Books about TV [Archive] - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

treky

03-04-2014, 01:40 AM

how many of you own any, and if so what are they?

I have-THE COMPLETE BOOK OF M*A*S*H

hailing TAXI

the STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION COMPANION (I don't know if that would really count though since it covers the Next Gen TV show and the movies)

THE BEVERLY HILLBILIES: A FORTYETH ANNIVERSARY WING-DING

bmasters9

03-04-2014, 07:00 AM

I have books on Hardcastle and McCormick, Dallas, original Star Trek, Star Trek: Voyager, and the original Hawaii Five-O.

MacLeaper

03-04-2014, 10:44 AM

I own "Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys" (http://www.amazon.com/Hardy-Boys-Nancy-Drew/dp/B000NPRO5Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393943936&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Hardy+Boys+and+Nancy+Drew+%2B+Peggy) by Peggy Herz and the slightly revised later version, "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew" (http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Drew-Hardy-Peggy-Hertz/dp/0590056158/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393943997&sr=1-3&keywords=The+Hardy+Boys+and+Nancy+Drew+%2B+Peggy), also by Peggy Herz.
(Both are great supplementary items for "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" show. The only real big difference with the second version of the book is that the information about Pamela Sue Martin (who starred as Nancy Drew in Season 1 and most of Season 2) is mostly replaced with information about Janet Louise Johnson [now known as Janet Julian], who took over as Nancy Drew for a few episodes toward the end of Season 2. [Though there is still a smaller section on Pamela Sue Martin included in this version of the book too.]

installLSC

03-04-2014, 09:41 PM

The Brooks/Marsh Complete Directory to Prime Time
Encyclopedia to Daytime Television
Tube (about the invention of TV)
TV a Go Go (rock music on TV)
What Were They Thinking?:100 Dumbest Events in TV History
Are You Being Served?:The Inside Story
Also have 60s/70s TV Guides and fanmags

JamesG

03-04-2014, 10:01 PM

Baywatch: Rescued from Prime Time - The Official, Behind-the-Scenes Story of the World's Most Popular TV Show
by Gregory J. Bonann w/ Brad Alan Lewis

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/65078199-3914-44f6-816e-613499a6abe5_zpse1849fda.jpg

Cheers from the Bull & Finch Pub: The Inside Story of the World's Most Famous Bar
by Steven Prati

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/54f17bee-a734-4fba-8a67-af9330d2ffc7_zpsd1fb8a76.jpg

Sal

03-05-2014, 12:13 AM

Gertie1999

03-05-2014, 03:42 AM

Torgo

03-05-2014, 10:37 AM

Television Fright Films of the 1970's
Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood
Stasis Leaked Complete: The Unofficial Behind the Scenes Guide to Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf VIII: The Official Book
The Twilight Zone Companion
The Science of Doctor Who

MacLeaper

03-05-2014, 03:18 PM

I love to read a lot and I have many books about TV shows and stars. Here are some of them:

Non-Fiction

Hi Honey, I'm Home - Gerard Jones
The World According To Beaver - Irwyn Applebaum
Here On Gilligan's Isle - Russell Johnson (The Professor!)
The Beverly Hillbillies - Stephen Cox
The Life And Times Of Maxwell Smart - Donna McCrohan
The Partridge Family Album - Joey Green

Fiction

Remember these???

Welcome Back Kotter

Get Smart

Happy Days

The middle one is book #4 - Fonzie Fonzie, Superstar by William Johnston

Partridge Family

Can you tell I loved this show???

