The Book-Lover’s Guide to the Emmys
Got Emmy fever? The only cure is to check out these books before Sunday’s Emmy broadcast, written by nominees or giving background on some of your favorite nominated shows. Don’t have time to read around all the new fall TV? Just put down your DVR remote and pick up a book during the commercials:
Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller
SNL featured a solid season with new faces this year, even with the absence of Kristen Wiig, and was recognized for its efforts by the Emmy folk with three nominations. Though Shales and Miller’s oral history leaves off a few cast generations ago, it’s still a fascinating look at the late night stalwart’s ups and downs, not to mention an interesting peek at the inner thoughts and insecurities of performers (Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer) we typically see only in full-on silly mode.
Bossypants, by Tina Fey
This may not be the most obscure Emmy-related book pick, but whatever: Tina Fey is awesome, and now that 30 Rock is gone (sob!), it may be a little while—though I hope not too long—before she’s nominated for her next big project. Here’s hoping 30 Rock wins at least one of the two Emmys it’s nominated for this year, including Outstanding Comedy Series. Bossypants is a good pick for the following people: Fey-lovers, mothers, daughters, feminists, and comedy fans, which I think covers pretty much everybody. I refuse to delete the audiobook from my iTunes, because I’m saving it for a day when I need a surefire pick-me-up.
Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town, by Nick Reding
I’m the last person on earth to get around to watching Breaking Bad (nominated for three Emmys this year), but I have a feeling that one of the show’s themes is not that meth is cool. If you’d like to learn more about what meth does to its users, makers and sellers—the real Walter Whites—check out this sad and chilling examination of its insidious hold on America’s heartland.
Unbearable Lightness, by Portia di Rossi
Whee! 2013 brought back the return of Arrested Development, which is receiving recognition from the good folks at the Emmys with three noms. While Di Rossi’s memoir isn’t as fun as her performance as the vain, delusional Lindsay Funke, it may surprise you with its honesty about her entry into Hollywood, and the toll it took on her body image and acceptance of her sexuality.
The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger
You have to wonder what the family members who survived the men who went down with the doomed fishing vessel Andrea Gail make of The Deadliest Catch, which turns the perils of deep-sea fishing into fodder for a thrice-nominated reality show. Before the movie and before the show, Junger tackled the task of reconstructing the final hours of six men who went missing during a severe storm.
Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster, Kristen Johnston
Many people mostly know tall glass of water Kristen Johnston as the brassy broad who played an alien on Third Rock From The Sun, the doomed loudmouth on Sex And The City, or, most recently, a divorce attorney on once-nominated sitcom The Exes. In her no-b.s. memoir, she reveals a tortured inner life colored by addiction and insecurity, made enjoyable by Johnston’s refreshing, excuses-free honesty. After reading the book, you’ll root for Johnston show to succeed, but you’ll also really want to hang out with her.
What’s your favorite pick for a TV-inspired read?