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Movies Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Movies
Control
Published in Paperback by Everest Pub (1998)
Author: Everett Owens
List price: $7.95
New price: $13.57
Used price: $5.24

Average review score:

Control
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-28
What a great book. It really kept me in suspense. I enjoyed the supense and the idea of this book. Mulder believes Pusher can force people to kill and commit suicides through his will but Scully is unsure. She only gets convinced when Mulder puts her at gunpoint. Will she be able to survive Mulder's shot. See it in this great book CONTROL. Nice heading also

awesome!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1998-10-23
I loved this book so much when I first read it, it was like I was watching it on tv. I even used it in an assighnment for English thats how much I loved it. I recomend this book for everyone. Everyone out there go buy this book!!!

Very suspenseful and unpredictable.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1998-04-06
This was an awsomebook. I really enjoyed reading it

Movies
Cowboy Princess: Life with My Parents Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
Published in Hardcover by Taylor Trade Publishing (2003-10-25)
Author: Cheryl Rogers-Barnett
List price: $24.95
New price: $179.90
Used price: $26.98
Collectible price: $30.00

Average review score:

Cowboy Princess
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-25
I loved this book! I became a little girl again with eyes wide open in awe of my heroes - Roy and Dale. Cheryl is very honest about the fun, the hectic schedules, the grief over the loss of her siblings, her rebellious nature in an innocent way, the strengths and weaknesses of her well-known parents who raised their family well, loved them dearly, lived a honorable life and had a lot of adventures in the way. Where the fans viewed Roy and Dale as super heroes ... Cheryl presents them as parents. I highly recommend this book!

A Truly Wonderful Book about Two Truly Wonderful People
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-11
who enriched our lives over five decades.

Cheryl Rogers Barnett has truly written a memoir full of Love, Respect, and Admiration for her late parents, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. She writes of the people they were, before she was born, the circumstances of her adoption - yes, Cheryl was adopted by Roy and his first wife - and growing up in the Rogers-Evans* (Roy's first wife died while Cheryl was still a young pre-adolescent child, Dale lovingly took her on as her own) household. Roy, bless his soul, was in many ways, a real cowboy who eschewed the Hollywood lifestyle and could live in the great outdoors - in fact one of their early homes out at Lake Hughes was in a wooded setting - with rattlesnakes! Knowing that this wouldn't work, Roy moved in closer to Los Angeles, but always made sure that his children were grounded and did not have airs about them.

Barnett writes about her growing-up in the Rogers-Evans household, and in reading it one kind of wishes that too were put of a family that truly lived by the Cowboy Code. Roy and Dale were among the kindest folks one could ever meet, and I sure wish I did. Both Roy and Dale were unfailing kind and considerate to most people they met. It speaks volumes that in the one instance Roy ever got angry at fans was when they chose to want to visit him on the day they were burying Cheryl's little sister, Robin, and only AFTER these uncouth and rude people insisted in visiting him, having no consideration for the grief of the family.

She writes of the wonder horse Trigger, of how George "Gabby" Hayes was as different in real life as he was in the movies. Gabby, bless him, was a trained Shakespearian actor who was more accustomed to wearing tweed suits than a bandana and chaps - still, he too made the roles his very own. There are the Hollywood stories and vignettes of growing up knowing John Wayne and so many other Western heroes and other television and movie celebs, written straightforward, (the reader will never have the feeling that this book is a gossipy read) of Nudie the Famous Rodeo Tailor whom Roy helped to get established in Hollywood, and finally of the last decades when Roy and Dale, seeing how different Hollywood had become (mid-1960s), chose to move out to Apple Valley, and live out their lives there.

Throughout it all, Roy and Dale always gave deep love to the people they knew, and encouraged their children to be the best and fine folks in their own right(after learning she was adopted, Cheryl underwent a quest to learn about her real parents, with Roy and Dale supporting her every way). With the happiness there were the tragedies, first Robin, then the young son who died serving in the U.S. Army, and the adopted daughter from Korea, killed in a senseless road accident. Throughout it all, Roy and Dale's faith in God was never unwavering and was always solid. They lived the true meaning of the Cowboy and Cowgirl Codes.*

*(on their very last record together, Roy, Dale and son Dusty recorded a song written by two great friends of mine, Chris Hillman and Steve Hill entitled: "God's Plan" ...that pretty well sums up the honest and rich meaning of the lives they lived.

A warm memoir of a time when the tinsel Cowboys were so very much real - and real people too, unlike the sad imitation that Hollywood has become these days. Thank you, Cheryl Rogers-Barnett for a heartwarming read, and for signing my Roy Rogers-Dale Evans lunchpail in Wickenburg, Arizona last April.

Highly recommended for fans of Roy Rogers
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-14
Cowboy Princess: Life With My Parents Roy Rogers And Dale Evans is Cheryl Rogers-Barnett's true story of growing up as the daughter of "the King of Cowboys" and "the Queen of the West", whose popular exploits on movies and TV captivated the nation. Joy, the gruelling demands of the entertainment industry, the terrible loss of three siblings, and the lively personalities of those who shared their lives with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Cheryl Rogers-Barnett fill this highly readable and personal account. Highly recommended for fans of Roy Rogers and the western movies of yesteryear.

Movies
Crash
Published in Paperback by Faber & Faber (1997-03)
Author: David Cronenberg
List price: $12.95
New price: $4.50
Used price: $1.25
Collectible price: $19.95

Average review score:

GUILTY PLEASURE
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-16
HERE IT IS CRASH FANS, DAVID CRONENBERG's SCREENPLAY OF J. G. BALLARD's CRASH. THE 65 PAGE SCREENPLAY IS PRECEDED BY A 10 PAGE INTRODUCTION WHERE DAVID IS INTERVIEWED BY CHRIS RODLEY. IT ALSO CONTAINS 4 PAGES OF B&W PHOTOS. IF IT'S THE FILM's NARRATIVE THAT YOU LOOKING FOR, THEN CHECK OUT THIS 1996 BOOK. IF IT'S THE SOURCE MATERIAL THAT YOU SEEK, THEN CHECK OUT BALLARD's 1973 NOVEL. IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, CHECK OUT IAIN SINCLAIR's BOOK ON CRASH (BFI, 1999). EITHER WAY, YOU CAN INDULGE YOURSELF IN THE GUILTY LITTLE PLEASURE THAT IS CRASH. IT'LL BE OUR LITTLE SECRET.

An entirely new form of Pornography.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1999-02-26
And that's saying alot. When was the last time in literature we got to see something sexual that had never been thought of before? Very Chilling, Very perverse, and an extremely new way of looking at fetishism.

Stunning! A must read for Ballard Fans!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1997-08-01
Released to coincide with the limited movie release, J.G. Ballard gives a stunning description of one man's obession with auto crashes after surviving his own accident. With brilliant descriptions and a brilliant touch Ballard takes you into a world of automotive love and the love of accidents like you've never seen before. A great weekend read, you won't be able to put this down. Erotic, thrilling, sad, moving

Movies
Creating Babylon 5
Published in Paperback by Del Rey (1997-10-15)
Author: David Bassom
List price: $18.00
New price: $63.94
Used price: $4.88

Average review score:

Enjoyable Reading for B5 books
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-29
I loved this book about the creation of Babylon 5. I found the pictures and text to be a good indepth look at the making of B5.

I would recommend this book to any B5 fan. I hope that you will enjoy the book as much as I did.

Superb behind the scenes book and a real new edition
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 1998-10-26
All Babylon 5 fans hear to this: you will really understand how our favourite series was set up, designed and came to life. The book is detailed and written for those who don't have a clue of any behind-the-scenes jargon. It really puts all fans inside the TV series, makes them a part of the building process. Also, if any of the readers has already bought the previous edition, please do spare the money and buy this really new edi- tion: it includes the complete Season 4 episode list and more (new) photos of the Season 4 episodes, plus real updates in the data. It comes to wonder then how the same duo (author, publisher) didn't thought of a real new edition of "The A-Z Guide to Babylon 5" but they reprinted the previous book as a ... "new edition".

If only there were more books like it...
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 1998-03-06
Creating Babylon 5 is the sort of coverage B5 has deserved --but not gotten-- for years. It is worth the price for the pictures alone, but David Bassom's text can more than compete for your attention. His writing is as strong here as in the A-Z Guide to Babylon 5. Worth every cent.

Movies
Dark Matters (The Outer Limits)
Published in Paperback by I Books (2003-09-16)
Author: Stan Timmons
List price: $13.95
New price: $2.54
Used price: $0.44

Average review score:

Stan is the Man
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-29
Having followed Stan's varied career from the incredibaly funny Titmouse stories in Amazing Science Fiction in the seventies - to his comic book work in the 80's and 90's. Stan is one of those guys like Bill Willingham - a very diverse career, and whose prose fiction deserves more attention.

A GREAT fun read. Check it out.

Great Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-19
I'm a big fan of Outer Limts, so when I saw this book I had to get it. I've never read anything by Stan Timmons before, but I was really impressed with his writing. So much so, I went out and got every book I could find that he had authored or co-authored. I have to say that he is one of the best writers I have seen in some time. I'll be keeping my eye out for more of his work inthe future, and running to the bookstore to be first in line to buy it.

Another Winning Novel From Stan Timmons
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-10-15
As a fan of Stan Timmon's for quite some time, I was once again thrilled to the tips of my toes to see him release another great novel. He has a way of making his characters so relatable and real, no matter the circumstances or setting. They say and do things that the average Joe or Joan would, and you find yourself drawn into the story before the end of the first page. Before then end of the book you feel as though you ARE the character. "Always Darkest" is no exception. Even if you aren't a fan of sci-fi, you'll love this book, I guarantee it. You would be missing out on an absolute page turner if you were to pass this one up, so add it to your cart and enjoy.

Movies
Dead Air
Published in Paperback by Ballantine Books (1987-05-01)
Author: Mike Lupica
List price: $3.95
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Dead Air
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-12
I was surprised to see Mike write such a good mystery novel. I dislike other things he has written but this book is very good. I think that it is a mystery that Mike has not written more novels in this genre. It fits him....

A brilliant book
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 1999-06-19
Mystery writing doesn't get any better than this. It's the sort of book you can read five times and always find something new. Thanks, Mike.

This is a really great book!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 1999-02-09
I couldn't seem to put this book down. Lupica seems to surpass himself in each book I have read that he has written.

Movies
Death of Napoleon
Published in Hardcover by Random House Value Publishing (1995-08-29)
Author: Simon Leys
List price: $3.99

Average review score:

Just one word, "Incredible!"
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-26
WOW, this was a fine example of literary genius at its finest!! I could not put this book down. If you are a fan of "historical ficton", place this book on the top of your reading list!!!

Thought-provoking
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1998-07-08
This book is a little gem that examines the different views of people on life. By concentrating wholly on wars and empires, Napoleon "wasted" his life and remarkable mind without ever experiencing the true humanity of exhistence. Love was a complication for him, not a pleasure. To him, what was most important was to make a name for himself, a name that would shine in the annals of posterity. Ley examines the reprecussions of this want of Napoleon. It leaves the "great little emperor" a broken man, a poor farmer, who has never know real happiness. Ley carries his story with color and fevor. I only wish the novelett was longer.

A short, wonderful novel
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-01-10
Simon Leys usually writes histories, but he created an absolute gem in his only foray into fiction--albeit, historical fiction. Death of Napoleon is a simple and spellbinding must-read, a rare thing of masterful beauty from first page to last.

Movies
Demona's Revenge (Gargoyles, No. 2)
Published in Paperback by Scholastic (1995-11)
Author: Francine Hughes
List price: $3.99
New price: $0.01
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Cool book...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-28
This book is a story about Goliath being injured by Demona firing a lasergun at him. Hudson the old gargoyle fights a good battle against the young Demona. This is a good book for younger readers. This title is actually the episode 'Long Way To Morning'.

YOUTH VERSUS OLD AGE
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-02
An old gargoyle named Hudson shows the young vibrant Demona that he still has it in him and can hold his own. His warrior days are not over yet as he tries to protect his injured leader, Goliath, and himself from death by the hands of the treacherous, evil female gargoyle, Demona. You definitely should read this book.

The book was faithful to the cartoon series' storyline
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 1998-12-07
As well as being faithful to the tv cartoon series, the illustrations were perfect. It's easy to read and even easier to enjoy.

Movies
Diablo: The Sin War #3: The Veiled Prophet
Published in Kindle Edition by Pocket Books (2007-09-25)
Author: Richard A. Knaak
List price: $7.99
New price: $6.39

Average review score:

Knaak prefers a balance...
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-29
I just finished this book last week. After reading the first two, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this story. The part that really interested me was the theological aspects that were greatly intertwined within the story, especially the part of the Nephilim (Edyrem). I must say that I did not predict this ending to the story, I sort of suspected it because of the story-line in the video games, but I had no idea it would be like this.

This conclusion is much more profound and far more action packed than the previous two. There is still a fair degree of intrigue, especially when they're in Khejan, so Knaak keeps that writing style up pretty consistently.

I was honestly half expecting him to play up more of the religious end and draw more from historical theology, such as he did with Angels. He sort of included the hierarchical structure of Heaven with the Angiris council at the end, but I half expected a true form of a Seraph to show up.

The part I most enjoyed in this series was the development of the Necromancer character. My philosophies identified most with Trag'oul and his teachings, so I really got into that character. The way this tale is written it seems the author also seems to agree the most with that philosophy. I was also surprised to see the author take this stance in a widley read series. He essentially teaches that any extreme of good or evil is a very bad thing and only results in a circular war with no real victor. Considering how much this country, the U.S., takes it's politically correct diatribes, I'm surprised there weren't any outspoken people towards this. At least I haven't encountered any, yet. I suppose the demographic of people reading Diablo don't really pertain to such extremists. But the extremists tend to get into everything these days and there seems to be an obvious split, which can probably be reconicled with balance.

Knaak really likes necromancers!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-28
A fitting end to the series and an awesome backstory to the game. If you have an very good and active imagination, reading this book can give you shivers! It is higher in gore compared to the first two but you certainly wont be able to put this book down.
This book was far better than the 2nd in my opinion... It really nice to see the main protogonist mature. I actually found him less annoying in this book comapred the first two. It seems like Knaak really has a facination with necromancers! Trust me its true, I've read his other books on Diablo and they always have a witty necro in them. Not that I'm complaining as I myself play Diablo2 using a necro.
I hope he writes more on the main character (Zayl and Humbart) from the other books (Moon of the spider & Kingdom of Shadow)

Peter

Nice BOOk
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
The third book of the serie and the third book that i have the chance to read about diablo.Love , drama, and lots of action scenes this book repeat the sucess of the other two books.Totally awesome!!!

Movies
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Published in Paperback by St. Martin's Press (2002-12-01)
Author: Ginny Weissman
List price: $18.95
New price: $7.99
Used price: $0.44

Average review score:

The inside story on the classic television situation comedy
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-29
I knew that the executives who run the television networks are almost always shortsighted pea-brained idiots, but I did not know originally "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was cancelled at the end of its first season. Granted, the show finished in 80th place in the Nielsen ratings and during that first season Carl Reiner was clearly writing more for himself than Dick Van Dyke (which made sense since Reiner wrote and filmed the original pilot "Head of the Family" for himself), but we are talking about coming "that" close to losing what is one of the classic situation comedies in the history of television. After that first season "The Dick Van Dyke Show" finished 9th, 3rd, 7th, and 16th in the Nielsens and won the Emmy for best show in its category all four years (it was just that the category changed from Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor, to the Field of Comedy, then in Entertainment, and finally as Outstanding Comedy Series).

Ginny Weissman and Coyne Stevens Sanders bring the sensibilities of both fans and television historians to this look at "The Dick Van Dyke Show." They benefited from writing with the complete cooperation of every member of the cast, who heartily endorse the end product. This revised and expanded version contains over 130 photographs, synopses of all 158 episodes, and a 500 question trivia section that tax your knowledge of the show. You will also find lists of all the awards won by the show and its cast during its five-year fun, an update on where everyone was as of 1993, the revival of the show on "Nick at Night," and the complete script of "That's My Boy??," the episode always cited as receiving the longest laugh in the history of sitcom taped before a studio audience when Rob opens the door for the couple he is convinced has taken Richie home from the hospital (if you do not know why the audience explodes long and loud in laughter, then you are completely unfamiliar with the show and have no business reading this far into the review).

This book is written for the fans, which explains why the synopses of each episode is provided "in brief," which means a single sentence. The point is clearly not to describe the episode, but rather to remind you which one it is in the grand scheme of things. Given that the cast list for each episode always includes all of the principles every single time, I admit I would have rather had the descriptions of the episodes include choice moments. I would rather know what songs the cast sang on "'The Alan Brady Show' Presents" or be reminded about the big diamond (next to the glass doorknob) Rob and Laura found in Hezekiah's desk in "The Great Petrie Fortune," instead of knowing what episodes did not have Buddy and/or Sally or featured Millie and/or Jerry Helper. I especially liked the details about the original pilot and how Van Dyke and the rest of the stellar cast were eventually assembled for the show. In fact, Weissman and Sanders repeatedly provide insights into some of the most famous episodes on the show. Finally, what makes it clear this book knows what it is doing, Richard Deacon is included on the front cover along with Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, and Rose Marie. Case closed.

Lighthearted & Fun Volume! Heaps Of Excellent Pics!
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-19
This 172-page volume isn't as detailed as Vince Waldron's "Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book", but it serves as a very nice companion piece to both that Waldron book and to the 5 full-season DVD boxed sets of the Van Dyke Show that were released via Image Entertainment, Inc., in 2003 and 2004 (all five of which sparkle brightly in every respect). Placing those DVDs next to this publication (and the book by Mr. Waldron as well) would certainly serve as an unsurpassable batch of Van Dyke Show video and printed material, providing the owner of said products with just about all he/she could ever need with regard to this never-tiresome CBS-TV sitcom.

The 8.5" x 11.0" paperback book (which was originally released in 1983 and revised in 1993) is crammed with many, many top-notch black-and-white photographs; and the colorful front cover (featuring five main members of the show's cast) perfectly captures the fun and spirit of this classic sitcom.

Plenty of quotes from the show's cast and crew members are on tap here too, as they reflect back on the making of the series. An abundant amount of behind-the-camera information is mixed in amongst the wealth of photographs on these pages.

Synopses of all 158 Dick Van Dyke Show episodes are also included in a separate chapter. Plus there's a chapter entitled "That's My Boy?? -- A Milestone In Television History", which includes the entire script of the 64th filmed episode in the series ("That's My Boy??"), which is one of the funniest of all the Van Dyke scripts (which is really saying something, because they're all pretty darn good). That episode, which was expertly written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff on May 22, 1963, has Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) practically beside himself with worry in the days following his son Ritchie's birth, as he thinks the hospital gave him the wrong baby. A great episode indeed!

This book also contains a 4-page "Awards" section, which details all of the various awards (mostly "Emmys") that "The Dick Van Dyke Show" won, and was nominated for, during its successful five-year tenure on network TV.

There's also "The Dick Van Dyke 500" -- which is a 500-question trivia quiz. Some real brain-busters here, including Question #41: "How much money had Laura put away in her secret bank account (in the episode 'Bank Book 6565696')?" .... Was it: A.) $294.12; B.) $451.02; C.) $378.16; or D.) $398.26? .... Now THAT'S what I call "trivia"! Can you guess the answer? (I knew the answer to that one right off the bat, which probably makes me a certifiable "Van Dyke Show Geek" of the first order. LOL!) :)

This entire volume is very fun to glance through, with the ultimate prize in the package (in my estimation) being the oodles of great pictures (many of which depict "behind-the-scenes" shots of the cast and crew).

Looking through this book again prompted me to type up the following list of some of my all-time favorite "Dick Van Dyke Show" episodes (every single one of which can be purchased on DVD in the previously-mentioned Image Entertainment seasonal boxed sets of the series). .............

My Top 20 "Most Watched Episodes" list would look like this (what would your own personal list look like?):

1.) "All About Eavesdropping" (Season 2 boxed set).
2.) "Harrison B. Harding Of Camp Crowder, Mo." (S.1).
3.) "The Curious Thing About Women" (S.1).
4.) "My Husband Is A Check-Grabber" (S.2).
5.) "Empress Carlotta's Necklace" (S.1).
6.) "Never Bathe On Saturday" (S.4).
7.) "A Nice, Friendly Game Of Cards" (S.3).
8.) "Punch Thy Neighbor" (S.1).
9.) "Ray Murdock's X-Ray" (S.2).
10.) "The Sick Boy And The Sitter" (S.1).
11.) "The Night The Roof Fell In" (S.2).
12.) "The Ghost Of A. Chantz" (S.4).
13.) "A Man's Teeth Are Not His Own" (S.2).
14.) "The Case Of The Pillow" (S.4).
15.) "The Two Faces Of Rob" (S.2).
16.) "Pink Pills And Purple Parents" (S.4).
17.) "That's My Boy??" (S.3).
18.) "The Impractical Joke" (S.4).
19.) "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" (S.5).
20.) "My Blonde-Haired Brunette" (S.1).

Overall Favorite Seasons -- Season 1 and Season 2. (Although all 5 seasons are excellent, as all Van Dyke Show fans can attest.) :)

-------------------------------

Post-Script ..............

Something I thought of recently while watching the "Vic Damone"/"Ric Vallone" episode (titled "Like A Sister") --- during the entire course of the Dick Van Dyke Show series, creator/writer/producer Carl Reiner (plus the other top execs, Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard) never once exploited the "showbiz" angle of the Van Dyke series. What I mean by that is -- Carl & Company never felt the urge to cave in to the "Lucy Show Syndrome", and therefore very seldom brought in major movie stars of the day as guest stars to play off of the rest of the cast.

The "Let's get a big-name guest star on the show every week" scenario could have easily been done (and with a built-in "realism" as well, due to main character Robert Petrie working in show business on a popular variety show). From what I've read regarding the series, many big stars would drop by the show's soundstages to shoot the breeze. It seemed to be the "in" place to be in Hollywood. Well, at least one of the "in" places at any rate.

And I'm guessing that if he would have wanted to bow down to such ratings pressures, Mr. Reiner (et al) would have had no trouble at all garnering many major movie stars as guests on "TDVDS".

I'm very glad, however, that Reiner decided not to go the "Lucy Show" route for bigger ratings or for prestige value (or whatever) -- because relying on the great regular cast was a much better plan, IMHO.

And I find it interesting, too, to note that even when "TDVDS" *did* occasionally include a guest star to sing or dance on the fictional "Alan Brady Show", you'll note that the guest actor was always of a somewhat lesser-known stature, with character names created for them -- such as the aforementioned "Ric Vallone" used instead of Vic Damone's real name. ... And "Jacques Savon", and "Tracy Rattigan", and "Paula Marshall".

I often wonder how good the show would have been if Carl Reiner *had* decided to include huge-name guest stars each week (playing themselves), like on Lucille Ball's shows -- with people like John Wayne, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis, and Jerry Lewis popping in every week to make an "Alan Brady Show" appearance.

I, for one, am just as content and satisfied with the likes of "Janie Layton", "Henry Walden", "Jim Darling", "Valerie Blake", "Max Calvada", "Randolph Eisenbauer", and "Harper Worthington Yates". Plus, of course, the first-rate regular cast members, who didn't need to play second banana to anybody, IMO. :)

In closing, let me just state --- "I haven't had this many laughs since the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre!" ** :)

** = Dialogue from the episode "All About Eavesdropping".

The best available book on the subject
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-26
I've had my copy of this book for almost a decade now and I absolutely love it. The authors Weissman and Saunders have covered their subject well and brought together a fabulous treasure trove of information about one of television's most loved golden oldies. You won't find much gossip or other unsavory "warts and all" type material in this compendium, but you will find everything worth knowing about the show and it's stars. You get a good feel for the warmth and personal friendship that the cast has shared with each other since they began working together; each of the regular cast members as well as some of the show's writers and directors were interviewed and they add immeasurably to the book's enjoyment.

Contained inside the pages of this tome is a detailed but concisely written history of how the show came about, beginning with Carl Reiner's original idea for a television show titled 'Head Of The Family' with himself in the lead; his redesign and recasting of the show; his working relationship with Sheldon Leonard, Dick Van Dyke and the rest of the cast members and beyond. Also included within is a complete synopsis of all 158 episodes including guest star appearances, a complete script from one of the shows, over 100 photos, an excellent trivia test with answers in the back and a list of all the awards that the show won during it's initial network run.

Long after it first aired in the early 60's 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' still continues to enjoy phenomenal -but not surprising - success as one of the shows currently seen on TV Land as of this writing. I know people ranging from preteen to senior citizens who list it among their favorite TV shows to watch, even favoring it far above contemporary television programming. Nearly all of them are able to recount the series' most popular episodes to any one who will listen as well as recite the memorable lines of dialogue from each one. If you know someone who truly appreciates this show then this book would make an excellent gift; or if you're a fan don't go another day without it!


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