Best movies & TV Shows like Retro Report on PBS

A unique, carefully handpicked, selection of the best movies like Retro Report on PBS Starring Celeste Headlee, Masud Olufani, Andy Borowitz, and more. If you liked Retro Report on PBS then you may also like: Much Ado About Nothing, Barefoot In the Park, Elvis Found Alive, Talhotblond, Tracker and many more popular movies featured on this list. You can further filter the list even more or get a random selection from the list of similar movies, to make your selection even easier.

Making sense of the present by revealing the past. Journalists Celeste Headlee and Masud Olufani connect the present to the past through four distinct and varied stories, and New Yorker humorist Andy Borowitz adds his signature wit.

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Much Ado About Nothing

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John plots to ruin the wedding.

Barefoot In the Park

HBO Standing Room Only presentation of the 1981 stage revival. From the Neil Simon Book. New Yorkers Paul Bratter and Corie Bratter née Banks have just gotten married. He is a stuffed shirt just starting his career as a lawyer. She is an independently minded free spirit who prides herself on doing the illogical purely out of a sense of adventure

Elvis Found Alive

In this mockumentary spoof of Elvis theories, Elvis has been FOUND ALIVE! After visiting Graceland, a Freedom of Information Act request is made for US government files on Elvis Presley. Incredibly, documents arrived from the FBI revealing an address for Federal Agent "Jon Burrows," Elvis' 1970's alias, in Simi Valley, California.

Talhotblond

This is the true story of a love triangle that takes place entirely online. Lies lead to murder in real life, as a teenage vixen (screen name 'talhotblond') lures men into her web. Revealing a shocking true crime story that shows the Internet's power to unleash our most dangerous fantasies.

Tracker

An ex-Boer war guerrilla in New Zealand is sent out to bring back a Maori accused of killing a British soldier. Gradually they grow to know and respect one another but a posse, led by the British Commanding officer is close behind and his sole intention is to see the Maori hang. Written by Filmfinders 1903. A guerilla fighter from the South African Boer war called Arjan (Winstone) takes on a manhunt for Maori seaman Kereama (Morrison), who is accused of murdering a British soldier. What follows is a cat and mouse pursuit through the varied landscape of NZ with both hunter and huntee testing their bushcraft and wits against that of the other. Written by Anonymous

Consuming Spirits

Nearly 15 years in the making, Chris Sullivan's Consuming Spirits is a meticulously constructed tour de force of experimental animation. Shooting frame by frame in 16mm, Sullivan seamlessly blends together a range of techniques—cutout animation, pencil drawing, collage, and stop-motion animation—into a distinct, signature visual style. In the process, he constructs a hypnotic, layered narrative, a suspenseful gothic tale that tracks the intertwined lives of three kindred spirits working at a local newspaper in a Midwestern rust belt town. The accumulation of these images builds to a great atmospheric effect, achieved through an adroit combination of inventive set design, ever-shifting visual perspectives, fluid camera movements, a vivid color palette, and a haunting music track. Sullivan succeeds in creating, with great artistry, a hermetic, self-contained world emanating from his own unique and vivid imagination. (Jon Gartenberg, Tribeca Film Festival)

Cocktails & Dreams

A comedic version of 1988's "Cocktail" starring Tom Cruise, featuring comedian Chris Fairbanks as a desperate bartender named Chris who tries and fails to start a business with the main characters from the original movie, which leads to fist fights, stalking, and eventually murder. The film features Mike Upchurch's distinct style of film parody, digitally adding actors and props to old footage to create new scenarios and gags.

1-900-TONIGHT (Somewhere Tonight)

1-900-TONIGHT (Somewhere Tonight) is an urban fable that tells the story of two lonely New Yorkers trying to find companionship over an adult chat phone line. John Turturro plays Wooly, a simple, curiously odd bike messenger hoping to hear a bit of 'spicy' talk from Patti (Katherine Borowitz), an agoraphobic shut-in. Although each is not what the other hopes they will be, together they prove that wisps of enchantment can be found in even the most overlooked of hearts. And that hope takes on many unexpected shades. Inspired by slain Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh's 06. Written by Michael Di Jiacomo

The True Story of the Mary Celeste

On December 4, 1872, the unmanned Mary Celeste was found adrift in the Atlantic with its cargo fully intact. The mystery of this "ghost ship" remained unanswered for over 135 years. What happened to the Mary Celeste is widely regarded as the most famous mystery of the sea. Watch it unfold to its stunning conclusion, at last.

Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees

A fungi expert also shows Judi the incredible action going on beneath her feet, revealing an astonishing underground fungal network that looks up to the tips of tree roots, connecting many trees in a forest together. It's an incredible system known as the 'wood wide web'. It is confirmation for Judi that trees aren't just trees, they are a real community that help each other, humans and the planet.

The Listener

Beth is a helpline volunteer – part of the small army that gets on the phone every night across America, fielding calls from all kinds of people feeling lonely, broken, hopeless. Over the last year the tide has become a tsunami. As Beth goes through her shift, the stakes rise: is this the night she will lose someone? Save someone? Eventually, Beth’s own story comes to light, revealing why she does it. All along we remain with her: listening, comforting, connecting – patching the world back together, one stitch at a time.

Making Sense

An aging neuroscientist teams up with a group of young graduate students to prove his hypothesis that individuals with disabilities hold the key to unlocking a sixth sense before his past catches up with him.

20/20

20/20 is an American television newsmagazine that has been broadcast on ABC since June 6, 1978. Created by ABC News executive Roone Arledge, the show was designed similarly to CBS's 60 Minutes but focuses more on human interest stories than international and political subjects. The program's name derives from the "20/20" measurement of visual acuity. The hour-long program has been a staple on Friday evenings for much of the time since it moved to that timeslot from Thursdays in September 1987, though special editions of the program occasionally air on other nights.

48 Hours

This newsmagazine series investigates intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all aspects of the human experience. Over its long run, the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, driven the reopening — and resolution — of cold cases, and changed numerous lives. CBS News correspondents offer an in-depth look into each story, with the emphasis on solving the mystery at its heart.

Aliens in the Family

A human single father is abducted by a spaceship and fall in love with an alien single mother. They return to Earth to marry and raise their blended family.

Blue Peter

A fun-packed and informative magazine show for younger viewers with information and reports from around the world.

CBS News Sunday Morning

The sparkling notes of a trumpet fanfare and the familiar logo of the sun alert viewers that it's time for CBS's Sunday morning staple. Journalist Jane Pauley helms the show, taking over hosting duties from Charles Osgood, who spent 22 years on the job. A morning talk show, this program airs at a different pace and focuses much of its attention on the performing arts. After a quick update of the day's news and national weather, correspondents offer longer-length segments on a variety of topics, from architecture to ballet to music to pop culture to politics.

Dateline

Dateline NBC, or simply Dateline, is a weekly American television newsmagazine series. It was previously the network's flagship newsmagazine, but now focuses mainly on true crime stories with only occasional editions that focus on other topics.

Entertainment Tonight

Daily tabloid television news show on entertainment and celebrity news with unprecedented access to Hollywood's biggest stars, exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming film and television projects, as well as the real story behind Hollywood's latest news.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and their sophisticated British butler, Geoffrey. Though Will’s antics and upbringing contrast greatly with the upper-class lifestyle of his extended relatives, he soon finds himself right at home as a loved part of the family.

My World and Welcome to It

My World and Welcome to It is an American half-hour television sitcom based on the humor and cartoons of James Thurber. It starred William Windom as John Monroe, a Thurber-like writer and cartoonist who works for a magazine closely resembling The New Yorker called The Manhattanite. Wry, fanciful and curmudgeonly, Monroe observes and comments on life, to the bemusement of his rather sensible wife Ellen and intelligent, questioning daughter Lydia. Monroe's frequent daydreams and fantasies are usually based on Thurber material. My World — And Welcome To It is the name of a book of illustrated stories and essays, also by James Thurber. The series ran one season on NBC 1969-1970. It was created by Mel Shavelson, who wrote and directed the pilot episode and was one of the show's principal writers. Sheldon Leonard was executive producer. The show's producer, Danny Arnold, co-wrote or directed numerous episodes, and even appeared as Santa Claus in "Rally Round the Flag."

