"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

Local Children's Television

I watched this show with great interest... having grown up in Philadelphia where we enjoyed local shows on three network affiliates and three independent UHF stations (plus PBS affiliates in Philly and South Jersey). Imagine my surprise to find Philadelphia completely ignored in this episode of the miniseries.

From New York to Los Angeles... Miami to Chicago to Green Bay... even Phoenix Arizona. But why oh why did they completely skip the home of such local television programs such as:

Gene London, Sally Starr, Lorenzo the Clown, Pixanne, Sergeant Sacto, Wee Willy Weber, Captain Noah, Chief Halftown, and the Uncle Floyd Show starring Floyd Vivino and his brother, band leader for the Conan Show.

Of course, there are many others... plus the nationally syndicated programs (such as Soupy Sales and Romper Room) and programming imported from Japan, poorly dubbed into English.

I would like to know why, of all the cities in America, this show completely dissed Philadelphia.