Bonnie Stiernberg, Created by: Heidi Thomas The acting prods the lines around it with sly good cheer. The Mythical Majesty of 'Masterpiece Theatre' - The Ringer Watch on Amazon via Britbox, It was almost 40 years ago when the BBC miniseries Brideshead Revisited captivated audiences with its portrayal of early 20th century British aristocracy and Catholic guilt. Running a Brothel from Inside a Monastery: Drama Co-Productions at the BBC and the Trade Relationship with America from the 1970s to the 1990s, PhD dissertation, University of London-Birkbeck. It sounds very posh, but in fact Louisa Durrell (the exceptionally charming Keeley Hawes) moved her four children from England after the death of her husband because they were struggling financially. They thought, oh it sounds like it will be very challenging. Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre) is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. related_content_links_0_open_in_new_window: related_content_links_1_open_in_new_window: related_content_links_2_open_in_new_window: Check out our Season 1 cast feature here for more details! Check out our Season 1 cast feature here for more details! The title was shortened to Masterpiece, and throughout the year, the show is shown in three different ways.Starting in January, it as shown as Masterpiece Classic, showing . Led by an excellent cast (including, rather iconically, Gillian Anderson), this battle of wills (both literal and figurative) is long enough to be able to include the full measure of Dickens strange side characters and dizzying plot strands, all of which connect in one way or another and in fantastically satisfying ways. Starting with this season, the show's titling reverted to Masterpiece Theatre, and the show began airing without a host. Screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes delivers joy with her Tom Jones. Cooke appeared for two decades until 1992; native Baltimorean, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and longtime columnist for The New York Times, Russell Baker (19252019), was next and hosted for over a decade from 1992 to 2004. Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 11:49, Masterpiece Theatre (Marianas Trench album), Suite of Symphonies for brass, strings and timpani No. Not everyone was especially enthusiastic over the genre division between Masterpiece Theater and Mystery! New York: Routledge, 2012). Based on the popular novel by Evelyn Waugh, when middle-class freshman and aspiring artist Charles (Irons) arrives to Oxford, he is befriended by the rich, spoiled party boy Sebastian (Anthony Andrews) who soon falls in love with Charles and introduces him to his severely dysfunctional upper-class family living in the grand estate of Brideshead. So it is no surprise we cant get enough of Miss Scarlet and The Duke, Masterpieces drama about the talented but underestimated first female detective in Victorian London (Kate Phillipss Eliza Scarlet) as she tries to make a name for herself in a male-dominated world. Over the course of seven seasons, spanning 25 years in all, Mirren found in Tennison the resignationand the ragethat faces any uncompromising figure in this compromised world. Specials featured three stories set in the United States. Stars: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Andy Serkis, Eddie Marsan, Arthur Darvill, Most people discovered the exceptional talent of Claire Foy while watching The Crown, but those who watched the 2008 miniseries Little Dorrit (part of the BBCs well-received run of adapting some lesser-known Dickens works by Andrew Davies) had an early heads-up. "Masterpiece Theatre" redirects here. Watch this Season 1 video reintroducing the character of Julien Baptiste to the world in his own series, after his appearance in the former TV series The Missing, which also starred actors such asKeeley Hawes (The Durrells in Corfu, Mrs. Wilson), James Nesbitt (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Match Point),and more. It is truly a must-watch. Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James, with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust, created to help ensure the series' future. They also looked to past successes for help. An anthology drama series featuring primarily British productions.An anthology drama series featuring primarily British productions.An anthology drama series featuring primarily British productions. Gorey, known for his eccentric and stubborn nature, recounted: When we first started talking about it, I gave them a scenario for the credits, but they said, 'Thank you, very much, dear, but this will take half an hour.' In 1979 Mobil Oil head of corporate affairs Herb Schmertz offered the idea of an all-British crime series show to WGBH manager Henry Becton. Kaitlin Thomas, Created by: Heidi Thomas Its also a story where Dickens naming conventions are perhaps at an all-time highLady Dedlock, Mr. Jarndyce, Miss Flight, Snagsby, William Guppy, Krook, etcand the adaptation leans into its strangeness. The two solve Cases of the Week as vicar Sidney listens