Roots redux

[RayThom]

I had forgotten about some of these...
And Michael Moriarty was absolutely chilling in Holocaust...

Which brings up the question, "whatever happened to Michael Moriarty?" Apparently a case of overactive, artistic temperament. By my observation a tad on the manic side.
http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/a ... IARTY.html

[MajGenl.Meade]

A question to the people who posted miniseries--which were broadcast network, which were PBS/BBC, and which were premium cable channel (HBO, Showtime, etc.) or series produced for downloads? As I said before, each is different, and I do think the premium cable/downloads and PBS/BBC miniseries belong in different categories. I've seen a couple of broadcast network miniseries (or at least the first episode), and IMHO they played more like Lifetime movies (I think the networks knew their audience), but I was interested in finding out what the best broadcast miniseries were.

All of mine were made for UK television and not one of them plays "more like Lifetime movies". That's American productions of which you speak. Yet there are Roots, Rich Man Poor Man, Lonesome Dove. . . and not one of those three plays like a Lifetime movie either. BBC (and sometimes ITV) consistently produce the best miniseries.

I would leave out such stalwarts as Call the Midwife, Upstairs/Downstairs, Thingie Abbey and so on because they are (to me) all in the category of drama series, rather than mini-series. I think of the latter as either adaptations of books or original material (altho' I cannot think of one as "original"). Some on my list might be disqualified on the grounds of being longer than "mini" - what is the definition? Is it something of no more than (say) 4 episodes? That can't be right because Roots was longer than 4 and so was Lonesome Dove.

[BoSoxGal]

Yes, all of mine also. I purposely didn't include anything from PBS, HBO, etc. because the discussion was about mainstream commercial television.

Oops, sorry!

[Big RR]

Meade--I would think that a miniseries would be a show that is not tied to or otherwise part of another TV show that has less than a season's worth of episodes and is completed at the end of those episodes (without the intent to come back for a part 2). So something like Rich Man, Poor Man (although I didn't see Book 2--was it another story or just a continuation?)would be a miniseries while I would not include Downton Abbey (because it ran for several seasons) or The Prisoner (due to its tie in to Secret Agent), although some may disagree.

I am surprised at the varied offerings which have been posted, and while I did see the first episode or so of a few and stopped because they were not to my liking, but there are a few that intrigue me that I may look at. thanks everyone.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I think it's a bit silly to exclude programs shown on PBS, because they never made any mini-series. All they ever did was broadcast the products of mainstream UK television (with the caveat that BBC was funded by government while only ITV was truly "commercial").

I agree with Big RR about excluding "continuing" series. Which ones of the few miniseries did you stop watching, Big RR?

[BoSoxGal]

I think it's a bit silly to exclude programs shown on PBS, because they never made any mini-series.

That's actually somewhat incorrect, Meade.

PBS, via Masterpiece Theatre, a program of WGBH, has produced many of the very best mini-series ever to air on public television in the US (and on BBC), in partnership with BBC and other production entities.

Masterpiece Theatre is a hallmark program of America's public television, and is the longest-running drama series on all of American television.

Here's the IMDb for Masterpiece Theatre as production company/distributer:

