Shogun on NBC

1980, TV Show

Roush Review: Pillars Revives the Old-Fashioned Epic

They really don't make them like this anymore. And we're not talking about 12th-century Gothic cathedrals. The Pillars of the Earth, a sprawling historical melodrama based on Ken Follett's mammoth bestseller, conjures nostalgic memories of the days of yore, way back in the 20th century, when networks devoted entire weeks to "event" miniseries like Shogun, The Winds of War, The Thorn Birds, Lonesome Dove, to name a memorable few—although in this case, North and South is the best comparison...  read full article

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Roush Review: Pillars Revives the Old-Fashioned Epic

They really don't make them like this anymore. And we're not talking about 12th-century Gothic cathedrals. The Pillars of the Earth, a sprawling historical melodrama based on Ken Follett's mammoth bestseller, conjures nostalgic memories of the days of yore, way back in the 20th century, when networks devoted entire weeks to "event" miniseries like Shogun, The Winds of War, The Thorn Birds, Lonesome Dove, to name a memorable few—although in this case, North and South is the best comparison... read more

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Premiered: September 15, 1980, on NBC
Rating: None
User Rating: (4 ratings)
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Premise: James Clavell's epic novel about 17th-century Japan chronicles the adventures of shipwrecked English navigator John Blackthorne, who finds intrigue and romance in a feudal society of obeisant women, sword-wielding samurai and ambitious warlords striving to become shogun: supreme military dictator. Running 12 hours over one week in September 1980, the tempestuous, handsomely mounted production won three Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series.

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