Jerry Brown: The Disrupter
Experience the political and personal journey of Jerry Brown, the longest serving governor in California history. First elected at 36 years old and again at 72, explore Brown’s 50-year career tackling climate change and inequality.
Episodes
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Jerry Brown: The Disrupter
S37 E6 - 1h 33m
Experience the political and personal journey of Jerry Brown, the longest serving governor in California history. First elected at 36 years old and again at 72, explore Brown’s 50-year career tackling climate change and inequality.
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Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll
S37 E5 - 1h 29m
Experience the meteoric rise and enduring legacy of Little Richard. This portrait of the “King and Queen of Rock and Roll” explores his far-reaching influence as well as his advocacy for the rights of Black artists in the music industry.
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Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
S37 E4 - 1h 45m
See the world through the eyes of Nam June Paik, the father of video art and coiner of the term “electronic superhighway.” Born in Japan-occupied Korea, Paik went on to become a pillar of the American avant-garde and transformed modern image-making with his sculptures, films and performances. Experience his creative evolution, as Academy Award nominee Steven Yeun reads from Paik's own writings.
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In The Making
S37 E3 - 1h 51m
Follow two performers as they break down barriers in music. Opera singer J’Nai Bridges takes the stage in “A Knee on the Neck,” a choral tribute to George Floyd. Country artist Rissi Palmer redefines success as she works on her latest album, while uplifting other artists of color in the Americana genres.
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Dr. Tony Fauci
S37 E2 - 1h 53m
Follow Dr. Anthony Fauci as he grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and his 50-year career as the nation’s leading public health advocate. American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci reveals a rarely seen side of the physician, husband and father as he confronts political backlash, a new administration and questions of the future.
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Roberta Flack
S37 E1 - 1h 23m
Follow music icon Roberta Flack from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.
Extras + Features
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How Bella Abzug elevated feminist causes while in office
S37 E10 - 2m 15s
While in Congress, Bella Abzug elevated feminist causes, including women's financial independence. She helped pass the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which allowed women to have their own credit. "We always talk about helping people survive, helping people succeed," said Nancy Pelosi. "And then there's Bella Abzug who's there to transform."
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Bella Abzug defines what's missing in our democracy
S37 E10 - 1m
In 1975, Bella Abzug went on the "Dinah!" show and questioned what was missing in our democracy at the time: "Maybe we have wars instead of peace, because a whole part of the people are not involved in deciding what should happen to all of the people."
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Bella! This Woman’s Place is in the House
S37 E10 - 2m 45s
Follow the meteoric rise of firebrand politician and activist Bella Abzug. See how her commitment to women’s rights and progressive causes upended the status quo in Washington.
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Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes
S37 E9 - 1m 7s
Experience the groundbreaking sounds of bebop pioneer and virtuoso composer Max Roach, whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him.
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A Song for Cesar
S37 E8 - 1m 53s
Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez. Through interviews with Maya Angelou, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana and more, see how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the farmworkers’ movement Chavez helped found.
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Peaceful protest with Joan Baez
S37 E8 - 2m 32s
Members of the farmworkers’ movement were committed to nonviolence amidst danger on the picket lines. Singer-songwriter Joan Baez was one of those peaceful protesters.
"I've always been the happiest when I was doing activism and music at the same time,” said Baez. “So that was an obvious place for me to be, with Cesar."
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Cesar Chavez's love of jazz and pachuco culture
S37 E8 - 3m 28s
Labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez expressed an interest in music from an early age. He grew up identifying as a pachuco, a young Mexican-American who wore zoot suits and listened to jazz, blues and swing music.
"A lot of people have no idea that the leader of the Farm Workers Union was this guy that had this urban soul inside him," said filmmaker Luis Valdez.
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How the farmworkers’ movement used concerts to fundraise
S37 E8 - 3m 41s
Music promoter Jim Cassell organized concerts as fundraisers for the farmworkers’ movement with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Garcia, Cheech and Chong, Crosby Nash, Taj Mahal, Cheech and Chong, Malo, Tower of Power and others.
