Books About TV, Movies, and More

[Tom Holmberg]

50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of an American Television Classic
Brian Levant (Author), Fred Fox Jr. (Author), Henry Winkler (Foreword)
ISBN: 9798886636451

Peek behind the curtain into the making of Happy Days, the ultimate American sitcom, in this detailed season-by-season history written by two of the show’s longest-serving writer-producers.

One of the most successful TV shows of all time, Happy Days drew in 30 million viewers weekly at its peak and launched the careers of stars like Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Robin Williams. Now, just in time for its 50th anniversary, tune in for exclusive access, as writers Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr. chronicle life on set and examine the evolution of a television show that made history.

Featuring new interviews with the creators, cast, and crew of the show and a foreword by The Fonz himself, explore rarely-seen photographs and personal anecdotes on a season-by-season journey behind the scenes.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC TREASURE TROVE: This coffee-table art book includes stunning, full-color photos of candid moments between cast and crew, lovingly preserved scenes from the show, exclusive shots that capture the energetic set, and a look at some of the vintage collectibles that brought the sitcom into fans’ homes.

REVELATIONS ABOUT THE CREATIVE TALENT BEHIND THE SCENES: Explore the strategies and big gambles that fueled one of the most successful shows of all time, as told by the individuals who made it happen.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Gather anecdotes straight from Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Ted McGinley, and a host of Hollywood royalty who worked as a team to change the landscape of television forever.

NOSTALGIC GUIDE TO A SPECIAL PLACE AND TIME: Take a deep dive into the in-world lore that will bring to life the 1950s Milwaukee of Richie and Joanie Cunningham, Potsie Weber, Ralph Malph, and, of course, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli.

[Tom Holmberg]

Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television
Claire St. Amant
ISBN: 9781637746059

For every true crime story that makes headlines, there's a separate drama happening behind the scenes. Follow a journalist and TV producer from 48 Hours and 60 Minutes as she carves out a career in the ruthless, knives-out world of true crime television . . . one killer story at a time.

Serial killers. Homicidal spouses. Sociopathic criminals. Claire St. Amant has met them all. She spent nearly a decade in network television chasing the biggest true crime stories in the country, including the murder of Chris Kyle, plastic surgeon turned murder-for-hire suspect Thomas Michael Dixon, the Parkland High School mass shooting, the disappearance of Christina Morris, and serial killer Samuel Little. Bringing a true crime story to network television requires quick thinking and tenacious stamina, and in her debut memoir, Claire offers true crime fans a rare in-depth look on the other side of the yellow tape.

In Killer Story, readers will learn what it really takes to get these gripping cases on the air with insights such as:

How it feels to share space with a dead-eyed murderer

Which TV show has a reputation for “eating their young”

How reporters win over skeptical cops and reluctant lawyers

Why TV journalists are always racing against the clock—and competitor sabotage

What happens when a district attorney decides journalists have committed a felony

The unresolved crimes that still haunt the author to this day

Claire’s journey into—and out of—true crime television offers an eye-opening look behind the scenes of investigative journalism and an unforgettable read for all true crime fans.

[Tom Holmberg]

From Crimea with Love: Misadventures in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles 
Jason Salkey
ISBN: 9781800181830

The rollicking behind-the-scenes story of Sharpe's Rifles, one of British TV's most beloved shows, featuring a foreword by Sharpe author Bernard Cornwell.

In the summer of 1992, Jason Salkey was cast in a role that would change his life forever. Sharpe’s Rifles, a Napoleonic war drama, was to be shot in the Crimean Peninsula. Little did the producers know that they would be sending Jason and the crew to film in a rapidly disintegrating Soviet Union. There they faced near-starvation and danger round every corner as they set about creating one of Britain’s most successful and critically acclaimed television programmes.

From Crimea with Love documents the mishaps, blunders, incompetence and downright corruption that made Sharpe’s Rifles go down in British television folklore for its unique tales of hardship. Follow the cast through intense depravation and constant catastrophe until they become every bit the jaded, battle-hardened soldiers we saw on screen. Tapping into his diaries, photo journals and video log, Jason brings you an eye-opening, jaw-dropping insider’s account of one of the best-loved shows ever made.

