Aug. 29: Sunday at 8 p.m., “Nature” tells the astonishing story of billfish -- marlin, sailfish, spearfish and swordfish -- tracking their bizarre life cycles. The program also airs Monday at 9 p.m. on the VPT World channel.

At 9 p.m., “Masterpiece Mystery!” presents five new “Inspector Lewis” cases from the seemingly perfect academic haven of Oxford. Today, Lewis (Kevin Whately) and Hathaway (Laurence Fox) are shocked to encounter a rock star (Joanna Lumley) believed to have died years before. The program will re-air at 1 a.m.

Aug. 30: Monday at 7:30 p.m. on Vermont Public Television’s “Profile,” Fran Stoddard interviews Cornelius Hogan of Plainfield, Vt. He once served as Vermont’s Secretary of Human Services and is now an international consultant on children’s welfare.

At 9 p.m., the sleuths on “History Detectives” continue their work. Among the stories: a box of cartoons from the early days of animation; a dagger that may have belonged to Mussolini; and an old love story that freed a slave.

At 10 p.m., “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo” tells of the 30- year friendship between the architect and Buffalo businessman Darwin D. Martin and the significant role the city played in Wright’s early career.

Aug. 31: Tuesday at 8 p.m. “Nova” begins a three-parter called “Becoming Human.” It looks at recent discoveries that are changing the picture of what it means to be human. The first episode explores clues about man’s earliest ancestors in Africa, including “Lucy’s Child.”

At 9 p.m., “Speaking in Tongues” explores how bilingualism can be a national resource. The film follows four students involved in an experiment designed to make them bilingual and bi-literate, and questions notions about immigration, assimilation and globalization.

At 10 p.m. a new “Frontline” investigates charges that New Orleans police inappropriately used lethal force against citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Sept. 1: Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. is an evening of “VPT Favorites,” programs selected shortly before air for this fundraising night. The lineup may include encores of viewers’ favorites or programs not previously seen.

Sept. 2: Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the series “Growing a Greener World“ shows the power of worm composting to turn kitchen scraps into black gold for the garden.

From 8 to 11 p.m., it’s another evening of “VPT Favorites.” The lineup may include encores of viewers’ favorites or programs not previously seen.

Sept. 3: Friday at 10 p.m., “POV” presents “Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy.” It’s the story of Fang Sui Yong, an 8-year-old orphan, and the Sadowskys, the Long Island Jewish family that travels to China to adopt her. She transforms from a timid child into someone that no one – neither her new family nor she – could have imagined.

Sept. 4: Saturday at 8 p.m., the Britcom “To the Manor Born” continues. Audrey can’t afford to have her Rolls repaired, so she takes to horseback.

At 8:30 p.m., Vermont Public Television’s newest Britcom, “Are You Being Served? Again!,” finds Mrs. Slocombe charged with stealing a gypsy cart. The rest of the staff come to town as character witnesses.