Television Books

I wish a bit more info had been given on the site, but it was in pretty good condition considering it was 10 years old

Although clearly a labour of love by the author, this is also an entirely professionally written and produced book. Perhaps wisely, it doesn't set out to be a comprehensive, definitive guide to film music composers and their recordings - this would have been impractical both in terms of the writing and the eventual weight of the tome! But what Jon Burlingame has done is to include a mini-biography of just about every important film music composer there has been up to the present day, plus a selection of what he considers to be their best works. This provides both an invaluable reference guide not only to composers but also an interesting debating point as to which of their scores should have been included.

It was pleasing to see a large number of photos of the composers and some record sleeve reproductions. Many potential readers will doubtless be familiar with the likes of John Williams, John Barry, Henry Mancini and Elmer Bernstein, but they'll also get the opportunity to see some 'golden age' composers, like Miklos Rozsa, Alfred Newman, Dimitri Tiomkin and Franz Waxman, as well as relatively unsung heroes such as John Scott, Christopher Young and Rachel Portman, and those more associated with classical music, such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich.

The author's enthusiasm for the subject is very apparent and no stone has been left unturned in order to ensure this book becomes an essential purchase for all lovers of film music. An excellent effort, which is thoroughly recommended, not just to film music aficionados, but also to anybody with an interest in the cinema.

This is a wonderful book. It's lovingly researched and was obviously put together by someone who cares about film music. It's recommended for reference and pleasure alike. Plus, the book has the courage to discriminate---we don't waste our time reading about plagiarists,..... who are not included at all.

Jon Burlingame is nothing short of a hero to many film composers, because in addition to the astounding depth of his knowledge about composers and their work, he shares a tremendous passion for what they do and effortlessly conveys that to his readers. "Sound and Vision" is an essential book for anyone interested in film music, not only because it contains fascinating information that can't be found anywhere else, but because it's written by a greatly respected and dedicated journalist whose enthusiasm for his subject is unparalleled.

In Sound And Vision: 60 Years Of Motion Picture Soundtracks, Jon Burlingame has created an indispensable, seminal, very highly recommended reference guide featuring a detailed history of Hollywood film music on record and compact disc. Also included are up-to-date biographical sketches of soundtrack composers from the inception of the movies down to the present day. Annotated listings of the best-selling, award-winning, or otherwise memorable soundtracks of the past and present (original film scores as well as movie musicals and song-compilation scores) further enhance this marvelous compendium. Of special note is the "user friendly" and comprehensive index so that the reader can quickly reference whether a particular piece of movie music is commercially available.

Calendar was in stellar condition, exactly as described. I highly recommend it to any fan of the oridional series.

This calendar is really fantastic. The pictures are great! Also, it features important dates/birthdays pertaining to the Original Series cast! The font of the calendar is in line with the Star Trek font. This is a great gift for that serious Star Trek Fan! Highly recommend it!

I look forward to the annual classic Star Trek wall calendar. This year was no exception. The pictures are full of color with clean, crisp images. The vibrant colors that classic Trek was famous for come shining through. Nice to liven up any room or to keep as a collectible.

it was a bit banged up when it arrived, but I feel it was no fault of the company that sent it, just the post office which mangles everything. So, over all, the company was prompt in shipping, and made every effort to send it so it wouldn't get bent.

It's been a few years since we last bought one of the Star Trek wall calendars. It's good to have one again. We prefer the original series calendars to the more recent sequels and to the "Ships of the Line." Overall size of the calendar is more than adequate and color photos are great. This year's (2008) version has shots from the original TV series, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and the late DeForest Kelley. We believe each of the first three years of the series are represented. The calendar also has two months with photos from the Star Trek movies, "Wrath of Khan" and "Search for Spock." Key dates related to the series, stars, and international holidays are included. Finally, there's a centerfold of the original starship Enterprise, with a space station floating in the distance. Quite well done.

