That Book About That Girl: The Unofficial Companion [Paperback]

Stephen Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

Before there was Ally McBeal there was That Girl. Before there was Murphy Brown there was That Girl. Before there was The Mary Tyler Moore Show there was That Girl. Starring Marlo Thomas, That Girl (1966-71) was the first TV sitcom to focus on a young, single, assured female. That heroine--an aspiring New York actress--valued self-worth and career more than getting married, which was quite heady for pre-women's lib America. Featuring firsthand interviews with Thomas, the show's creators, other series regulars, and behind-the-scenes players, The Book about That Girl takes a revealing look at the seminal 1960s series that revolutionized female roles on television.

That information in That Book about That Girl:
pre-That Girl TV roles for women
the important men in Thomas's life--her father, the legendary comedian Danny Thomas, her husband, talk-show maven Phil Donahue and her costar, Ted Bessell
the character who said "that girl" in every episode
a season-by-season episode guide, plus tons of intriguing That Girl trivia

Editorial Reviews

Review

"That Girl belonged to the new generation. It was the seeding that let all the way to Murphy Brown." --Marlo Thomas

"Stephen Cole has written a detailed and loving tribute to Marlo Thomas and 'That Girl' without whom Sharon Gless and I might never have been free to be Cagney and me." --Tyne Daly, costar of Cagney & Lacey

"She wasn't Lucy (of I Love Luvy) and she wasn't Margie (of My Little Margie). She was something new and contemporary. One part Doris Day, two parts Jean Arthur, and all parts Marlo Thomas. She was the bridge to Murphy Brows and all other modern women in sitcoms today. She was Ann Marie. That Girl!"--from the introduction

About the Author

Stephen Cole is the author of Noel Coward: A Bio-Bibliography and, as lyricist-librettist, has written the musicals The Night of the Hunter, After the Fair, Dodsworth, and Grossinger's.
He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Renaissance Books; 1st edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580630766
• ISBN-13: 978-1580630764
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The seminal independent woman sit-com beautifully detailed.., October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: That Book About That Girl: The Unofficial Companion (Paperback)

I remember watching Marlo Thomas's entertaining sit-com in the late 60s and early 70s and thoroughly enjoying the trials and tribulations of a young struggling actress trying to make it big in the big apple. Being re-acquainted with this delightful series via cable has made it all the more enjoybale and pertinent in the themes explored and in the witty, challenging and humorous encounters an independent woman can face. Stephen Cole has added enormously to an appreciation of this ground breaking show through great research (interviews with Thomas and the writers) as well as providing an episode-by-episode guide to what made each show so special. You will find in this book references to the time, the fashion and the special chemistry between the leads in what is one of my all time favourite television shows...Thanks, Stephen for the love that shines through every page.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That Book About THAT GIRL is that good!, September 5, 1999

By 

Richard J. Goldschmidt "Rick Goldschmidt" (Oak Lawn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: That Book About That Girl: The Unofficial Companion (Paperback)

I have to say I was very impressed with this book wonderfully written and assembled by Stephen Cole. It was recommended by a friend and I was pleasantly surprised with the care that was put into what should be called the "Official" book on THAT GIRL. This is perhaps the BEST book written on a classic television sitcom! There is something here for everyone. If you are even slightly interested in reading about the series and Marlo Thomas, I suggest you pick it up. Well done Stephen!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous! Yes, the book is "THAT" informative!, May 6, 2001

By 

"mooshoo2000" (A Comfy Couch) - See all my reviews

This review is from: That Book About That Girl: The Unofficial Companion (Paperback)

Before Mary had bad parties, before Lucy Carmicheal and Viv had their screw-ball adventures, before Janet and Chrissy stood up to Jack. And before Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia toughed it out through old age and countless dates; there was "That Girl."

Lovable Ann Marie, her nerdy yet very strong (he always seems to be punching other guys out on a count of a misunderstanding) boy friend Donald, and her worried parents are all characters in "That Girl". Ann is a girl, living on her own in NYC for the very first time. She is a struggling actress who is smart, talented, witty and determined...yet she still manages to have the poise and serenity of Samantha Stevens (when all is well on Morning Glory circle, of course).

"That" is where "this" book comes in, it was very informative in all aspects of the history of "That Girl". It went into such detail as original names of characters and original actors..etc. Marlo Thomas really seems to be a true rolemodel, she was strong, independent, and still managed to keep her poise. The actors/producers were interviewed honestly and well. A true monument to the history of TV, and one of its most ground-breaking shows.