American Masters poster

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 37 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 36

Episode 1

Roberta Flack

1h 30m1.0 / 10

Follow the music icon from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own words, the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archives and interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Peabo Bryson and more.

Where to watch American Masters

Episode 2

Dr. Tony Fauci

1.0 / 10

Follow Dr. Anthony Fauci as he grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and his 50-year career as the nation’s leading public health advocate. American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci reveals a rarely seen side of the physician, husband and father as he confronts political backlash, a new administration and questions of the future.

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Episode 3

In the Making

1.0 / 10

Follow two performers as they break down barriers in music. Opera singer J’Nai Bridges takes the stage in “A Knee on the Neck,” a choral tribute to George Floyd. Country artist Rissi Palmer redefines success as she works on her latest album, while uplifting other artists of color in the Americana genres.

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Episode 4

Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV

1.0 / 10

See the world through the eyes of Nam June Paik, the father of video art and coiner of the term “electronic superhighway.” Born in Japan-occupied Korea, Paik went on to become a pillar of the American avant-garde and transformed modern image-making with his sculptures, films and performances. Experience his creative evolution, as Academy Award nominee Steven Yeun reads from Paik's own writings.

Episode credits

Guest stars Steven Yeun

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Episode 5

Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll

1h 30m1.0 / 10

Experience the meteoric rise and enduring legacy of Little Richard. With appearances by Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Big Freedia and more, this portrait of the “King and Queen of Rock and Roll” explores his far-reaching influence — still felt in pop culture today — and his advocacy for the rights of Black artists in the music industry.

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Episode 6

Jerry Brown: The Disrupter

1.0 / 10

Experience the political and personal journey of Jerry Brown, the longest serving governor in California history. First elected at 36 years old and again at 72, explore Brown’s 50-year career tackling climate change and inequality.

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Episode 7

Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely

1h 22m1.0 / 10

Follow the 50-year career of preeminent First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams. See how his landmark cases—from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United to Clearview AI—helped define free speech as it is known today. Join Dan Abrams, Ari Melber, Nina Totenberg and more as they explore how Abrams' career has shaped major changes in law, public discourse and civic action since the 1960s.

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Episode 8

A Song for Cesar

1h 22m1.0 / 10

Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez. Through interviews with Maya Angelou, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana and more, see how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the farmworkers’ movement Chavez helped found.

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Episode 9

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

1h 22m1.0 / 10

Experience the groundbreaking sounds of bebop pioneer and virtuoso composer Max Roach, whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him.

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Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

More about American Masters

Cast

Scarlett JohanssonSelf
Goran VišnjićRobert Capa (voice)
Patsy ClineSelf (archive footage)
Maya AngelouSelf
Sidney LumetSelf
Oprah WinfreySelf
CommonSelf
Bill ClintonSelf

Credits

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