[Tom Holmberg]

Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul 
Alan Sepinwall
ISBN: 9781419777196

The complete critical companion to AMC’s Emmy- and Golden Globe–nominated series Better Call Saul from the author of Breaking Bad 101 and The Sopranos Sessions

Across six critically acclaimed seasons, Better Call Saul surprised audiences and subverted Breaking Bad fans’ expectations for what a prequel/sequel series could be. Bob Odenkirk reprised his role as the morally compromised defensive attorney and revealed the tragic and inevitable downfall of Jimmy McGill, a small-time con artist with big dreams and even bigger schemes. Audiences were introduced to now iconic characters, including Rhea Seahorn’s Kim and Michael McKean’s Chuck, as well as villains like Tony Dalton’s Lalo, who rivaled Breaking Bad’s most sinister creations. In Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Better Call Saul Critical Companion collects chief TV critic at Rolling Stone Alan Sepinwall’s critical essays on every episode of the Emmy- and Golden Globe–nominated series. Sepinwall covered Better Call Saul from start to finish, and conducted exhaustive interviews with creator Vince Gilligan and stars Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seahorn, reproduced here alongside new interviews with series cocreator Peter Gould. Timed to the 10th anniversary of the first season, this ultimate companion book, and follow-up to Breaking Bad 101, serves as a guide to the series’ greatness and place in pop-culture history as fan’s kickoff celebratory rewatches and new fans discover the series for the first time.

[Tom Holmberg]

On 1/23/2024 at 2:26 PM, Tom Holmberg said:

Mystery Science Theater 3000: A Cultural History
MATT FOY AND CHRISTOPHER J. OLSON

This book examines the cultural impact and creation of the cult-hit television series Mystery Science Theatre 3000. It looks at the most famous episodes, creators involved, and analyzes why the series has resonated with so many viewers.

ISBN: 9781538173480

A fun and fascinating deep dive into the impact and creation of the cult-hit television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Few television shows can boast the long-term cult popularity and cultural influence of Mystery Science Theater 3000—or MST3K to its legions of devoted fans, known collectively as MSTies. Created by quirky standup comic Joel Hodgson and producer Jim Mallon, Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a low-budget and altogether unconventional comedy series about a man trapped in space and forced to watch the worst movies ever made alongside a pair of homemade, wisecracking robots named Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.

In Mystery Science Theater 3000: A Cultural History, Matt Foy and Christopher J. Olson explore the vast cultural influence of the cult television series, charting how the show’s aesthetics, style of humor, and distribution innovations heralded shifts in popular culture and media production and criticism. The show also engaged viewers in the do-it-yourself media subculture of the 1980s that blurred the lines between media producers and consumers and introduced the art of media “riffing” into popular culture.

Beginning with the humble origins of MST3K, Foy and Olson dig into everything from the show’s journey across networks to the must-watch episodes. Also discussed are the endeavors of cast members after the show’s cancellation, including RiffTrax, Cinematic Titanic, and the Mads Are Back, as well as the show’s second life through a Kickstarter campaign and a Netflix revival. This is an essential guide to all things MST3K for fans both new and old.

[Spartan Girl]

The late Donald Sutherland’s memoir comes out in November

[Tom Holmberg]

Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts
Jeremy Egner
ISBN: 9780593476062

The definitive book on the TV show Ted Lasso, written by New York Times journalist and editor Jeremy Egner, celebrating the show’s improbable rise and cultural impact while never losing sight of the heart, friendship, and passion that have made it an enduring favorite for the ages

When Ted Lasso first aired in 2020, nobody—including those who had worked on it—knew how a show inspired by an ad, centered around soccer, filled mostly with unknown actors, and led by a wondrously mustached “nice guy” would be received. Now, eleven Emmys and one Peabody Award later, it’s safe to say that the show’s status as a pop culture phenomenon is secure. And, for the first time, New York Times television editor Jeremy Egner explores the creation, production, and potent legacy of Ted Lasso.

Drawing on dozens of interviews from key cast, creators, and more, Believe takes readers from the very first, silly NBC Premier League commercial to the pitch to Apple executives, then into the show’s writer’s room, through the brilliant international casting, and on to the unforgettable set and locations of the show itself.
 
Egner approaches his reporting as a journalist and as a cultural critic, but also with an affection and admiration fans will appreciate, carefully and humorously telling Ted Lasso’s story of teamwork, of hidden talent, of a group of friends looking around at the world’s increasingly nasty discourse and deciding that maybe simple decency still had the power to bring us together—a story about what happens when you dare to believe.

[Tom Holmberg]

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir
Kelly Bishop
ISBN: 9781668023778

A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.

Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.

Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey. From her early transition from dance to drama, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to the losses and achievements she experienced—among them marching for women’s rights and losing her second husband to cancer—Bishop offers a rich, genuine celebration of her life.

Full of witty insights and featuring a special collection of personal and professional photographs, The Third Gilmore Girl is a warm, unapologetic, and spirited memoir from a woman who has left indelible impressions on her audiences for decades and has no plans on slowing down.

[Tom Holmberg]

Friends and the Golden Age of the Sitcom
Joanna Hagan
ISBN: 9781399052856

A celebration and deep dive into the history of the beloved show Friends and the impact it has had on decades of network television.

Friends ran for ten years, beginning in 1994 and airing its final episode in 2005. The show is inarguably the peak sitcom of its era. It's the most remembered, most quoted and so essential that companies have spent hundreds of millions on the streaming rights to Friends in recent years. But why does Friends mean so much to so many? What did this sitcom have that the other giant shows of that era didn’t?

This is a deep dive into the history of Friends, but it’s also the history of ten years of network television. How did the world of sitcoms evolve through that decade? How much of a show’s success is down to small details like schedules and syndication, and how much of it is down to the content itself?

The landscape of television has changed drastically in the years since the end of Friends, but the biggest show of sitcom’s golden age has endured like no other. This look at the history of Friends, its legacy and the history of television in general will show you why. Both why the television industry has become what it is today, and why Friends has survived long beyond its decade. This is a celebration of Friends, an interrogation of its success, and a history of television that explains much of what’s on our screens today.

[Tom Holmberg]

From Under the Truck: A Memoir
Josh Brolin
ISBN: ‎ 9780063382183

From Josh Brolin, a unique and decidedly un-celebrity memoir, by turns affecting, funny, uncanny, and unforgettable.

Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars, and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout. Brolin also brings to life his career in the film industry—from his breakout role in The Goonies to the set of No Country for Old Men—and the professional and personal ups and downs in between and since. With unflinching honesty but also great humor, he shares insights into relationships, addiction, love, and fatherhood, while letting the white space in between words speak for itself. Grappling with the mysteries of life and death in a way that will catch readers by surprise, From Under the Truck is an audacious and riveting memoir from a born writer.

Edited July 16 by Tom Holmberg

[Tom Holmberg]

The Wire: A Cultural History (The Cultural History of Television)
Ben Lamb
ISBN: 9781538181201

A critical and insightful exploration of arguably the greatest television show of the twenty-first century.

In the two decades since The Wire first aired, the show has only continued to grow in cultural relevance as America has seen domestic terrorism increase, race relations become ever tenser, political populism become increasingly sectarian, health inequalities worsen, incarceration rates for Black Americans skyrocket, and grassroots racial activism grow.

In The Wire: A Cultural History, Ben Lamb explores how the twenty-first century’s greatest television show changed international perceptions of American policing, drug laws, and race relations forever, and instigated our obsessive streaming of television series. Starting with David Simon’s life story and how he came to devise The Wire, Lamb takes readers through the casting process for the show’s iconic characters and uncovers the stories behind their real-life counterparts; journeys through a complete history of the American cop show to deduce which key programs The Wire emulates; traces the economic, social, and racial history of Baltimore from the port to the school system; and outlines how the show’s interest in newspapers predicted the rise of populism across world politics.

Peppered with fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes and critical insights, everyone from die-hard fans to casual viewers will learn something new about how The Wire has impacted university courses, the city of Baltimore itself, the Black Lives Matter movement, worldwide drug trafficking laws, and our modern television landscape. As America faces its biggest socio-economic crossroads in generations, this is a must read for television fans interested in how our favorite shows reflect our shifting cultures and politics.

[Tom Holmberg]

Murder, She Wrote (TV Milestones)
Bridget Kies
ISBN: 9780814350119

Discover the secrets behind the enduring appeal of Murder, She Wrote (CBS, 1984–96) in this captivating investigation of the long-running mystery series. Author Bridget Kies details the show's lasting impact owing to several interconnecting factors tied to the series' genre, cast, and reception. Murder, She Wrote was a trailblazing "cozy" murder mystery, blending suspense and charm to captivate a wide and varied audience. Bolstered by Angela Lansbury's established star power, the iconic amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher is beloved by fans across generations and around the world. Kies also points to the series' extratextual tie-in novels, made-for-TV movies, licensed products, and crossovers and attempted spinoffs that helped create a franchise universe that lives on today. With insights into the show's twelve remarkable seasons, its rise to global fame, and data from fandom interviews, this book is a must-read for fans and newcomers alike. Embark on a journey through the mysteries of Cabot Cove and beyond to learn why Murder, She Wrote remains a timeless classic.