The book contains some details about mcQueen's life that only the writer knew , that give a hint about how mcQueen viewed life, danger, and speed.
but the photos are mainly advertising ones and not real life.
i would expect more on the life of mcqueen as a person and not only as an actor

A wonderful work of art that captures what made Steve so charismatic and appealing. It leaves you wishing you could see more from other periods in his life. This is a book I will treasure all my life. Thank you Amazon, I would have paid ten times as much for this book. God Rest His Soul.

According to his foreward to this book, the photographer William Claxton met Steve McQueen in 1962 when McQueen was starring with Natalie Woods in LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER. The two men formed a friendship and apparently Mr. Claxton became Mr. McQueen's favorite and most requested photographer. This book of wonderful photographs, covering a couple of years in Mr. McQueen's life from 1962 to 1964, is a result of that brief friendship. Most of the pictures appear to be shot in available light and have a wonderful, informal spontaneity about them impossible to capture in formal portraiture. Both the photographer and subject are comnpletely without pretention.

Mr. Claxton caught Mr. McQueen smiling, clowning and pensive. There are photographs of McQueen in fast cars as well as on motorcycles. Many of the shots were done while Mr. McQueen was working on movies. There are also many pictures of him with family and friends. Most of the shots are in black and white with a few in color. Every time I look at them I find yet another photograph that I think is the best in the book. There is a haunting shot of McQueen with his young daughter where the child, sitting on the floor and resting on her arms, looks into Claxton's camera. We only see her father's legs and feet. (p. 79) Another great shot appears on page 73. McQueen is embracing the family cat. Finally, there's a shot of McQueen lying on a blanket in a large field. His profile is beautifully backlit. Both photographs selected for the front and back covers are fine, informal portraits as well.

This book made me remember how much I enjoyed Steve McQueen's movies and made me sad that he is no longer among us.

A great book, considering it is of a short period in Steve McQueen's life. This is him in his prime captured by a great photographer.

Very comprehensive. Show's a different side of the rough and tumble character known as Steve McQueen. Very entertaining.

Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 2 I love anything to do with Supernatural. I've watched the show from the beginning and this companion book reviews the season and adds interesting tidbits about the cast and writers.

This book and the Season 1 companion are both great books for fans of the show. With tidbits from the creator, writers, actors, and those behind the scenes, there's plenty to read and new things to discover.

The Season 2 companion to Supernatural is a nice way to check back on certain developments you may have forgotten about different episodes and the characters. I also own Season 1 and plan to buy Season 3 - it's great to read about the behind the scenes goings on and how the cast and crew work around any drawbacks that occur.

I love Supernatural. Anything Supernatural gets an automatic 5 million in my book. I love the extra detail included in each companion that gives more facts on the creatures and the explanation as to why the writters decided to make the brothers go after them. Dean and Sam are the BEST!

This is an awesome book to have for fans of Supernatural!! I highly recommend it.

The newest book by Joanne Cantor-Teddy's TV Troubles- takes a positive approach toward the fears of young children, and offers concrete steps a parent can take, along with her child, to ease these fears. Teddy's Mother shares specific activities her mother had used to make her feel safe again. I feel this positive approach is much more effective, than describing all the "horrors" of TV and real life which confront our children. I especially applaud Prof.Cantor involving elementary students, seeing if what she wrote made sense to them.

An authority on media and children, Joanne Cantor draws upon her years of experience and expertise to write Teddy's TV Troubles, a reassuring children's picturebook that charmingly, entertainingly, and effectively assists parents to help their children deal with disturbing material such as that which visually permeates everything from television news broadcasts, to dramatic series, to sitcoms, to afternoon and weekend specials. Very nicely illustrated by Tom Lowes, Teddy's TV Troubles will help parents and care givers to help children acknowledge their fear while knowing they are not alone; show a loveable teddy bear character work through his TV inspired fears with the help of a caring adult; engage in a series of age-appropriate activities (including drawing pictures, creative play, and reassuring bedtime rituals) that will help children overcome their fears. A combination activities book and bed-time reader, Teddy's TV Troubles is ideal for families with children trying cope with what are now daily television doses of the world on terrorism, sniper attacks, child abductions, natural disasters, and presidential campaign ads.

