Scan barcode
blaineduncan's review against another edition
3.0
The book is likely designed to be read in sections, not as a whole; therefore, it repeats facts often, sometimes within the same chapter.
The other downside is that the author seems obsessed with Emmy nominations and wins, devoting at least a paragraph in each section to list them.
The divisions are well established and fun enough; I respect the attempt to pinpoint key evolutionary points of television, even if some of them are too based on Emmy wins.
I'd give it 2.5/5 stars.
The other downside is that the author seems obsessed with Emmy nominations and wins, devoting at least a paragraph in each section to list them.
The divisions are well established and fun enough; I respect the attempt to pinpoint key evolutionary points of television, even if some of them are too based on Emmy wins.
I'd give it 2.5/5 stars.
bobednj's review against another edition
3.0
Workmanlike review of the major influential shows by genre over the seventy plus years of the history of television.
nilocennis's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think it really coalesced into any kind of grand thesis other than "art is iterative, so too is television," but it's a fun enough survey of different genres of television. Bianculli is comprehensive, though I'm sure it's inevitable that every reader will feel a certain show has been excluded (where's my Lost?), but in terms of genres, the only obvious place I feel Bianculli skipped is reality TV. Would be easy enough to trace it from something like this:
- The Real World
- Survivor
- American Idol
- The Apprentice
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
I know the above list is mostly competition, while the last is something different entirely, but I think that, regardless of what you think of the genre, the reality TV phenomenon has shaped the American landscape more than maybe any other genre; Bianculli was writing in 2015 and 2016, witnessing a former TV host on his way to the presidency . . . his due date was likely long before anyone realized Trump would win (he references the writing during his profile on Garry Shandling, who died that year, and opens the Cosby Show section with a long section on how Cliff Huxtable and the show itself might be viewed in light of Cosby's then-alledged crimes . . . the pre-#MeToo profiles of Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. contain nothing of the sort. Can't blame him for not knowing, but damn, talk about bad timing), but given the size of programs like Survivor and American Idol and their responsibility for the current moment, it feels like a miss.
The writing itself is bright and cheery, Bianculli's enthusiasm for the work shines through, and it's readable throughout -- even if there is a bit of a tendency to name-drop. To be fair, the guy built a hell of a career from a $5 SNL review. Maybe this is just envy - if only there had been a Platinum Age of TV Criticism as well.
- The Real World
- Survivor
- American Idol
- The Apprentice
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
I know the above list is mostly competition, while the last is something different entirely, but I think that, regardless of what you think of the genre, the reality TV phenomenon has shaped the American landscape more than maybe any other genre; Bianculli was writing in 2015 and 2016, witnessing a former TV host on his way to the presidency . . . his due date was likely long before anyone realized Trump would win (he references the writing during his profile on Garry Shandling, who died that year, and opens the Cosby Show section with a long section on how Cliff Huxtable and the show itself might be viewed in light of Cosby's then-alledged crimes . . . the pre-#MeToo profiles of Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. contain nothing of the sort. Can't blame him for not knowing, but damn, talk about bad timing), but given the size of programs like Survivor and American Idol and their responsibility for the current moment, it feels like a miss.
The writing itself is bright and cheery, Bianculli's enthusiasm for the work shines through, and it's readable throughout -- even if there is a bit of a tendency to name-drop. To be fair, the guy built a hell of a career from a $5 SNL review. Maybe this is just envy - if only there had been a Platinum Age of TV Criticism as well.
carmanj's review against another edition
5.0
Really liked reading this. I could definitely hear Bianculli's voice as I was reading since I've heard him for years on NPR's Fresh Air. Definitely appreciated reading about important TV broadcasts from the 50s and 60s. The only trouble is the list of TV shows I must see is only getting longer!
bookishobserver's review against another edition
3.0
If you at all love television and nerd out about it as I do, this is a book you need to read. It's well-researched, informative, and loaded with things that were just fun to learn.
leaton01's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a pretty comprehensive look at 20th-century television and some of the best and seminal moments of TV history. Bianculli has been writing about television for since 1975 and his knowledge and love of the form is quite evident in how he traces the lineage of different shows, writers, actors, directors, etc. He knows his stuff and he's clearly excited to be sharing his life's work with readers. His work moves through each genre, first by defining it and articulating the ground-breakers through the years from inception to (2016) present and then by providing a narrative that strings these together, making sure to highlight particular shows, episodes, controversial (or funny) anecdotes, and other interesting elements. He usually follows these with spotlights of particular key figures in this genre where delves deeper into their career and life. Some of it doesn't age well having been published in 2016. While the Cosby allegations were in full swing and he acknowledges that, his adulations of Louis C.K. and Kevin Spacey among others. Additionally, his focus does necessarily feel adequate. He spends a substantial amount of time on sit-coms, even breaking them up into home, work, and split sub-genres but then lumps in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror in a way that hints as an unfamiliarity or an absense of recognition of their legitimacy as respectable genres. However, if you want one of the best comprehensive explorations of storytelling in televsion, Bianculli delivers one of the best takes.
More...