Dictionary of Teleliteracy: Television's 500 Biggest Hits, Misses, and Events

by David Bianculli

Book Overview

This A-Z guide examines the impact of American prime-time network TV shows from 1948 to 1994, many of which reached the UK and Europe. It includes: 1950s - I Love Lucy; 1960s - The Addams Family;... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826405770
• ISBN13: 9780826405777
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A book that even tel-illiterates will want to read!

It's a shame this book has such a dull title because it's reallya wonderful book! I have several shelves filled with televisionreference books, but this one takes pride of place. True to itstitle, the book is organized in the form of a dictionary, with Ato Z entries on individual shows, from "ABC World News" to"Zorro." Not only is it stuffed with useful information on thehistory of television from 1945 through 1995, it's great fun toread. David Bianculli is that rarest of all TV addicts--a manwith an IQ number higher than the number of cable channels hegets. He seems to know everything there is to know about everyshow ever aired and can comment authoritatively on all of them.Here he has selected 500 programs (both series and individualevents, such as the O.J. Simpson "Bronco" miniseries) that havehad the greatest impact--for better or for worse--on our cultureand explains why. All this has to do with his conception of"teleliteracy"--the awareness and appreciation of TV's mostpopular and meaningful offerings.In other words, this book isn't strictly about the best and worstin television history (though Bianculli offers tons of examplesof both), it's about the shows that have made the greatestimpression on our consciousness--the shows that live on ourmemories, that have changed our language, and have shaped ourculture.

Excellent

Mr. Bianculli is a fun read and clearly a master of his domain. This book is a must have for any television fan or student. Keep it by the TV set and beat your family members in triva contests. Run don't walk to pick up a copy.