KLRN is proud to celebrate the accomplishments, contributions, and vibrantly diverse cultures of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Tune in during the month of May for featured programming and specials that showcase AAPI history and culture in the United States. Check out KLRN’s video player for full episodes and specials after they air.
For more AAPI-related videos and resources, visit PBS’ AAPI Heritage Month page.
American Masters | Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir
May 3
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
The story of the author whose first novel, “The Joy Luck Club,” was published to great commercial and critical success. With the blockbuster film adaption that followed as well as additional best-selling novels, librettos, short stories and memoirs, Tan firmly established herself as one of the most prominent and respected American literary voices working today.
BLOODLINE
May 7 at 10:30PM
BLOODLINE is an intimate profile of Vietnamese-American chef Tu David Phu and the evolution of his culinary aesthetic – borne from a bloodline that traces back through childhood and his family’s unspoken history of war. The film’s narrative is framed around Tu as he returns home to Oakland, California after competing on the cooking series Top Chef (Season 15). As he reflects on that experience and his new visibility as a celebrity chef, Tu traces his unlikely journey. From the son of refugees growing up in West Oakland to a professional chef, Tu’s acclaimed culinary creations are heralded as the next wave of Asian fusion representing Vietnamese culture.
The Indian Doctor
May 8 at 9:00PM
The Indian Doctor is a comedy drama set in the 1960s following a high-flying Delhi graduate Dr. Prem Sharma (Sanjeev Bhaskar) and his wife Kamini's (Ayesha Dharker) new life in a Welsh coal mining town. Once in Wales, they quickly become embroiled in the lives of the villagers, although the regal Kamini is determined they are leaving as soon as possible.
Antiques Roadshow: Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage
May 10 at 8:00PM
Travel with ROADSHOW as it turns the spotlight on incredible items with Asian and Pacific Islands origins, including a Hawaiian kou bowl, a Ghandi presentation spinning wheel and an 1888 Joesph Nawahi painting. Which is valued at $250,000-$300,000?
Asian Americans
May 11 at 7:00PM
Watch the full episode on KLRN's video player
“Breaking Ground” See how new immigrants from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond, despite anti-Asian laws, still manage to build railroads, dazzle on the silver screen and take their fight for equality to the U.S.
The Indian Doctor
May 13 at 8:00PM
Mr. Tornado: American Experience
May 14 at 8:00PM
Meet pioneering meteorologist Ted Fujita, who transformed our understanding of tornados. His technological advancements saved lives and helped Americans prepare for and respond to dangerous weather phenomena.
Pacific Heartbeat: Tokyo Hula
May 14 at 9:00PM
Today it is estimated there are nearly 2 million people dancing hula in Japan - a figure greater than the entire population of Hawai'i. TOKYO HULA examines how tourism, economics, and a love for all things Hawaiian have fueled this cultural phenomenon by focusing on the personal stories of Japanese teachers who have started their own schools and Hawaiian master teachers who are now living and teaching in Japan.
The Indian Doctor
May 15 at 9:00PM
Asian Americans
May 18 at 7:00PM
“A Question of Loyalty” - Meet the first generation of U.S.-born Asian Americans, whose loyalties are tested during WWII.
The Indian Doctor
May 20 at 8:00PM
Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story
May 21 at 8:00PM
Meet the statesman who served as cabinet secretary for Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush. Imprisoned by the U.S. during World War II for his Japanese ancestry, Mineta rose to become the first Asian American to serve in a presidential cabinet.
American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i
May 21 at 9:00PM
American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i tells the stories of three kumu hula (master instructors) who direct hula schools based in California. The film explores the challenges they face trying to perpetuate hula faithfully, from the very traditional to the contemporary, as it evolves on distant shores. Their stories serve as a reminder of the power of tradition for communities creating a home away from home.
The Indian Doctor
May 22 at 9:00PM
Independent Lens: The Donut King
May 24 at 9:00PM
Hear the incredible story of Ted Ngoy. After fleeing Cambodia for the United States, he built a multi-million-dollar fried pastry empire, Christy's Doughnuts, and began living his American Dream. But a great rise often comes with a great fall.
POV Shorts: In The Absence
May 24 at 9:30PM
A South Korean community is torn apart by a ferry disaster which claimed the lives of hundreds of children. When government incompetence is revealed as the main cause, the victims' families seek justice.
Asian Americans
May 25 at 7:00PM
“Good Americans” – Learn how Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a model minority and targeted as the perpetual foreigner during the Cold War. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire to national political office.
The Indian Doctor
May 26 at 8:00PM and May 29 at 9:00PM
Great Performances: Lee Salonga in Concert
May 28 at 8:00PM
Enjoy a concert from the Sydney Opera House performed by the internationally acclaimed singer and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra featuring selections from her Broadway career, as well as hits from the animated movie blockbusters "Aladdin" and "Mulan."