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PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

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PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Crime Dramas

Pioneers of TV crime dramas, including Jack Webb (“Dragnet”), Desi Arnaz (“The Untouchables”), Bruce Geller (“Mannix” and “Mission: Impossible”), Bill Cosby, Angie Dickinson, Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, James Garner and Stephen J. Cannell.

  • PITV203

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Sitcoms

Rediscover television comedy classics, as this episode focuses on five key sitcoms: “I Love Lucy,” “The Honeymooners,” “Make Room for Daddy,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”

  • Original1/2/2008
  • PITV101

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Late Night

The late-night escapades of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson enter primetime in this episode about the formative years of late-night television.

  • Original1/9/2008
  • PITV102

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Variety

From Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” and Milton Berle’s “Texaco Star Theater” to “The Carol Burnett Show,” “Smothers Brothers” and “Laugh-in,” among others, this episode celebrates the variety show.

  • Original1/16/2008
  • PITV103

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Game Shows

This episode traces one of broadcasting’s strongest genres — from its beginnings in radio through its heyday in the late 60s.

  • Original1/23/2008
  • PITV104

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Science Fiction

Pioneers of science-fiction TV incluing Gene Roddenberry, Rod Serling, Irwin Allen ("Lost in Space"), William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols and other science-fiction stars.

  • Original1/18/2011
  • PITV201

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Westerns

TV Western pioneers, including Fess Parker (Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett), James Garner, Linda Evans, Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Conrad and James Arness.

  • Original1/25/2011
  • PITV202

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Local Kids' TV

Pioneers of local kids' TV including Willard Scott, Stan Freberg, Jim Henson, Larry Harmon ("Bozo") and Nancy Claster (“Romper Room”).

  • Original2/8/2011
  • PITV204

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Funny Ladies

See the first standup comediennes to appear on television and the sitcom stars who followed.

  • Original1/15/2013
  • PITV301

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Primetime Soaps

Trace the arc of nighttime soaps, from “Peyton Place” to “Knots Landing.”

  • Original1/22/2013
  • PITV302

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION

Superheroes

Survey decades of superheroes, from “Superman” in the 1950s to “The Greatest American Hero” in the 80s.

  • Original1/29/2013
  • PITV303
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Press Materials

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STAR-STUDDED FOURTH SEASON OF PIONEERS OF TELEVISION PREMIERES IN APRIL ON PBS Download

Press Release

PIONEERS OF TELEVISION Season 4 TCA Panelist Bios Download

Bio

Press Contacts

Jennifer Marcus or John Michael Kennedy

Goodman Media International

pioneers@goodmanmedia.com Copy Email

Michaé Godwin

Vice President, Publicity, PBS

mmgodwin@pbs.org Copy Email

Nicole Wells Foster

PBS

njwells@pbs.org Copy Email