Pioneers of Television

One little gripe---Pioneers needed to give a tip of the space helmet to some '50s pioneers, such as "Captain Video" and "Flash Gordon." Otherwise, it's all pleasure.

Pioneers of Television is a once-over-lightly treatment, admittedly, but it's still a concept worth celebrating.

Enlightening without feeling quite essential, the sort of PBS package that seems at times designed to warm the hearts and loosen the purse strings of viewers of a certain age and income.

Pioneers of Television often provides less than half the story, and in some instances, that’s enough.

This hour is focused as much on standup craft as sitcom-building, and fails to put the comics' genre-expanding series concepts into the context of their times.

Unfortunately it's more of a survey or omnibus, so it covers many programs somewhat glancingly.

Regardless of the memories and anecdotes, what these films lack are commentators who can provide cultural context.