‘Yes, Of Course I Watch PBS’

PBS continues to offer diverse educational and entertainment programs in its 32nd year, with programming airing locally on KCET in Los Angeles, KOCE in Orange County and KVCR in San Bernardino.

Among the new offerings are “Stage on Screen,” which celebrates the theater, and “Masterpiece Theatre’s American Collection.” And the many signature series--”Frontline,” “American Masters,” “American Experience,” “Masterpiece Theatre” and “Mystery!”--return. Some highlights:

DOCUMENTARIES

“Frontline”: “The Choice 2000,” a dual biography of George W. Bush and Al Gore. Monday. “Drug Wars,” a two-part look at the U.S.’ 30-year battle against drug use, officially kicks off the 19th season. Oct. 9-10. “Boston D.A. Office” explores the workings of America’s criminal justice system. Nov. 14 & 21.

“Building Big”: Five-part series on the world’s most spectacular structures. Begins Tuesday.

“American Masters”: “Mailer on Mailer” profiles the controversial novelist, Norman Mailer. Wednesday. “On Cukor” chronicles the career of the Oscar-winning director, George Cukor. Nov. 22.

“American Experience”: The award-winning series opens with “The Rockefellers,” a look at this powerful family. Oct. 16 & 23. “Secrets of a Master Builder” celebrates the life of engineer James Buchanan Eads. Oct. 30. “Return With Honor” focuses on American fighter pilots shot down over Vietnam. Nov. 13.

“Napoleon”: A four-hour chronicle of the famed French general, Napoleon Bonaparte. Nov. 8 & 15.

“P.O.V.”: “First Personal Plural” is filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem’s first-person account of tracing her Korean roots. Dec. 18.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

“Time to Choose--A PBS/NPR Voter’s Guide”: A three-hour live preelection broadcast examining the critical issues. Nov. 1.

ARTS AND DRAMA

“Live From Lincoln Center”: The 35th-anniversary season opens with a gala featuring soprano Renee Fleming and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Wednesday. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis celebrate 100 years of Louis Armstrong. Dec. 13.

“Stage on Screen”: New venue for classical and contemporary theater opens with the current revival of “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” with Nathan Lane. Saturday.

“Masterpiece Theatre”: The drama series opens its 30th season with an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” Oct. 8. Jenny Agutter and Richard Attenborough star in the family drama, “The Railway Children.” Nov. 12. “Stiff Upper Lips” with Peter Ustinov. Nov. 19.

“Mystery!”: The season opens with “The Wyvern Mystery,” starring Derek Jacobi. Oct. 12 & 19. Patricia Routledge returns in “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.” Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30.

“Great Performances”: The series partners with Carnegie Hall for opening night. Oct. 11. “Chuck Jones: Extremes and In-Betweens, A Life in Animation” celebrates the creator of Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner. Nov. 22. Violinist Isaac Stern returns to China in “From Mao to Mozart, 20 Years Later.” Dec. 11.

“Masterpiece Theatre’s American Collection”: A new dramatic series featuring adaptations of American literature opens with Regina Taylor and Cherry Jones starring in a dramatization of Langston Hughes’ novel, “Cora Unashamed.” Oct. 25.

SCIENCE & NATURE

“Nature”: Julia Roberts samples nomadic life in “Wild Horses of Mongolia With Julia Roberts.” Oct. 22. “Extraordinary Birds” looks at the capabilities of birds. Nov. 12. “The Urban Elephants” examines the plight of pachyderms taken from the wild. Nov. 19.

“Nova”: “Lincoln’s Secret Weapon” follows the Navy’s efforts to salvage the sunken USS Monitor. Oct. 24. “Hitler’s Lost Sub” focuses on a missing German U-boat found 60 miles off the New Jersey shore. Nov. 14. “Runaway Universe” examines quintessence--a mysterious force that some scientists maintain counteracts gravity. Nov. 21.