from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, a conversation with "criminal minds" star, thomas gibson. he has made a seamless transition to drum up. "criminal minds" is now one of the most watched shows on television. this is coming up, right now. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station by viewers like you. thank you. tavis please welcome thomas gibson to this problem. the former "dharma & greg "far and away -- the and "dharma & greg -- the former "dharma & greg" star. now, a scene from "criminal minds." >> they broke in it through a back window. >> in each case, the family member was shot and killed? >> yes. >> their alarm systems would not more, and the cannot call for help. >> a backup generator and a cell phone connection. >> they were behind on their account, so it was inactive. >> so both families we

tavis: the actor. good to see you.hanks for watching, and keep the faith. >> for more information on today's show, a visit tavissmiley@pbs.org. tavis: join us for a conversation on poverty made visible. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it is the cornerstone we all know. it is not just a street, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make everyday better. >> the california endowment. health happens in neighborhoods. learn more. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight we bring you the story of peggielene bartels, a ghana native who was named to kingdom of a small village called otuam. she continues to leave her village walls and retaining her position as a secretary in washington. the new book about her experiences called "king peggy." we are glad you have joined us. a conversation with king peggy, coming up right now. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: in 2008, peggy bartels got a phone call that she had to think was a prank. her cousin called to say that her uncle, the king of a small village, had passed away and that she had been chosen as the new king. weeks later, she began her new duties only to find a litany of problems and political realities. she continues in her role as a

tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with an astrophysicist, neil degrasse tyson. that is next time. we will see you then. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more. pbs. tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with an astrophysicist,

tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. a conversation with a look at the latest on heart health. we will see you then. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

tavis: good evening. from law settles, i am tavis smiley. our guest tonight is david e. kelley, the man behind shows like oprah " picket fences'" and "the practice." later this year, he is set to debut a new medical drama for tnt. we're glad you have joined our conversation with debbie -- with david e. kelley coming up. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it is the cornerstone we all know. it is not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: please welcome david e. kelley to this program. for more than 20 years, he has been one of the most heralded television writers and producers with hit series like "chicago hope" and "the practice." here's just a small bit of his award-winning work. >> don't you dare attack me for withholding information from you. i am the one you can trust you. >> we have problems. >> we have big problems. >> hey, doc, i hear what the boss is good and plenty >> ok, that is eno

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with the former u.s. army captain about his perilous experience on the pakistani border. it's gut-wrenching text is called "outlaw platoon." he is now pursuing a ph.d. in clinical psychology. we are glad you joined us on the "outlaw platoon." >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. sean parnell's output was known on the border. he received a purple heart and two bronze stars. his book is called "outlaw platoon," now a "the new york times" best seller. first book, new york times best- seller. good >> i feel so blessed. tavis: before i go inside the book, let me start by asking, you seem to be very grateful by the fact that your platoon never kill a single civilian. you killed 350 others, but never killed a civilian.

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with sinead o'connor. she burst into the music scene in 1997 followed nine more success in the 1990's she is out with the new cd called "how about i be me (and you be you)?" >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where soon walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your thank you. tavis: sinead o'connor has been one of the most high-profile artists for years now. a number of acclaimed albums. goad her latest cd is called "how about i be me (and you be you)?" i love the title. here is the video for the song "the wolf is getting married." ♪ >> ♪ some people are in disguise ♪ i will never cry a ggain ♪ makes me smile ♪ makes me laugh ♪ tavis: often difficult to get unanimity amongst critics, but i think pretty much everyone i have read writing about your new project things this may be your most romantic cd to date

tavis: and dr. otis brawley is the chief medical officer at the american cancer society and works in atlanta and is also the author of the new provocative, and i do mean provocative, a new text, "we do harm: and dr. breaks ranks about being sick in america." dr. brawley, big shoes to fill, but you are doing it. we all know that the credo that you all take is to do no harm, and yet you write a book on how we do harm. that is the kind of thing that can get you into some trouble. >> yes, yes. the reason i did it was during the health-care reform debate, there was some talk about how we had the best health care system in the world if it is true if you can afford it and know how to get through it, but as i look back over a number of my patients, and the book is stories about my patients and how the health-care system actually occur to them. there is over treatment, people getting too much treatment. there is under treatment, people who need treatment and cannot get it. unfortunately, medicine is a big bu

