Television Books

In my opinion, Bob and Ray's stuff from the 1950's is by far their best. Then they were young, fresh - and often improvisatory! Classic Bob and Ray Volume 1 includes four episodes of "Matt Neffer, Boy Spotwelder", which has to be the most surreal, dream-like, (and utterly pointless) series ever conceived. There are also episodes of "One Fella's Family", another of B & R's great pieces. The bits with "Arthur Sturdley"
(a take-off on radio personality Arthur Godfrey) are priceless!

B & R's capacity for voices and characterization is amazing.
This little-known comedy duo will bring you endless laughter, joy, and emotional health. Long live Bob and Ray!

Note: I know that "Family" was a parody of the popular soap opera "On Man's Family" and of the show "Vic and Sade". But what was "Matt Neffer" based on, if anything? I'd be interested to know.

In my opinion, Bob and Ray's stuff from the 1950's is by far their best. Then they were young, fresh - and often improvisatory! Classic Bob and Ray Volume 1 includes four episodes of "Matt Neffer, Boy Spotwelder", which has to be the most surreal, dream-like, (and utterly pointless) series ever conceived. There are also episodes of "One Fella's Family", another of B & R's great pieces. The bits with "Arthur Sturdley"
(a take-off on radio personality Arthur Godfrey) are priceless!

B & R's capacity for voices and characterization is amazing.
This little-known comedy duo will bring you endless laughter, joy, and emotional health. Long live Bob and Ray!

Note: I know that "Family" was a parody of the popular soap opera "On Man's Family" and of the show "Vic and Sade". But what was "Matt Neffer" based on, if anything? I'd be interested to know.

Bob and Ray: Tippy the Wonder Dog; Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife; Mr. Science; and Prodidgy Street are just a few of my personal favorites. These wonders of comedy fill my heart with wonder and delight as Mary opens a fast-food toast restaurant or Gustav Groundhog sells merchendise. Bob and Ray surely were ahead of their times with witty, sharp stories that make you wonder... do dogs REALLY make ginger-ale soup?

In my opinion, Bob and Ray's stuff from the 1950's is by far their best. Then they were young, fresh - and often improvisatory! CLASSIC BOB AND RAY VOLUME 1 includes four episodes of "Matt Neffer, Boy Spotwelder", which has to be the most surreal, dream-like, (and utterly pointless) series ever conceived. There are also episodes of "One Fella's Family", another of B & R's great pieces. The bits with "Arthur Sturdley"
(a take-off on radio personality Arthur Godfrey) are priceless! So are the episodes of "Insomniac Theatre" and the reports from Wally Ballou and Artie Schermerhorn. B & R's capacity for voices and comic characterization is amazing. This little-known comedic duo will bring you endless laughter, joy, and emotional health. Long live Bob and Ray! And don't forget to buy THE BEST OF BOB AND RAY and BOB AND RAY, THE LOST EPISODES as well!

Note: I know that "One Fella's Family" was a parody of the popular soap opera "On Man's Family" and of the show "Vic and Sade". But what was "Matt Neffer" based on, if anything? I'd be interested to know.

Bob and Ray: Tippy the Wonder Dog; Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife; Mr. Science; and Prodidgy Street are just a few of my personal favorites. These wonders of comedy fill my heart with wonder and delight as Mary opens a fast-food toast restaurant or Gustav Groundhog sells merchendise. Bob anr Ray surely were ahead of their times with witty, sharp stories that make you wonder... do dogs REALLY make ginger-ale soup?

...and yes, someone needs to undertake a follow-up volume for the new episodes. However, this would be an intimidating task because Dawidziak has writen such a tremendous volume.

This is a great book rich with detail and exclusive interviews. I've read - and reread - the book a number of times.

This is a fine book - I've read it cover-to-cover. It's all you need if you are interested in the fumbling, bumbling ways of this great detective.

I hope that Mark Dawidziak revises it someday to include the newer additions to the Columbo saga.

This fine book shows just the sort of attention to detail the great detective would appreciate. It is a work of love, and is a good read for any fan of Columbo. The only problem is that the book is a little out of date now - well over a dozen episodes have screened since the last one listed. A new edition is in order. Please, please, give us the REST of the story!

