GET INSIDE THE FAB FOUR’S
CREATIVE PROCESS IN
DECONSTRUCTING THE BEATLES
Join “Beatle-ologist” Scott Freiman in a journey through the band’s development
Debuting on public television and Passport on the PBS App in February 2025
The Beatles are widely considered the most popular band of all time, with unparalleled sales and cultural impact. Generations have come to love their music, and their message.
For over 20 years, musicologist Scott Freiman has been “deconstructing” the band’s music, first though sold-out live presentations across the country, then through a series of 11 theatrically-released feature documentaries, and now through the music special, “Deconstructing the Beatles.” Distributed by American Public Television (APT), the program will release on select public television stations and be available to stream with Passport on pbs.org and the PBS App beginning February 28, 2025.
Scott's multimedia presentations transport his audiences into the studio, allowing fans to experience the evolution of groundbreaking albums and songs.
The special is based on three popular topics, which trace key moments in the band’s career:
The Beatles Come to America – The story of how The Beatles went from Liverpool to the Ed Sullivan Show
Deconstructing Rubber Soul – The race against the clock to produce 1965’s Rubber Soul
Deconstructing "Strawberry Fields Forever" – A look at the origins and recording of this Beatles’ masterpiece
“It is almost as if Scott was in the recording studio with the Fab Four with the extensive knowledge he has about the band,” said APT’s David Rubinsohn. “His insights are phenomenal and it’s so much fun to uncover new perspectives on their timeless music.
“I like to take apart the creative process,” explains Freiman, “to discover what makes these songs and records so great. It’s really as close as you can get to being there with the band.”
“These programs have been road-tested and proven over the course of more than a decade,” according to Co-Executive Producer and CultureSonar founder Al Cattabiani. “Scott has honed his presentations carefully, so they appeal to fans of all kinds and all ages. It’s really a joy to behold.”
“Deconstructing the Beatles” is supplied by Maryland Public Television in association with American Public Television’s Premium Service, a co-production, co-financing and acquisition fund that provides fundraising specials to member stations, now in its 36th season. With the financial backing of their public television client stations, APT Premium Service has secured many of public television’s most prestigious and highest-rated programs.
About American Public Television:
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen, Rick Steves’ Europe, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, My Life is Murder, Pati’s Mexican Table, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, Table for All with Buki Elegbede, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Lucky Chow, NHK Newsline, BBC News and Biz Kid$ are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. More information at APTonline.org
About Scott Freiman:
Scott Freiman may be the only person to have sold out Carnegie Hall and been a Finalist for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. His grasp of both art and technology makes him an ideal presenter for the digital age.
He is the creator of Deconstructing the Music, a series of multimedia presentations about the composition and production techniques of The Beatles and other musicians. His live lectures have sold out audiences throughout North America at performing arts centers, corporate headquarters, and fan events. He even taught a Beatles class at his alma mater, Yale University. He’s an accomplished musician himself, with a Masters in Composition from NYU and multiple film/TV composing credits.
About CultureSonar and LGC Studios:
CultureSonar is a community for grown-up music lovers. Its daily blog and socials attract a loyal, engaged audience, with millions of cumulative annual impressions. Lorraine Gregory Communications (LGC) develops TV series, commercials, motion graphics, set design, editing, live streaming, and on-location and studio production. Together, LGC and CultureSonar have produced Woodstock: 50 Years Later– seen on over 160 PBS outlets, Living Light for Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, and the TV version of Deconstructing the Beatles, for Maryland Public Television.
COMPLETE EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS
Deconstructing the Beatles, Ep. 101 - The Beatles Come to America
While the craze known as "Beatlemania" had taken over the U.K., in the fall of 1963, the Beatles were practically unknown in America. Through the efforts of band manager Brian Epstein, TV host Ed Sullivan, and a teenage fan from Silver Spring, Md., all of that would change by February 1964. By the time The Beatles arrived at JFK Airport on February 7, 1964, "Beatlemania" was a full-blown phenomenon in America. Their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show garnered 73 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched shows in television history. Featured songs include "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," and "All My Loving."
Deconstructing the Beatles, Ep. 102 - Deconstructing Rubber Soul
In October 1965, The Beatles faced an impossible task: produce a new album of original music in time for a Christmas release. Within a month, they had emerged with what many consider to be one of their greatest albums – Rubber Soul. They even had time to create a Double A-side single, “We Can Work It Out,” backed by “Day Tripper.” Both sides, as well as the album, hit No. 1 on the charts. Composer/producer/”Beatle-ologist” Scott Freiman walks fans through the creation of Rubber Soul – and the band’s day-by-day race against the clock. Featured songs include "Drive My Car," "Day Tripper," "In My Life," "Nowhere Man," "Michelle," and "Girl."
Deconstructing the Beatles, Ep. 103 - A Trip Through Strawberry Fields
In August of 1966, after years of relentless touring, the Beatles found themselves grappling with inadequate sound systems, raucous, screaming fans, and the inability to hear themselves play. Their music was getting increasingly complex, but it could not be performed live due to the limitations of the technology of the time. And so, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr made the pivotal decision to stop touring. This could have spelled the end for the Beatles. Instead, they used this critical moment to embark on a new artistic direction, pushing the boundaries of songwriting and recording. The song that started it all – "Strawberry Fields Forever'' – began with a melancholic John Lennon strumming his guitar in a small apartment in Almería, Spain.