This American Life

The Peabody Award-winning public radio series that combines journalism with opinion, fiction and biography becomes this highly anticipated TV series hosted by Ira Glass.

Top Gear

This fast-paced and stunt-filled motor show tests whether cars, both mundane and extraordinary, live up to their manufacturers' claims. The long-running show travels to locations around the world, performing extreme stunts and challenges to see what the featured cars are capable of doing. The current hosts are Paddy Mcguinness, Chris Harris and Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff.

Inside Edition

Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program. The show was originally a mix of tabloid crime stories, investigations, and celebrity gossip. The first anchor correspondent of the program was David Frost, who was replaced after approximately three weeks with Bill O'Reilly. The current anchor correspondent is former Today anchor correspondent Deborah Norville, who took over for O'Reilly in 1995. Steve Kamer has been the show's announcer since its inception. On August 29, 2011, Inside Edition began airing in high definition.

A Haunting

These are the true stories of the innocent and the unimaginable. Based on true events, A Haunting dramatises some of the scariest stories, revealing a world in which tragedy, suicide and murder have left psychic impressions so powerful that innocent people become forced to deal with them decades later. Through mesmerizing first-person accounts, the mystery and origin of each haunting is powerfully revealed and leaves a lingering sense that life—and death—are much stronger then anyone could have possibly imagined.

Day by Day

Day by Day is an American sitcom starring Douglas Sheehan, Linda Kelsey, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Thora Birch. Day by Day was telecast from February 29, 1988, through June 25, 1989, on NBC.

Hot Properties

Hot Properties is an ensemble ABC comedy featuring four women working together in a Manhattan real estate office. It was first aired on October 7, 2005. Often compared to Sex and the City and the CBS situation comedy Designing Women, this show features four single women professionals, each with distinct personalities that contribute in their failure to secure dates. The comparison to these shows led many critics to describe the show as unoriginal. The women share a passion for Oprah. On November 29, 2005, ABC announced that the show would not be extended more than 13 episodes, which is usually a sign of impending cancellation. The series finale aired on Friday, December 30, 2005.

Dreams

Dreams is an American television series that aired in 1984-1985 for one season on CBS. It follows the story of a fictional rock band that tries to get a recording contract.

Andes to Amazon

The South American continent is a land of great extremes, stretching from the Antarctic to the Equator. It has the planet's greatest river system, longest mountain chain, biggest and richest rainforest and driest desert. Using the latest camera techniques, including infrared night vision cameras, rarely seen animals are revealed, while a special aerial camera soars over the continent, revealing an entirely new perspective on its varied and dramatic landscape.

Food Unwrapped

The food and science series that travels the world to explore the industry secrets behind our favourite produce, industry secrets, and how foods are really made.

Charley Boorman's South African Adventure

Join Adventurer Charley Boorman as he sets off once more on an epic motorbike adventure, this time making his way through the stunning, rugged and often unknown South Africa. Teaming up once again with producer/director Russ Malkin, they journey in a circular route starting and finishing in Cape Town, taking on all corners of this wild and varied African country, experiencing the deeply rooted cultures, the extraordinary people, the remarkable wildlife and the heart stopping adventures along the way.

Junkyard Empire

It's all about turning piles of rusting junk into a money making machine. To make this happen, Andy Cohen has to be a scrappy, ambitious leader who balances his own pie-in-the-sky drive with his father's down-to-earth perspective. For the day-to-day work, he's backed up by a group of talented, but not exactly mainstream, characters. And to succeed as a team, they all have to find the proverbial diamonds in the rough, chase down deals, and add value to what others throw away--it's not work, it's the hustle.

Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen brings his unrivaled journalistic skills to a series revealing the hidden truth behind America's most shocking murders. His trade-mark interviewing excellence guides the viewer through every twist and turn of an enthralling criminal drama.

Mexico Untamed

Each of Mexico Untamed distinct colorful landscapes is characterised by the animals who live there. Charismatic travelers roam the oceans, forests and deserts, revealing drama and surprising behaviors. Predator and prey fight age-old battles for survival. Males and females of the most iconic species go to extreme measures to ensure the safe arrival of a new generation.

