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Summary: Not-To-Be-Missed Look At The Real World of Television
Review: How big money, big power, and big egos determine what we see on the tube and how it effects our culture at the millenium. Great inside stories of how and why the policy decisions get made and those that make them. An expertly researched and written book of great general interest. Destined to be another best seller for the author who is a smart, perceptive observer of what's popular and why.
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Summary: An anecdotal ride rather than a technical read
Review: I have some experience in television development, and am either directly or indirectly familiar with many of the showrunners and shows profiled in the book. While it was an enjoyable, quick read, the book is more "madcap" than "inside." Fun stories and personalities, but not much substance on why shows fail, why they succeed, or how to make an entry into the business. There is also some rather slavish adulation of Aaron Spelling, who, I won't dispute, is a monster producer, but nowhere near the vanguard of producing quality television. Fun, but if you want to know what this world is really about, this book won't deeply enlighten you.
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Summary: A Clever And Smart Look Inside Your Television
Review: I picked up this book on a lark at my local bookstore, being familiar with Wild's work in Rolling Stone, and thought it would be interesting and fun. It delivers. Wild manages to tell us about the stories behind the television series that we know and love. It's told in almost uniformly smart prose, with crackling humor. There are a few problems with the book. First and foremost is that large portions of the book, especially those dealing with "The Norm Show," appeared previously in substantially the same form in Wild's Rolling Stone articles. Another problem is that at times, there are too many stories going on. Wild follows SEVERAL sets of "showrunners," with characters and stories whipping in and out. I'd love to see Wild do a more in-depth look at just one of these people. Sure, some stories predominate--particularly the heartbreaking stories of Rob Thomas' "Cupid" and Paul Simms' "NewsRadio"--but often, I felt like there wasn't enough focus laid on a single storyline. Still, it's well worth picking up, if you're interested in seeing how shows come together in modern TV-Land.
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Summary: Well written and interesting--sometimes a little depressing
Review: I'm a TV writer myself but I've never worked in sit-coms or developed a show. I found this book fascinating in its illumination of an area of TV I was completely clueless about. I think anyone interested in TV writing or development could get a lot out of this book while being entertained as well. But I also think the book is well-written and fresh enough to keep almost any reader interested. It captures the insanity, greed, fun, coldness, and creativity of a business I still know very little about. As Hunter Thompson said, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".
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Summary: Super Background on the Creation of a Television Season
Review: Insightful, interesting description of how a TV season is made and unmade. Well-told with great characters and storylines. Compelling general interest read.
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Summary: Great TV Book That Is Well Worth Reading Even Outside L.A.
Review: It starts with "He's a pinball wizard" and ends with "it turns out that there are other things ro run besides TV shows". This is is great story about the TV industry that has quickly reached best seller proportions in Hollywood. It deserves to be read by anyone with a TV set. Great interviews and insight into the business and the mindset of TV showrunners.
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Summary: A Must-Read For TV Lovers!
Review: It's tough to find a good book about the real inner-workings of television. Few people have the access, and when they do, it's often one-sided and tough to see the whole picture. But David Wild's "Showrunners" is one of the few that not only manages a balanced look at the inner-sanctum of TV, but a broad view as well. This book is great for newcomers, who can find a heavy doses of reality in the tales of producers of shows like "Cupid" and "NewsRadio," and should be an interesting look at the biz for the professional, who sometimes can lose sight of all the individual stories that exist in the television industry. Are there slow parts? A few. But with insights into the inner-workings of shows like "7th Heaven," "Will & Grace," "Dilbert," "7 Days," "Friends," "Cupid," "NewsRadio" and "It's like, you know..." (among others), there's just about something for everyone here. A must-read!
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Summary: More fun than watching TV!
Review: Not to damn a fine book with faint praise, but "The Showrunners" is a lot more fun than actually watching TV. Funny and educational about the realities of life on the other side of the TV screen
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Summary: Excellent read--all you want to know about t.v.!
Review: One of the best books I've read in a long time. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the entertainment industry. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Wonderful Look at How a TV Season Is Made
Review: Pinball machines, shrimps, blind hope, faith and talent. What's behind the decisions of what gets on TV and how the lucky ones stay on the schedule. Read it.
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