Customer Reviews

The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 7th edition

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book sort of considers itself the "industry standard" at giving you the facts about television shows. And, in many ways, it does give you a sense of many of the programs listed here, more than six thousand, as the cover states. However, it frequently doesn't know whether it wants to give you the gossipy dish on a program or to clearheadedly state the facts of a show, and it frequently misses the historical records or the most important points about and surrounding the listings.

For example, in the case of television's most celebrated flop, "My Mother The Car," they flatly state the plot of the program, but nothing about how outrageous the concept was or any of the commentary about it. Meanwhile, just over the page, they talk of how many people found the critical darling, "My So-Called Life" whiny and melodramatic!

Either a tome like this should treat all shows with no editorial opinion included, or they should dish the dirt on all programs. It makes the authors seem like rank amateurs to try to be both critics and paladins of television facts.

One final note: They always state, with each ensuing version of this book (currently at the Eighth Edition), that the text is "completely revised and updated." This is a lie. The reviews and comments on every show reviewed in a previous edition is exactly the same as it was when it first appeared. Some of these are embarrassingly outdated, like the comments they made about the landmark miniseries, "Roots."

This book is helpful to people who are aware of the programs firsthand and won't be swayed by the author's biases. However, with internet resources available, this book and many others like it may soon be as dead as many of the shows it purportedly reviews.

The best ever!! Tried to stump the book with obscure TV shows and everyone was listed. Goes by alphabetical order and with calendars of all the years from 1946 to the 2003. You'll never forget who appeared in what. Alot of detail on each show. As soon as I looked thru it, I was sorry I hadn't had this book for years. The best TV reference book you can have.

I already have two earlier editions of this TV bible and had to have this new one. It's more than worth the money. I'll read this one cover to cover as soon as I can bestill my beating heart. I've checked out the write-ups for newer shows such as Buffy -- the authors have proven that they're still in top form. This edition even includes a trivia section, which I will attempt after reading the 1500 or so pages of television history. A must-have for anyone who watches TV.

this book is great for tv buffs it brought back alot of memories from my past and present. there is only one thing that could make this book better and what i would like to see added is a list of each episode by name or at least something stating how many episodes were made for each show listed like for example "kolchak:the night stalker" (20 episodes),other than that the book is a bible of the tv and cable world.oh yeah also what would make it better is if a new edition was put out each year instead of the wide gap in years between editions so this way it is more up to date and accurate of the current times.

I have three editions of this, I upgrade about every 5-10 years.

Just want to say that this is a required reference for trivila, facts, solving crossward puzzles, and most of all, settling arguments at the office, home, or other work place.

Along with Leonard Maltin's movie book, it is all one needs to watch TV correctly.

I love this book, and I use it as a resource freqently. However, this book has flaws. First, there are missing shows like "The Six O'Clock Follies" from 1980. Next, some shows are covered from begining to end with every plot twist, cast change, etc., and some just cover the basic premise and essential plotline(s). Also, some of the plot information is incorrect. According to the book, in the 84-85 season of Dallas, Bobby is shot by an assassin gunning for JR. This is just a theory explored on the show. The shooter eventually admits she was trying to kill Bobby. The book is also too long between updates. You'll find little problems along the way, but otherwise it's a terrific resource.

It's like a trip down memory lane!

The only other edition of this book I owned was the version published in 1987. So this edition is a quantum leap forward.

I challenge you to find a more thorough guide to prime time TV. This book has everything - down to the minutest detail. Even if you just scan through this book you'll see in-depth references to shows you've long forgotten about. It really is like flipping through an old family album that has been lost to time or stashed away for years. The memories just come flooding back to you.

Special enhanced bonus: the appendixes at the back that break down the shows by longest-running, spin-offs, etc.

No kidding: the last time I sat down to read through this book, I let SO MUCH time go by that by the time I put it down I had to shave again.

Absolutely worth picking up, but nearly impossible to put down!!

Don't believe me? Read some of the other reviews listed here for this simply fantastic reference book. There's a reason everyone gives this book 5 stars!

Although Brooks & Marsh don't cover as many series as Alex McNeil's <em>Total Television</em>, they make up for it by providing much more detail on the series they do cover. If you're not so much a fan of daytime TV, get this book. Otherwise, I think you will want both.

The information contained in this book is astounding. I can't tell you how many times I have consulted this book whenever we see an actor on a TV show and wonder, "Where have we seen him/her before?" Rarely has that question not been answered in the pages of this book. I've bought the last four editions, and have a "hand-me-down chain" well established: my sister gets the second-most-recent edition, and she passes the previous one onto her son-in-law.

Inaccuracies? With the volume of television information out there, there are bound to be small mistakes here and there. The authors encourage readers to submit corrections to the book, and I myself have done so. (In fact, my name appears in the acknowledgments page of this edition as having contributed a correction.)

Out-of-date information? This book is only updated once every three to four years (to update it more often would be cost-prohibitive), and the last revision was in 1999. The publication information on the Amazon.com item page clearly says this, and the book's introduction also gives the "official" cut-off date for updated information. The next edition should be just around the corner.

My library would not be complete without this book, and I will, without hesitation, be buying the next edition as soon as it hits the shelves.

This book is completely outdated. Will there be an 8th edition?