Amerika im Wohnzimmer

Since that little box started appearing in living rooms across the United States during the 1950s, television programs have constantly evolved in both culture and scope. "America in Primetime" examines some of those cultural moors and tries to understand their significance.

This set is broken down into four parts:

1. The evolution of men on the small screen, beginning with the stereotypical Father Knows Best and coming to rest on more complex males such as those in Breaking Bad, The Wire, or Mad Men.

2. The ever-changing role of women on television, from the "happy homemaker" days of June Cleaver to the pill-popping Nurse Jackie and the gals of Sex and the City.

3. The "outcasts", or those who never quite fit in (e.g. the Dwight Schrutes or Ugly Bettys of the TV landscape). An interesting discussion ensues surrounding why exactly these figures are so prevalent on television.

4. The crusaders (like Jack Bauer or Fox Mulder) who exhibit stoic traits such as persistence, loyalty, and integrity.

This is a fun little set to watch because, let's face it...those of us who are serious about our TV viewing (and if you aren't, you aren't considering this collection to begin with) like to revel in the nostalgia and memories of all our favorite shows both past and present.

I can't give the series a full five stars because, in all seriousness, I'm not sure that the deep societal issues pondering by the filmmakers are truly the driving force behind each show (e.g. is True Blood really an allegory on the human condition, or is it an excuse to show half-naked vampires getting it on?). However, "America In Primetime" does make enough sentient points to keep you engaged throughout.