"Victoria" (2016) ... Distributor (2017) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Poldark" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece)
"Wolf Hall: Master of Phantoms (#1.6)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Wolf Hall: Crows (#1.5)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Indian Summers" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece)
"Wolf Hall: The Devil's Spit (#1.4)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Wolf Hall: Anna Regina (#1.3)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Wolf Hall: Entirely Beloved (#1.2)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Wolf Hall" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Wolf Hall: Three Card Trick (#1.1)" (2015) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: A Moorland Holiday (#5.9)" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.6" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.8" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.5" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.7" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.4" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.6" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.3" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.5" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.2" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.4" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Grantchester" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Grantchester: Episode #1.1" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.3" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.2" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #5.1" (2014) ... Distributor (2015) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
Salting the Battlefield (2014) (TV) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece)
Turks & Caicos (2014) (TV) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"Death Comes to Pemberley" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.8" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.7" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.6" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.5" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.4" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.3" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot: Dead Man's Folly (#13.3)" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.2" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"The Paradise: Episode #2.1" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV)
"Breathless" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece)
"Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Big Four (#13.2)" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Mystery)
"Agatha Christie's Marple: A Caribbean Mystery (#6.1)" (2013) ... Distributor (2014) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece)
The Lady Vanishes (2013) (TV) ... Distributor (2013) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"The Paradise" (2012) ... Distributor (2013-2014) (USA) (TV)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.8" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.7" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.6" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.5" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.4" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.3" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.2" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #2.1" (2011) ... Distributor (2012) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.7" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.6" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.5" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.4" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.3" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.2" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
"Downton Abbey: Episode #1.1" (2010) ... Distributor (2011) (USA) (TV) (on PBS)
Small Island (2009) (TV) ... Distributor (2010) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
"Emma" (2009) ... Distributor (2010) (USA) (TV)
Sharpe's Peril (2008) (TV) ... Distributor (2010) (USA) (TV)
God on Trial (2008) (TV) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Contemporary)
"Sense & Sensibility" (2008) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classics)
"Cranford" (2007) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV)
My Boy Jack (2007) (TV) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classic)
Persuasion (2007) (TV) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV)
Northanger Abbey (2007) (TV) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classics)
