Rating: 
Summary: A little below average
Review: As a youngster, I remember sitting in front of the television set and watching all the classics such as I Love Lucy, Wagon Train, Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, and many others. Purchasing TV Party was my hope in re-entering the memories of my childhood. While the book presents a good treatment of certain subjects such as television shows for kids in the fifties, it is lacking in information regarding many of the really big hits of that era. This is where the book TV Party falls short. It is still an interesting look at the past, but there is a gigantic hole of untold stories regarding the major shows of the past. I might have given the book a three star rating just for effort, but the CD that was included with the book was very low in quality and content.
Rating: 
Summary: The untold story about TVParty
Review: Don't believe all the marketing ploys about this book. Be suspicious of how all the negative reviews have have been voted upon. There are some unfair marketing techniques going on around here, and the book TVparty needs to be revealed as a book that is a product of mass marketing and false claims.
I don't care if the book is nostalgic or not. Simply put, TVparty does not live up to the hype. Most of the book contains material that would not make it on to the website. Some stories are interesting, but most of the book contains useless information and background. This is the worse purchase I have made in quite a while and it makes me mad that I didn't take more care and do more research before I bought this book.As an avid reader and fan of old tv shows, TV Party rates very low on my list of books about television.
Rating: 
Summary: Cabin Fever TV Party!
Review: When the snow blanketed New York City I thought I would go mad, unable to leave my apartment. The only saving grace to the whole thing was that I had this marvelous book to read! I was thrilled to read about Wonderama and Bob McAllister, we watched it every Sunday growing up here. The mystery of Alfalfa's death was another favorite, as was the look at TV variety shows in the 1970's, Sally Starr, the Smothers Brothers and all the rest. I can't wait to lend this to my sister, she'll love it as much as I did. I especially like the little added extras, the notes and trivia facts at the bottom of the pages. The 'Afterparty' at the end of the book was a nice touch, with more information on what I just read about. What a unique idea! I've never seen a book formatted this way and it made for a very pleasurable experience. Highly recommended, especially if you're going to be in a confined space for a while!
Rating:
Summary: I am returning this book
Review: This is sorriest excuse for a book that I have seen. The pictures on the cover have absolutely nothing to do with the contents.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars? No way.
Review: There are a lot of misinformed individuals here. Either that, or the marketing department for TV Party is posting all the 5 star reviews on this site. :)
Basically, this book could have been so much better if the author had been more determined in adding real value by adding more stories that were centered upon the old tv shows and characters. I found the book particularly lacking in this.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the beef?
Review: There used to be an old tv commercial where an elderly lady would look into a hamburger bun and exclaim "Where's the beef!" The commercial was funny in that it was trying to demonstrate how certain burger companies overstated their claims of big and juicy burgers. As for TV Party, I would like to say "Where's the Party?!".
TV Party is a valiant attempt to bring to the general public, some "insider" stories, but for the most part fails in execution and style. The stories are ok but not very well written. Much of the book was boring for me because a lot of the stories have to do with programming that I never saw or knew about when I was growing up as a kid. That is very odd, since I was pretty much a tv baby watching lots of television when I was growing up during the era this book is covering.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous!
Review: TVparty, Television's Untold Tales is thoroughly entertaining and often fascinating. Why have I never heard about TV's Superman being murdered? I thought he jumped of a cliff! The first video game was from the 50s? I loved the stories about TV's first star, Felix the cat, and the mystery of the famous sitcom houses, and the first couple to sleep in a bed together. I wish this was a TV network. Most of the features in this book were unkown to me. But everyone I show this book to jumps up and down with excitement when they see something in it. And it's always someting I never heaqrd of before I read this book. It's great to pull out at a party, I'm serious. It always sparks a conversation, it's a great party starter! My brother-in-law even liked it and he hates books. He even showed it to his buddies. Now that's impressive!
Rating:
Summary: Was this written just for me?
Review: The Tvparty book is so unique and unusual,I would swear it was written just for me. It's like a time capsule of my years growing up in front of the television set. The author grasps at various moments in time, then tosses them back with a rye wit that is usually missing in these types of books. For instance, there's a section on Playboy After Dark with Hugh Hefner which no one I know remembers but me. Extensively detailed and researched, I usually can spot errors in classic TV books, but not this one. From Winky Dink to Irwin Allen, it's all here. The CD that comes with the book is hilarious. I was crazy about Quisp cereal as a youngster, and the Quisp vs Quake commercial was priceless, as were the clips of fall previews from the sixties (like Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies blowing her lines). The film of Bette Davis telling her kids there will be no Christmas presents because the country is at war only underscores how much times have changed! I bought this book because I heard the author on the radio and I'm sure glad I did. If you love living in the past as much as I do, buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Didn't like it as much as I thought I would
Review: As a person who grew up during the baby boomer generation, I must say that I was very excited to receive my copy of TV Party. I've finished the book and it was lackluster at best, and boring at worst.
I was not impressed with the quality and selection of "untold stories" with the exception of the article on Superman and a few of the early children's programs from the 1950's. I wish there were more to the book except the weak stories that were included in this volume.
Rating:
Summary: Whoaaaa Nelly!
Review: I bought this book for one reason only. The chapter on the NWA wrestling matches of the 80s. This was the classic wrestling I grew up with in South Carolina. With Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Magnum, Jim Cornett and Baby Doll. No one has ever written about this stuff as far as I know. For that alone it earns my 5 star rating. I just wish the CD had clips of those matches! I also liked the guy's story about growing up as a child actor in 60s Hollywood, the chapter on Romper Room and Captain Kangaroo. The story of what happened to the local kid show hosts in Minneapolis was evocative, funny and a bit sad. This is a great book for the nightstand - breezy, easy and a little bit bit sleazy.
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