I refer to the book many times when I watch Columbo episodes I've taped over the years. I think it's a great book, but like others, I think it should either be updated, or a sequel book, possibly titled "The Columbo Phile - Just One More Thing" that just covers the newer cases and updates the statistics (such as how many times William Shatner has been a murderer on Columbo, which used to be 1 and now is 2). Maybe they could use color photos in it, too.

Companions of the Blest was my favorite book this year. The characters were believable and likeable. It's a very interesting story and one I didn't want to end.

An absolute joy to read. The author has done an excellent job of intricately weaving important Texas historical events and characters into the evolution of his fictitious family in modern Hill Country society. I highly recommend it.

Jim Boyd has captured the essence of the people that live on the land in the Texas Hill Country better than any other. His descriptions of this wild, and still untamed part of Texas, put me right out there in the that magical country right along with the characters in the story. I had trouble putting the book down because I longed so much for Mac Taylor and Rene to ride off in the sunset together - unfortunately this was not to be. A really great read. In the past I have been blessed to know many Mac Taylors, my own father was indeed one of them. The author is most correct on this point: the Mac Taylors of the world are disappearing from my own personal view, and I doubt seriously that I'll see many more like them in this lifetime.

Companions of the Blest captures the essence of Texas culture. Reading the book is every bit as good as attending a concert by Willie -- or Ray Price.

The culture portrayed in the book endures in spite of increasing urbanization. Hopefully, the spirit of Mac Taylor and Juanita Navarro will remain a part of who we are and what we stand for.

I greatly enjoyed the book, and I'm buying copies for friends.

An absolute joy to read. The author has done an excellent job of intricately weaving important Texas historical events and characters into the evolution of his fictitious family in modern Hill Country society. I highly recommend it.

The best book about David Bowie, in a non-bio way.
The meat of the book are its song by song chapter, and album by album chapter.
The song by song covers every Bowie song, taking about its form and whats its about.
The album by album chapter covers each album in great detail.
The book also has chapters about Bowie's art, acting, videos, ect. In all it has nearly everything you'll need to know about David Bowie's career.

If you are a Bowie fan, this is must reading. Pegg is extremely accurate, and his accounts of the songs Bowie has written and the stories about how the songs were recorded are fascinating. He does a great job tying Bowie's lyrics and music to places and times in Bowie's life, creating a full picture of all that was happening. The accounts of Bowie's tours and albums are accurate and excellent reading, very concise without being wordy or over the top. To get the complete picture of Bowie the entertainer buy this book. I have been a huge fan of Bowie since 1984 and this is the best book ever done on him.

The Complete David Bowie is definitely the best account of David's work, presenting in the first part of the book each and every song he has ever written or sung and continues with his albums, singles, movies and live appearances.

Don't get me wrong, Nicolas Pegg has done a great and painstaking job and the book is a great source if you're going to write a thesis on Bowie(!), but I wouldn't call it fun reading, mostly because of its structure, which is similar to that of a dictionary or encyclopedia! However, there are many interesting facts and quotes that will draw your attention, and you get to hear the explanation of many of his songs from David! -e.g. I didn't know what the theme of Heathen (The Rays) was and why it brought tears to his eyes in one of his concerts...

I think it's a very good and detailed piece of work, as long as you know what you're getting!

As a collector of Bowie's music, I found this book invaluable. It filled in some gaps in my understanding of the great ones music and cleverly clarifies the evolution process from one Bowie phase to the next.
The book makes reference to many rare and unreleased songs which is vital to a serious collector.
It is written plainly and factually with no hint of worship.
If you are only concerned with Bowie's music then this is the book for you. Essential.

The Complete David Bowie is definitely the best account of David�s work, presenting in the first part of the book each and every song he has ever written or sung and continuing with his albums, singles, movies and live appearances.