Mansfield Park (2007) (TV) ... Distributor (2008) (USA) (TV) (as Masterpiece Classics)
The Wind in the Willows (2006) (TV) ... Distributor (2007) (USA) (TV)
"Jane Eyre" (2006) ... Distributor (2007) (USA) (TV)
Sharpe's Challenge (2006) (TV) ... Distributor (2010) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.15" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.14" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.13" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.12" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.11" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.10" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.9" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.8" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.7" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.6" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.5" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.4" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.3" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.2" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"Bleak House: Episode #1.1" (2005) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"To the Ends of the Earth" (2005) ... Distributor (2006) (USA) (TV)
"He Knew He Was Right" (2004) ... Distributor (2005) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #2.1" (2003) ... Distributor (2003) (USA) (TV)
Pollyanna (2003) (TV) ... Distributor (2004) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #1.6" (2002) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #1.5" (2002) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #1.4" (2002) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #1.3" (2002) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Forsyte Saga: Episode #1.2" (2002) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (all media)
Bertie and Elizabeth (2002) (TV) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Way We Live Now" (2001) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
"The Cazalets" (2001) ... Distributor (2001) (USA) (TV) (as Exxon-Mobil Masterpiece Theatre)
"Love in a Cold Climate" (2001) ... Distributor (2002) (USA) (TV)
The Turn of the Screw (1999) (TV) ... Distributor (2000) (USA) (TV)
All the King's Men (1999) (TV) ... Distributor (2000) (USA) (TV) (as Exxon Mobil Masterpiece Theatre)
Great Expectations (1999) (TV) ... Distributor (1999) (USA) (TV) (As ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre)
Cider with Rosie (1998) (TV) ... Distributor (1999) (USA) (TV)
Frenchman's Creek (1998) (TV) ... Distributor (1999) (USA) (TV)
The Unknown Soldier (1998) (TV) ... Distributor
Goodnight, Mister Tom (1998) (TV) ... Distributor (1999) (USA) (TV)
Wuthering Heights (1998) (TV) ... Distributor
Far from the Madding Crowd (1998) (TV) ... Distributor (1998) (USA) (TV)
"A Respectable Trade" (1998) ... Distributor (1998) (USA) (TV) (as Mobil Masterpiece Theatre)
"Performance: King Lear (#6.1)" (1998) ... Distributor
"Our Mutual Friend" (1998) ... Distributor (1999) (USA) (TV)
Painted Lady (1997) (TV) ... Distributor
The Prince of Hearts (1997) (TV) ... Distributor
The Moonstone (1997) (TV) ... Distributor (1997) (USA) (TV)
A Royal Scandal (1997) (TV) ... Distributor
"Reckless" (1997) ... Distributor
"The Wingless Bird" (1997) ... Distributor (1998) (USA) (TV)
"Rebecca" (1997) ... Distributor (1997) (USA) (TV) (as Mobil Masterpiece Theatre)
The Mill on the Floss (1997) (TV) ... Distributor
The Woman in White (1997) (TV) ... Distributor
"The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" (1996) ... Distributor (1996) (USA) (TV)
Broken Glass (1996) (TV) ... Distributor
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996) (TV) ... Distributor (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
Breaking the Code (1996) (TV) ... Distributor (1997) (USA) (TV)
"Rhodes" (1996) ... Distributor
Interview Day (1996) (TV) ... Distributor
"Bramwell" (1995) ... Distributor
The Blue Boy (1994) (TV) ... Distributor
Sharpe's Enemy (1994) (TV) ... Distributor
"Hard Times" (1994) ... Distributor (1995) (USA) (DVD)
"The Cinder Path" (1994) ... Distributor (1995) (USA) (TV)
"The Cinder Path: Episode #1.1" (1994) ... Distributor (1995) (USA) (TV)
"The Rector's Wife" (1994) ... Distributor
"Middlemarch" (1994) ... Distributor
"To Play the King" (1993) ... Distributor
Selected Exits (1993) (TV) ... Distributor
Sharpe's Eagle (1993) (TV) ... Distributor
Sharpe's Rifles (1993) (TV) ... Distributor
"Performance: Hedda Gabler (#3.3)" (1993) ... Distributor
"The Blackheath Poisonings" (1992) ... Distributor (1993) (USA) (TV)
"Clarissa" (1991) ... Distributor (1992) (USA) (TV)
"Sleepers" (1991) ... Distributor