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, a conversation with former wisconsin senator russ feingold, the man who many profess as their the and the founder of a new group. he is also out with a new book about the mistakes america has made in the past 10 years since 9/11 and the lessons we can learn going forward. the book is called "while america sleeps." we are glad you joined us. our conversation with russ feingold, coming up. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: wes feingold served in the u.s. senate for 18 years from the great state of wisconsin. -- wes feingold. -- russ feingold. he is out now with a timely new book called "while america sleeps: a wake-up call for the post-9/11 era." senator, an honor to have you on this program. >> you were in wisconsin

tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with lani guinier and a look at the latest challenge to affirmative action. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> the california endowment. health happens in neighborhoods. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

tavis: i am tavis smiley. to me for a candid conversation with singer-songwriter sinead o'connor. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it is the cornerstone that we all know. it is not just a street or boulevard. it is a place where walmart comes together with your community to make everyday better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

tavis: 0. >> that is my opinion. tavis: so we need not worry about a political renaissance of duvalier. >> i do not think so. tavis: you have hit on something fascinating. i take your point that we have no business taking a nose into their affairs. we have done that too many times. and sometimes in the wrong places, wilwhich is another conversation. what is it to your mind about the haitian people that allows them to be so peaceful, as it were, toward this man -- to use your word "unaccoste." i have not heard any word of him being accosted on the street. what is it about the people that allow them to except his return? is it because they are that for giving a people? is it that they have other things on their mind? is it let bygones be bygones? is it about truth and reconciliation as you mentioned earlier? given all that he did come including killing people, just let it pass? >> i would put it this way. i will use an american context. i think that we could -- and i do not mean by any means to make a comparison of hum

tavis: good evening. from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with comedy legend steve martin. year is a favorite of the twitter world. his latest project is a new book featuring some of his tweets. we are glad you joined us. our conversation with steve martin is coming up now. luther king boulevard. it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: please welcome steve martin back to this program. he is an accomplished musician whose latest compilation of bluegrass music is called "and ."verrare bird he is an avid tweeter. is not a word? >> it is now. tavis: 9 habits of very organized people. and make 510. >> is very good to read. you have to look at it, rather than say it. >> i love this book. if it's in your pocket. good >> there is no reason to put it in your pocket. i think it is a perfect reading for a train, although nobody g

tavis: a good evening. from lawsons, i am tavis smiley with a conversation with the equal pay act that carries her name, ledbetter. she spent nearly 20 years working at a goodyear plant where she is subject to unspeakable sexual harassment. despite court setbacks, she took her battle to congress where, in 2009, the lilly ledbetter fair pay act was passed. it was the first bill that president obama signed into law upon taking office that year. >> every community has a martin luther king boulevard. it is the cornerstone we all know. it is not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better pierre >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: if there are times when you think one person in our world cannot make a difference, consider then lily ledbetter. born into poverty in a small alabama town, she picked cotton to help support her family household, a home with no running water or electricity. in 1939, s

tavis: good evening. from new york. i am tavis smiley. i am joined now bynely galÁn, founder of the adelante movement; dr. julianne malveaux, economist and president of bennett college; suze orman, a leading authority on personal finance; hilda solis, 25th u.s. secretary of labor; cecilia firethunder, former president of the oglala sioux tribe; faye wattleton, former national president of planned parenthood; randi weingarten, president of the american federation of teachers; and sheryl wudunn, pulitzer prizewinning writer and co-author of "half the sky." we are glad you joined us. irv it's the cornerstone we all know. it's not just a street or boulevard, but a place where walmart stands together with your community to make every day better. >> aft, making d aifference a de every day. pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [applause] tavis: i have done these symposiums for years, and this is the first time in my 20-year career i have been blessed to moderate a panel of all women, and i will tell you this is the most difficult sympos

tavis: there is gentrification. >> yes. you do not want to create a welfare state, a dependent state and so on. it has to be looked at for what it is. it is a country where what is available to people is $1 to two dollars a day to begin with. there is almost no clean water around the country. a child gets a fever in the united states and it is high enough and sustainable enough, all of us will take the child to an emergency room. most haitians never had that opportunity. they did not have emergency rooms to take them to. every time your child has a fever of 102 degrees, you wait for them to die and you have no clean water to give. when you're talking about a country that is really starting from scratch, they want to match littled they do thathe project product -- the little pocket projects and do them as long as the people stay there. this is a good thing. the people who have stayed have been able to identify each other and the government is able to give them various of aspiration and not have overlapped and start to make t