American Masters - Season 27 (2012)

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Chronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography defines why Carson was an enduring star (his cool, his timing, his genuine laugh, his breadth of knowledge) and pursues his motivations and inner self (a loner with a drinking problem, a decent Midwesterner whose mother withheld approval, a quiet person who loved to entertain). The key to understanding him, argues the biography, is his love of magic.

The Day Carl Sandburg Died is a dynamic exploration into the life and work of the iconic American, Carl Sandburg. From an impoverished youth on the prairie of Illinois to the halls of Congress and the Ed Sullivan Show, it was a tale of perseverance and success. During his lifetime he was revered, becoming one of the most successful writers of the 20th century. But when he died, in 1967 his legacy suffered an unusual an inexplicably fast decline. His work was disparaged and his remarkable life all but forgotten. But if Sandburg was forgotten, he is now being remembered...

David Geffen's far-reaching influence - as agent, manager, record industry mogul, Hollywood and Broadway producer, and philanthropist - has helped shape American popular culture for the past four decades. Notoriously press and camera-shy, Geffen reveals himself for the first time.