Featured This Week:
Hear from the directors of CNN's new Gabby Giffords documentary.
More shows to watch this weekend.
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VIDEO: Trailer for Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down |
Exclusive Q&A with the directors of Gabby
Giffords Won't Back Down |
CNN's new documentary, Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down, follows the extraordinary journey of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords after an assassination attempt in 2011. The film documents her relentless fight for recovery and her new life as one of the most influential activists in the battle for gun violence prevention and aphasia awareness.
The documentary is sparkled with appearances from Giffords' beloved husband, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and exclusive interviews from former
President Barack Obama and other friends and colleagues.
Here's what directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West had to say about their experience filming the project:
Q: What drew you to tell the story of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords now – eleven years after the 2011 mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona?
From RBG to Julia Child, we have been drawn to the stories of women who have overcome tremendous obstacles and, in the process, made the world a better place. When we learned what Gabby has done in the past eleven years since her shooting—both to rebuild her own life and build a gun safety movement—we were all in. We also love a feminist love story, which best describes Gabby’s marriage to former astronaut-now-Senator Mark Kelly: supportive, romantic, and full of humor and joy.
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Q: The film shows Giffords' struggle with a language disorder called aphasia. How did her condition alter the interview and filmmaking process?
The central challenge of making this film was to keep it very much in Gabby’s voice even while conveying her thoughts with language is an ongoing struggle. We found the work Gabby does with her speech therapists fascinating and decided to make it a central part of our story—even showing footage of Gabby preparing for our on-camera interviews. Because Gabby is a natural-born connector, we also chose to include her in many of the secondary interviews we did for the film—like with her husband, her mom, and the director of her gun safety organization, Giffords. We wanted to allow viewers to see how Gabby communicates with those closest to her.
Q: How would you describe Giffords in one sentence?
A woman who takes on any challenge that comes her way with fierce determination and a zest for life.
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Q: What was the most memorable scene you filmed for Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down?
We were standing in the corner of Gabby’s garage as she and her nurse were getting ready for a recumbent bike ride. It looked like a lot of hard work—making sure her shoes were securely attached to the pedals and getting her partially paralyzed right arm into a sling. But then Gabby activated Sirius XM’s "80s on 8" channel, and U2 started to play. Gabby began to belt out the lyrics to "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" with what we can only describe as sheer joy. It was a moment that told you everything you need to know about Gabby Giffords’ spirit.
Q: What was your favorite song to sing with Giffords?
"Take Me Home Country Roads," because Gabby knows ALL the words — even the bridge.
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📺 Original Series to binge this weekend |
There's no better way to wind down your week than to settle into a new show. Luckily, we've compiled a lineup of our favorite shows airing this weekend.
The Seventies
Starting Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, CNN will rebroadcast an episode of their hit documentary series, The Seventies. The episode entitled "What's Goin' On" will follow the explosion of American popular music into new genres as established artists find new creative voices.
The Sixties
Following the 70s, two episodes of The Sixties will air at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m ET. The first episode, "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" explores American counterculture and its impact on American teenagers' evolving morality and aesthetic tastes. The following episode, "Television Comes of Age," documents the changing landscape of television and its significant milestones.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
For a nightcap, three episodes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown will air early Sunday morning from 12 a.m to 3 a.m. ET. The rebroadcast episodes follow the late chef's exploration of South America, kicking off in Colombia, then traveling to Peru, and later landing in Paraguay.
The Nineties
If you're a fan of the nostalgic nineties decade, you're in for a treat. CNN will air an episode of The Nineties on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. The episode, "Can We All Get Along," will explore the defining moments of the 90s, including Rodney King and the LA Riots, the OJ Simpson murder trial and the global rise of the Internet.
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Real Life Nightmare returns this Sunday |
On Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT, season four of Real Life Nightmare premieres on HLN with a new host: former cold case investigator Paul Holes. The series looks into heart-wrenching and unexplainable mysteries that continue to baffle investigators.
The season opens with a two-hour special event, “Blood Mountain: The Hunting Ground,” investigating Gary Hilton, also known as the National Forest Serial Killer.
“Real Life Nightmare explores some of the nation’s greatest criminal mysteries, and I am looking forward to bringing my investigatory experience to the series and helping shine a light on these important cases,” said Holes, a bestselling author, podcaster, television host, and retired investigator. “The team behind this show has a real passion for these cases that I have witnessed firsthand, and I am eager to share our findings with viewers as we produce each episode.”
A list of cases featured this season includes the disappearance of flight MH370, the unsolved murder of Catholic priest Father Alfred Kunz, the mysterious kidnapping of Lindsey Baum, and more. Tune in Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HLN.
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VIDEO: Trailer for Real Life Nightmare |
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✉️ Have a question? Email us at [email protected]
✍️ This edition was written by CNN's Alexis Garfield.
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