What are some of your favorite and (in your opinion) best television reference books, books about specific TV shows, or TV star biographies and autobiographies?

I dont own and or read many books, but I do like books about TV sitcoms and books about rock and roll bands. I own a book about the Andy Griffith Show. Its really cool if you're a fan. It has a write up of each episode, date it first aired and guest stars. It talks about the characters in the show, trivia and a whole bunch of other stuff. It also imcludes pictures. I dont remember the author, I dont have the book handy at the moment to check. I love this book!

The Twilight Zone Companion by Marc Scott Zicree is a favorite of mine as far as reference books on a series.

Some of the many TV celeb books I've enjoyed were by Bob Denver, Peter Falk, Bob Barker, Maureen McCormick, and Mackenzie Phillips, although Falk's book was a little odd. All very readable. About the only one that tended to disappoint was by Barry Williams (Growing Up Brady) -- but still not a waste of time, by any means...!

The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book by Vince Waldron

The Un-Official Dukes of Hazzard Companion

THE OFFICIAL DICK VAN DYKE SHOW BOOK by Vince Waldron

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES-A FORTIETH ANIVERSARRY WING-DING by Steven Cox

Come and Knock On Our Door: A Her's and Her's and His Guide to Three's Company by Chris Mann

'The Lucy Book', which covers every one of Lucille Ball's television appearances from the late 1940's until after her death.

The Twilight Zone Companion by Marc Scott Zicree is a favorite of mine as far as reference books on a series.

Some of the many TV celeb books I've enjoyed were by Bob Denver, Peter Falk, Bob Barker, Maureen McCormick, and Mackenzie Phillips, although Falk's book was a little odd. All very readable. About the only one that tended to disappoint was by Barry Williams (Growing Up Brady) -- but still not a waste of time, by any means...!

Just wondering if you could still buy the Maureen McCormick and Barry Williams books, I would love to read them. Also the Dukes Of Hazzard and Three's Companys books mentioned above, would be books I would be interested in.

The Complete Directory of PrimeTV Shows


That book has everything, ratings, primetime schedules, summaries of every tv show and the airdate history of when a show started and when it ended

This is what I got

This is what I got



I need to get season 8 and 9 but my local bookstores doesn't have them. It makes no sense that I have to go to a store and order a book and come back on another day to purchase it

I need to get season 8 and 9 but my local bookstores doesn't have them. It makes no sense that I have to go to a store and order a book and come back on another day to purchase it

Are you talking about the complete directory? Why would you want both of them and not just the newer one which in itself is out of date too? Just wondering. :)

Are you talking about the complete directory? Why would you want both of them and not just the newer one which in itself is out of date too? Just wondering. :)


Well I meant to say the latest version because the one I have is from 2003

Well I meant to say the latest version because the one I have is from 2003

It's too bad they haven't made a newer one since 2007. It doesn't sound like they are going to either. Even though you can find a lot of the same info online it is just so much easier flipping through the book a lot of the time

It's too bad they haven't made a newer one since 2007. It doesn't sound like they are going to either. Even though you can find a lot of the same info online it is just so much easier flipping through the book a lot of the time



Well can if u tell me is the completion of George Lopez is in the 2007 book

The Complete Directory of PrimeTV Shows


That book has everything, ratings, primetime schedules, summaries of every tv show and the airdate history of when a show started and when it ended

Thats a good book, but my copy is a little outdated(1994) lol. So I need to pick an up to date copy soon. But im not really worried about it because I like the older sitcoms, which my book covers.

Well can if u tell me is the completion of George Lopez is in the 2007 book

It stills shows it as airing Tuesdays at 8, here is a scan of the page

Thats a good book, but my copy is a little outdated(1994) lol. So I need to pick an up to date copy soon. But im not really worried about it because I like the older sitcoms, which my book covers.


Wow, well you are right, the 1994 version does cover the classics. lol

It stills shows it as airing Tuesdays at 8, here is a scan of the page


Damm, I may have to pass on that book then LOL.

Wow, well you are right, the 1994 version does cover the classics. lol
Yeah, it would be nice to have the latest version though. Do you know when the most recent one was put out?

Yeah, it would be nice to have the latest version though. Do you know when the most recent one was put out?


Found out from gilligan fanatic that 2007 is the latest version.

