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Ric Burns' 'New York: A Documentary Film' returns to PBS with two new episodes

The installments examine the city's trajectory over the 25 years following 9/11 and its late 20th-century history.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 17:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • PBS will broadcast the ninth and tenth episodes of Ric Burns' docuseries 'New York: A Documentary Film' on September 21 and 22.
  • The new episodes, titled 'Shadows of the Past' and 'The Future of Cities', explore the city's evolution over the quarter-century since September 11, 2001.
  • Robert Sean Leonard takes over narration duties from the late David Ogden Stiers, featuring interviews with four New York City mayors.

Key facts

  • The new episodes, titled 'Shadows of the Past' and 'The Future of Cities', will air on PBS on September 21 and 22.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The documentary series first aired in 1999, with its eighth episode having broadcast in 2003.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Director Ric Burns and co-writer James Sanders worked on the new installments for over a decade, conducting the first interview in 2013.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • Robert Sean Leonard serves as narrator for the new episodes, replacing the late David Ogden Stiers.[The Hollywood Reporter]
  • The project includes interviews with former New York City mayors David Dinkins, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, and Eric Adams.[The Hollywood Reporter]

Sources