America: The Story of Us
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America: The Story of Us
| America: The Story of Us | |
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| Genre | Documentary History |
| Narrated by | Liev Schreiber Danny Webb (international version) |
| Music by | Anne Nikitin John Hardy (4 episodes) Stuart Fox (4 episodes) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Original channel | History |
| Original run | April 25, 2010 – May 31, 2010 |
| Running time | 540 minutes |
| No. of episodes | 12[1] |
| Official website | |
America: The Story of Us (also internationally known as America: The Story of the U.S.)[2] is a six-part, 12-hour documentary television miniseries[3] that premiered on April 25, 2010, on History.[4] Produced by Nutopia, the program depicts over 400 years of American history (with emphasis on the creation, trials and effects of new technologies by Americans on America's history and by implication, the world) spanning from the successful English settlement of Jamestown on May 14, 1607, through to the present day.[5] Narrated by Liev Schreiber (Danny Webb for the international version), the series recreates many historical events by using actors dressed in the style of the period and computer-generated special effects. The miniseries received mixed reviews by critics; however, it became the most-watched special in the channel's history.
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Contents
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Production
The series was filmed in South Africa, using mostly South African actors and with a South African director of photography.[6]
Episodes
| # | Title[7] | Original air date | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rebels" | April 25, 2010 | 5.674[8] |
| From Jamestown to Plymouth, early settlers fight for survival. Tobacco sows the seeds of opportunity; the north becomes a powerhouse of trade. Tension, taxation, and resistance causes the American colonists to begin doing what many consider impossible: to successfully rebel against the British Empire. | |||
| 2 | "Revolution" | April 25, 2010 | 5.674[8] |
| George Washington's army is near defeat, but new weapons and battle tactics turn the tide. The colonies declare independence from the British Empire. Forged through revolution, a new nation is born. | |||
| 3 | "Westward" | May 2, 2010 | 3.881[9] |
| Trailblazing pioneers set out to conquer the west, but find the land already claimed. Wagon trains meet hardship on the road to California's gold. The steamboat ushers in a new era of commerce, industry, and unprecedented wealth. | |||
| 4 | "Division" | May 2, 2010 | 3.881[9] |
| Commerce and industry thrive across the new nation, now one of the wealthiest in the world. The Erie Canal brings big risk and bigger reward. In the South, cotton is king but slavery fuels a growing divide. Violence flares across the territories and abolitionists make a stand for freedom. The election of Abraham Lincoln is a harbinger of war. | |||
| 5 | "Civil War" | May 9, 2010 | 3.281[10] |
| The American Civil War rages. The formidable Confederate army cannot match the Union's mastery of technology; railroads, supply lines and the telegraph become new weapons in a modern war. | |||
| 6 | "Heartland" | May 9, 2010 | 3.281[10] |
| The Transcontinental Railroad unites the nation and transforms the American Heartland. Native American civilizations decline as farmers settle the continent. Cattle replace wild buffalo as king of the Great Plains. The cowboy becomes a new American icon. | |||
| 7 | "Cities" | May 16, 2010 | |
| Americans conquer a new frontier: the modern city, with Andrew Carnegie's empire of steel as its backbone. Skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of the American Dream for millions of immigrants. Urban life introduces a new breed of social ills, causing several bold individuals to make a stand. | |||
| 8 | "Boom" | May 16, 2010 | |
| America strikes oil and the boom time begins. Henry Ford brings the motorcar to the masses and the nation hits the road. Massive engineering projects modernize the American West. Intended to cure vice, Prohibition fuels the growth of organized crime in burgeoning cities. | |||
| 9 | "Bust" | May 23, 2010 | 2.759[11] |
| Boom turns to bust when the stock market crashes. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl blanket the nation in darkness. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal signals recovery, while boxer Joe Louis overcomes racial disputes to help bring America's pride back. | |||
| 10 | "World War II" | May 23, 2010 | 2.759[11] |
| The attack on Pearl Harbor brings America into World War II. The war effort revitalizes the nation's economy. American innovation and manufacturing might invigorate the Allies in Europe and in the Pacific, nuclear weapons help end the war. | |||
| 11 | "Superpower" | May 31, 2010 | |
| America becomes a global superpower; technology fuels a boom in the economy and the population. American pioneers conquer new frontiers, from the jet age to the space age, and run headlong into a new threat: Communism. | |||
| 12 | "Millennium" | May 31, 2010 | |
| In 2001, the September 11 attacks fuel the War on Terror and America continues its growing journey towards the future, whatever it may be. | |||
Commentators
The following are commentators who appear on the miniseries[12] (listed in alphabetical order):
- Buzz Aldrin – former astronaut and the second man to step on the Moon
- David Baldacci – best-selling American novelist
- Tony Bennett – singer
- Michael Bloomberg – current Mayor of New York City
- William Bodette – Marine first sergeant
- Tom Brokaw – journalist and former anchor of NBC Nightly News
- Albert Camarillo - history professor, Stanford University
- Margaret Cho – comedian, actress, and activist
- Sean "Diddy" Combs – record producer, rapper, actor, and men's fashion designer
- Sheryl Crow – singer-songwriter, musician, and actress
- Michael Douglas – actor and producer
- Melissa Etheridge – singer-songwriter
- Henry Louis Gates Jr. – Harvard University professor
- Newt Gingrich – former Speaker of the House
- Rudy Giuliani – former Mayor of New York City
