Norman Lear on the Red Carpet
Actors, writers and producers comment on Norman Lear at the red carpet premiere of American Masters' "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You."
Norman Lear - All in The Family Disclaimer
Norman Lear's controversial work led to a disclaimer from CBS. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Norman Lear on Legacy
Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Gloria Naylor on the American Dream
Best known for "The Women of Brewster Place," Gloria Naylor speaks about the notion of the American Dream through three American classics: Nella Larsen’s "Passing," F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby," and John Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath." This never-before-heard interview is from Michael Epstein's "American Masters – Novel Reflections on the American Dream (2007)."
Norman Lear's Psychiatrist
Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Dar Williams on Joan Baez
American folk music icon Joan Baez began her career during the 1960s counterculture movement. Listen as Baez and fellow singer-songwriter Dar Williams share anecdotes about life on the road together and how they’ve influenced each other’s lives and art. This never-before-heard interview is from filmmaker Mary Wharton’s American Masters – Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound (2009).
Norman Lear on Network Censorship
Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Norman Lear's "Maude" on Tough Issues
Largely responsible for the explosion of bold American television in the 1970s, writer/producer Norman Lear’s name is synonymous with the sitcom. The first documentary about the 94-year-old television legend, "American Masters — Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," premieres nationwide Tuesday, October 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
Nina Bernstein and June Norton on Ella Fitzgerald
Before Ella Fitzgerald became the First Lady of Song and earned 13 Grammy Awards, she spent much of her teenage years as an orphan, finding odd jobs and, at times, living on the street. Journalist Nina Bernstein and Fitzgerald’s longtime friend June Norton discuss one of the singer’s most difficult periods.
Venus Williams on Women in Tennis
In this exclusive clip from the American Masters Digital Archive, Venus Williams reflects on the sacrifices made by trailblazers such as Althea Gibson and Billie Jean King, without whom, the game of women's tennis would not be where it is today.
Mel Brooks on Gene Wilder
In this clip, Brooks reminisces about his collaborations with Wilder, and how he almost drove the actor to a nervous breakdown while filming a scene for The Producers (1968).
Patti Smith on the Scene
In this never-before-heard interview from American Masters – Lou Reed: Rock-And-Roll Heart (1998) conducted by filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Patti Smith talks about how we live in a very label-conscious time and hopes one day for a label-free future.
Fran Drescher on Lucille Ball
American film and television comedian, model, actress, and producer Fran Drescher, star of the hit TV sitcom "The Nanny," reflects on how Lucille Ball used the character of Lucy to present a stylish, smart and independent woman who resonated with millions of women across America.
Bernadette Peters Talks about Mel Brooks
Bernadette Peters on meeting Mel Brooks and the impact of his humor: “As far as he would go with jokes, like in Blazing Saddles
he’ll get away with things because they were truly funny.” Peters was interviewed on September 4, 2012 for American Masters – Mel Brooks: Make A Noise (2013).
In Their Own Words Trailer
American Masters is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the launch of In Their Own Words: The American Masters Digital Archive and The American Masters Podcast, featuring previously unreleased interviews filmed for the documentary series: 2,156 tapes, approximately 1,388 digitized hours, 800-plus interviews and counting.
Gloria Steinem on Marilyn Monroe
Gloria Steinem discusses her experience watching Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. While Steinem believes the support system that resulted from the Women’s Movement has been a huge help to women, she wonders if this kind of support could have ultimately saved Marilyn from the society that devastated her and so many others.
The Highwaymen: 'The Mount Rushmore of Country Music'
In 1985, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson formed a country supergroup: The Highwaymen. In this excerpt from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and others talk about how coming together as a group was crucial to their individual careers and the American music industry.
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End - Promo
Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music supergroup that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio.
Willie Nelson Sings 'Always On My Mind' at Nassau Coliseum
"Willie cut 'Always on my Mind.' He called me the night he cut it and he said, listen to this. I heard it over the phone and I went wow, that’s a smash. That band was the same band that toured with Highwaymen every night." - Mark Rothbaum, manager of The Highwaymen
How Kris Kristofferson Convinced Cash to Record His Songs
How did Kris Kristofferson convince Johnny Cash to record his songs when he was just a janitor? In this outtake clip from The Highwaymen: Friends Till The End, John Carter Cash recalls how Kris Kristofferson flew a helicopter into Johnny Cash's yard to convince him to record his songs.
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