I just bought new book
Forgotten Laughs: an Episode Guide to 150 TV Sitcoms You Probably Never Saw by Richard Irvin.

688 pages! Can't wait to read it.

From the Amazon listing it looks like a lot of modern/recent shows. Is there an episode guide for The Good Guys with Bob Denver in there?

So he's not in the book.

The table of contents of shows is on Amazon listing.

It's a great book with detailed episode guides!

Too bad, I still might have to check it out anyway though

These types of books were far more important back in the 80s. Now. With the internet, good episode guides can be found for just about every show that's ever been on. What exactly is in this book that can't be easily found on epguides or classic TV archive?

The vast majority of episode descriptions contained in the book cannot be found online. That's why the book was published. For example, for the 1978 comedy "Another Day," IMDb lists only four episodes. "Forgotten Laughs" lists all 13 episodes produced along with complete descriptions. For the unaired 1997 sitcom "Rewind," IMDb lists no episode information, while the book includes descriptions for all six episodes made.


These types of books were far more important back in the 80s. Now. With the internet, good episode guides can be found for just about every show that's ever been on. What exactly is in this book that can't be easily found on epguides or classic TV archive?

T What exactly is in this book that can't be easily found on epguides or classic TV archive?
Forgotten Laughs is most complete guide because the author looked at even unairred episodes and unproduced scripts and interviewed the writer/ producers.

Look at the Table of Contents on Amazon. Pick a show. Ask about it. I'll tell you how much info the book has.

Or on Amazon LOOK INSIDE search feature, search for a show and it shows some info to give you a better inkling.

It's an excellent book.

The vast majority of episode descriptions contained in the book cannot be found online. That's why the book was published. For example, for the 1978 comedy "Another Day," IMDb lists only four episodes. "Forgotten Laughs" lists all 13 episodes produced along with complete descriptions. For the unaired 1997 sitcom "Rewind," IMDb lists no episode information, while the book includes descriptions for all six episodes made.

I've been wondering about Another Day very recently. Were 13 actually produced? I have all 4 of the aired episodes but to me it just seemed like a summer tryout show although the BIB book listed 13.

Forgotten Laughs has detailed episode summaries to all 13 episodes.
Unaired episdoes are based on reading the script and/or talking to the creators.
It has about 2700 words about Another Day. That's how complete it is.

Forgotten Laughs has detailed episode summaries to all 13 episodes.
Unaired episdoes are based on reading the script and/or talking to the creators.
It has about 2700 words about Another Day. That's how complete it is.


My question is this. Just because there were scripts doesn't mean that a show was shot necessarily. Lots of series have unproduced scripts that were written and then never filmed. If all he's going on are looking at scripts then there could be a lot of misinformation in there. Not saying there is but a script is no proof that a show was done.

Thirteen episodes of "Another Day" were actually filmed before CBS scheduled it to air. Although only 4 episodes aired in the States, all 13 aired in Canada. "After the Ax: Postmorten of a TV Series," published in the Los Angeles Times on August 20, 1978 gives more details on the series if you don't believe the book.


My question is this. Just because there were scripts doesn't mean that a show was shot necessarily. Lots of series have unproduced scripts that were written and then never filmed. If all he's going on are looking at scripts then there could be a lot of misinformation in there. Not saying there is but a script is no proof that a show was done.

I put in my order for the book but I have a question. If the book is about shows with 6 episodes or fewer, then should Another Day be in the book? So I'm assuming that Joe and Valerie, with 7, didn't make the cut.

It's about American sitcoms that aired less than 6 episodes in the United States. You are correct: "Joe and Valerie" did not make the cut.

I put in my order for the book but I have a question. If the book is about shows with 6 episodes or fewer, then should Another Day be in the book? So I'm assuming that Joe and Valerie, with 7, didn't make the cut.

I don't know the exact grounds for inclusion. It has 150 shows. It's chaptered by themes. I don't see Joe and Valerie episodes but it's mentioned in the intro to Chapter 3 Finding True Romance":
"Think of the TV version of Barefoot in the Park, Bridget Loves Bernie, Joe and Valerie, Loves Me, Loves Me Not, and Love on a Rooftop, for example — all of which lasted one season or less."

Where is Loves Me, Loves Me Not?

According to TV.com and IMDb.com, "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" aired 6 episodes between 3/20/77 and 4/27/77.


Where is Loves Me, Loves Me Not?

According to TV.com and IMDb.com, "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" aired 6 episodes between 3/20/77 and 4/27/77.


So then it should be in the book. So should The Ted Knight Show, which was also 6 episodes. That is the deal, right, 6 episodes or fewer.

As stated in comment 13 to this thread, the book is about American sitcoms that aired less than 6 episodes in the United States. "Less than 6" is not "6 or less."


Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=310388#ixzz2QoaZubPG

So then it should be in the book. So should The Ted Knight Show, which was also 6 episodes. That is the deal, right, 6 episodes or fewer.

That's unfortunate. The maximum amount for a spring tryout is six so by making the cutoff one more, all failed spring tryouts could have been included.

That's unfortunate. The maximum amount for a spring tryout is six so by making the cutoff one more, all failed spring tryouts could have been included.
That's not true, bencasey. There have been spring tryouts of seven to ten episodes.

That's not true, bencasey. There have been spring tryouts of seven to ten episodes.


Name them. Over 6 episodes they were more than just tryouts.

Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide [Kindle Edition]
Bob Leszczak (Author)

It's $17 on Amazon.

But this book doesn't have specific episodes like Forgotten Laughs.

"Loves Me, Loves Me Not" is 4 paragraphs on page 110.

(you can read the entry with Amazon Search Inside feature. Search for "loves me not")

Both books are good guides but I like Forgotten Laughs more.