American Masters

History Series / 14 Seasons

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

Watch Latest: S39 E1

1h 23m / TV-14

Remembering Jerry Lewis

1m 59s

Beloved comedian and filmmaker Jerry Lewis passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at the age of 91 in his Las Vegas home. In this never before seen interview from August 2015, Lewis discusses what his father, an vaudeville entertainer, taught him.

Inspiring Woman | Your Stories: Ngun Moy Hum

30s

From viewer Suzanne Eng: "At 21 she dared to come to America. She was an entrepreneur; a liberated woman before it was fashionable. She was afraid of no man, and she roared wherever she went. I am proud to be her granddaughter."

Inspiring Woman | Your Stories: Josephine Rubio Flores

30s

From viewer Sylvia Garza: "My mother was a 10th generation Tejana (Texan) who grew up in a time when women were not appreciated or respected as others. Because of her constant encouragement, we have lived the American dream."

PBS Previews | Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft

1m

Jacques Pépin is known as a kitchen supernova, a working whirlwind of creative energy even at 80 years old, but his surprising journey began in the countryside of wartime France, where his family’s tradition of entrepreneurial women running homegrown restaurants pushed young Jacques into an early culinary career.

Explore the advent of Food Television with James Beard

4m 4s

James Beard played a key role in the very first food shows on television. While he was a bit ahead of the curve and did not experience success right away, his show laid the groundwork for food television in the future.

Discovered the doll designed to look like James Beard

1m 28s

Caroline Stuart, a friend of James Beard, discovered a doll that was designed to look like James Beard. The toy was only available for a short time, and very few remain today.

Chris Cosentino shares how he discovered James Beard's work

1m 11s

Known for winning "Top Chef Masters" and for his palate-pleasing offal dishes, Chris Cosentino shares the surprising story of how he discovered James Beard's work and legacy.

Alice Waters remembers her early friendship with James Beard

1m 18s

Alice Waters recalls a party early in her friendship with James Beard. Waters was nervous bringing her young daughter over to Beard's home, but the two made a wonderful impression on one another.

Alice Waters shares her Inspiring Woman: Michelle Obama

29s

Alice Waters shares her Inspiring Woman: Michelle Obama. During her time in the White House, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the White House lawn and championed healthy eating initiatives. Share your story at pbs.org/InspiringWoman or using #InspiringWomanPBS.

PBS Previews | American Masters presents A Chef's Flight

1m

Executive Producer Michael Kantor comments on the upcoming series from American Masters, "A Chef's Flight." The four documentaries feature James Beard, Julia Child, Jacques Pépin and Alice Waters: the "culinary Mt. Rushmore of America."

José Andrés shares his first encounter with Jacques Pépin

3m 17s

When Jacques Pépin's legacy comes up, it's oftentimes in reference to his seminal work, "La Téchnique," and his extraordinary attention to detail. Here, chef and restaurateur José Andrés talks about his first encounter with Jacques Pépin at one of his cooking demonstrations.

Pépin took de-boning a fish to new heights

3m 4s

Jacques Pépin truly mastered the art of craft, taking a technique like cleaning a chicken or de-boning a fish to new heights. Today, chefs are still inspired by the elegance in his work and movement.

Women in Jacques Pépin's life were entrepreneurs and chefs

24s

Iconic chef and teacher Jacques Pépin shares his Inspiring Woman - his mother. He also talks about the many women in his family who worked as chefs and ran restaurants. Share your story at pbs.org/InspiringWoman or using #InspiringWomanPBS.

Life as a chef, husband and Jacques Pépin's son-in-law

1m 42s

When Rollie Wesen, a well-respected chef in his own right, fell in love with Claudine Pépin, he said his first goal was to win over the incomparable Jacques Pépin by being a good husband, not a great chef.

James Beard's mother was at the center of Portland's market.

3m

At the turn of the century, Portland had a bustling market culture, and James Beard's mother was right at the center of it all. Running a boarding house, Beard's mother brought the very best cooking to her guests and in the process taught her son an appreciation for great food at a young age.

How Jacques Pépin's "La Technique" changed modern cooking

2m 47s

In 1976, Jacques Pépin published a groundbreaking new book: a cookbook without recipes. "La Technique" illustrated each moment where your hands interacted with food - teaching the foundations of cooking instead of recipes.

How James Beard pioneered the farm-to-table movement

4m 25s

James Beard was one of the pioneers of clean cooking. He believed in the potential of American cuisine and the power of local farmers markets before there was even a name for this movement.

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