PBS Offers New Public Affairs Show ‘Now With Bill Moyers’

PBS launches its first new weekly public affairs series in more than a decade tonight, with respected public broadcasting veteran Bill Moyers taking on such topics as the complexities facing American Muslims and energy industry lobbying.

The one-hour “Now With Bill Moyers,” airing locally Fridays at 9 p.m. on KCET, has come together only in the last couple of months. Moyers, who put aside several other projects to make time for the show, says that while the vision is for a program that tells stories other news outlets don’t, with guests “other than the usual suspects of pundits,” “Now” probably will evolve in coming weeks as the staff finds its way.

One element that will remain constant is input from National Public Radio reporters and commentators; the two organizations have been trying to find a way to work together for some time. Tonight’s show will include a commentary by NPR’s John Ridley on the commercialization of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Former NPR talk-show host Juan Williams will also look at the spiritual leader of a Cleveland mosque whose reputation as an interfaith leader has been questioned after reports he made anti-Semitic remarks a decade ago. Another story asks members of a Texas church whether they are Christians or Americans first. The report on lobbyists examines a House bill on energy policy, its environmental consequences, the subsidies it offers energy companies and the companies’ campaign contributions.

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“Now With Bill Moyers” premieres tonight at 9 on KCET.