[Is Everyone Gone]

I'm reading Truly, Madly. It's a biography of Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier and covers their tumultuous romance and marriage, written by Stephen Galloway. It's very well written. I was so disturbed by how few treatments there were for Vivien Leigh's bipolar disorder. Also, Vivien's first husband Leigh Holman was a very good egg who continued to care for and support Vivien long after their marriage was over.

[Tom Holmberg]

Looks interesting:

Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life: My Guide to Life
Michael Caine
ISBN: 9781399739979

The winner of two Academy Awards, starring in over 160 films over eight decades, Michael Caine has found his place as not just one of the best screen actors of our times, but also one of our most loved and admired.   

In conversation with writer and friend Matthew D'Ancona, he looks back over his long life, the good times and the bad, the setbacks he's learned from, the people who've inspired him, the changing times he's lived through, and what, at the foundation of it all, has meant the most to him, and what he hopes his legacy will be.

This is Michael Caine's funny, wise, entertaining and eternally optimistic guide to life.

 

 

 

[Tom Holmberg]

Life's Short, Talk Fast: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can't Stop Watching Gilmore Girls
Ann Hood
ISBN: 9781324079453

Fifteen leading writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this delightful celebration of a contemporary TV classic.

Fast-talking, warm-hearted, and endlessly rewatchable, Gilmore Girls has bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when its iconic pilot introduced us to Lorelai, Rory, and their idyllic Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. More than twenty years later, it has become one of the most-streamed TV shows, ever.

In an anthology as intimate and quick-witted as Gilmore Girls itself, best-selling author Ann Hood invites fifteen writers to investigate their personal relationships to the show. (“It’s a show? It’s a lifestyle. It’s a religion.”) Joanna Rakoff considers how Emily Gilmore helped her understand her own mother; Sanjena Sathian sees herself―and Asian American defiance―in Lane Kim; Freya North connects with her son through the show; Francesco Sedita discovers an antidote to pandemic loneliness; Nina de Gramont offers a comic ode to the unreality of Stars Hollow. For anyone who identifies as Team Logan, Team Jess, or even Team Dean, Life’s Short, Talk Fast reveals what Gilmore Girls tells us about ourselves―and why it matters.

[Tom Holmberg]

On 4/24/2024 at 12:52 PM, Tom Holmberg said:

I find the new trend of pop culture related cookbooks weird.

Some new cookbooks:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Official Cookbook

The Wizard of Oz Official Cookbook

Gremlins Official Cookbook (probably no water used)

The Fast & the Furious Official Cookbook

The Powerpuff Girls Official Cookbook

The MInecraft Official Cookbook

 

Really who is buying these?

Edited September 11 by Tom Holmberg

[andromeda331]

10 hours ago, Tom Holmberg said:

Some new cookbooks:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Official Cookbook

The Wizard of Oz Official Cookbook

Gremlins Official Cookbook (probably no water ujused)

The Fast & the Furious Official Cookbook

The Powerpuff Girls Official Cookbook

The MInecraft Official Cookbook

 

Really who is buying these?

I'm not sure I want a Gremlins cookbook. Those recipes could be scary.

Edited September 11 by andromeda331

[Tom Holmberg]

On 2/9/2024 at 12:22 PM, Tom Holmberg said:

"Saturday Night Forever" by Stephen Tropiano and Steven Ginsberg
ISBN: 9781493072606

Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when Chevy Chase welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Featuring cutting-edge humor, an absurdist sensibility, and a scrappy cast of young, talented performers, Saturday Night Live would go on to become one of the brightest stars in the pop-culture firmament, launching such comedy legends as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, and Tina Fey.

Timed to coincide with the show’s Season 50 in fall 2024, Saturday Night Forever is the ultimate fan’s bible and a loving tribute to a TV institution. Covering everything from the show’s creation by Lorne Michaels to the celebration of its golden anniversary, it gives an in-depth look at SNL’s comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies, along with the characters, sketches, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and film shorts that have made it the epicenter of American comedy for five decades. Packed with photographs and rich with encyclopedic detail, this is the one-stop resource for all things SNL

_________

I wonder if the Star Wars Xmas show is included?

Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen by Herbie J Palato
ISBN: 9781493079704

For most of us, fond memories of the Christmas season are inseparable from the episodes, specials, and TV movies that have appeared on television, from the iconic cartoons above to less well-known fare such as A Bionic Christmas Carol, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and the 1992 remake of Christmas in Connecticut directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Christmas TV Memories embraces it all, offering a tinsel-decked traipse down memory lane, chronicling animated classics, variety shows, made-for-TV features, and specific episodes of series like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Frasier. With celebrity commentary, historic quotes, and insight from entertainment journalists and archivists, this book will serve as the go-to retro literary companion to the small screen’s most cherished holiday programming.

 

 

Further description: For most of us, fond memories of the Christmas season are inseparable from TV’s holiday presentations. The world loves everything from iconic cartoons like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas to the ground-breaking Julia sitcom segment, “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas,” Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and the 1992 TV-remake of Christmas in Connecticut directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. [God, I'm glad I never saw this!] Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen embraces it all, offering a tinsel-decked traipse down memory lane and chronicling animated classics, variety shows, made-for-TV features, and holiday-specific episodes of series like The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. With a Foreword by best-selling Free to Be You and Me author and That Girl star Marlo Thomas, along with commentary from other celebrities, historical quotes, and insights from entertainment journalists and archivists, Christmas TV Memories serves as the go-to companion to the small screen’s most cherished holiday programs.

[Tom Holmberg]

From Under the Truck: A Memoir
Josh Brolin
ISBN: 9780063382183

From Josh Brolin, a unique and decidedly un-celebrity memoir, by turns affecting, funny, uncanny, and unforgettable.

Weaving a latticework of different strands, moving back and forth through time, Josh Brolin captures a life marked by curiosity, pain, devotion, kindness, humor. He recounts an unconventional childhood far from Hollywood. Raised on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, he was surrounded as a child by the wolves, cougars, and other wild animals gathered by his fearless and explosive mother, Jane Agee Brolin. Her tragic, early death haunts this book, and the force of her unforgettable personality is felt throughout. Brolin also brings to life his career in the film industry—from his breakout role in The Goonies to the set of No Country for Old Men—and the professional and personal ups and downs in between and since. With unflinching honesty but also great humor, he shares insights into relationships, addiction, love, and fatherhood, while letting the white space in between words speak for itself. Grappling with the mysteries of life and death in a way that will catch readers by surprise, From Under the Truck is an audacious and riveting memoir from a born writer.

[Tom Holmberg]

The Rockford Files (TV Milestones) 
Amanda Keeler
ISBN: ‎ 9780814351000

No info yet, but this series has nice books on TV series.  This is definitely a buy.

 

[Tom Holmberg]

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen 
Jeff Bond
ISBN: 9781835411360

The ultimate guide to the productions of Irwin Allen, legendary creator of Lost in Space, Land of the Giants, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and The Time Tunnel.

Take a visual journey through the mind and career of the Master of Disaster, producer of The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno, illustrated with over 2,000 exclusive images.

This lavish coffee table hardback book is the first and only book of its kind to take a visual journey through the mind and career of legendary producer Irwin Allen, the “Master of Disaster”—the man behind some of the most popular television programs of the 1960s and the visionary who invented the special effects movie blockbuster format with his 1970s hits The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. It traces Allen from his early days as a Hollywood agent and radio personality to his lengthy stint at 20th Century Fox, where he produced movies such as The Lost World and Five Weeks in a Balloon and the popular television shows Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel and Land of the Giants.

Allen employed the studio’s sprawling lot and soundstages, its library of movie footage, costumes and props, and its veteran special effects craftsmen to bring vivid color and movie-quality action, miniature effects and visuals to television viewers accustomed to low-budget, black and white programming. Allen’s flare for action and visual punch gave audiences some of the 1960s most popular and iconic figures: Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; the Lost in Space Robot and Jonathan Harris’ nefarious Dr. Zachary Smith; Will Robinson and the Robinson family of space travelers; the pop art kaleidoscope of The Time Tunnel; the Jupiter 2, the Seaview, the Flying Sub, the Spindrift.

Before George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Irwin Allen broke box office records with two of the biggest movie blockbusters of all time: The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. Wooed to Warner Bros. at the height of his power with the offer of a building named in his honor and one of the most generous studio contracts ever given a producer, Allen faced his biggest challenge: topping himself with The Swarm, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, When Time Ran Out, and a series of ambitious projects for television.

Illustrated with more than 2000 images including concept and production artwork, storyboards, blueprints, design sketches, miniatures and behind-the-scenes photographs, many of them never before published, this is the ultimate guide to Allen’s famous productions, from his documentaries The Sea Around Us and The Animal World to his spectacular TV-movie City Beneath the Sea, plus fascinating unproduced projects, all explored in detail for the first time.