Thanks to a suggestion of good neighbor,my dilema of what to give a six year old great grand daughter for her birthday was wonderfully solved. I bought "Teddy's TV Troubles" by auther Joanne Cantor.Untill I read that book to Hannah, I had no idea of the fears and concerns that linger in childrens minds long after having watched some "children level" tv shows.After a number of readings by both myself and her parents I believe we have helped her understand her fears.We also found that the illustrations were both soothing and exciting for her.So we thank Joanne Cantor for giving both young and old a valuable education !

Teddy's TV Troubles is a new tool in my tool box. I am the Early Childhood Specialist for Stress and Violence Intervention for the Cambridge School Dept. and have purchased four copies of Teddy's TV Troubles to use in preschool classrooms and with parents.
The book with its simple text is effective with young children and Teddy's TV Troubles provides a catalyst for teachers to talk to parents about the impact of frightening images children often see on TV. The illustrations are colorful and attractive to young children and depict the importance of supportive relationships when a child confronts fears. The four copies are in constant circulation. I salute Joanne Cantor for Teddy's TV Troubles, a one of a kind valuable resource.

"Wow! This book is incredible. My daughter asked me all kinds of questions all the way through it and all sorts of things came up. She told me she is scared of monsters like Teddy and that she saw them on TV. After reading the book for a week, she told me she wants to be a big girl and sleep alone like Teddy. She asked me for a stuffed animal (like Teddy has!) and she has been falling asleep completely ALONE (with the stuffed animal), door closed, for two nights!!!!!!!! (Usually takes me an hour rubbing her back)!!! I might have to thank you for saving my marriage of this continues!!! She LOVES the part where they read a book about a bear who saw something scary...she says'Hey that's what we're doing!' every time we get to that part. Thank you sooo much for writing it. Now I need to share it with others! I especially like the tips at the end, what a GREAT idea."


-- Mother of a four-year-old girl in California

In Television Disrupted, Shelly Palmer does a great job at presenting the probable futures of TV. From broadcast to narrowcast, from linear to dynamic and time-shifted,from analog to digital, Shelly explores and tries to anticipate the response of "old media" (networks) to "new media" (networked). How will "IP" and user generated content overcome inertia and established advertising / revenue models? All fascinating questions in a well thought-out framework. In the end and as always consumers will choose and define what is to become a much richer experience known as Television 2.0!

I was very pleased with the vast wealth of information provided in this book. It was easy to understand and covered all aspects of the state of the media world!

This is an excellent overview of all aspects of the television industry and what it is morphing into. I can see this being invaluable to anyone already directly involved in, or on the periphery of this industry.

It is educational as well for those not working in the business, or those looking to invest in the emerging technologies.

This book is a must read for those navigating the changing waters of the media industry. It contains a comprehensive industry overview, insightful analysis of current trends, thought-provoking predictions....and, it's an interesting and entertaining read as well.

Television Disrupted is an excellent book, well written and intelligently describing a wide range of complex topics surrounding traditional TV and internet delivered video. It does a particularly good job in describing the recent changes and potential future directions of the television industry.

Working within the software industry serving traditional television, people have frequently asked me what they can read to build their knowledge of the TV business. Historically, this has been a tough question to answer as there have been a few discrete magazine articles that were interesting, but I was unware of any books that were current, accurate, or made sense about the future of TV. Television Disrupted has solved this dilema by providing a great overview of the historical television industry as well as the massive changes that are pending as the television business takes advantage of the opportunities provided by internet delivered video.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a background actor on the set of a TV show or movie? Dreamed of really being there, on set as an extra?

This book is a must-have guide if you're in those "what if" categories. Jo Kelly is an experienced background actor who got into the business after the death of her well-known actor husband, Jack Kelly, who played Bart Maverick in the late 1950s - early 1960s TV show of the same name. In and around Hollywood for many years during their marriage, Jo, a real estate executive, decided it would be fun to be on set as an actor. And despite her many years as the wife of a well-known industry insider, she wasn't ready for the scams and idiosyncrasies she would come across working in the business. She's a smart woman, though, and a fast learner. This book is the result of her hard-earned lessons.

