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American Masters

Name: American Masters
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1986-06-23
Rating: 7.5

TV Show TV-14 1986 1h 30m/ep 7.5 /10 Returning

A PBS Original

Created by Susan Lacy

Where to Watch "American Masters"

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Streaming availability last verified: January 24, 2026

About American Masters

American Masters is a long-running PBS documentary series that profiles influential American artists, writers, musicians, directors, and performers. Each episode builds a focused biographical film that combines interviews, archival footage, and contemporary commentary to show how a subject's life linked to their work and to wider cultural shifts. Episodes vary in length and style, sometimes highlighting a single person and sometimes pairing related figures, but they stick to steady, research-driven storytelling rather than sensationalism. The series places careers in historical context, showing how personal choices, social forces, and artistic risks shaped careers and public perception without revealing surprises about an episode's conclusion.

Launched in 1986 on PBS, American Masters was created by Susan Lacy. Over the years the show has worked with independent filmmakers, public television stations, and cultural institutions to produce feature-length portraits for a national audience.

The series has had a steady presence in classrooms, archives, and cultural conversations, helping preserve interviews and rare footage that might otherwise have been lost. Profiles of well-known and lesser-known figures have influenced how viewers understand American cultural history, and episodes are often cited in articles, curricula, and retrospectives about their subjects.

Critical reception has generally been favorable, reflected in audience and critic scores that highlight the series' thorough research and measured tone. Viewers and reviewers point to recurring themes like artistic process, cultural legacy, and the interaction between individual creativity and social context. The show tends to emphasize documentary craft, first-person testimony, and archival discovery over flashy gimmicks.

Over its run the series has earned widespread recognition from television and documentary organizations, receiving numerous awards and nominations that acknowledge its production values and historical scholarship. Those honors underline the program's role as a durable platform for biographical filmmaking on public television.

Details

Release Date: June 23, 1986
Episode Length: 1h 30m
Rating: TV-14
User Ratings: 22 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 40
Episodes: 309
Network: PBS
Status: Returning Series
Genres: Documentary
Country: United States
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment +1 more
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Seasons (40 seasons, 309 episodes)

Season 1

12 episodes - 1986

Season 2

10 episodes - 1987

Season 3

8 episodes - 1988

Season 4

10 episodes - 1989

Season 5

8 episodes - 1990

Season 6

9 episodes - 1991

Season 7

3 episodes - 1993

Season 8

2 episodes - 1993

Season 9

4 episodes - 1994

Season 10

5 episodes - 1995

Season 11

5 episodes - 1996

Season 12

6 episodes - 1997

Season 13

7 episodes - 1998

Season 14

7 episodes - 1999

Season 15

8 episodes - 2000

Season 16

8 episodes - 2001

Season 17

8 episodes - 2002

Season 18

8 episodes - 2003

Season 19

8 episodes - 2005

Season 20

9 episodes - 2006

Season 21

9 episodes - 2007

Season 22

9 episodes - 2008

Season 23

8 episodes - 2009

Season 24

8 episodes - 2010

Season 25

9 episodes - 2011

Season 26

8 episodes - 2012

Season 27

5 episodes - 2013

Season 28

10 episodes - 2013

Season 29

8 episodes - 2015

Season 30

9 episodes - 2016

Season 31

10 episodes - 2017

Season 32

8 episodes - 2018

Season 33

12 episodes - 2019

Season 34

8 episodes - 2020

Season 35

10 episodes - 2021

Season 36

8 episodes - 2022

Season 37

9 episodes - 2023

Season 38

7 episodes - 2024

Season 39

8 episodes - 2025

Season 40

3 episodes - 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

American Masters is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

American Masters has 40 seasons with a total of 309 episodes.

With a rating of 7.5/10 from 22 viewers, American Masters is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

American Masters was created by Susan Lacy.

American Masters was released on June 23, 1986.

American Masters is a Documentary series.

American Masters profiles 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. Episodes typically focus on a single figure or creative movement, examining their life, work, and influence.

Susan Lacy is credited as the creator of American Masters. She launched the PBS series in 1986 and developed its focus on in-depth biographical documentaries about major American cultural figures.

American Masters debuted in 1986 and, as of the provided data, has produced 39 seasons and 308 episodes. It's one of PBS's longest-running arts documentary series.

Episodes are generally standalone documentaries, each concentrating on a single person or topic within American arts and culture. You can watch most episodes independently without needing to see earlier installments.