Rating: 
Summary: Politics and Culture ... and TV
Review: The reviews here seem to conflict, but (aside from the Lucy corrections), they all say about the same thing and pretty accurately describe this book. It is not for people who don't want to hear about the relationship between what was on TV and what was happening in American politics and culture. And it will be an uphill read for anyone who wants to always agree with the author or who doesn't want the author to spin out some interesting speculations.Personally, I loved this book. I started browsing it in the bookstore. Had to sit down. Read for an hour. Put it back on the shelf. Picked it up again at the bookstore the next day. Got absorbed again. Had to buy it. I found it really readable and absorbing. I love the theories: maybe SNL isn't what it's cracked up to be. Stark seems like the sort of person I'd love to have around to have long conversations with... to argue with. I like the provocation! Don't go by how the star ratings averaged out. You can tell by these reviews whether you're the sort of person who likes this sort of thing. If you are, you'll probably love the book.
Rating:
Summary: Not Supposed to be about the 60 GREATEST shows
Review: This book is not meant to be about the 60 greatest shows ever to appear on television. It is not, in reality, a book about television at all, but rather about sociology. It analyzes the impact of television on American life, and, conversely, the impact of American life on television. Bravo to Mr. Stark for writing a book which gives us much more than so many other books do in discussing television. Mr. Stark actually makes us think about its impact.
Rating: 
Summary: good information but often ended negative
Review: This book was useful to me because of the detailed information it provided. I am using it to find other information on television shows I am researching. It was also entertaining to read. However, Stark would often end a section on a particular show with a stinging, negative comment. These seemed like cheap shots which he threw out, but then failed to back up. I appreciated all the information, but not the unsupported comments ending the Stark's thoughts on many of the shows.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but a little pretentious
Review: This is a very thorough, logical and well-researched look into the most influential television programs of the past half-century. The early years are particularly good. That said, it bogs down a little bit in the last third of the book. Everything is a reflection of the Reagan influence, which comes off as a little oversimplified. It's still generally worthwhile, but you won't be crushed when the ending arrives either.
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