"Broadway: The American Musical" Series Fares Well for PBS in Ratings

By Ernio Hernandez
03 Nov 2004

Julie Andrews, host of "Broadway: The American Musical"
Julie Andrews, host of "Broadway: The American Musical"
Photo by Wendy Morger-Bross

Though no match for Major League Baseball playoffs, PBS' documentary series "Broadway: The American Musical," which aired Oct. 19-21, fared comparably well in the ratings.

Based on metered market ratings — which represent approximately 70% of the country (as opposed to the national ratings, which reflect 100%) — the debut airings of "Broadway: The American Musical" pulled in a 2.6 rating on all three nights, according to a PBS spokesperson.

A point is approximately representative of 1,096,000 households. By comparison, Fox's baseball coverage topped the first night at 15.6, the second night at 19.4 and was bested the third night by CBS' "CSI" with a 16.8 rating. Unlike the major broadcast networks, complete national ratings for PBS are not available until 6 to 8 weeks after programs air. PBS expects the numbers to reflect the preliminary numbers.

When compared to national ratings of similar PBS programs, "Broadway: The American Musical" looks to fare better than the "Great Performances" presentation of the London staging of Oklahoma! with Hugh Jackman (2.1 in Nov. 2003), the "American Masters" airing of "Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds" (1.4 in Nov. 2001) and the "Great Performances" spotlight "My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies" (2.2 in Dec. 1999).

Julie Andrews hosted the six-hour, epic series celebrating the century-old art form with its luminaries. Featuring commentary by the artists with rare archival footage, private home movies, newsreels, still photos, diary excerpts, personal correspondences and original cast recordings, "Broadway: The American Musical" chronicles the 100 year old genre and its relationship with 20th century American life from its early inception to its current proliferation.

Among the accounts — from writers, lyricists, producers, performers, directors, choreographers and critics — assembled for "Broadway: The American Musical," include Mel Brooks, Carol Channing, Betty Comden, Agnes De Mille, Harvey Fierstein, Bob Fosse, Brendan Gill, Frances Gershwin Godowsky, Adolph Green, Joel Grey, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Jerry Herman, Al Hirschfeld, Margo Jefferson, John Kander and Fred Ebb, John Lahr, Rocco Landesman, James Lapine, Arthur Laurents, Galt MacDermot, Jerry Mitchell, "Ziegfeld Girl" Dana O'Connell, Jerry Orbach, Harold Prince, Jerome Robbins, Gerald Schoenfeld, Stephen Sondheim, Peter Stone, Tommy Tune, Ben Vereen, George Wolfe, and many others.

The six-hour lineup is comprised of:

  • Episode 1: Give My Regards to Broadway (1893-1927)
  • Episode 2: Syncopated City (1919-1933)
  • Episode 3: I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (1930-1942)
  • Episode 4: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (1943-1960)
  • Episode 5: Tradition (1957-1979)
  • Episode 6: Putting It Together (1980-Present)

    The documentary series of "Broadway: The American Musical" is available on home video and DVD by PBS Home Video. An illustrated companion book (by director Kantor and theater scholar Laurence Maslon) as well as a companion five-CD box set (by Columbia Broadway Masterworks and Decca Broadway) was also released in conjunction with the PBS premiere. The series website will feature extensive educational materials and extras, available online at www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway.