Customer Reviews

Sitcom Style: Inside America's Favorite TV Homes

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I always enjoyed when Entertainment Weekly would go behind the scenes of a popular show and call out the details of its set -- the books and knickknacks on the shelves, the pictures on the fridge, the paintings on the walls. Here we have an entire book of close-up looks at sitcom sets from the last 40+ years. It's a fascinating, guilt-free trip inside your favorite homes. I could do without the decorating tips, but the backstage trivia makes for a fun read.

I bought this book after reading its review in the New York Times. It is novel,fun,informative and brings back fond memories of programs I have enjoyed through the years. I would highly reccomend it.

Sitcom Style provides an in-depth look at the process, styles and techniques utilized by set designers to make the unknown television character immediately familiar to the television audience. The book strikes a perfect balance between trivia on some of the most famous pieces of furniture ever seen on television, such as Archie Bunker's chair, and close ups of the actual technical diagrams used by television producers.

Ms. Friedman's lucid explanations on the relationship between a television character's projected personality and a set designers choice of furniture and layout, provides valuable insight into the design of any living space. Detailed deconstructions of various sets, such as the open layout of Frasier's sophisticated living room or the use of a club chair to project the assured confidence of Murphy Brown, end up being valuable guides in how to project your own sense of character in your personal living space. The inclusion of a buying guide at the end of the book with accompanying websites and phone numbers is helpful as well.

While the book already does a great job of providing decorative insight along with television history, one would hope the author would do another book with even more home decoration tips. My only detraction would be the failure to examine some of the more popular canine abodes on television.

Strongly suggested as a holiday gift to anyone who enjoys television history and trivia, home decoration and style, or both!

Overall, the book is good and gives access to information and pictures you cannot find anywhere else. However, I expected more pictures and less text. Pity that some of sitcoms mentioned were not illustrated at all. I bought this book specifically to get decent pictures of Frasier's filming set but was disappointed - the set is so fabulous it almost deserves a separate book on itself, and all it got was a couple of less than perfect photos.

This book was well stocked with information on not only how these imaginative places were decorated but also where to purchase them in reality. I have sometimes saw an item on TV and wondered where it could be found and this book tells you. It is definately a read more than once book. I thouroughly enjoyed this book.

I absolutely love this book!! If you are a TV fanatic like me you will like this book too. It shows you different sitcom homes and the decor and talks about how they are decorated and gives you pointers if you want to decorate the same way.

This book provides a ton of images from the sets of our favorite sitcoms. I was surprised to find some of the sets from shows I'd completely forgotten about (Murphy Brown) that had gorgeous sets.

My one complaint would be that some of the articles reference items on the set that aren't pictured. The Will & Grace designer refers to a painting that isn't shown in the book, but is featured on the set.

That aside--this is a great buy. I keep it on my coffee table by the remotes as a conversation piece.

A great design reference for anyone interested in the history of television sets and production...plus a fun read.