Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month draws shrugs from most networks and glee from PBS.
This year, things seem more gleeful than ever. In an 11-day stretch, there will be three documentaries — looking at jazz, movies (including “La Bamba,” shown here) and guerrilla-style disruption — plus an award show and more.
Officially, National Hispanic Heritage Month starts on Sept. 15 — a key date for the drive toward independence for Mexico and five Central American countries — and continues through Oct. 15. PBS, however, is bunching most of its events into early October. They include:
— Friday, Oct. 2: Hispanic Heritage Awards, 9 p.m.
After 38 years in Washington, D.C., the ceremony moved to Minneapolis … where the people of Minnesota were given a humanitarian award for their actions during the ICE raids and beyond..
Hosted by comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, this included music from past winner Los Tigres Del Norte and from three of this year’s winners — Mon Laferte, Eladio Carrion and Ximena Sarinana.
— Friday, Oct. 2: “Asco: Without Permission,” 10 p.m.
Anger and joy blended neatly in the lives of the four people who called themselves Asco.
They were Los Angeles teens, angered by the Vietnam war, by police brutality during a march and by museums that had no Chicano art. But their work often rippled with fun — parades, performances, graffiti and using makeshift costumes to become living artwork.
The four thrived for 17 years, sometimes adding extra people, then disbanded in 1987 to do individual projects. Now a new generation of curators has rediscovered their work — even featuring it in the museum they once mocked.
This film takes some unneeded detours, but keeps returning to its core — a strong story, told by these four — now in their 70s — and others.
— Tuesday, Oct. 6: “American Masters,” 9 p.m.
As a boy, Luis Valdez put on puppet shows for other kids in migrant camps. As a young man, he staged shows — music, comedy, more — on flatbed trucks, helping spur the farm worker movement.
He created a theater and a show — “Zoot Suit” — that triumphed in Los Angeles, crashed on Broadway, then became a movie. “La Bamba” followed, bringing Latino music to a mass audience. Valdez, now 86, tells the story zestfully.
— Monday, Oct. 12: “Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall,” 9 p.m.
A former child prodigy, D’Rivera was a popular jazz saxman and clarinetist in Cuba. He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie and then — during a European tour — defected to the U.S.
It was a painful choice: His marriage ended; he didn’t see his son from ages 5 to 13. But his American life has thrived; this film ripples with great music riffs, alongside comments from D’Rivera, now 78, and friends.
And more:
— Olivia Rodrigo, the young pop star, will be on “Austin City Limits,” at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
— Patti Jinich, the chef born and raised in Mexico City, has another season of “Patti Jinich Explores Panamericana.” It starts at 9 p.m. Oct. 26.
— Two Latina-based cartoons — “Alma’s Way” and “Rosie’s Rules” — have added new, Latina-themed episodes.
— Others are on PBS Plus (“Velvet,” “My Father’s Prison”) and on the PBS Documentaries channel of YouTube.