Nearly 100 stars from TV's formative years bring their stories to PBS in season two of the Emmy®-nominated documentary series PIONEERS OF TELEVISION. Narrated by Kelsey Grammer, each episode melds compelling new interviews with irresistible archival clips to offer a fresh take on TV's founding celebrities. This season's four new episodes profile science fiction, crime dramas, local kids' shows, and westerns. Featured stars include James Garner, William Shatner, Angie Dickinson, Fess Parker, Linda Evans, Robert Conrad, Mike Connors, Leonard Nimoy, Bill Cosby, and many others.
Science Fiction - Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Nichelle Nichols reflect on the birth of Star Trek. Lost in Space is remembered by Bill Mumy and Angela Cartwright. And a lost interview with Rod Serling highlights a look at The Twilight Zone.
Crime Dramas - This episode begins with the 1950s Dragnet and the Untouchables; includes 1960s hits Mission: Impossible, I Spy and Hawaii Five-0; and wraps with 1970s favorites Rockford Files, Columbo, and Police Woman.
Westerns - James Garner (Maverick), Robert Conrad (Wild Wild West), and James Arness (Gunsmoke) are just three of the pioneers who talk about their experiences in this episode - which also includes Linda Evans (Big Valley) and Fess Parker (Daniel Boone). Classics like Bonanza and The Rifleman are also featured.
Local Kids' TV - Jim Henson, Willard Scott, and Fred Rogers are among the performers who started their careers in local TV. These three icons - and a dozen others - are featured in this episode that highlights the clowns, pirates, spacemen, and puppets who made local kids' TV memorable for a generation.
Producer: Boettcher/ Trinklein Television, Inc.
Production Year: 2011
Director: Steven Boettcher, Michael Trinklein
Narrator: Kelsey Grammer
Discs: 1
Subtitles: Y
Subtitle Language: English (SDH)
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen