or


[07/12/11 - 06:33 AM]
PBS Explores the Roots of Today's Biggest Television Hits in "America in Primetime" Premiering October 30
James L. Brooks, Larry David, Julianna Margulies, Mary Tyler Moore, Shonda Rhimes and Shawn Ryan are among the featured talent.

[via press release from PBS]

PBS Explores the Roots of Today's Biggest Television Hits

- AMERICA IN PRIMETIME Premieres October 30 -

- Series Features In-depth Interviews With Television's Brightest Minds, Including James L. Brooks, Larry David, Julianna Margulies, Mary Tyler Moore, Shonda Rhimes and Shawn Ryan, Among Others -

ARLINGTON, VA; JULY 12, 2011 -- Since its inception, television has served as a lens on American society, and in the expansive world of modern TV, today's heroes and villains have come a long way from their predecessors. America in Primetime showcases this iconic American art form, which has both reflected and shaped our national character. The four-part series premieres Sundays, October 30-November 20, 2011, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS. America in Primetime is a production of WETA Washington, DC, and The Documentary Group, in association with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. Funding is provided by the Annenberg Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.

America in Primetime presents some of the most compelling shows on television today, as well as those of the past, by focusing on key character archetypes - the man of the house, the independent woman, the misfit and the crusader - that have remained a staple of primetime through the generations, capturing both the continuity of the character and the evolution. Each episode of the series focuses on one of the key archetypes:

"Man of the House" showcases the evolution of men from the kings of their castles in classic family sitcoms to more intricate, conflicted figures in modern shows. Interviews include Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner ("The Cosby Show"); David Chase ("The Sopranos"); Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"); Ron Howard ("The Andy Griffith Show"); Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke ("The Dick Van Dyke Show"); and Phil Rosenthal and Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond"), among others.

"The Crusader" delves into the increasingly grey area between right and wrong as television heroes confront internal demons while seeking their own forms of justice. Interviews include Alan Alda ("M*A*S*H"); Steven Bochco and David Milch ("NYPD Blue"); Chris Carter and Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files"); Bob Cochran and Joel Surnow ("24"); Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"); Shawn Ryan and Michael Chiklis ("The Shield"); and David Shore and Hugh Laurie ("House"), among others.

"Independent Woman" reveals how women have transformed from model housewives to complex, and sometimes controversial, characters. Interviews include Roseanne Barr ("Roseanne"); Candice Bergen ("Murphy Brown"); Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives"), Robert and Michelle King and Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife"); James L. Brooks and Mary Tyler Moore ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"); and Shonda Rhimes and Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy"), among others.

"The Misfit" celebrates the unique characters who defied comic stereotypes and societal expectations to reflect America's diverse personalities. Interviews include Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"); Diablo Cody ("The United States of Tara"); Greg Daniels and Rainn Wilson ("The Office"); Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Seinfeld"); Paul Feig and Judd Apatow ("Freaks and Geeks"); Mitchell Hurwitz ("Arrested Development"); Mike Judge ("Beavis and Butthead"); and Garry Shandling ("The Larry Sanders Show"), among others.

AMERICA IN PRIMETIME features more than a hundred in-depth interviews with the creators, writers and actors who give life to the characters whom audiences have come to love, and demonstrates how the finest television today has its foundation in the best television of yesterday.

About The Documentary Group

The Documentary Group has a long and distinguished list of credits, including an Academy Award nomination for the documentary Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience, which aired on PBS. TDG was founded in 2006 by the core members of PJ Productions, following the death of legendary broadcaster Peter Jennings. The producers and directors, who were for many years the team behind Jennings' documentaries at ABC News, are dedicated to continuing the tradition of smart, important and innovative filmmaking.

About the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation, home of the Archive of American Television, is the ideal partner for America in Primetime. Its primary mission is to draw on the entire creative community in Hollywood in order "to preserve the rich history of television, and to educate and inspire future generations."

About WETA

WETA Washington, D.C. is the third-largest producing station for public television. WETA's productions and co-productions include the venerable news and public affairs programs PBS NewsHour and Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal; the arts series In Performance at the White House and The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize; and documentaries by filmmaker Ken Burns, including The Civil War, Baseball, The National Parks: America's Best Idea and, premiering in October, Prohibition. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org.

About PBS

PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches 124 million people through television and 20 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices.





  [july 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 24 (FOX)
· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (NETFLIX)
· BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD (MTV)
· BREAKING BAD (AMC)
· CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
· EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (CBS)
· FREAKS & GEEKS (NBC)
· GOOD WIFE, THE (CBS)
· GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)
· HOUSE (FOX)
· NYPD BLUE (ABC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· SHIELD, THE (FX)
· SOPRANOS, THE (HBO)
· UNITED STATES OF TARA, THE (SHOWTIME)
· X-FILES, THE (FOX)





[11/22/24 - 01:31 PM]
Video: "Suits LA" Arrives February 2025 - NBC
The all-new spinoff of the beloved legal drama, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, lands on the West Coast.

[11/22/24 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look at the Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors" Returning January 9 with Alan Cumming as Host
Last season, "The Traitors" became the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms during launch week, according to Nielsen.

[11/22/24 - 10:15 AM]
Apple's Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Two Renewal
Starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, "Your Friends & Neighbors" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11 with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through Friday, May 30.

[11/22/24 - 09:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "Fly Me to the Moon" to Premiere December 6, 2024
Since its debut in theaters worldwide, the film has received the Verified Hot certification on Rotten Tomatoes by fans.

[11/22/24 - 08:03 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil" Beginning December 6
The psychological horror thriller stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy, and more!

[11/22/24 - 07:35 AM]
2024 "Emirates NBA Cup" Championship Game Exclusively on ABC and ESPN+ December 17
In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively present a semifinal game and a quarterfinal game as part of its 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round coverage.

[11/22/24 - 07:12 AM]
Peacock and Sky's Original Hit Drama Series "The Day of the Jackal" Scores Second Season Renewal
In the US it ranked #1 on Peacock's Top 10 TV Shows on its platform and was a Top 5 streaming original in the US for its opening weekend (according to preliminary Nielsen data).

[11/22/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Chef's Table" Volume 7 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Meet five world-class chefs who redefine culinary boundaries with delicious, innovative dishes honoring their diverse cultures and personal philosophies.

[11/22/24 - 05:41 AM]
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" Set for January 2025 on ESPN
Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

[11/22/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Ad Vitam" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After escaping an attempted murder, Franck Lazarev (Guillaume Canet) must find his wife Léo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men.

[11/21/24 - 04:01 PM]
"Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" Premieres December 10: A Battle for Supremacy Begins
In the shadows of Korea's rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork - all vying to be crowned champion.

[11/21/24 - 04:00 PM]
ABC Presents a Two-Night Special Event To Commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
First, "The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20," a two-hour special from ABC News Studios chock full of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film's living legends, airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

[11/21/24 - 01:32 PM]
2024 International Emmy Nominees on Hulu
Check out these Emmy-worthy international series streaming on Hulu.

[11/21/24 - 01:12 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Semifinals Is Top Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 and All Key Women Demographics
The spectacular season 33 penultimate episode grew over the previous week's 500th episode celebration in both Total Viewers (5.19 million vs. 5.13 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.75 rating vs. 0.71 rating), hitting a season high in Total Viewers.

[11/21/24 - 01:05 PM]
NBC Orders Five Additional Episodes of Its Friday Night Comedy Hit "Happy's Place"
The "Happy's Place" premiere has hit 14 million viewers across all platforms.