Customer Reviews

Emmy Award Winning Nighttime Television Shows 1948-2004

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This outstanding book gives in-depth analysis of the TV shows that won Emmy Awards for "Best Series" over the years (Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Game Show, etc.) and does it with large amounts of the author's blunt viewpoints. The three- to six-page chapters give the programs histories and provide unique perspectives on often-covered subjects (such as All in the Family was based on Life of Riley). It's a must-have for people that study TV programming, but...

Since the writer offers up so much opinion, it's going to frustrate many fans and historians. At times he provides the standard TV critic line, such as claiming The Phil Silvers Show is one of the greatest under-rated comedies of all time (go watch it--it's just a stupid war comedy that is basically the same plot week after week). At times he goes too far--saying Everybody Loves Raymond is equal to All in the Family and if you don't like Raymond you won't like most Best Comedy winners? Seriously? Raymond isn't even in the same class as most of the others.

Then there are other times when he stands up for a viewpoint that is different from others by saying a program was over-rated or on the air too long (he slams Sex and the City, saying it didn't deserve to win "outstanding comedy" because it wasn't outstanding and not funny!). He even inserts unrelated, obscure details with a pithy attitude (on the 50th anniversary of Disney's TV show, he says the network did a reunion of the "tepid" show Growing Pains and that it was a "crappy way" of marking the occasion!).

Some of his data is skewed to support his opinions--he claims some shows weren't "hits" when they placed in the top 15, while saying others were "hits" when they made the top 30. The basis of the book information appears to be its Emmy nominations, the ratings, a few books/research articles and interviews with often obscure people connected to programs. For instance, in the Wonderful World of Disney chapter, the inside information comes from a minor director of a few features on the program who barely knew Walt Disney.

So while he should be congratulated for reaching out to people associated with the shows, often they are lessor-knowns who contribute little. Otherwise there isn't much new factual material here--only the author commenting quite vocally on what he thinks are misconceptions about the series. It makes for an entertaining new spin on subjects that have been written about many times before.

Then there's the price--the book is absolutely worth probably $20 to $30. But the crazy pricing online ($75? $103?) will turn most buyers off. It is a really, really great book, nothing like the typical TV guidebooks that withhold perspective. It's not "just the facts" but instead is a commentary on favorite TV programs. Although you'll argue with some of his conclusions, it's refreshing to see someone willing to tackle television subjects from a new perspective.