7.3/1091 votes#1 - Jobs vs. Gates
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/1/2015
In the 1980s, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs break out in a heated battle to bring the personal computer to the masses.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1057 votes#2 - Wright Brothers vs. Curtiss
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 6/1/2015
The Wright Brothers build and fly the world’s first airplane, but they keep it a secret, leaving an opening for motor designer, Glenn Curtiss, to swoop in and compete to be the first to fly in public.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1045 votes#3 - Farnsworth vs. Sarnoff
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 6/8/2015
A young Midwestern farm boy creates an innovation that forever changes the future of communication, only to have it stolen away by one of America's greatest media moguls.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.9/1039 votes#4 - Hearst vs. Pulitzer
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 6/8/2015
The newspaper redefined the way America tells its stories, but its rise to prominence was born out of a bitter rivalry between a man who built himself up from nothing and the wealthy son of a business tycoon. Follow William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer as they push the limits of journalism in unthinkable ways, forever changing the media landscape.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/1057 votes#5 - Space Race
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 6/15/2015
America and the Soviet Union, deadlocked in the Cold War, set their sights on the final frontier — space. Go inside the more than decadelong struggle between the two superpowers as they both set out to conquer the moon. German scientist Werner Von Braun leads the charge for the U.S. and Sergei Korolev for the Soviets, but in the race to space, only one side can get there first.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/1064 votes#6 - Colt vs. Wesson
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 6/15/2015
Samuel Colt and partners Edwin Smith & Daniel Wesson become locked in the first true “arms” race, as they compete to perfect the world’s first revolver.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/1041 votes#7 - Oppenheimer vs. Heisenberg
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 6/22/2015
J. Robert Oppenheimer and Werner Heisenberg are in the world's largest arms race to build the first atomic bomb.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1074 votes#8 - Edison vs. Tesla
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/22/2015
Celebrated inventor Thomas Edison goes to war with his former assistant, Nikola Tesla, to determine who will power the world with electric light.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of American Genius Season 1
Every episode of American Genius Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Genius Season 1!
Behind every great genius was a great rival - an unstoppable adversary whose incredible vision, determination, and ambition is their match. Out of their struggles...
Genre:Documentary
Network:National Geographic
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Jobs vs. Gates" is the best rated episode of "American Genius" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 91 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 6/1/2015. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Wright Brothers vs. Curtiss".