Rich Man, Poor Man, PBS Pioneers of Television Published January 2, 2013 at 600 × 600 in Pioneers of Television Timeline 1976: ”Rich Man, Poor Man” airs—with Nick Nolte, Peter Strauss, and Susan Blakely. High ratings fuel the miniseries phenomenon. 1976: ”Rich Man, Poor Man” airs—with Nick Nolte, Peter Strauss, and Susan Blakely. High ratings fuel the miniseries phenomenon.