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329 reviews for:
Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television
Thea Glassman
3.88 AVERAGE
329 reviews for:
Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television
Thea Glassman
3.88 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this. It brought me back to the younger times in my life when I watched these shows - many which I have rewatched now thanks to streaming apps.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
This is a fun, nostalgic, behind the scenes romp through the production of seven separate teen tv shows over the span of two decades of television. Feels like a must-read for fans of these particular shows or television in general.
My key complaint is that it is more of a straightforward history and less of an analysis than the title would lead you to believe. The book lacks a thesis, and does not really demonstrate why these *particular* seven shows were chosen over all the other teen programs out there, other than the author liking these shows in particular. She also puts a gloss and shine on these programs, jumping over their messier bits to focus on the moments that stand out in the cultural consciousness. I'm a fan of teen tv too, but we can't deny that Dawson's Creek got incredibly soapy at times, Glee went in some downright bizarre directions in the name of spectacle, and Freaks & Geeks was not beloved by audiences at the time (the author mentions this, but writes that off as some kind of fluke given how masterful the show actually was- what was it about that show that wasn't actually resonating, and why have so many people made their way to it and loved in the decades since?). All the shows she talks about, other than the first, the Fresh Prince, are all extremely white (ok I haven't seen Friday Night Lights, but Michael B. Jordan aside, I think that's also a pretty white show) and the book lacks a critical racial lens.
I wanted more broad discussions about the context of these shows, too. Like, you can keep saying they were departing from the norm in certain ways, but can you remind me what, exactly, was the norm at the times? I guess what I'm saying here is that I didn't like the decision to just focus on these specific shows, instead of assessing teen tv as a whole. Why are we talking about The OC and not talking about One Tree Hill? The single mention of Gossip Girl doesn't give that show its due either. And, to begin the book with the Fresh Prince, but never talk about episodic laugh track sitcom teen shows again felt like a choice - like boy did I watch a ton of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, That's So Raven and Zoey 101 as a teen. The introduction of the book mentions Riverdale and Euphoria, which set a promise the book didn't really deliver. I wish that this book pulled harder on the threads and throughlines of these teen shows, and tied in their impact on modern productions as well. I would have loved to hear how the author thinks teen tv developed into what it is today, and what pieces of the legacy of these earlier shows we can still see on air.
All and all, I want more discourse! I love a history, but I want to know the why and not just the how and when. But, the little nuggets about Adam Brody continuing to improv lines for Seth Cohen until someone called cut, the bit about Alicia Silverstone being too pretty to be cast in "My So Called Life", the drama behind the scenes on Dawson's, are all a fan's dreams come true. Still a huge recommend from me though for fans of these shows for that reason!!
This is a fun, nostalgic, behind the scenes romp through the production of seven separate teen tv shows over the span of two decades of television. Feels like a must-read for fans of these particular shows or television in general.
My key complaint is that it is more of a straightforward history and less of an analysis than the title would lead you to believe. The book lacks a thesis, and does not really demonstrate why these *particular* seven shows were chosen over all the other teen programs out there, other than the author liking these shows in particular. She also puts a gloss and shine on these programs, jumping over their messier bits to focus on the moments that stand out in the cultural consciousness. I'm a fan of teen tv too, but we can't deny that Dawson's Creek got incredibly soapy at times, Glee went in some downright bizarre directions in the name of spectacle, and Freaks & Geeks was not beloved by audiences at the time (the author mentions this, but writes that off as some kind of fluke given how masterful the show actually was- what was it about that show that wasn't actually resonating, and why have so many people made their way to it and loved in the decades since?). All the shows she talks about, other than the first, the Fresh Prince, are all extremely white (ok I haven't seen Friday Night Lights, but Michael B. Jordan aside, I think that's also a pretty white show) and the book lacks a critical racial lens.
I wanted more broad discussions about the context of these shows, too. Like, you can keep saying they were departing from the norm in certain ways, but can you remind me what, exactly, was the norm at the times? I guess what I'm saying here is that I didn't like the decision to just focus on these specific shows, instead of assessing teen tv as a whole. Why are we talking about The OC and not talking about One Tree Hill? The single mention of Gossip Girl doesn't give that show its due either. And, to begin the book with the Fresh Prince, but never talk about episodic laugh track sitcom teen shows again felt like a choice - like boy did I watch a ton of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, That's So Raven and Zoey 101 as a teen. The introduction of the book mentions Riverdale and Euphoria, which set a promise the book didn't really deliver. I wish that this book pulled harder on the threads and throughlines of these teen shows, and tied in their impact on modern productions as well. I would have loved to hear how the author thinks teen tv developed into what it is today, and what pieces of the legacy of these earlier shows we can still see on air.
All and all, I want more discourse! I love a history, but I want to know the why and not just the how and when. But, the little nuggets about Adam Brody continuing to improv lines for Seth Cohen until someone called cut, the bit about Alicia Silverstone being too pretty to be cast in "My So Called Life", the drama behind the scenes on Dawson's, are all a fan's dreams come true. Still a huge recommend from me though for fans of these shows for that reason!!
This book was excellent read on audio . It talked about all the good shows . If you like teen shows read this book
fast-paced
LOVE! I had seen 5/7 of the shows mentioned and I loved hearing behind the scenes info about my favourite shows.
I am now going to watch my so called life bc it sounds amazing and I might even check out Friday night lights
This was so much fun to listen to
I am now going to watch my so called life bc it sounds amazing and I might even check out Friday night lights
This was so much fun to listen to
This was interesting to learn about all the inside drama of the actors and writers of these shows that I grew up in and the risks they took to ensure that they were being authentic to young adults. It was also sad that so many of these fictional families and friendships are now not talking because of on screen/set disagreements.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced