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{{Short description|2005 television series ranking famous Americans}}
{| class="toccolours" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 25em; clear: right"
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
|-
{{Infobox television
| colspan="2" style="font-size: larger; text-align: center;" | '''''The Greatest American'''''
|presenter = ]
|-
|country = United States
| align="center" colspan="2" | <!--] commenting out image with no source/bad FairUse claim--> <br /><small style="font-size: 91%;"></small>
|executive_producer = {{Unbulleted list|Jason Raff|Elyse Zaccaro}}
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|channel = ]
| '''Run time'''
|first_aired = {{Start date|2005|06|05}}
| 1 hour
|last_aired = {{End date|2005|06|26}}
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
}}
| '''Host'''
'''''The Greatest American''''' is a 2005 American ] hosted by ]. The four-part series featured biographies and lists of influential persons in ], and culminated in a contest in which millions in the audience nominated and voted for the person they believed is the "greatest American".
| ]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Executive Producer'''
| Jason Raff
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Country'''
| ]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Network'''
| ]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''First aired'''
| ], ]
|}
'''The Greatest American''' was a four-part television series hosted by ] in which millions of Americans nominated and elected whom they thought was the greatest person in U.S. history. The competition was conducted by ] and the ] and reported on by the BBC.


==Format==
Nominations were accepted through ], ]. The 7-hour-long series was broken into 4 episodes: The first episode counted down the top 100 and introduced the top 25 nominees in alphabetical order. The second episode featured biographies of the top 25 nominees as well as commentaries from influential people such as celebrities and politicians. The third episode, called "The Great Debate", introduced the top 5 nominees and pitted the studio audience supporters of each of the nominees and a person selected to represent each of the top 5 candidates against a panel of 3 celebrities. In the finale the top 5 "Greatest Americans" were announced as well as what percentage of the votes each had received. Votes were taken through a toll free (if calling from a ]) phone number, through ]s from ]s, and through online voting. Voters were allowed to vote three times per voting method, so anyone had a chance of voting at least nine times. The three states with the most votes being received were ], ], and ] (] 1st, 2nd, and 4th in population).
''The Greatest American'' is broken into four episodes. The first episode introduces the 25 finalists based on a vote conducted early in 2005. The second episode features biographies of the finalists and allows viewers to vote for the top five nominees. The third episode introduces the top five nominees with commentaries from celebrities.<ref name="The Washington Post 2005">{{Cite news|date=June 5, 2005|title=Viewers Pick 'Greatest American'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/2005/06/05/viewers-pick-greatest-american/53838833-9ad8-4b6a-99d4-82afa6038672/|newspaper=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619085811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/2005/06/05/viewers-pick-greatest-american/53838833-9ad8-4b6a-99d4-82afa6038672/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> In the finale, viewers participate in another vote for the first 15 minutes<ref>{{Cite news|last=McAlister|first=Nancy|date=June 26, 2005|title=Viewers cast Votes to help Determine who is the "Greatest American"|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/795629441|url-access=subscription|work=]|page=3|access-date=June 22, 2023|via=]}}</ref> before the greatest American, according to the series, is announced.<ref name="The Washington Post 2005"/>


==The Top 25== ==Production==
===Development===
{{wrapper}}
] in 2005]]
|],<br/> the 40th ], introduced '']'' economic policy, and contributed to the ending of the ].]]
In January 2005, the ] and ] announced ''The Greatest American'', a seven-hour-long miniseries, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Discovery Channel.<ref name="Multichannel News 2005">{{Cite news|date=February 9, 2005|title=Lauer to Host Discovery's Greatest American|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/lauer-host-discovery-s-greatest-american-371574|work=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619220919/https://www.nexttv.com/news/lauer-host-discovery-s-greatest-american-371574|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> On January 21, Discovery and AOL began conducting a vote to determine the greatest American based on, according to an ] report, who "most influenced the way they think, work and live".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Drezner|first=Daniel W.|author-link=Daniel W. Drezner|date=January 21, 2005|title=The Greatest Americans?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2005/01/21/the-greatest-americans/|work=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619092140/https://foreignpolicy.com/2005/01/21/the-greatest-americans/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> Later in February, it was revealed that ] would host the show.<ref name="Multichannel News 2005"/> He took the role partly because of the debate the series could generate, similar to that surrounding the high ranking of ], in the BBC's '']''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bobbin|first=Jay|date=June 5, 2005|title=Matt Lauer guides viewers in picking 'Greatest American'|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-jun-05-2005/06-05/|url-access=subscription|work=]|page=268|access-date=June 21, 2023|via=]}}</ref> Voting continued until spring.<ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2005">{{Cite news|date=April 19, 2005|title=Nominees for 'Greatest American' unveiled|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nominees-for-greatest-american-unveiled-1.550045|work=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619094704/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nominees-for-greatest-american-unveiled-1.550045/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|],<br/> president during the ] and wrote the ].]]
|-
|], a civil rights activist who promoted non-violent activism and equality.]]
|-
|],<br/> known to many as the "Father of the United States" was America's first president.]]
|-
|],<br/> one of the most famous founding fathers of the United States.]]
|-
|]<br/>is the current president, and was at the time of the ]; he ] during his first term.]]
|-
|]<br/>was president during a ].]]
|-
|]<br/>was dubbed the king of rock n' roll, and revolutionized American music.]]
|-
|]<br/> was dubbed the Queen of media and one of America's wealthiest.]]
|-
{{end}}


