Television Books

I'm just getting seriously interested in composition and music for films and I literally knew nothing about the process. This book was an excellent overall primer, was written very plainly and clearly and I walked away feeling like I understood the entire process of film scoring, all the steps involved, people involved, how royalties worked, how to get started, etc. I also really enjoyed the last section which contained many good interviews with seasoned composers. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you are just getting started.

I've come to recognize that any of the Berklee Press books will be excellent, but this book exceeded my expectation in nearly every way. Even though this is a textbook, it reads easily, and just as important, it is inexpensive. I was expecting a much smaller book for the price, and was surprised by the amount of material covered.

The only negative thing I could say about this book was that I had kind of expected more musical examples and tricks, for example that a whole tone scale is commonly used for dream sequences. There really isn't that kind of material covered in this book at all.

What is covered is the various legal and practical aspects of making film music as a profession, and it is covered very well.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone considering a career in film music, or even to someone who is interested in film music.

Finally, a bit of trivia from the book: Where much of the classical community derides John Williams' Star Wars score as being a rip-off of Holst's Planets, it turns out that Williams actually had to convince Lucas to use original material, in the style of the planets suite, instead of Holst's Planets itself which was the temp track.

This is simply a wonderful book, essential for a composer interested in film sountrack world.

This book arrived at my house yesterday, and I have since nearly completed it. I really can't put it down. This book is a real gem, with interviews of the real pros whose work you have certainly already heard. This book really gives you an extensive background of music in movies and a formidable description of what kind of work it REALLY takes to take on such a monumental task. For someone who is interested in film scoring, it shows you just about everything and everyone you will encounter. The interviews towards the back of the book are total gems. This book was a shot-in-the-dark buy, but a real gem. If you write music and you don't own this... you get the idea.

It`s all Berklee here !!!

Written by the great Richard Davis it`s an invaluable book that reveals the film scoring process.

It's just perfect for people who wants to begin a composer career. Very practical to read.

And if you're pro this will ilustrate you how to do it better, and have some important considerations

This is a great book of the behind the scenes with many photos and insights from those around Rod Serling during the creation of the series and effects on the world because of it.

Any book about The Twilight Zone has big shoes to fill. Marc Scott Zicree's The Twilight Zone Companion is the bible of The Twilight Zone and, moreover, one of the great books about a television show--any television show. Still, give Mr. Stanyard his due, this is a pretty good book.

Wisely, Mr. Stanyard has followed a different path that Zicree. After a few early chapters on history and analysis of the show, the bulk of the book is taken up by interviews. Over 150 pages of interviews with nearly 40 people involved in the show on various levels, from relatives like Carol and Robert Serling, to writers (Matheson, Hamner, etc.), actors, producers and directors. The last pages are a series of "appreciation essays" written by various people who feel their lives have been impacted by the show as well as speculations by people who knew him of what Rod Serling might have achieved had he lived longer.

Mr. Stanyard has also included a number of interesting photos and a few documents like letters and contracts. Most of the photos are backstage photos from the author's own (inherited) collection. This actually poses a bit of problem. Since the photos Stanyard received cover only a fraction of the episodes, there is a lot of repetition from certain episodes and a whole slew of some very great episodes that have no pictures.

In fact, if I were going to nail down one weakness in the book, it's repetition. Besides the pictures, the interviews also end up being somewhat repetitive as many of the people interviewed have very similar words of praise and descriptions of the show. We're all fans of the show but, with rare exception, the interviews are variations on a theme with not as much enlightenment as I was hoping for.

Still, for a fan of The Twilight Zone this is a difficult book to pass by. There are enough pleasures here to make spending time with this volume worthwhile. For newcomers to the series, I would suggest Zicree's book first.

This was a program I had grew up on and I say thanks for the behind the scene cover stories and pictures.

Back in 1983 I received a type-written catalogue in the mail that advertised sets of proof sheets from the Viacom archives...namely the "Twilight Zone"! - Hundreds of rare, behind-the-scenes photos from the 1st three seasons of the show were being offered for sale! Unfortunately, I was "between jobs" at the time and was unable to purchase any of the photos. Some of the sets from the more popular episodes were already marked "SOLD" in the catalogue, and I have always assumed that the remaining ones were snatched up quickly by collectors.

WRONG! Most of them are IN THIS AMAZING BOOK! Author Stewart Stanyard's
introduction explains how he happened to acquire this fabulous collection,
and even though Stanyard's writing is merely passable(he's not a professional author), the PHOTOS are INCREDIBLE! And there are LOTS of them, too!