to jazz, questions his faith, and tries to stop being in love with his childhood friend Amanda, since they cannot marry. Stars: Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire, Nicola Walker, On the surface, Last Tango in Halifax looks like a sweet but slight story of two British widowers who knew each other in childhood and who find each other again to rekindle a lost love. Masterpiece Classic airs in the winter and early spring, Masterpiece Mystery! (September 10, 2020) "The MASTERPIECE team was saddened today by the news of Dame Diana Rigg's death. Terms of Use: PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Early womens lib-meets-whodunit in this intriguing ensemble drama, which contrasts the murder investigations with post-war gender roles. And it remained that way for four years, partly because of the challenge of . During the first seasons in the 1970s, the theme music accompanied varying closeup shots of a waving British flag, which panned out into a still image of a British flag on a staff serving as the P in "Masterpiece". London theater never felt so new, with 'Guys and Dolls,' 'Medea' and Allison Keene, Created by: Daisy Coulam In addition, its theme music was changed. like Frontline, NOVA, Sesame Street, The Joy of Painting and Arthur, but its also full of great UK period pieces and crime series. On Sesame Street (1969), it was spoofed as "Monsterpiece Theater". The all-new MASTERPIECE Mystery! Its a mesmerizing viewing experience, with a perfectly gothic Victorian aesthetic that creaks with sly humor. Got it. Five Reasons Tom Jones Will Steal Your Heart, Season 3: Interview: Ben Lloyd-Hughes on Sanditons Final Season, Season 3: Sanditons Cast on the Series Finale, Season 3: Surprising History in Sanditon Season 3. Find someone knowledgeable and credible, and put them back in that leather armchair by the fireplace amid the books and other curiosities. The three-part miniseries is is a fitting tribute to the novels central themes: love, kinship, and the bravery of women, and is as bright, clever, and emotional and any excellent adaptation should be (its also one of the only adaptations that makes Amy less hateful and where Jo rejecting Laurie makes real emotional sense). Masterpiece (formerly known as Masterpiece Theatre) is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. He then pointed out that it had not aired as a part of Masterpiece Theatre. The theme music was composed by Man Made Music, Inc; the opening sequences were designed by Kyle Cooper of Prologue. To this day, Alistair Cooke remains the longest-serving of any Masterpiece host. Russell Baker, Columnist and Host of 'Masterpiece Theatre,' Dies at 93 Russell Baker, the genial, but sharp-witted writer who won Pulitzer Prizes for his humorous columns in the New York. Stars: Natascha McElhone, Oliver Dench, Olivia Morris, Louisa Binder, Anna Chancellor, Assad Zaman, Watch on PBS.orgWatch on Amazon via Masterpiece. Clip Length 02:19 Premiere: 04/10/11. Keri Lumm, Created by: Richard Cottan, Peter Harness, Richard McBrien [8], The Masterpiece approach has been reported as being to put up about 10% of the production budget, in return for distribution rights and a degree of consultation on casting and content, but not editorial control. Those have, over the years, mostly been part of Masterpiece Theater, Masterpiece Classic, Masterpiece Mystery, and Masterpiece Contemporary. One of television's most honored series, the various shows aired on Masterpiece have won numerous Emmy and Peabody Awards. Starting with this season, the show celebrated its 30th anniversary, and produced a spinoff called The American Collection. If you arent already supporting your local PBS station, why not? Although they occasionally only ran for one episode, many ran for as many as ten or more installments. "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time". For the Hillerman episodes, the American flag was worked into the opening title sequence. No matter what route you choose, you can rest assured that everything featured on PBS Masterpiece is good. Sign up to get the latest news on your favorite dramas and mysteries, as well as exclusive content, video, sweepstakes and more. Baker served as Masterpiece Theatre's host until 2004, at which point the series opted to continue without a host. These were series that I simply could not get enough of, and was sad to see end. In 2008, the word "Theatre" was dropped, and the show, officially known as Masterpiece, was split into three different sections. In addition to Bonnar and Sives, the series also costars Ruth Bradley (Pursuit) as Angie, the niece of the hit-and-run victim, Walter. Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart, Tom Hiddlestone, Ricahrd McCabe, David Warner, Saskia Reeves, Kenneth Branagh is marvelous in this moody procedural based on the novels of Henning Mankell, and the original Swedish film adaptations. The content here is free if you are a current PBS donor (at $60/year or $5/month levels, typically, though levels vary by location). Writer: America. Allison Keene, Created by: John Galsworthy, Stephen Mallatratt had been losing audiences for some time. Watch now . Cook and Baker both did a superb job of this. It is never saccharine, but wears its wholesomeness on its sleeve as we travel across the Yorkshire dales and experience the ups and downs of rural life. Stars: Jenna Coleman, Tom Hughes, Nell Hudson, David Oakes, Rufus Sewell, Examining the early years of Queen Victorias reign, Victoria has never gotten the same attention as its splashy cousin, The Crown. Its also my job is to make sure the whole country knows about Masterpiece and knows about whatever show is being produced. As has been written about many times in this space, book-to-television adaptations can be a tricky beast to wrangle. And this version, written by Andrew Davies, is an absolute banger. Check out our handy schedule page and be sure to mark it all down on your calendar! It now carries a signature theme based on its sister program's former theme. version still features the Gorey/Lamb characters. Gorgeous to look at and with a sumptuous score to match, the series is Victorian-era consumer porn. Votes: 15,906. with 5 letters was last seen on the January 01, 2003. Masterpiece (TV Series 1971- ) - IMDb Masterpiece Theatre Host Crossword Clue One problem that I have with Materpiece Theatre these days is the absence of a host. Oh, big-time. Then, episodes 3 and 4 will air the following Sunday, September 12, at 9/8c and 10/9c. Stars: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Watch on Amazon PrimeWatch on PBS Passport, In the compelling modern crime series Unforgotten, DCI Cassie Stuart (an always-excellent and recently ubiquitous Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) doggedly pursue cold case murders and disappearances. Masterpiece (TV Series 1971- ) - IMDb There's a great deal of publicity and marketing to be done. in the late spring and summer, and Masterpiece Contemporary in the fall. Home | Masterpiece | Official Site | PBS Feature Tom Jones Learn everything you need to know about the all-new series before the premiere! Stars: Damian Lewis, Rupert Graves, Gina McKee, Corin Redgrave, Ioan Gruffudd, Before Downton Abbey, there was The Forsyte Saga. is a television anthology series produced by WGBH Boston for PBS in the United States. In looking for an underwriter for the series, Calderwood eventually met with Herb Schmertz of Mobil Corporation. And keep in mind, all of this has aired on TV for free, and its only the start! About Charlotte Heywood, a spirited and impulsive woman, who moves from her rural home to Sanditon, a fishing village attempting to reinvent itself as a seaside resort. [10] Interviewed in 2017, Eaton described her role at Masterpiece as "the person who chooses which British programs will be included in Masterpiecelooking at a lot of shows that are already made, reading scripts, and choosing the ones that would suit this audience. An engrossing mystery dramanow with as many episodes as its parent seriesthe show follows the early career of Endeavour Morse as he solves murders around 1960s Oxford and establishes himself as a detective with a keen ability to unravel even the most complex mystery. She was an integral member of the MASTERPIECE family, including 15 years as the host of. Allison Keene, Created by: Chris Lang Life is (or was, at this time) cheap in Corfu, where the family takes up residence in a wonderfully ramshackle and remote house right on the waterwhich also lacks electricity or other modern conveniences. Stars Vincent Price Alan Cumming Gene Shalit See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Added by 5.1K users 1 User review Enter the length or pattern for better results. Allison Keene, Created by: Debbie Horsfield MASTERPIECE occasionally presents the best in contemporary drama, recently featuring award-winning writer/director David Hares Worricker trilogy. He was succeeded in 1973 by Joan Wilson. The list includes episodes filmed as part of The American Collection. The beauty of turning Les Misrables into a (non-musical) miniseries is that we get a long view of the characters, finding new sides to well-known figuresLily Collins Fantine, Dominic Wests Jean Valjean, David Oyelowos Javertand finding depth in those, like Olivia Colmans Madame Thnardier, who often come across as one-note. to new audiences. MASTERPIECE on the Passing of Diana Rigg - PBS In the summer of 1995, Mobil announced that it would stop funding Mystery! Amanda Schurr, Created by: John Brownlow programming has always been and continues to be British literary adaptations co-produced with UK-based production companies. In 1980, Masterpiece gained a sister series, Mystery!, featuring a mix of contemporary and classic British detective and crime series, such as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and Touching Evil. Its an artful complement to the detectives largely internal struggle, which also includes issues with his adult daughter and Alzheimers-afflicted dad (David Warner, exceptional as ever). Masterpiece Mystery Original title: Mystery! The series was created as a