Arts and Music

Pioneers of Television

This nostalgic celebration of classic TV melds compelling original cast interviews with a generous portion of hilarious clips, offering a fresh take on TV’s biggest celebrities spanning late night hosts to prime-time soap stars and trailblazing icons.

“Sitcoms”

54m 12s

Explore five classic sitcoms: I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Joyce Randolph offers surprising insights into Jackie Gleason; Marlo Thomas recounts her father Danny; Andy Griffith offers his opinions about what made his show work; and both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke recount their years on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Episodes

  • “Sitcoms”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Sitcoms”

    S2 E206 - 54m 12s

    Explore five classic sitcoms: I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Joyce Randolph offers surprising insights into Jackie Gleason; Marlo Thomas recounts her father Danny; Andy Griffith offers his opinions about what made his show work; and both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke recount their years on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

  • “Science Fiction”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Science Fiction”

    S2 E205 - 53m 14s

    This episode uncovers three key sci-fi series: Star Trek, Lost in Space and The Twilight Zone. Includes interviews with both Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner; the full cast of Lost in Space; and a never-before-seen interview with icon Rod Serling. Interviews: Rod Serling, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright.

  • “Doctors and Nurses”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Doctors and Nurses”

    S2 E204 - 53m 14s

    From George Clooney on ER to Richard Chamberlain on Dr. Kildare, television’s long love affair with doctors and nurses shows no signs of letting up. Cast members including Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards open up about the secrets of ER; while Howie Mandel, Ed Begley Jr., Norman Lloyd, and Christina Pickles revisit St. Elsewhere. Featuring the final interview with Chad Everett of Medical Center.

  • “Superheroes”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Superheroes”

    S2 E203 - 53m 14s

    Exploring the superhero genre through the television eras: Superman in the 50s; Batman and The Green Hornet (with Bruce Lee) in the 60s; Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk in the 70s, and Greatest American Hero in the 80s. Interviews: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lynda Carter, William Katt, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Lou Ferrigno.

  • “Funny Ladies”: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    “Funny Ladies”

    S2 E202 - 53m 14s

    The first standup comediennes to appear on television, including legends like Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers. We also look at Lucille Ball’s breakthrough on I Love Lucy, and the sitcom stars that followed including Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, and Marla Gibbs. Contemporary actresses including Margaret Cho and Tina Fey also share how these trailblazers inspired their own work.

  • "Westerns": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    "Westerns"

    S2 E201 - 53m 14s

    Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wild Wild West, Maverick, Big Valley and Daniel Boone are among the series profiled in this episode. With interviews from James Garner, Linda Evans, Robert Conrad, Fess Parker, Ed Ames, Peter Graves, Angie Dickinson, William Shatner, Ernest Borgnine, and Adam West, this episode includes both western stars and new celebrities who used Westerns as a launching pad.

Schedule

  • Pioneers of Television: TVSS: Iconic

    Pioneers of Television

    Thursday
    Jun 5

    1 Hour

    A follow-up to the highly rated "Pioneers of Primetime," this documentary series features interviews with leading figures from the worlds of sitcoms, game shows, variety and late-night television, including Art Linkletter, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Williams, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, Betty White, Jonathan Winters, Marlo Thomas, Bob Barker, Merv Griffin, Ed McMahon and Tommy Smothers, among many others.
  • Pioneers of Television: TVSS: Iconic

    Pioneers of Television

    Thursday
    Jun 5

    1 Hour

    A follow-up to the highly rated "Pioneers of Primetime," this documentary series features interviews with leading figures from the worlds of sitcoms, game shows, variety and late-night television, including Art Linkletter, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Williams, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, Betty White, Jonathan Winters, Marlo Thomas, Bob Barker, Merv Griffin, Ed McMahon and Tommy Smothers, among many others.
  • Pioneers of Television: TVSS: Iconic

    Pioneers of Television

    Friday
    Jun 6

    1 Hour

    A follow-up to the highly rated "Pioneers of Primetime," this documentary series features interviews with leading figures from the worlds of sitcoms, game shows, variety and late-night television, including Art Linkletter, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Williams, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, Betty White, Jonathan Winters, Marlo Thomas, Bob Barker, Merv Griffin, Ed McMahon and Tommy Smothers, among many others.
  • Pioneers of Television: TVSS: Iconic

    Pioneers of Television

    Friday
    Jun 6

    1 Hour

    A follow-up to the highly rated "Pioneers of Primetime," this documentary series features interviews with leading figures from the worlds of sitcoms, game shows, variety and late-night television, including Art Linkletter, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Williams, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, Betty White, Jonathan Winters, Marlo Thomas, Bob Barker, Merv Griffin, Ed McMahon and Tommy Smothers, among many others.

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