[Tom Holmberg]

Men of Action: Behind-the-Scenes of Four Classic TV Series
Ed Robertson
ISBN: 9781962896351

"A candy box filled with delicious details on some of TV’s classic shows and a primer on how the industry works.” Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author

An in-depth look at The Untouchables, Run for Your Life, The Magician and Harry O —four classic series that helped define the landscape of American television as we know it today. Each entry features a detailed episode guide and behind-the-scenes interviews with the actors, writers, producers, and directors who made these shows enduring, action-adventure classics.

“A must-read for everyone who loves classic-television crime and drama series. Thoroughly researched, the lively stories behind these four series are as fascinating as they’re informative.” David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of First Blood

“Robertson has brought back four classic television series in thrilling detail. I know you Men of Action don’t read books, but take it from this Man of Action that you’ll want to read this one!” Raymond Benson, New York Times bestselling author of six James Bond continuation novels

“If you’re a fan of any of these classic shows — or are just interested in how TV was made in the 60s and 70s — don’t miss this book. It’s jam-packed with incredible details and quotes from writers, directors, actors, and more.” - Jay Faerber, supervising producer of Supergirl

Edited November 5 by Tom Holmberg

[Tom Holmberg]

Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television
Todd S Purdum
ISBN: 9781668023068

An illuminating biography of Desi Arnaz, the visionary, trailblazing Cuban American who revolutionized television and brought laughter to millions as Lucille Ball’s beloved husband on I Love Lucy, leaving a remarkable legacy that continues to influence American culture today.

Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment industry. In Desi Arnaz, Todd S. Purdum offers a captivating biography that dives into the groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Beyond his iconic role, Arnaz was a pioneering entrepreneur who fundamentally transformed the television landscape.

His journey from Cuban aristocracy to world-class entertainer is remarkable. After losing everything during the 1933 Cuban revolution, Arnaz reinvented himself in pre-World War II Miami, tapping into the rising demand for Latin music. By twenty, he had formed his own band and sparked the conga dance craze in America. Behind the scenes, he revolutionized television production by filming I Love Lucy before a live studio audience with synchronized cameras, a model that remains a sitcom gold standard today.

Despite being underestimated due to his accent and origins, Arnaz’s legacy is monumental. Purdum’s biography, enriched with unpublished materials and interviews, reveals the man behind the legend and highlights his enduring contributions to pop culture and television. This book is a must-read biography about innovation, resilience and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever.

 

[Blergh]

On 11/8/2024 at 1:50 PM, Tom Holmberg said:

Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television
Todd S Purdum
ISBN: 9781668023068

An illuminating biography of Desi Arnaz, the visionary, trailblazing Cuban American who revolutionized television and brought laughter to millions as Lucille Ball’s beloved husband on I Love Lucy, leaving a remarkable legacy that continues to influence American culture today.

Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment industry. In Desi Arnaz, Todd S. Purdum offers a captivating biography that dives into the groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Beyond his iconic role, Arnaz was a pioneering entrepreneur who fundamentally transformed the television landscape.

His journey from Cuban aristocracy to world-class entertainer is remarkable. After losing everything during the 1933 Cuban revolution, Arnaz reinvented himself in pre-World War II Miami, tapping into the rising demand for Latin music. By twenty, he had formed his own band and sparked the conga dance craze in America. Behind the scenes, he revolutionized television production by filming I Love Lucy before a live studio audience with synchronized cameras, a model that remains a sitcom gold standard today.

Despite being underestimated due to his accent and origins, Arnaz’s legacy is monumental. Purdum’s biography, enriched with unpublished materials and interviews, reveals the man behind the legend and highlights his enduring contributions to pop culture and television. This book is a must-read biography about innovation, resilience and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever.

 

Along those lines, be sure to check out Sr. Arnaz's (1917-1986) own autobio simply titled A Book (1976)in which he chronicled  his family's fall from wealth and power to his determination to make things right for them (and although his first wife Lucille Ball had a much more working class background, she, too, became a performer with the express purpose of reuniting her family that had also been torn asunder due to [very different] circumstances beyond their control).  The book had many rollercoaster rides- including the one time after the revolution that he attempted to see his grandparents in Cuba while touring with his own band in World War II. Alas, he barely got to say hello after having had to plow his way through a mob of hometown fans before he had to evacuate  due to an impending hurricane. .and he would NEVER see them again!