I have had the "Welcome Back, Kotter" books and some "Happy Days" books at one time. Actually, I still have one of the WBK books right now and I think I still have one of the Happy Days books. At one time I had a "video novel" based on "Mork & Mindy" as well (it essentially retold the pilot episode using screen captures from the pilot and captions for the pictures.) and a book based on "Joanie Loves Chachi"- I did read both of those a while back. I can't recall if I still have them right now or not. (There are also a few books based on "Laverne & Shirley" that I'd love to track down some time- particularly if they are actually original stories.)
Anyway, I thought the thread was geared more toward non-fiction books about TV, but if we want to talk fiction books based on TV shows, I could add a lot more to my list, as I love reading too.
Here's the thing with TV show based books- many times, there are books released that are novelizations of TV show episodes (sometimes just 1 episode or sometimes 1 or 2 episode joined together. The latter can be interesting to read just to see the way the author merges the two together. The former is usually just a straight script read almost.)
(I have the same issue with movie novelizations, by the way.) Now, in the days before VCRs, novelizations were really great as the only way one could relive a favorite episode of a TV show was wait for it to come on in reruns, basically. So without a home video version to watch, a book based on it is the next best thing- and even better for some people. The cool thing with a book is that I can take it anywhere and read it and sometimes the characters and situations of a favorite TV show are brought out differently when in print rather than on the screen- and it can be pretty interesting to read and even add to the viewing experience when you are wtaching the show.
And of course, novelizations can also add missing or deleted scenes- this is definitely true for movie novelizations and TV show novelizations can do this too- usually just adding some scenes to help make sense of other things.
However, while I do have some novelizations [probably because it was the only book released based on the show in question], I generally prefer original stories based on the TV show as it's a nice way of prolonging the series and gives me something new to enjoy from the series rather than the same old stuff I've already seen.
So, for the fiction based on TV shows genre, here are some of the ones I have:

http://hardyboys.us/Images/hbndbk2.gif
http://hardyboys.us/Images/hbndbk1.gif

the entire 21 book "Saved By The Bell" series (which is excellent, by the way!)- and the 4 book "Saved By The Bell: The College Years" and novelization of "Saved By The Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas"- all of which are great too.
I have two of the "Saved By The Bell: The New Class" books and I'd love to get the rest when I can. (Note: These are all original stories.)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PWkVzKkrL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eFk0iZUFL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ita-rjNEL._SL500_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
https://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/6608155-M.jpg

I also have novelizations based on Growing Pains and Head of the Class and My Secret Identity.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pQd6mfMmL._SL500_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zr8AsfX4L._SL500_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
https://covers.openlibrary.org/w/id/7092003-M.jpg

I also have both novelizations released for Charles in Charge. (Which are well worth the read for CIC fans, by the way. They actually add a ton of plot to the episode storylines.)

http://thewritersrepublic.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/charles1.jpg?w=620&h=932
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31gsz58ZRsL._AA160_.jpg

I also have "Family Ties: Alex Gets The Business" by Joe Claro, a really great original book based on "Family Ties". I have read and reread this one- love it!:cool:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ayruFOXZL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Other than that, I have some original books based on The A-Team, MacGyver, Quantum Leap, G.I. Joe and perhaps a few others I'm forgetting now... oh yeah- I have the entire McGee and Me book series too (based on the 13 episode video series, from the late '80s to early '90s- great Christian video series.)
I also have most the entire run of the Young Indiana Jones books that are partially based on "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles". And I have most all of the original Indiana Jones books that are based on the movies. And I have a number of Star Trek books based on the various series. (I also love Star Wars, but never got as big into reading the books based on the movies- I do have one: "Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire" by Steve Perry- and I greatly enjoy this one.) And I have "E.T. Book of the Green Planet"- an original book based on the "E.T." movie. I have had other books based on TV series at different times and have since sold them or given them away, etc.
And don't even get me started on comic books based on TV shows- I've got a number of those too. (including the ALF comic books Marvel released.):) :cool:

Torgo

03-05-2014, 03:32 PM

I have a Welcome Back, Kotter comic book.

I figured this was just about books about TV, and TV shows, so I didn't list any fiction.

MacLeaper

03-05-2014, 03:38 PM

I had a Welcome Back, Kotter comic book at one time too. (Periodically I've had to go through my comics and decide which ones I really, really want- and I decided I just wasn't a big enough fan to hang on to it- at the time I probably also just needed the money more- not that I could get that much from the comic shop- but any amount is good.)

JamesG

03-05-2014, 04:49 PM

I was never really into TV show novelizations. The only one that I managed to keep was my Alex, You're Glowing! book from Nickelodeon's "The Secret World of Alex Mack".

I entered a contest sometime in the mid-1990s and I think I was one of 500 winners or something like that. The prize I won was for 2nd Place and I got the Larisa Oleynik signed book and a "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" VHS of the 2-part The Tale of Cutter's Treasure.