Don�t get me wrong, Nicolas Pegg has done a great and painstaking job and the book is a great source if you�re going to write a thesis on Bowie(!), but I wouldn�t call it fun reading, mostly because of its structure, which is similar to that of a dictionary or encyclopedia! However, there are many interesting facts and quotes that will draw your attention, and you get to hear the explanation of many of his songs from David! �e.g. I didn�t know what the theme of Heathen (The Rays) was and why it brought tears to his eyes in one of his concerts�

I think it�s a very good and detailed piece of work, as long as you know what you�re getting!

Finally, a book not on how to design, but rather the experiences of many famous and wonderfully talented Costume Designers. This book gives a glimpse into the real world of Costume Design. I hear she is going to re-do the book in order to have it published again. How much information will change, I do not know. Either way, it is a very unique book for the subject matter and a fascinating read.

This book is great, if you want to be a costume designer or just interested in it this book is for you. It has a lot of good pictures and just really awesome!

This book is ideal for anyone interested in fashion or costume, and the creative process that goes into the creation of design. Landis, a costume designer herself, interviews most of the best costume designers working in film today. So unlike other books on costume design, where you get one person's opinion on the craft--and that person is usually a critic or academic who doesn't really have experience working in the field--here you get straight information direct from the creative people themselves.

The pictures are fabulous, so I think this book has appeal for anybody interested in clothes, movies, or design. Obviously, it will be a necessity for anyone interested in costume design or interested in being a costume designer.

Although there is a section on Landis' work on such movies as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Coming to America, she has obviously expertly edited the interviews that make up the text of the book. It seems as if the reader is sitting in the living room of these famous costume designers, chatting casually about how they got started, what inspires them, and some of their most interesting professional experiences.

Besides Edith Head, how many costume designers can you actually name? This book is a phenomenal collection of interviews with some of the best working film costume designers. You get a rare insight into what it's like to design for the stars, collaborate with the director and other craftsmen/women on a film set. Hollywood is well represented, but international designers get their due here as well. Designers describe what it's like to design for the much-lauded period films and the often-overlooked costumes of contemporary films (the author is herself an Oscar-nominated costume designer for "Coming to America"). The book includes lots of color photos and illustrations. You don't have to be a film historian to appreciate it.

This book is invaluable for anyone interested in learning about costume design--from the designers themselves. Fourteen highly accomplished designers discuss their craft in highly engaging and informative interviews, conducted by the author, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, herself an Academy Award-nominated costume designer. This is the kind of stuff that is usually neglected in "Making Of" film books and Hollywood history tomes. The interviews are augmented by hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs and costume sketches, which in themselves are more than worth the price of the book. Highly recommended!

I find this was a refreshing view point of a designer.He went into the nuts and bolts of the business,not just the artistic side. I enjoyed the book so much I ordered a copy for a gifted student of mine.

From the very first chapter, the author made it seem like he was speaking directly to me. This book is definitely for someone who is interested in Costume Design and wants to know absolutely everything about it, in detail (not for someone already in the field and familiar with how it works). It's not just a book that I'll read and then retire to my bookshelf. As I continue to aspire to be a costume disigner, this book will stay by my side for a long time. The ideas he gives you in the first chaper on how to break down the script is easy to learn, with practice. I urdge anyone who is interested in this field to buy this book first.

A graduation requirement for my high school is a year-long senior research project on a subject we choose. This project includes a year-long research portfolio, a piece of work applying the research, as well as a 20-30 minute presentation. I decided to research costume design for films. The first book I found was this book by Richard La Motte, and it was the most helpful book out of all 27 that I read for my research project. This book not only tells of costume designing itself, it shows what goes on behind the curtain, the business of it, the organization and preparation involved in costume design, etc. This book truly is a costume designer's manual. There is so much helpful information written in a clear way, there are examples in the book that help the reader understand the information even more clearly, as well as some designs by the author himself. This book helped me ace my Senior Project, and also inspired me to study and pursue costume design for films.

This book is probably THE most informative book I have ever read, irregardless of the subject. Everthing you need to know about costume design is here, in this book. Critical information when contemplating a career, that you cannot get in a classroom. The author has been there, worked in the "trenches", for years, has had a successful career, and is now willing to share years of accumulated knowledge. I was amazed at all I gained from this book.

I found this book to be incredibly useful. Even though I work in stage theater, its information is immediately applicable for all levels of productions. It has tips for organizational skills, outlines of how things work, who does what, advice on how to manage your time, working with actors, dealing with unexpected problems, etc.

I've read it several times and each time I get something new out of it. Read this book, apply it, and you will be a shining star that gets hired again and again for productions.

Being a huge Dawson's Creek fan, I just had to purchase this book and am I glad I did! The postcards are great! They truly capture the essence of the show!

Because I have already made it clear that I love Dawson's Creek, it's obvious that I would love this! The poscards are great! The pictures help to show why the show is so great!

My name is Jenn and I want to be just like Jenn on the show. she is my role model. i hope to one day be as experienced as her. think about it she gets to fool around with Dawson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is sooo awsome. I love the pictures and of course I will never send them. Ther just to cool. In all the pictures Pacey is soo cute. I love this postcard book!

I loved this postcard book. All the photos are great! I would NEVER actually send these postcards to anyone because the pictures are just too great!

Mister Rogers clearly had a way with children and adults when he was alive, and his words still have a powerful effect. When reading this book, you do feel that he is talking to you, addressing your concerns and helping you. The selection of letters is just right for getting his points across without overkill or over-emotion.

Although this book was written for adults, you can read it to your children and they would probably enjoy it. You learn lots of the inside things about the show that are fun to know or point out to your kids. Understanding that this is a book geared towards adults, you will learn lots of things that will help you understand children. You will also find parts of the book to be funny and touching. I have enjoyed the book and would recommend it for Mister Rogers' fans.

I bought this book primarily as a gift for my cousin, whose son is a big fan of the show. I thought that at 2 1/2, he would soon start asking the type of questions addressed in the book, and this would help his parents answer them. I also enjoyed the innocence of the sometimes silly questions asked by the letter writers, and how Mr. Rogers dealt with each person with the compassion and understanding that has made him a family favorite for the last thirty years. Even though he is gone and will be sorely missed, I'm glad that I could help pass on his wisdom to a new generation of fans.

If you love Mr. Rogers, this book is worth your read. Through his letters he reminds us once again how to be a good "friend" and respect the feelings of all the people in our neighborhood.

I watched Mr. Rogers as a child, I watched and respected him and his TV "ministry" as a Kindergarten teacher and mother. I think he was the most genuine and caring person on television! Very calming and great for kid's self-esteem....what a wonderful role model and human being. This as well as the other books about and by Fred Rogers are priceless. This book is very touching....letters from his viewers with his own responses. A beautiful thing!

I thought this was just going to be a piddly little book, but it was a really nice quality. It's got nice, thick, glossy pages and tons of photos. It has all sorts of inside information. Definitely worth the money.

I love Degrassi and all things Degrassi. :) The book was cool.

If you like dramas, then this is the best show ever! The characters are interesting and the story line is fantastic.

Degrassi: The Kids of Degrassi Street Series, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection, Degrassi High Collection (14 Volume Set), Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1. If you haven't heard of any of these television shows, then you don't know what you're missing! What began in 1979 as a brainstorm of Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler quickly became one of the most innovative, entertaining, and envelope-pushing shows of the eighties and early nineties.

The Degrassi shows can best be described as teen soap operas, although they're so much more than that. These shows, set in Canada and originally based on a group of kids who lived on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, brought new meaning to the term "teen drama." Thankfully, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection and Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1 are now on DVD, so if you missed it the first time around you can catch up with all of us who are devoted fans.

Kathryn Ellis has created the premiere reference guide for all things Degrassi with this book. With photos and detailed biographies of all the characters in each of the four shows, set designs, guest stars, and even an episode-by-episode synopsis, no fan wants to be without this book. Ms. Ellis hasn't forgotten the stand-alone supplement movie, School's Out!, either. She also covers makeup, hair, and wardrobe, the music of the shows, the numerous bands of the characters, and the hard-hitting issues that Degrassi took on throughout the years.

