American Masters (1986)

American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United States.

Documentary biography art peoplePBS

Log it

Sign in to log this.

Character

Classical in form, earnest, grave and spare.

classical in formformally daring
earnestironic
gravecomic
sparerichly built
contemplativerelentless

Who loves it, who doesn't

No profiled raters yet.

Where do you stand?

Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.

“Is American Masters too gentle for its own good?”
Sign in to answer.
Be the first to answer.
“Is it the best documentary series of its decade?”
Sign in to answer.
Be the first to answer.
“Would American Masters hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1986?”
Sign in to answer.
Be the first to answer.

Ask the title

A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.

YesNoUnclear

Across media

If you loved this television, the film, the book, the album, the game.

Season by season

Pacing
Tonal darkness
Challenge
Character vs. plot
Small numbers: the season's episode average on TMDB.

Fans cooled most on Season 5.

Reviews

No reviews yet.

Crew

Susan LacyCreator

Where to watch

Stream	PBS Thirteen WETA+
Free	PBS WETA+KQED

US availability, powered by JustWatch via TMDB. Each chip opens that service’s search for the title. Other regions on JustWatch

Where to watch

Checking availability…

Seasons

Season 112 eps · 1986
Season 210 eps · 1987
Season 38 eps · 1988
Season 410 eps · 1989
Season 58 eps · 1990
Season 69 eps · 1991
Season 73 eps · 1993
Season 82 eps · 1993
Season 94 eps · 1994
Season 105 eps · 1995
Season 115 eps · 1996
Season 126 eps · 1997
Season 137 eps · 1998
Season 147 eps · 1999
Season 158 eps · 2000
Season 168 eps · 2001
Season 178 eps · 2002
Season 188 eps · 2003
Season 198 eps · 2005
Season 209 eps · 2006
Season 219 eps · 2007
Season 229 eps · 2008
Season 238 eps · 2009
Season 248 eps · 2010
Season 259 eps · 2011
Season 268 eps · 2012
Season 275 eps · 2013
Season 2810 eps · 2013
Season 298 eps · 2015
Season 309 eps · 2016
Season 3110 eps · 2017
Season 328 eps · 2018
Season 3312 eps · 2019
Season 348 eps · 2020
Season 3510 eps · 2021
Season 368 eps · 2022
Season 379 eps · 2023
Season 387 eps · 2024
Season 398 eps · 2025
Season 407 eps · 2026

Pairings

Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.

Similar in taste

Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.

Mr. Scorsese 202573% alike
Both earnest, classical in form, grave.
Rafa 202666% alike
Both grave, earnest, classical in form.
Arnold 202365% alike
Both earnest, grave, classical in form.
Biography 198764% alike
Both grave, classical in form, earnest; this one is more unpretentious.
Howards End 201763% alike
Both classical in form, earnest, grave.
This Is Pop 202163% alike
Both classical in form, earnest, grave.
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos 202463% alike
Both classical in form, grave, earnest.
Meet the Romans with Mary Beard 201261% alike
Both classical in form, earnest, grave; this one is more richly built.
Spielberg 201780% alike
Film · Both earnest, classical in form, grave.
Score: A Film Music Documentary 201773% alike
Film · Both classical in form, earnest, grave.