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bencasey
08-10-2006, 02:43 AM
Which TV encyclopedia do you most use for looking up shows? I would say that in order of use for me:

Total Television - MacNeil
Encyclopedia of Television - Terrace
Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows - Brooks and Marsh

The Brooks and Marsh doesn't have enough syndicated shows and they completely ignore the likes of game shows and cartoons. I also really like Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows because of their incise opinions which all of the other books avoid. Now obviously there are a lot of posters here who don't use any reference books as evidenced by the questions asked that could easily be looked up. But among those who do use them, which do you use the most?
TJL
08-10-2006, 05:01 AM
I use "The Complete Directory..." for my reference needs. I occasionally flip through the book and read about a show I've nevere heard of before.
tv star collector
08-10-2006, 02:20 PM
Which TV encyclopedia do you most use for looking up shows? I would say that in order of use for me:

Total Television - MacNeil
Encyclopedia of Television - Terrace
Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows - Brooks and Marsh

The Brooks and Marsh doesn't have enough syndicated shows and they completely ignore the likes of game shows and cartoons. I also really like Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows because of their incise opinions which all of the other books avoid. Now obviously there are a lot of posters here who don't use any reference books as evidenced by the questions asked that could easily be looked up. But among those who do use them, which do you use the most?
For TV shows in general, I use THE COMPLETE DIRECTORY TO PRIME-TIME
NETWORK & CABLE TV SHOWS mostly (and it does list a lot of syndicated programs). But for specific genres, I use THE GREAT TV SITCOM BOOK by
Rick Mitz, SATURDAY MORNING TV by Gary Grossman, and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF ANIMATED CARTOONS by Jeff Lenburg.
TVFactFan
08-10-2006, 02:32 PM
Which TV encyclopedia do you most use for looking up shows? I would say that in order of use for me:

Total Television - MacNeil
Encyclopedia of Television - Terrace
Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows - Brooks and Marsh

The Brooks and Marsh doesn't have enough syndicated shows and they completely ignore the likes of game shows and cartoons. I also really like Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows because of their incise opinions which all of the other books avoid. Now obviously there are a lot of posters here who don't use any reference books as evidenced by the questions asked that could easily be looked up. But among those who do use them, which do you use the most?


The Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows is a JOKE, too many mistakes
troopoleon8897
08-10-2006, 03:05 PM
The Complete Directory but thats the only one I have so far...
troopoleon8897
08-10-2006, 03:06 PM
The Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows is a JOKE, too many mistakes

And cause they mark Good times as a Maude spinoff, right? lol....
tvfan0101
08-10-2006, 05:31 PM
The Complete Directory of Prime Time Shows is a JOKE, too many mistakes

Care to back that statement up? Considering the thousands of shows in the book, a mistake here or there is forgiveable. For someone who goes by the name "TVResearcher," you are quick to dismiss one of the great resources available for television historians.
TVFactFan
08-10-2006, 05:35 PM
Care to back that statement up? Considering the thousands of shows in the book, a mistake here or there is forgiveable. For someone who goes by the name "TVResearcher," you are quick to dismiss one of the great resources available for television historians.


I sure Will


Good Times is not a Spinoff of Maude
Out of the Blue is not a spinoff of Happy Days
Sanford is not a spinoff of Sanford and Son.


That's 3 Errors
gilligan fanatic
08-10-2006, 05:44 PM
I like the individual show books better than then the many tv show books. When it focuses on just one you get a lot more out of it.
troopoleon8897
08-10-2006, 05:49 PM
I sure Will


Good Times is not a Spinoff of Maude
Out of the Blue is not a spinoff of Happy Days
Sanford is not a spinoff of Sanford and Son.


That's 3 Errors
just for my sake since idk much abiout those series why are they not spinoffs?
tvfan0101
08-10-2006, 05:53 PM
I sure Will


Good Times is not a Spinoff of Maude
Out of the Blue is not a spinoff of Happy Days
Sanford is not a spinoff of Sanford and Son.


That's 3 Errors

Ah, of course, I forgot who I was talking to. Carry on then, safe in the knowledge that your little television universe is exactly to your liking and everything revolves around you.
TVFactFan
08-10-2006, 05:54 PM
just for my sake since idk much abiout those series why are they not spinoffs?


