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Top of the Rock by Warren Littlefield

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Top of the Rock

Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV

Warren Littlefield, T. R. Pearson

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group · Print & ebook · May 1, 2012

Reading lane: Television History & Criticism

Seinfeld , Friends , Frasier , ER , Cheers , Law & Order , Will & Grace …Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history -- told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Must See, Unmade

A lively oral history pairs television’s hit-making gambles with the frictions behind Must See TV.

Come here for

  • Behind-the-scenes voices from comedy and drama’s network heyday
  • Creative gambles, executive clashes, and the business of a hit

Expect

  • Actors, writers, producers, and executives trading recollections
  • Funny anecdotes beside the less polished costs of success

Book Details

Authors
Warren Littlefield, T. R. Pearson
Publisher
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published
May 1, 2012
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Television History & Criticism · TV Comedy
Reading lane
Television History & Criticism

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Entertainment Industry

  • U.S. History

  • Television History & Criticism

About This Book

Seinfeld , Friends , Frasier , ER , Cheers , Law & Order , Will & Grace …Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history -- told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart. Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits . In...

Read full description

Seinfeld , Friends , Frasier , ER , Cheers , Law & Order , Will & Grace …Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history -- told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart. Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits . In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV. From 1993 through 1998, NBC exploded every conventional notion of what a broadcast network could accomplish with the greatest prime-time line-up in television history. On Thursday nights, a cavalcade of groundbreaking comedies and dramas streamed into homes, attracting a staggering 75 million viewers and generating more revenue than all other six nights of programming combined. The road to success, however, was a rocky one. How do you turn a show like Seinfeld , one of the lowest testing pilots of all time, into a hit when the network overlords are constantly warring, or worse, drowning in a bottle of vodka? Top of the Rock is an addictively readable account of the risky business decisions, creative passion, and leaps of faith that made Must See TV possible. Chock full of delicious behind-the-scenes anecdotes that run the gamut from hilarious casting and programming ploys to petty jealousies and drug interventions, you’re in for a juicy, unputdownable read.

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