Rating: 
Summary: Much like the network - pure self-promotion
Review: "TV Land To Go" is a book much like the network itself. While entertaining at times, it is far too centered around self-promotion, whereas it should be centered around the preservation of classic TV shows. TV Land, the network, seems to have lost its way from its beginnings, and instead of taking the tact of appreciating what it claims to preserve (ala Turner Classic Movies), it spends most of its time with self-promotion, even to the point of corrupting the shows with its "bug" in the corner of the screen, its shrunken closing credits [to allow for another promo], and, of late, a distorted picture DURING the shows to allow for another promotion at the BOTTOM of the screen!!! If these things irritate you about the network, then I highly recommend you avoid this book, and purchase a book which takes its subject seriously. Many of the lists in this book do not even make sense...and other lists seem filled with shows which happened to be running on TV Land and Nick-at-Nite at the time of the books writing. Evidently, no one ever told the executives at TV Land that the best way to attract viewers [and readers] is not to tell everyone how great you are, but to show it instead. Looking for a good book about classic television?....try "Glued to the Set" by Steven Stark.
Rating: 
Summary: A neat compendium
Review: At times irreverent, TV Land To Go is a mishmash of trivia, lists, more lists, and plugs for the network TV Land. Much of the book is hilarious, especially the list of basic TV plots and the collective wisdom of sitcoms. I especially loved the examination of the amnesia plot in comedies and the proliferation of the "hit on the head" trigger and "hit on the head again" cure. The list of 100 top sitcom episodes is interesting, but, like any list, is controversial (at least to classic TV types). Why the Leave it to Beaver episode with Captain Jack, when the boys take home a baby alligator, instead of the one where Beaver becomes trapped in a giant teacup? Why the episode of Happy Days when Richie fights back against bullies instead of the famous "jump the shark" episode, or the one where Richie returns to the show for the first time in years? The thinly veiled ads for TV Land -- its shows, specials, books -- seems tongue in cheek, but irritates as well. I flipped past those sections quickly. Some of the lists of top shows are short, and are conspicuously filled with shows that TV Land currently airs. A nice addition, overall, to your TV book library, but not the "classic compendium" it's purported to be.
Rating:
Summary: A book of opinions
Review: I didn't really like this book very much, I expected it to be full of facts, but it was full of opinions- there was some facts but how did the top 20 become top 20? Did they have a poll or a survey? and on the top 100 shows of all time when they gave points for how funny the show was or how Original the show was or how good the actors acted - who decided how many points each show got for each catagory. So really this book is really biased. I mean how did I love lucy's vitameatavegamin get 26th greatest show when Mary Tyler Moores show get 100th? It takes alot of skill to act drunk and not laugh out loud in the process than to make yourself laugh. And on the 20 greatest actors how can they have Mary Tyler Moore over Dick van Dyke or Lucille Ball? and the don't even have Red Skeleton on there. Some people might think hes not tecnically an actor,but it takes a lot of acting skill to do so many impressions!
Theres a lot more stuff thet I do't like about this book The way they advertised it it sounded like it would have been good but it isn't. I thought it would have been full of facts but it dosen't. I was very disapointed when I read it.
Rating:
Summary: Hit&Miss
Review: I dig myself some TV Land but this Book picks different episodes&things that I feel are alright&some others that I prefer but there isn't a fair overall balance displayed within this book.
Rating: 
Summary: great gift for television fans
Review: I thought this book was very entertaining. It's obviously a labor of love -- something every TV fan should pick up.
Rating:
Summary: Skip this book....buy TV Party instead
Review: I was really looking forward to recieving this book, even bought it to be given back to me as a gift (Mom always has trouble shopping!), and I was very disappointed in the book, the writing, the bad cheesy lists (such as the history of TV since the dawn of time). And last but not least, the top 100 list has episodes of shows that didn't even last over the years. Only 3 Lucy episodes make it? Taxi actually ranks in the top 10 and Car 54 is on the list! This and the author is really a hack when it comes to wirting as well. I also got TV party at Xmas as well and it was ten times better written, more informative and even came with a CD with vintage commercials....save your money on this one...buy it used or skip it.
