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The Best Episodes of American Masters Season 31

Every episode of American Masters Season 31 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Masters Season 31!

Binge this in 15h 0m•Peaking at 8.2/10

American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    American Masters Season 31 Episode 1 - By Sidney Lumet
    8.0/10(57 votes)

    #1 - By Sidney Lumet

    S31:E1

    In a 2008 interview, director Sidney Lumet talks about his life and career, which included 44 films in 50 years.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Masters Season 31 Episode 2 - Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
    7.8/10(51 votes)

    #2 - Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

    S31:E2

    The life of author and activist Maya Angelou, with comments from Oprah Winfrey, Common, Bill and Hillary Clinton and others.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Masters Season 31 Episode 3 - Patsy Cline
    7.6/10(46 votes)

    #3 - Patsy Cline

    S31:E3

    A profile of influential country singer Patsy Cline (1932-63), featuring archival performances of such songs as "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy"; and remarks from artists who knew her and others influenced by her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Masters Season 31 Episode 4 - James Beard: America’s First Foodie
    7.4/10(47 votes)

    #4 - James Beard: America’s First Foodie

    S31:E4

    Experience a century of food through the life of one man, James Beard (1903-1985). Dubbed the “Dean of American Cookery” by The New York Times, Beard was a Portland, Ore., native who loved and celebrated the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. He spoke of the importance of localism and sustainability long before those terms had entered the vernacular.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Masters Season 31 Episode 5 - Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft
    8.2/10(52 votes)

    #5 - Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft

    S31:E5

    Discover the story of Chef Jacques Pépin (b. December 18, 1935), a young immigrant with movie-star looks, a charming Gallic accent, and a mastery of cooking and teaching so breathtaking he became an early food icon—joining James Beard and Julia Child among the handful of Americans who transformed the way the country views the food world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. American Masters Season 31 Episode 6 - Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny
    7.7/10(26 votes)

    #6 - Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny

    S31:E6

    A trove of never-before-seen archival footage provides an unconventional look at the fiercely independent style of filmmaking that emerged out of Austin, Texas in the late 1980s and 1990s with Linklater as its poster boy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. American Masters Season 31 Episode 7 - Tyrus
    8.0/10(36 votes)

    #7 - Tyrus

    S31:E7

    The unlikely story of 106-year old Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, and how he overcame poverty and racism in America to become a celebrated modernist painter, Hollywood sketch artist, and “Disney Legend” for his groundbreaking work on the classic animated film, Bambi.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. American Masters Season 31 Episode 8 - Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive
    7.3/10(83 votes)

    #8 - Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive

    S31:E8

    This documentary draws on the rich palette of Poe’s evocative imagery and sharply drawn plots to tell the real story of the notorious author, exploring the misrepresentations of Poe as a drug-addled madman akin to the narrators of his horror stories.

    Director:Eric Stange
    Writer:Eric Stange

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  9. American Masters Season 31 Episode 9 - Inspiring Woman Web Series
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Inspiring Woman Web Series

    S31:E9

    Six innovators tell their own stories and explain how they’re changing their respective industries: podcast host Tracy Clayton, Chef Angie Mar, JavaScript developer Sara Chipps, web-cam performance artist Molly Soda, entrepreneur Rakia Reynolds, and visual artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. American Masters Season 31 Episode 10 - This is Bob Hope
    7.9/10(139 votes)

    #10 - This is Bob Hope

    S31:E10

    A candid look at a remarkable life with unprecedented access to Bob Hope’s personal archives, including writings voiced by Billy Crystal and clips from Hope’s body of work to reveal a gifted and very human individual who recognized the power of fame, embraced its responsibilities and handled celebrity with extraordinary wit and grace.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 31 Ratings Summary

"By Sidney Lumet" is the best rated episode of "American Masters" season 31. It scored 8/10 based on 57 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/3/2017. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise".