Sesame Street, Tea Party & More Set for Tonight's MetroFocus on THIRTEEN

The award-winning series MetroFocus premieres new episodes in the New York and tri-state region weeknights at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 p.m. on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN. All episodes are available at metrofocus.org following the broadcast.

The episodes description for tonight, Friday, April 1 follow below. Please note episode descriptions are subject to change. Please visit metrofocus.org for the latest information.

Friday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 p.m. on NJTV and 6:00 p.m. on THIRTEEN
The Rise of the Tea Party - Small government, low taxes and fiscal restraint. Words synonymous with the origins of the tea party. Or are they? Author Jeff Nesbit examines the history of the tea party movement's beginnings in a new book that raises the question: was the tea party born in defense of democracy, or big oil and tobacco?

Walkers, Biters and Growlers - Zombies have invaded our homes and no one's living-room is safe! With the season finale of AMC's zombie juggernaut "The Walking Dead" on Sunday, AMC Networks President and CEO Josh Sapan is back to discuss the network's flagship series and how the company is not only surviving, but thriving, amid the threats from new technology, limitless channels, and fractured viewership.

Q uantifying New York City - From his computer at home, data scientist Ben Wellington has changed the way we pay for MetroCards and cabs in New York City. Wellington is also THE VOICE behind the popular blog "I Quant New York," and he stops by to tell us how he's using public data to take on the city's problems.

Celebrating Autism Month - Move over Elmo, Grover, Oscar and Big Bird -- there's a new character coming to SESAME STREET and her name is Julia. She's part of Sesame Workshop's new nationwide initiative, "Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children." Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, and we hear from Vice President of Community and Family Engagement Dr. Jeanette Betancourt about how Sesame Workshop's new initiative aims to help families and children address its challenges.

MetroFocus Series Overview MetroFocus is an award-winning multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York and tri-state region. The MetroFocus television program features interviews, in-depth reporting, content from many partners and solutions-oriented reports from the community. Major areas of coverage include sustainability, education, Science and technology, the environment, transportation, poverty and underserved communities. MetroFocus.org amplifies that reporting with daily updates and original stories that also cover culture, government and politics, the economy, urban development and other news in the metropolitan region. More information at: thirteen.org/metrofocus/about-us-faq/

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