Television Is Where You Find It

Television is Where You Find It is a revelatory journey into the overlooked world of feature filmmakers who brought their cinematic vision to the small screen between 1955 and 1990—long before directing for television became trendy in the age of “Prestige TV.” With ten compelling case studies—from legends like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, and Orson Welles to trailblazers like Ida Lupino, Melvin Van Peebles, and Martin Scorsese—author Craig S. Simpson uncovers how these directors reshaped the language of television with style and imagination.

Far from simply dabbling in a “lesser” medium, these filmmakers pushed the boundaries of what TV could do, crafting bold, innovative work that challenges the old notion that television belongs solely to writers and producers. In this fresh, critical study, Television is Where You Find It makes a case for rediscovering and reevaluating a rich chapter of television history—one in which cinematic artistry quietly flourished, often hidden in plain sight.

1148292094
Television Is Where You Find It

Television is Where You Find It is a revelatory journey into the overlooked world of feature filmmakers who brought their cinematic vision to the small screen between 1955 and 1990—long before directing for television became trendy in the age of “Prestige TV.” With ten compelling case studies—from legends like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, and Orson Welles to trailblazers like Ida Lupino, Melvin Van Peebles, and Martin Scorsese—author Craig S. Simpson uncovers how these directors reshaped the language of television with style and imagination.

Far from simply dabbling in a “lesser” medium, these filmmakers pushed the boundaries of what TV could do, crafting bold, innovative work that challenges the old notion that television belongs solely to writers and producers. In this fresh, critical study, Television is Where You Find It makes a case for rediscovering and reevaluating a rich chapter of television history—one in which cinematic artistry quietly flourished, often hidden in plain sight.

29.95 Pre Order
Television Is Where You Find It

Television Is Where You Find It

by Craig S. Simpson
Television Is Where You Find It

Television Is Where You Find It

by Craig S. Simpson

eBook

$29.95 
Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on June 9, 2026

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Overview

Television is Where You Find It is a revelatory journey into the overlooked world of feature filmmakers who brought their cinematic vision to the small screen between 1955 and 1990—long before directing for television became trendy in the age of “Prestige TV.” With ten compelling case studies—from legends like Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, and Orson Welles to trailblazers like Ida Lupino, Melvin Van Peebles, and Martin Scorsese—author Craig S. Simpson uncovers how these directors reshaped the language of television with style and imagination.

Far from simply dabbling in a “lesser” medium, these filmmakers pushed the boundaries of what TV could do, crafting bold, innovative work that challenges the old notion that television belongs solely to writers and producers. In this fresh, critical study, Television is Where You Find It makes a case for rediscovering and reevaluating a rich chapter of television history—one in which cinematic artistry quietly flourished, often hidden in plain sight.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781978844865
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Publication date: 06/09/2026
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 190

About the Author

CRAIG S. SIMPSON is the director of Special Collections and Archives at San José State University. He is the coauthor of Above the Shots: An Oral History of the Kent State Shootings, with Gregory S. Wilson, and Cinema Then and Now: James Naremore - Conversations with Craig S. Simpson.

 

Table of Contents

Intro: This is Not a Film 


1. Alfred Hitchcock


Episode: “One More Mile to Go”


Series: Alfred Hitchcock Presents


Original Air Date: April 7, 1957


2. Leo McCarey


Episode: “Tom and Jerry”


Series: Screen Directors Playhouse


Original Air Date: November 30, 1955


3. Ida Lupino


Episode: “No. 5 Checked Out”


Series: Screen Directors Playhouse


Original Air Date: January 18, 1956


4. Orson Welles


Episode: “The Fountain of Youth”


Series: Colgate Theatre


Original Air Date: September 16, 1958


5. Budd Boetticher


Episode: “War of the Silver Kings”


Series: Maverick


Original Air Date: September 22, 1957


6. Michael Powell


Episode: “The Sworn Twelve”


Series: The Defenders


Original Air Date: March 25, 1965


7. Melvin Van Peebles


Episode: “Really Cool”


Series: The Bill Cosby Show


Original Air Date: April 26, 1970


8. George Cukor


Made-for-TV Movie: Love Among the Ruins


Program: ABC Theater


Original Air Date: March 6, 1975


9. Martin Scorsese


Episode: “Mirror, Mirror” 


Series: Amazing Stories


Original Air Date: March 9, 1986


10. David Lynch


Episode: “Lonely Souls”


Series: Twin Peaks


Original Air Date: November 10, 1990


Outro: Television Is Where You Find It


Acknowledgments


Notes


Bibliography


Index

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