A Room of One's Own (1991) (TV) ... Distributor
The Black Velvet Gown (1991) (TV) ... Distributor (1993) (USA) (TV)
"The Real Charlotte" (1990) ... Distributor (1990) (USA) (TV)
"A Tale of Two Cities" (1989) ... Distributor (1989) (USA) (TV)
And a Nightingale Sang (1989) (TV) ... Distributor
The Heat of the Day (1989) (TV) ... Distributor (1990) (USA) (TV)
"Piece of Cake" (1988) ... Distributor (1990) (USA) (TV)
"A Perfect Spy" (1987) ... Distributor
"The Bretts" (1987) ... Distributor (1987) (USA) (TV)
"Fortunes of War" (1987) ... Distributor (1988) (USA) (TV)
The Death of a Heart (1987) (TV) ... Distributor (1987) (USA) (TV)
"Screen Two: Heaven on Earth (#3.9)" (1987) ... Distributor
"All Passion Spent" (1986) ... Distributor (1989) (USA) (TV)
The Day After the Fair (1986) (TV) ... Distributor (1988) (USA) (TV)
"Anna of the Five Towns" (1985) ... Distributor
Love Song (1985) (TV) ... Distributor
"The Last Place on Earth" (1985) ... Distributor
"Sorrell and Son" (1984) ... Distributor
"Boy in the Bush" (1984) ... Distributor (1985) (USA) (TV)
"Strangers and Brothers" (1984) ... Distributor (1985) (USA) (TV)
"The Jewel in the Crown" (1984) ... Distributor
"The Irish R.M." (1983) ... Distributor
"The Barchester Chronicles" (1982) ... Distributor
"All for Love: A Dedicated Man (#1.1)" (1982) ... Distributor (1985) (USA) (TV)
"BBC Play of the Month: On Approval (#15.2)" (1982) ... Distributor
"I Remember Nelson" (1982) ... Distributor
"Nancy Astor" (1982) ... Distributor (1984) (USA) (TV)
"A Town Like Alice" (1981) ... Distributor
"Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years" (1981) ... Distributor
"The Flame Trees of Thika" (1981) ... Distributor
The Good Soldier (1981) (TV) ... Distributor (1983) (USA) (TV)
"Pictures" (1981) ... Distributor
Drake's Venture (1980) (TV) ... Distributor
"Love in a Cold Climate" (1980) ... Distributor
"Flickers" (1980) ... Distributor
"Thérèse Raquin" (1980) ... Distributor
"Testament of Youth" (1979) ... Distributor
"Crime and Punishment" (1979) ... Distributor
"Danger UXB" (1979) ... Distributor
"BBC Play of the Month: Kean (#14.1)" (1978) ... Distributor
"Edward & Mrs. Simpson" (1978) ... Distributor (1981) (USA) (TV)
"Lillie" (1978) ... Distributor (1979) (USA) (TV)
"Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic" (1978) ... Distributor (1980) (USA) (TV)
"The Mayor of Casterbridge" (1978) ... Distributor (1978) (USA) (TV)
"Anna Karenina" (1977) ... Distributor (1978) (USA) (TV)
"Love for Lydia" (1977) ... Distributor (1979) (USA) (TV)
"Dickens of London" (1976) ... Distributor (1977) (USA) (TV)
"I, Claudius" (1976) ... Distributor
"The Duchess of Duke Street" (1976) ... Distributor
"Our Mutual Friend" (1976) ... Distributor (1978) (USA) (TV)
"How Green Was My Valley" (1975) ... Distributor
"Poldark" (1975) ... Distributor
"Madame Bovary" (1975) ... Distributor
"Five Red Herrings" (1975) ... Distributor (1976) (USA) (TV)
"Cakes and Ale" (1974) ... Distributor (1976) (USA) (TV)
"The Nine Tailors" (1974) ... Distributor (1975) (USA) (TV)
"Shoulder to Shoulder" (1974) ... Distributor (1975) (USA) (TV)
"Vienna 1900" (1973) ... Distributor (1975) (USA) (TV)
"Murder Must Advertise" (1973) ... Distributor (1974) (USA) (TV)
"The Edwardians" (1972) ... Distributor (1974) (USA) (TV)
"The Man Who Was Hunting Himself" (1972) ... Distributor (1973) (USA) (TV)
"Country Matters" (1972) ... Distributor (1975) (USA) (TV)
"The Golden Bowl" (1972) ... Distributor
"Clouds of Witness" (1972) ... Distributor (1973) (USA) (TV)
"The Moonstone" (1972) ... Distributor (1972) (USA) (TV)
"The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" (1972) ... Distributor (1973) (USA) (TV)
"Tom Brown's Schooldays" (1971) ... Distributor (1973) (USA) (TV)
"Cousin Bette" (1971) ... Distributor (1972) (USA) (TV)
"Sunset Song" (1971) ... Distributor (1976) (USA) (TV)
"Elizabeth R" (1971) ... Distributor
"Jude the Obscure" (1971) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"The Last of the Mohicans" (1971) ... Distributor (1972) (USA) (TV)
"Masterpiece Classic" (1971) ... Distributor
"The Spoils of Poynton" (1970) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"The Six Wives of Henry VIII" (1970) ... Distributor
"The First Churchills" (1969) ... Distributor
"The Possessed" (1969) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"Resurrection" (1968) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"Cold Comfort Farm" (1968) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"Pere Goriot" (1968) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"Point Counter Point" (1968) ... Distributor (1973) (USA) (TV)
"The Gambler" (1968) ... Distributor (1971) (USA) (TV)
"Vanity Fair" (1967) ... Distributor (1972) (USA) (TV)