Jason Raff and Elyse Zaccaro served as executive producers of ''The Greatest American''.{{Sfn|Beauchamp|2010|p=854}} ] makes an appearance.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Celizic|first=Mike|author-link=Mike Celizic|date=January 7, 2009|title=Ann Coulter 'delighted' she isn't banned from NBC|url=https://www.today.com/news/ann-coulter-delighted-she-isnt-banned-nbc-1C9013416|work=]|access-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620234709/https://www.today.com/news/ann-coulter-delighted-she-isnt-banned-nbc-1C9013416|archive-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref> ] also makes an appearance to voice his support for ],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Murphy|first=William|date=July 5, 2005|title=Survivor may call it quits|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/729472732|url-access=subscription|work=]|page=14|access-date=June 22, 2023|via=]}}</ref> whom ] portrays in the series.{{Sfn|Huntington|2006|p=66}}


===Voting===
#] - 24% - named "Greatest American"
====Nominees====
#] - 23.5%
The 100 nominees for the title of "greatest American" were unveiled on April 18, 2005,<ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2005"/> when over 500,000 votes had already been cast.<ref name="Skillings 2005">{{Cite news|last=Skillings|first=Jon|date=May 12, 2005|title=Is Bill Gates the greatest American ever?|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/is-bill-gates-the-greatest-american-ever/|work=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619094056/https://www.cnet.com/culture/is-bill-gates-the-greatest-american-ever/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> Discovery's alphabetized list included:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatestamerican/top100/top100.html|title=The Top 100|website=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303145451/http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatestamerican/top100/top100.html|archive-date=March 3, 2013}}</ref>
#] - 19.7% - named "Greatest African American" and "America's Greatest Preacher"
{{Div col|colwidth=16em|small=yes}}
#] - 17.7% - named "Greatest Founding Father"
* ]
#] - 14.9% - named "Greatest American Inventor"
* ]
#] - named "Greatest Living American"
#] * ]
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest Entertainer"
* ]
#] - named "Greatest Woman in American history" & "Greatest American Broadcaster"
* ]
#] - named "Greatest Disabled American"
* ]{{Efn|Obtained American citizenship{{Sfn|Cleall|2022|p=220}}}}
#]
#] * ]
* ]
#] - Named "Greatest American Filmmaker"
* ]
#] - named "Greatest American Scientist," "America's Greatest Immigrant" & "Greatest Jewish American"
#] * ]
* ]
#] - named "Greatest American Catholic"
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest Humorist"
#] * ]
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest First Lady"
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest Athlete"
* ]
#] - named "Greatest Muslim American"
#] * ]
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest Brothers"
#] * ]
* ]
#] - named "America's Greatest Astronaut"
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]{{Efn|name=Einstein|Obtained American citizenship{{Sfn|Isaacson|2007|p=479}}}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]{{Efn|name=Hope|Obtained American citizenship{{Sfn|Zoglin|2014|p=44}}}}
* ]
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* ]{{Efn|Obtained American citizenship{{Sfn|Leamer|2005|p=155}}}}
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* ]{{Efn|Obtained American citizenship{{Sfn|Carlson|2013|p=138}}}}
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{{Div col end}}