This is a book all Degrassi lovers must have for their collection. And if you haven't yet discovered this Canadian gem, I urge you to pick up a few DVDs to get the ball rolling. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

For those who are fans of DeGrassi: The Next Generation ... this was one to watch to understand how some of the story lines blended together. Joey and Caitlin break up for the final time (sort of) before starting all over again as adults a decade later. For those of you who believe you never get over your first love ... the Joey and Caitlin drama seems to follow that thinking pattern. The first series ended in 1991 after several years in production and was revived in late 2001. The very first episode was the DeGrassi 10th anniversary reunion and the reconnection of Joey and Caitlin. It's almost like a Canadian version of Casablanca when Joey meets Caitlin at the airport and she gets off the plane ...

Joey: Caitlin. All those years ago, when I broke your heart, I thought I'd lost you forever.
Caitlin: And, yet-here you are, standing in an airport with me on Christmas...

I guess for these two it is a case of "We'll always have Toronto. We'll always have DeGrassi" ... Kind of makes you want to watch The Notebook.

I recommend this book. It uses ProTools to illustrate the various aspects of dialogue editing and succeeds in getting the info across in a clear manner. I would have given it 5 stars if the book had been accompanied by a CD containing examples / exercize files.

In my opinion, Purcell has written the definitive book on post-production sound editing for feature film. This is the best yet. Though this book focuses primarily on dialogue editing (a largely misunderstood and under-appreciated craft), there is a wealth of information that would benefit anyone who works in post-production from the picture cutting room to the final mix dubbing stage.

While so many books on this subject are written from the point-of-view of the technician, the academic, or the bedroom studio warrior insulated in his own "home-brewed" workflow, it's clear from the first few pages that Purcell has spent many years working in the professional film industry. Many times I feel like I've been on some of the same crews that he describes.

Overall, this book is not only informative but very funny and cleverly written. As someone who works in the industry myself, I got a lot out of this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this field or who wants to broaden their understanding of how the "Invisible Art" really works.

Hey there,

I read the amazing book of John Purcell all night and I couldnt stop.
This book contains everything that sound editor & sound desginer need for Dialogue editing.

The book doesnt patronizing or try to goes a round by his language. Its talking straight to you as an editor. step by step building you as Dialogue editor and construct John famous and modest System.

I was student of John Purcell, and I am using his methods from college time, because of his system I get compliment & awards.

Director that I used to work with John system got compliments for the Sound Editing & Design on her movie from Mike Leigh - The famous Director. that close the case. The book is must in every sound desginer or Dialogue editor who take himself seriously...

Yours With truthful respect
Yaniv

This is the best book I have ever read on dialogue editing! It explains everything from budgeting time for a project all the way up to the final mix. John Purcell clearly loves his job and his enthusiasm comes through in his writing. I highly recommend this book to all filmmakers as a way to learn exactly what goes into the dialogue editing process and I consider it a must read for all sound editors.

John uses pictures and examples to demonstrate what he is talking about. He shows how to organize EDLs and how to use them to find alternate takes and locate wild sound for a particular scene. Though every film has its own quirks, John also demonstrates how to handle common problems with matching rooms tones from different angles in scenes. Those two aspects alone make the book worth getting, but there is a wealth of information in this book that makes it an excellent purchase.

Clearly phrased, easy to read, concise and extremely useful, this book is a step by step guide to every pop, crackle and roll of the core part of sound editing - making the dialogue heard. It also has a great overview of the context - how to transfer production sound from the picture editing room, what you'll need from production as well, favoured/time saving procedures and the required contacts in other departments of production (a crucial though rarely covered issue).
The basic feel is somewhere between a 'how to' guide and a master-class. The book covers a lot more than which plug-in gives you what or how to use your mouse. Anyone with a few basic concepts in editing would probably be able to give it a go him/herself, or at least have a very good clue on what should be done in order to get the job done, and done well.
It's also packed with illustrative materials of most dialog boxes and written materials you should run into while working.
I'd recommend it to editors (both picture and sound) and post production facilities (in case a producer might wander in and wonder what's the big deal with dialogue).