Customer Reviews

Desperate Networks

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Really enjoyed this book. Takes you behind-the-scenes into what may be the last days of true broadcast network television.

The breakdown of the book was about what I had expected, although the author focused a bit more on the creation of shows than the business side of running the networks than I had hoped. As a fan of Lost, it was great to hear about how that show came to life. Personally don't care for Desperate Housewives, but the writing is good and the stories are entertaining. If you like CSI, The Apprentice, Survivor... it's really interesting to learn about the stories behind their creation. (Did you know UPN could've had Survivor and didn't pull the trigger on it?)

In 5 years, when none of these shows are still on the air, this might not be as fascinating. But if you're a TV fan, this is absolutely worth checking out.

Bill Carter's book about the competition between the 4 networks during the 2000 to 2005 years is a great follow up to Ken Auletta's "Three Blind Mice". Twenty years later the networks still faced declining viewers to cable. In addition they began to face a public that could choose to watch when they wanted and even bypass advertisers. However, a show that could capture an audience could still attract 30 million viewers. And this makes the competitive spirits between the executives and programming gurus extremely entertaining. The decline of NBC from the 20 years of being number 1, the resurgence of CBS with Survivor and CSI, the television changing popularity of American Idol and the surprising hat trick by ABC in 2004/2005 with Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey's Anatomy are all told from inception to getting on the schedule. Each with many ups and downs and many almost dying in development before ever reaching the airwaves.

So, how do the new shows get on the air? Carter's behind-the-scenes account of major television networks allows readers experience the madness of the entertainment industry firsthand. While some of the stories drag a little bit towards the end, the accounts of how "Desperate Housewives," "Amerian Idol" and "CSI" got on the air are worth the price of the book. Carter also takes an evenhanded approach in portraying some of the executives who run/ran the networks.

If you've read any of Bill Carter's works you know what to expect. Lot's of inside information and behind the scenes baseball. Strongly recommended.

This is a quick read, because of it's language and very interesting content!
Highly recommended if you're a TV-buff!

Every year the major four TV Networks spend millions of dollars developing, producing and marketing new TV programs. Nearly all fail, however, with one hit a network can make a fortune. Bill Carter is the New York Time's television reporter and he is able to offer readers an great insider's account of the TV network business.

A great read full of insights into how the major networks get shows on air.

Bill Carter has spent years covering TV for the New York Times and in order to keep his inside sources, he needs to kiss up to them. This book is filled with inside stories gleaned from the first five years of the new millennium and some of the stories are interesting. But the writer has the bad habit of using over-the-top adjectives about the network bigwigs he is covering. The bigger the person in power, the bigger the superlatives used to the point of it being laughable.

In the end CBS chief Les Moonves, who is called "genius," comes across as inept and power-hungry. Once the writer's bias is stripped away the real story here is that those in charge of network TV have no clue how to program hit television shows. In virtually every case of a major success, the network leaders initially scoff at the program but then take credit when it becomes a hit. And none of these rich, elitist programmers seem to know what mainline American viewers want to watch.

Bottom line--the book has interesting stories for those who are addicted to how networks program prime time. But the author's writing style is stilted and lacks credibility. There are a number of factual errors and the reader should beware that what is presented as fact is actually the author's filtered view of an industry that he needs to kiss up to in order to keep his job.

I've been in the tv business for 15 years, and have always loved Bill Carter's work for the NY Times. This book did not disappoint. Great storytelling and insight about the origins of modern-day reality television.

This book was fascinating, providing really interesting insights into the business. A great read. Couldn't put it down and read it in a day...