Season One · 2026

The people building America, on the record.

A documentary series about the developers, inventors, entrepreneurs and cultural leaders shaping American cities.

Hosted by David Perloff

Trailer — coming soon
Now in production · Downtown San Diego

America knows the buildings.

I go find the people.

Their names are on the line. Billions raised and deployed. Whole neighborhoods riding on their bets.

PRINCIPALS puts them in the chair and me in the street. Their vision, their risk, and who they are when it matters most. I'm David Perloff. Come with me.

Downtown skyline at dusk
Act I

The vision

What they see in a piece of dirt that nobody else does.

Construction crane against the sky
Act II

The bet

What it costs to build it. And what happens if they're wrong.

Portrait in low light
Act III

The person

Who they are when it matters most.

Episode One · Now in production

Feeling Finest.

America's finest city is deciding right now whether it wants to be again. A handful of people are betting everything that it does. I've called it that my whole life. This film finds out if we still mean it.

One city. Everything on the line.

FilmingSeptember 2026
LocationDowntown San Diego
PremiereAnnounced to the list first
4th & C

A foundation bets on a corner the city gave up on.

4th & J

A developer puts his name on the next block down.

7th & Market

The biggest bet of them all breaks ground on paper.

Three corners. One afternoon on foot. The whole story.
Featuring
Robert Green · Councilmember Stephen Whitburn · Wende King · Mike Georgopoulos · and the civic leaders rebuilding downtown
Host photo
The Host

David Perloff.

I find remarkable people and tell their stories.

I founded PACIFIC Magazine, built it into one of Southern California's most influential media brands, and sold it to Tribune Publishing. Along the way I helped thousands of small businesses and hundreds of large ones tell theirs.

This time I'm in the frame. On the street, at the table, riding along. PRINCIPALS is the stage that was missing, and I'm walking you onto it.

Be first in the room.

Early guest reveals. The trailer before anyone else. First access at launch.

Get Involved

The show is built with the city.

Take the chair.

Season One is being cast now. One principal per episode. Seats are limited.

Apply to be a guest

Put your brand in the room.

One brand per category, locked before launch. Sponsorship buys advertising and association, never editorial influence.

Start the conversation

Help build it.

Construction and trades. Public officials. Community partners. The projects in this show get built by people like you.

Raise your hand

Start here.

Tell me who you are and what you're building. I read every note.