America in Primetime
A four-part PBS series on TV character archetypes.
America in Primetime is a 2011 four-part documentary series that examines the evolution of character archetypes in American primetime television. Produced for PBS by The Documentary Group in collaboration with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation and WETA-TV, it features interviews with actors, creators, writers, and executive producers. The series was later acquired by the BBC, which re-edited the episodes and added new host segments.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Documentary
- Director
- Lloyd Kramer
- Composer
- Peter Nashel
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 4
- Executive producers
- Tom Yellin; Lloyd Kramer
Facts from the source article.
Release and reception
America in Primetime received favorable reviews. David Bianculli, a regular contributor to the NPR radio talk show Fresh Air, called it "the smartest TV show about television I've seen in about 20 years." David Wiegend of the Houston Chronicle praised that viewers can learn about both television history and changes in American culture. The series originally aired in the United States on four consecutive Sundays in late 2011 on PBS, and was also made available on the PBS Video website.
A DVD and Blu-ray Disc release followed on January 17, 2012, including bonus interviews. The BBC purchased the UK rights and broadcast the series in spring 2013 under the title The United States of Television: America in Primetime. These episodes were re-edited to a 58-minute run time, hosted by Alan Yentob, and aired on BBC Two from 20 April 2013 in a different order: Man of the House; The Misfit; The Independent Woman; The Crusader.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of America in Primetime are there?
America in Primetime has 4 episodes across 1 season.
When did America in Primetime first air?
America in Primetime first aired on 30 October 2011.
When did America in Primetime end?
America in Primetime last aired on 20 November 2011.
More in 2010s American Documentary Television Series
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