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/Autographs-Album/Books/AlexMack1.jpg

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp128/Autographs-Album/Books/AlexMack2.jpg

I also had a few of the "Kenan & Kel" books, but I got rid of them a long time ago.

treky

03-05-2014, 04:56 PM

o yea, I also have 2 QUANTUM LEAP books.

MacLeaper

03-06-2014, 01:39 PM

I was never really into TV show novelizations. The only one that I managed to keep was my Alex, You're Glowing! book from Nickelodeon's "The Secret World of Alex Mack".

I entered a contest sometime in the mid-1990s and I think I was one of 500 winners or something like that. The prize I won was for 2nd Place and I got the Larisa Oleynik signed book and a "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" VHS of the 2-part The Tale of Cutter's Treasure.

Well, that's pretty cool!:) :cool: "The Secret World of Alex Mack" is a fun superhero show- similar to "My Secret Identity" in some ways, though there are some definite differences.
I'm pretty sure the book you've got would be the novelization of the pilot episode- nice.

tvfan25

03-07-2014, 02:34 PM

Books that I have about TV shows:

The Big Bang Theory: Behind The Scenes Of The Hit TV Show

Unraveling The Mysteries Of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion

Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Unofficial Companion

True Stories Of Law & Order: SVU

Mayberry Memories: The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album

Lucy A To Z : The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia Of Television Theme Songs

Encyclopedia Of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2010, 2d ed.

The Complete Directory To Prime Time Network And Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present

Growing Up Brady: I Was A Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition (Barry Williams)

Here's The Story (Maureen McCormick)

The Encyclopedia Of TV Pets: A Complete History Of Television's Greatest Animal Stars

Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012, 2d ed.

It's A Wonderful List Of Holiday TV Compilations On DVD, VHS, & Instant Video: Over 20 Compilations Of Episodes That Celebrate And Skewer The Christmas Season

The Christmas TV Companion: A Guide To Cult Classics, Strange Specials And Outrageous Oddities

Merry Musical Christmas, Volume One: The Best Christmas Music In TV Sitcoms & Dramas

The Enchanted World Of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio

Christmas On Television (The Praeger Television Collection)

License To Pawn: Deals, Steals, And My Life At The Gold & Silver (Rick Harrison)

Si-cology 1: Tales And Wisdom From Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life And Legacy As The Duck Commander

The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, And Ducks Built A Dynasty

Confessions Of A Prairie *itch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson And Learned To Love Being Hated (Alison Arngrim)

Dynomite!: Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times--A Memoir (Jimmie Walker)

I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me As Funny (Bob Newhart)

Still Growing: An Autobiography (Kirk Cameron)

High On Arrival (Mackenzie Phillips)

The Facts Of Life: And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me (Lisa Whelchel)
This one's autographed by Lisa. I met her at a women's conference.:)

Sal

03-07-2014, 08:15 PM

I wonder where you can get some of these and others as free eBooks. I haven't found any good sites yet that would offer them.

treky

03-07-2014, 09:03 PM

I have a Welcome Back, Kotter comic book.

I figured this was just about books about TV, and TV shows, so I didn't list any fiction.
well, I meant it to be about just TV and TV shows, but since it's not just that anymore I'll say that I also have a lot of Star Trek books-not just novelizations but original stories too.

Coffeecup

03-08-2014, 10:36 PM

I have a book on the history of the tv set. Tells of the beginnings of the tv and goes to about the time cable really went big time. As for tv books on shows, I do have few. Russell Johnsons Gilligans Island, Leave to it Beaver, Beverly Hillbillies to name a few. I also have Tim Brooks books on Tv shows and one on actors and their roles on tv shows. But now with the internet, I haven't bought any books in the last 10 years. In the past the books were great for reference but now with the internet I have all the reference I need.

JamesG

03-09-2014, 08:34 PM

I passed by another random garage sale today and saw that they had a lot of books from the show "Charmed" for $0.01 a piece.

I bought all of them (20) to give to a friend of mine who's a fanatic of the show.

treky

03-09-2014, 08:43 PM

one penny? That's great! How old are they?

JamesG

03-09-2014, 09:29 PM

one penny? That's great! How old are they?

These books were published between 1999-2008.

JamesG

04-03-2014, 02:07 AM

I ordered this on Amazon today:

Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age
by Matthew Klickstein

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/65b81011-4a8d-4663-9d3a-b4f669a4abfe_zps69f4d602.jpg

bmasters9

06-30-2014, 06:51 PM

I have all three of the Marcus Welby novelizations.

