VERMONT PUBLIC TELEVISION PROGRAM

HIGHLIGHTS FOR

JANUARY 10-16

Jan. 10: Sunday at 8 p.m., “Nature” uses stunning highspeed, high-definition photography to reveal the world of hummingbirds. These tiny birds are some of the toughest and most energetic creatures on the planet. The program will repeat Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. on VPT’s World Channel.

At 9 p.m., “Masterpiece Classic” premieres “Return to Cranford.” Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton and other British stars reprise their roles in the acclaimed story of everyday life in an 1840s English town. The special concludes next week.

Jan 11: Monday at 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television’s “Profile,” Fran Stoddard talks with Judith Jones, the legendary book editor for Julia Child, James Beard, John Updike and “The Diary of Anne Frank.” She recently wrote “The Pleasures of Cooking for One.” Jones lives in Vermont and New York City. The interview is sprinkled with anecdotes and cooking tips, including how a food lover can stay slim.

At 9 p.m., “American Masters” profiles Sam Cooke. Before Motown and before Aretha Franklin became the Queen of Soul, he put the spirit of the black church into popular music and brought a new American sound to the airwaves. There will be a rebroadcast Saturday night at 11.

At 10 p.m., Vermont Public Television continues the theme of legendary African-American performers with a rebroadcast of the “American Masters” biography of Motown’s Marvin Gaye.

Jan. 12: Tuesday at 8 p.m., “Nova: Building Pharaoh’s Ship” follows a team of archaeologists and boat builders as they reconstruct a magnificent trading vessel and launch it on the Red Sea.

At 9 p.m., “Independent Lens” presents “Young@Heart,” the surprising story of a New England senior citizens chorus that has charmed audiences worldwide with their renditions of pop music. It’s a funny and unexpectedly moving testament to friendship, creative inspiration and expectations defied.

Jan. 13: Wednesday at 8 p.m., “The Human Spark” continues. Host Alan Alda joins researchers studying our fellow simians to discover what humans share with them and what new skills humans evolved when they went their separate ways.

At 9 p.m., “Great Performances” presents Spike Lee’s “Passing Strange.” The exuberant semi-autobiographical drama follows a young African- American man who leaves his middle class home for a journey to Europe in search of his artistic and personal identity.

Jan. 14: Thursday at 8 p.m., Gov. Jim Douglas returns to the VPT studio for a live call-in program during which viewers can ask him questions on the issues of the day. Susan Allen hosts.

At 10 p.m., the series “Blood & Guts: A History of Surgery” continues with a look at cardiac surgery.

Jan. 15: Friday at 10 p.m. “Independent Lens” presents “Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula.” The film follows students at the only all-male hula school in Hawaii as they break stereotypes and prepare to compete at the world’s largest hula festival.

Jan 16: Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on “Fawlty Towers,” a moose head falls on Basil during a fire drill. Despite a concussion, he must deal with a group of German tourists.

At 10 p.m., hip-hop comes to “Austin City Limits” with sets from Mos Def and K’naan.

At midnight on “Sierra Center Stage,” Rodney Crowell performs.