Found out from gilligan fanatic that 2007 is the latest version.
Yea the author retired. I don't know if there will ever be a newer edition. It's sad. I have been collecting that book every edition since the first one.

Yea the author retired. I don't know if there will ever be a newer edition. It's sad. I have been collecting that book every edition since the first one.


Really?? Damm. Well it looks like that is it

http://www.amazon.com/High-On-Arrival-Mackenzie-Phillips/dp/143915385X
(Mackenzie Phillips-High On Arrival)

http://www.amazon.com/Heres-Story-Surviving-Marcia-Finding/dp/B003F76I88/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343703672&sr=1-1&keywords=marcia+brady (Maureen McCormick-Here's The Story)

http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Brady-Teenage-Collectors/dp/0967378508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343703720&sr=1-1&keywords=greg+brady
(Barry Williams-Growing Up Brady: I Was A Teenage Greg)

http://www.amazon.com/Law-Order-Special-Unofficial-Companion/dp/1933771887/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343703822&sr=1-2&keywords=law+and+order+svu (Law & Order: SVU The Unofficial Companion)

http://www.amazon.com/Mayberry-Memories-Griffith-Photo-Album/dp/1558538305/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1343703882&sr=1-7
(Mayberry Memories: The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album)

http://www.amazon.com/Aunt-Bees-Mayberry-Cookbook-Beck/dp/1558530983/ref=pd_sim_b_11 (Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook)

http://www.amazon.com/Cheers-Show-Comprehensive-Reference-ebook/dp/B001DW0V30/ref=sr_1_sc_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343704176&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=cheerrs (Cheers TV Show-A Comprehensive Reference)

http://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Mysteries-Bang-Theory-ebook/dp/B006NZBF6E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343704223&sr=1-1&keywords=big+bang+theory (Unraveling The Mysteries Of The Big Bang Theory)

Total Television by McNeil is my favorite. I like the Brooks and Marsh but that doesn't cover syndicated shows, daytime shows, game shows etc. The Vincent Terrace encyclopedias are also good as well as all of the Gianakos books. I really like Harry and Wally's Favorite TV shows because they give you opinions on shows and if you are unfamiliar with a show, they will at least tell you if its worth seeking out or not.

I like the Brooks and Marsh book too. There was an old book called "The Great TV Sitcom Book" by Rick Mitz that only went up to the early 1980s but it was a great book. I used to get it out of my school library which randomly had it.

Some others I have & enjoy:
Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion (back before I had the internet, this was my ultimate episode guide source!!)
The Bewitched Book
The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book
TV Guide's Book of Lists
I Love Lucy Book
I Love Lucy: The Complete Picture History

Frasier-the Official Companion Book by Jefferson Graham is awesome and very informative, although I really wish that they would have made an updated version b/c this one only runs through episode 72, "The Focus Group"

Seinfeld-The Totally Unauthorized Tribute-David Wild-Great book that runs through the entire series.

The Entertainment Weekly Seinfeld Companion- Bruce Fretts: I love this book but it only runs through episode 61

And my favorite by far....
Sein Off-The Final Days of Seinfeld. written by Jerry, Julia, Michael and Jason with photographs by David Hume Kennerly: A book solely dedicated to the final episode with a ton of pictures-many which brought me to tears.

Cult TV (1985) by John Javna is a really fun book. It covers 75 cult favorites. It has a magazine-style format with lots of sidebars and trivia.

As for books about individual TV shows, I really like The Munsters by Stephen Cox. The 2006 edition is a really gorgeous book. All the pages are printed on glossy paper and there are tons of photos beautifully reproduced--many in color. I like the author's writing style as well. I wish they would give the Bewitched book this treatment.

I just requested three through interlibrary loan:
The Sitcoms of Norman Lear
Come and Knock On My Door
Growing Up Brady

They should arrive next week. I am looking forward to reading them.

Just got a great book called Top of the Rock by the former pres of nbc warren littlefield. it talks all about the backstage stuff with frazier, seinfeld, cheers, friends, er and will and grace and other nbc shows recommend it highly

http://www.amazon.com/Hardcastle-McCormick-Deb-Ohlin/dp/159393324X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345548563&sr=8-1&keywords=Hardcastle+and+McCormick+book

Hardcastle and McCormick: A Complete Viewer's Guide to the Classic Eighties Action Series, by Deb Ohlin, Cheri DeFonteny, and Lynn Walker