Bad TV [Paperback]

Craig Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Celebrating the amazingly bad shows that have made it onto television and into the American psyche, a hilarious TV nostalgia book gives out awards to bad classics in every category, recognizing the worst of the worst in TV history.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

If you're wondering why this book hasn't appeared long before now, consider the difficulty of establishing a cutoff date for the study of incredibly bad TV. Had Nelson undertaken this work before the most recent late-night talk-show wars (1993), he'd have necessarily missed out on evaluating Conan (no comic timing, self-assurance, poise, etc.) O'Brien's show, which Nelson rates as even worse than 1978's Mel (Tillis) & Susan (Anton) Together and the peer of 1980's legendary Pink Lady & Jeff. All the other usual suspects appear here, too, including The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (not the "classic" BB sitcom) and My Mother the Car (natch) as well as some delightful obscurities (1959's Peck's Bad Girl) and recent treacle fests (Saved by the Bell). Nelson covers all in pithy, one- or two-paragraph summaries that are dead-on devastating. Noteworthy because it treats genres, programming strategies, and movies on TV as well as particular shows, Nelson's effort is a necessary addition to popular pop culture studies and a darn fine bathroom book. Mike Tribby

From the Publisher

Sure, we've all had a bad idea now and then. But that's no reason for My Mother, The Car, Pink Lady & Jeff, Manimal , or Cop Rock. Now Bad TV brings back all of those horrifying memories, those memories of utter hilarity, those magical times when you stared at your TV in complete disbelief. Filled with hours of reminiscences and plain old nastiness (all of it deserved), Bad TV doesn't waste its time on shows that are merely tedious, sickening, or poorly done. No, it showcases only remarkably bad, "I can't believe they did this!" television, with topics such as: Bad Classics--shows like The Brady Bunch, Green Acres, and Family Affair, that we were all so crazy about primarily because they were so empty-headed. Curses!--seemingly cursed actors such as Nancy Walker and Jack Scalia, who, though they tried their hardest, were destined never to have a hit series. How Could You?--an exploration of the unimaginable low moments of some of our favorite series: the "it was all a dream" episode on Dallas ; the time the Beverly Hillbillies solved the energy crisis. The Tammi Awards--names for Three Mile Island (T.M.I.), they're given to the all-time worse shows ever on television stupefying flops whose waste of talent, time, and money are so great, it's nuclear. Written by author, humorist, and television connoisseur Craig Nelson Bad TV is also an indispensable reference for too-bad-to-be-true videos that readers will want to rent right away.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Delta (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385313594
• ISBN-13: 978-0385313599
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,496,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough, fascinating, and supremely funny look at TV, January 15, 2002

By 

Saint Bacchus "game girl" (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad TV (Paperback)

I really wish a new edition of this book would come out. Nelson's scathing commentary is hilarious, and, as if there needed to be more, he also includes interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits, serious commentary on the role of television in society, TV curses, and cheeky lists of what popular shows reveal about our secret longings and beliefs ("There's nothing as much fun as watching people reveal some deep, horrible secret").

I only caught one small error: in the music video section, Nelson says that "oregato" (should be "arigato") means "hello." It means "thank you." Fans of Styx will be appalled, but nobody else should care.

Highly recommended for television fans and MSTies, and anyone else who wants a good laugh.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the funniest book EVER!, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bad TV (Paperback)

This is the most hilarious book ever. The one paragraph descriptions of the TV shows and movies will have you rolling on the floor. Craig Wilson's hilarious commentary is right on the mark. If you love (or hate) TV, by all means BUY THIS BOOK!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Update please, June 2, 2001

By 

Longgrain "Pete" (Gardner, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad TV (Paperback)

One of the best over all books on turkey t.v. i've ever read! However it could use an update (it's sooooo 1992!} + howsabout more real info about the the shows! 1 paragraph's just not enough!