Battle Brews Over Burns' 'War'

'A Nation of Drunkards' is the best episode: reviewers

(NEWSER) - Ken Burns' latest mega-documentary, Prohibition, starts a three-night run tomorrow on PBS. Reviewers are praising the 5 1/2-hour survey of America's war on booze, but warn that it's a bit slow and may reveal its best stuff in the first episode:

• "It's a great subject with many present-day echoes, as the war on drugs ever more loudly raises questions of legislated morality," writes Robert Lloyd in the Los Angeles Times . "The drama might flag or grow diffuse, but there is still a lot here to learn."

Salon offers up a mid-year list

(NEWSER) - Now that we're more than halfway through 2011, the Salon staff compiled the best books, movies, music, and TV of the year so far. Among its recommendations:

• Film: Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life is quite good—but Lee Chang-dong's Poetry, about a 66-year-old woman who may have Alzheimer's, is a masterpiece. Another surprising inclusion: Matthew McConaughey-vehicle The Lincoln Lawyer, directed by Brad Furman.
• Books: You'd never know The Pale King, David Foster Wallace's third and last novel, was actually unfinished at the time of his death and pieced together by his longtime editor. Also worth checking out: novelist Andre Dubus III's memoir, Townie.

Sponsor spots to appear in 'Nature' and 'Nova' this fall

(NEWSER) - The days of uninterrupted programming at PBS may be numbered. Officials have notified member stations that PBS plans to start placing corporate sponsor spots and promotional messages in breaks during certain programs instead of between them, reports the New York Times , which notes that break-free programming has been one of PBS' most distinctive selling points for decades. The new model—which some fear will cause viewers and supporters to rebel—will be tested starting this fall in the science series Nova and Nature. More»

10- to 12-hour documentary will air in 2016

(NEWSER) - Ken Burns' next project will wade into the quagmire known as America's "war of lost illusions:" Vietnam. PBS announced the project, already in production, yesterday, reports Time, and expects to air it in 2016. Burns mentioned a Vietnam project in 2007 when promoting The War, but said he wanted to wait until veterans were "at the age where their advancing age will provide them with the kind of perspectives that we've been able to tap into for this film." More»

Individuals are cash-strapped stations' biggest funding source

(NEWSER) - Between the recession and threats to its federal funding, PBS is facing tough times—so don’t be surprised if you see a lot more Les Miserables and self-help programming. PBS stations have upped the length of televised pledging periods by 9% since 2005, the company says, with some stations spending 10 weeks a year on fundraising. And this month, it’s been working: viewers have pledged 31% more cash than they did last March, the New York Times reports. More»