Episode 1
Mike Nichols
1h 30m
The life and 50-year career of director Mike Nichols, one of only two people who have won Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.
Episode credits
Directed by Elaine MayGuest stars Mike Nichols
TV series
American Masters
1986TV-1441 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.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Sep 1, 2026
American Masters premiered June 23, 1986. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
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 30 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 2
B.B. King: The Life of Riley
1h 30m3.5 / 10
The challenging life and career of blues guitarist B.B. King; candid interviews feature Bono, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and Ringo Starr.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 3
Carole King: Natural Woman
1h 30m1.0 / 10
Rare home movies, performances and photos help illustrate the life and career of singer-songwriter Carole King, from 1960s New York to Los Angeles in the 1970s to the present.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 4
Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
1h 30m1.0 / 10
The New Orleans rhythm and blues of Fats Domino helped aid integration in the South.
Episode credits
Directed by Joe LauroWritten by Rick Coleman, Joe LauroGuest stars Fats Domino, Clarke Peters, Dave Bartholomew
Episode 5
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
1h 30m
A profile of country music icon Loretta Lynn, whose hard-fought road to stardom was dramatized in the 1980 film "Coal Miner's Daughter." Included: home movies, photos and concert footage, plus insights from family, friends and fellow musicians, including Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Jack White and Trisha Yearwood.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 6
Janis: Little Girl Blue
1h 30m1.0 / 10
One of the most revered and influential rock ’n’ roll singers of all time, Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) thrilled audiences and blazed new creative trails before her death at age 27. Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil, West of Memphis, Prophet’s Prey) examines Joplin’s story in depth, for the first time on film, presenting an intimate portrait of a complicated and driven artist.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 7
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
1h 30m
Discover the story behind the pioneering outlaw country music supergroup that featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, told through vintage performances and new interviews about life on the road and in the studio.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 8
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
1h 30m
Writer/producer Norman Lear's turbulent childhood, early success with sitcoms “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times” and “Maude,” and social activism.
Where to watch American Masters
Episode 9
Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future
1h 30mfinale
The film explores the life and visionary work of Finnish-American modernist architectural giant Eero Saarinen (1910-1961). Best known for designing National Historic Landmarks such as St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch and the General Motors Technical Center (Warren, Mich.), Saarinen also designed New York’s TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Yale University’s Ingalls Rink and Morse and Ezra Stiles Colleges, Virginia’s Dulles Airport, and modernist pedestal furniture like the Tulip chair.
Where to watch American MastersEpisode information updated Sep 15, 2026
Available now in United States
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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
- 315
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
PBSUnited States
Eagle Rock EntertainmentUnited Kingdom
ThirteenUnited States
Themes
artbiographypeople