Pioneers of Television

Beginning in the mid-1970s, miniseries based on novels captivated television audiences like never before. Networks poured money into the productions and reached huge numbers of viewers around the world. The key to these miniseries’ success are beloved characters that survive twists and turns that unfold over decades, including struggles to be accepted, whether in a loving relationship or within society. “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel, was shown over eight consecutive nights in 1977 and attracted more viewers than any other television drama before. “Roots” was a cultural landmark that had a profound effect, shifting opinions and revealing the truth about the African-American experience of slavery. In “Rich Man, Poor Man” (1976), two starkly different brothers seek acceptance from their rough-edged immigrant father as they also build their lives in America, from post-World War II through the 1960s.

Recalling the prime-time soaps of the 1970s and '80s, including "Dallas," "Dynasty" and "Knots Landing," as well as their antecedent "Peyton Place" (1964-69). Included: details about the "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of "Dallas"; stories about the personalities who helped shape the shows. Among the notables interviewed: Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman of "Dallas"; Diahann Carroll, Joan Collins, Linda Evans of "Dynasty"; Michele Lee, Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark of "Knots Landing.

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.

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

This episode begins with Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town and Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and progresses through The Carol Burnett Show, Smothers Brothers and Laugh-in, among others. Tim Conway and Jonathan Winters tell hilarious stories about their variety show years, and Tommy Smothers reveals new details about the behind-the-scenes story of his own landmark show. Pat Boone offers a compelling first-hand account of the racist policies that made it difficult for him to book African American guests. In the same vein, Tony Orlando reveals the back-story behind his role as the first Hispanic host of a variety series. Additionally, this episode includes fresh bites from earlier interviews with Milton Berle, Red Skelton and Sid Caesar—and there's no shortage of great clips. Standouts include Andy Williams singing "Moon River" and Flip Wilson's Geraldine. As Arsenio Hall says, "You could not dislike Flip Wilson. There was a warmth about him. And he was brilliant the way he created characters; and the characters had lives of their own. We knew about Geraldine's boyfriend and how jealous he was—and those things brought that character to life."

This episode focuses on the five key sitcoms that shaped the genre: I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. The last remaining Honeymooner, Joyce Randolph, speaks candidly about Jackie Gleason's distinctive personality. "The two were just magic together. I don't think that Jackie would have been as great without Art," Randolph says. Similarly, Marlo Thomas offers fascinating insights about her father Danny and the genesis of his Make Room for Daddy sitcom: "My dad used to travel so much, and my mother hated to sleep alone. So we would take turns sleeping in my mother's big huge bed. And we'd bring our toys and our things in there, and then when my dad was about to come home she'd say, 'Make room for daddy.' And we would. And so we said that so much that my father thought that that was a great premise for a show...the idea of making room for this figure that you love that leaves all the time. So that show was pretty much our childhood." Andy Griffith typically avoids TV interviews, but Pioneers of Television producer Steve Boettcher persuaded Griffith to sit for an extended interview—the result is a rare inside look at the people and techniques that made Griffith's show work. The episode also includes interviews with both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke, who recount their years together on the breakthrough Dick Van Dyke Show.