Sign language

BBC Two England

BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

BBC Two

BBC 2

BBC2

BBC Two (England)

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two Scotland

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

The United States of Television: America in Primetime

Alan Yentob

Edie Falco

Roseanne Barr

Mary Tyler Moore

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sandra Oh

Tim Kirby

Janet Lee

The United States of Television: America in Primetime: Episode 3: The Independent Woman

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

The Independent Woman

Episode 3

Episode 3: The Independent Woman

BBC Two - The United States of Television: America in Primetime, The Independent Woman

Alan Yentob reflects on the social changes that transformed the perception of women on TV.

Alan Yentob explores the history of US primetime TV and reflects on the forces that shaped the evolution of women's roles from the 50s to the present.

In the third programme in this star-studded series that examines the social history of America through the prism of popular primetime TV shows, Alan Yentob considers the remarkable journey made by women in the 'United States of Television'. 

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Roseanne Barr (Roseanne), Mary Tyler Moore (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy) and many more stars, creators, writers and producers reflect on the dramatic social changes that transformed the homemaking, apple pie-baking CEO of the kitchen sink of the 1950s into the 'independent woman' of today, struggling with the push and pull of having it all. 

Dependent on advertising dollars controlled by conservative corporations, mainstream primetime television was slow to reflect the revolution that was taking place in the economic, sexual and domestic situation of women in the America of the 60s and 70s, but into the breach opened up by non-conformists like Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) came other unforgettable characters who changed the way that women were perceived and how women were expected to behave: Mary Tyler Moore, Murphy Brown, Roseanne and not forgetting Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte of Sex and the City fame/notoriety. 

Today, the independent women of primetime have to struggle with challenges that Donna Reed, the perfectionist queen of 1950s TV, could not have dreamed of - careers, childcare, infidelity, drug addiction (or in the case of Nancy Botwin of Weeds, drug dealing) and, of course, the eternal questions of love - where to find it, how to keep it and at what cost.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Alan Yentob presents a series documenting the history of primetime television in America.

Alan Yentob presents a series documenting the history of primetime television in America, from the age of mass television in the 1950s to the present.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The United States of Television: America in Primetime

Episode 3: The Independent Woman

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Two England

About BBC Two