Ep 1. Mike Nichols: An American Master

Mike Nichols: An American Master is the opening episode of the 30th season of American Masters. The show is a documentary series that focuses on the lives and work of artists who have made significant contributions to American culture. This episode explores the life and career of filmmaker and stage director Mike Nichols.

Mike Nichols was a visionary director who made a profound impact on American culture with his films, plays, and television shows. He was born in Berlin in 1931 and came to the United States with his family when he was just seven years old. His family settled in New York City, where Nichols went on to attend the University of Chicago. It was there that he met Elaine May, with whom he formed a comedy duo that became famous for its satirical sketches.

After the duo split up in the 1960s, Nichols went on to become a highly successful stage and film director. He directed such landmark films as The Graduate, Catch-22, and Working Girl, and he was also responsible for bringing several important plays to the Broadway stage, including The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, and The Real Thing.

The American Masters episode on Mike Nichols takes viewers on a journey through his life, from his childhood in Berlin to his early years in New York to his rise to fame as a director. The show is filled with interviews with many of Nichols' friends and colleagues, as well as with Nichols himself, who passed away in 2014.

Through these interviews, viewers will get a sense of the kind of person Nichols was, as well as the philosophy that drove his work. Nichols was known for his intense curiosity, his unstoppable energy, and his willingness to take risks in order to create something truly innovative. He was also known for his ability to work with actors, coaxing out powerful performances that made his films and plays so memorable.

Throughout the episode, viewers will learn about Nichols' personal life, including his troubled marriage to his first wife, and his close friendship with his second wife, Diane Sawyer. They'll also get a sense of the enormous impact that his work had on American culture and entertainment, and why he remains such an important figure in the world of film and theater.

Overall, Mike Nichols: An American Master is a compelling and insightful tribute to one of the most important figures in American entertainment history. It's a fitting opening episode for the 30th season of American Masters, and a must-see for anyone who wants to understand the impact that one person can have on the cultural landscape of a nation.