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Masterpiece Theatre




''Masterpiece Theatre'' is a long-running Television series produced by WGBH which premiered on PBS on January 10 , 1971 . The show has presented to American audiences a large number of award-winning BBC or ITV productions, particularly BBC Television Drama s.

The show was hosted by Alistair Cooke until 1992 ; Russell Baker hosted from 1992 to 2004 .

OEUVRE

''Masterpiece Theatre'' is best known for presenting Adaptation s of famous Novel s and Biographies into episodic TV Miniseries , but it also shows original television dramas. Programs presented on the show include '' Elizabeth R '', '' House Of Cards '', '' I, Claudius '', '' Jeeves And Wooster '', '' The Jewel In The Crown '', '' The Six Wives Of Henry VIII '', '' Traffik '', '' Upstairs, Downstairs '', and many others, including adaptations of '' Anna Karenina '', '' Cakes And Ale '', '' Cold Comfort Farm '', '' Jude The Obscure '', '' Madame Bovary '', '' Moll Flanders '', and '' Northanger Abbey ''.

The theme music to the show, played during the opening credits, is from "Symphonies and Fanfares for the King's Supper" by French composer Jean-Joseph Mouret .

In 1979, ''Masterpiece Theatre'' gained a sister series, '''', a series of programs based on American literary works, such as Our Town .


CHANGES FOR 2004

The show was financed by Mobil and then Exxon Mobil until 2004, and was for many years known as ''Mobil Masterpiece Theatre'' or '''''ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre'''''. After their sponsorship ended, the show underwent a major restructuring:
  • The host was eliminated;

  • ''Mystery!'' and ''Masterpiece Theatre'' began sharing the Sunday time slot with ''Masterpiece Theatre'' airing in the fall and winter and ''Mystery!'' in the spring and summer.

  • American-made productions were occasionally included.



PARODIES



REFERENCES

  • ''Masterpiece Theatre: A Celebration of 25 Years of Outstanding Television'' by Terrence O'Flaherty (1996), ISBN 091233374X

  • ''Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality'' by Laurence Jarvik (1999) ISBN 0810832046



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