---
title: "Frontline"
year: 1983
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/frontline-1983"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 4384
imdb_id: "tt0133302"
status: "Returning Series"
seasons_count: 45
episodes_count: 854
runtime_minutes: 55
community_rating: 6.6
vote_count: 57
content_rating: "TV-PG"
---

# Frontline (1983) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/frontline-1983

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Frontline is a television series that has been airing since 1983. The series is an investigative documentary program distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. Episodes are produced at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts. Frontline's goal is to extend the impact of the documentary beyond its initial broadcast by serving as a catalyst for change. The series has covered a variety of domestic and international issues. Frontline is considered American television's top long-form news and current affairs series. The series is available to watch on the PBS website, where full episodes can be streamed. Frontline has received ratings of 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb and 6.6 out of 10 on The Movie Database. The series is known for its investigative journalism that questions, explains, and changes our world.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "Frontline is a long-running documentary series providing in-depth investigative journalism on complex domestic and international issues."

### Why Watch
- provides deep dives into current affairs
- offers extensive historical coverage

### Caveats & Content Note
- subject matter can be dense
- focuses on serious news topics
- Tone & Suitability: The series covers serious, real-world topics that may be intense for some viewers.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: investigative, informative, serious, journalistic

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | None | PBS | None |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | PBS America Amazon Channel | None | None |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (25 Episodes)
Frontline is a public-affairs documentary series that began in 1983. It is produced at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts, and distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States. The series explores a wide scope of the complex human experience, including domestic and international issues. Frontline's goal is to extend the impact of the documentary beyond its initial broadcast by serving as a catalyst for change. The series has been airing investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world. It is American television's top long-form news and current affairs series since 1983.

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 116
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 7 (6%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 109 (94%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Creative Credits

- **Created by**: David Fanning
- **Networks / Studios**: PBS

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Will Lyman** as *Self - Narrator (voice)*
- **Judy Woodruff** as *Self - Host*
- **Jessica Savitch** as *Self - Host*
- **Donald Trump** as *Self (archive footage)*
- **David E. Hoffman** as *Self - Correspondent*
- **Barack Obama** as *Self (archive footage)*
- **Roger Stone** as *Self (archive footage)*
- **Jared Kushner** as *Self (archive footage)*
- **Newt Gingrich** as *Self*
- **Kamala Harris** as *Self (archive footage)*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What is Frontline?
Frontline is a long-running public-affairs documentary series that explores complex human experiences and news investigations.

### Q: When did the series begin?
The series began airing in 1983.

### Q: Who produces the series?
Episodes are produced at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts.

### Q: Where is the series distributed?
It is distributed by the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

### Q: What topics does the show cover?
The program covers a wide variety of domestic and international issues, including terrorism and elections.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Frontline (TV Series 1983- ) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133302/)
- [Frontline (American TV program) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontline_(American_TV_program))
- [FRONTLINE | PBS | Official Site | Documentary Series](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/)
- [Frontline (TV Series 1983– ) - IMDb](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0133302/)
- [Frontline - Sign In](https://login.frontlineeducation.com/login?signin=7d10934afcfb172fd7dc924eff2c5aed&clientId=superSuit)
- [Frontline (TV Series 1983- ) — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/4384-frontline?language=en-US)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*