The Last Great Ride

Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING, YET FLAWED, LOOK AT NBC IN THE 1980'S
Review: "The Last Great Ride" details the late Brandon Tartikoff's tenure at NBC during the 1980's in his own words. He does not present the information chronologically but rather topically (and there does not seem to be any particular reason to the order they are presented). Readers will enjoy reading about the creation of shows like "The Cosby Show", "Hill Street Blues", "Highway to Heaven" and many other NBC shows of that era. However be warned that not all of the successful shows of that era are covered ("Riptide" fans will not find anything here of note about that show). And it should be noted that the book is weakened the author's use of profanity. But the book's basic rags to riches story (of a distant third place network turning around into the dominant first place network) will be enjoyable to any TV fan.

Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING, YET FLAWED, LOOK AT NBC IN THE 1980'S
Review: "The Last Great Ride" details the late Brandon Tartikoff's tenure at NBC during the 1980's in his own words. He does not present the information chronologically but rather topically (and there does not seem to be any particular reason to the order they are presented). Readers will enjoy reading about the creation of shows like "The Cosby Show", "Hill Street Blues", "Highway to Heaven" and many other NBC shows of that era. However be warned that not all of the successful shows of that era are covered ("Riptide" fans will not find anything here of note about that show). And it should be noted that the book is weakened the author's use of profanity. But the book's basic rags to riches story (of a distant third place network turning around into the dominant first place network) will be enjoyable to any TV fan.

Rating:
Summary: No Need To Buckle Up For This Ride
Review: Although this book is dated in its subject, I couldn't help but smile as I read about the television shows that shaped NBC. In this wonderfully written book about the populist medium of television, Tartakoff relives the interesting stories that helped bring NBC to the forefront of modern programming. I was fascinated to find out that ABC passed on the idea of "The Cosby Show" not once but twice, or that he believed in "Hill Street Blues" so much that it was the lowest rated show in television history to be renewed after its first season. In this anecdotal account his experiences, Tartikoff learns to laugh at himself as he redefined broadcast entertainment, never looking back. You will definately enjoy this "ride," and, at the very least, be fascinated by the incredibly entertaining stories of some of your favorite television shows of the past. This book is a must read for any fan of television.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful read for anyone who grew up with 80's TV
Review: This book is more than just about how many of our favorite NBC TV shows from the 80s were created. It's a lighthearted tale about a creative man who made a career of taking creative risks. This book, like any good TV show, did more than entertain me. It gave me pause to think. Whether you're a struggling writer, a successful CEO, or somewhere inbetween, read this book. Inspiration from an unlikely source.

Rating:
Summary: How Brandon Tartikoff saved NBC
Review: This book takes a look through the eyes of the late Brandon Tartikoff. How he started out at a local TV station, then moved to ABC, and later to NBC, where he became TV's youngest programming executive in 1980, replacing Fred Silverman. He talks about how "The Cosby Show" became a part of TV history, etc. He talks about his battles with Hodgkin's disease, and other things. This book is really worth getting and reading.

Rating:
Summary: For those who watched tv in the 80s...
Review: This book tells of Mr. Tartikoff's dealings with a struggling network soon to be number 1! His tales of triumphs & failures (anyone remember "Pink Lady"?) are shows of honesty & how the biz works. Anyone who enjoyed 80s television has this man to thank. Find out more by reading all about the ins & outs of 80s tv right here! A must read!

Rating:
Summary: For those who watched tv in the 80s...
Review: This book tells of Mr. Tartikoff's dealings with a struggling network soon to be number 1! His tales of triumphs & failures (anyone remember "Pink Lady"?) are shows of honesty & how the biz works. Anyone who enjoyed 80s television has this man to thank. Find out more by reading all about the ins & outs of 80s tv right here! A must read!

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable, if dated, look at television in the 1980's
Review: This is the 1992 autobiography of the late Frank Tartikoff, the head of programming for NBC in the 1980's. He is credited for masterminding the network's return to glory with programs like The Cosby Show, Miami Vice, and Cheers. The book is filled with humorous anecdotes and commentary on the business of television.

By most accounts, this book is woefully out of date. Most of Tartikoff's shows have been off the air for years. However, I found his stories very enjoyable because these were the shows I watched growing up. Mr. Tartikoff was a family man with a keen business sense, a down-to-earth guy who knew when to laugh at himself and who did not take the entertainment world too seriously.

Rating:
Summary: Entertainment Industry Insider Account
Review: While Brandon Tartikoff went on to become chairman of Paramount Pictures, he achieved his greatest success while programming NBC during the days when that network dominated the prime time schedule. He notes, "TV is a populist medium, and so the challenge comes down to finding ideas that will capture the zeitgeist." This book is part biographical, but more weighted toward giving an inside view of the system and personalities that comprised the entertainment industry during Tartikoff's career.

A visit he made to Bob Hope's home illustrates the "inside" type information found in the book. He talks about coming upon a vault. "Inside were rows upon rows of alphabetized file cabinets," he says. It was his collection of jokes. He mentioned to Hope the possibility of putting the material on computer, to which the comic genius responded, "Now why would I do something like that? Everything I need, I know where to find--right now."

If you're interested in television of the mid 1980s to mid 1990s you'll find this book a match for your tastes. It's written, like the TV shows produced on network television, for the mass market and consequently is easy to follow.