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.

Variety

54m 12s

The origins of the variety genre are traced, from Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town and Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, to The Carol Burnett Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Laugh-In, among others. Interviews featured: Carol Burnett, Pat Boone, Tony Orlando, Sid Caesar, Florence Henderson, Jim Nabors, Jerry Stiller, Andy Williams, Red Skelton and Milton Berle.

Episodes

  • Variety: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Variety

    S1 E106 - 54m 12s

    The origins of the variety genre are traced, from Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town and Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, to The Carol Burnett Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Laugh-In, among others. Interviews featured: Carol Burnett, Pat Boone, Tony Orlando, Sid Caesar, Florence Henderson, Jim Nabors, Jerry Stiller, Andy Williams, Red Skelton and Milton Berle.

  • Breaking Barriers: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Breaking Barriers

    S1 E105 - 50m 29s

    Trace the journey of people of color featured in American television — trailblazers including Diahann Carroll (Julia), Desi Arnaz (I Love Lucy), Edward James Olmos (Miami Vice), and George Takei (Star Trek). Additional perspectives are captured in interviews with Leslie Uggams and Whoopi Goldberg.

  • Crime Dramas: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Crime Dramas

    S1 E104 - 51m 5s

    A look at the classic whodunits The Untouchables and Mannix; innovative dramas like Mission Impossible; and breakthrough series like Angie Dickinson’s Police Woman and Stephanie Powers’ The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Interviews include: Angie Dickinson, Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Robert Culp, Stephanie Powers, Mike Connors, Stephen J. Cannell.

  • Primetime Soaps: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Primetime Soaps

    S1 E103 - 53m 14s

    A nighttime soap frenzy kicks off in the 1980s with Dallas, and Dynasty and the long-running Knots Landing. Sometimes forgotten is the genre’s antecedent: 1964‘s Peyton Place, starring Mia Farrow and Ryan O’Neal. Featured interviews: Larry Hagman, Joan Collins, Patrick Duffy, Linda Evans, Diahann Carroll, Linda Gray, Charlene Tilton, Michelle Lee, Joan Van Ark, and Donna Mills.

  • Comedians: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Comedians

    S1 E102 - 53m 14s

    Go behind the curtain to reveal the techniques of America’s favorite comedic actors. The manic improvisational styles of Robin Williams and his comic predecessor Jonathan Winters provides a fascinating contrast to Tina Fey's measured, highly prepared approach. Featured interviews include: Robin Williams, Tina Fey, Jonathan Winters, Dick Van Dyke, Jimmie Walker, and Cloris Leachman.

  • Late Night: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Late Night

    S1 E101 - 54m 12s

    The contributions of late night hosts Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, and Jack Paar are featured. Merv Griffin emerges as a key player, Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall discuss their years in the mix, and Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late night sidekick to Joey Bishop. Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father Pat — the creator of "The Tonight Show."

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