Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2006
PBS closes things on a somber note

Lynn Smith

The final day of the press tour and the party mood turned somber and earnest as PBS took over. Instead of the dancing and hilarity that marked some of the earlier panels, the few reporters remaining listened to talk of new shows on asteroids, evolutional throwbacks, the abusive treatment of captive chimpanzees, and two programs on the rebuilding of ground zero.

One reason PBS decided to revisit its 2002 documentary on "Why the Towers Fell" with "Building on Ground Zero" (to air Sept. 5) is new technical information that has surfaced on the causes of the towers' collapse, said Paula Apsell, senior executive producer of "NOVA." Because information contained in the first documenatary was used to revise building codes, the corrections need to be reported, she said.

"America Rebuilds, Part II, Return to Ground Zero," (to air Sept. 11) is a more emotional effort, opening with a benediction of the twin towers in 1973, a prayer after the collapse, and a prayer from protesters in 2006. It covers neighborhood meetings and controversies over the memorial, and the reconstruction of the commercial tower and transportation hub.

A third "America Rebuilds" is planned for 2010, producers said. Hopefully, it will show ribbon cutting and family members of victims touching their loved one's names on the memorial, they said.