Making Masterpiece: 25 Years Behind the Scenes at Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery! on PBS

by Rebecca Eaton, Patricia Mulcahy, Kenneth Branagh (Preface)

For more than twenty-five years, Rebecca Eaton has presided over PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, the longest running weekly prime-time drama series in American history. In Making Masterpiece Eaton interviews many of the writers, directors, producers, and other contributors and shares personal anecdotes about her decades-long career. She reveals what went on behind the scenes during such triumphs as Cranford and the highly rated programs made from Jane Austen's novels, as well as her aggressive campaign to attract younger viewers via social media and online streaming. Along the way she shares stories about actors and other luminaries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Audiobook, Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2013

About the author

Rebecca Eaton, OBE

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting trivia for fans of Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery!. Who knew Rebecca turned down the 1995 Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth and almost turned down Downton Abbey?

Enjoyable.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a combination memoir of Rebecca Eaton and of Masterpiece Theatre. I have long been a fan of Masterpiece theatre and love the theme music. It was fun to learn where and how the theme music came about and how the program began. Eaton weaves an absorbing story of her own life with that of the Masterpiece Theatre. Eaton tells of her early life as the daughter of a famous actress and a father who was a Shakespeare professor.

She tells of her apprenticeship with the BBC living in England and working for WGBH, the Boston affiliate of PBS. She tells about Downton Abbey and all the other famous mini-series presented over the years; she also includes her failures. Eaton tells of the establishment of Mystery and in 2010 obtaining Sherlock. Throughout the book Eaton comes off as a woman who is remarkable and unskeptical for a veteran TV executive; her love of her work comes through.

The book is well written and a delight to read. The book was well organized and the pace was perfect. The book is written in the first person. Eaton has actors and fellow staffers tell their personal anecdotes in the first person. For example: Diana Riggs discussed how she became the host of Mystery; various staff people and actors talked about what key roles they played and shared comments on Eaton. Made the memoir different and more interesting.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Meredith Mitchell does a good job narrating the book. Mitchell is a stage, film, television actress and audiobook narrator.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this as a lifelong Masterpiece fan (courtesy of my British mum), but also as a television news producer. Rebecca Eaton wrote the best two paragraph description of what television producers do that I have ever read. And, as before I read the book, I think Eaton has one of the best jobs in television!

[Barbara Backus · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the logistics of putting together a television series, all the problems of finding and maintaining funding as well as the tidbits behind the scenes fills the pages. Interesting if you like to learn about Alistair Cooke's quirks and how "Downton Abbey" found its place on PBS. But the book would have benefited from some additional editing.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Masterpiece Theatre junkie, you would think this book is right up my alley. However, the thing I like about Masterpiece (especially the Masterpiece of the last few years) is that it’s usually very well done, from the writing to the scenery, the filming to the acting. The British accents might help with this a little. While this book is about how all of that gets put together, this book felt very much like a rough draft. There were large portions that felt like they were cut and pasted directly from lengthy email conversations with different Masterpiece employees. In all, I liked the tidbits I learned about one of my favorite shows. I just wish the book was as polished as the show is.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Making Masterpiece tells the stories behind the favorite costume dramas and mysteries that come to life on PBS on Sunday nights (...I have to catch up on Endeavour). We never had cable in my house, so PBS was our primary channel of choice. I recall distinctly when I began to watch Masterpiece, in January 2008, with the Jane Austen suite. It was my introduction to her stories, which immediately appealed to my 13-year-old, 7th-grade self. Since then, I’ve paid attention to everything Masterpiece screens, from Cranford (my all-time favorite) to Sherlock to Victoria. Eaton mentions wanting a production of Victoria’s early years as queen. We now have Victoria.

Memoirs about show biz, especially from those who are not stars themselves, can read like endless rounds of name-dropping. Eaton somehow brings the famous folks she worked with to life, describing her delight in them as artists and as people. There are also lengthy quotations from her family, friends, and stars, not all of which paint her in the best light; this helps add a realism to the memoir. Her life was really not that glamorous, nor does she try to embellish.