====Finalists====
==Alphabetical list==
By June, the 25 finalists were unveiled.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Walker|first=Jesse|date=June 29, 2005|title=The Greatest American Heroes (Believe It Or Not)|url=https://reason.com/2005/06/29/the-greatest-american-heroes-b/|work=]|access-date=June 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619230220/https://reason.com/2005/06/29/the-greatest-american-heroes-b/|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref> In alphabetical order, the finalists include:<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Jamie|date=June 7, 2005|title=It's Ali v Oprah in search for greatest American|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jun/07/usnews.comment|work=]|access-date=June 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622071723/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jun/07/usnews.comment|archive-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>
On ],], AOL and The Discovery Channel announced the top 100 nominees.
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* ]
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* ]
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* ]{{Efn|name=Einstein}}
* ]
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* ]{{Efn|name=Hope}}
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* ]
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* ]
{{Div col end}}


====Results====
The remaining nominees:
The American public cast a total of over 2.4 million votes through telephone lines, text messages, and email correspondence. The names with the most votes were:<ref name="Wilson 2005">{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Jamie|date=June 27, 2005|title=The greatest American? Lincoln? Einstein? No - it's Ronald Reagan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/28/usa.jamiewilson1|work=]|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619084100/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/28/usa.jamiewilson1|archive-date=June 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name="LewRockwell">{{Cite news|last=Gregory|first=Anthony|date=June 28, 2005|title=The Greatest Americans|url=http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/008344.html|work=LewRockwell.com Blog|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908073841/http://blog.lewrockwell.com/lewrw/archives/008344.html|archive-date=September 8, 2005}}</ref>
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# ]
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# ]{{Efn|name=Einstein}}
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# ]{{Efn|name=Hope}}
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{{Div col end}}


==Broadcast==
*]
The first episode was broadcast on June 5, 2005, the second on June 12, the third on June 19, and the finale on June 26.<ref name="The Washington Post 2005"/>
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==Reception==
==Facts about ''The Greatest American''==
The list of the 100 nominees, many of whom were entertainers, inventors, industrialists and presidents,<ref name="Skillings 2005"/> was criticized upon its unveiling. Ann DeFrange of '']'' questioned the significance of the celebrities,<ref>{{Cite news|last=DeFrange|first=Ann|date=June 14, 2005|title=List of greatest Americans contains some odd selections|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/06/14/list-of-greatest-americans-contains-some-odd-selections/61938546007/|work=]|access-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620065823/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/06/14/list-of-greatest-americans-contains-some-odd-selections/61938546007/|archive-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref> as did ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shribman|first=David M.|author-link=David M. Shribman|date=June 12, 2005|title=Who will emerge as greatest American?|url=https://www.toledoblade.com/David-Shribman/2005/06/12/Who-will-emerge-as-greatest-American.html|work=]|access-date=June 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620072254/https://www.toledoblade.com/David-Shribman/2005/06/12/Who-will-emerge-as-greatest-American.html|archive-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref> Kevin McDonough of ] called the list "fascinating in a depressing way, revealing the short attention spans and media-obsessed nature of our times".<ref>{{Cite news|last=McDonough|first=Kevin|date=June 4, 2005|title='Southern Rock' looks at earlier era|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/04/southern-rock-looks-at-earlier-era/|work=]|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621085522/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/04/southern-rock-looks-at-earlier-era/|archive-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>


Shortly after ] received the title of the greatest American, his son, ], told Discovery that ] was a possible factor and that "I'm sure he would be very honored to be in the company of these great gentlemen."<ref name="Wilson 2005"/>