- Annette Gordon-Reed – Pulitzer Prize–winning American historian and law professor
- Tim Gunn – creative director of Liz Claiborne and former mentor on Project Runway
- Sean Hannity – American radio/television host and political commentator
- Rick Harrison – co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop from History's Pawn Stars
- Bruce Jenner - American Olympic Gold Medalist and reality TV personality
- Steven Berlin Johnson - American popular science author
- David Kennedy – American historian
- John Lasseter – American animator, chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios
- John Legend – recording artist, musician, and actor
- Richard Machowicz – Former Navy SEAL, weapons expert, and host of Futureweapons
- Bill Maher – political commentator and comedian and the host of Real Time
- Joseph Marinaccio - American business magnate, founder and CEO of Slam Content
- Barack Obama - the president of the United States of America (introduces the film)
- Soledad O'Brien – American journalist and CNN personality
- I. M. Pei – Chinese-born American architect
- David Petraeus – United States Army general
- Colin Powell – former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Al Sharpton – Baptist minister and civil rights activist
- Richard Norton Smith - American historian and author specializing in US presidents
- Martha Stewart - business magnate, media personality, author, and magazine publisher
- Michael Strahan – former NFL football player
- Meryl Streep – Academy Award–winning actress
- Donald Trump – American business magnate, socialite, author, and television personality
- Jimmy Wales – co-founder of Wikipedia
- Vera Wang – American fashion designer
- Brian Williams – current anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News
Reception
The documentary received a 60% approval rating from Metacritic.com, receiving criticism by many of the people who saw it for having far too many "celebrities" express their opinions about the United States, instead of having more historians tell what occurred at specific events.[13]
America: The Story of Us became the most watched special in network history. The first night was watched by 5.7 million total viewers and drew a 4.0 household rating.[14]
In conjunction with the broadcast, the History channel launched its largest ever educational outreach initiative and offered a DVD of the series to every school and accredited college in the United States.[4]
America: The Story of Us has also been nominated for four Emmy Awards for the episode Division, in the categories "Outstanding Cinematography For Non-Fiction Programming", "Outstanding Picture Editing For Non-Fiction Programming", "Outstanding Sound Editing For Non-Fiction Programming" and "Outstanding Writing For Non-Fiction Programming".[15]
See also
References
- ^ Nutopia: Projects
- ^ "America The Story of the US". http://www.historyasia.com/series_details.aspx?proId=1&cId=72. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Shales, Tom (April 25, 2010). "Review of 'America: The Story of Us': TV miniseries has flash but not creativity". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042301898.html. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "America The Story of Us – About America The Story of Us". A&E Television Networks. 2010. http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/articles/about-america-the-story-of-us. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ MacIntyre, April (May 12, 2009). "History announces 'America The Story of Us' 12 part series for 2010". Monsters and Critics. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1476725.php/History_announces_America_The_Story_of_Us_12_part_series_for_2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ Ah, but your land is beautiful – SA up for an Emmy for film on US
- ^ "Episode Guide". History. 2010. http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/episodes/. Retrieved 2010.
- ^ a b Seidman, Robert (April 27, 2010). cable-viewing/49736 "Cable Top 25: NFL Draft, America The Story of US Top Weekly Cable Viewing". TVbytheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/04/27/cable-top-25-nfl-draft-america-the-story-of-us-top-weekly cable-viewing/49736. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Seidman, Robert (May 4, 2010). top-weekly cable-viewing/50419 "Cable Top 25: Lebron is the King (of Cable), Celtics vs. Cavs, WWE RAW, iCarly Top Weekly Cable Viewing". TVbytheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/04/cable-top-25-lebron-is-the-king-of-cable-celtics-vs-cavs-wwe-raw-icarly top-weekly cable-viewing/50419. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Seidman, Robert (May 11, 2010). "Sunday Cable: NBA, 'Army Wives' Tops With 18–49; 'The Pacific' Dives Below 2 Million". TVbytheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/11/sunday-cable-nba-army-wives-tops-with-18-49-the-pacific-dives-below-2-million/51106. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ a b Gorman, Bill (May 25, 2010). "Sunday Cable: Lakers/Suns NBA Playoff, America: The Story Of US Tops With 18–49". TVbytheNumbers.com. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/05/25/sunday-cable-lakerssuns-nba-playoff-america-the-story-of-us-tops-with-18-49/52381. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ "America The Story of us". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1641653/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ Metacritic reviews
- ^ Jason J. Hughes (April 29, 2010). "America: The Story Of Us Breaks Ratings Records". Television Blend. http://www.cinemablend.com/television/America-The-Story-Of-Us-Breaks-Ratings-Records-24293.html. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "America Story Of Us up for 4 Emmy Awards". Nutopia. July 12, 2010. http://www.nutopia.com/general/america-story-of-us-up-for-4-emmy-awards/. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
External links
- Official website
- America: The Story of Us at the Internet Movie Database
- Obama Introduces America The Story Of Us
- America The Story of Us break records
- Emmy Nominations
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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