Good Times is not a spinoff because Executive Producer said It wasn't in 1974

Out of the Blue crossed over with Happy Days, No OOTB character ever appeared on HD beore it premeired in 1979

Sanford was a REVIVAL series not a spinoff which was stated in 1980 People Magazine
troopoleon8897
08-10-2006, 05:58 PM
Out of the Blue crossed over with Happy Days, No OOTB character ever appeared on HD beore it premeired in 1979


Then I guess Empty Nest isn't a spinoff of Golden Girls because no characters ever appeared on TGG before it premired only crossed over after, right? lol
tvfan0101
08-10-2006, 06:05 PM
Please, do not get this started again troopoleon. Just let it slide.
troopoleon8897
08-10-2006, 06:08 PM
Please, do not get this started again troopoleon. Just let it slide.

Im not starting anything, I just find it funny...
tvfan0101
08-10-2006, 06:16 PM
So do the rest of us. But it gets tiresome hearing the same drivel about spin-off this, not spin-off that.
TVFactFan
08-10-2006, 06:51 PM
Im not starting anything, I just find it funny...


Well if you think Out of the Blue is a SPINOFF just tell me why
nlearfan
08-10-2006, 09:55 PM
I have the Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable Shows and I've found a few mistakes myself (I just can't remember any off the top of my head.)
TVFactFan
08-10-2006, 10:17 PM
I have the Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable Shows and I've found a few mistakes myself (I just can't remember any off the top of my head.)


It has good Info in regards to airdates but that's it.
troopoleon8897
08-11-2006, 12:12 AM
It has good Info in regards to airdates but that's it.

It also has Comprehensive Nielsin Ratings, Emmy Wins Fall Schedules, and great series summarys...
Stuck In The '70's
08-11-2006, 12:28 AM
Even with some mistakes, it's probably the best tv book out there.
treky
08-11-2006, 12:53 AM
I don't use any; I used to; but now I get all my info. from this and other web sites. I have a refrence book though called HARRY & WALLYS GUIDE TO TV that lists every show ever made from the late 40s up until 1989 (when it was written) and I flip through it every now and then. I still like it, even though it's a little outdated. For instance it doesn't have anything about STAR TREK: VOYAGER, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE 9, the 3 C.S.I. shows, SEINFELD and a lot of others.
bencasey
08-11-2006, 01:42 AM
I don't use any; I used to; but now I get all my info. from this and other web sites. I have a refrence book though called HARRY & WALLYS GUIDE TO TV that lists every show ever made from the late 40s up until 1989 (when it was written) and I flip through it every now and then. I still like it, even though it's a little outdated. For instance it doesn't have anything about STAR TREK: VOYAGER, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE 9, the 3 C.S.I. shows, SEINFELD and a lot of others.

I love the Harry and Wally book (even though it's missing Surfside 6). I find their opinions to be right on the money about 98% of the time. It would be a great resource for people who are interested in old TV and are not familiar with a lot of programs. They tell you what's good and what isn't.
gilligan fanatic
08-11-2006, 10:07 AM
Even with some mistakes, it's probably the best tv book out there.

Yes it is. Everything all in one place. The new edition should come out soon. Either this year or next.
TVFactFan
08-11-2006, 08:06 PM
It also has Comprehensive Nielsin Ratings, Emmy Wins Fall Schedules, and great series summarys...



But only the TOP 30, I want to see the Full Ranking List like I did for the 1981-82 TV season a month ago. Top 30 is not good enough for me
Stuck In The '70's
08-11-2006, 08:53 PM
Yes it is. Everything all in one place. The new edition should come out soon. Either this year or next.
I've been grtting every edition since they started. The price keeps going up though. :lol:
tvfan0101
08-11-2006, 09:32 PM
But only the TOP 30, I want to see the Full Ranking List like I did for the 1981-82 TV season a month ago. Top 30 is not good enough for me

I second that. But I am not sure you can blame the lack of full Nielsen lists on the authors/publishers. It might be an issue with Nielsen. They are quite strict with how their numbers are used. Still, it is most likely an issue with space. It would be so helpful, though, to have full lists in one book.
TVFactFan
08-11-2006, 09:52 PM
I second that. But I am not sure you can blame the lack of full Nielsen lists on the authors/publishers. It might be an issue with Nielsen. They are quite strict with how their numbers are used. Still, it is most likely an issue with space. It would be so helpful, though, to have full lists in one book.