Jo Kelly's book is a well-put-together pocketbook to carry with you at all times if you're on the road to an acting career--whether you have ideas of becoming a major player, or want to be the best in the background. Filled with firsthand accounts of scenarios you may encounter, and the best way to solve minor and major issues, this book gives you insider information you're not likely to find anywhere else all in one convenient place.

Casting agencies, how to apply, what to wear--or not to wear, how to get your children into the business, work with talent agencies, how to get your SAG card, and helpful points for the disabled are only some points carefully covered for the benefit of the background actor hopeful. "Jo's Take" is included at the end of most of the chapters, giving you the benefit of her experience to help you avoid any of the likely pitfalls you might otherwise come up against--if, of course, you didn't already have this book to help you around them.

And a bonus: a front, back, and centerfold of fun pictures!

although I live in NYC, and this book is geared to LA, a lot of the background info is helpful. I actually emailed the author and she emailed me back! (much to my surprise). For NY residents get backstage Ross Reports for a lot of info you'll need. Certain newsstands carry it, about $10.00. It lists casting agents, etc.

"The Truth about Being an Extra: How to Become a Good Background Actor" by Jo Kelly is an amazing book. Finding each and every page interesting, exciting and filled with valuable information, I read it nonstop from beginning to end. I even found valuable information in the introductory sections before the first chapter and in the information at the end of the book. I devoured this book with enthusiasm from cover to cover! Jo Kelly's writing style is friendly, informative, encouraging, and easy to understand. She provides examples of scams and problems she encountered early in her career as a background actor, and explains how she eventually received many successful jobs in background acting once she learned the ropes. She also provides lists- -including addresses and phone numbers- -of legitimate casting agencies for background actors. After reading Jo Kelly's book, I felt that becoming a background actor is a very real possibility, and that it would be tremendous fun!

In "The Truth About Being An Extra", Jo Kelly (founder of Background Actor Seminars) draws upon her years of professional experience as a veteran background actor and her personal insights as a former celebrity wife to reveal "inside secrets" to becoming a successful "background actor", that is, one of those folks you see in movie and television scenes of crowds, passers-by, restaurant diners, etc. Readers will also learn of scams and pitfalls that can happen to naive actors accepting walk-on, background roles in movies, television and commercials when they register with casting agencies. A compendium of solid film industry information, invaluable advice for newcomers, illustrative anecdotal stories of her own experiences, practical tips for securing background acting jobs, locating legitimate casting agencies, as well as becoming both comfortable and professional on the set, "The Truth To Being An Extra" should be found in every college Theatre Department's reference collection and considered "must reading" for anyone aspiring to a background acting gig.

This is a quick read that is full of interesting tidbits of information providing a rare glimpse into the world of working as a background actor in the movies. It is not a detailed guide by any means but it does give the reader an overview of many things aspiring "extra" needs to consider as they travel this career path.

Author Jo Kelly comes across as knowledgeable and very personable in her style of writing. Kelly generously shares her knowledge to help newcomers avoid some of the mistakes she made. Her numerous stories from the trenches offer insights into how the real world works and serves up helpful warnings for the neophyte.

The author offers many very specific recommendations with all the necessary contact details. Unfortunately, for readers outside California, the contacts in "The Truth About Being An Extra" seem to only apply for those in Los Angeles (Hollywood). Other interested readers could probably use these listings as a guide and seek out comparable resources in their own part of the world. For example, Canadian actors might find the book useful for its general advice but then need to go a step further. They would need to seek out the agents, agencies, and specific organizations that are relevant in Canada if that's where they plan to start their career as a background actor.

Kelly discusses both general and specific issues. She mentions child actors, parents of child actors, and actors with disabilities as examples of situations with unique considerations. The glossary of the vocabulary used in the industry adds even more clarity.

As a complete outsider to the world of movie making, I came away feeling I had a bit of insider knowledge about the day-to-day reality of a career as a movie extra. It was a bonus to also learn Kelly's fascinating personal story about how she happened to write this book. Widowed in the early 1990's, her original goal was to make a career change by breaking into the world of background acting! Once she learned to be a good movie extra, she then moved on to give presentations, run seminars, and write this book.