70s show watcher

06-30-2014, 08:00 PM

JamesG

04-17-2016, 04:41 PM

Since posting in this thread, I bought I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks.

Fans of old-school MTV should definitely pick this one up.

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/4a97863b-d73e-4fe7-944a-a4c5a140a6ea_zpsyhtqgoqp.jpg

Yesterday, I stopped by a private school having some sort of fundraiser event and got these 2 books for $1.00 each.

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/93df03d2-4656-4903-a0f8-04de30c6598e_zpsndvqwgsb.jpg

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/0f970404-44bc-4b79-80e9-323319d73030_zps3nmvswmi.jpg

opus

04-17-2016, 05:02 PM

I tried counting my books, but I stopped at 100. So for now let's go with "I have over 100."

70s show watcher

04-17-2016, 05:27 PM

Since posting in this thread, I bought I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks.

Fans of old-school MTV should definitely pick this one up.i want my mtv is a fantistic book

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/4a97863b-d73e-4fe7-944a-a4c5a140a6ea_zpsyhtqgoqp.jpg

Yesterday, I stopped by a private school having some sort of fundraiser event and got these 2 books for $1.00 each.

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/93df03d2-4656-4903-a0f8-04de30c6598e_zpsndvqwgsb.jpg

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/0f970404-44bc-4b79-80e9-323319d73030_zps3nmvswmi.jpg

70s show watcher

04-17-2016, 08:51 PM

i want my mtv is a fantastic book and so is vj about the original mtv vjs.

Hawkee

04-18-2016, 12:30 AM

My mom and I collect books based on TV shows and some of the books my mother has are novels based on The Young And The Restless that were made in the 70's and also an giant encyclopedia all about Dallas that Dad got Mom for her birthday once. But in my collection of TV books I have the exact same Growing Pains novel that MacLeaper has in his collection and I also collected some of the books based on The Secret World Of Alex Mack as well and then I have two books about game shows too
Bestie

JamesG

10-23-2016, 03:23 PM

A yard sale I stopped at today had the All I Need To Know I Learned From Xena: Warrior Princess book.

I'm giving to a friend who's a huge Xena fan.

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/043919c3-6de0-40d3-b960-ee1b860c0e67_zpseluccazh.jpg

liane60

10-24-2016, 10:29 AM

I don't think The Beverly Hillbillies was a book first. Paul Henning who created the series get the idea from camping trips to the Ozark Mountains as a kid.

Schmoopie

10-24-2016, 06:28 PM

I own two Frasier books and a few Seinfeld ones. I don't have the titles available to post at the moment though

Ronny G

10-24-2016, 07:14 PM

I have lots and lots of books on specific TV shows. The Bewitched Continuum: The Ultimate Linear Guide to the Classic TV Series
was the last book I purchased. It is amazing! It's 600 pages and the size of a telephone book! It details the continuity of the show and examines and cross-references every episode in great detail. For example: How come a witch can undo another witch's spell in one episode, but not in another? You can go to the link on amazon and it will let you peek inside and read some sample pages.
https://www.amazon.com/Bewitched-Continuum-Ultimate-Linear-Classic/dp/0692290923/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475823567&sr=1-11&keywords=herbie+pilato

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71CKpkn-w8L.jpg

Sal

10-24-2016, 08:12 PM

If you're looking for a couple of new titles to add to your collection, I would highly recommend these two new titles:

In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox - Carol Burnett

Carol reflects on her 11 years on The Carol Burnett Show with stories and anecdotes about memorable moments from the show and the cast which made it possible.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmZ2ibfr-Q0mN4CWEU131qvdXuUQBsTCJi_tX6f27PPy1AmZWS

Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show

by Daniel de Visé

This book examines the long-time friendship between Andy Griffith and Don Knotts and the chemistry that developed between them on "The Andy Griffith Show."

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR2FGSUwwF0Sj_SXkYPpQgDP0mg5w9ZkCQhWB_NA5jInuRgaOqj

So far, I haven't read either one but I plan to borrow both of them from my local library.

