Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality

Masterpiece Theatre, the popular British-made series that enjoyed a long and successful run on public television, is regarded by many as the standard against which all "quality" programs should be measured. In this study, Laurence Jarvik provides insight into the many forces that shaped the series: its sponsor (Mobil Oil Company), its American broadcast affiliate (television station WGBH in Boston), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), its host (Alistair Cooke), and the Nixon Administration. Jarvik sheds light on the many political and social issues involved in public television and in broadcast media in general. How much influence do American government and business have over the media in this and other countries? How does this affect the content and quality of the programs that we see? Meticulously researched and brimming with references to related resources on the politics of media, Masterpiece Theatre and the Politics of Quality is an essential work for teachers and students of English literature, political science, and film and television studies, as well as for fans of Masterpiece Theatre and PBS.