What makes this story within the story so interesting is that she had a major hurdle to overcome first - she had to conquer her fear of public speaking. She gladly credits Toastmasters for helping her deal with that challenge. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Enhanced with more than 3,700 full color covers from America's most popular, iconic, and widespread weekly magazine, "TV Guide: The Official Collectors Guide" compiled by Stephen F. Hofer (Curator of the Philo T. Farnsworth Television History Center, Auburn, Indiana, and who himself is the owner of one of the largest collections of TV Guide magazines and memorabilia in the United States) covers all the national and regional digest size covers from April 10, 1953 to October 9, 2005. Included are TV Guide foldout covers, holographic covers, and multiple covers. For the antique dealer and hobbyist collector, each issue has the current secondary market prices listed. Featuring memorable quotes from TV Guide and from television shows, "TV Guide: The Official Collectors Guide" is more than a price guide compendium, (and a superb history of the magazine itself), it is also a very highly recommended tour of American television programming through more than fifty years of popular culture.

I was so happy to receive the TV Guide Official Collector's Guide, it is a great publication!! It has a lot more information than I expected - comments by stars over the years and much more!! It is very colorful and I will enjoy reading it for years to come. My 45 year old son has a collection of TV Guides and I know he will be interested in seeing the publication to see if the ones he has are valuable! Thank you

The episode of Seinfeld where Frank Costanza was noted to be a collector of TV Guide pretty much cemented that publication's place in the lore of pop culture. Now, from Bangzoom publishers comes "TV Guide" the official Collector's Guide. A lot of collector's books claim to be the only book you'd ever need to own but this one truly fits the bill. With over 3700 pictures, and every national and regional TV Guide cover pictured from 4/10/1953 through 10/19/2005 this is truly the ultimate resource for not only collectors, but fans of the magazine as well.

With a foreward by senior TV Guide editor Michael Davis, the book provides info geared towards the collector on where to buy, grading, and preserving your TV Guide collection. The cover subjects are what drives the price of back issues with the very first issue featuring the baby Desi Arnaz Jr. being the most valuable. While I've never collected TV Guide I was a long-time Comic Book collector and basically TV Guides should be kept and stored the same way...in protective bags and ideally in acid free storage boxes.

The guide provides a 19 page history of the magazine as well as a look at TV shows and trends by decade from the 40's through the 2000's; everything from Milton Berle and Howdy Doody to Lost and American Idol. I was born in the 1960's and love many of the shows from that era even though I didn't watch many in their initial runs. It wasn't until syndicated re-runs in the 1970's that I came to adore shows such Bewitched, Gomer Pyle, and Green Acres. As noted in the book, The Brady Bunch was never a top-rated show, but you'd hardly know that since it has gone on to become one of the most syndicated shows in history and a true TV legend.

Next up is 213 pages which show each of those covers from 1953 through 2005 in full color and it's like a trip on a wonderful time machine to page through the decades to see many of the actors and shows that you remember so fondly, and many you may have forgotten such as The Governor and J.J. One TV Guide trend that seems to have ended some time in the early 80's was featuring Santa Claus on the cover of a December issue. The book concludes with a 68 page index and value guide for each issue and doubles as a handy checklist for collectors.

Whether you are storing issues away chronologically like Frank Costanza, or just have a life long love of TV, you are certain to find something to enjoy in this fabulous book.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This book has several major flaws. For a start, there is no index. The only way to locate covers with your favorite stars or shows is to browse the pages year-by-year.

The price guide only gives values for "mint condition" issues, with no guidelines for how to adjust value for copies in less than mint condition. (Most collectors' guides give a range of prices based on condition.)

It would have been nice if they had included some lists, such as: the most valuable issues; issues with multiple covers; people who have appeared on the most covers; etc. All of these things are mentioned in the text, but there is no way to look them up except by browsing every listing.

Despite these flaws, this is still an invaluable book for collectors, because of it's comprehensive checklist.

