Essentially every American who has listened to the radio or gone to summer camp knows Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” The music of the nation’s signature folk singer/songwriter has been recorded by everyone from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to the Irish rock band U2. Originally blowing out of the Dust Bowl in 1930s Depression-era America, he blended vernacular, rural music and populism to give voice to millions of downtrodden citizens. Guthrie’s prolific music, poetry and prose were politically leftist, uniquely patriotic and always inspirational. He joined music with traditional oral history and was central to the folk music revival. His is a complex story filled with frenetic creative energy and a treasure trove of cultural history - as well as personal imperfections and profound family tragedy.

Read a timeline of Woody Guthrie’s career and more at the American Masters website.

Watch a preview of “Woody Guthrie: Ain’t Got No Home” now:

“A Death in Tehran” premieres Tuesday, November 17 at 9pm

At the height of the protests following Iran’s controversial presidential election this summer, a young woman named Neda Agha Soltan was shot and killed on the streets of Tehran. Her death — filmed on a cameraphone, then uploaded to the web — quickly became an international outrage, and Agha Soltan became the face of a powerful movement that threatened the hard-line government’s hold on power. With the help of a unique network of correspondents in and out of the country, FRONTLINE investigates the life and death of the woman whose image remains a potent symbol for those who want to keep the reform movement alive. The film also explores a number of unanswered questions in the aftermath of the greatest upheaval in Iran since the 1979 revolution: How many were arrested and killed as the security forces attempted to contain the growing protest movement? To what extent was the presidential vote manipulated? What is the future of the movement that seems to have been silenced?

Watch a preview of “A Death in Tehran” now:

Watch a clip from the very first episode as THIRTEEN celebrates Sesame Street’s 40th!

And don’t forget to tune-in on Tuesday, November 10 as the 40th season of Sesame Street kicks off. This special celebrity-filled year will include Cameron Diaz, Adam Sandler, Kobe Bryant and First Lady Michelle Obama!

Cookie Monster – A cute furry party animal that lives to binge on cookies – what’s not to love? If that’s not enough – because of him, we all know that cookie, cookie, cookie starts with “C.”
Big Bird - It might be his friendly nature, bright yellow plumage, his childlike innocence or his wild imagination. Or it could be his wickedly-awesome feet.
Oscar the Grouch – This trash-loving sourpuss of Sesame Street who seems to have a permanent case of the Mondays is mean, green, lives in a pig sty and doesn’t give a hoot.
Mr. Snuffleapagus – A member of the rare snuffleupagus species, this spaghetti-loving, furry friend of Big Bird’s taught us that imaginary friends are OK…you know, as long as you’re six.
Mr. Hooper – Who could forget the kind store owner (and friend to Big Bird) whose sad passing in 1982 resulted in one of the most bittersweet scenes in television history?
Guy Smiley – Right up there with Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak as one of the great game show hosts of the modern era.
Grover – He’s neurotic, over the top and he sometimes transforms into a bumbling superhero (Super Grover!) but that doesn’t stop him from being an all-time Sesame Street great.
Bert & Ernie – With timeless musical hits like Rubber Ducky, Dance Myself to Sleep, Doin’ the (coo coo) Pigeon…goofball Ernie and straight-laced Bert are the ultimate comedic duo.
Gordon – While three actors have portrayed this real-life role model (who often keeps some of the puppets grounded in reality), Roscoe Orman has starred as Gordon since 1974.
Maria – First appearing in 1971, Maria is often the mediator between the characters, and she runs the Fix-It Shop with husband Luis.
Two-Headed Monster – This fun-loving monster taught us all about phonics. We still try to sound out words using their method. Ch…eese….ch…eese…ch-eese…cheese!…CHEESE!!!
Forgetful Jones – We got so caught up in the Sesame Street excitement we nearly for-…er, neglected to mention this lovable purple cowboy, whose bushy mustache is something to behold.
The Count – Think math is boring? Not when everyone’s favorite Transylvanian and his batty friends are teaching it to you. There you go – 13 wonderful Sesame Street characters - Ah! Ah! Ah!

