The 25 Sitcoms That Changed Television

Author : Aaron Barlow
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 390 pages
Book Rating : 4.60/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The 25 Sitcoms That Changed Television written by Aaron Barlow and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book spotlights the 25 most important sitcoms to ever air on American television—shows that made generations laugh, challenged our ideas regarding gender, family, race, marital roles, and sexual identity, and now serve as time capsules of U.S. history. What was the role of The Jeffersons in changing views regarding race and equality in America in the 1970s? How did The Golden Girls affect how society views older people? Was The Office an accurate (if exaggerated) depiction of the idiosyncrasies of being employees in a modern workplace? How did the writers of The Simpsons make it acceptable to air political satire through the vehicle of an animated cartoon ostensibly for kids? Readers of this book will see how television situation comedies have consistently held up a mirror for American audiences to see themselves—and the reflections have not always been positive or purely comedic. The introduction discusses the history of sitcoms in America, identifying their origins in radio shows and explaining how sitcom programming evolved to influence the social and cultural norms of our society. The shows are addressed chronologically, in sections delineated by decade. Each entry presents background information on the show, including the dates it aired, key cast members, and the network; explains why the show represents a notable turning point in American television; and provides an analysis of each sitcom that considers how the content was received by the American public and the lasting effects on the family unit, gender roles, culture for young adults, and minority and LGBT rights. The book also draws connections between important sitcoms and other shows that were influenced by or strikingly similar to these trendsetting programs. Lastly, a section of selections for further reading points readers to additional resources.

Author : Aaron Barlow
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 1440838879
Total Pages : 385 pages
Book Rating : 4.73/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The 25 Sitcoms That Changed Television written by Aaron Barlow and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book spotlights the 25 most important sitcoms to ever air on American television—shows that made generations laugh, challenged our ideas regarding gender, family, race, marital roles, and sexual identity, and now serve as time capsules of U.S. history. What was the role of The Jeffersons in changing views regarding race and equality in America in the 1970s? How did The Golden Girls affect how society views older people? Was The Office an accurate (if exaggerated) depiction of the idiosyncrasies of being employees in a modern workplace? How did the writers of The Simpsons make it acceptable to air political satire through the vehicle of an animated cartoon ostensibly for kids? Readers of this book will see how television situation comedies have consistently held up a mirror for American audiences to see themselves—and the reflections have not always been positive or purely comedic. The introduction discusses the history of sitcoms in America, identifying their origins in radio shows and explaining how sitcom programming evolved to influence the social and cultural norms of our society. The shows are addressed chronologically, in sections delineated by decade. Each entry presents background information on the show, including the dates it aired, key cast members, and the network; explains why the show represents a notable turning point in American television; and provides an analysis of each sitcom that considers how the content was received by the American public and the lasting effects on the family unit, gender roles, culture for young adults, and minority and LGBT rights. The book also draws connections between important sitcoms and other shows that were influenced by or strikingly similar to these trendsetting programs. Lastly, a section of selections for further reading points readers to additional resources.

Author : Isabel Pinedo
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0197650740
Total Pages : 361 pages
Book Rating : 4.45/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Camp TV of The 1960s written by Isabel Pinedo and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2023 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Camp TV of the 1960s offers a comprehensive understanding of all of the many forms camp TV took during that critical decade. In reevaluating the history of camp on television, the authors reconsider the infantilized conceptualization of sixties television, which has generally been characterized as the creative and cultural ebb between the 1950s Golden Age of television and the networks' shift to "relevance" in the early 1970s. Encompassing contributions from a broad range of media and television scholars that (re)consider programs like Batman, The Monkees, The Addams Family, Bewitched, F Troop, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, chapters closely examine beloved 1960s American prime-time programs that drew significantly on aspects of camp, many of which were widely syndicated and left continuing imprints on popular culture. Other chapters consider key TV precursors from the early sixties; British camp television programs such as The Avengers; the use of musical codes to convey camp humor (even on black-and-white sets); the role that the viewing strategies of queer communities played - and continued to play even decades later; and how camp's multivalence allowed for more conservative readings, especially among older audiences, which were critical for the move to "mass camp" throughout American culture by the early seventies. Camp TV of the 1960s is essential reading for students and scholars in television studies and others interested in the history and theory of camp, the 1960s, or popular culture, as well as fans of these well-known but generally understudied television programs.

