“Sitcoms”
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
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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"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
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Image
Pioneers of Television
Westerns
Thursday
Jan 23
1 Hour
Fess Parker; actor James Garner; Linda Evans discusses strong female characters in "The Big Valley"; "The Wild Wild West"; "Bonanza"; "Gunsmoke." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Funny Ladies
Thursday
Jan 23
1 Hour
The first female stand-up comics to appear on television include Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; Lucille Ball breaks through on "I Love Lucy"; the careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Marla Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Margaret Cho. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Westerns
Friday
Jan 24
1 Hour
Fess Parker; actor James Garner; Linda Evans discusses strong female characters in "The Big Valley"; "The Wild Wild West"; "Bonanza"; "Gunsmoke." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Funny Ladies
Friday
Jan 24
1 Hour
The first female stand-up comics to appear on television include Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; Lucille Ball breaks through on "I Love Lucy"; the careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Marla Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Margaret Cho. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Westerns
Friday
Jan 24
1 Hour
Fess Parker; actor James Garner; Linda Evans discusses strong female characters in "The Big Valley"; "The Wild Wild West"; "Bonanza"; "Gunsmoke." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Funny Ladies
Friday
Jan 24
1 Hour
The first female stand-up comics to appear on television include Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; Lucille Ball breaks through on "I Love Lucy"; the careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Marla Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Margaret Cho. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Westerns
Saturday
Jan 25
1 Hour
Fess Parker; actor James Garner; Linda Evans discusses strong female characters in "The Big Valley"; "The Wild Wild West"; "Bonanza"; "Gunsmoke." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Funny Ladies
Saturday
Jan 25
1 Hour
The first female stand-up comics to appear on television include Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; Lucille Ball breaks through on "I Love Lucy"; the careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Marla Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Margaret Cho. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Westerns
Sunday
Jan 26
1 Hour
Fess Parker; actor James Garner; Linda Evans discusses strong female characters in "The Big Valley"; "The Wild Wild West"; "Bonanza"; "Gunsmoke." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Funny Ladies
Sunday
Jan 26
1 Hour
The first female stand-up comics to appear on television include Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; Lucille Ball breaks through on "I Love Lucy"; the careers of Mary Tyler Moore, Betty White, Marla Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Tina Fey and Margaret Cho. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Superheroes
Thursday
Jan 30
1 Hour
Superheroes over the decades, from "Superman" in the 1950s to "The Greatest American Hero" in the 1980s. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Doctors and Nurses
Thursday
Jan 30
1 Hour
Actors Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, Gloria Reuben and Eriq LaSalle reveal the secrets of "ER"; Howie Mandel, Ed Begley Jr. and Christina Pickles talk about "St. Elsewhere." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Superheroes
Friday
Jan 31
1 Hour
Superheroes over the decades, from "Superman" in the 1950s to "The Greatest American Hero" in the 1980s. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Doctors and Nurses
Friday
Jan 31
1 Hour
Actors Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, Gloria Reuben and Eriq LaSalle reveal the secrets of "ER"; Howie Mandel, Ed Begley Jr. and Christina Pickles talk about "St. Elsewhere." -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Superheroes
Friday
Jan 31
1 Hour
Superheroes over the decades, from "Superman" in the 1950s to "The Greatest American Hero" in the 1980s. -
Image
Pioneers of Television
Doctors and Nurses
Friday
Jan 31
1 Hour
Actors Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, Gloria Reuben and Eriq LaSalle reveal the secrets of "ER"; Howie Mandel, Ed Begley Jr. and Christina Pickles talk about "St. Elsewhere."
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