Take a photo of a barcode or cover
78 reviews for:
TV (the Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time
Alan Sepinwall, Matt Zoller Seitz
3.88 AVERAGE
78 reviews for:
TV (the Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time
Alan Sepinwall, Matt Zoller Seitz
3.88 AVERAGE
You can argue with the ultimate rankings therein - and believe me, we did - but the methodology is sound. If I like ER better than Seinfeld, I have to remind myself that even I stopped watching ER eventually, etc. This is fun conversation fodder.
I've had this as "currently reading" for over a year, because I wanted to try read the whole book, but this is impossible because I can't watch every show. However, I have no qualms giving this book 5 stars since the authors are responsible for my TV viewing choices for the last 20 years. I grew up reading the Star Ledger and I wouldn't have known about my all- time favorite shows WHILE THEY WERE ON THE AIR like Freaks and Geeks, Chuck, Scrubs and The Office if it wasn't for them and am forever grateful.
I didn't read it cover to cover. I enjoy both writers, especially Sepinwall, but this is almost more of a reference work since the shows cover such a broad span of time. It was good but I prefer a more in-depth look at a smaller number of shows.
A very well-written analyses of some of the best TV shows to appear on American television. Their list doesn't exactly match my own, but Sepinwall and Zoller Seitz both make very good arguments for why they ranked each show the way that they did. I'm even inspired after reading this to give "Breaking Bad" another go (and to rewatch the brilliance that was "Homocide: Life on the Street" very soon).
I'm glad that they didn't shy away from adding "The Cosby Show" on their list, along with the caveat that Bill Cosby has forever tainted any joy or laughter that the country ever got from watching it. "It was a great show, but one that nobody will want to watch again for a very long time." Damn him again.
I'm glad that they didn't shy away from adding "The Cosby Show" on their list, along with the caveat that Bill Cosby has forever tainted any joy or laughter that the country ever got from watching it. "It was a great show, but one that nobody will want to watch again for a very long time." Damn him again.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A series of essays on the 100 greatest television shows of all time, as ranked by the authors. Inevitably, every essay feels too short as most of these shows deserve an entire book to themselves. Still, this is an enjoyable read and a good examination of TV history.
Few books will ever be more up my alley than TV (The Book). While I may quibble with the choice by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz to not mention Farscape or Stargate SG-1 anywhere in this book, it's still quite an excellent group. So many of my favorites are in here, and I didn't expect all to make it. It's fun to get unique takes on shows that I've watched repeatedly and others that I've never seen. This is a great reference book for checking out both old and new series when you need something new to watch.
Will definitely be a book I turn to again and again. Well argued, covering so many shows I love and so many I am eager to find, too. Would love to hear this as an audio book, too.
Three and a half? I skimmed through certain sections because TV is such a vast and diverse genre/medium that some of it just isn't for me. But I like that it exists.