Tabloid Baby

By Burt Kearns

Book Overview

The first managing editor of Fox Television's "A Current Affair" tells the story of television's wild decade--an inside look at the decisions, mistakes, crimes, and competition that made the tabloid... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580291074
• ISBN13: 9781580291071
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Celebrity Books
• Length: 520 Pages
• Weight: 2.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Tabloid Baby

"Tabloid Baby" - by Burt KearnsHaving worked in the television industry for some twenty years (has it really been that long?) I relived much of my misspent youth devouring the pages of "Tabloid Baby" by Burt Kearns.I grew up in Sydney, Australia reading countless articles and watching many, many shows created by the main characters in the book. Reliving those years - and experiencing the years that followed their departure to the US - only heightened my admiration of not only their journalistic ability - but their sheer staying power and determination in the pursuit of a story! Okay, a lot of that staying power could also be attributed to their drinking skills - but doesn't that really go hand in hand?A rip-snorting, page-turning, knee-slapping trip down television's memory lane -- the good and the bad -- written by a talented wordsmith who lived through the era -- helped shape it - and came out the other end - alive!If you've ever wondered how television is made - look no further for a reference book!Linn Taylor, Production Manager, Sydney, Australia.

Non-stop adventure and self-discovery

As a co-worker of Burt's back in the "Prologue" days, I was delighted to discover this book and was thoroughly entertained throughout. Certainly his time at NBC was nothing in comparison to the roller coaster ride he details throughout the book. Not only is the recreation of the birth and decline of tabloid television told in entertaining and sometimes amazing detail, the author's use of the English language is as powerful as ever. Each adventure is told in a unique and entertaining manner. At times my maternal instinct wanted to reach into the story and yell at Burt to slow down and take a look at where his life was headed - too much risk, too much drinking, too much everything - it's almost with relief that the reader witnesses him "settling down". However, I don't think his nose for a story ever will....and that's a good thing.

Cannot put it down.

Perhaps the most unusually honest- and paralyzingly funny - book about American news media to come down the pike since the glory days of Norman Mailer, Hunter Thompson and Tom Wolfe. If you've been looking for a name to add to that triumverate..look no further. May I introduce Mr.Burt Kearns. And - while we're at it - lets throw in Rabelaeis (sp) Cervantes and Swift for good company. It's been a long, long time since someone had the cojones to open up a can of one hundred proof whup ass on our Nurse Ratchit run TV news media. Dan, Tom, Peter....stick your face in this book and grow a sense of humor. Thank God there's someone out there who sees it for what it is! (And knows how to write to boot!) Kearns for president!

Hilarious! A pop history book that reads like a novel!

I'm one of the many media-types who have been waiting for this book for months. It was worth the wait. I started reading and couldn't put the thing down. This book tells an inside story of the television business in a way I've never seen before. It's a history book that reads like a novel. It's hilarious, it's sad, it's shocking, and it moves. I never thought I'd feel sympathy for the guys who ran that sleazy tabloid TV business, but the characters are rich, multi-sided and likeable--even the ones you have to despise-- and you really root for the main character to get out of the business while he's still alive! This book names names and it reveals secrets, but at the same time explains what tabloid television might have been-- and what today's TV business could have been like--if the good guys won. I know some of the people mentioned in this book. They're not going to be happy. But they can't deny how accurate Kearns is. He's a pretty brave (crazy?) guy to lay it all on the line like this. This book is going to rock a lot of worlds in the TV news business. I predict it's going to be huge.