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American Masters

Against All Odds: Meet the Woman Behind American Masters

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Susan Lacy, creator of American Masters, reflects on the beginnings of the series, and how she secured a primetime slot in the summer of 1986. As a young, tenacious staffer at WNET, she saw the promise of telling the compelling stories of artists and “those who create and achieve against all odds.”

Aired: 03/09/18 | Rating: NR

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Judith & Burton Resnick, Seton J. Melvin, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Vital Projects Fund, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Koo and Patricia Yuen and public television viewers.

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NEW PODCAST | external link

A front row seat to the creative process

How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought one of their iconic works to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, filmmaker John Waters, actor John David Washington, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."

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