Robert Altman virtually defines the word "maverick". He forged his remarkable career both in and (mostly) out of the Hollywood mainstream, so it's no surprise that he's the most engaging presence in this regrettably hurried one-hour tribute. "Every time I make a film I'm convinced it's a masterpiece," says the veteran filmmaker, commenting with justifiable pride that he's never been out of work and never made a film he didn't choose to make. That Altman has also been prolific is problematic for this edition of "The Directors". All of the major films are given adequate time (notably "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" and "Nashville"), but most of Altman's erratic output of the 1980s barely rates a mention, offering further proof that this often shallow series treats unsuccessful films as orphans to be forgotten. Fortunately, Altman is a lively interviewee who isn't afraid to name names when describing the botched release of "The Gingerbread Man", and he's equally animated when discussing how studio mogul Jack Warner nearly sabotaged Altman's career by seizing control of Altman's early film "Marooned". Even then, Altman was beginning to experiment with unconventional uses of dialogue mixing and visual style; we can be grateful that he continued to cut a unique path to filmmaking greatness. The other interviewees (most memorably Buck Henry and Glenn Close) celebrate the director's admiration for actors, and the fact that Altman himself is pleased with his own career--good films and bad--closes this program on an upbeat note. "--Jeff Shannon"