Television's Second Golden Age

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Thompson (coauthor of Prime Time, Prime Movers) argues that TV's so-called Golden Age of the 1950s does not equal television of the '80s and early '90s. He gives a short history of every decade and shows how government and social climate affected the programs aired, as for example under the Kennedy administration, networks were scrutinized by the FCC. He believes the renaissance of the '80s began when NBC was "stuck in third place and fresh out of ideas [and that] critical acclaim might be their quickest way to commercial success." When Grant Tinker became NBC president in 1981, he made a commitment to produce good shows from Mary Tyler Moore Enterprises (which he had led) that would radically change TV. Under his aegis, Hill Street Blues was first to emphasize writing and character. Its success was followed with St. Elsewhere ("Hill Street Blues in a hospital"). Thompson also takes an intimate look at Cagney & Lacey; the rise and fall of Moonlighting; and thirtysomething, a show about "yuppie angst." He explains as well how a program could have a success without getting a major audience share. Informative and insightful, this book takes the convincing stance that TV's good old days are really today. Photos not seen by PW. (May)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780815605041
  • Publisher: Syracuse University Press
  • Publication date: 10/28/1997
  • Series: Television Series
  • Edition description: 1ST SYRACU
  • Pages: 225
  • Sales rank: 784,440
  • Product dimensions: 6.01 (w) x 8.95 (h) x 0.63 (d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 8
Preface: From "The Golden Age of Television" to "Quality TV" 11
1 The Golden Ages of Television 18
2 The Causes of Quality 36
3 The Quality Factory 46
4 Hill Street Blues: The Quality Revolution 59
5 Quality - The Next Generation: St. Elsewhere 75
6 The Second Golden Age of Television: Cagney & Lacey, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, thirtysomething, and China Beach 98
7 Quality Goes Quirky: Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, and Picket Fences 149
8 The Future of Quality 178
Notes 193
Select Book Bibliography 207
Home Video Sources 210
Index of Television Titles 211
Index of Names 216
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