“It was an era when the United Farm Workers Union movement was so supported by everybody, so the bands would perform basically for free," said Cassell.
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The music of America’s farmworkers
S37 E8 - 3m 11s
When musician and composer Daniel Valdez first read the poem "Brown-Eyed Children of the Sun," he was reminded of his parents, who were migrant farmers from Mexico. He was inspired to create a bolero, typically a romantic ballad, dedicated to farmworkers and their families.
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The case that protected corporate spending in elections
S37 E7 - 2m 27s
During the 2008 presidential elections, Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, wanted to air a film criticizing then-democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Although Abrams disagreed with the politics of the film, he argued that Citizens United were within their rights to air the film, declaring that the First Amendment protects independent spending by corporations in elections.
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The history of the First Amendment
S37 E7 - 2m 49s
Did you know that the Supreme Court didn't begin interpreting the First Amendment as law until 1919? "We were making up, in a sense, First Amendment law as we went along," said lawyer Floyd Abrams. Free speech as we know it today was established through national security cases and gains made during the civil rights movement.
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Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
S37 E7 - 2m 21s
Follow the 50-year career of preeminent First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams. See how his landmark cases—from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United to Clearview AI—helped define free speech as it is known today. Join Dan Abrams, Ari Melber, Nina Totenberg and more as they explore how Abrams' career has shaped major changes in law, public discourse and civic action since the 1960s.
Schedule
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Friday
Sep 22
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Friday
Sep 22
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Saturday
Sep 23
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Saturday
Sep 23
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story
Saturday
Sep 23
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The life and career of jazz trumpeter Doc Severinsen, leader of the band for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," who continued a schedule of touring and performing into his 90s. -
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American Masters
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
Saturday
Sep 23
2 Hours
Indigenous artist Buffy Sainte-Marie rises to prominence in New York's Greenwich Village folk music scene, becoming an Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter, social activist and educator. -
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American Masters
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On
Sunday
Sep 24
2 Hours
Indigenous artist Buffy Sainte-Marie rises to prominence in New York's Greenwich Village folk music scene, becoming an Academy Award-winning singer-songwriter, social activist and educator. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Sunday
Sep 24
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Sunday
Sep 24
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Monday
Sep 25
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely
Monday
Sep 25
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The 50-year career of First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, whose landmark cases include the Pentagon Papers and Citizens United. -
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American Masters
Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip
Thursday
Sep 28
1 Hour
The life and times of radio commentator and syndicated newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who reached an audience of 50 million at his peak. -
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American Masters
Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip
Friday
Sep 29
1 Hour
The life and times of radio commentator and syndicated newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who reached an audience of 50 million at his peak. -
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American Masters
Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip
Friday
Sep 29
1 Hour
The life and times of radio commentator and syndicated newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who reached an audience of 50 million at his peak. -
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American Masters
A Song for Cesar
Friday
Sep 29
1 Hour 30 Minutes
A unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement as well as other facets of his life from childhood to his final days. -
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American Masters
A Song for Cesar
Friday
Sep 29
1 Hour 30 Minutes
A unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement as well as other facets of his life from childhood to his final days. -
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American Masters
A Song for Cesar
Saturday
Sep 30
1 Hour 30 Minutes
A unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement as well as other facets of his life from childhood to his final days. -
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American Masters
A Song for Cesar
Saturday
Sep 30
1 Hour 30 Minutes
A unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement as well as other facets of his life from childhood to his final days. -
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American Masters
Michael Tilson Thomas: Where Now Is
Saturday
Sep 30
1 Hour 30 Minutes
The life and career of Michael Tilson Thomas, music director of the San Francisco Symphony, founder and artistic director of the New World Symphony and conductor laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. -
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American Masters
Walter Winchell: The Power of Gossip
Saturday
Sep 30
1 Hour
The life and times of radio commentator and syndicated newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who reached an audience of 50 million at his peak.
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