Not remotely controlled : notes on television / Lee Siegel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Siegel, Lee, 1957-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Television programs--United States.

Television programs.

United States.

Television broadcasting--United States.

Television broadcasting.

Physical Description:

ix, 353 pages ; 21 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Basic Books, [2007]

Summary:

Television Has Taken Firm Hold of American life ever since the first flickering images replaced the disembodied voices innocently crackling from the radio. Ever present and evolving, television thrives at the crossroads of commerce, art, and entertainment. In Not Remotely Controlled cultural critic Lee Siegel collects his reportage and musings on this most hybrid medium. Whether chronicling the history of the "cop" drama, revealing the inherent irony in Donald Trump's character on "The Apprentice," or shedding light on those unheralded gems that Neilsen ratings swept away prematurely, Siegel gives each episode, series, or documentary the attention and respect usually reserved for high-art and dusty literature. Going far beyond mere pans and praise, Siegel has given long-overdue attention to America's most pervasive art form: television.

Contents:

Cops 1 Why Cop Shows Are Eternal 4

Cops 2 The New Kojak 13

Cops 3 CSI: New York 17

Cops 4 Numb3rs 22

Cops 5 RENO 911! 26

Cops 6 Monk 32

Sitcoms 7 Friends 40

Sitcoms 8 Joey 45

Sitcoms 9 My Name Is Earl 49

Sitcoms 10 Everybody Hates Chris 54

Comedy 11 Jon Stewart 58

Comedy 12 Extras I 64

Comedy 13 Extras II 68

Comedy 14 Curb Your Enthusiasm 74

Comedy 15 Weeds 82

Comedy 16 The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 87

Cartoons 17 The Boondocks 92

Cartoons 18 SpongeBob SquarePants 96

Race 19 Unforgivable Blackness 102

Race 20 Lackawanna Blues 108

Religion 21 Joan of Arcadia 114

Religion 22 Revelations 121

Drama 23 Rescue Me 126

Drama 24 Deadwood 131

Drama 25 Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, Suburban Madness, and Desperate Housewives 137

Drama 26 Huff 142

Drama 27 The O.C. 147

Drama 28 Lost 154

Drama 29 Invasion 158

Drama 30 Alias 162

War 31 The Hamburg Cell and Dirty War 168

War 32 The Unit 178

War 33 Over There 183

Documentary and "Special Reports" 34 Ghosts of Rwanda 190

Documentary and "Special Reports" 35 The Children of Lenigradsky 196

Documentary and "Special Reports" 36 Transgeneration 199

Documentary and "Special Reports" 37 The Staircase 203

Documentary and "Special Reports" 38 The History Channel's Crusades 208

Documentary and "Special Reports" 39 UFOs 213

News 40 Morning News Shows 218

News 41 Tom Brokaw 226

News 42 Pope John Paul II 230

Reality Television 43 Reality in America 236

Reality Television 44 Family Bonds 248

Reality Television 45 Growing Up Gotti 252

Reality Television 46 Supernanny 256

Reality Television 47 Thirty Days 260

Reality Television 48 The Apprentice 264

Games 49 Deal or No Deal 274

Games 50 Iron Chef America 279

Games 51 Stump the Schwab 283

Games 52 The Winter Olympics 286

Politics 53 Tanner on Tanner 292

Politics 54 Jack and Bobby 297

Personalities 55 Greta Garbo 304

Personalities 56 Lauren Bacall 308

Personalities 57 Steve McQueen 312

Personalities 58 Elvis Presley 316

Personalities 59 Charles Manson 320

Personalities 60 Johnny Carson 326

Personalities 61 Inside the Actors Studio 330

Personalities 62 Oprah Winfrey 338.

ISBN:

9780465078103

0465078109

OCLC:

81944947