In the years following the 2005 broadcast, the list of nominees and the final rankings have elicited continuous re-evaluation and criticism. ] believed that it would have been unlikely for ] to land near fifth place had most of the audience "been fully aware of King's radically prophetic theology and social ethics", citing a conservative shift and the ] in the 1980s.{{Sfn|Manis|2008|p=185}} ] used ''The Greatest American'' to justify Reagan's popularity among the general public.{{Sfn|Kengor|2009|pp=103–104}} ] said he was inspired by the top 100 nominees list to create the exhibit, ''The Great Americans'', featuring 34 paintings of well-known and lesser-known subjects "dressed in anachronistic or symbolic costuming".<ref name="Dunne 2019"/> In 2019, Susan Dunne of the '']'' commented that the reputations of certain nominees, including finalist ], had changed negatively since the 2005 broadcast, while nominee ]'s reputation had improved significantly.<ref name="Dunne 2019">{{Cite news|last=Dunne|first=Susan|date=February 19, 2019|title=From Abe to RBG to Oprah: Great and famous Americans as never seen before|url=https://www.courant.com/2019/02/19/from-abe-to-rbg-to-oprah-great-and-famous-americans-as-never-seen-before/|work=]|access-date=June 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621114101/https://www.courant.com/2019/02/19/from-abe-to-rbg-to-oprah-great-and-famous-americans-as-never-seen-before/|archive-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>
*Men: 85 (the Wright brothers are given a single entry)
*Women: 15
*Living nominees: 42
*African Americans: 16
*White Americans: 83
*Nominees by area: (halves are awarded if a nominee exceeded in two areas e.g. Eisenhower is under Military and U.S. Presidents)
**Television, Cinema and Radio: 23
**U.S. Presidents: 14.5
**First Ladies: 5
**Other Political Figures: 15.5
**Science: 9.5
**Sports: 8.5
**Music: 5
**Business and Industry: 5
**Aviators and Astronauts: 5
**Military: 4.0
**Literature: 3
**Religion: 2
**Publishers: 1
*Several of the 100 had considerable links to other countries:
**] was born in ], but had to flee the country when the Nazis rose to power. At various times of his life was also a citizen of ], ], and the ]. He was also offered the presidency of ] at one point.
**] lived in ] for the first 23 years of his life, immigrated to ], and later died and was buried there.
**] was also born in ]
**] lived for about 10 years in ] starting at about age 12 before returning to the US.
**] grew up in ] and immigrated to the U.S. aged 21
**] (Никола Тесла) was a ] born in the ] and immigrated to the U.S. aged 28
**] was born in the ], immigrated to the U.S. in 1908 aged 5, and became a U.S. citizen at age 17.


==References==
==Comments and criticisms==
===Notes===
{{Notelist}}


===Citations===
* Many viewers and media commentators{{Fact|date=February 2007}} have criticized the shortlist as being extremely ], with only a handful of ] politicians, athletes, innovators and entertainers making the cut. ], ] and ] are the only three females in the Top 25.
{{Reflist}}
* Much criticism has been made{{Fact|date=February 2007}} of the overselection of entertainers, and a bias towards recent times at the expense of those who lived in the 18th or 19th centuries.
* Others have complained <ref></ref> about the selection of the then recently deceased Ronald Reagan as the Greatest American, ahead of Abraham Lincoln, often called the Greatest President, George Washington, the first leader of the country, and ], author of the ]. Some criticism was leveled at the biased voting in the final five, which allowed votes to be split between Washington, Lincoln, King, and Franklin and partisan votes allowed Reagan to win, critics argue that if the voting was runoff based Reagan would not have placed as high.
* Others have complained about the inclusion of Bill Clinton who was ] by the House (though acquitted by the Senate). George W. Bush was selected as the "Greatest Living American" despite an approval rating below 50% at the time, however the ranking was also reflected by an end of year Gallup poll, finding Bush to be the most admired living man in America. The fact that Gallup also found Bill Clinton to be the second most admired living man in America was also consistent with the Greatest American poll..
* There were objections{{Fact|date=February 2007}} to many candidates being eligible because of the country in which they were born. For example, ], ], ], ] and ], were born in ], ], ], ] (Serbian) and ] respectively. All 5 were naturalized U.S. citizens, though Einstein was only naturalized well after his major contribution to science.


==Works cited==
] also appeared on the Canadian version of the show, '']'', ''and'' the original British program, '']'', where he ranked ninth and fifty-seventh place respectively. The ], ], and founder of the ] was born in ], ] in ], before moving to ], ] in ]. Three years later, Bell relocated to ], ] to continue his research into ] ]. He became a ] citizen of the United States, though he maintained an estate and laboratory in Canada, and where he would place the first telephone call in 1876, between Brantford and Paris Ontario. He died and was buried in Canada, though his tombstone bears the prominent line "citizen of the United States." Thus, all three countries make a claim to him.
===Books===
* {{Cite book|last=Carlson|first=W. Bernard|date=2013|title=Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5I5c9j8BEn4C|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-691-05776-7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Cleall|first=Esme|date=2022|title=Colonising Disability: Impairment and Otherness Across Britain and Its Empire, c. 1800–1914|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4R8EAAAQBAJ|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-108-83391-2}}
* {{Cite book|last=Huntington|first=Tom|date=2006|orig-date=2005|title=Ben Franklin's Philadelphia: A Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/benfranklinsphil0000hunt_n6t9|url-access=registration|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-8117-3282-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=Isaacson|first=Walter|author-link=Walter Isaacson|date=2007|title=Einstein: His Life and Universe|title-link=Einstein: His Life and Universe|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-7394-8903-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Leamer|first=Laurence|author-link=Laurence Leamer|date=2005|title=Fantastic: The Life of Arnold Schwarzenegger|url=https://archive.org/details/fantasticlifeofa00leam|url-access=registration|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-312-33338-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=Zoglin|first=Richard|author-link=Richard Zoglin|date=2014|title=Hope: Entertainer of the Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzgbBQAAQBAJ|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4391-4027-7}}


