On Video/DVD/BluRay: January 17, 2012
Genre: TV Series

Synopsis: The new Golden Age of television is now. In the expansive world of modern television, more groundbreaking shows are being created today than ever before. America in Primetime showcases this iconic American art form.

This series is structured around the most compelling shows on television today, unfolding over four hours and weaving between past and present. Each episode focuses on one character archetype that has remained a staple of primetime through the generations--the Man of the House, the Crusader, the Independent Woman and the Misfit--capturing both the continuity of the character, and the evolution. The finest television today has its foundation in the best television of yesterday.

At the heart of the series are more than one hundred in-depth interviews with top talent in primetime--the creators, writers, and actors who give life to characters we have come to know, love, and live with. Enjoy an unusual opportunity to experience the creative process from the inside out.

Each episode of the series focuses on one of the key archetypes...
Independent Woman reveals how women have transformed from model housewives to complex, and sometimes controversial, characters. It features: I Love Lucy; Murphy Brown; and Sex in the City.

Man of the House showcases the evolution of men from the kings of their castles in classic family sitcoms to more intricate, conflicted figures in modern shows. It features: Father Knows Best; All in the Family; and The Cosby Show.

The Misfit celebrates the unique characters who defied comic stereotypes and societal expectations to reflect America's diverse personalities. It features: The Beverly Hillbillies; Seinfeld; and Heroes.

The Crusader delves into the increasingly grey area between right and wrong as television heroes confront internal demons while seeking their own forms of justice. It features: Have Gun Will Travel; Mission Impossible; and 24.

AMERICA IN PRIMETIME features more than a hundred in-depth interviews with the creators, writers and actors who give life to the characters whom audiences have come to love, and demonstrates how the finest television today has its foundation in the best television of yesterday.

Rating: Not Rated
Length: 240 Minutes
Studio: PBS
Blu-ray
Contains 2 Discs
UPC 841887015844
Retail $34.99
Available 1/17/12