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It’s been a bit more than a year since “Butcher’s Crossing” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, but the timing of its theatrical release could hardly be more propitious. Director Gabe Polsky’s grimly fatalistic Western has finally arrived at the megaplexes just days after the PBS airing of “The American Buffalo,” Ken Burns’ fascinating (and often infuriating) documentary about how bison were very nearly hunted into extinction in this country before an unlikely group of preservations saved the shaggy beasts. As Burns emphasizes in his two-part film, and Polsky’s drama duly notes during its end credits, an estimated 60 million bison roamed the American West as late as 1860. Two decades later, however, the bison population plunged to less than 300.

Working from a script he and Liam Satre Meloy adapted from the novel by John Edward Williams, Polsky suggests that this staggering decrease was caused largely by men like Miller,...

Upon first glance, Ken Burns’ latest project, “The American Buffalo,” might seem a bit out of character for the Emmy-winning documentarian, who has already tackled everything from the Civil War and baseball to country music, the national parks and Prohibition. But a deeper look reveals that the two-part series — which was written by Dayton Duncan and produced by Julie Dunfey, two of Burns’ longtime collaborators — fits right in with the rest of his filmography, as it traces the dramatic history of the American buffalo (named the national mammal of the United States in 2016) and connects it to our country’s destructive history.

The four-hour series details the near extinction of the animal at the hands of white expansion and greed, as well as its eventual restoration thanks to dedicated recovery efforts beginning in the late 19th century. Anchored by deeply moving interviews with members of the Northern Plains, Central Plains...

Documentarian Ken Burns has reached national treasure status for his absorbing explorations of U.S. history. The Emmy winner does it again with The American Buffalo, a heartbreaking but hopeful two-night, four-hour portrait of our national mammal, the buffalo (called bison by scientists). “It’s quintessentially American, filled with unforgettable stories and people. It has two lessons: how humans can damage the natural world and how we can work to preserve the environment,” Burns says. “The story of the buffalo is also the story of Native nations who relied on it to survive, developing a sacred relationship that evolved over more than 10,000 years but was almost completely severed in fewer than 100.” Tonight, learn how the buffalo population shrunk from an estimated 30 million in the 1800s to the brink of extinction by 1900. Over that century, businesses and the U.S. government committed a calculated mass culling, both to collect valuable hides and...

While Hollywood writers are back at work, media companies have suspended negotiations with striking actors over a new contract. Even if talks resume and a settlement were to happen soon, however, it would likely be early 2024 before the two dozen or so dramas and comedies that normally premiere in the fall make it back onto screens.

As luck would have it, though, the era of peak streaming provides a nearly limitless array of series to watch. Below are a handful of new or recent lesser-known shows, many of them from outside the United States, on smaller streaming platforms (and one over-the-air network) that can help viewers fill in gaps in their viewing schedules while waiting for homegrown favorites to return. One bonus: None of the shows below are produced by companies against whom Hollywood’s unions are or were striking this year. Unless noted, all the streamers below offer seven-day...

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at 8:00 Pm on PBS, viewers can tune in to the second episode of “The American Buffalo” titled “Into the Storm.” This documentary series delves into the late 1880s when the American buffalo population was on the brink of extinction. In this episode, a diverse group of Americans comes together in an unexpected alliance to save the buffalo from disappearing forever.

“The American Buffalo” provides an insightful look into the efforts to rescue this iconic mammal from the brink of extinction. With a focus on historical events and the people involved, the series sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of the buffalo conservation movement.

In “Into the Storm,” viewers can expect to witness the pivotal moments in the buffalo’s struggle for survival and the individuals who played a crucial role in its preservation. The episode offers a compelling narrative that educates and informs about this critical chapter in American history.

Public television has held separate collective bargaining agreements with the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA for years. So, while studios and networks this fall faced the ramifications of dual Hollywood strikes, it’s been mostly business as usual at PBS.

Perhaps lost in the conversation about this most unusual fall — in which the broadcast networks tweaked and re-tweaked their schedules in light of the lengthy production stoppage — has been PBS’ ability to keep the majority of its schedule intact.

In fact, according to Sylvia Bugg, PBS’ chief programming executive and Gm of general audience programming, just one program on its fall lineup was impacted by the strikes: John Leguizamo’s “American História: The Untold History of Latinos,” which had been scheduled to premiere last month. In solidarity with the strikes, Leguizamo opted to delay the project until 2024. PBS replaced it with another docuseries, “Becoming Frida Kahlo.”

“Besides that, on the general audience content side,...

On Monday, October 16, 2023, at 8:00 Pm, PBS will air the premiere episode of “The American Buffalo” titled “Blood Memory.” This documentary series takes a deep dive into the history of America’s national mammal, the buffalo, and how it went from numbering in the tens of millions to the brink of extinction.

“Blood Memory” explores the incredible journey of the American buffalo, once a symbol of abundance and life on the Great Plains. Viewers will learn about the challenges and threats that led to a drastic decline in buffalo populations, including hunting and habitat loss.

The episode sheds light on the remarkable resilience of the buffalo and the efforts made to restore their populations. It will be a fascinating educational experience for anyone interested in the history of this iconic American species.

Tune in to PBS on Monday evening to witness the story of the American buffalo and its struggle...