Of course, the little story nuggets about Dame Judi Dench eating ice cream in her Miss Matty costume and the way in which Downton Abbey was born make up much of the book. Yet, a hefty portion is about the business of acquisition and funding and audiences and awards, the nuts and bolts that constitute Eaton’s job. My favorite parts were about the audiences and re-branding, probably because I am a member of that audience, and the re-branding was rolled out in 2008 when I started watching Masterpiece.

It’s interesting to see how things have developed in the 7 years since this book was published. Masterpiece has established itself with a streaming service, to which I’ve subscribed since its beginning, because I’m a millennial who doesn’t own a TV, and streams everything or watches DVDs because commercials are the worst and who wants to orient an entire room around a big black box. Masterpiece continues to have hit shows, though none have quite catapulted to Downton Abbey fame. The period drama cycle, with resurrections every 10-15 years for new audiences with new adaptations, is perhaps at or just passing one of its peaks now, with blockbuster period films (Little Women, Harriet, Radioactive, Emma) capitalizing on the audience (me) who watches Masterpiece Classic.

She has some interesting things to say about why an American version of Masterpiece hasn’t happened yet, and might never occur. Many American classics are not quite out of copyright yet, like The Great Gatsby’s which is due to expire soon. Besides Westerns (including prairie shows like Little House on the Prairie) and loosely “historical” shows like Reign, American TV stations haven’t always welcomed the period drama format into their repertoires, unless it’s Dark™ like Mad Men. However, I have the benefit of hindsight, which Eaton did not have in 2013. Streaming services are starting to wake up to the audience for period dramas in limited series, or just very short seasons. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Alias Grace come to mind. There’s a subscription out there just for British TV that’s an add-on to another streaming service. Willow and Thatch is a blog solely about period dramas, doing everything from exhaustively listing each season of Masterpiece to giving advice for in-the-works productions. The period drama heyday ushered in by Downton Abbey is nowhere near over. Hopefully, someone will option a sumptuous feast of Florence Nightingale’s life, which has all the ingredients of a good period drama: a wealthy family, a headstrong daughter who flouts societal conventions and spurns proposals, a fleet of nurses, a foreign war. She’s even a redhead. PBS, get on that.

This book is really for fans of PBS and Masterpiece more than it is for fans of its particular shows. Sure, it was published at the height of Downton Abbey’s success and includes lots of details about that show in particular, but most of it is about public television and the challenges of sponsorship and Eaton’s particular involvement with essentially British productions.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I come late to the plate of Masterpiece Theatre, so late in fact that the Theatre piece had been dropped from the title by the time I tuned in. Perhaps I wasn't quite a woman of a certain age or time was at a premium or I watched something else on Sunday nights. I do remember a time when my family did not get any PBS stations so maybe that was the reason. At any rate I'm now making up for lost time.

When the opportunity rose to learn a bit of the background of Masterpiece (as it is now known) and to hear the inside scoop from its producer, Rebecca Eaton I was on board in a minute. Going on this life journey with Eaton made me sorely aware of just what I had missed all these years.

Eaton tells lots of stories and even a few tales out of school. She shares her hopes, her dreams, her fears and the politics of making one of the longest running, most popular programs of all time. Imagine working with Alistair Cooke, flying back and forth across the ocean, making decisions that can make or break this institution.

I always thought Masterpiece was sponsored by different corporate entities, some wealthy benefactors and viewers like you. Though this may be true today I didn't realize the long run of sponsorship by Mobile Oil.

I didn't know that Alistair Cooke had been the host of Masterpiece for twenty-one years. Quite a run. Eaton outlined what a professional he was and how hard he was to replace. She gave credit to Russell Baker who was the next long term host. He had big shoes to fill and did so for eleven good years of his own. It was sad for me and must have been truly devastating for Eaton when in 2004 they could no longer afford a host.