Thursday, November 26 at 9pm - Sting: A Winter’s Night
Thursday, November 26 at 10pm - Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas
Wednesday, December 16 at 9pm - GP at the Met: Tosca
Monday, December 21 at 9pm - Dance in America: San Francisco Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Wednesday, December 23 at 9pm - La Boheme: The Movie
Friday, January 1 at 2:30pm & 9pm - From Vienna: New Year’s Celebration 2010
Wednesday, January 13 at 9pm - Spike Lee’s Passing Strange
Wednesday, January 20 at 9pm - GP at the Met: The Audition
Sunday, January 31 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Aida
Sunday, February 7 at 10pm - Harlem in Montemartre
Sunday, February 28 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Turandot
Wednesday, March 24 at 8pm - Dance in America: NY Export: Opus Jazz
Wednesday, March 24 at 9pm - GP at the Met: Hoffman
Sunday, April 25 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Rosenkavalier
April TBD - The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet
Sunday, May 16 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Carmen
Sunday, June 20 at 12pm - GP at the Met: S. Boccanegra
Sunday, July 18 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Hamlet
Sunday, August 22 at 12pm - GP at the Met: Armida

Season premieres Tuesday, October 13 at 9pm on THIRTEEN

FRONTLINE examines U.S. counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan — a fight that promises to be longer and more costly than most Americans understand — through interviews with top commanders on the ground, embeds with U.S. forces and fresh reporting from Washington.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS below on how think the President has handled U.S. policy in Afghanistan since taking office.

Watch a 24-minute rough cut of the first act of FRONTLINE’s season premiere,
“Obama’s War.”

What’s the #1 issue in New Jersey’s race for Governor?

On October 6 at 10 p.m. TUNE in for On the Line: Decision 2009. Emmy Award-winning anchor Steve Adubato will be joined by Governor Jon Corzine, Republican candidate Chris Christie and Independent candidate Chris Daggett. Broadcast LIVE on THIRTEEN, NJN Public Television , WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM and on the web at NJ.com and NJN.net.

Submit your question for the candidates below.

Premieres Wednesday, October 14 at 8pm on THIRTEEN

THIRTEEN’s American Masters explores fifty years of folk legend and human rights activist Joan Baez in Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound, airing October 14 on PBS. The programs features rare performance footage and candid interviews with David Crosby, Bob Dylan, ex-husband David Harris, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Roger McGuinn, and more.

Watch a preview:

From Yosemite to Acadia to the Florida Everglades, Ken Burns’ documentary series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea tells the story that America’s most special places should be preserved – not just for the rich and royalty, but for everyone. On Sunday, September 27 at 8pm, PBS will premiere Burns’ 12-hour, six-part series tracing the history and glory of the country’s National Parks over the past 150 years. To coincide with the premiere of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, THIRTEEN brings the theme of America’s treasure to the New York area with a local documentary focusing on the inspiring stories of New Yorkers’ whose lives were changed after visiting one of the nation’s National Parks. National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories premieres Sunday, September 27 at 10 pm on THIRTEEN.

“This country has the most beautiful parks in the world,” exclaims Kadafi Marouf, a world traveler who has visited over 7 National Parks and is one of several New Yorkers featured in National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories. Justin Yu, a self-proclaimed “bike-riding city-dweller,” also shares his memories – and astonishment – of being able to climb to the top of Yosemite’s Half Dome Mountain. David Rockefeller discusses his family’s influence in the development of the National Parks and world-famous rock climber Ivan Greene talks about scaling granite cliffs in Yosemite.

Shot primarily by three CUNY students, Daniel Cowen, from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter, Andres Otero, from CUNY Hunter, and Davi Santos, from Macaulay Honors College at Lehman, THIRTEEN’s National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories is a unique collaboration with film students seeking a real-life, hands-on experience in television production. This is one of the first on-air and online projects shot entirely by students.

“This project would not have been possible without the help of the Friends of Thirteen, Inc. and the talented students at CUNY,” said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.ORG. “The quality of work by these three students is impressive. THIRTEEN is proud to offer unique opportunities like this to the next generation of filmmakers and journalists.”

To continue with Burns’ theme of America’s natural landscape, THIRTEEN will also premiere City of Parks on Sunday, September 27 at 10:30 pm, which explores the parks and monuments of New York Harbor from the perspective of local teens from the Brooklyn-based Reel Works Teen Filmmaking.

National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG. Cyndee Readdean is producer. Daniel T. Allen is assistant producer.

September 27 through October 2 at 8pm on THIRTEEN

Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of our country’s most magnificent locations on the upcoming Ken Burns documentary: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (premieres 9/27, 8pm).

Watch a preview and submit your national parks memories, photos and videos.

National Parks: New Yorkers’ Memories

Sunday, September 27 at 10 pm

To coincide with the premiere of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, THIRTEEN brings the theme of America’s treasure to the New York area with a local documentary focusing on the inspiring stories of New Yorkers’ whose lives were changed after visiting one of the nation’s National Parks.