"Pioneers of Television" (2008) TV mini-series 2008-

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A four-part documentary series focusing on the legends that helped launched TV and left lasting impression on sitcoms, talk shows, variety shows and game shows in television's early years.

Plot Keywords:

Early Television | Television History | TV Mini-Series | Three Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Tim Conway	...	Himself (4 episodes, 2008-2013)
Phyllis Diller	...	Herself (4 episodes, 2008-2013)
Dick Van Dyke	...	Himself (4 episodes, 2008-2013)
Betty White	...	Herself (4 episodes, 2008-2013)
Florence Henderson	...	Herself (4 episodes, 2008)
Harlan Saperstein	...	Himself / ... (4 episodes, 2008)
Kelsey Grammer	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 2011)
Ryan Seacrest	...	Narrator (4 episodes, 2013)
Barbara Eden	...	Herself (3 episodes, 2008-2013)
Vicki Lawrence	...	Herself (3 episodes, 2008-2013)
Dick Cavett	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2008)
Pat Harrington Jr.	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2008)
Pat Crowley	...	Herself (3 episodes, 2011-2013)
Veronica Cartwright	...	Herself (3 episodes, 2011)
Peter Graves	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2011)
Martin Landau	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2011)
Adam West	...	Himself (3 episodes, 2011)
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2008-2013)
Marlo Thomas	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2008-2013)
Hugh Downs	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Merv Griffin	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Andy Griffith	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Arsenio Hall	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Art Linkletter	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Peter Marshall	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Jim Nabors	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Jack Narz	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Tony Orlando	...	Himself / ... (2 episodes, 2008)
Tom Smothers	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Andy Williams	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Jonathan Winters	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)
Linda Evans	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2011-2013)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Stephen J. Cannell	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Mike Connors	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Robert Conrad	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Bill Cosby	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Robert Culp	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Angie Dickinson	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2011)
James Garner	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Chuck McCann	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Bill Mumy	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Leonard Nimoy	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2011)
Stefanie Powers	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2011)
Edward Asner	...	Himself (2 episodes, 2013)
Lynne Moody	...	Herself (2 episodes, 2013)

Series Directed by
Steve Boettcher		(7 episodes, 2008-2011)

Series Writing credits
Mike Trinklein		(5 episodes, 2008-2011)

Series Produced by
Mike Trinklein	....	producer / executive producer (7 episodes, 2008-2011)
Steve Boettcher	....	producer (5 episodes, 2008-2011)
John Hoylman	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2008)
Scott Jacobson	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2008)
Jack Jones	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 2008)
Marie Bublitz	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 2011)

Series Cinematography by
Michael Campbell		(3 episodes, 2008)
Steve Boettcher		(3 episodes, 2011)

Series Film Editing by
Stephanie Theisen		(6 episodes, 2008-2011)
Chris Frenthway		(3 episodes, 2008)

Series Makeup Department
Kymber Blake	....	key makeup artist (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Art Department
Brian Neubauer	....	props (3 episodes, 2008)
Mary B. Nygaard	....	concept artist (3 episodes, 2008)

Series Sound Department
Joel Raabe	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2013)
Ray Fister	....	sound designer / sound editor (3 episodes, 2008)
Matthew Misslich	....	assistant sound / assistant audio (3 episodes, 2008)
Erik West	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 2011)

Series Stunts
Dan 'Dice' Narciso	....	stunt coordinator / stunt performer (1 episode, 2011)
Josh Pilsbury	....	assistant stunt coordinator / stunt performer (1 episode, 2011)
Tobias Tolnay	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2011)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kymber Blake	....	wardrobe (1 episode, 2008)
Ellen Kozak	....	wardrobe (1 episode, 2008)
Vesta	....	wardrobe (1 episode, 2008)

Series Other crew
Christopher L. Perez	....	clearance counsel (8 episodes, 2011-2013)
Dana Archer	....	publicist (3 episodes, 2008)
Sarah Eastman	....	production staff / production assistant (3 episodes, 2008)
Bonnie Rowan	....	researcher (3 episodes, 2008)
Josh Salzberg	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2008)
Bonnie Winings	....	publicist (3 episodes, 2008)
Tom Andrews	....	publicist (2 episodes, 2008)
Marc Baron	....	location assistant (2 episodes, 2008)
Patrick Haley	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2008)

Production Companies

• Boettcher/Trinklein Productions

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2008) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Viewers Like You  funding

Runtime:

USA:55 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Boettcher/Trinklein Productions

Worth it for the clips. Otherwise a disappointment

This comment refers specifically to the "Late Night" segment of the mini-series.

The narration contains several glaring moments of very bad writing and is overly "Burnsian" in its slow, serious delivery. The omission of David Letterman among the interviewees leaves one wondering whether he refused or someone had an ax to grind. The parade of past guests as interviewees also suffers from missing figures, particularly those who were regulars on Carson's show.

The show also fails to give the viewer much insight into the off camera personalities of its subjects. We learn (?) that Carson was a shy, private person and that if you didn't hear from him you were doing a good job and that if you did hear from him it was likely to be unvarnished opinion. At this late date can we not get deeper?

Overall, a disappointment; it should have been better.