Summer is almost upon us and that means the excellent POV series on public television. I have mentioned POV a lot in the two years I have been writing this blog because the programming is excellent, they pay their filmmakers fairly (yes, this still impresses me) and it means millions of viewers tuning in to see some of the wonderful films that might not otherwise have such a big audience.

The 2008 series launches on June 24 with Katrina Browne’s Traces of the Trade. Her film was a part of the IFP Market the year that I was there, and I am curious to see how it turned out. It follows Katrina and members of her family as they explore their family background in the slave trade. Titles and dates (All programs air Tuesdays at 10 p.m., unless otherwise indicated; check local listings.):

June 24 Traces of the Trade by Katrina Browne
July 1 Election Day by Katy Chevigny
July 8 The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández by Kieran Fitzgerald
July 15 The Last Conquistador by John J. Valadez and Cristina Ibarra
July 22 9 Star Hotel by Ido Haar
July 29 Campaign by Kazuhiro Soda
Aug. 5 Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music by Robert Elfstrom
Aug. 12 Belarusian Waltz by Andrzej Fidyk
Aug. 19 The Judge and the General by Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio Lanfranco
Aug. 26 Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball by Kenneth Eng (Encore)
Sept. 2 Lomax the Songhunter by Rogier Kappers (Encore)
Sept. 9 Freedom Machines by Jamie Stobie and Janet Cole (Encore)
Sept. 23 Calavera Highway by Renee Tajima-Pena and Evangeline Griego
Sept. 30 Critical Condition by Roger Weisberg (9 p.m. Special)
Oct. 7 In the Family by Joanna Rudnick
Oct. 14 Up the Yangtze by Yung Chang
Oct. 21 Soldiers of Conscience by Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg
December (date TBA) Inheritance by James Moll (9 p.m. Special)

A lot of my friends get down on television. Yes, yes, the shows are vehicles for advertisers and networks just want to get us addicted to something so they can make money, but I like to watch shows and just ignore the rest. I’m able to enjoy a lot of what television has to offer this way. I don’t write about TV shows because what would be the point? But since no one in my world seems to be talking about it, I have to recommend Pushing Daisies.

If you enjoy Tim Burton, you will love this show. The writing is excellent, as is the production. Every time I watch an episode, I can’t believe that it is an ABC program; that they would take a risk on something so unconventional. Like other shows in the past that have taken risks, been brilliant and then canceled, well, I guess I’m hoping that won’t happen with this one. Check it out online (they have full episodes available) if you can’t watch on Wednesday night when it airs or have Tivo

I heard today that $2.8 billion will be spent by political campaigns for advertising on network television. Hmm. The frequencies on which television is broadcast are considered to belong to us all, the “commons.” Consequently, our government grants the networks licenses to broadcast upon our airwaves providing they contribute the “public good.” How is it that political campaigns must raise millions from special interest parties in order to pay for ad campaigns over airwaves that belong to us all?