Customer Reviews

Riverboat: The Evolution of a Television Series, 1959-1961

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The authors have once again struck gold! Whether you're a McGavin or Reynolds fan, this book is a must have! The book is a critical analysis of a much loved but little seen series shot on Universal's fabulous backlot. In depth coverage where no one is trivialised. A very good read.

The Riverboat series held us enthralled for only a season and a half, but it left an indelible impression on its faithful fans. Authors Kotar and Gessler were among those fans and have done extraordinary research to bring us the most complete information about the show ever published. We not only learn about the series from conception to its final breath, but also we're given the inside scoop on the relationships of the people involved, the history of the studio in which the show was filmed, the practical production concerns, a detailed episode guide with mini-bios of the guest stars--in short, everything you've ever wanted to know about Riverboat and its star, Darren McGavin.

I can't resist buying books about the making of TV shows, even series I never watched or don't care for much, because I always learn something from it. Bear Manor is a small, niche publisher that churns out a lot of these books. The quality of the writing and research on the books is very hit-and-miss, but Bear Manor deserves a lot of credit for even bothering to print them. They're just about the only publisher out there turning out books on obscure, or vintage, TV series at an affordable price (one piece of advice, though, never buy a book about a TV series by James Rosin, you can always count on them to be awful).

I particularly enjoyed Riverboat: The Evolution of a Television Series 1959-1961 by S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler, which chronicles the development and very short life span of the western, which starred Darren McGavin (at the same time he was starring in Mike Hammer) and Burt Reynolds. McGavin played the captain of the Enterprise...no, not the starship, but the riverboat...and Reynolds was his pilot. The two characters didn't get along and, as it turned out, neither did the actors. Reynolds was forced out after the first season.

Most books of this sort are written by diehard fans and read like the slobbering labors of love that they are. But this one is different. The authors are diehard McGavin fans, and did all this research as part of their website devoted to the actor, and while they admire him, they aren't so wild about the show. They take a very, very critical eye. The show never found its footing conceptually, and an unusually high turn-over of writer-producers seemed to doom it from the start...

"The writing, too, was a mixed bag of (over)experienced and novice writers. Most of the episodes were little more than standard Wagon Train plots transported to a riverboat setting. Few particularly stood out as rising above the rest, and as a whole, they failed miserably to create any significant characterization for [McGavin's character] or the crew. [...]nothing rose head-and-shoulders over routine TV fare. Considering the premise, and Darren McGavin, this was disappointing to say the least."

And that's the nicest thing they have to say about the series. So you might be asking yourself -- if the show was so mediocre, why write a book about it? And why should I read it? Well, if you are a student of TV as I am (even after writing and producing many TV series myself), it's always fascinating to read about the development, production, and fate of a show. And the authors don't skimp on details. The episodes are analyzed in depth and the authors add interesting asides about production. The book is also chock full of rare, never-before-published production stills. If you are a Riverboat or McGavin fan, you're going to love it.

I was so happy that the authors shared their insights and research about the TV series that I used to love a child. I am fortunate to have most of the original shows now and the book's insights into each episode made the classic videos even more special.

My kudos to the authors. This book has become a very special item in my physical book collection.

Highly recommend this book for anyone who loved the show or Darren McGavin.

For any one who grew up in the early 1960's when the Riverboat tv series was played on tv worldwide, and loved it, all I can say is "You need this book!" It looks deeply into how the series evolved, how the stars were chosen, and the support actors, and the interactions that occurred between them. The highly publicised spat between stars Darren McGavin and Burt Reynolds - this book looks at that situation in detail, and explains why Burt Reynold's character Ben Frazer just had to go in the Second Season! The book details EVERY episode produced, both Season 1 and Season 2, and analyses each and every one, from the writing, right through to the direction, the acting, and the camerawork, plus looking at the studio itself, and the "studio politics" behind the series. Yes, when S.L. Kotar and J.E.Gessler put this book together as a "labour-of-love", they got it 150% right, and if you really were a fan of Riverboat the tv series, you simply must own this book. All I can say is "order it now", before they all get sold. Or you'll never forgive yourself!