For 2023’s Juneteenth celebration, Ovation TV, America’s premier arts network, recognizes Black artists and artistry across all mediums through a curated on-demand lineup in Ovation NOW destination Arthouse. Titles will be available all month long. Starting on June 1st, the arts network highlights Black artists who have made a significant impact on the national and international stage, with series and films Celebrating Juneteenth. Highlights include Althea, the 2014 documentary about Althea Gibson, the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals, the Arthouse premiere of Snoop Dogg: Uncaged, and the 2021 documentary Tina Turner: Simply the Best.
All titles below will be available during the month of June, free to all, in the Arthouse destination on the Ovation NOW app. The Ovation NOW app is free to download and is available on Roku, Android, Apple TV, and iOS devices.
Al McKay´s Earth, Wind & Fire Experience: Built around legendary Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay and a group of the best studio and road musicians Los Angeles has to offer, this project is aptly named “Al McKay´s Earth, Wind & Fire Experience.”
Althea: The 2014 documentary about Althea Gibson, the first African American to play and win at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals.
The Art Detectives: Art historians examine some of the lesser-known works among Britain’s largest collections. They look for lost masterpieces and examine the history and lineage of each piece from creation to collection. With hosts Dr. Bendor Grosvenor and Emma Dabiri.
The Art Of: This Ovation Original series explores the worlds of Hip Hop, Tattoo, Fashion, Hair, Pop-Ups, and Music.
Artist to Icon – Whitney Houston: Very few people become a star. Fewer still achieve iconic status. So just how do they do it? Artist to Icon goes beyond the constraints of the velvet rope to reveal some of the most extraordinary rises to fame the world has ever seen.
Berlin Live – Morcheeba and Naturally 7: Presents a diverse mix of some of the world’s most accomplished musicians performing, reading, and storytelling – in short, creating something extraordinary in front of an intimate audience at an exotic club in Berlin.
Beyonce & Jay-Z: Power Love: A merger of megastar music. Discover the story of multi-genre performer and fashion promoter Beyoncé Knowles and the world’s first hip hop billionaire, Jay-Z.
Celebrity Conversations – Antoine Fuqua, Barry Jenkins, David Alan Grier, Djimon Hounsou, Keegan-Michael Key, and Samuel L. Jackson: Film critic David Poland sits down with the biggest names in entertainment for an in-depth conversation about their art, craft, and life.
The Color of Medicine: The story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital which provided state-of-the-art medical training to over two-thirds of all African-American physicians and nurses from 1937 to 1979. While its founder was mysteriously killed, the hospital in his name thrived.
The Directors – Antoine Fuqua and John Singleton: This series looks at 20th century film directors, the innovators whose breakthrough direction made film into the movies. Their early lives, often escaping war or poverty, found expression in theatre, then film, forming the fundamental art that is cinema.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Enough is Enough: He was an extraordinary leader, with vision and ambition. He would fight tirelessly until his last days against injustice. By fighting for his dreams and against injustice, he powerfully impacted generations and he changed the world.
Echoes ‘Cross the Tracks: The mighty Mississippi River bleeds muddy water into an alluvial plain. Thousands of slaves were brought in from West Africa to the Mississippi Delta. Music helped them endure and the dust rose from their feet as they danced. In fact, their pain became the source of a new sound, The Blues.
Eddie Murphy: Laugh ‘Til it Hurts: Almost six decades later Eddie Murphy remains loved by fans for his infectious smile and goofy laugh. Learn about many challenges Eddie is faced with along his way to stardom as Eddie continues to make his fans Laugh ‘Til it Hurts.
Everybody Loves Chris Rock: The boy from Brooklyn who endured bullying at an all-white high school remains in the past. The last laugh now belongs to Chris Rock, be it on stage or the silver screen, despite Rock dropping out of high school and working humble fast-food jobs.
Front & Center – Gary Clark Jr., Jon Batiste, Nile Rodgers, and Seal: Front and Center is the critically-acclaimed concert series that was launched in the Spring of 2012. Through the years, it has presented an eclectic mix of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling industry vets, and chart toppers.
The Green Room with Nadia Brown: A five-part original comedic journalism series celebrating and exploring the creative economy. Hosted by Broadway actor Nadia Brown (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Icons on Our Time – Muhammad Ali: Muhammad Ali is not only considered among the greatest heavyweights in boxing history but arguably the greatest sports personality of all time. We meet George Lois, the photographer behind the legendary Esquire cover, and Lawrence Lusting, who photographed many of Ali’s fights.
Lady You Shot Me: Life and Death of Sam Cooke: American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur Sam Cooke died at the age of 33 on December 11, 1964, at the Hacienda Motel, at 9137 South Figueroa Street, in Los Angeles, California.
Legends of Opera – Jessye Norman: A docuseries celebrating the great opera singers of our time.
