They'll Never Put That on the Air: An Oral History of Taboo-Breaking Comedy (Paperback)

~ Allan Neuwirth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating read. Allan Neuwirth has deepened my appreciation of television’s most daring and successful comedies. -- Susie Essman, Comedian and Actress, Curb Your Enthusiasm

"Reading—or should I say, devouring—this wonderfully (and literally) outspoken book is nearly as much fun as watching the shows themselves. -- Matt Roush, Senior Critic, TV Guide

Product Description

Ever wonder how television evolved from showing married couples sleeping in separate beds to the edgy outrageousness of today's series? "They'll Never Put That on the Air" is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the landmark comedy shows that fought to break down TV's taboos, including All in the Family, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, Maude, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Seinfeld and Soap.

Learn about the coming-of-age of American television comedy straight from the famed creators, writers, producers, directors, actors, and network executives who forced the medium to grow up, including Norman Lear, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, Allan Burns, George Schlatter, Susan Harris, Larry Charles, Grant Tinker, Fred Silverman, Joyce Randolph, Tom Smothers, Dick Martin, Valerie Harper, Carroll O'Connor, and many, many more.

Throughout these pages, you'll find tales of determination and defiance, battles with censors, great showbiz anecdotes, plus dozens of cast photos and stills from classic episodes. Whether you've loved these shows since the episodes first aired or are just discovering them today, this book is a must-read!

"Reading? Or should I say, devouring? This wonderfully (and literally) outspoken book is nearly as much fun as watching the shows themselves. This is a great read, and essential for anyone who desires a first-hand account of how TV grew up while making us laugh. As it chronicles legendary censorship battles and landmark breakthroughs, this book is at heart a celebration of the creative process in a medium that could certainly use another wake-up call." -Matt Roush, Senior Critic, TV Guide

"A fascinating read. Allan Neuwirth has deepened my appreciation of television's most daring and successful comedies. It's a miracle that anything good has ever gotten on the air, let alone stayed there!" -Susie Essman, Comedian and Actress,Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; First Edition edition (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581154178
• ISBN-13: 978-1581154177
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,030,330 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and intelligently done, May 23, 2006

By	R. Gorey "Behemoth" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like his previous work, "Makin' Toons", Neuwirth's new book takes a unique look at the television industry by examining the lives, intentions, and minds of the people who created groundbreaking shows. Presented in an interview format (though not structured as actual interviews) "They'll Never Put That on the Air" follows the evolution of the half hour sitcom, from its early days in the fifties through the dense, complex, and controversial shows that appeared in the nineties. The approach is unusual: the growth of an industry seen through the filter of the censors at "standards and practices" whose often archaic rules and regulations forced writers and performers from the "Golden Age" to be even more creative. The result, according to Neuwirth, was elegant innuendo, clever misdirection...and better television. Later, as these restrictions were relaxed, television became more "realistic", but somehow less craftily subversive: shows like "Seinfeld", with its ferocious sense of the absurd, are the exception, not the rule. Neuwirth traces this journey through an admittedly subjective list of breakout hits: The Smothers Brothers, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Maude, and of course M*A*S*H and Seinfeld. Using these seminal shows as a barometer of public tastes and private genius, Neuwirth offers a cultural cross section of the past fifty years, and the result is informative and addictive. Thankfully it's not catty and dishy as well, though there are certainly angry and disgruntled voices along the way. A fine job of television scholarship: the only thing I might suggest is that the second edition be longer. This is a case where more information would have been welcome. Some elegant caricatures by noted cartoonist Glen Hanson add to the polish of this thoughtful work, and elevate it above the pack.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How television history was made, straight from the mouths of those who were responsible!, August 6, 2006

By	An Avid Reader (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Allan Neuwirth has done an outstanding job of assembling an amazing collection of the combined voices of those responsible for some of the more iconic shows in television history. Neuwirth does not do the reader this injustice of clouding those voices with too much of his own prose or commentary. Instead he has done a masterful job of interviewing and assembling the remarks of the creators, writers and producers, so that the finished product reads seamlessly like a well written narrative.

Anyone who has ever enjoyed one episode of any of the television shows covered in this book would greatly enjoy exploring the backstory of how they came to the small screen, and learning of the bumps and hickups along the way that shaped and continue to shape even the shows we watch to this day.

An utterly enjoyable read . . . BRAVO!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine survey for any interested in just how TV comedy has changed, August 5, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

American television has evolved over the years and censorship has changed the nature of what is acceptable and what is un-televised: They'll Never Put That On The Air: An Oral History Of Taboo-Breaking TV Comedy comes from writer/director Neuwirth's fascination with television content from the 1960s to modern times, and comes packed with firsthand accounts from TV comedy writers and creators who tell their behind-the-scenes stories. An engrossing blend of television history and oral history provides a fine survey for any interested in just how TV comedy has changed.