Meredith’s Must-Sees for July 2025

Meredith’s Must-Sees is your guide to the most compelling stories airing on KQED, curated by one of our very own—Meredith Speight, Senior Director of TV Programming at KQED, an insider with a passion for great storytelling. Each month, she highlights standout programs that educate, inspire, and spark conversation.

As the days get longer and the summer sun shines brighter, July on KQED is bursting with powerful stories. From films celebrating Disability Pride Month to a dazzling Independence Day celebration to intimate portraits of culinary icons and visionary artists, there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab a cool drink, settle into your favorite viewing spot, and get ready to dive into these must-see programs that will entertain, educate, and spark conversation. Happy watching!

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I have loved fireworks since I was a little kid, but I’m happy to stay in to watch the Fourth of July displays these days with my small and anxious dog. I think it’s his least favorite day of the year! So this year I’ll be contemplating what Independence Day means from my living room as I watch America’s grand Fourth of July celebration with A Capitol Fourth 2025. The star-studded evening will bring dazzling fireworks, patriotic musical performances, and more from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. It’s a tradition that looks to capture the spirit of America, and as we gear up for the approaching 250th anniversary of our country, now is a great time to think about how we want to celebrate this history and look to our future.

Airs on KQED 9 Friday, July 4 at 8pm, with a repeat at 9:30pm. Streaming on the PBS App starting July 4. Watch a preview.

The 20th anniversary season of the beloved KQED food series Check, Please! Bay Area returns with four new episodes starting this month. The first three episodes bring viewers and diners to the Monterey Bay Area, and I am so excited to take a summer road trip through these stories of delicious seaside food favorites. On July 10, we’ll visit The Meatery (Seaside), Hanloh Thai Food (Santa Cruz), and Schooners (Monterey) for everything from brisket to gai tod hat yai to a fresh Dungeness crab BLT roll. Tune in for more episodes in July for more delicious finds from El Bistro by The Sea (Carmel), Julia’s Vegetarian (Pacific Grove), Sampa Brazilian Kitchen (Santa Cruz), Woody’s at the Airport (Monterey), Lucy’s on Lighthouse (Pacific Grove), and Home (Soquel), Artichoke Trail (Castroville).

Airs on KQED 9 Thursday, July 10 at 7:30pm. Repeats on KQED 9 Saturday, July 12 at 9am, noon & 7pm, Sunday, July 13 at 1pm, and Monday, July 14 at 7:30pm. Also airs on KQED PLUS Sunday, July 13 at 8am and Tuesday, July 15 at 10:30am. You can stream on-demand on the PBS App and the KQED App.

The death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa earlier this year was a tragedy that stunned the nation. To celebrate the life and remarkable career of the legendary actor (1930–2025), a two-time Academy Award winner for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, we acquired the film Gene Hackman: Star of the Silver Screen, for broadcast and Passport. The documentary includes clips from his breakout role in Bonnie and Clyde and other notable dramas such as The Conversation, Hoosiers and Mississippi Burning. Hackman was also a talented comic actor, as shown in Get Shorty, The Birdcage and one of my personal favorite films, The Royal Tenenbaums.

Airs on KQED PLUS Thursday, July 10 at 8pm. Streaming on the PBS App with KQED Passport starting July 1.

My heart (and stomach!) is already happy because The Great American Recipe is back for its fourth season! In the premiere episode, “First Impressions,” eight home cooks gather in the barn in Nashville, Tennessee to create dishes that represent their ideal meal and hometown. I love seeing the passion and creativity these cooks bring to their kitchens, sharing stories and flavors that truly reflect the diversity of American cuisine. This season promises to be just as heartwarming and delicious as the last as they compete in six episodes to see who will be crowned the winner of The Great American Recipe and have their creation featured in this year’s cookbook.

Airs on KQED 9 Friday, July 11 at 9pm. Repeats on KQED 9 Saturday, July 12 at 6pm. Streaming on the PBS App starting July 11.

Though I don’t cook as much as I would like, my household probably has about 200 cookbooks floating around the house in various states of read. The one that shows the most signs of use is Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Marcella inspired me, my husband, and so many others as she transformed Italian cuisine in American and became a culinary icon. This documentary takes us through her incredible life, from her childhood accident that left her permanently disabled, to immigrating to New York in the 1950s, to her unexpected and improbable career. We hear from other cooking masters in the film including Lidia Bastianich and our own Jacques Pepin as they share how Marcella inspired them as well.

Airs on KQED 9 Friday, July 11 at 10pm.

This Oscar-winning film revisits the extraordinary story of Maya Lin, the visionary architect behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It’s a moving testament to her artistic integrity and the profound impact her work has had on our collective memory and understanding of history. I was thrilled to see POV bring this important film back for today’s audiences, and that we have a new chance to share this powerful story with a new generation of viewers. Directed by California-based Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker (and Berkeley grad!) Freida Lee Mock, produced by Mock and Terry Sanders, executive produced by Eileen Harris Norton and co-presented with CAAM (Center for Asian American Media).

Airs on KQED 9 Tuesday, July 22 at 10pm.

The greatest artworks in western civilization emerged from one of the bloodiest periods in history. This series explores the lives of three of the greatest artists in history — Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael — as they craft beauty from chaos.

Airs on KQED 9 Tuesdays at 9pm, July 8–July 22. Streaming on the PBS App starting July 8.

Spurred by the spectacle of a circus tent outside his Oakland apartment, a disabled filmmaker launches into a meditative journey exploring the history of freakdom, vision, and (in)visibility.

Airs on KQED PLUS Thursday, July 17 at 10pm.

Get a head start on the holiday spirit (or just enjoy a classic comedy!) with this timeless film starring Bill Murray as a selfish television executive haunted by three spirits on Christmas Eve.

Airs on KQED 9 Saturday, July 26 at 8pm.

Ken Burns’ two-part, four-hour documentary explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century’s most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States.

Airs on KQED PLUS Sundays, July 20 and July 27 at 8pm. Stream with KQED Passport on the PBS App.

Take a wild ride through history as nostalgia and great cars combine in this uniquely American story of grit, innovation, and hard work detailing the unlikely rise and tragic fall of American Motors Corporation (AMC).

Airs on KQED PLUS Saturdays starting July 5 at 9:35pm. Stream on the PBS App.

Frederick Wiseman explores the lives and famed culinary artistry of the Troisgros family in the French countryside, taking us from sourcing ingredients and menu planning, to the organized chaos of the kitchen, to the ingenuity and creation of a dish.

Airs on KQED PLUS Sunday, July 13 at 9:30pm. Stream with KQED Passport on the PBS App.

Looking for more programs to watch? Find past recommendations from Meredith:

June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025