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The series was created by Ethel Winant and Louis Friedman of CBS, who had to fight to get approval from network executives who considered it to be a mere commercial. The producer of the series was Paul Waigner , the executive producer was Bob Markell . and the executive story editor and writer was Jerome Alden . In 1976, the series received an Emmy Award in the category of Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement. It also won a Special Christopher Award in 1976.

The videotaped segments were one minute long and were broadcast each night after the network news and before the start of the prime time hours. The format of the segments did not change, although each segment featured a different narrator, often a CBS network television star. The narrator, after introducing himself or herself, would state "This is a Bicentennial Minute," followed by the phrase "Two hundred years ago today..." and a description a historical event or personnage prominent on that particular date two hundred years ago during the American Revolution.

The Bicentennial Minute achieved a high cultural profile during its run and was widely referenced and parodied. For example, on the episode of All in the Family originally broadcast on February 2, 1976, the character Mike Stivic responded to a typically closed-minded and less-than-accurate monologue by Archie Bunker about the history of American immigration and the meaning of the Statue of Liberty with the sarcastic comment: "This has been Archie Bunker's Bicentennial Minute." Also in early 1976, in a sketch on the The Sonny and Cher Show, guest star Jim NaborsJim Nabors (born June 12, 1930) is an American actor, singer, and comedian. He is perhaps known for his portrayal of the good-hearted but naive character Gomer Pyle on the 1960s sitcoms The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U. Nabors also appeared on a n portrayed British King George IIIGeorge III (George William Frederick) ( 4 June 1738 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. He was c and offered a comic rebuttal to the always pro- American Revolution Bicentennial Minutes. Indeed, the phrase "Bicentennial Minute" has entered into the American cultural vocabulary, although the original series of segments has been largely forgotten.

The Bicentennial Minute on July 3July 3rd is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 181 days remaining. Events 323 Battle of Adrianople Constantine the Great defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium 533 Battle of the Tenth Milestone: Byzantine gen, 1976 was narrated by Vice President Nelson RockefellerNelson Rockefeller Order 41st Vice President Term of Office December 19, 1974 January 20, 1977 Followed Gerald Ford Succeeded by Walter Mondale Date of Birth July 8, 1908 Place of Birth Bar Harbor, Maine Wife Margaretta "Happy" Rockefeller Profession Gove. The final Bicentennial Minute, broadcast on July 4, 1976 (the actual date of the bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence), was narrated by President Gerald Ford.