JamesG

11-26-2016, 11:35 AM

bmasters9

11-26-2016, 11:54 AM

The Knight Rider Companion by Nick Nugent (everything you ever wanted to know about that 1982-86 NBC adventure series w/David Hasselhoff, and its 1991 sequel film Knight Rider 2000)

MacLeaper

03-15-2017, 10:03 AM

MacLeaper

03-15-2017, 11:07 AM

A few days ago I stopped at Housing Works in Downtown Brooklyn and found Of Muppets and Men: The Making of the Muppet Show by Christopher Finch.

http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w594/JamesGrec3/Book.ofmuppetsandmen_zps6gq7xke3.jpg
Now that is an awesome find! I have borrowed this book before from the library. I'm a longtime big fan of The Muppets and I can attest that this is one of the best books about them. It details a lot of the making of "The Muppet Show" and has tons of great pictures. It's long out of print though and can be fairly expensive at times on the used market. Enjoy it!:) :cool:

MacLeaper

03-15-2017, 11:09 AM

The Knight Rider Companion by Nick Nugent (everything you ever wanted to know about that 1982-86 NBC adventure series w/David Hasselhoff, and its 1991 sequel film Knight Rider 2000)

I'm also a fan of the classic 1982-1986 Knight Rider series and that looks like a way cool book.:) :cool:
It would be nice if David Hasselhoff would ever make that long rumoured Knight Rider movie. If Harrison Ford can still play Indiana Jones, he can still play Michael Knight.:cool:

MacLeaper

03-16-2017, 04:06 PM

A few other TV show-based books that I have- some I think I didn't mention before and some I've recently acquired.
I have the entire "Young Indiana Jones" series of young adult novels that were written in the '90s- a 15 book series, based mainly on "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles", along with the Young Indy appearance in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". (For that matter, I've also got most all the Indiana Jones novels that were written for adults as well.)

And I recently got and read a book I didn't know existed until recently-
"Punky Brewster at Camp Chipmunk" by Ann M. Martin (famed author of "The Baby-Sitters Club" books!) This was a fun, sweet little book- just like the TV show. Punky, Cherie, Henry, Brandon, Allen, Margaux and Mrs. Johnson all make appearances. (The book is copyright 1987 and clearly set in the earlier seasons of the show.)
https://img0.etsystatic.com/046/0/8391511/il_570xN.706197826_1b0a.jpg

I also have these two books below which are novelizations of episodes from "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" TV show- which is neat to see things come full circle, considering that the TV series is based on the books to begin with.:) :cool:

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmPa4-x9IjslSmM8LzL6wkImpN9sbih-oWRtgcq8ELtqgDMas3pQ

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MRjvuKSKL._SL500_.jpg

king of comedy

03-16-2017, 04:36 PM

There is a book based on Sid and Marty Kroft shows. Can anybody find it?

bmasters9

11-18-2018, 07:32 AM

Bumping this up: The Streets of San Francisco: A Quinn Martin TV Series (2011 book by James Rosin about that 1972-77 ABC police/detective series w/the late Karl Malden as Lt. Mike Stone, Michael Douglas as Insp. Steve Keller [1972-76], and the late Richard Hatch as Insp. Dan Robbins [1976-77])

11-18-2018, 08:24 AM

I have a few of these myself:

Here’s The Story by Maureen McCormick

Brady, Brady, Brady by Sherwood and Lloyd J. Schwartz

DisneyWar by James B. Stewart

Life Is Not A Stage by Florence Henderson

Stardom Happens by Candy Bennici

JamesG

07-20-2022, 03:37 PM

Found this at Good Will:

The Boy Who Invented Television: A Story of Inspiration, Persistence and Quiet Passion
by Paul Schatzkin

bmasters9

08-29-2022, 04:38 AM

Bumping this up: Emergency! Behind the Scene (very well-done book by Richard Yokley and Rozane Sutherland about that hit 70s NBC medical/action series w/Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Robert Fuller et al.)...

Duster76

08-29-2022, 09:02 PM

There is a new book titled "TV Inside and Out" by Randy West, has anyone read it?

bmasters9

08-30-2022, 04:14 AM

There is a new book titled "TV Inside and Out" by Randy West, has anyone read it?

Just looked it up on Amazon, and it's actually titled TV Inside-Out. Saw some of what's written in it, and I think it might be an interesting tome.

https://www.amazon.com/TV-Inside-Out-backstage-blasphemy-celebrities/dp/162933930X