The Last Great Ride [Hardcover]

Brandon Tartikoff (Author), Charles Leerhsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1992

The brainchild behind the success of NBC Entertainment gives an anecdotal look at network television with stories about the making of such hits as ""Cheers,"" ""The Cosby Show,"" and ""Family Ties."" 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This account of Tartikoff's tenure as head of programming at NBC-TV from 1980 to 1991, during which time the network rose to and retained top ratings, offers primarily a string of "and then I developed . . . " stories. Tartikoff was responsible for NBC's airing of The Cosby Show , Hill Street Blues and The A-Team , among other highly successful series, and here, with freelance writer Leerhsen, he tells how he did it. Tartikoff provides particularly interesting material about the projects that were pitched to him by figures as notable as Marlon Brando and Frank Zappa, most of which he rejected, and about his relations with such industry tycoons as mentor Fred Silverman and MTM Productions wizard Grant Tinker. Tartikoff also tells of his mistakes, including the quickly-cancelled shows Manimal and Pink Lady and Jeff , plus his rejection of an opportunity to invest in the development of the chubby-faced Cabbage Patch Doll. His memoir chronicles significant TV history, but its scattershot style is off-putting.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

From 1980 to 1991, Tartikoff was the head of programming for NBC-TV, during which time the network rose from third to first in the ratings and garnered dozens of Emmys, thanks to programs like The Cosby Show , Hill Street Blues , and Miami Vice . This breezy memoir emphasizes anecdotes involving personalities as diverse as Marlon Brando, Julie Nixon, and Mr. T. The title refers to the author's belief that the heyday of network TV has passed, thanks to the inroads made by cable, independent stations, and the VCR boom. Without sounding self-serving, the author does come off very much unlike the neurotic, tyrannical type associated with network TV. Recommended for most public libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/91.
- Thomas Wiener, formerly with "American Film"
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Random House, Inc.; 1st edition (October 13, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039458709X
• ISBN-13: 978-0394587097
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertainment Industry Insider Account, January 28, 2004

By 

Dr. W. G. Covington, Jr. (Edinboro, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Great Ride (Paperback)

While Brandon Tartikoff went on to become chairman of Paramount Pictures, he achieved his greatest success while programming NBC during the days when that network dominated the prime time schedule. He notes, "TV is a populist medium, and so the challenge comes down to finding ideas that will capture the zeitgeist." This book is part biographical, but more weighted toward giving an inside view of the system and personalities that comprised the entertainment industry during Tartikoff's career.

A visit he made to Bob Hope's home illustrates the "inside" type information found in the book. He talks about coming upon a vault. "Inside were rows upon rows of alphabetized file cabinets," he says. It was his collection of jokes. He mentioned to Hope the possibility of putting the material on computer, to which the comic genius responded, "Now why would I do something like that? Everything I need, I know where to find--right now."

If you're interested in television of the mid 1980s to mid 1990s you'll find this book a match for your tastes. It's written, like the TV shows produced on network television, for the mass market and consequently is easy to follow.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who watched tv in the 80s..., January 15, 2003

By 

Mrs. Debbie Carnahan-Nichols (Oswego, IL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Last Great Ride (Paperback)

This book tells of Mr. Tartikoff's dealings with a struggling network soon to be number 1! His tales of triumphs & failures (anyone remember "Pink Lady"?) are shows of honesty & how the biz works. Anyone who enjoyed 80s television has this man to thank. Find out more by reading all about the ins & outs of 80s tv right here! A must read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful read for anyone who grew up with 80's TV, June 28, 2001

By 

R. Droullard (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Great Ride (Paperback)

This book is more than just about how many of our favorite NBC TV shows from the 80s were created. It's a lighthearted tale about a creative man who made a career of taking creative risks. This book, like any good TV show, did more than entertain me. It gave me pause to think. Whether you're a struggling writer, a successful CEO, or somewhere inbetween, read this book. Inspiration from an unlikely source.