== References == ===Chapters===
* {{Cite book|last=Kengor|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Kengor|editor-last=Dunn|editor-first=Charles W.|date=2009|chapter=Reagan's Legacy, Bush's Burden|title=The Enduring Reagan|url=https://archive.org/details/enduringreagan0000unse|url-access=registration|publisher=]|pages=93–117|isbn=978-0-8131-2552-7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Manis|first=Andrew|author-link=Andrew Manis|editor-last1=McSwain|editor-first1=Larry L.|editor-last2=Allen|editor-first2=William Loyd|date=2008|chapter=Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968): The Greatest American (Prophet)|title=Twentieth-Century Shapers of Baptist Social Ethics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-MxQbzj7bAC|publisher=]|pages=185–205|isbn=978-0-88146-100-8}}


===Journal articles===
<references/>
* {{Cite journal|last=Beauchamp|first=Christopher|date=2010|title=Who Invented the Telephone? Lawyers, Patents, and the Judgments of History|journal=]|volume=51|issue=4|pages=854–878|doi=10.1353/tech.2010.0038 |jstor=40928028|s2cid=142594846 |doi-access=free}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*
*
{{Countries' greatest people TV series}}


{{Countries' greatest people TV series}}
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Latest revision as of 13:56, 4 December 2024

2005 television series ranking famous Americans

The Greatest American
Presented byMatt Lauer
Country of originUnited States
Production
Executive producers
  • Jason Raff
  • Elyse Zaccaro
Original release
NetworkDiscovery Channel
ReleaseJune 5 (2005-06-05) –
June 26, 2005 (2005-06-26)

The Greatest American is a 2005 American television series hosted by Matt Lauer. The four-part series featured biographies and lists of influential persons in American history, and culminated in a contest in which millions in the audience nominated and voted for the person they believed is the "greatest American".

Format

The Greatest American is broken into four episodes. The first episode introduces the 25 finalists based on a vote conducted early in 2005. The second episode features biographies of the finalists and allows viewers to vote for the top five nominees. The third episode introduces the top five nominees with commentaries from celebrities. In the finale, viewers participate in another vote for the first 15 minutes before the greatest American, according to the series, is announced.

Production

Development

Man speaking with a microphone in his right hand
Matt Lauer in 2005

In January 2005, the Discovery Channel and AOL announced The Greatest American, a seven-hour-long miniseries, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Discovery Channel. On January 21, Discovery and AOL began conducting a vote to determine the greatest American based on, according to an Associated Press report, who "most influenced the way they think, work and live". Later in February, it was revealed that Matt Lauer would host the show. He took the role partly because of the debate the series could generate, similar to that surrounding the high ranking of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons. Voting continued until spring.

Jason Raff and Elyse Zaccaro served as executive producers of The Greatest American. Ann Coulter makes an appearance. Tom Westman also makes an appearance to voice his support for Benjamin Franklin, whom Ralph Archbold portrays in the series.

Voting

Nominees

The 100 nominees for the title of "greatest American" were unveiled on April 18, 2005, when over 500,000 votes had already been cast. Discovery's alphabetized list included:

Finalists

By June, the 25 finalists were unveiled. In alphabetical order, the finalists include:

Results

The American public cast a total of over 2.4 million votes through telephone lines, text messages, and email correspondence. The names with the most votes were:

  1. Ronald Reagan
  2. Abraham Lincoln
  3. Martin Luther King Jr.
  4. George Washington
  5. Benjamin Franklin
  6. George W. Bush
  7. Bill Clinton
  8. Elvis Presley
  9. Oprah Winfrey
  10. Franklin D. Roosevelt
  11. Billy Graham
  12. Thomas Jefferson
  13. Walt Disney
  14. Albert Einstein
  15. Thomas Edison
  16. John F. Kennedy
  17. Bob Hope
  18. Bill Gates
  19. Eleanor Roosevelt
  20. Lance Armstrong
  21. Muhammad Ali
  22. Rosa Parks
  23. The Wright Brothers
  24. Henry Ford
  25. Neil Armstrong

Broadcast

The first episode was broadcast on June 5, 2005, the second on June 12, the third on June 19, and the finale on June 26.

