"American Experience" benefits (or suffers) from the fate of many documentary series, it can be disjointed as the installments are produced by a host of different people and production companies. This is especially evident in the first ten season, topics could range from personal stories to environmental advocacy to to more academic treatments of Presidents and natural disasters.
The original executive producer (the late Judy Crichton) has said that originally the series was conceived as a chronological trip through history, but as with many PBS programs, funding and self-interest gets in the way. The depth of twenty plus seasons would never have been possible given a "beginning to end" approach.
And that is not all bad, where else can a viewer see a treatment of Mormons, heart surgery, Tupperware, floods, and Coney Island all in one program? The sweep of American history is certainly grand enough to include all these things, and the fans who have witnessed it through the years have mostly seen the rewards of a more eclectic approach.
While history of any type might seem to be be boring to many, I would recommend the in-depth treatment of "American Experience" over glossy biographies and minor popular subjects seen on competing cable channels - even if it takes watching a few episodes to get "in the groove".moreless
American Experience
Monday 9:00 PM on PBS Premiered Oct 04, 1988 In Season
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Since 1988, PBS has broadcast a series that focuses on the history of the United States and what has made it unique. Called American Experience (originally titled The American Experience), the program examines the people, events, technology, and natural resources that have shaped the country. Hosted by David McCullough until 2002 and narrated by a number of well-known personalities - American Experience uses historians and authors, period images and film, music, dramatic re-enactments, and contemporary context to set the stage for its topics.
The series continues to this day with a variable number of installments produced each year. Episodes are generally 60 minutes in length, but some longer episodes and multi-part series have also been produced. The show airs at different days and times on local PBS stations.
Though American Experience has used many films from independent film makers and has been assisted by various PBS stations throughout the country, it has always been spearheaded by WGBH in Boston.moreless
The series continues to this day with a variable number of installments produced each year. Episodes are generally 60 minutes in length, but some longer episodes and multi-part series have also been produced. The show airs at different days and times on local PBS stations.
Though American Experience has used many films from independent film makers and has been assisted by various PBS stations throughout the country, it has always been spearheaded by WGBH in Boston.moreless
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| S 24 : Ep 8 | Death and the Civil War | Aired 9/18/12 | |
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David McCullough |
Presenter (1988-2002) |
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
What to Watch Tonight: White Collar, American Idol, and Parenthood
Plus: The River, Justified, and PBS's The Amish.
By Price Peterson, Feb 28, 2012
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17
What to Watch Tonight: New Girl and the Season Premieres of Justified and Southland
Plus: White Collar returns and The CW unveils its newest model-centric reality show.
By Price Peterson, Jan 17, 2012
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Themes
assassination, baby boomers, beautiful people, celebrity life, corruption