PBS’s "MASTERPIECE" – which airs on WPSU-TV – is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since its debut in 1971, it’s won the hearts of Americans with British drama, mystery, and adaptations of classic novels. From "Upstairs Downstairs," to "Sherlock" and "Grantchester," to "Poldark," "Victoria" and of course "Downton Abbey" – "MASTERPIECE" has stood the test of time.
WPSU’s Carolyn Donaldson discussed series highlights and what’s still to come for fans, with Jace Lacob. His special documentary podcast on the history of the show, “Making MASTERPIECE,” will be released on Sunday.
Carolyn Donaldson:
So, Jace, your podcast is described as kind of a backstage pass to the PBS series now in its golden jubilee. So why do you think this series has had this long life?
Jace Lacob:
I'd say, for one, just the sheer amount of quality that it has brought to television. The fact that it is airing the best and brightest of British programming week after week, Sundays at 9 p.m. for five decades now. I think that people have come to rely on that as appointment television, knowing that you are going to see some of the most amazing acting, writing, directing, costuming that you could possibly imagine on television. "MASTERPIECE" has always represented a sort of view of England as perhaps we wish it existed. And I think it speaks to sort of Americans' innate Anglofilia. It is sort of inherently addicting. But it is telling stories that are both timeless and timely, about love, marriage, life, death, and everything in between. It is just a remarkable series that I think continues to go from hit to hit, and has done for 50 years now.
Carolyn Donaldson:
Your three part documentary podcast delves into the history of course of the show and how it came to America and what's kept it here. And you talk with everyone from actors and the big name stars to the hosts, the former producers and the writers. So in making "MASTERPIECE," do you have a particularly interesting or favorite story that kind of came as a surprise to you as you were putting this together?
Jace Lacob:
Do you have an hour? I mean, it is... There have been so many small stories that have come out that are too numerous to even count. Glenda Jackson telling me that she received a royalty check from Nigeria for an airing of "Elizabeth R" and she opened it up and it was for nine pence. And I sort of chuckled. And she said, "oh, nine pence, it's public television after all. Fair dues." Robin Ellis talking about the fake calves he had to wear in "Elizabeth R." But also talking to very unusual sort of unexpected people. Newton Minow, the former FCC Chairman, who 50 years ago gave a speech talking about television as a vast wasteland. He now loves "MASTERPIECE" and watches "MASTERPIECE." But it was just an interesting sort of look at the characters and personalities that made "MASTERPIECE" and continue to make it the success that it is. Anything involving Joan Wilson, the late "MASTERPIECE" executive producer, she drove a car with the license plate that said witch. And she was a very unusual character. She was married to Jeremy Brett, the actor who played Sherlock Holmes for many years on "MASTERPIECE." But there are a lot of fantastic Joan stories in there. But it's just a real treasure trove of unexpected stories.
Carolyn Donaldson:
Now, we've had great response to this 50th season with James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small" and "Miss Scarlet and the Duke." So can you give us a sneak peek at what's still in store this year and beyond?
Jace Lacob:
We've got "Us," which is fantastic. It's based on the David Nicholls book and it stars Tom Hollander and Saskia Reeves, as a couple that is about to separate. And he decides that he and his wife and their child should go on a whirlwind trip together. And it sort of flashes back in time to when they met and to their sort of current marital predicaments. We've got "Unforgotten" coming back. We've got "Grandchester" coming back. Looking ahead, "Magpie Murders," one of my favorite books from the last few years by Anthony Horowitz, which is sort of double-stranded mystery plot involving an editor of mystery books, looking to solve a murder. And then you actually go into the book itself. And there's a sort of Agatha Christie/Poirot-esque character called Atticus Pund who's solving mystery in the book. So it's sort of a layered meta text. And I can't wait to see how that translates for the screen. "Ridley Road," which is sort of based on a woman in the 1960s who goes undercover and infiltrates a neo nazi group in 1960s London. There's a lot of great stuff coming up, I'll say that. And the second season of "All Creatures Great and Small" round the corner, which I can't wait for.
Carolyn Donaldson:
A robust season ahead, that's wonderful. Host Jace Lacob, thanks so much for joining us.