America in Primetime presents some of the most compelling shows on television today, as well as those of the past, by focusing on key character archetypes — the man of the house, the independent woman, the misfit and the crusader — that have remained a staple of primetime through the generations, capturing both the continuity of the character and the evolution. Each episode of the series focuses on one of the key archetypes:

“Man of the House” showcases the evolution of men from the kings of their castles in classic family sitcoms to more intricate, conflicted figures in modern shows. Interviews include Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner (“The Cosby Show”); David Chase (“The Sopranos”); Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”); Ron Howard (“The Andy Griffith Show”); Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke (“The Dick Van Dyke Show”); and Phil Rosenthal and Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), among others.

“The Crusader” delves into the increasingly grey area between right and wrong as television heroes confront internal demons while seeking their own forms of justice. Interviews include Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H”); Steven Bochco and David Milch (“NYPD Blue”); Chris Carter and Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”); Bob Cochran and Joel Surnow (“24”); Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”); Shawn Ryan and Michael Chiklis (“The Shield”); and David Shore and Hugh Laurie (“House”), among others.

“Independent Woman” reveals how women have transformed from model housewives to complex, and sometimes controversial, characters. Interviews include Roseanne Barr (“Roseanne”); Candice Bergen (“Murphy Brown”); Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”), Robert and Michelle King and Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”); James L. Brooks and Mary Tyler Moore (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”); Shonda Rhimes and Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”); and Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem (“Nurse Jackie”) among others.

“The Misfit” celebrates the unique characters who defied comic stereotypes and societal expectations to reflect America’s diverse personalities. Interviews include Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”); Diablo Cody (“The United States of Tara”); Greg Daniels and Rainn Wilson (“The Office”); Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld”); Paul Feig and Judd Apatow (“Freaks and Geeks”); Mitchell Hurwitz (“Arrested Development”); Mike Judge (“Beavis and Butthead”); and Garry Shandling (“The Larry Sanders Show”), among others.

AMERICA IN PRIMETIME features more than a hundred in-depth interviews with the creators, writers and actors who give life to the characters whom audiences have come to love, and demonstrates how the finest television today has its foundation in the best television of yesterday.