For more fun, see this great PBS-produced documentary on the history of television mini-series:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/pioneers-of-television/video/

[MajGenl.Meade]

I don't dispute that PBS acted as the US distributor for excellent BBC productions. More recently, they've even taken to funding 'em a bit pre-production. But as far as I know (AISTBC), PBS does not "make" the programs. Or any programs.

WGBH makes Nova for example - not PBS.

They may be more closely involved in the last few years but listing The Six Wives of Henry VIII or Elizabeth R as anything other than BBC productions is a pledge too far. And almost all the others too, I warrant.

All of the programming carried by PBS, whether news, documentary, or entertainment, is created by (or in most cases produced under contract with) other parties, such as individual member stations

PBS member stations are known for rebroadcasting British television costume dramas, comedies and science fiction programs (acquired from the BBC and other sources) such as Downton Abbey; 'Allo 'Allo!; Are You Being Served?; The Benny Hill Show, Red Dwarf; The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin; Father Ted; Fawlty Towers; Harry Enfield and Chums; Keeping Up Appearances; Monty Python's Flying Circus; Mr. Bean , Doctor Who, and Sherlock; consequently, this has led to jocular references that the service's name stands for "Primarily British Series". However, a significant amount of sharing takes place. The BBC and British broadcasters such as Channel 4 often cooperate with PBS stations, producing material that is shown on both sides of the Atlantic

[Wickedpedia says the above]

[BoSoxGal]

See:

PBS, via Masterpiece Theatre, a program of WGBH

I think we are splitting hairs, but I would posit that most Americans understand PBS to be an amalgam of member stations, WGBH being one of the best of them which produces quite a bit of programming:

WGBH is proud to be PBS’s single largest producer for television, the Web, and mobile. Some of your favorite series — Nova, Masterpiece, Frontline, American Experience, Antiques Roadshow, Curious George, Arthur, and Simply Ming, to name a few — are produced here in our Boston studios, and we showcase emerging producers on our national multicast World Channel.

I don't want to get into an endless argument about the tiny difference between what I meant and what I typed; yes, you are correct, PBS itself doesn't produce - but many of its member stations do, and much of the miniseries programming on PBS has had American input at the production level, it's not all 100% UK produced. That was your point which I was addressing.

There is no question that the UK funds public television much more generously, to its credit, than does the USA.

[MajGenl.Meade]

UPDATE – 15 July 2009: this press release has been updated to reflect changes in show descriptions for Emma and Cranford 2

BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution and WGBH today announced co-productions of two star-studded dramas: the beloved classic, Emma, and the sequel to BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated drama Cranford, Cranford 2. Both programs will make their U.S. premiere in early 2010 on WGBH's MASTERPIECE CLASSIC on PBS.

Commented Susanna Pollack, SVP, Sales & Distribution and Children's, BBC Worldwide, Americas, "Following Cranford's success in the U.S. and UK, we are excited to be working with WGBH again to bring its sequel, Cranford 2, as well as the Jane Austen's classical tale, Emma, to audiences next year."

They certainly have worked very closely together in the past few years. I didn't mean to quibble about PBS - what I said about PBS applies to WGBH. The classic success of BBC dramas on PBS was down to WGBH purchasing programming from the BBC and then "producing" Masterpiece. This involved such interesting concepts as cutting out bits of "I, Clavdivs" so as not to offend US audiences too deeply. Co-production in the present day largely consists of money and input on what the US audience wants to see - pre-production stuff, as I agree earlier.

It's all good.

[Gob]

3 best miniseries ever, IMHO of course, "Boys from the Blackstuff", "Tinker Tailor" and "Smiley's People."

[Big RR]

Which ones of the few miniseries did you stop watching, Big RR?

the two that immediately come to mind are Rich man, Poor man and The Thornbirds (even though I read the book). No real condemnation of them, just that they seemed like soap operas and not to my taste (FWIW, I never watched Dallas and its ilk either).

The reason I exclude PBS is because they are made to a different standard and audience than US mainstream broadcast fare, even if a number are BBS broadcast series (and I do think a lot of PBS miniseries are patterned on BBS ones regardless of where they are produced). I think American and British miniseries are different, and I was wondering what American miniseries people liked.

[BoSoxGal]

So I'm watching night 2 of Roots and I am very impressed! It's been a long time since I watched the original series, but this one seems every bit as good.