A mind-bending, if not surreal, parade of TV trivia presented week by week, year by year, era by era. Every single TV Guide cover is shown in true color, from April '53 to the first mag-size issue from autumn of last year. They're arranged as text would be on each page, left-to-right, top-to-bottom and IN ORDER on each page, dated and readily viewable. They even include full displays of all fold-out covers, as well as every version of each multiple cover, such as the one which had to be updated at Michael Landon's death, different regional sport-season previews, and the 25-cover tribute to all the Star Trek cast.

The book is in 3 main sections:
1) A 26-page section of blurb overseeing the history of TV Guide and background trivia of many of the covers
2) The section displaying the covers themselves, and
3) A listing of all covers (with dates and captions) and their collectible worth in mint condition.

It is bound in durable yet manageable paperback binding.

Anyone can invent their own TV trivia diversions just by scanning through this book (i.e. what are the earliest covers featuring people who are still alive? or Who has appeared the most times? or How did TV Guide handle documentarial times and issues [JFK's assassination, 9-11, the advent of cable & PBS etc.], or When did one televion era end, and another begin? and the like). The price list section also serves as an easier-to-count ready-reference of all the cover headings.

Mad Magazine presented a similar, also top-rate, timeline of all their covers a few years ago upon the advent of their 400th issue. The first such resource to incorporate all the TV Guide digest covers certainly doesn't disappoint.

Give props for writer/filmmaker/critic Cheo Coker for doing such a fine job of this book. And for Vibe magazine for keeping the legacy of Biggie alive. Who would've a remarkable talent like this will leave too early, too soon? This man had it all from his early childhood, to making grades at school, drug dealing, having trouble with the law and now leaving behind to start a new regime. First of all, he wasn't just a rapper or the Greatest per se, he wasn't just Notorious B.I.G. He was a man that been thru the storms and the upbeats and downs. It's more than the music, it's more than the lifestyle, this was the American Way at the time. What if Tupac and Biggie would never been caught up between East Coast and West Coast? What if they live a little longer to see the day and not be killed? I said it before this book details everything goes around and behind the sets here. Best Wishes for the new movie NOTORIOUS coming this January 2009. Let us learn the lessons and mistakes of the two beloved artists [Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.] that made thru in they lifetimes and how they dreams became reality. Welcome to pass that on to our other generations and older alike. Rest in Peace Biggie you were on top.

Coker has written a readable, entertaining, and comprehensive biography of the man who became, rather improbably, the greatest rapper of all time. Focusing on his life, his titanic talent, his character, and the intrinsic grace of his storytelling, this book does not dwell on the petty rivalries that engrossed the media and dominated most discussions about Biggie Smalls. This book is overwhelmingly positive; in fact, the author seems somewhat infatuated with the subject, and this is the only reason I do not give the book 5 stars. For instance, Coker does not dwell on how Biggie exaggerated the poverty and depravation of his childhood to a great degree. But overall it is a great book that gives a solid feel of the life and times of the King of N-Y, although it is a bit of a puff piece.

Book Review: The Life, Death, And Afterlife of Notorious Of Big

By: Cheo Hodon Coker






The Notorious B.I.G. aka "Biggie" has left the rap game in body, but his music lives

on. Unbelievable; The life, death, and afterlife of The Notorious Big which was written

By: Cheo Hodon Coker. I gave it a five star rating; because it gave a better

understanding of Biggie problems and emotion that he faced on the streets of Brooklyn,

New York to the Hills of Hollywood, California. Coker makes it clear that Biggie

conquered the music industry with his street rhythms to win number of awards. Never

the less he come short to explain why when Biggie saw his wife Faith they did not talk to

each other for the last time.


The book was a good Biography of Notorious Big. It rest; fill with a lot of street

talking just as know Biggie to talk on a day to day bases. The book makes it seem as if

McPherson 2




Biggie was the person telling the story that how good the book is. It also explores a lot

of interesting issues that not many people are willing to talk about. Biggie had attended

Catholic School and getting a lot of things from his mother, who was a teacher, young

Biggie did not have much to do.


By the age of 16 he had dropped out of High School and had become a crack dealer.