I would love to find the Complete Rankings for the 1977-78 season
gilligan fanatic
08-11-2006, 10:14 PM
I've been grtting every edition since they started. The price keeps going up though. :lol:

I saw the first three books at Half Price Books in Pittsburgh. I think they were three dollars a piece. I wish I had got them just for the novelty of it. It was fun looking at the covers of the past ones. I just have the seventh and eight editions.
nlearfan
08-12-2006, 12:23 AM
Where is there a place where you can get COMPLETE nielsen rankings for every season (not just #1-30)?
TVFactFan
08-12-2006, 01:50 PM
Where is there a place where you can get COMPLETE nielsen rankings for every season (not just #1-30)?


I only found the complete rankings for the 1981-82 TV season. It's in a book called-"One Season in American Televison"
troopoleon8897
08-12-2006, 05:42 PM
I only found the complete rankings for the 1981-82 TV season. It's in a book called-"One Season in American Televison"

What's The Book About? It has an interesting title...
TVFactFan
08-12-2006, 05:46 PM
What's The Book About? It has an interesting title...


It talks about all the things that went on during that particular TV season. Stuff Like Gary Coleman's contract dispute and the Fall of the Gary Marshall's TV shows that were once HITS but fell off during the 1981-82 season(Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley)
nlearfan
08-12-2006, 09:47 PM
Too bad that book didn't become an annual thing. It could be a volume that kept growing.
tvfan0101
08-12-2006, 10:05 PM
Solomon, are you talking about Televisions: One Season In American Television by Marc Elliot? That is a fascinating book. Glad someone else came across a copy.
TVFactFan
08-12-2006, 10:08 PM
Solomon, are you talking about Televisions: One Season In American Television by Marc Elliot? That is a fascinating book. Glad someone else came across a copy.


Yup that's the ONE
Laurel
08-14-2006, 06:14 PM
:)

My favorite era of television is the Golden Age of Television, and my TV book collection reflects that. Most of these books are out of print.

Andrews, Bart. The TV Addict's Handbook. (NY: E.P. Dutton, 1978).

Brooks,Tim and Earle Marsh. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,1946-Present. (20th Anniversary Edition).(NY: Ballantine Books, 1999).

Castleman, Harry and Walter J. Podrazik. Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows. (NY: Prentice Hall, 1989).

Coffey, Frank. 60 Minutes: 25 Years of Television's Finest Hour. (Los Angeles: General Publishing Group, Inc., 1993).

Copeland, Mary Ann. Soap Opera History. (Mallard Press, 1991).

Greenfield, Jeff. Television:The First Fifty Years. (NY: Harry N.Abrams Inc., 1977).

Javna, John. The TV These Song Sing-Along Song Book. (NY: St.Martins Press, 1984).

Nash, Bruce. Thirty Years of Television? A Quizbook. (NY: Drake Publishers Inc., 1976).

Parish, James Robert. Actor's Television Credits 1950-1972. (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1973).

Rovin, Jeff. The Great Television Series. (NY: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1977).

Shulman, Arthur and Roger Youman. How Sweet it Was: Television -- A Pictorial Commentary on its Golden Age. (NY: Bonanza Books, 1966).

Shulman, Arthur and Roger Youman. The Television Years. (NY: Popular Library, 1973).

Terrace, Vincent. The Complete Encyclopedia of Television Programs 1947-1976. (NY: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1976).

TV Book: The Ultimate Television Book. Judy Fireman, editor. (NY: Whitman Publishing Co., 1977).

TV Guide Quiz Book. Stan Goldstein, editor. (NY: Bantam Books, 1978).

TV Guide: The First 25 Years. Jay S. Harris, editor. (NY: Simon and Schuster, 1978).

TV Guide: The Official Collectors Guide. Stephen F. Hafer, editor. (Braintree, MA: Bangzoom Publications, 2006).

TV Trivia: Thirty Years of Television. Consumer Guide, editors. (NY: Beekman House, 1984).
tv star collector
08-14-2006, 07:08 PM
I have seven of those books. Good sources of info and pix.
Coffeecup
08-20-2006, 09:25 PM
i have many of those books Laurel. They are interesting. I haven't bought any new ones.
nlearfan
08-21-2006, 10:41 PM
There are some other really great TV books out there that I used in constructing my own book (www.dear-norman.com).

I recommend:

Blacks and White TV (J. Fred MacDonald)
Archie Bunker's America (Josh Ozersky)
See No Evil (Geoffrey Cowan)

These cover various eras of television in detail with interesting analysis.

And naturally I recommend my book, coming out in November (most likely), titled The Sitcoms of Norman Lear.