America in Primetime

During the 60-plus years it's been a staple of American homes, the intimate medium of television has both shaped and reflected popular culture. This four-hour PBS special examines how programming has depicted the roles of men and women, from Father Knows Best to June Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver, to mob family life in The Sopranos. Writers, show creators, and actors refer to early 1950s TV as "comfort food" that attempted to re-establish male dominance in the wake of women working in war-related industries. Donna Reed and Ozzie and Harriet worked hard to present women as perfect wives and mothers, able to sort out any problem, often in a comical way. The 1970s brought a tougher edge, with independent women like Mary Tyler Moore struggling to find a balance between romantic relationships and job demands, and in later years Roseanne Barr and others tackled subjects ranging from menopause to abortion. Noting that changing times paved the way for more realism—even further spurred by the greater freedom of cable TV—America in Primetime also examines two other beloved television staples: the misfit and the crusader. Misfits assure us that nonconformity is acceptable, while crusaders—from frontier lawmen to police and other crime fighters—test our changing ideas about how far we can go to secure justice. Featuring fine archival clips and appearances from various TV icons, this thought-provoking series is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)