Author : Mark A. Robinson
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1538114208
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.09/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Sitcommentary written by Mark A. Robinson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2019-10-15 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From I Love Lucy to Will & Grace, this book looks at the television comedies that have tackled social issues, facilitated discussion, or in some other way have broken down barriers. Other landmark shows discussed here include All in the Family, Ellen, The Golden Girls, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude, Modern Family, Roseanne, and Soap.

Author : David Scott Diffrient
Publisher : Syracuse University Press
ISBN 13 : 081565569X
Total Pages : 378 pages
Book Rating : 4.95/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Comic Drunks, Crazy Cults, and Lovable Monsters written by David Scott Diffrient and published by Syracuse University Press. This book was released on 2022-12-01 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contradictory to its core, the sitcom—an ostensibly conservative, tranquilizing genre—has a long track record in the United States of tackling controversial subjects with a fearlessness not often found in other types of programming. But the sitcom also conceals as much as it reveals, masking the rationale for socially deviant or deleterious behavior behind figures of ridicule whose motives are rarely disclosed fully over the course of a thirty-minute episode. Examining a broad range of network and cable TV shows across the history of the medium, from classic, working-class comedies such as The Honeymooners, All in the Family, and Roseanne to several contemporary cult series, animated programs, and online hits that have yet to attract much scholarly attention, this book explores the ways in which social imaginaries related to “bad behavior” have been humorously exploited over the years. The repeated appearance of socially wayward figures on the small screen—from raging alcoholics to brainwashed cult members to actual monsters who are merely exaggerated versions of our own inner demons—has the dual effect of reducing complex individuals to recognizable “types” while neutralizing the presumed threats that they pose. Such representations not only provide strangely comforting reminders that “badness” is a cultural construct, but also prompt audiences to reflect on their own unspoken proclivities for antisocial behavior, if only in passing.

Author : Martin Kich
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 1440862850
Total Pages : 345 pages
Book Rating : 4.54/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Pop Goes the Decade written by Martin Kich and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2020-01-07 with total page 345 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Analyzing complex social and political issues through their manifestations in popular culture, this book provides readers a strong foundational knowledge of the 1960s as a decade. 1969 went out in a way that could never have been imagined in 1960. While the president at the end of the decade had been vice president at the start, the intervening years permanently changed American culture. Pop Goes the Decade: The Sixties explores the cultural and social framework of the 1960s, addressing film, television, sports, technology, media/advertising, fashion, art, and more. Entries are presented in encyclopedic fashion, organized into such categories as controversies in pop culture, game changers, technology, and the decade's legacy. A timeline highlights significant cultural moments, while an introduction and a conclusion place those moments within the contexts of preceding and subsequent decades. Attention to the decade's most prominent influencers allows readers to understand the movements with which these figures are associated, and discussion of controversies and social change enables readers to gain a stronger understanding of evolving American social values.

Author : Martin Gitlin
Publisher : Scarecrow Press
ISBN 13 : 0810887258
Total Pages : 425 pages
Book Rating : 4.51/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time written by Martin Gitlin and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2013-11-07 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the advent of network television, situation comedies have been a staple of prime-time programming. Classics of the genre have emerged in every decade, from The Honeymooners and Make Room for Daddy in the 1950sto 30 Rock, The Office, and Modern Family of the twenty-first century. Other shows that have left enduring impressions are The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, The Bob Newhart Show, Barney Miller, Cheers, The Cosby Show, The Golden Girls, Home Improvement, Will & Grace, and Everybody Loves Raymond. All of these shows are assured a place in history and would make almost anyone’s list of the most beloved comedies. In The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time, Martin Gitlin has assembled the top seventy sitcoms in television history. The rankings are based on such factors as longevity, ratings, awards, humor, impact, and legacy. Iconic programs such as I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show,and Leave It to Beaver join contemporary shows The Simpsons, Arrested Development, and Family Guy on the list. Other programs include perennial favorites like All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Seinfeld, as well as short-lived treasures that never found the audiences they deserved like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Each entry contains a comprehensive compilation of information, including: Cast members Character list Network Air dates Ratings history Time slots Series overview Notable episodes Awards Fun facts and quotes Appendixes list the top male and female sitcom characters of all time, the best sitcom spin-offs, and shows that just missed the cut. By ranking these programs, The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time is sure to inspire debate. Whether you agree with this list or whether your favorite show placed as high as you think it should have, this book will be an entertaining and informative read—not only for students and scholars of television history but for sitcom fans as well.

Author : Dan Gutstein
Publisher : Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN 13 : 1496849361
Total Pages : 223 pages
Book Rating : 4.66/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Poor Gal written by Dan Gutstein and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2023-12-15 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane chronicles the origins and evolution of a folk tune beloved by millions worldwide. Dan Gutstein delves into the trajectory of the “Liza Jane” family of songs, including the most popular variant “Li’l Liza Jane.” Likely originating among enslaved people on southern plantations, the songs are still performed and recorded centuries later. Evidence for these tunes as part of the repertoire of enslaved people comes from the Works Progress Administration ex-slave narratives that detail a range of lyrics and performance rituals related to “Liza Jane.” Civil War soldiers and minstrel troupes eventually adopted certain variants, including “Goodbye Liza Jane.” This version of the song prospered in the racist environment of burnt cork minstrelsy. Other familiar variants, such as “Little Liza Jane,” likely remained fixed in folk tradition until early twentieth-century sheet music popularized the melody. New genres and a slate of stellar performers broadly adopted these folk songs, bringing the tunes to far-reaching listeners. In 1960, to an audience of more than thirty million viewers, Harry Belafonte performed “Little Liza Jane” on CBS. The song was featured on such popular radio shows as Fibber McGee & Molly; films such as Coquette; and a Mickey Mouse animation. Hundreds of recognizable performers—including Fats Domino, Bing Crosby, Nina Simone, Mississippi John Hurt, and Pete Seeger—embraced the “Liza Jane” family. David Bowie even released “Liza Jane” as his first single. Gutstein documents these famous renditions, as well as lesser-known characters integral to the song’s history. Drawing upon a host of cultural insights from experts—including Eileen Southern, Carl Sandburg, Thomas Talley, LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka, Charles Wolfe, Langston Hughes, and Alan Lomax—Gutstein charts the cross-cultural implications of a voyage unlike any other in the history of American folk music.

Author : Paul Duncum
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1350193429
Total Pages : 249 pages
Book Rating : 4.20/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Popular Pleasures written by Paul Duncum and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-08-26 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today's many popular aesthetic pleasures have a very long history. Paul Duncum considers the historical critical discourses, and socio-political issues raised by aesthetic pleasures in fifteen thematic chapters. Using illustrative examples from the past, present, and across cultures, he challenges the idea of any decline of cultural standards and argues that no grounds exist for cultural pessimism. Refusing to condemn popular culture on the basis of taste, he reserves critique for the socio-political ideologies aesthetics invariably serve. Art history, film, cultural studies, and philosophical aesthetics are each employed to show that the sensory/emotional lures of today's popular culture are mostly identical to those of premodern fine art. They include the violent, the horrific, the sentimental, the exotic, the erotic, and the humorous. Some of these pleasures derive from our evolutionary biology; they are all an important part of what it means to be human, and central to understanding contemporary society. Examples are wide-ranging, including British seaside postcards, Disney films, Nazi propaganda, burlesque, modern advertising, as well as many exemplars of fine art. The book reveals fresh insights for all those studying visual culture, art history, aesthetics, media studies, and media and art education.

Author : Lisa Patti
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351187058
Total Pages : 392 pages
Book Rating : 4.53/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Writing About Screen Media written by Lisa Patti and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-07-30 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Writing About Screen Media presents strategies for writing about a broad range of media objects – including film, television, social media, advertising, video games, mobile media, music videos, and digital media – in an equally broad range of formats. The book’s case studies showcase media studies’ geographical and industrial breadth, with essays covering topics as varied as: Brazilian telenovelas, K-pop music videos, Bombay cinema credit sequences, global streaming services, film festivals, archives, and more. With the expertise of over forty esteemed media scholars, the collection combines personal reflections about writing with practical advice. Writing About Screen Media reflects the diversity of screen media criticism and encourages both beginning and established writers to experiment with content and form. Through its unprecedented scope, this volume will engage not only those who may be writing about film and other screen media for the first time but also accomplished writers who are interested in exploring new screen media objects, new approaches to writing about media, and new formats for critical expression.