Jace Lacob January 10th, 1971 was a Sunday. And that night, a new show aired that would go on to Change. Television.
That new show? MASTERPIECE Theatre.
For 50 years, MASTERPIECE Theatre has been home to groundbreaking series like Sherlock and Downton Abbey, Prime Suspect and Jewel in the Crown.
It’s aired more than 400 different programs starring some very famous actors, some of whom I’ll talk to for this podcast…
Jace Who are you and what do you do?
Charles Dance My name is Charles Dance and I’m an actor.
Alan Cumming I’m Alan Cumming.
Robin Ellis Robin Ellis.
Crystal Clarke Crystal Clarke.
Elizabeth McGovern Elizabeth McGovern.
Laura Linney My name is Laura Linney, and I’m an actress.
Hugh Bonneville My name is Hugh Bonneville. I’m an actor.
Jace But this podcast isn’t just about the actors… It’s about great television and what it takes to make it; it’s about the ups and downs of showbiz, and the surprisingly juicy behind-the-scenes drama of public television.
It’s about 50 years of MASTERPIECE history.
Robin Ellis It was a gold mine. It was really it was a gold mine of stuff.
Rebecca Eaton I binged it. I didn’t know that’s what I was doing, but that’s what I was doing.
Andrew Davies And we were saying. this book is about young people with raging hormones.
Elizabeth McGovern There’s something about that picture that made me want to be an actress.
Susanne Simpson It was just a really exciting time at MASTERPIECE.
Jace I’m Jace Lacob and THIS… is Making MASTERPIECE, a new documentary from MASTERPIECE Studio. We’re covering five decades of MASTERPIECE history in three episodes — where MASTERPIECE came from, how it changed television, and what it still has in store for its 50th season.
Newton Minnow I hope the MASTERPIECE Theatre is around another 50 years at least.
Soraya Nadia McDonald God, that would be incredible. I could totally see that on PBS.
Jace Look out for Episode One of Making MASTERPIECE on Sunday, February 28th. Just search for MASTERPIECE Studio on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify… or find it wherever you listen to podcasts, or at pbs.org/MakingMASTERPIECE.
