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Top Picks: PBS's documentary 'Dance for Me,' Hamilton Leithauser's new album 'Black Hours,' and more

Children and adults will both enjoy 'The LEGO Movie,' the BBC documentary 'David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul' has the actor exploring the Mediterranean regions traveled by St. Paul, and more top picks.

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PBS
PBS series, My Wild Affair
  • By Staff

Bonding with animals

The PBS series My Wild Affair explores the relationships between humans and animals. “The Ape Who Went to College” focuses on Chantek, an orangutan that was taught sign language by an anthropologist. It airs July 23 at 8 p.m. Upcoming episodes feature a rhinoceros that grew up in the suburbs and a seal saved by an arborist. “My Wild Affair” airs  Wednesdays through Aug. 6.

A passion for Latin

In the “POV” documentary Dance for Me, Russian teenager Egor leaves his family to go live in Denmark with his Latin dancing partner, Mie, to try to succeed on the international ballroom dancing circuit. Egor and Mie do well, but Egor struggles to adjust to life in a new country. “Dance for Me” is directed by Katrine Philp and airs on PBS on July 21 at 10 p.m.

‘Everything is awesome’

In The LEGO Movie, construction worker Emmet (Chris Pratt) is living a normal life when he is told that he must lead the fight against the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell), who plans to use a terrible weapon against the denizens of the LEGO world. Children and adults alike will enjoy the clever, pop-culture-referencing animated film, which also stars Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, and Morgan Freeman. “The LEGO Movie” is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

Solo flight

Lead singers from veteran bands often chafe at the tethers of group sound, band politics, or fan expectations. New York band The Walkmen recently announced a hiatus, and the band’s charismatic lead singer, Hamilton Leithauser, jumped at the chance to stretch his wings and fly solo. The result, Black Hours, is an eclectic and dramatic collection of original songs that sound modern and old-timey all at once, showcasing one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music.

Tracking St. Paul

In 2012, British actor David Suchet set out on an extensive tour of the Mediterranean regions traveled by St. Paul as he spread the Christian message from Jerusalem to Rome to better understand the man and the teaching that turned an obscure Jewish sect into a force that changed the world. The two-part BBC documentary, David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul, is now out on DVD. Join Suchet as he examines the tunnels beneath Jerusalem and digs away 2,000 years of history to reveal the times in which Paul lived.

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