Episode 1
Jeff Bridges: The Dude Abides
1h 30m
A retrospective on the laid-back actor who has entertained audiences for close to 40 years.
Where to watch American Masters
TV series
American Masters
1986TV-1440 seasons7.0 / 10
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.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
American Masters is available to stream on YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play and Apple TV. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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Synopsis
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.
Season 25 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 2
Troubadors: Carole King/James Taylor & the Rise of the Singer-Songwriter
1h 30m
Focusing on musicians ranging from James Taylor and Carol King to Elton John.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 3
John Muir in the New World
1h 30m
This documentary explores the life and legacy of America’s first environmentalist and Sierra Club’s founder. Mountaineers portray Muir in reenactments filmed in Yosemite, the Sierra Nevada, Alaska, Wisconsin, and Alhambra Valley.
Episode credits
Directed by Catherine TatgeGuest stars Jane Alexander, Graeme Malcom
Episode 4
James Levine: America's Maestro
1h 30m
A behind-the-scenes lok at the internationally-renowned conductor of New York's Metropolitan Opera.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 5
Pearl Jam Twenty
1h 30m
Told in big themes and bold colors with blistering sound, Pearl Jam Twenty chronicles the years leading up to the band’s formation, the chaos that ensued soon-after being catapulted into superstardom, their step back from the spotlight with the instinct of self-preservation, and the creation of a trusted circle that would surround them — giving way to a work culture that would sustain them. Part concert film, part insider hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists, the film celebrates the freedom that allows Pearl Jam to make music without losing themselves, their fans, or the music lovers they’ve always been. Pearl Jam Twenty features new interviews with original band members Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, drummer Matt Cameron, and friend and Soundgarden singer/guitarist Chris Cornell, as well as archival performance and interview footage of Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Kurt Cobain, and Neil Young.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 6
Bill T. Jones: A Good Man
1h 30m
Bill T. Jones, the recipient of a prestigious MacArthur "genius" grant and winner of two Tony Awards, has been named "an irreplaceable treasure" by the The Dance Heritage Coalition. Above all, he is a socially conscious choreographer who never shies away from controversy -- tackling thorny subjects such as race and politics with elegance and intelligence, artistry and originality.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 7
Woody Allen: A Documentary (1)
1h 30m9.0 / 10
A film that traces the life and accomplishments of America's unique and recognized comedian/writer/filmmaker.
Episode credits
Guest stars Scarlett Johansson
Episode 8
Woody Allen: A Documentary (2)
1h 30m9.0 / 10
Iconic writer, director, actor, comedian, and musician Woody Allen allowed his life and creative process to be documented on-camera for the first time. With this unprecedented access, Emmy®-winning, Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Robert Weide followed the notoriously private film legend over a year and a half to create the ultimate film biography.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 9
Charles & Ray Eames: The Architect and the Painter
1h 30mfinale
From 1941 to 1978, this husband-and-wife team brought unique talents to their partnership. He was an architect by training, she was a painter and sculptor. Together they are considered America’s most important and influential designers, whose work helped, literally, shape the second half of the 20th century and remains culturally vital and commercially popular today. They are, perhaps, best remembered for their mid-century modern furniture, built from novel materials like molded plywood, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, bent metal wire and aluminum – offering consumers beautiful, functional, yet inexpensive products. Revered for their designs and fascinating as individuals, Charles and Ray have risen to iconic status in American culture. But their influence on significant events and movements in American life – from the development of modernism, to the rise of the computer age – has been less widely understood. Charles and Ray Eames are now profiled as part of American Masters. A film by Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey. Narrated by James Franco.
Where to watch American MastersEpisode information updated Jul 25, 2026
More about American Masters
Cast
Scarlett JohanssonSelf
Goran VišnjićRobert Capa (voice)
Patsy ClineSelf (archive footage)
Maya AngelouSelf
Sidney LumetSelf
Oprah WinfreySelf
CommonSelf
Bill ClintonSelfCredits
- Created by
- Susan Lacy
Production details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 311
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
Eagle Rock EntertainmentUnited Kingdom
ThirteenUnited States
Themes
artbiographypeople
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