PBS TO PRESENT "CONSTITUTION USA WITH PETER SAGAL"

Popular NPR Host Hits the Road to Explore America's Most Revered - And Misunderstood - Document

- Premiering Spring 2013 on PBS -

LOS ANGELES, CA; JULY 21, 2012 -- CONSTITUTION USA with Peter Sagal takes to the road for a fresh and surprising journey through the 4,418 words - and 27 amendments - that made America. Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal, host of NPR's popular "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me" travels across country on a Harley Davidson to find out where the Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn't ... how it unites us as a nation, and how it has nearly torn us apart.

"The Constitution was, and is, an imperfect document, and its strength lies in the ongoing arguments about its meaning, as much as what's in the original text," Sagal says. "I'm looking forward to digging into this stuff ... And also, getting to ride a motorcycle."

CONSTITUTION USA, a production of TPT National Productions in association with Insignia Films, will premiere on PBS in spring 2013 to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution. It is produced and directed by Insignia Films' Stephen Ives and Amanda Pollak (THE WEST; AMERICAN EXPERIENCE documentaries "Lindbergh," "Seabiscuit," "Las Vegas," "New Orleans" and "Kit Carson") and executive produced by Catherine Allan of Twin Cities Public Television (HOOP DREAMS, LIBERTY! THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION and SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME).

At a time when Columbia University polls indicate that more people can identify the Three Stooges than the three branches of government, CONSTITUTION USA sets out to illuminate this remarkably misunderstood document. Traveling from Tyler, Texas, to Missoula, Montana, from Cranston, Rhode Island, to Berkeley, California, Sagal introduces viewers to some of today's major constitutional debates and talks with ordinary Americans and leading constitutional experts about what the Constitution actually says and what it means, the dramatic historical events and crises that have defined it, and why all this matters. Far from being a dry historical survey, CONSTITUTION USA will be a story of personal emotion, passion, big ideas and high stakes that continues today.

"Bringing history alive from multiple viewpoints and offering innovative teaching tools is part of PBS' core mission," said John F. Wilson, PBS senior vice president and chief TV programming executive. "We're looking forward to a new generation learning more about America and about one of the critical documents that inform how we live our lives."

Throughout, the series will vividly illuminate key topics and themes that are essential to understanding the Constitution, including how unique and revolutionary this document was; the historic freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights; the struggle by African Americans, women and other groups for inclusion; and how conflict and compromise were "baked into" the Constitution.

Featuring a powerful social media component and innovative educational partnerships with The National Constitution Center, iCivics and PBS NEWSHOUR, CONSTITUTION USA will reach citizens across a variety of platforms, inviting them to connect around our shared political legacy.

Major funding for CONSTITUTION USA with Peter Sagal is provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.

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About TPT National Productions

TPT National Productions is the national production division of Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), the PBS affiliate for Minneapolis/St. Paul, and is a significant content producer for the public television system. In addition to crafting award-winning series, documentaries and specials, TPT has created a major, highly lauded body of work on the history of America's founding era, including the Peabody Award-winning series LIBERTY! THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (Primetime Emmy) and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE films "Alexander Hamilton" and "Dolley Madison." Other notable TPT productions include HOOP DREAMS;, THE FORGETTING: A PORTRAIT OF ALZHEIMER'S; the children's science series SCIGIRLS; and most recently, SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME, an official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

About Insignia Films

Insignia Films, TPT's production partner on CONSTITUTION USA, is one of the country's pre-eminent producers of American history documentaries. Its founder Steven Ives, who is writing and directing CONSTITUTION USA, was a production partner for more than a decade with Ken Burns. Ives was the producer of the landmark eight-part series THE WEST, one of the most popular PBS history series ever broadcast. Insignia and Ives have produced numerous documentaries for the flagship PBS history series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, including the Emmy-winner "Seabiscuit," "Lindbergh" and their most recent, "Custer's Last Stand."

About PBS

PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches 124 million people through television and 20 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices.

About CPB

CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operation of nearly 1,300 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.