Coker often said in the book that biggie just wanted more. Sean Combs, a Music

Producer, who pay Biggie money to stop selling crack. Biggie would not stop

because he had just had a baby and the music was not giving him the money he wanted

Combs one time had to went down south to get Biggie, because Biggie was down there

selling crack. Biggie often says that he did not think that he could make it in the rap

game.

Then come the war "East Coast" VS "West Coast", which the Media put a lot of

paper to the Fire and made it bigger. It ended up with the death of Tupac death, and then

soon it would be Biggie turn.

Over the entire book was a success I would recommend that people take out of there

busy life and read this book, most of all the rappers in the music busy now. It would also

help to stop the "Beefing" of rappers.

This book is Big as biggie smallz, i always respected Biggie smallz and i always wanted to know who really was Christopher wallace and when you read it you just fell pain for his mother, cause christopher was the son every mother want to have, this nigga could have done everything to see the people around him happy, when you read this you see how Biggie would never done nothing whrong to 2pac ,every hip hop fan have to buy this cause we all know many things about 2pac life but finally we don't know nothing about Biggie smalls , before reading this i was taking Big as the best flow hip hop will never had, after reading this book i thing that this fella was the realest hip hop will never have , i want to tell all the 2pac fan who take Biggie as the so called greatest to never forgot that 2pac has 6 lps before his death and Biggie got 2 only, this nigga was at the begining of his career and he was on his way to be the mike anyone jordan , jackson of hip hop!at the reading of this book you see that the 2 dearly legend of hip hop was two friend with nothing in common but with everything complementary, so enjoy cause this may not be the best biography i've read it's arleady one of the best ... it's 25 years full of love, pain, drugs,sex, guns , talent,women and many more!

A must read for anyone interested in the history of hip hop. Before I read it, I had only heard of the Notorious B.I.G. Now I feel as though I know him - personally.

During the 90's, when gansta rap and the East coast vs. West coast fight broke out, I was too busy working on my Bachelor's and Master's degrees to pay much attention to anything else.
I had also heard of Suge Knight and Sean Combs, but only from newspaper reports. Reading this book really filled in a lot of the details for me. Suge Knight is portrayed in a postive light as really caring for his artists and seeing to it that they were treated right. He became violent only when he thought that those artists were being taken advantage of, and that they (as well as he) were losing part of the money they were entitled to. I had always wondered what had prompted this violent streak of his. I remember the newspapers would only report the latest incidents, never try to explain them. The book also explains what it is, in fact, that Sean Combs does. I had always wondered: Is he a rapper? A producer? An executive? And, how did he amass so much money? Combs had always been a mystery to me. To some extent, he still is, but the book goes a long way toward solving this riddle too.

This book explores many interesting puzzles like these and shows how intricate relationships within the hip hop community had become, even by the 90's. Biggie Smalls is portrayed as a flawed yet sympathetic character. At first, he's a child attending Catholic school in uniform, who feels different from all the others hanging out on the corner. His mother is a teacher, he's fatherless, and while not rich, he's by no means poor. His mother gets all the latest gear for him so he doesn't go out and get in trouble. As he grows older, however, the lure of quick profits grows stronger, so that by the time he's 16, he's dropped out of school and become a full-time crack dealer. The book wants us to believe this is so he can buy even more of the latest gear, and that he's never statisfied with what he's got. I'm not sure that that's the whole story, but surely his life was never as bleak as what he depicted later in some of his songs. One gets the feeling that somewhere along the line, something just isn't right - either with the world, or with Biggie. Then, once Biggie becomes a rap star, he says in the book that he never expected to, that rapping was just a hobby and that the profession he had actually chosen was that of the crack dealer. So, we're expected to believe that this rap star thing just happened as a fluke, and came just as much as a surprise to him as to the rest of the world. Maybe all this is so, but if it isn't, the book makes no alternative explanations, nor even attempts to. All we're left with, instead, is an incomplete portrayal of the man who would later become known as the Notorious BIG. All in all, despite the inadequacies in the portrayal, one is still able to admire and respect the genius and charisma of this man. This is both a tribute to the man and to the author. It makes us aware that even legends have character pitfalls, yet we're still able to remember and love them for who they were.

