The Miniseries Boom: Roots to Band of Brothers

The miniseries format peaked from 1977 to 1995. Roots drew the largest audiences in tv history, Shogun and The Winds of War followed, and British imports like Brideshead Revisited and Jewel in the Crown proved literary prestige could rate.

Pride and Prejudice in 1995 was a late crown. The format faded as serialized cable drama rose, then returned as event limited series like Band of Brothers, its direct heir..