Reception

The list of the 100 nominees, many of whom were entertainers, inventors, industrialists and presidents, was criticized upon its unveiling. Ann DeFrange of The Oklahoman questioned the significance of the celebrities, as did David M. Shribman. Kevin McDonough of United Feature Syndicate called the list "fascinating in a depressing way, revealing the short attention spans and media-obsessed nature of our times".

Shortly after Ronald Reagan received the title of the greatest American, his son, Ron, told Discovery that his father's then-recent death was a possible factor and that "I'm sure he would be very honored to be in the company of these great gentlemen."

In the years following the 2005 broadcast, the list of nominees and the final rankings have elicited continuous re-evaluation and criticism. Andrew Manis believed that it would have been unlikely for Martin Luther King Jr. to land near fifth place had most of the audience "been fully aware of King's radically prophetic theology and social ethics", citing a conservative shift and the Reagan Revolution in the 1980s. Paul Kengor used The Greatest American to justify Reagan's popularity among the general public. Abshalom Jac Lahav said he was inspired by the top 100 nominees list to create the exhibit, The Great Americans, featuring 34 paintings of well-known and lesser-known subjects "dressed in anachronistic or symbolic costuming". In 2019, Susan Dunne of the Hartford Courant commented that the reputations of certain nominees, including finalist Lance Armstrong, had changed negatively since the 2005 broadcast, while nominee Alexander Hamilton's reputation had improved significantly.

References

Notes

  1. Obtained American citizenship
  2. ^ Obtained American citizenship
  3. ^ Obtained American citizenship
  4. Obtained American citizenship
  5. Obtained American citizenship

Citations

  1. ^ "Viewers Pick 'Greatest American'". The Washington Post. June 5, 2005. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. McAlister, Nancy (June 26, 2005). "Viewers cast Votes to help Determine who is the "Greatest American"". Record Searchlight. p. 3. Retrieved June 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Lauer to Host Discovery's Greatest American". Multichannel News. February 9, 2005. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  4. Drezner, Daniel W. (January 21, 2005). "The Greatest Americans?". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  5. Bobbin, Jay (June 5, 2005). "Matt Lauer guides viewers in picking 'Greatest American'". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 268. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
  6. ^ "Nominees for 'Greatest American' unveiled". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 19, 2005. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  7. Beauchamp 2010, p. 854.
  8. Celizic, Mike (January 7, 2009). "Ann Coulter 'delighted' she isn't banned from NBC". NBC News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. Murphy, William (July 5, 2005). "Survivor may call it quits". Newsday. p. 14. Retrieved June 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Huntington 2006, p. 66.
  11. ^ Skillings, Jon (May 12, 2005). "Is Bill Gates the greatest American ever?". CNET. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  12. "The Top 100". Discovery Channel. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  13. Cleall 2022, p. 220.
  14. Isaacson 2007, p. 479.
  15. Zoglin 2014, p. 44.
  16. Leamer 2005, p. 155.
  17. Carlson 2013, p. 138.
  18. Walker, Jesse (June 29, 2005). "The Greatest American Heroes (Believe It Or Not)". Reason. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  19. Wilson, Jamie (June 7, 2005). "It's Ali v Oprah in search for greatest American". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  20. ^ Wilson, Jamie (June 27, 2005). "The greatest American? Lincoln? Einstein? No - it's Ronald Reagan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  21. Gregory, Anthony (June 28, 2005). "The Greatest Americans". LewRockwell.com Blog. Archived from the original on September 8, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  22. DeFrange, Ann (June 14, 2005). "List of greatest Americans contains some odd selections". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  23. Shribman, David M. (June 12, 2005). "Who will emerge as greatest American?". The Blade. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  24. McDonough, Kevin (June 4, 2005). "'Southern Rock' looks at earlier era". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  25. Manis 2008, p. 185.
  26. Kengor 2009, pp. 103–104.
  27. ^ Dunne, Susan (February 19, 2019). "From Abe to RBG to Oprah: Great and famous Americans as never seen before". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.

Works cited

Books

Chapters

Journal articles

External links

Countries' greatest people TV series and media polls
Categories: