Television's Second Golden Age: From Hill Street Blues to Er : Hill Street Blues/Thirtysomething/St. Elsewhere/China Beach/Cagney & Lacey/Twin Peaks/Moonlighting/Northern Exposure/L. - Hardcover

Thompson, Robert J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0826409016 ISBN 13: 9780826409010

Publisher: Continuum Intl Pub Group, 1996

Synopsis

Reviews TV series since 1980

About this title

Review:

It's fashionable to assert that television is bad and is inherently doomed to be worse, even evil. However, every now and then, the rabbit ears capture spasms of glory -- and this book makes a reasonably convincing case that shows such as Hill St. Blues, Moonlighting, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, and ER are not only good television, but possibly even works of high culture. The flip side of the story is also compellingly reported: that in many cases, these anomalous movements towards quality will be suppressed or even suffocated by the industry, regardless of public sentiment. A good book -- possibly excellent.

From Publishers Weekly:

Thompson (coauthor of Prime Time, Prime Movers) argues that TV's so-called Golden Age of the 1950s does not equal television of the '80s and early '90s. He gives a short history of every decade and shows how government and social climate affected the programs aired, as for example under the Kennedy administration, networks were scrutinized by the FCC. He believes the renaissance of the '80s began when NBC was "stuck in third place and fresh out of ideas [and that] critical acclaim might be their quickest way to commercial success." When Grant Tinker became NBC president in 1981, he made a commitment to produce good shows from Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises (which he had led) that would radically change TV. Under his aegis, Hill Street Blues was first to emphasize writing and character. Its success was followed with St. Elsewhere ("Hill Street Blues in a hospital"). Thompson also takes an intimate look at Cagney & Lacey; the rise and fall of Moonlighting; and thirtysomething, a show about "yuppie angst." He explains as well how a program could have a success without getting a major audience share. Informative and insightful, this book takes the convincing stance that TV's good old days are really today. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Continuum Intl Pub Group
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0826409016
• ISBN 13: 9780826409010
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 220