Rating:
Summary: An Incisive and Essential Pop Culture Handbook
Review: In this handy, portable text, the author supplies a potent mixture of insightful perspectives and fun facts that are essential in making one fully conversant about the most powerful cultural force of the last century: American television. As we enter the age when this art form, and the way it is distributed and exhibited, appear to be transforming into something unrecognizable to a generation weened on afternoon re-runs of supernatural slapstick sitcoms, test patterns in the wee small hours of the morning, TV sets with dials, TV sets with vertical and horizontal controls, incredibly narrow viewing choices, and a strong division between the TV industry and the film industry, it is good to have an overview of the audio/visual ephemera that has influenced a good many of us more profoundly that we would probably care to admit in public. Yes, Mr. Hill has written an undoubtedly subjective text, (despite his implementation of a brilliantly conceived scientific formula to help him reach his mostly fair and balanced conclusions), and several of his entries in his list of the 100 greatest episodes can raise loud and often frenzied debates. But loud and frenzied debates can be fun. And besides, even if he does overlook a few masterpieces of the sitcom art (e.g., the episode of McHale's Navy where Captain Binghampton thinks that every person he meets is Ensign Parker, or the I Dream of Jeannie episode guest starring Don Rickles as a maniacal fitness expert), he more than makes up for it with the wealth of information he provides, and the unfailingly pithy and witty manner in which he provides it. I can't wait for the next volume.
Rating:
Summary: Get it to go!
Review: Put down your remote control and pick up this book! The only thing better than watching TV is reading about it in "TV Land to Go." Most of the book is a funny, factual account of all-things TV, but the author also has a ball (as in Lucille) creating his own lists of clever, subjective observations. I could totally identify with "The Seven Lessons Sitcoms Teach Us" and I loved "The Worst Possible Men's Softball Team Composed of Classic TV Stars"...Tony Randall covering first-base? Just imagine it! At the heart of the book is an ambitious list of the 100 best sitcom episodes of all-time. Each episode gets a thorough, "scientific" examination as this list alone runs over 180 pages...there's some very funny stuff in the episodes and also in the observations by the author. (As for his list of the 100 best episodes, he has not included a couple of "Cheers" episodes that ABSOLUTELY should have made the list...at least in my opinion. I was also glad to see a "Get a Life" episode on the list. You're bound to have your own suggestions as well.)
Rating:
Summary: Get it to go!
Review: Put down your remote control and pick up this book! The only thing better than watching TV is reading about it in "TV Land to Go." Most of the book is a funny, factual account of all-things TV, but the author also has a ball (as in Lucille) creating his own lists of clever, subjective observations. I could totally identify with "The Seven Lessons Sitcoms Teach Us" and I loved "The Worst Possible Men's Softball Team Composed of Classic TV Stars"...Tony Randall covering first-base? Just imagine it! At the heart of the book is an ambitious list of the 100 best sitcom episodes of all-time. Each episode gets a thorough, "scientific" examination as this list alone runs over 180 pages...there's some very funny stuff in the episodes and also in the observations by the author. (As for his list of the 100 best episodes, he has not included a couple of "Cheers" episodes that ABSOLUTELY should have made the list...at least in my opinion. I was also glad to see a "Get a Life" episode on the list. You're bound to have your own suggestions as well.)
Rating: 
Summary: Wrong George, by George!
Review: The book contains some misinformation. For example, on page 62 it claims George Chakiris was on Route 66 (the tv series) and won an oscar for the film West Side Story. They are half right. Chakiris was in WSS, but he was not on Route 66 the show. Another George-George Maharis was on the tv Route 66 playing Buzz Murdock. I guess covering all these tv shows was a little hard for the writer of the book.
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