I have always been fascinated by behind-the-scenes stuff, and as I paged through this book, I could not believe my eyes. I have now spent hours staring at full-page, elevated shots with cast, crew and sets from episodes such as "Death's-head Revisited", "The Purple Testament", "Static", etc....and an unbelievable shot of the dual break-away set of "A World of Difference"; great stuff!

And even though the quality of the writing is only so-so, the author at least arranges and presents his material in an intersting format. But in
the chapter entitled "Themes of the Zone", he goes a bit too far trying to
shoe-horn TZ's plots into neat and tidy categories. For instance, I was
baffled by Stanyard's assertion that bookworm Henry Bemis (of "Time Enough at Last") is a "social misfit" who gets what he deserves when he breaks his glasses, since he spent most of his life shunning the company
of his wife, co-workers, etc. Astounding! That's just NOT RIGHT!
Henry Bemis is the quintessential "Everyman", the little-guy who is hounded and misunderstood by the world, who finds comfort and solitude in reading because the real world is a harsh and uncaring place. Doesn't he try to interest his customer in the opening scene in "David Copperfield?" Doesn't he attempt to share his love of poetry with his thug-like wife, who cruelly feigns interest only to shatter her hapless spouse when he discovers that she has defaced his beloved volume of poems?
NO---Bemis' story is an example of the most cosmic sort of tragedy--- the
little guy who is crushed by the most cruel and ironic hand of fate.

Anyway, Mr. Stanyard also mixes up the two actors who play the 2-headed
Martian in "Mr Dingle the Strong"; Douglas Spencer is the guy on the RIGHT (remember him as "Scotty" in the 1951 "Thing from Another World?...the guy who says "Keep Watching the Skies" at the end?)

Also...I realize comedy is a very subjective thing.....but the author
praises "Mr Dingle", "Mind and the Matter" and the ridiculously over-padded "The Bard" as stand-out comedies, while dismissing the truly
funny "ShowDown with Rance McGrew" as merely silly. I think "McGrew" is a comic gem, with marvelously controlled performances by Blyden, Cornthwaite and Johnson in roles that could have easily veered into
total caricature. And Jesse James' arrival at the end as McGrew's agent and the subsequent change in the script cracks me up every time.

BUT WHO CARES ABOUT THE TEXT?!! It's the Photos that allow us to step back in time and peek in on the production of the legendary "Twilight Zone"! SEE Joseph Schildkraut reading his off-camera lines for "Death's Head".....SEE Brian Aherne and Pippa Scott rehearsing their night club encounter in "The Trouble with Templeton"....SEE numerous shots of Fritz Weaver being assualted in the final scene of "Obsolete Man"....SEE Ivan Dixon as boxer Bolie Jackson being photographed from UNDERNEATH the
boxing ring in "The Big, Tall Wish".....the list goes on!

GET THE BOOK!

PS. There is also a nice selection of interviews with actors, writers and technicians who worked on the series, plus a very cool reminiscence by Charles Beaumont's son Christopher.

I was first struck by the weight of it - high quality softcover and beautiful bond - even before opening the book - I knew I was in for a treat - This is the perfect celebration of the great series. Rod would be honored by the care and reverence, by the personal recollections thick with respect and admiration for his genius. Stanyard has formatted each section brillantly - the interviews and essays are a perfect compliment to his own contributions. And the photos - pure magic. But I was struck with a twinge of sadness because for all these years I was convinced that each episode came from the ages - certainly not from prodcuers, actors, cameramen - but they're all right there - Stanyard has pulled the curtain aside.

My son likes Dora. He loves this book. I read it to him every night. Some stories are too short though.

I ordered this for my Granddaughter that is 2 yrs old. She never puts the book down.Mommy has read it to her several times and she just can't get enough of it. Of course she is a die hard Dora fan. Great book!

excellent book, my daughter loves it. i didnt read the item properly an thort it was a dvd, but it turned out to be a book which was even better. very hard to find decent Dora books here. it was speedy delivery to australia an in perfect condition. gorgeously illustrated an big, bold easy to read wording. makes bedtime a fun an interactive time. my daughter can read along with me an learn spanish at the same time. extremely happy.

Both my 2 and 4yr olds enjoy this collection of Dora stories. I like the abridged story lengths.

Fast shipping! Great book, clean..makes a great Christmas gift for a Dora fan! Will definitely order from seller again! thanks!

Elia Kazan was arguably one of the most influential people that theatre has ever produced. He had an amazing life through his art, and outside of it.

Here, at the age of 77, past the point of modesty, conceit and pride, he tells his remarkable story of learning his craft, harnessing his incredible God-given talent, and channelling his drive into success.

We learn about his trysts and liasons with other icons, his marriages, his faults and missteps.

He owns up to many things that have not made him proud, including naming names during the deplorable McCarthy communist witch hunts of the 1950's.

He talks openly of his failures as a parent and a husband, his infidelity, and his loss of faith.

He also recounts his many astounding successes in film and theatre, including the many great actors and actresses he worked with.

His honest self-assessment is a breath of resh air.

This is one of the greatest autobiographies I have ever read.

This is the best show-biz biography I have ever read. Poor, Greek immigrant, Kazan fought his way up the entertainment ladder to direct my favorite movie (On The Waterfront) and my favorite play (Death of A Salesman). Along the way to these achievements he was an original member of the Group Theater; he relates his experiences there including an in-depth retelling of his relationship with Lee Strasburg. He met prectically everyone in the business from an aspiring Marylin Monroe, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Arthur Miller and what seems thousands of others in the theater and movie world. His antecdotes are fresh and revealing, even those that may be common knowledge. Of particular note are the chapters devoted to the making of Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront. His work with Brando, who was seldom better than when he worked with Kazan, is discussed. Along with his great movies and plays, Kazan tells his side of the House On Unamerican Affairs controversy that swirled about him until his death. While the book is massive at 864 pages, it is over too soon. It is a rare, literate portrait of the man Kazan, who changed American movies and theater forever-- and for the better.

One of the most honest, compelling, brilliant, wise, stunning books I've ever read. Kazan's life was awe-inspring, and to have it retold with such lucidness and unflattering candour is a gift for the ages. Not only was he one of the greatest theatre directors and film directors of the 20th Century, he writes like a blessed demon. This was a spellbinding, page-turning read. Immersed in its pages, I learnt so much about life, America, directing, theatre/cinema history, and myself. I also learnt more than I've ever known about how men think (wish I'd read this years ago).

It's such a pity Kazan's life has become simplistically defined by one act, and his artistry overshadowed - ironic, too, considering he made films with a deep, compassionate, liberal humanity. You can look at his life through through the prism of that one act, or read this for a much richer, fuller, deeper understanding of Kazan - the good, the bad, the ugly. And the genius.

This book made me want to live my life more fully, view myself less vainly, and create my work more honestly. Can't ask for more than that.

I was truly surprised by this book when I read it some years ago. I was surprised by how engrossing and powerful it was , all the way through. This man lived a tremendously interesting life, rich in great creative challenges and triumphs, rich in meetings and experience with remarkable people, rich in sexual adventures and complex human relationships. The story of how the child of Greek immigrants came to become the director of two of the classics of the American Theatre "Death of a Salesman" and a 'Streetcar Named Desire" and of two of the great American movies, "On the Waterfront" and " East of Eden" is told with remarkable frankness and perceptiveness.
Kazan does not come across in this work as a saint, but rather as a truly strong person who took what he wanted from life, even if this meant hurting others. His personal and inner torments however too make up an interesting part of this story.
One more point. His writing follows the rule of Henry James and is always interesting. This is a work whose richness in anecdote and event are so great that it fits into the 'couldn't put it down' category.

With a former Supreme Court Justice warning the USA today (March 10, 2006) about starting down the road toward a dictatorship, it seemes fitting to re-visit the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in the 1950s when the right-wing was trying to scare our citizens into giving the government supreme power, just as neocons are trying now.

Elia Kazan defends his decision to name names during the Hollywood Hearings of the 1950s, saying that his ideas toward the Communist Party had changed and he thought the higher ups (maybe from Russia) were dictating policies to the American communists in the movie business.

Maybe so, but he also admits the Hearings already had all the communists' names and admits they were only showing their power to control people here in Hollywood,using intimidation to instigate the blacklist. In real life, the USA government was the bully, not the old, tired communists of the 1930s.

If so, then why did he ever think the movie he directed, "On The Waterfront," was a good analogy for what he faced? The USA government caused the black list and precipated suicides and family break-ups in their Hollywood investigation.

It was the mob who caused the deaths and intimidation in "On The Waterfront." Is Kazan saying that Congress behaved like the mob? Or that the mob behaved like Congress?

Granted, Kazan was a great director, brilliant at times. But to him the bottom line was the bottom line, and to keep his position as an all-star director, he had to name names. While he tries to seem noble, the reader can see his 'reel' motivation was money and his career. So what if he named names! He was working.

Today, we see the right wing using similar tactics in the Bush administration: questioning people's patriotism, using smears and mud-slinging against opponents, trying to get people fired if they disagree with neocon policies, keeping a blacklist of university professors who oppose them, and most recently, equating the AARP group of loving gays instead of our troops.

After reading Kazan's book, I did gain a firm insight into right-wing politics, and these politicians use juxtaposition of images to label their opponents. Right-wingers still don't care if they distort the record. To them, winning is everything.

As an artist I tip my hat to William Joyce! I read in an earlier review someone saying it is done in simple watercolor but thats not watercolor unless its watercolor pencils. Such meticulous detailed work even as George ventures down the railing of the stairs he passes a depiction of "Sunday afternoon on the Island of Le Grande Jatte"! This book is a prize the story line is so cute the text is perfect for age 2-6 and the adventure and art are unforgettable. No wonder PBS made it into a show!

I loved this book. It was so cute. I thoughtit was good for every one. It was about a kid who wonders about how it would be if he was shrunken and when he was sleeping he actully shrunk. But he had to do some chores and they were the simplest things like watering the plants or feeding the goldfish turn into the biggest adventure.

I gave this book a five because a little kid name George has a dream of him being small like a "teddy bear". When he had the dream he was in his bed sleeping, his mom left a note of chores and he was doing the chores. The "scary" part in the book was when the cat sees George and thinks his is a toy and the cat tries to put his claw on him ,but George runs and hides from the cat. This book is great and I think William took a long time doing the cover and pictures and I say the book cover and pictures are really beautiful. I love this book because he had a dream that was weird that he was small and that he had to do big chores. I would recommend this book because it is a cute book for a 1st and 2nd graders I think they will love it because all of the cute pictures and the funny pictures they would love to read this book a lot of times and I would like to some day read it again because it would be so nice to read it over and over.

I love this book and give it over and over to all the children that I care most about

The story grabs the reader's interest from the first page as George wakes up much smaller than the teddy bear on his pillow. Then he sets out to accomplish the list of chores left by his parents.

The watercolor pictures are beautifully done and full of detail, making for great opportunities to discover more as it is read again and again. It is interesting without being scary so it is perfect for younger readers. It is silly to see George sitting on the fawcet handle brushing his teeth, diving into the fish bowl to feed the fish, or flying a small plane from the mail box to his room.

The "scary" part is hiding from the cat, then having the cat swat his toy plane out of the air. The cat has George cornered when he suddenly returns to normal size in the nick of time. His parents arrive home and all is well.

As a teacher, this book can be used in the classroom to encourage students to generate their own stories from another perspective.

Perfect for a three year old and at four it continues to be one of his favorites. Great book! Enjoy!

I noticed that no African American entertainers or producers were interviewed for this book. Maybe Michele doesn't know any black folks - hmmm. HOWEVER, I do recommend this book for anyone interested in an entertainment career. It gives an important slant on how to find work in the industry. It approaches the subject from both a metaphysical and practical viewpoint. The interviews from people working in the field were insightful and valuable. I would have given the book a 5 if there had been more diversity. I believe the experiences of successful "minority" entertainers would have given the book greater value.

I've spent countless hours and money pursuing my acting career before I running into this book at http://www.SuccessInActing.com I've overlooked many of the facts written about which could have saved me frustration, wasted effort, and money if I would have read this book first.

Michele Blood has written a magnificent book with all the ingridients to inspire you, educate you and put you on the right track to manifest the life of your dreams. Highly recomended!

I learned these techniques from Rock last year and have attended his amazing seminars where industry insiders speak frankly about how the BUSINESS of acting operates. I have been in this industry longer than some of the other seminar attendees have been alive, and I have never heard anyone speak these eye-opening truths before. What a gift for any actor! Michele Blood is a beautiful little whirlwind of enthusiasm, bubbling over with love for the world. Both of these people are inspiring, uplifting and genuinely interested in helping people succeed. Among an industry famous for its charlatans, they prove that at the heart of Hollywood are beautiful people. If you can't attend their seminars - or even if you can - this book is a must-have. Oh, and I want to mention that in the last two weeks I have scheduled 5 auditions and one callback, and I am currently cast in four films which are in various degrees of development. God bless you, Rock and Michele.

I'm a metaphysical fiction and screenplay writer with a daughter who graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts some years ago. How I wish this book had been available to her. The succinct, straightforward and highly useful advice in this book wasn't available then nor is it available elsewhere now. It approaches success in Hollywood, or in any business or life endeavor at all, from the two most important fundamental aspects - the outside and the inside - workable, useable business advice by Rock Riddle, and practical, amazing techniques for continually keeping your spirit and personal action pointed in the right direction by Michele Blood. What a terrific team! This book is a complete package, underscored by meaningful interviews with successful individuals who have intuitively put these principles into practice in their lives. The compilation of information in this book is truly astounding and shouldn't be missed by anyone.

Belle Poitrine... literally the beautiful bust, but in reality the big bust. The biggest bust of all time.

Is it tongue in cheek? Did it happen?? Did it happen just that way?? Or has time, booze and a "happy outlook" altered the history of the most ridiculous success story ever told? I'll never tell, but intent historian that I am, I constantly read and reread this irreverant tale of trickery, chicanery and outright unapologetic greed. And I mean that in the best possible way!!!!

Humble beginnings, fortuitous marriage after marriage, brides in black and a crackjack whip smart brain that thank goodness was used for the good of mankind. Belle tells you girls how to spin assets into stocks, bonds and real estate. The Suze Orman of her time. It's a bit of The Women, a smidge of Auntie Mame, a heaping dose of Lorelei Lee without the heart of gold all undressed with pictures to chronicle the life and times of the greatest legend in her own mind. Lemonade without sugar!!!!

Keep it by your bed. It's my favorite bedtime story. Pull it out time after time and open it anywhere once you've read it through. The sheer ridiculousness of it all makes it one of the best reads as told by one of our best creators of giggles, belly laughs and overt hyucks and guffaws. Mame Dennis without proper restraint(s).

I discovered this book after the Auntie Mame duo and I couldn't stop laughing. It was an excellent combination of pseudo-memoir and wacky photographs that fit and enhanced the tale of Belle Poitrine (look up the French) perfectly. Her rise and decline was so familiar based on the autobioraphies of that time but with much more absurdity and hilarity. It seemed pretty outré even given the greater censorship strictures of that day.
A wonderful read.

When it comes to the "classics" of gay/camp literature, I always seem to find myself behind the curve. My friends can praise and recommend a camp classic year after year and I just can't muster enough enthusiasm to read it. In fact, it wasn't until the early 1990s that I finally read the entire TALES OF THE CITY oeuvre - blasphemy in gay circles, and considerably beyond the heyday of 28 Barbary Lane. I guess I just need to come to the gay classics in my own time and can't be lead to them by other people's tributes, no matter how emphatic. Anyway, it was just yesterday that I finally read LITTLE ME by Patrick Dennis (circa 1961- making the book only slightly older than me): this, despite the fact that this novel was re-released and embraced by a third generation of gay men as recently as 1989. And I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it, laughing out loud on nearly every page - all the while asking myself why I didn't read this one sooner. Maybe then I could have appreciated and participated in some of the jokes and one-liners that were all the rage among my circle of friends back in the late 80s and early 90s. This is my punishment, I guess, for always feeling like I have to boycott the latest gay trend. On the bright side, reading LITTLE ME now has given me an opportunity to remember my old friends from that bitter-sweet period in gay history - many of whom are no longer with us. And finally, I can laugh along with them, even if only in spirit. For others out there like me who have not yet picked up a copy of LITTLE ME ... if you don't want to read it for yourself, read this one for your friends! And for the newest generation of gay/camp devotees, read this one together with YOUR circle of friends ... you'll be glad you did.

So Campy, so Fabulous, so hilarious. Could also be titled "memoirs of a woman who wanted to be a drag queen".
I had seen the stage play of the same name and laughed to the point of near incontinence. The book brings all of the memories back into the present state of mind. Thankyou so much for the pictures too.

My God - I don't even know where to begin on how great this book is - pure hilarity from start to finish. If you are familiar with the work of Patrick Dennis, than you're in for a real treat. If his writings are new to you, well, you're in for a crash course.

Written with perfect, tongue-in-cheek camp humor, the autobiography of Belle Poitrine is the perfect send-up of the best Hollywood autobiographies - hysterically self-absorbed, condescending and - best of all - full of absolutely hysterical photographs by the great Cris Alexander. Belle's rise to fame from her childhood black sheep status, mid-life trials and tribulations, countless marriages (most often ending in widowhood) and more are all represented - once you're under the spell of her life story, the book is impossible to put down. And, please, do not rush to find out the ending - it's utterly priceless, and worth the wait, but to get the full, hilarious effect, you have to read everything leading up to it.

Read at your own risk - if you do, you'll surely be telling everyone you know about it - the humor is most contagious, and you'll be compelled to share. Enjoy!!!

I have read this book and My Girl. I absolutly looove these books, and the movies are great too. I love reading the books and I won't ever set that book down, literally. Vada is such a cool girl and the book gives her a unique outsider taste to her. She is such and interesting girl and this book is the greatest book written to come for centuries!

I loved this book. It is adventourous,romantic, exciting, and partially sad. It was a 4 tissue story. The book is about a girl who is writing a report and has to find out information about her mother who died after Vada, the girl, was born. It was a great story. I think anyone that likes to search for new things and enjoys a little mushyness would enjoy this story.

A project another project, but this one is about someone she knew nothing about. Vada Sultenfuss is in English and the day is almost over. In the last few minutes of class, she was told that she had to do a project. When the teacher asked who she was going to do it on she said she would do it on her mother.When she sais that, the class was silent. The next week was spring break, so she wanted to go to L.A. to see if she could find anything out about her mother's life. After, finally persuading her dad to let her go, she was of to L.A. When, she got to the airport she was supposed to find a boy named Nick who would take her to her uncle. Lucky for her she finds him. Unlucky for her he has a bad attitude. Nevertheless, the two of them get a taxi and are off to her uncle's house. For the next five days of her search for information about her mother, nothing but misfortune cane her way. These adventures create an enjoyablebook that I think any girl who likes adventures will have trouble putting it down until the last page.

I just LOVE this book! A great sequal to the first book. It's mainly about a thirteen year old girl, Vada Sultenfuss, who has been assigned to do a project on someone she admires but never really met. Naturally, she chooses her mother, who died because of birth complications. Her dad's an undertaker, who remarried to Shelly, the lady that does the make up on the...uh, deceased people. Now Shelly's pregnant. It's not one of those fairytale stories, where Shelly's the evil wicked fairy stepmother, or anything. Really. Vada actually likes Shelly, but has mixed feelings about it. She doesn't mind there's a baby, but she feels bad about the fact that she'll have to give up her room, something her mom had chosen. Another thing is that she's afraid that Shelly might die too. In the mean time, she has her new friend Judy to think about, whose currently dating the oh-so-cool-and-totally-snott-faced...(drumroll, please)Kevin Phillips. Soon, she decides to go to L.A., her mothers bithplace, to find out more for her report. Once there, she meets up with her Uncle Phil, his girlfriend, and his almost stepson, Nick. It starts out as a bribery thing, really, with Uncle Phil paying Nick five bucks to take Vada from the airport, and ten to take her around the place. Vada finds Nick incredibly disagreeable and wonders why he tags along anyway, if he dislikes her so much. She finds out more about her mother, though usually dissapointing bits, but eventually confides in Nick pretty many things, such as her mood ring and Thomas J.They become friends, really good friends. Really, REALLY good friends. Dare I say, a little more? Then, she finds out about some guy her mother had already been married to, and begins to worry that this Jeffery Pommery guy could actually be her father. She finds out once she meets him, though, that she's wrong. Totally, completely, embarrassingly wrong. She even got to keep a vidio tape of her mother singing and acting. So, in one little Spring Vacation, she finds out about her mother, gets her ear pierced(barbaric customs, Nick calls it) and gets a sort of couisin, once Phil proposes. Not that they want to be couisins, they'd rather be... well, Vada doesn't say, but you know. Now, at the airport, she gets her first kiss. Second, actually, afterall, Thomas J. kissed her first in the first book, but that's another story. Anyway, guess who does it? Nick, of course. On her way back on the airplane, she finds a tiny box with the chandeleir earrings that she wanted, along with a note saying, "In memory of barbaric customs. Love, Nick." Intrigued by the "love" part? Too bad for you, that's basically the last we ever heard of Nick. Once home, she rushes to the hospital to find that she is now a sister. Stepsister. Whatever, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not about to tell you the end- okay, I already told you most of it, but still, it's REALLY worth reading!! Since most people will probably see how long this review is, they'll probably skip it. Well, there goes twenty minutes writing to a waste. Oh well. Just one last thing: YOU...MUST...READ...THIS...BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this book. The minute I started reading it, I could not put it down. Tonight I am renting the movie. I can't wait! I am going to read the first My Girl next. I heard that was really good also. I'll let you know how I like it.

This is an excellent book. While not a true biography, it does take a look into Webb's personal life because Webb was such a workaholic that it had an effect on all that he did and who he was.

Unless you're an old time radio fan like me, you may not know that Webb started early and young. He had many outstanding shows before Dragnet and even Dragnet started in 1949 on radio. For a while, it was on both radio and television at the same time.

Webb was in many ways a brilliant man. Yet he had many failures --- both in his business life and certainly in his four marriages.

To say he was an interesting man may be an overstatement. But his body of work is so extensive, that one has to be impressed.

I started to become interested in Webb when looking for metaphors for my own writing. I didn't want to use stuff that everyone knew. And I kept hearing them on his old radio shows --- especially the ones written by the incredible Richard Breen.

I liked Webb's delivery and unemotional approach to acting. In most people, that would be considered bad acting. But somehow with Webb it was something special.

This book makes Webb and his entire career, his stock of actors and his many incarnations come to life. While his life was short, he accomplished so much.

Dragnet started on radio in 1949 and still today, in 2007, I know of no one who doesn't know what it means to hear, dum - de-dum -dum. And few people do not know of Dragnet and at least seen it on television. To me, that's amazing.

This book dwelt mostly with Webb's body of work and not his personal life or his personality. It does deal with it to some extent. But if you're interested mostly in that area of Webb's life, you might prefer another book.

The book has an excellent and exhaustive appendix that included a list, along with dates and other valuable information on each show on both radio and television. The appendix also includes other valuable informations. Well worth saving.

For Dragnet fans and Webb fans or those who are interested in radio and/or television history, this is a must-read. Oh, it has lots of great photos too.

Highly recommended.

I found this book to be an OK read. The only problem I had was that toward the end the tone of the writing shifted as the author sought to be a Jack Webb apologist. There are excuses made for the way the Dragnet of the 60s portrayed drug users, and there's almost an indignant tone taken over Dragnet spoofs such as the Dan Ackroyd film and even Nick at Nite promos!

The reason the Dragnet of the 60s became such a ripe ground for spoofing (besides the rapid fire patter) was indeed the portrayal of drug users. The series basically equated marijuana use with LSD and heroin, which is a laughable premise. The author's defense of the "Blue Boy" episode was particularly humorous. I remember seeing one of the participants of the drug party in that show actually physically trying to climb the walls. Talk about heavy-handed and unintentionally funny!

That said, I still found the book worthwhile reading, I'm a fan of Dragnet, both for Jack Webb's innovative style of shooting and the campy humor. It was interesting discovering things about Webb's radio show and some of his films that I had not previously known. I was easily able to overcome any minor annoyances with the tone shifting at the end.

I bought this book expecting fluff based on the reviews. I am a big fan of Dragnet the radio show but did not think the book would cover much of it in depth. I was wrong. Although it spends more time discussing the television series and movies, I was happy with the information on the radio show.

This book details the Dragnet radio show, both Dragnet television shows, and Mark VII movies. It does this through the central person in all of these productions, Jack Webb. However, the reader also learns about the regulars on the shows, and we get to know a bit about them as well.

"My Name's Friday" does not claim to be a biography on Webb and if that is what you are looking for, this is the wrong book for you. If you are looking for a bio of Jack Webb, there are many other books that you would probably enjoy more. However, If you are interested in the multiple incarnations of Dragnet and Pete Kelly's Blues, this is the book for you.

In addition to the main text, the appendixes include titles and brief descriptions of each Dragnet radio and television show in addition to police terms used in the shows and movies.

Great,great,great that's all that can be said about this book on ol' Jack Webb. Definately recommend that you get it,causes it's truly Dragnet A to Z. Buy it and remember when T.V. was new.

This is a must if you are collecting the radio shows, original TV series, or the '67-'70 version. A lot of the 50's series is on DVD, but they are scattered on all sorts of compilations. This book helps keep track of what you've got. I particularly enjoyed hearing from the extras that Webb used religiously.

But beyond Dragnet, there's a lot of interesting stuff here, how Webb was a jazz nut, including his foray into recording with his spoken-word "You're My Girl" album.

I think it's very interesting how he worked with ex-wife and her husband on Emergency! Many paramedics credit Emergency! with inspiring them to join this service. He obviously loved police and emergency services and his hometown. It makes you wonder, if Webb had lived, what his creative reaction to say the LA riots and the OJ trial would have been.

This is the definite cluetrain (doc searls et al)for broadcasTV news. Much the same way cluetrain sparked a marketing revolution, this does the same for broadcast journalism.
I first meet the author when she was interning for Florida Today in Cocca Beach.
Every point she makes in this book is vaild. The take on "fox fair and balanced" tells me she won't be on the O'Reilly factor anytime soon.
I found only one sort of error. FYI> Matt Lauer does have a broadcast journalism background on the local level. He came out of the same environment that former NBC correspondent and current talk show host (WBUR Boston) Robin Young did, PM Magazine at WJAR TV 10 in Providence Rhode Island. That's the only small flaw I could find in the book.
The suits at CNN don't want you to read the book. They are not happy campers and with good reason. The hollywood suits trashed the network big time, and with than came the opening for Fox news to fill. Rick Kaplan is currently doing the same thing for MSNBC that he did for CNN take it down the pike.
It's a fast read but once you start you wont' want to stop.

Finally---an insider with enough intestinal fortitude to call a sham a sham!!! One can just imagine the 6 o'clock news being primmed, powdered and perfumed with just enough tear (or smile) to make it palatibly entertaining. Ms. Anderson, with her years of experience and credibility, still believes that the American citizenry is due the news, the whole news, and nothing but the news. Reserve the spin and "holy cows" for the baseball commentators! If the media execs remain stoically entrenched in the annals of the entertainment world, then let them be reminded of the old radio classic, Dragnet, where the byline was...."the facts, Ma'am, just the facts".

Bonnie Anderson's book has brought to the light of day what I have felt has been a problem with the media for some time. Many of the newscasts are more concerned with form, not substance; how they look and not what they say. Her book is a very good read and pulls no punches in pointing out the way many in the media are more concerned with entertainment than hard news coverage. Her description of this type of coverage as "Infotainment" is right on point.

News Flash brings to the reader another big problem influencing news coverage which is how mega mergers are affecting the coverage that is being presented to the viewing public. Unfortunately the impact is not good and these large conglomerates are proving the old adage "bigger is not always better" to be very true.

From her experience at CNN as a reporter, managing director of a news division and Vice President of Recruitment and Training, Anderson offers the reader a unique perspective as to what goes on inside a large news organization. She provides an in depth look at what takes place behind closed doors when it comes to hiring, firing and staffing in today's media corporations and much of what she reveals should be quite disturbing to the viewing public. This book provides some very interesting statistics about the media and its management which I am sure most of us were never aware of.

While Anderson points out numerous things that are wrong with today's TV media and its management, she also brings out the good that the true journalist can and should do. At the end of the book she offers her thoughts on what the media can do to provide the viewing public with quality news coverage. She should be commended for taking a stand and bringing to our attention the problems and proposing solutions to get TV journalism back to the quality we need and deserve.

In light of Anderson's criticism of the TV networks and cable news channels, it will be interesting to see if any of the media will afford her the same opportunity to present her views as they did when Bernard Goldberg published his book on bias in the media. If they do not, shame on the media, again.

News Flash appears as a rising meteor against a field of weakening stars. Ms. Anderson's book takes the reader through the shenanigans of the TV news broadcasters in their unadulterated striving for place and profits while leaving behind journalistic investigation and integrity. Her words turn out to be an exciting journey of personal experience and incisive exposure.
As a long time news journalist Ms. Anderson sets a fair bar for news organization to reach. Her experiences and reporting often show just how good news organization can function. The same intimacy exposes the petty, inexcusable machinations of networks in journalistic decline.
Ms. Anderson's news flashes exposes the perfidy of CNN's executive wing in its Tailwind scandal, the staging of news as presented by NBC's Dateline story on General Motors in 1992 and the apparent homophobia of Roger Mudd given his attitude toward AIDS victims. But indeed, Ms Anderson is not a muckraker. On the contrary, hers is to excite the industry to better, to reset the standard of TV journalism. She gives as examples her own series on drought and famine in Africa bringing a change in American policy on humanitarian aid, or of CNN's initiative in covering the return of twenty-four U.S. Navy spy plane crewmen held in China. While these could be considered scoops, her admiration for her industry is best held by her words on the, "spectacular breaking news coverage of the 9/11 attacks."
Ms. Anderson words border on the requirement for broadcast journalism to return to its traditional values and to assure the public a clear and unbiased presentation of the news. Ms. Anderson carries the fight to those in the industry already sullying news broadcasts as entertainment and who have diluted their own professionalism for money, position, or simply hubris.

From her insiders view of the whole industry, Bonnie
Anderson delivers a searing indictment of our corrupt,
sensationalistic television news. She lays out fact
by fact, and name by name, just how, why, and most
importantly who is to blame for this once esteemed
institution's downward slide into the very muck it
used to deplore. For years, Noam Chomsky's theories
about the corruption of the news media have grown less
alarmist and eerily more prescient as the
infotainment age reaches its belligerent maturity.
But while Chomsky was lecturing about it, Ms. Anderson
was out in the field living it. She recounts, with a
journalist's eye for detail, all that went astray
within our large media conglomerates. The cast of
characters are all to familiar, Browkaw, Jennings,
Schwarzenegger, Striesand, O.J., Clinton, Leo,
Lewinsky, and Lettermen, as Ms. Anderson makes a
compelling case for the media's distortion from a
revered source of accurate information to an
increasingly grotesque and obvious fountain of
entertainment. "If it bleeds it leads" is the mantra
of newsrooms of our day, and may truth and rational
perspective be damned. Everything of value is
jettisoned in light of shocking and sensational video
footage about any subject, no matter how irrelevant
and trivial. No one will hear about the latest civil war in
Africa when every second of news time is dedicated to
footage of a shark attack in Florida, human interest
stories, a surfing cat, or another excessive
Hollywood wedding.