Television Culture

The Rainbow Age of Television explores why queer people are so invested in—and conflicted by—the kinds of storytelling that TV has to offer. Above all, it's a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ shows, their characters, and their creators that define this new age in television.

Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1940, Alex Trebek grew up listening to the radio and hoping to one day become a broadcaster. His dream became a reality when he was hired as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1961. Alex's composed nature and ability to skillfully improvise while on television eventually led to his role as the host of Jeopardy!, the biggest quiz game show in the United States.

Andy Griffith and Don Knotts met on Broadway in the 1950s. When Andy went to Hollywood to film a TV pilot about a small-town sheriff, Don called to ask if the sheriff could use a deputy. The comedic synergy between Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife ignited The Andy Griffith Show, elevating a folksy sitcom into a timeless study of human friendship, as potent off the screen as on.

Sous le regard émerveillé de leur fils, ils dansent sur "Mr. Bojangles" de Nina Simone. Leur amour est magique, vertigineux, une fête perpétuelle. Chez eux, il n'y a de place que pour le plaisir, la fantaisie et les amis. Celle qui donne le ton, qui mène le bal, c'est la mère, feu follet imprévisible et extravagant. C'est elle qui a adopté le quatrième membre de la famille, Mademoiselle Superfétatoire, un grand oiseau exotique qui déambule dans l'appartement.

Darwin had his theory of evolution, and David Bianculli has his. Bianculli's theory has to do with the concept of quality television: what it is and, crucially, how it got that way. In tracing the evolutionary history of our progress toward a Platinum Age of Television - our age, the era of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad and Mad Men and The Wire and Homeland and Girls - he focuses on the development of the classic TV genres.

What do we see when we watch reality television? Sociologist and TV lover Danielle J. Lindemann takes a long, hard look in the “funhouse mirror” of this genre, from countless rose ceremonies on The Bachelor to the White House and more (so much more!). Beginning with the first episodes of The Real World, reality TV has not only remade our entertainment and cultural landscape—it also uniquely refracts our everyday experiences and social topography.

The Gamesmaster is a narrative memoir chronicling the life and career of Flint Dille. And while he isn't exactly a household name, you almost certainly know his work - which includes credits from some of the most important and successful entertainment franchises throughout the world across the cartoon, film, video game, and comic book industries and beyond.

The untold stories of seven revolutionary teen shows (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, My So-Called Life, Dawson’s Creek, Freaks and Geeks, The O.C., Friday Night Lights, and Glee) that shaped the course of modern television and our pop cultural landscape forever.

In a story that is both of its time and timeless, Evan I. Schwartz tells a tale of genius versus greed, innocence versus deceit, and independent brilliance versus corporate arrogance. Many men have laid claim to the title "father of television," but Philo T. Farnsworth is the true genius behind what may be the most influential invention of our time. Driven by his obsession to demonstrate his idea, by the age of 20 Farnsworth was operating his own laboratory above a garage in San Francisco and filing for patents. The resulting publicity caught the attention of RCA tycoon David Sarnoff, who became determined to control television in the same way he monopolized radio.

Readers and listeners have followed Jen Lancaster through job loss, sucky city living, weight loss attempts, and 1980s nostalgia. Now Jen chronicles her efforts to achieve cultural enlightenment, with some hilarious missteps and genuine moments of inspiration along the way. And she does so by any means necessary: reading canonical literature, viewing classic films, attending the opera, researching artisan cheeses, and even enrolling in etiquette classes to improve her social graces.

Television is probably something we nowadays take for granted. There is a TV in almost every home, a TV in almost every public building - basically, where there is a signal, there is a TV. Found in millions of homes, it is probably difficult to imagine that the first television was created less than a century ago. In such a short time, we managed to go from silent moving images to 3D lifelike images on a flat screen.

Lights, camera, quiz time! This book is your ultimate backstage pass to the world of television and film. Packed with 400 challenging and entertaining questions across 10 exciting chapters, it will take you on a thrilling journey through decades of iconic TV shows and blockbuster films. From classic British soaps like EastEnders to modern Netflix hits, cult sitcoms, and unforgettable reality TV moments, this book has something for every fan.

Accompany us on an audio journey through Greece, the home of the ancient gods, the birthplace of democracy and great philosophers with its many islands in the deep blue sea. Athens looks back on 3,500 years of history. The lively city in the midst of historical surroundings has numerous ancient treasures and excavations to offer in addition to the Acropolis. Small islands on which time only plays a subordinate role, culture, history and lots of sunshine - a varied audio journey.

Romantic port cities, old treasures and legends and Greek hospitality: What could be better? Crete is an island of light, the 'cradle of Zeus', with sun-kissed beaches, pretty villages and majestic mountains. No wonder even the gods felt particularly comfortable in this corner of Greece.

A journey through the unique land of the Maya and Aztecs. Accompanied by a speaker, begin your journey in Mexico City. The vibrant metropolis with numerous monuments, such as the Templo Mayor, is the starting point of the 7-day trip. Mexico City, Xochimilco, Acapulco, Palenque, Agua Azul, Uxmal, Merida, Chichén Itzá, Tulum, Cancun, Chapala, Tonala, Tequilla and Copper Canyon.

An unforgettable journey through the grandiose natural landscape of the Rocky Mountains, across Canada from the Atlantic east coast to the Pacific beach. You will experience the mighty water masses of Niagara Falls, the luxury train "The Canadian" and multicultural cities. Halifax, Ville de Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, The Canadian, Canadian Rockies and Vancouver.

Along the coast via Albufeira and Lagos, the journey goes inland to Al Jezur. In Lisbon, explore the narrow streets of the city with the 'Electricos' and visit the "Torre De Belem". The Portuguese kings spent the summers in Sintra, in their residences surrounded by gardens full of flowers. The Mosteiro de Batalha and the Convento de Christo, the castle of the Knights Templar are on your route north, the "cradle of the country". The old town of Porto is a World Heritage Site.

Armenia lies between Asia Minor and the Caucasus. A small country surrounded by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran. The first country in the world to adopt primitive Christianity in 301. Armenia has been inhabited for thousands of years and historical sites are evidence of high culture. The "Land of the Cross Stones" and the Armenian Church, the fascinating culture between Europe and Asia and between Christianity and Islam.

For most of us, fond memories of the Christmas season are inseparable from television's holiday presentations. The world loves everything from iconic cartoons like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas to the groundbreaking Julia sitcom segment, "I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas," Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and the 1992 television-remake of Christmas in Connecticut directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen embraces it all, offering a tinsel-decked traipse down memory lane.

What happens when a 35-year-old average American woman spends one year following every piece of Oprah Winfrey's advice on how to "live your best life"? Robyn Okrant devoted 2008 to adhering to all of Oprah's suggestions and guidance delivered via her television show, her Web site, and her magazine. Living Oprah is a month-by-month account of that year.