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American Genius Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
8 Episodes 2015 - 2015
Episode 1
Jobs vs. Gates
Mon, Jun 1, 201543 mins
The war between two visionaries with different theories about how approach the coming computer revolution. One thinking that controlling the hardware and the operating system is the way to go. And the other who thinks controlling the operating system is the way to go.
Episode 2
Wright vs. Curtiss
Mon, Jun 1, 201542 mins
The race for flight is chronicled as aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright face off against Glenn Curtiss in a bitter rivalry that puts lives at risk. After developing the airplane, the Wright brothers keep the technical details under wraps for years, out of fear of losing control of their invention. Meanwhile, Curtiss boldly goes public with his airplanes and innovations and quickly becomes a popular face of flight. The Wright brothers, now patent holders in control of all powered flight, counter with lawsuits; as they hold fast, they stifle innovation in the very industry they've launched. Go inside the rivalry so heated that, when Wilbur dies, Orville blames Curtiss for driving him to exhaustion. Scientist Bill Nye, famed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku and others offer insight into the epic showdown that laid the groundwork for modern aviation.
Episode 3
Hearst vs. Pulitzer
Mon, Jun 8, 201542 mins
The newspaper redefined the way America tells its stories, but its rise to prominence was born out of a bitter rivalry between a man who built himself up from nothing and the wealthy son of a business tycoon. Follow William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer as they push the limits of journalism in unthinkable ways, forever changing the media landscape. Flashy headlines and sensationalized stories are born out of the war for circulation. But when the Newsies strike, the media giants' papers come to a halt and the men must learn to compromise in order to keep their empires afloat. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric; famed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku; and others share their perspective on the rivalry that propelled mainstream media as we know it today.
Episode 4
Colt vs. Wesson
Mon, Jun 15, 201542 mins
Go inside the first true "arms race" as the invention of the perfect revolver pits Samuel Colt and Daniel Wesson in a race for patents that will forever revolutionize the firearm industry. In 1836, Samuel Colt changes the way wars are fought with his patent for the revolver, and profits enormously. But when Colt fires his assistant Rollin White for suggesting an improvement on his design, White takes his innovative idea to Smith and Wesson. As the Civil War breaks out, the need for firearms explodes, and only one supplier will come out unscathed. Politician and businessman Mitt Romney and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone join historians and other experts as American Genius delves into the dramatic story behind the weapon that transformed America and forever changed how wars are fought.
Episode 5
Farnsworth vs. Sarnoff
Mon, Jun 8, 201542 mins
Outlines the lives of two titan's of the telecommunications industry. Farnsworth who's largely responsible for the invention of the television. And Sarnoff who while running RCA laid the ground work for the television networks of the 21st century.
Episode 6
Oppenheimer vs Heisenberg
Mon, Jun 22, 201543 mins
Travel to the front lines of an epic battlefield: Werner Heisenberg and Robert Oppenheimer face off in a heated contest as they strive to unleash the destructive power of the atomic bomb. The two brilliant scientists toil through World War II with a single directive - harness the laws of physics to create the most powerful weapon the world has ever seen. Oppenheimer gathers the United States' top minds as he embarks on the Manhattan Project, while Heisenberg toils away with Nazi Germany's leading scientists. The nuclear age is in full swing as the dueling scientists scramble to build a bomb that could have detrimental effects on civilization. Famed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku and others share their perspective on the race for global domination.
Episode 7
USA vs USSR
Mon, Jun 15, 201542 mins
America and the Soviet Union, deadlocked in the Cold War, set their sights on the final frontier - space. Go inside the more than decade long struggle between the two superpowers as they both set out to conquer the moon. German scientist Werner Von Braun leads the charge for the U.S. and Sergei Korolev for the Soviets, but in the race to space, only one side can get there first. Along the way, the cutthroat competition results in unparalleled technological advancements and spawns previously unimaginable feats of engineering - as the whole world watches. Famed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, authors, and other space and engineering experts weigh in on the battle that inspired a nation and sent man where no one had ever gone before.
Episode 8
Edison vs Tesla
Mon, Jun 22, 201542 mins
The world has not seen electricity so far. In 19th century, Thomas A. Edison is the world's most renowned inventor (& patent holder) and comes up with a way to distribute electricity to the world through DC. Along comes Nikola Tesla who is a sharp, meticulous inventor himself - He's always felt that DC power distribution is inefficient but doesn't yet know if there's any other way. Tesla joins Edison when he accepts and provides an effective solution to a problem that has been troubling Edison. But Tesla still believes there's a better way than Edison's DC power distribution. Finally, when Edison doesn't provide the compensation he'd promised Tesla - even though Tesla successfully completes Edison's task, it's time to part ways. Tesla now begins his journey to bring AC power distribution to this world, which he feels is far more superior. Edison initially dismisses AC as a dangerous concept. To help fight against Edison's enormous funds, Tesla demos his technology to investors and makes a good impression. The documentary then shows how they both struggle to one-up each other, the struggles of each and the ultimate outcome in this war for power distribution.
