kentucky Collectibles

"Sword of Perryville" and Antique Bourbon Bottles

The "Sword of Perryville" is examined and evaluated as well a collection of antique Kentucky bourbon bottles found in the garbage. A 2015 KET Production.

Kentucky Time Capsule

In the American Way

Looks back at urban renewal in Louisville in the 1970s, including the destruction that was required to make way for new development, and at the opposition voices who argued that "quality of life" could not be measured by concrete. Prominent among them was Kentucky farmer and writer Wendell Berry. A 2003 KET Production.

Kentucky Muse

Merle Travis: Guitar Man

Raised in the Western Kentucky coalfields during the Great Depression, songwriter and guitarist Merle Travis grew to worldwide stardom by the 1940s and 1950s. Today he is one of country music's most celebrated stylistic pioneers. His life story and his musical legacy are the focus of the documentary, "Merle Travis: Guitar Man". Perhaps best recognized as the original balladeer of the classic "Sixteen Tons" as well as hits like "Nine Pound Hammer" and "Dark as a Dungeon" - which all drew inspiration from the struggles of coal miners - Travis, who died in 1983, is also celebrated as the developer of a unique thumb-picking guitar-playing style eventually dubbed "Travis pickin.'" A 2016 KET Production.

The Farmer & The Foodie

Jeptha Creed Distillery

Maggie and Lindsey meet a mother-daughter team making waves in the bourbon industry. They tour Jeptha Creed distillery to learn more about the company's ground-to-glass initiative. Great recipes include beef and bourbon stew and bloody butcher cornbread.

Tim Farmer's Country Kitchen

Minestrone Soup, Rolled Cheesy Chicken Parmesan and Homemade Italian Bread

Italian recipes include minestrone soup with cavatelli pasta and a new take on chicken parmesan.

Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America

To Save the Land and People

A history of early grassroots efforts to stop strip mining in Eastern Kentucky, where broad-form deeds signed at the beginning of the 20th century let coal operators destroy land to get at the minerals underneath without getting the permission of, or compensating, the surface owner. The Appalachian group To Save the Land and People used every means possible - from legal petitions and local ordinances to guns and dynamite - to fight the abuses. A 2003 Production.

Run That by Me Again

Peach Bowl, 1976

Coach Fran Curci, players Rod Stewart and Derrick Ramsey, and others share memories of the 1976 Peach Bowl, which pitted Kentucky against North Carolina. A 1977 KET production.

Our Kids

Discover how students are earning college credit, learn about the Explore program and meet a former student who is now a teacher. Hosted by Moore High School correspondent Marcus Mahan.

Bywords

Paul Patton

Paul Patton discusses economic and transportation development and the coal industry in Eastern Kentucky. A 1980 KET production.

Frametown

The film tells the story of women firefighters that make up a large percentage of Frametown, West Virginia's volunteer fire department. A 2020 Production.

Kentucky Life

River Lotus Lion Dance, KY Agate, Folk Artists Twyla and Lonnie Money, Arts Carts

River Lotus Lion Dance in Louisville showcases the traditional Asian dance where performers mimic a lion's movements; the history and color/patterns of agates; folk artists Lonnie and Twyla Money are known for their whimsical and colorful wood carving; Lexington artists bring their art to the streets through "Art on the Town" and the use of free art carts. A 2023 KET production.

Downstream

Bourbon County

This episode features Hartfield & Co., a Bourbon County distillery in Paris; fishing on Hinkston Creek by the Colville Covered Bridge; kayaking on the Russell Fork River, and sampling homemade apple wine. A 2020 Production.

Conversations with Champions

Bob White and J.R. Van Hoose - "Sweet Sixteen"

Billy discusses the boys' Kentucky State High School basketball tournament with veteran sportswriter Bob White and J.R. Van Hoose, who led Paintsville High to the 1996 state championship and was Kentucky's "Mr. Basketball" in 1998. A 2018 KET Production.

The Beat of a Different Drummer

The Beat of a Different Drummer: The Story of America's Last All-Female Military Band

The 14th Army WAC (Women's Army Corps) Band existed from 1948 to 1976, during a time when America was struggling with equal rights. The WAC Band was a rare place where a woman could work as a professional musician. This story tells how these trailblazers helped change the landscape for American women while performing the everyday rigors of an Army musician. A 2013 production.

On the Ohio with John Ed Pearce

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and columnist John Ed Pearce cruises down the Ohio River, stopping frequently along the way to relate historical anecdotes and facts about the river, its people, and its towns. A 1987 KET production.

Kentucky Life

River Lotus Lion Dance, KY Agate, Folk Artists Twyla and Lonnie Money, Arts Carts

River Lotus Lion Dance in Louisville showcases the traditional Asian dance where performers mimic a lion's movements; the history and color/patterns of agates; folk artists Lonnie and Twyla Money are known for their whimsical and colorful wood carving; Lexington artists bring their art to the streets through "Art on the Town" and the use of free art carts. A 2023 KET production.

Kentucky Afield

Tim Farmer's Country Kitchen

Minestrone Soup, Rolled Cheesy Chicken Parmesan and Homemade Italian Bread

Italian recipes include minestrone soup with cavatelli pasta and a new take on chicken parmesan.

Kentucky Collectibles

"Sword of Perryville" and Antique Bourbon Bottles

The "Sword of Perryville" is examined and evaluated as well a collection of antique Kentucky bourbon bottles found in the garbage. A 2015 KET Production.

Kentucky Edition

The Beat of a Different Drummer

The Beat of a Different Drummer: The Story of America's Last All-Female Military Band

The 14th Army WAC (Women's Army Corps) Band existed from 1948 to 1976, during a time when America was struggling with equal rights. The WAC Band was a rare place where a woman could work as a professional musician. This story tells how these trailblazers helped change the landscape for American women while performing the everyday rigors of an Army musician. A 2013 production.

Kentucky Afield

Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America

To Save the Land and People

A history of early grassroots efforts to stop strip mining in Eastern Kentucky, where broad-form deeds signed at the beginning of the 20th century let coal operators destroy land to get at the minerals underneath without getting the permission of, or compensating, the surface owner. The Appalachian group To Save the Land and People used every means possible - from legal petitions and local ordinances to guns and dynamite - to fight the abuses. A 2003 Production.