While he self-justified a great many of his infidelities and excesses, it was worth reading how he put together the whole iconic series virtually from scratch. Oddly enough, the book virtually ends with the end of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and his divorce from Lucy. .with virtually no mention of the following fifteen years including his 2nd marriage to Edith Mack Hirsch that would last until her death a year before his own.

Edited November 16 by Blergh
wrong natural disaster

[Tom Holmberg]

Dead Air: The Night That Orson Welles Terrified America 
William Elliott Hazelgrove
ISBN: 9781538187166

A "granular history" (Wall Street Journal) of the greatest hoax in radio history and the panic that followed, which Publishers Weekly calls "a rollicking portrait of a director on the cusp of greatness" and Booklist, in a starred review, says, "Hazelgrove’s feverishly focused retelling of the broadcast as well as the fallout makes for a propulsive read as a study of both a cultural moment of mass hysteria and the singular voice at its root.”

On a warm Halloween Eve, October 30, 1938, during a broadcast of H G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, a twenty-three-year-old Orson Welles held his hands up for radio silence in the CBS studio in New York City while millions of people ran out into the night screaming, grabbed shotguns, drove off in cars, and hid in basements, attics, or anywhere they could find to get away from Martians intent on exterminating the human race. As Welles held up his hands to his fellow actors, musicians, and sound technicians, he turned six seconds of radio silence—dead air—into absolute horror, changing the way the world would view media forever, and making himself one of the most famous men in America.

In Dead Air: The Night that Orson Welles Terrified America, Willliam Elliot Hazelgrove illustrates for the first time how Orson Welles’ broadcast caused massive panic in the United States, convincing listeners across the nation that the end of the World had arrived and even leading military and government officials to become involved. Using newspaper accounts of the broadcast, Hazelgrove shows the true, staggering effect that Welles’ opera of panic had on the nation. Beginning with Welles’ incredible rise from a young man who lost his parents early to a child prodigy of the stage, Dead Air introduces a Welles who threw his Hail Mary with War of the Worlds, knowing full well that obscurity and fame are two sides of the same coin. Hazelgrove demonstrates that Welles’ knew he had one shot to grab the limelight before it forever passed him by—and he made it count.

[Tom Holmberg]

Island to Icon: the Many Lives of Bob Denver 
Dreama Denver
ISBN: 9781958914519

Bob Denver would never in a million years have thought of himself as an icon, but on this 60th anniversary year of his most famous television series, "Gilligan’s Island," his wife, Dreama Denver, begs to differ. The fact that "Gilligan’s Island" is still airing somewhere on the planet 60 years after its 1964 debut proves that not only is the show iconic, but the man who played the title role is also. Anytime you see someone wearing a red shirt and a white hat, what’s the first thought that comes to mind? If you’re old enough, you think GILLIGAN!

She has compiled a Bob Denver memory album from their memorabilia and his mother's scrapbooks to honor her husband and his career. Bob Denver and Gilligan’s Island are still loved and cherished by fans worldwide.

________________________

Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live  
Susan Morrison
ISBN: 9780812988871

The definitive biography of Lorne Michaels, the man behind America’s most beloved comedy show

Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him. He’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Tracy Morgan), the “great and powerful Oz” (Kate McKinnon), “some kind of very distant, strange comedy god” (Bob Odenkirk).
 
Lorne will introduce you to him, in full, for the first time. With unprecedented access to Michaels and the entire SNL apparatus, Susan Morrison takes readers behind the curtain for the lively, up-and-down, definitive story of how Michaels created and maintained the institution that changed comedy forever.
 
Drawn from hundreds of interviews—with Michaels, his friends, and SNL’s iconic stars and writers, from Will Ferrell to Tina Fey to John Mulaney to Chris Rock to Dan Aykroyd—Lorne is a deeply reported, wildly entertaining account of a man singularly obsessed with the show that would define his life and have a profound impact on American culture.

Edited November 20 by Tom Holmberg

[Tom Holmberg]

Gilmore Girls: Sookie's Recipe Book: An Official Cookbook
Elena Craig
ISBN: 9798886637472

Straight from the Dragonfly Inn's executive chef, Gilmore Girls: Sookie's Recipe Book teaches fans how to make iconic recipes as only Sookie St. James can!

