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Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Season 28 Episode 9 | 1hr 24m 11s

American Masters – Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work takes the audience on a year-long ride with Joan Rivers in her 76th year of life; it peels away the mask of an iconic comedian, laying bare both the struggle and thrill of living life as a groundbreaking female performer.

Aired: 09/22/14 | Expires: 10/08/14
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo and Patricia Yuen, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Seton J. Melvin, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Anita and Jay Kaufman, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Charina Endowment Fund, The Marc Haas Foundation and public television viewers.
Extras
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois.
Follow the meteoric rise of firebrand politician and activist Bella Abzug.
In 1975, Bella Abzug went on the "Dinah!" show and questioned what was missing in our democracy.
While in Congress, Bella Abzug elevated feminist causes, including women's financial independence.
Eight cultural icons on their journeys to becoming masters of their artistic disciplines.
Artist Ani Liu creates provocative artifacts at the intersection of art, science and technology.
Discover the extraordinary life of poet, philosopher and music visionary Sun Ra.
Sun Ra wanted to change humanity with his concept of the “alter destiny.”
Sun Ra was one of the first Black artists to have his own record label.
Each day, Sun Ra wrote a piece of music solely for “the Creator.”