Eaton not only cheers the awards Masterpiece has won but has owned up to mistakes made, letting us in on her successes and failures. She gives us a glimpse of the differences of the reception, likes and dislikes, the mores so to speak of our British neighbors versus the American viewing public. She asks "How long can Masterpiece last" Eaton states that the series "is so utterly connected to the judgment and good taste" that she sees no end in sight. This to our benefit.

Other changes that Eaton weathered was the eventual blending of three series, Masterpiece, Mystery and Contemporary into the present day Sunday nine o'clock spot once held only by Masterpiece. Giving up something has allowed a continuance of much fine programing and what could have been the demise of all is once again a successful venture.

There is renewed fervor for Masterpiece and its mission with the new generation of viewers of programs like Downton Abbey, Sherlock, and Endeavor. It is evident from this memoir of Eaton's time producing Masterpiece how much she loves what she does and how we, the viewers benefit from this.

I have much catching up to do before I can truly claim title as fan. I'm glad I read Making Masterpiece as I have a much better understanding of how it came to be.

[Mary Ronan Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of us remember that first Masterpiece Theatre production, back in 1969, of the Forsyte Saga. It went on for 26 weeks and since there were no commercial tapes let alone DVDs we had to watch it every single week for half a year on Sunday night at 9 PM. Who could forget?

But it turns out The Forsyte Saga was not a Masterpiece Theatre production. In her delightfully gossipy book, Making Masterpiece: 25 Years, Rebecca Eaton, the executive producer of the show for the past 28 years, clears up a lot of such mistakes.

I borrowed this book from the library because I assumed it was a coffee-table book with lots of photos and very little text. I was wrong, although there are many photos. There is one of the author with Sherlock Holmes, Morse, Campion, and Poirot that I particularly like.

The book is a memoir of the life of Rebecca Eaton, who turns out to be an interesting person with a rich family background in show biz. When she graduated from Vassar she took a year-long job in London working for the BBC. She was entirely new to broadcasting. When she asked her boss where she could get tapes so she could watch the show she was going to be working on she was shocked to discover it was not television but radio. Oops.

That job led to her later getting a position at WGBH in Boston. It's now a PBS station but when she joined it was part of National Educational Television (Bergan Evans and Sunrise Semester - Julia Child's first cooking show.) In those early days Masterpiece Theatre had no competition from other television stations (there were only three other television stations for one thing) and there were shelves of BBC productions to choose from when she went to England to acquire costume dramas.

And there was rock solid financing. Mobile Oil sponsored the program for many long years until the leadership at Mobile changed, the company was acquired by Exxon, and eventually it was felt Exxon-Mobile was not getting its money's worth from what it increasingly saw as musty old programming.

Now that Downton Abbey is the most viewed television drama in broadcast history I wonder if Mobile is second-guessing their decision to drop the show. For years I bought gas at Mobile stations because of Masterpiece Theatre, now re-branded (ugh) simply as Masterpiece.

Eaton takes us through the wonderful years when dinner party invitations were declined and phones were left off the hook on Sunday nights at nine as we all watched Alistair Cooke (or Russell Baker or Diana Rigg) introduce I, Claudius or Upstairs, Downstairs or The Jewel in the Crown. And of course some of us remember Monsterpiece Theatre with Alistaire Cookie.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a good sign when reading a memoir makes you like the person who wrote it less. I had thought that I'd find a kindred spirit in Rebecca Eaton since she's produced so much television that I've adored, but there was something about how she wrote about it that made me feel like we weren't on the same page. I really liked learning background details of how Masterpiece Theater came to be, but I was disappointed that she wrote so disparagingly of films she produced in the 90s, since that was when I started watching and have the happiest memories of Sunday night viewing with my mom. And I felt that she gave way too much space to Downton Abbey (three whole chapters!) at the expense of many other (more) worthy shows.

If you're a fan of Masterpiece, there's enough here to make it worth reading, but the writing isn't terribly coherent and there's a lot of repetition. Don't expect too much.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've adored Masterpiece, particularly Mystery! since I was a young kid watching it on PBS. Even the spoof of the urbane host, Alaistair Cooke, played on Sesame Street by Cookie Monster, was a staple of my childhood. Needless to say, when I found this book in my library's catalog, I was excited to read it. Sadly, this book did not live up to the hype in my own head. The behind the scenes look into the making of the shows (technically Masterpiece doesn't produce its own content but buys it from companies such as the BBC and ITV) didn't provide any interesting tidbits, and the personal revelations felt very surface level. Rebecca talked about the big events in her life: being a working mother, suffering through multiple miscarriages, including the loss of twin boys, but you don't ever feel as though you get to know who she really is. What would have made a good magazine article feels stretched thin in book format. Not the worst book I've read, but one that I would recommend skipping for a waste of time.

[danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-4, rounded up.

[Kristine Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifetime fan of Masterpiece Theatre, I happily read memoirs of the producer who oversaw 25years of the show from its inception. My love of things British was born from this show, and led to my eventual marriage to a man who combines the high cheekbone gorgeousness I fell for with thE peculiar good mannered reserve that I came to love while watching all those period dramas. One gets the sense that Rebecca Eaton has put her foot in her mouth many times, and has been as awed by British acting brilliance as any viewer, and may have been a challenge to work with. she had her own sorrows and sacrificed much for her job, and I respect her self awareness. And humanity.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Eaton's journey from eastern seaboard, Vassar College English-major to becoming the Executive Producer of Masterpiece Theatre for twenty-five years is a colourful and interesting tale, full of stories about all the British actors, directors, and co-producers she met along the way and all the American television personalities, too. A unique view of a unique series that changed American television forever. - BH.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Masterpiece Theater and Mystery, I really enjoyed reading about all the behind the scenes info and actor name-dropping. She writes in such a conversational way that it was easy to zip right through it.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebecca Eaton was born in 1947 to an English Literature professor and an actress, both of whom where alcoholics, which led to her being a very organized, hypervigilant child working to meet everyone's needs. The show that would come to define her life is, as she sees it, stories about families. And her family circumstances led to her, in essence, producing their lives. She was there to keep everything on an even keel. It's no wonder that she ended up one of the most famous executive producers in television history. Spending much of her childhood in books when not managing her family she received an English degree from Vassar and on August 9, 1969, she left New York for London to begin her job at the BBC, it just happened to be the same day as the Manson murders. She knew nothing about radio, or even that the job was in radio, all she knew was that she could live in London for a year and that's where she wanted to be. This was when her love affair with England truly began. Meanwhile America's love affair with England was also beginning in earnest. With the airing of The Forsyte Saga in the same year Americans couldn't get enough period dramas from across the pond. PBS was officially formed in 1970 and in 1971 Masterpiece Theatre was launched with The First Churchills, a show no one, particularly the host Alistair Cook, who would be on one year contracts the entirety of his twenty-one year tenure, liked. The show was entirely paid for by Mobil, with the first season consisting of thirty-nine hours of already-made BBC drama. Mobil believed in affinity marketing, if Masterpiece Theatre was beloved and classy, they would be viewed the same way. But it was a delicate dance that would end spectacularly after thirty-three years. By the second year of Masterpiece Theatre Rebecca was already in the door at WGBH in Boston. She was producing non-fiction shows and documentaries. She developed a strong reputation and work ethic and when the second executive producer of Masterpiece Theatre died of Cancer Rebecca was offered the position. On the same day she learned she was pregnant. She took the leap and ended up on the journey of a lifetime. When British tastes started to change to modern fare and the backlog of shows that Masterpiece Theatre could buy dried up, Rebecca was the one leading the charge to not just produce shows that were already in the pipeline but to suggest and shepherd new shows. And thus Middlemarch and The Buccaneers were made. Which lead the British to see that there was still an interest in period dramas. But Masterpiece Theatre and Rebecca would again and again come up against changing audiences and expanding markets and, in a rather remarkable show of vengeance, how petty HBO could be. Yet they weathered the storms, they rebranded, and while The Buccaneers was a resounding hit, they were always looking for their next Upstairs Downstairs or The Jewel in the Crown . Which would unexpectedly arrive in the form of Downton Abbey . A show Rebecca initially turned down but everything worked out. Because as she's said, "I've been very, very lucky in my career, in spite of myself."

Historically I have never been a fan of Rebecca Eaton. The reason is twofold. The way her name appears in the credits of the shows she has executive produced makes her seem, to me, and apparently others, above Masterpiece. That she is somehow better than her job title and that she alone should be getting credit for a show she might have had no involvement in other than buying it for distribution. It has never sat well with me and has made me think less of her. The second reason is more to do with my local PBS station, WHA-TV. They are not well run and their practices can be a bit sus. Rebecca Eaton was coming to do a big event for WHA-TV which is located on the UW-Madison campus within Vilas Hall which houses the departments of Comm Arts and Theatre and Drama. I was invited because not only was I a Theatre and Drama alumna but a PBS supporter. I was excited. Then the day before the event they sent out an email saying that the event was free but meeting Rebecca cost extra. I remember it as a hundred dollars, my Dad thinks it was more. I mean, I know they need to make money, but it was badly timed. Why not have a great event with Rebecca and have her ask for donations not demand an entrance fee right before your partygoers head out the door? Needles to say I did not attend and that was the last fuck I had to give with regards to my local PBS station. Therefore I approached this book with mild trepidation. Booked as a biography of someone I don't really like I think the average person would question my sanity. But my love for Masterpiece is so great that I will endure any hardship. I mean, just the lengths I go to to watch old shows is staggering and so much more energy than I expended downloading this to my Kindle. Plus I got it on sale. I was actually expecting it to be more of a autobiography given some reviews I had read. But it's not really her bio, just a bio inasmuch as how her upbringing prepared her for the job and what was happening in her life to frame her state of mind while dealing with Masterpiece. Because that's whose biography this is, this is Masterpiece's. Rebecca just happened to be there for a lot of it and was able to get the stories. She's a plainspoken writer who relies too much on aphorisms and platitudes, but she's willing to admit when she makes mistakes and that she was always constantly learning on the job. She never stopped. She openly admits that they could have had Colin Firth in a wet shirt back in 1996 but she was convinced that viewers wouldn't care. She was wrong and it made her realize that adaptions of classics aren't one and done but cyclical. Each generation wants their own version. But the incident of losing out on Colin Firth just demonstrates how myopic she can be. She never thought Mobil would leave, she never thought that HBO would be a threat, and seeing as this was written before the streaming boom, one can only imagine what that has done to their numbers with so many outlets vying for the same content. But what made me sad reading this book is that it was the introductions of Alistair Cooke and Russell Baker and Diana Rigg and Vincent Price that set Masterpiece and Mystery! apart and that is gone with the changing times. This is true lost media and I mourn its loss. At least Alan Cumming makes up for a bit and that's down to Rebecca. So I guess I can say I've changed my tune with regard to her. But not in regard to WHA-TV.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Goodreads first-reads is both Rebecca Eaton's autobiography and the 25 yr. history of the PBS Masterpiece and Mystery series. It is also a fascinating look at the people involved with PBS productions and what it takes to bring a successful program such as Downton Abbey into our homes.

Beginning with the ground-breaking "Forsythe Saga", which aired on National Educational Television (NET), the inspiration for the future Masterpiece Theatre series,and the ending with the production of "Sherlock" and "Downton Abbey", this history is told through interviews with the important players, the writers, producers, and actors, and is peppered with personal anecdotes.

I read this book in short "breaks" with a cup of coffee and a plate of "biscuits", and savored every moment, much as I do when I go out for coffee with a dear friend or family member. I loved "hearing" about Eaton's background and experiences, challenges, highs and lows; the delicious tidbits such as how Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh were so in love; and the image of beautiful, elegant Diana Riggs with a chaotic house full of children and pets during an important telephone call, as well as how Eaton passed on Pride and Prejudice and regretted it for years afterward; how social media is affecting the way we watch tv; and about Julian Fellowes' writing process.

Definitely a read again and as my copy is an advance uncorrected proofs, I am looking forward to the recently published version with photos.

Thank you Goodreads and Viking!

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book inside the Masterpiece workings. There is so much behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into a production it is mind boggling. The author gives a pretty good picture of how all this works, and the outcome would either be good for the station, or reflect a poor choice.

When Masterpiece switched over to a more contemporary feel, it wasn't just a whim. Apparently those costume dramas were 'out of style', hence a new approach and look was needed to keep it alive. Unfortunately, they lost me at that point but that move saved the show. I can't imagine Masterpiece Theatre NOT being broadcast anymore!

I watched this show almost from the get-go and am so glad that I read this book. While I enjoyed most, I found some of the financial stuff a bit on the dry side.

And, yes I do remember The Blue Boy (if you've read this book, you'll know what I'm talking about)!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! Rebecca Eaton is a Vassar Alum, and when she came in to sign her books, I couldn't have been *more* of a fangirl! It was great to chat with her and I was more excited than if a movie start had shown up. I most enjoyed reading about the Masterpiece shows that I know best, and how the different hosts found their way into the roles. I was also shocked to realize that there are so many hit shows of which I've never even heard. I have a lot of work to do! The only part of the book I didn't enjoy was the bit about Downton Abbey. I like the show, but it is not my favorite in the Masterpiece catalogue, and I would have liked more time spent on the Mystery titles. Obviously I have to own this!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I am sorry I've finished it! I loved the backstage feel of it...the insider's look at one of my all-time favorite forms of entertainment, Masterpiece Theatre...and I learned a lot about the challenges of producing high quality public television, too. Reading this book brought back many happy memories of watching Sunday night TV with my late mom. Mom introduced me to Masterpiece as a kid and I have been a fan ever since. I also learned of many shows I either didn't know about or had simply breezed past over the years. I've watched two of them since picking up this book and appreciate learning of them. If you are a fan of Masterpiece and/or you are a committed lifelong Anglophile like I am, pretty sure you will enjoy this book!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you very much to Goodreads and Penguin Canada for this giveaway - I loved it! As soon as I saw the listing for this book I couldn't wait to read it. I've enjoyed Masterpiece (Theatre) since I was a teenager and knew this would be a great read. I had very little idea what a tv producer actually did and I found it very interesting to learn about the many facets of Ms. Eaton's job. Loved the parts about Alistair Cooke, Cranford and of course, Downton Abbey. A must read for every Masterpiece (and Mystery) fan.

[Armelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a loyal Masterpiece fan for many years. I haven't found most of their recent presentations very compelling - not even Downtown Abbey - but this book is full of interesting anecdotes about many of my old favorites.

If you're a fan, then I'd say that this is worth reading. It's a pretty easy read.

[Lisa Gemert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of Masterpiece, you'll love it. Look, it's essentially a robust ad in book format. Does it gloss over things? Yes. Is there a lot of cheerleading? Yes. Will you want to whip out your credit card and make a donation to your local PBS station? Yes. All of these things are yes, but the book is still a yes for me.

I love a good backstory, and you get this here - right down to a facsimile of a handwritten thank you note from a pre-Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe.

My husband and I like PBS shows (just finished "Annika" - highly recommend), and it was rewarding to learn some backstory of favorites. If you're a Downton fan, well, it's a must-read book.

One thing I've noticed is that when I'm watching now, I have a greater appreciation for the production itself, and that enriches the experience for me. I understand what things mean and are.

I loved learning about the theme song, which has always given me the feels.

This book was a lucky find at the Dollar Tree! Ours used to have books (not really anymore, but it was lovely while it lasted).

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

When an author writes "I have a deep desire to do anything besides write this book" near the beginning of their book, it puts that little seed of doubt and disappointment in your head right away.

I'd been given a signed copy of 'Making Masterpiece' by someone who worked for our local PBS station and it had been sat on my shelf for a few years. I finally decided to give it a read.

The book is part memoir about Ms. Eaton (Who I'd never heard of before) and partly about the history and coming to life of Masterpiece, its shows and sponsors.

On a personal level, Eaton talks about the start of her career, her mother, her marriage and pregnancies, her daughter, her divorce, the vast amount of travel she has done throughout her career and explains exactly what a producer does and how she first passed on Downton Abbey.

Fortunately, memoirs are my favorite genre and I've been a long time Masterpiece fan (It was rebranded from 'Masterpiece Theatre' at one point), so it was quite an interesting, although not necessarily thrilling read.

[Carole at From My Carolina Home · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvelously candid book about the shows, stars and troubles of the iconic PBS series featuring the best of British television. Many of the series will be recognizable to readers who have watched the various series. From Foyle’s War to Poldark to Downton Abbey, years of work are detailed with notable quotes from famous British actors from Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson to Julian Fellows. It is a fascinating look at the difficulties in obtaining high quality shows, the increasing competition for them from upstart networks like A&E, the constant battle for fundraising with the exit of Mobil Oil underwriting, and the decisions made both good and bad on shows. Published in 2013, it ends with the second season of Downton Abbey.

[Jessica Nordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Masterpiece and if you are the type who watches all the behind the scenes features, this is a great book for you! This book felt like sitting down and having coffee on a regular basis with Rebecca Eaton - she shares much of her background and many entertaining stories about her experiences and what it takes to make a successful Masterpiece production. I find myself using what I learned from this book to give me more context and appreciation as I enjoy other media- there is a tremendous amount of work and faith that goes into these productions. Rebecca Eaton's book gives your a glimpse into her world - warts and all. A casual and informative read!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fine memoir. I enjoyed the overlay of Eaton's personal stories with that of the programs and opportunities of Masterpiece. I learned some fun facts about Downton Abbey, which was my original interest in the book. I found through reading though that I was familiar with and/or own many of the programs that Masterpiece has produced through the years. I'm a much more enthusiastic supporter of Masterpiece after reading this book.

[Guusje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful trip down memory lane! I have happy recollections of watching the original Forsyth Saga with my mother. The book is full of behinds the scenes stories and antidotes about the various actresses and actors who have appeared on the series over the years. The stories about Allistar Cooke are delightful - makes me wish all his "introductions" were available!
This is a most enjoyable read for anyone who grew up on Masterpiece Theater.

[Kayleen Reusser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more info about the actors of MT shows over the years. There was much personal info about the author -- her marriage, pregnancy, loss of babies, divorce -- all while putting together MT shows.
The chapters on Downton Abbey of which I was a fan as a show were interesting, as were comments made by Julian Fellowes about his process of writing episodes.
I appreciated how the author confessed to turning down some shows that later became big hits on other channels.

[JustKate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very nostalgic as a PBS watcher and as an Anglophile since the author drops all the names of series and actors/actresses she's worked with over her decades in the business. While she offer a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to get shows onto television in America, what I really like about this kind of book are the little bits of life lessons on juggling career and family and what it takes to make them both rewarding.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read for longtime fans of Masterpiece, nestled in a perhaps accidental case study of 2nd Wave Feminism. Through the life, career, and attitude of Rebecca Eaton you see all the doors that were opened by this generation, and where they (especially the successful white women of this movement) have more work to do.