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The Last Great Ride
The brain child behind the success of NBC Entertainment gives an anecdotal look at network television with stories about the making of such hits as "Cheers" and "The Cosby Show"
- GenresTv
223 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 26, 2023
This is the third time I've read this book since it was published 20 years ago and in retrospect it's highly over-rated. Tartikoff was supposedly a programming genius but you wouldn't know it by reading this book. He stumbles his way into successes, admits his share of failures, and doesn't ever give enough detail to pull back the curtain behind how TV is programmed. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's a disappointment, but for decades everyone has talked about this guy as being the king of TV programming and there's no evidence of that here.
There are a number of annoying things about the book. I found at least four major factual errors about NBC and ratings--and this is from the guy who ran the place! He also has a tendency of telling short versions of stories instead of giving any detail or explaining what went on behind the scenes. We all know Cosby and Cheers were successful--but he doesn't really say why or how compared to failed programs. His claim that casting is everything is just plain wrong and many of his conclusions seem half-baked and glib. Meanwhile his smug self-praise also never really confronts the major flaws network executives like himself have: they tend to think they know everything, make crazy scheduling moves, and often program for their elite friends instead of middle America.
So while this is a book that at least tells a few interesting stories about NBC in the 1980s, it's far from the definitive book on the subject. And it is nowhere near as good as claimed--very much like the NBC shows Tartikoff made famous.
There are a number of annoying things about the book. I found at least four major factual errors about NBC and ratings--and this is from the guy who ran the place! He also has a tendency of telling short versions of stories instead of giving any detail or explaining what went on behind the scenes. We all know Cosby and Cheers were successful--but he doesn't really say why or how compared to failed programs. His claim that casting is everything is just plain wrong and many of his conclusions seem half-baked and glib. Meanwhile his smug self-praise also never really confronts the major flaws network executives like himself have: they tend to think they know everything, make crazy scheduling moves, and often program for their elite friends instead of middle America.
So while this is a book that at least tells a few interesting stories about NBC in the 1980s, it's far from the definitive book on the subject. And it is nowhere near as good as claimed--very much like the NBC shows Tartikoff made famous.
April 4, 2013
Tartikoff was the predecessor to Warren Littlefield as head of NBC (whose book Top of the Rock is reviewed elsewhere on my shelf) and who architected the network's revival. Fewer scores to settle vs TotR, but great stories about pitch meetings, actors who got away (Bruce Willis, following a great Miami Vice episode), casting, scheduling. He loved Stephen J Canell, and Jim Rockford. William Devane should have been Sam Malone on Cheers. He owns his bombs, like Manimal and Supertrain.
He didn't want to cast Michael J Fox on Family Ties because he was too short - show runner told him, "you send the kid out for 2 laughs and he brings back five."
Though the book was written in '92, his prediction that the increase in channels would lead to much better content has come true in spades. In the 3 channel universe the dominant theory was least objectionable programming. Now each channel has somebody's favorite show. He also expected HD and a better VCR experience via the computer.
Favorite story: David Hasselhoff walks off the Knight Rider set in season 3, demanding a raise. Tartikoff calls his agent and says, "Tell him the car's the star." The Hoff came back to work with no raise.
He didn't want to cast Michael J Fox on Family Ties because he was too short - show runner told him, "you send the kid out for 2 laughs and he brings back five."
Though the book was written in '92, his prediction that the increase in channels would lead to much better content has come true in spades. In the 3 channel universe the dominant theory was least objectionable programming. Now each channel has somebody's favorite show. He also expected HD and a better VCR experience via the computer.
Favorite story: David Hasselhoff walks off the Knight Rider set in season 3, demanding a raise. Tartikoff calls his agent and says, "Tell him the car's the star." The Hoff came back to work with no raise.
March 17, 2016
I'd always considered Tartikoff a kind of hero, for indelibly knowing how television worked and making his mark there. The man was responsible for an incredible run of my favorite shows at NBC in the 80s, and this book, full of anecdotal stories is a lot of fun to read, but doesn't quite go far enough into the day to day making of those shows or running of the network. But it is entertaining and like Tartikoff's NBC programing something you shouldn't miss.
November 1, 2025
The book provides important insights into an amazing time in TV history, but at 208 pages, is too short. Tartikoff balances some of his personal story (cancer treatment) with his accomplishments from his professional roles. Due to length and fairly skimpy chapters, it's an easy and short read.
June 16, 2012
Come for the homeless guy/Cosby Show anecdote. Stay for the Kreskin/bathroom story.
August 5, 2014
Love Brandon. Though there are some embellishments in here, it still shows what a great man he was and what a difference he made in shaping the world of television.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews