Backstage at a Wayne State University auditorium, Ken Burns opens a can of Vernors and fields a question about Jeff Daniels providing the voice of Thomas Jefferson in “The American Revolution.”

Why did the part go to Daniels, a southeast Michigan icon? “What about me? I grew up in Ann Arbor!” Burns exclaims jokingly during a visit to Detroit to promote the six-part documentary series, which premieres Nov. 16 on Detroit PBS and runs through Nov. 21.

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