Join Sookie in the kitchen for an in-world culinary journey through Gilmore Girls featuring easy-to-follow recipes for all her elaborate creations, including Famous Peach Sauce, Rocky Road Cookies, each course of the Bracebridge Dinner, and her iconic Hot House Tomato Salad. In this official cookbook, you'll find the lovable chef's uniquely enthusiastic (and perhaps a little frenzied) take on dozens of memorable gastronomical moments in the show. The more than 75 recipes include:

Breakfast: "I Have My Standards" Omelets, Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes, Belgian Waffles with Famous Peach Sauce, Shirred Eggs with Chive, Currant and Spice Scones

Starters: The Original Onion Dip, Rory's Birthday Angel Wings, Walnut Arugula Gorgonzola Crostini, "The Lettuce is Dry" BLT Soup

Sandwiches, Sides, and Salads: Jackson's Vegetables Carpaccio, Not Jackson's Vegetables Ratatouille, Warm Potato and Chorizo Salad, Sweet Potato Biscuit Sandwiches

Mains: "Four in Four" Coq au Vin, Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, Pasta a la Sookie, Butternut Squash Pasta Purses, Bracebridge Dinner "Peacock" Pie

Drinks, Cocktails, and Mixes: Wassail, Four Years without a Cocktail Mockaritas, "Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!" Martini, Chocolate Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Desserts: Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce, Sour Cream Peach Pie, "Paint the Wall Red" Strawberry Tarts, Cider Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate S'mores Wedding Cake

Of course, more is more in Sookie's kitchen! You'll also find tips to avoid kitchen accidents (and pumpkin hands!), advice on how to adapt recipes to meet dietary restrictions, and reflections on Sookie's most innovative risks in recipe development.

[Tom Holmberg]

Law & Order: A Cultural History (The Cultural History of Television)
Bernadette Giacomazzo
ISBN: 9781538194812

A comprehensive, yet entertaining, examination of the Law & Order juggernaut.

Over the course of more than 20 years, nearly 500 episodes, and six spinoffs, Law & Order changed the way we view police procedurals, the American justice system, and the men and women of the NYPD. The ubiquity of the show — from its iconic dun-dun sound to its all-star cast of characters and A-list special guest stars — has not only made it part of the pop culture zeitgeist but has made society smarter about “law and order” in the United States.

In the first-ever book of its kind, author & pop culture critic Bernadette Giacomazzo celebrates the show and its creator, Dick Wolf, while providing a conscientious examination of the stories of the criminal justice system, and the “two separate, yet equally important groups” that represent the people. But more than just follow the evolution of the show from its old New York grit and grime to the 21st century high-tech surveillance in a more sterile Manhattan, Giacomazzo explores how United States law evolved over the years and how the show evolved with it, and how America’s fascination with the show helped give birth to the true crime genre.

Law & Order was — and is — more than just a police procedural. It is one of the few shows that effectively tackled the social, political, and economic issues that lead to a life of crime. Moreso than its predecessors Dragnet and Hill Street Blues, Law & Order gave a first-hand, inside look into the police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. In so doing, it removed their mystique and gave them a humanity not seen before. This cultural history finally gives the show and its creator the recognition they deserve for their role in changing the face of both law and order — and true crime television.

_____________

Survivor: A Cultural History (The Cultural History of Television)
Joseph J. Darowski
ISBN: 9781538196557

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Survivor with a look back at one of history’s most popular and long-running reality shows.

Premiering in 2000, Survivor altered the landscape of network television from its first season, popularizing reality shows for audiences in the 21st century and quickly growing to a semi-annual release slate that has resulted in more than 46 seasons and hundreds of contestants. Over twenty years later, the series remains popular and a ratings hit, maintaining a devoted fanbase even as the television landscape has evolved and shifted to streaming.

In Survivor: A Cultural History, Joseph J. Darowski and Kate Darowski analyze how the iconic CBS show revolutionized television and has adapted and changed across decades of production. They explore the creation of the series and its surprising emergence as a ratings juggernaut, the evolution of gameplay for both the producers and the players, the series existence as a self-proclaimed “social experiment”, and much more. While the basic premise of the series has remained the same—survivors are marooned in the wild with few supplies and must vote someone out at a weekly tribal council with the goal of being the sole survivor to win $1 million—there are notable differences from where the game began to where it is now.

From stylistic changes in the presentation of the show to new twists in the game rules, the transformations from season 1 to the present reflect real life, keeping the show fresh amid a stream of new reality competition shows. Survivor: A Cultural History details these cultural shifts while highlighting Survivor’s place as one of the most impactful television shows of this century. Featuring an overview of the key players and a ranking of the must watch-seasons, this is an essential guide for fans both new and old.

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:25 PM by Tom Holmberg