The program airs in New York on WNET Channel 13 from 11 PM to midnight. The History Boys, about a group of sixth form students preparing to be tested for admittance to Oxford and Cambridge, opened on April 23 to some of the best reviews of the Broadway season.

The original National Theatre cast appears in the Broadway production. The boys are played by Samuel Anderson (Crowther), Samuel Barnett (Posner), Dominic Cooper (Dakin), James Corden (Timms), Sacha Dhawan (Akthar), Andrew Knott (Lockwood), Jamie Parker (Scripps) and Russell Tovey (Rudge). The teachers are played by Frances de la Tour (Mrs. Lintott), Richard Griffiths (Hector), Clive Merrison (Headmaster) and Stephen Campbell Moore (Irwin).

Other roles are played by Bill Buell (TV Director), LeRoy McClain (Company), Pippa Pearthree (Make-up Lady), Alex Tonetta (Company) and Jeffrey Withers (Company).