mystery, police and crime drama spin-off of the already established PBS show Masterpiece Theatre. The first title to air was The First Churchills, starring Susan Hampshire as Sarah Churchill. The 2002 version is fantastically dramatic and heartbreaking, full of schemers and dreamers and a grandly charming cast as it spins its dizzying tale of romance and woe. The show truly blossoms in its second season, and continues from there to be an emotional and surprisingly cozy portrayal of the royal household, the people it employs, and a nation Victoria and Albert seek to modernize. It is a soothing, deeply engaging alternative to the sound of fury of so many current dramas. In less capable hands, these stories wouldve likely flown off the rails and veered into the completely ridiculous, but the talented cast of Downton Abbey manage to always handle it with aplomb. [14] Masterpiece Contemporary was hosted initially by Matthew Goode,[15] who was replaced by David Tennant[16] in 2009. Explore more real-life history from Season 3, episode by episode. Allison Keene, Created by: Sally Head On the plus side, PBS and WGBH began to take an active part in the production of its shows. Run by a good-hearted but difficult-to-please taskmaster, Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West)who has fired every other assistant he has ever hadJames must prove himself not only to his new boss, but also to the local farmers suspicious of newcomers and more modern methods of treatment. former masterpiece theatre host Crossword Clue - Wordplays Like any grand Dickensian tale, Little Dorrit is a deeply emotional story full of labyrinthine twists. Masterpiece Theater | Muppet Wiki | Fandom Mark Rozeman and Allison Keene, Created by: Derek Granger Stars: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, Anton Lesser, Sean Rigby, Sara Vickers, James Bradshaw, Abigail Thaw, Jack Laskey, Sequels and prequels are notoriously difficult to pull off, which is why the success and strength of Endeavour should not be overlooked. Stars: Joanna Vanderham, Peter Wight, Emun Elliott, Matthew McNulty, David Hayman, Sarah Lancashire, Sonya Cassidy, Describing The Paradise as Downton Abbey in a department store might be a shade oversimplifying, but thats often what this veddy proper, occasionally beguiling melodrama about the rich and the help calls to mind. The series has been produced for PBS by WGBH/Boston since 1971. A delightful if overlooked take on a classic, the women here may be little, but they are also strong, brilliant, and full of heart. ", Theyre made by British companies and British broadcasters for the BBC and ITV and once they're done, we bring them back here. Neves, Sheron (2013). British-born American journalist and broadcaster. Stars: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Callum Woodhouse, Rachel Shenton. Both are unique in their own ways, especially in how the show allows Victoria and Albert to settle into both domestic bliss and the natural scuffles all couples face (augmented, of course, by their positions). The Best of Masterpiece was hosted by Derek Jacobi and featured interviews with Helen Mirren, Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis, Robson Green, Ian Richardson, Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance, Alex Kingston, Anthony Andrews and Jean Marsh. What sets this drama apart are the four women at the center of the puzzle, a quartet of former code breakers from the same WWII think tank as that in The Imitation Game (granted, these characters are fictional). Stars: Keeley Hawes, Milo Parker, Josh OConnor, Daisy Waterstone, Callum Woodhouse, Alexis Georgoulis, Yorgos Karamihos. is noted for its animated opening and closing title sequences with original drawings created by cartoonist Edward Gorey and animated by Eugene Federenko, Derek Lamb, and Janet Perlman,[1] with music by Normand Roger. Anchored by outstanding performances, the series shines in its quiet moments of personal fortitude and in confronting ones own biases in endlessly intriguing ways. Add some MASTERPIECE Mystery! Knox, Simone. Allison Keene, Created by: Andrew Davies Its underwritten series Masterpiece Theater and Mystery! Rate this. [7] Mobil pulled out in 2004. In 2008, PBS combined Mystery! Enter a Crossword Clue [9] In the same year the series attracted new sponsors Viking River Cruises and Ralph Lauren (Ralph Lauren was subsequently replaced by Farmers Insurance). Will, Geordie, and the rest of Grantchesters residents are back in action for eight all-new episodes starting on Sunday, October 3 at 9/8c through Sunday, November 21. Yup. In 2000, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the show, it presented Masterpiece: The American Collection, nine works by American writers, including Thornton Wilder's Our Town, starring Paul Newman. But the real struggle comes from the siblings mother (Phoebe Nicholls) who is determined to guide her children into their proper places as Catholic royalty, much to the dismay of atheist Charles. (28 episodes, 2009-2016) Series Art Department Series Sound Department Paul Sanni . [citation needed]. Overall, Cranford is a timeless, comforting, joyful watch for the whole family. Featuring four young stars on the rise as the unforgettable March girls, Emily Watson as their mother, Marmee, and the 92-year-old Angela Lansbury in an astoundingly good turn as Aunt March, Little Womenadapted by Heidi Thomas (Call the Midwife) and directed by Vanessa Caswillhas all the makings of a new beloved viewing tradition. Host Cookie Monster appeared as "Alistair Cookie", a spoof of its original host Alistair Cooke. The latter actually changed its opening titles to reflect changes to the original Masterpiece . Theres even a Piven lookalike (Emun Elliott) as the titular stores too-suave owner. Below are 30 of our favorite PBS Masterpiece selections, ranked from great to absolutely must-watch. You can easily improve your search by specifying the number of letters in the answer. Amanda Schurr, Created by: Sally Wainwright Gorgeously costumed and compellingly crafted, Victoria is a wonderful series to fully immerse yourself inone that will (for many Americans, at least) have you constantly on Wikipedia to learn more about the historical events it portrays. Were about to set out on a series of entertaining mysteries15 weeks of suspenseful, sophisticated, crafty conundrums that are darkly diabolical or amusing adventures with introductions that suddenly seem alarmingly alliterative.[2]:10 Shalit left the show in 1981. Other programs presented on the series include The Six Wives of Henry VIII; Elizabeth R; I, Claudius; Upstairs, Downstairs; The Duchess of Duke Street; The Citadel; The Jewel in the Crown; Reckless; House of Cards; Traffik, and Jeeves and Wooster. The countdown special was based on more than 20,000 survey responses posted to the Masterpiece and PBS affiliate websites, the top 12 series were: At the end of the program, Anthony Andrews thanked the audience for voting the 1981 serial Brideshead Revisited as the seventh favorite series. And in doing so, Durrells has made itself an essential watch.Allison Keene, Maybe not technically PBS Masterpiece, but it fits the aesthetic. A police officer on southern Swedens picturesque coast, Branaghs Kurt Wallander must solve a run of freakish crimes. But the series is always balanced by a plucky confidence in its storytelling and its tone, which ultimately keeps things light and cozy. Season 1 of the series co-starred Tom Hollander ( Pride & Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean), Jessica Raine ( Call the Midwife ), Barbara Sarafian ( All of Us ), Alec Secareanu ( God's Own. Upstairs Downstairs. Theres something to be said for a complete, stand-alone tale, yet viewed collectively, Suchets thorough ownership of the dapper detectiveall 25 years of itis all the more impressive, so immersed is he in Christies world. Over time, the sequence became more streamlined, shorter, and slightly more colorful. Call it feminist, call it what you will, Call the Midwife is brave television. Heart of an Empire. Network Nations: A Transnational History of British and American Broadcasting. If series about the scandals and foibles of the uppercrust appeal to you, you cannot go wrong with Forsyte. Still, these various aspects of Portofino largely work in tandem to create an absorbing drama that is full of familiar beats (everyone has a secret, and money problems, and wants to marry for love), but is nevertheless highly satisfying. The theme was performed by Collegium Musicum de Paris. Worsleys intimate knowledge of the niche subject matter of each of her documentaries will leave you full of trivia facts, yes, but her illuminating the lives of women in particular during these eras gives essential context into how our own modern customs were formed. Its a wonderful treat and a balm for the soul. In early 2008, Masterpiece Theatre and its affiliated program Mystery! Mark Bonnar (Unforgotten, Home Fires, The Paradise) and Jamie Sives (To the Ends of the Earth) star as the wildly opposite, criminal brothers in the show dubbed as darkly delicious (The Guardian, UK ) andthe Coen brothers by way of Leith (The Telegraph, UK). Allison Keene, Created by: Simon Nye Stars: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Watch on Freevee (with ads) Like all good TV families, their interactions are full of love, bickering, and insults. An anthology drama series featuring primarily British productions. Also appearing are Emun Elliott (The Paradise) as Kenny, Maxs quirky private detective; Sian Brooke (Sherlock) as Claire, Maxs suspicious wife; Moyo Akand (The Hurricane Heist) as Claires more than a gym buddy, Tina; Ellie Haddington (Foyles War) as Walters pathologically vigilant neighbor, Sheila; and Bill Paterson (Wives and Daughters) as Roy, a sinister mob boss in Edinburgh. As the old saying goes: Its not the crime, its the cover-up. Everyone has secrets, but theyll always come out in the end. It may be a new year, but trouble is still (as always) brewing in the village of Grantchester. The current series producer, Rebecca Eaton, took over in 1985 after Wilson's death from cancer.