BURBANK, CA - February 3, 2014 - KCET, the nation's largest

independent public television station serving Southern and Central California,

debuts new series and seasons of the station's most popular shows beginning in

February.  

Artbound, KCET's

award-winning transmedia arts and culture series, returns for a fourth season

premiering Thursday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. Through

articles, essays, and thinkpieces published online by more than 50 contributors

in 11 counties, Artbound's

correspondents cover cultural happenings in the communities where they live,

providing an inside look at art across the region.

The first episode of

season 4 journeys across Southern California and reveals unique events and

happenings in various cities. In San Bernardino, explore the tubular

sandbagging construction techniques of the California Institute of Earth

Architecture, whose handmade structures are redefining sustainable housing. In

Boyle Heights, the group Public Matters' Market Makeover project is addressing

the "grocery gap" in "food deserts," areas that have

limited access to quality, healthy food. In Riverside, Hiromi Takizawa's

Ultraviolet installation observes the role of light in architectural and

environmental spaces. In Lincoln Heights, three Mexican American DJs form

Metralleta de Oro, a group specializing in Sonidero, an extremely rhythmic

sub-genre of the Mexican, Central and South American cumbia. In East Los

Angeles, visual artist Jaime "Germs" Zacarias takes inspiration from

religious iconography, lucha libre, and the city of Los Angeles to create his

signature tentacle-filled works. Finally, the episode features an in-studio

performance by goth-indie rocker Chelsea Wolfe.

Doc Martin, the highest-rated regular

series on public television in Los Angeles and the most popular weekly show on

KCET, returns with brand new episodes in the highly anticipated season 6. Martin Clunes reprises his role as Dr. Martin

Ellingham, the G.P. with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood. His

tactless bedside manner leaves a trail of outraged patients, angry relatives

and frightened dogs behind him in the sleepy village of Portwenn, England.

 His love interest, school headmistress Louisa Glasson, played by Caroline

Catz, continues to grapple with Martin's abrasive personality as she tries to

make sense of their new life together with baby James Henry.

Season 6

introduces new characters, reveals shocking news, and presents a wedding that

may finally take place between Doc and Louisa.

For the first time on public television in more than two decades,

prolific stage and screen actor Ian Richardson, explores the complex and

maniacal political landscape of the country following Margaret Thatcher's

tenure. The series is also the basis for the critically acclaimed Netflix

adaptation.

consists of four, 60-minute episodes, follows protagonist Francis Urquhart (Ian

Richardson), who is the chief whip of the Conservative party. When Margaret

Thatcher resigns as leader, he remains neutral and after a general election

where the conservatives are returned with a reduced majority, he fully expects

the new Prime Minister, Henry Collingridge (David Lyon), to give him his just reward:

a senior Cabinet post. When he's informed that he is to stay in his current

position, he devises a plot to unseat Collingridge and ensure his own election

as party leader and Prime Minister with encouragement from his

wife, Elizabeth (Diane Fletcher).

Democracy Now! - Weekdays beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 9 a.m.

hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, is committed to

covering issues conventional media tends to avoid and brings

the voices of the marginalized public to the airwaves. Goodman and

Gonzalez's engaging reports feature interviews with activists, muckrakers,

visionaries, artists, academics and everyday citizens who share a commitment to

truth, justice, diversity and peace.

The program's "War and

Peace Report" provides viewers with access to people and perspectives rarely

heard in mainstream media, including independent and international journalists,

ordinary people from around the world who are directly affected by U.S. foreign

policy, grassroots leaders, peace activists, artists, academics and independent

analysts.

Both Time Magazine

and NBC's Meet the Press named Democracy Now! as a top podcast

for news and information. The series, airing on more than 1,100 public

television and radio stations worldwide, has won many prestigious industry

awards including, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award and the 2012 Gandhi

Peace Award.

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the

community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment

of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning

local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around

the world. Throughout its 50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major

awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its

national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and

children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website,

kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional

information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming

schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a service of

KCETLink. 

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