Sitcom History

When did you last hang out with Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, and the rest of Dunder Mifflin? It might have been back in 2013, when the series finale aired...or it might have been last night, when you watched three episodes in a row. But either way, long after the show first aired, it’s more popular than ever, and fans have only one problem - what to watch, or listen to, next. Fortunately, writer Andy Greene has that answer. In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene takes listeners behind the scenes.

Charlie, Dennis, Mac, Sweet Dee, and Frank are deplorable characters. They will never mature, become more self-aware, or less self-involved. That is what the creators of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are committed to—and that’s why the show’s millions of devoted fans have stuck with the cult comedy hit for over sixteen seasons and counting. As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself, this book also explores how the show has pushed the envelope and used absurdist comedy to explore major societal issues, including the #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+ rights, racism, and more.

Browse the world of 1950s sitcoms with or without a remote control in your hand. Opinionated and hopefully entertaining, this book covers the biggest hits and a few misses from the dawn of the television sitcom. From I Love Lucy though The Many Love of Dobie Gillis, the era of the 50s sitcom is covered with many topics of interest and possibly even humor that are the perfect size for bite sized reading unless you feel a binge coming on and then just go crazy. Desi Arnaz and his friends perfecting the three camera sitcom, Jackie Gleason creating a one season wonder in the Honeymooners after ...

Since premiering in 2009, the groundbreaking television sitcom Modern Family has garnered tens of millions of devoted fans, earning 75 Emmy nominations and 22 Emmy Awards, including five in a row for Outstanding Comedy Series (one of only two sitcoms to ever achieve that feat). Professors have written about it. Psychologists have lectured on it. Leading publications, such as The New York Times and Washington Post, have explained their love for it.

Why read The Wheel of Sitcom? Because you’ve laughed. You’ve groaned. You’ve fallen asleep to the sound of canned applause or the soothing murmur of small-town life. Maybe you grew up with Lucy or Jerry or Homer… or maybe you’re just discovering the joy of a perfectly timed one-liner. In The Wheel of Sitcom, author Joe Stevens takes you on a warm, witty, and occasionally baffled journey through 100 sitcoms, old and new — from the black-and-white days of The Andy Griffith Show to the fast-cut chaos of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Part review, part memoir, part love letter to the comedy ...

In Black Out Loud, Bennett chronicles the transformative history of Black comedy in America, drawing on research and interviews with the actors and executives behind some of the most impactful shows. This brilliant exploration traces the evolution of Black comics and provocateurs who reshaped the culture and ultimately became powerful agents of social change -- transforming the way America laughed along the way.

In this definitive history of New Girl, entertainment reporter Thea Glassman lifts the curtain on one of the most beloved comedies of the 2010s, going inside the writers’ room and onto the set with exclusive interviews from the show’s creator, cast, writers, directors and crew.

The groundbreaking inside look at the making — and unmaking — of a network TV series, back in print for the first time in thirty years. Smoldering Lust seemed like a sure-fire hit for NBC – a sexy new comedy-drama starring Kate Capshaw from Jay Tarses, the acclaimed, Emmy-awarding winning writer/producer of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Buffalo Bill and The Bob Newhart Show. But things started to go wrong from the start and author Vance Muse was there to witness it all, from the development, casting, and production of the show all the way to the disastrous test screening, the ...

If there's one thing the nation can agree on - we all love Betty White! This spirited homage to Betty captures her unique humor, timeless wisdom, and impish irreverence that's made her one of America's longest lasting and most beloved stars. How to Be Golden recounts her engaging life story while weaving in her words of wisdom and insight about love, friendship, work, family, sex, acting, aging, beauty, and more.