When ScarJo met Putin

Vietnam, geneology, music part of new PBS season

LOS ANGELES — PBS is mixing it up next season with programs about Vietnam, Scarlett Johansson and Vladimir Putin.

The public TV service said its fall lineup will be anchored by

a 10-part documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns debuting Sept. 17. The genealogy series

with Henry Louis Gates Jr. is returning Oct. 3. Besides Johansson, celebrities who will learn about their ancestors include Aziz Ansari, Bryant Gumbel and Garrison Keillor.

Russian President Putin will get a different kind of scrutiny on

A two-part documentary on his rise and his rule will air Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.

In January, PBS will air a music special honouring the legendary Tony Bennett. The tribute, is to be recorded this fall.

The season kicks off with “an array of terrific programming in all the genres that made PBS great in the first place,” said PBS programming executive Beth Hoppe.

Among other programs and dates announced Wednesday for the upcoming schedule:

• A Great Performances series salute to Broadway airing Oct. 20-Dec. 1 and including the musicals and

a tribute to famed producerdirector Harold Prince; and Tony Award winner Kevin Kline in a revival of Noel Coward’s • New seasons of the drama series (starting Oct. 1) and (Oct. 15) and (Dec. 17). • (Nov. 20).

• specials on filmmaker Richard Linklater (Sept. 1); artist Tyrus Wong (Sept. 8); Edgar Allan Poe (Oct. 30); and Bob Hope (Dec. 29).

• A Nova science series special on the Cassini space probe’s last hours as it descends into Saturn’s atmosphere, (Sept. 13).

WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION Ken Burns, from left, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Lynn Novick speak at PBS’ The Vietnam War panel at the 2017 Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. The public TV service said its fall lineup will be anchored the 10-part...