Pioneers of Television (2008)

Documentary · History

A documentary series focusing on the legends that helped launched TV and left lasting impression on sitcoms, talk shows, variety shows and game shows in television's early years.

IMDb rating: 7.9 (276 votes)
Episode average: 7.7 -0.2 vs IMDb
Seasons: 4
Language: EN
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 4 seasons indexed

Cast

Benjamin Bratt Self - Narrator (voice)

Seasons

Season 1 (2008)

8.15 avg 4 episodes 7.9 → 8.3 55 min avg

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Sitcoms	7.9	36
2	Late Night	8.4	38
3	Variety	8.0	31
4	Game Shows	8.3	26

Season 2 (2011)

7.50 avg 4 episodes 7.3 → 7.3 56 min avg

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Science Fiction	7.3	47
2	Westerns	7.6	59
3	Crime Dramas	7.8	47
4	Local Kids' TV	7.3	22

Season 3 (2013)

7.68 avg 4 episodes 8.0 → 7.8 56 min avg

U-shaped

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Funny Ladies	8.0	40
2	Primetime Soaps	7.4	27
3	Superheroes	7.5	38
4	Miniseries	7.8	28

Season 4 (2014)

7.58 avg 5 episodes 7.8 → 7.5 55 min avg

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Standup to Sitcom	7.8	21
2	Doctors and Nurses	7.3	23
3	Breaking Barriers	7.7	24
4	Acting Funny	7.6	28
5	Robin Williams Remembered	7.5	316