May 2: Sunday at 2 p.m., “Dolly: Live in London O2 Arena” finds music icon Dolly Parton performing her hits before a huge crowd. Following at 3 p.m., “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” explores the history of his seminal concert album.

At 4 p.m., Vermont Public Television brings back a viewer favorite, “American Masters: You Must Remember This.” It’s the three-part story of the Warner Bros. studio in Hollywood. Today’s episode introduces the four young men from Ohio who incorporated their company in 1923 and the string of stars and hits that followed.

At 8 p.m., in one of several volcano specials this week, “Nature” explores the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea, in Hawaii.

At 9 p.m., “Masterpiece Mystery!” returns for the season, with three new episodes of “Foyle’s War.” Michael Kitchen stars as the observant Inspector Foyle. In the aftermath of V-E Day, he stumbles upon a coverup that could bring down the British government.

May 3: Monday at 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television’s “Profile,” Fran Stoddard interviews Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt. The Merchant Marine’s capture by Somali pirates and subsequent rescue a year ago made international news. He has just published a book about what it took to save his ship, his crew and himself.

At 9 p.m., “Roads to Memphis: American Experience” presents the fatefully entwined stories of assassin James Earl Ray and his target, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

May 4: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., VPT begins re-airing the latest season of “Outdoor Journal.” Lawrence Pyne goes fishing for smallmouth bass in Ferrisburgh. Bald eagles make a comeback in the Northeast Kingdom. Freshwater mussels along the Poultney River are threatened.

At 8 p.m., “Nova: Mt. St. Helens Back From the Dead” shows how plant and animal life has returned to the barren landscape in the 30 years since its eruption. The volcano, too, is coming back to life.

At 9 p.m., “Krakatoa” presents dramatic recreations of the 1883 eruption that sent waves 100 feet high crashing onto Asian shores.

At 10:30 p.m., “Frontline: College, Inc.” looks at how Wall Street and a new breed of forprofit universities are transforming the way we think about college in America.

May 5: Wednesday at 8 p.m., “Secrets of the Dead” relates how close the Japanese came to making a devastating submarine attack on the U.S. during World War II. The program will also air on the VPT World Channel Saturday at 9 p.m.

At 9 p.m., VPT encores “The Botany of Desire,” based on Michael Pollan’s best-seller. It explores the history of the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato -- and the human desires that link these plants’ destinies to ours.

May 6: Thursday at 10 p.m., the series “Wild Lives 2” continues to follow distinctive stages in the lives of animals. This week, the focus is on wolves and caribou.

May 7: Friday at 8:30 p.m., VPT begins the new public affairs lineup with “BBC Newsnight,” a weekly roundup and analysis of international news.

At 9 p.m., the new PBS series “Need to Know” debuts. Each week, the magazine-style show will cover such areas as the economy, energy, the environment, national security, health and culture. Alison Stewart and Jon Meacham co-anchor. The program also airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on the World Channel.

At 10 p.m., “Independent Lens” presents “Sunshine.” In rural Texas, the daughter of an unwed mother, who herself has an unplanned baby out of wedlock, struggles with the idea of family.

May 8: Saturday at 10 p.m. on “Austin City Limits,” Manu Chao showcases politically charged rock ‘n’ roll. Then at 11 p.m., Regie Hamm, Mindy Smith and Leigh Nash perform on “Legends & Lyrics.”