Garry Marshall writes like he talks: FUNNY. His tales of happiness, hard work and inspiration are as entertaining as they are informative. This book has no lag, and actually should serve as a textbook to aspiring directors. I loved this book.

Garry Marshall is a true gem in Hollywood. He is a beloved and respected producer/director/writer/actor who never takes himself too seriously to appreciate life and his family and friends. In his own humorous way, Garry tells his story from his humble beginnings to his incredible career in TV and film. He has worked with some of the top actors in Hollywood and it is a total delight to read about the behind the scenes making of HAPPY DAYS, MORK AND MINDY and LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY along with his films BEACHES, FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, NOTHING IN COMMON and PRETTY WOMAN. Garry tells it like it is and doesn't hold back when talking about actors and studio executives. He also admits to his fondness for nepotism. Good timing and luck put Garry in the right place at the right time and he shared his good fortune with his sister Penny Marshall by helping launch her career. The book is filled with insight and revelations. Garry's anecdotes are too humorous to miss. How did they come up with the famous opening for LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY? How did he come to cast Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in MORK & MINDY? Despite budget restraints, Garry was able to create a very memorable opening for Bette Midler in the film BEACHES. It's fascinating to read how Garry created some of our most beloved TV shows and films. When a problem arose with a production, Garry found a solution. He never hestitates to admit to his failures and mistakes and never fails to give credit to others who have supported him. WAKE ME WHEN IT'S FUNNY is inspiring and a great motivator for anyone trying to aspire in any field...not just TV or film. Garry's honest and down to earth insight will leave the reader wanting more.

Pretty Woman has been my favorite movie since I saw in in the theater at the age of fifteen and since then Garry Marshall has been my favorite director. But Garry proved what a great person he is when I attended a book signing for this book back in 1995. I was only twenty, and pretty much the only young woman in line. Most of the people in line were young men giving him treatments, which really disgusted me. But when I finally got up there I just stared at him, the first thing he said to me was that I was very pretty, so I started crying like the girl that I am. He held my hands and just smiled at me, and I told him that Pretty Woman was my favorite movie and thanked him for making it and told him that I wanted to be an actress, so he signed my book "Andrea a very Pretty Woman here's hoping you Happy Days as an actress." that made me cry as well:) His daughter Lori was also very sweet which just proves what a great dad he is as well.

As for the book, of course it's fabulous! You get to learn behind the scenes info on, of course Pretty Woman, but all his other shows and movies as well. His sense of humor cracks me up, especially when he overheard someone talking about Exit To Eden saying "That movie was so bad he doesn't deserve to be Penny Marshalls father!" I laughed SOO hard at that. Not to mention that you can't help but love a director who thanks his wife at the end of every one of his films.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the ends and outs of the entertainment industry from a vetern who knows what he's talking about!:)

This book is a joy! Garry Marshall is a fine writer of jokes for stand-up comedians of yore, sitcoms &, apparently, of full-length show biz autobiographies. He discusses his life in an extremely entertaining way. His asides - about moviemaking, camerawork & tips on the directing/producing process - are enjoyable for everyone, not just aspiring filmmakers. There are (truly) laugh out loud sections as well (Two Words: Kathi Wathi)...this is a man who seems to live his life with passion & decency & drive, ALWAYS with the added bonus of humor. Yes, he dishes the "dirt" about his celeb peers, but in a completely non-malicious way. Best of all, here's a man who accomplishes much but doesn't take himself too seriously. Good-humored, good-hearted, crisply written & hilarious. Can't recommend this book highly enough!

A most amazing book about a most amazing man. Follow Mr. Marshall's assertive and generally hilarious approach to breaking into the world of comedy writing - and beyond. The book is a bit of a family affair (forward by sister Penny Marshall, and co-authored by daughter, Lori) chronicling his often hysterical trek from an allergy-laden childhood to the life of a very successful actor, writer, producer, and director. I've had the unique pleasure of meeting this man in person, and he truly is as determined, grounded and compassionate a man as this book reflects...all with that sparkling sense of humor!