Washington in the 2000s Premieres May 14 at 8:00pm on WETA TV 26 & HD

The first decade of the new millennium was an extraordinary time for Washington, D.C., marked by hope, tragedy, change, and hope once again. WETA TV 26 presents Washington in the 2000s, premiering May 14, 2019 at 8:00pm on WETA TV 26 & HD. The 60-minute program explores the major events, people, and developments – ushering in a period that changed the city and the region forever.

From the 9/11 terrorist attack and the D.C. sniper to the return of Major League Baseball and a baby panda’s birth, the region experienced great highs and lows. Washington also experienced a massive wave of investment and growth, becoming a suddenly hip food mecca, as traces of the old D.C. grew fainter. Weaving together stories of local politics, sports, and culture, Washington in the 2000s provides a striking portrayal of a city reshaped by the times.

“The 2000s were a real turning point for the city as it exists today, when the uncertainty of the ‘90s gave way to a new normal for Washingtonians,” notes Kevin Harris, WETA Vice President and Television Station Manager. “Washington in the 2000s examines the influential moments in Washington’s most recent history.”

Washington in the 2000s is the latest production from WETA TV 26 exploring the history and culture of Greater Washington, as part of WETA’s continuing mission to produce television that serves our community. These documentaries, which began with Washington in the ‘60s, chronicle the seminal local events of each decade through the recollections of those who saw and shaped them.

Notable Washingtonians featured in Washington in the 2000s include former mayor Anthony Williams; chef and humanitarian José Andrés; former Washington Redskins player Santana Moss; sports columnists Thomas Boswell and Clinton Yates; Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner; Howard University professor Natalie Hopkinson; sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak; and journalists Roxanne Roberts, Andrea Roane, and Harry Jaffe. The program is narrated by Washington D.C. radio legend Donnie Simpson.

For more information, please visit weta.org. Press materials and photography can be found at weta.org/press.

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About WETA

WETA Television and Classical WETA 90.9 FM are public broadcasting stations serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia with high-quality programming. Classical WETA 90.9 FM brings classical music, concerts and specials to Greater Washington. As the leading PBS station in the nation’s capital, WETA Television broadcasts on four channels: WETA TV 26, WETA HD, WETA UK and WETA Kids. WETA Television celebrates the people and history of this region through programs such as WETA Around Town, WETA Extras and WETA Arts. For national PBS audiences, WETA Washington, D.C., is one of the largest-producing stations of new content for public television in the United States, with news and public affairs programs including PBS NewsHour and Washington Week; films by Ken Burns such as The Civil War and The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; and performance specials from the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. WETA creates leading public service websites such as www.ReadingRockets.org, www.LDOnline.org, www.ColorinColorado.org, www.AdLit.org and www.Brainline.org; and develops community outreach programs to engage people of all ages in the joy of lifelong learning. The WETA studios and administrative offices are located in Arlington, Virginia. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.

Press Contact
Olivia Wong, WETA Director of Public Relations, 703.998.2086, owong@weta.org