Documentary1986–PBS

The Best Episodes of American Masters

Every episode of American Masters ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of American Masters!

Best episode
S13E5 The Lives of Lillian Hellman
9.0105 votes
Worst episode
S6E5 Frederic Remington: The Truth of Other Days
3.381 votes
Top season
Season 8
7.8avg
Binge time
18d 23h
314 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons41

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    American Masters Season 13 Episode 5 - The Lives of Lillian Hellman
    9.0/10(105 votes)

    S13:E5

    The politics and writings of the noted 20th century woman.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Masters Season 18 Episode 4 - Balanchine
    8.6/10(283 votes)

    S18:E4

    A retrospective on the life and work of George Balanchine, a founder of American ballet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Masters Season 15 Episode 4 - Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
    8.6/10(180 votes)

    S15:E4

    The incredible career of Lucille Ball, from youth through the movies, from television star to media mogul. Some of the personalities that comment in this film include Fran Drescher, Van Johnson, Dick Martin, Edie Adams, and Carol Burnett. This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Masters Season 19 Episode 7 - Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (1)
    8.4/10(12529 votes)

    S19:E7

    A journey through the poetry and music of Bob Dylan.

    Director:Martin Scorsese
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Masters Season 2 Episode 8 - Unanswered Prayers: The Life and Times of Truman Capote
    8.7/10(68 votes)

    S2:E8

    The evolution of the novelist and his impact on other artists and American culture.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. American Masters Season 21 Episode 9 - Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character
    8.4/10(156 votes)

    S21:E9

    The career of funny woman Carol Burnett, from Broadway to television stardom.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of American Masters

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  7. American Masters Season 13 Episode 6 - Dashiell Hammett: Detective, Writer
    8.4/10(129 votes)

    S13:E6

    A profile of an author as mysterious as some of his well-known detective stories.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. American Masters Season 5 Episode 6 - John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen
    8.4/10(124 votes)

    S5:E6

    A documentary on the 50 year career of a legendary producer of recording artists and musicians.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. American Masters Season 20 Episode 5 - Walter Cronkite: Witness to History
    8.4/10(113 votes)

    S20:E5

    Walter Cronkite was the man who gave us the news for two tumultuous decades in the late 20th century. As historian, journalist and author David Halberstam says in praise of the great CBS newsman: "Most Americans really learned of the evening news and learned of Vietnam and learned of the civil rights movement and learned of Watergate with Walter Cronkite as the man who ushered it into their homes. And did it with great professionalism over a very long time and was I think absolutely true to himself." In AMERICAN MASTERS Walter Cronkite: Witness to History, a documentary narrated by Katie Couric, historians, fellow journalists and CBS colleagues appraise the career of the man who was called "the most trusted man in America." CBS writer and commentator Andy Rooney, legendary producer/director Don Hewitt, correspondents Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Lesley Stahl and Barbara Walters, columnists Molly Ivins and Helen Thomas, Senator John McCain and President Jimmy Carter guide the viewer from Cronkite's early days as a foreign correspondent in World War II through his thirty-year career at CBS News.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. American Masters Season 36 Episode 3 - Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha
    8.5/10(54 votes)

    S36:E3

    The journey and legacy of five-time Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku, who broke swimming records and popularized modern-day surfing while overcoming racism.

    Director:Isaac Halasima
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. American Masters Season 2 Episode 7 - The Negro Ensemble Company
    8.4/10(57 votes)

    S2:E7

    An ode to the work of the African American theater group founded in the late 60s and its impact on the performing arts.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. American Masters Season 18 Episode 1 - Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan and the Blacklist
    8.2/10(166 votes)

    S18:E1

    The dispute between one of America's most influential playwrights and a respected movie director over actions taken during the "red scare" of the 1950s.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. American Masters Season 39 Episode 6 - Marcella
    8.3/10(78 votes)

    S39:E6

    Discover how celebrated writer Marcella Hazan shaped Italian cuisine in America. After immigrating to New York in the 1950s, she began making authentic dishes from her Italian roots and inspired millions of Americans with her cookbooks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. American Masters Season 28 Episode 10 - Bing Crosby Rediscovered
    8.2/10(135 votes)

    S28:E10

    Bing Crosby (1903-77) is remembered via home movies, Dictabelt recordings, photos and insights from wife Kathryn, daughter Mary and sons Harry and Nathaniel. He scored nearly 400 hit singles, including the classic "White Christmas"; and appeared in such popular films as "White Christmas" and "Going My Way." The profile details the allegations of abuse leveled against him by son Gary (1933-95); and explains how his beloved duet with David Bowie on "Little Drummer Boy-Peace on Earth" came about.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. American Masters Season 33 Episode 10 - Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
    8.2/10(124 votes)

    S33:E10

    American Masters and Latino Public Broadcasting’s VOCES join forces to present the first documentary about Raúl Juliá, the versatile Puerto Rican actor whose work on stage and screen took the world by storm. Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage premieres Friday, September 13, 2019 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS, pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS Video App in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. American Masters Season 26 Episode 5 - Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
    8.1/10(722 votes)

    S26:E5

    Quite possibly the biggest star that television has ever produced, Carson commanded, at his peak, a nightly audience of 15 million viewers – double the current audience of Leno and Letterman – combined. Rarely giving interviews, Carson chose to remain a very private man whose public persona made him an American superstar.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. American Masters Season 35 Episode 1 - How It Feels to Be Free
    8.2/10(115 votes)

    S35:E1

    A documentary that tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American women entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and transformed themselves and their audiences in the process.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. American Masters Season 11 Episode 1 - Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice
    8.2/10(112 votes)

    S11:E1

    A biography of the famed singer including her first big breaks in show business.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. American Masters Season 26 Episode 3 - Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel
    8.2/10(111 votes)

    S26:E3

    Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel engages leading historians, biographers and personal friends to reveal a complex woman who experienced profound identity shifts during her life and struggled with the two great issues of her day: the changing role of women and the liberation of African Americans.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. American Masters Season 30 Episode 8 - Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
    8.2/10(111 votes)

    S30:E8

    Writer/producer Norman Lear's turbulent childhood, early success with sitcoms “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times” and “Maude,” and social activism.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. American Masters Season 35 Episode 6 - Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir
    8.4/10(43 votes)

    S35:E6

    The life and career of author Amy Tan, with archival imagery, home movies, photographs, animation and original interviews.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. American Masters Season 1 Episode 12 - Eugene O'Neill: A Glory of Ghosts
    8.2/10(107 votes)

    S1:E12

    No description available

    Director:Perry Miller Adato
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. American Masters Season 33 Episode 2 - Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me
    8.2/10(88 votes)

    S33:E2

    Sammy Davis, Jr. had the kind of career that was indisputably legendary, so vast and multi-faceted that it was dizzying in its scope and scale. And yet, his life was complex, complicated and contradictory. Davis strove to achieve the American Dream in a time of racial prejudice and shifting political territory.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. American Masters Season 7 Episode 3 - D.W. Griffith: Father of Film
    8.1/10(237 votes)

    S7:E3

    A look at the innovator of primary motion picture techniques that are still important today and the controversy surrounding his beliefs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. American Masters Season 4 Episode 3 - Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong
    8.1/10(185 votes)

    S4:E3

    The evolution and extraordinary musical creations of the nation's best-known jazz musician.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Lives of Lillian Hellman" is the best rated episode of American Masters. It scored 9.0/10 from 105 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on June 30, 1999. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Balanchine".

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