Tuesday, January 31

American Experience: Annie Oakley

PBS, check local listing

The Wild West Collection from American Experience continues this week with Annie Oakley and Jesse James. Annie Oakley was the toast of Victorian London, New York, and Paris. She was "adopted" by Indian chief Sitting Bull, charmed the Prince of Prussia, and entertained the likes of Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria. Annie Oakley excelled in a man's world by doing what she loved, and won fame and fortune as the little lady from Ohio who never missed a shot.

American Experience: Jesse James

PBS, check local listing

The story of Jesse James remains one of America's most cherished myths... and one of its most wrong-headed. A product of the American Civil War, James was less heroic than brutal; America's own Robin Hood who robbed not only the rich, but the poor and defenseless as well, always saving the treasure for himself.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/collections/wild-west/

Wednesday, February 1

Triggers: Weapons That Changed the World Thompson SMG

Military Channel, 9pm EDT

They are some of the most iconic and recognizable weapons in the world: the Tommy Gun, the Uzi and the Schmeisser. This special will explore the evolution of the guns as well as put some of the greatest examples to the test.

The 400 Million Dollar Emerald

National Geographic, 8pm EDT

Some say its the largest emerald ever found, weighing in at 840 pounds and containing roughly 180,000 carats. Unearthed in Brazil in 2001, the Bahia emerald has an incredible history that fits its massive size: It spent months in a submerged bank vault in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and was even posted on eBay with a buy it now price of $75 million. -From NatGeo-

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/explorer/400-million-dollar-emerald-pictures/

Thursday, February 2

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock

PBS, check local listing

As a black woman who was a feminist before the term was invented, Daisy Bates refused to accept her assigned place in society. Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock tells the story of her life and public support of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, which culminated in a constitutional crisis — pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself. –From PBS- http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/daisy-bates/

Friday, February 3

The Dark Ages

H2, 8am EDT

The Roman Empire, rotten to the core by the fifth century, lay open to barbarian warriors. Europe was beset by famine, plague, persecutions, and a state of war that was so persistent it was only rarely interrupted by peace. These centuries are remembered today as the Dark Ages. Beneath this cloak of darkness were people like Charlemagne, St. Benedict and the Empress Theodora who helped to bridge the gap of civilization between Rome and the Renaissance. Ultimately, these points of light would illuminate the darkness, and Western Europe would rise from the Dark Ages to a level of cultural and political power unseen for a thousand years.

Sunday, February 5

The First World War

Military Channel, 1pm – 7pm EDT