Watching TV
Six Decades of American Television , Second Edition

Paper $39.95s   |   ISBN 0-8156-2988-5   |   2003

A comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at America's favorite pastime.

Reviews, Praise for the first edition . . .
"Castleman and Podrazik have put together a well-researched, tightly written documentary on the development of the television industry and the individuals involved."
Publishers Weekly

"The authors have meticulously documented an in-depth survey of the entire world of TV trends and programming from the industry's beginnings, presenting along the way some very judicious critical analyses."
Library Journal

"[This] is an honest but affectionate chronicle that never loses sight of the more serious side of television while, thankfully, not taking itself too seriously."
Atlanta Constitution

Description
Watching TV remains the only book about television to go beyond mere alphabetical listings and limited reminiscences about the medium's most popular programs. Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik present a sweeping season-by-season survey capturing the essence of television from its inception to the present.

Castleman and Podrazik have dug through mounds of obscure facts, off-beat anecdotes, and the complicated network strategies that have made television a multi-billion-dollar industry. By presenting every prime-time schedule, season by season, from the fall of 1944, Watching TV provides a fascinating history of how the personalities, popular shows, and coverage of key events have evolved during the past six decades.

Full of facts, firsts, insights, and exploits, as well as rare and memorable photographs, Watching TV is the standard history of American television, now updated to include the most recent programming and industry developments.

Author
Harry Castleman practices law in Boston and has written seven other popular culture books with Wally Podrazik. He has worked as a media producer and consultant for a number of political organizations and campaigns. He has also been a guest lecturer on TV history at Boston University's College of Communication.

Walter J. Podrazik is a communications and logistics consultant. He is a historical writer and creative consultant for The Great Debate, a CD-ROM on the 1960 presidential contest between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. He is also media contributor for NPR affiliate WBEZ in Chicago and has taught college and secondary school writing and communication classes. He serves as Creative Resources Director for Heartland Historical Research Service.

81/2 x 11, 416 pages, 103 illustrations, index

View other books in this series