Lil Nas X: Unlikely Cowboy: Montero Lamar Hill, also known as Lil Nas X, rose to fame with the release of his country rap single “Old Town Road,” which went viral on social media in 2019 before climbing music charts internationally and becoming the song of the year.
Listen to the World: The Musical Instrument Museum: An exclusive look at the creation of the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, which houses some of the most obscure instruments the world has known and explores the ways music can universally rouse emotion and soothe the soul.
London Live – Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson performs a collection of great hits in a private performance for this London Live special. The show also includes an exclusive and very entertaining interview with the star herself.
Michelle Obama: Life After the White House: Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s story has just begun. The Obamas remain busy with their life of activism. This includes their production company, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary. Mrs. Obama’s autobiography, Becoming, has become a best-selling.
Morgan Freeman: Breaking Barriers: Perhaps it is his distinctive velvet smooth voice and calming demeanor that made Morgan Freeman a household name. World-renowned actor Freeman has starred in over 100 movies in just three decades and continues to break barriers.
Music at the Louvre: The program is like an anthology of the music that the conductor Vincent Dumestre has been surrounded by since his earliest beginnings – Lully, Charpentier, Moulinié, and Cavalli.
Obama: Building the Dream: He was elected as the 44th President of the United States simply for being Obama: voters, tired of what America had become, responded to his persona, his message, and what he embodied… hope.
Off Camera – Chadwick Boseman, Common, Keegan-Michael Key, Octavia Spencer, Regina Hall, and Uzo Aduba: Off Camera delves into the lives of Hollywood’s hottest talent, as Sam Jones hosts interviews with some of the world’s most recognized artists. Stepping away from the spotlight, each celebrity opens up about some deeper questions that leave us wondering.
Snoop Dogg: Uncaged (Arthouse Premiere): For over five decades rapper, songwriter, and media personality Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. aka Snoop Dogg would go onto global fame, with tens of millions of record sales and a career in movies and television.
Speakeasy – Carlos Santana & Harry Belafonte, Cyndi Lauper & Billy Porter, David Crosby & Wynton Marsalis, Gary Clark Jr. & Jimmy Vaughn, Lenny Kravitz & Sean Lennon, and Nile Rodgers & Valerie Simpson: Speakeasy offers unique insights into the careers of some of the world’s most iconic musicians. The series provides an artist the opportunity to discuss their illustrious career with an interviewer of their choosing — a journalist, creative partner, musician, or friend.
Stars of the Silver Screen – Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Samuel L. Jackson: Stars Of The Silver Screen celebrates the lives of those who soared the highest.
Tina Turner: Simply the Best: The odds were against her. Child of sharecroppers in Boonesville, Tennessee. Abandoned by both parents after their divorce. Victim of domestic violence by her co-star and husband. Yet, Anna Mae Bullock would find her true self as Tina Turner and one day emerge as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces: Don’t call him victim. Despite a childhood plagued by poverty, physical abuse from his carpenter father, and several incidents of sexual molestation, Tyler Perry is not stuck in the past. He left New Orleans and changed his birth name of Emmitt yet kept his maternal connection to the black church. Meaningful steps that would turn a virtual nightmare into an American Dream. Ultimate proof is his 300-acre self-named Atlanta studio with twelve sound stages.
Vice President Kamala Harris: Chase the Dream: The American Dream is alive and well. Just Ask Kamala Harris. A blending of Jamaican and Indian roots is clearly a colorful recipe for success. Yes, the road turned a bit rocky due to parental divorce when she was seven then moving to Montreal…
Will Smith: The Prince of Hollywood: It’s not a rags to riches story. Nor was he born of Hollywood royalty. But Willard Carroll Smith knew what he wanted way back when growing up in West Philadelphia. Career not college was his goal. One year of financial support from his father allowed Will Smith to pursue his childhood dream. He did not disappoint and soon wrote his own show biz story.
About OVATION TV America’s Premier Arts Network
As an independent television, production, and digital media company, OVATION TV has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture, and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically acclaimed premium dramas, specials, documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION TV salutes innovative storytelling with popular programming that includes Inside the Actors Studio, Murdoch Mysteries, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Arts Engines, The Fall, Midsomer Murders, The Art Of, Celebrity Conversations, and The Sound of New York. Ovation also powers JOURNY, the dedicated streaming service where art, culture, and travel intersect. The company has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. Its signature advocacy platform, STAND FOR THE ARTS, includes a coalition of over 150 arts organizations, cultural institutions, and arts leaders throughout the country raising awareness about art’s positive impact, protecting access for everyone, and encouraging action on behalf of the arts. OVATION TV is available on major providers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV, Charter/Spectrum, Verizon FiOS, as well as on demand. You can follow OVATION TV on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, OvationTV.com, and through our App, OVATION NOW.