Anyone else watching? Thoughts?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Snoop Dog don't like it. Wants to know how come whitey keeps making movies about slaves and not about blacks being successful.

I won't watch it because Haley made it up.

(Oh, that would be OK - but he pretended he didn't, and that's not)

[Lord Jim]

Haley made it up.

And parts of it were plagiarized:

Roots faced two lawsuits that charged plagiarism and copyright infringement. One of the lawsuits was dismissed. However, Harold Courlander's suit was more successful. Courlander's novel The African describes an African boy who is captured by slave traders, follows him across the Atlantic on a slave ship, and then describes his attempts to hold on to his African traditions on a plantation in America. Haley admitted that some passages from The African had made it into Roots, settling the case out of court.[18]

Genealogists have also disputed Haley's research and conclusions in Roots. The Gambian griot turned out not to be a real griot, and the story of Kunta Kinte appears to have been a case of circular reporting, in which Haley's own words were repeated back to him.[19][20] None of the written records in Virginia and North Carolina line up with the Roots story until after the Civil War. Some elements of Haley's family story can be found in the written records, but the most likely genealogy would be different from the one described in Roots.[21]

Haley and his work have been excluded from the Norton Anthology of African-American Literature, despite his status as the United States' best-selling African-American author. Harvard University professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of the anthology's general editors, has denied that the controversies surrounding Haley's works are the reason for this exclusion. In 1998 Dr. Gates acknowledged the doubts surrounding Haley's claims about Roots, saying, "Most of us feel it's highly unlikely that Alex actually found the village whence his ancestors sprang. Roots is a work of the imagination rather than strict historical scholarship."[22]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Haley

That having been said, I liked the original miniseries, and we'll probably check this one out too.

I judged the original film on its own artistic merits, not as a representation of actual historical fact. I expect to judge this one the same way.

(I even liked the movie JFK, even though that was a complete work of fiction...)

[Bicycle Bill]

I saw where some has-been rapper — Super Snooper Doggy-Style or something like that — is upset with the production, says he won't watch it, and calls on others to boycott it (warning: if you click the link, it does contain a video with extremely NSFW language).
Big whoop.  I don't let rappers, thugs, or other 'celebrities' tell me what I should and shouldn't be watching, and I'm not about to start now.

-"BB"-

[MajGenl.Meade]

Snoop Dog don't like it. Wants to know how come whitey keeps making movies about slaves and not about blacks being successful.

Guess you didn't read this, BB. He has a point (and not just the one in his head). I wouldn't watch/listen to the video because of the language. (One commentator said he expected generations of long-dead Southern slave holders would be delighted if they could hear Snoop describing himself and other blacks as "n******")

I don't let rappers, thugs, or other 'celebrities' tell me what I should and shouldn't be watching, and I'm not about to start now.

I bet they'll all be dismayed at your independence! Well done! What a stand! That'll larn 'em!

[oldr_n_wsr]

A remake of Roots is on the television?
Guess I will miss it (like most that is on TV).
meanwhile, the wood burning project for my nieces wedding is going along nicely.

And I haven't forgotten about yours gob. Sorry it's been taking so long.
I need to make a blank which requires ripping a piece of rock-maple. But first I have to sharpen the table saw blade as the last time I made a blank the smoke alarm went off.

[Gob]

No worries mate!

[Guinevere]

I've watched part of episode 1, and found it very good if more violent than I remembered (versus the original series). I'll get around to the rest of it one of these days, it seemed to be worth watching when I have a few hours to sit down and pay attention.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I was doing the niece project last night, had the tv on and was flipping channels to see what was on. Roots was on three channels in a row. 45, 46 and 47. I think 46 is A&E and 47 is History. Don't remember what 45 is.
Three channels? really?
And no, I didn't leave it on. It was part 3 I think and I am not going to start watching something halfway through.
I ended up shutting the tv off and enjoyed the silence and the smoke from the wood burning.