Axios

Leading Axios journalists highlight the week ahead in politics, business and technology – and the big topics shaping the future. Each edition features coverage of a timely big issue, followed by documentary shorts, illuminating interviews with major newsmakers and trustworthy insights delivered with Axios’ signature “Smart Brevity” in a succinct, shareable format.

The X Change Rate

Award-winning drag queen, entertainer and TV personality Monét X Change, hot off her historic "RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars" win, brings her signature wit, heart and style to the BUILD Series stage this summer to this weekly variety talk show. Each week, Monét will turn stunning looks, sound off on current events, chat with her celebrity friends, kiki with the live studio audience, and spill a whole lot of tea, sis!

Purity

The intersecting stories of several different people of widely diverging ages and backgrounds. From STASI offspring to Oakland anarchists, the characters' landscapes are as varied as East Berlin, the Bolivian jungle, East Harlem walk-ups, and the California Redwoods. Based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Franzen.

Making Sense of the Sixties

A look back at one of the most turbulent decades of America's recent history, this documentary examines the political and cultural changes, from the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK to the rapidly escalating war in Vietnam to the wonder of the moon landing, that shaped the era and left an indelible mark on later decades.

Bel-Air

The journey of a book smart teen whose life is forever transformed when he moves from the streets of west Philadelphia to live with his relatives in one of LA’s wealthiest suburbs.

Judy Justice

The Honorable Judy Sheindlin, retired Judge of the Manhattan family Court, brings her signature blend of sharp wit and wisdom, hilarious candor and unwavering honesty that has made her America’s favorite judge for over 25 years, as she presides over real cases, arbitrates binding decisions and delivers what only she can: “Judy Justice.”

Sunday Morning Live

Start Sunday off with the big talking points of the week, with comment from around the UK and instant audience reaction.

Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes

An expansion of the hit podcast and bestselling book, Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes brings to life the intimate interviews that broke Hollywood's most infamous story.

The Space Age: NASA's Story

This BBC series offers a fresh look at an amazing organization and mankind's quest to understand the universe. Blending stunningly restored footage with revealing, insightful and engaging interviews with the people who were there - the astronauts, family members and journalists - this is an epic story of the heroes, the triumphs and the tragedies of space exploration. Starting with NASA's beginnings in the Cold War, the series follows the iconic moments of space exploration from the race to get the first man in space to the first steps on the moon. And with triumph and achievement comes risk and disaster, as the series follows the white-knuckle suspense of Apollo 13 and the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. Intelligent, inspiring and accessible, The Space Age is a complete history of mankind's journey into space.

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

The big names behind the big stories. Laura Kuenssberg talks to those making the news, inside and outside politics.

Wildest Survival

For wild animals, life is all about survival. And in this daily battle, many species have adapted in amazing ways. By evolving unique behaviours, abilities and anatomical mutations, these animals have learned to survive, in every corner of the earth. Wildest Survival explores this rich and varied world of animal behaviour. From sophisticated animal communication to extraordinary sexual selection, bizarre animal mating to epic migrations; this series explores the most important themes in nature. Each episode of Wildest Survival features incredible, action packed sequences of creatures struggling to survive, revealing the most incredible ways that animals find food, a mate, avoid death and even take revenge.

Be More Chill: The Upgrade

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of BE MORE CHILL, the new off-Broadway musical by Joe Tracz and Joe Iconis, running in the summer of 2018 at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

Amélie and Company

Welcome to the enchanting world of Amélie and her companions. Meet Amélie, a cheerful and imaginative young girl who has a special ability to communicate with animals. Newton, the mischievous yet lovable cat, adds a touch of humor with his sarcastic wit. Despite having an irritating older brother, Amélie's family is close-knit and supportive. She is surrounded by loyal and intelligent friends who stand by her side. However, there is one neighbor she wouldn't mind parting ways with. Along her journey, Amélie discovers an abandoned pet shelter and her mind brims with brilliant ideas. Prepare yourself for thrilling and occasionally extravagant adventures in the world of Amélie et compagnie.

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