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Northern Exposed
Darren Burrows reflects on his life and time on the show Northern Exposure.
226 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 13, 2025
The tv series Northern Exposure is my most favorite.
Author Darren Burrows portrays Ed Chigliak and has a relationship with almost every other character who appeared on the show. Hence, he is very qualified to write this memoir of his feelings and experiences while filming the show.
He gives insight into some of his favorite episodes of each season and intertwines his personal life and career events throughout.
This book is a great companion for anyone who has watched the series as it brought back many wonderful memories to me.
Author Darren Burrows portrays Ed Chigliak and has a relationship with almost every other character who appeared on the show. Hence, he is very qualified to write this memoir of his feelings and experiences while filming the show.
He gives insight into some of his favorite episodes of each season and intertwines his personal life and career events throughout.
This book is a great companion for anyone who has watched the series as it brought back many wonderful memories to me.
February 11, 2022
I guess the biggest shock of this book was that Darren Burrows is not much like Ed Chigliak. I don't know why that was a a shock, since Darren is an actor and Ed was his character. But it was to me. While Ed is happy-go-lucky, Darren is extremely intense. It was a little hard to get used to.
Still it was interesting to learn about Darren's tough childhood and how he got the part on Northern Exposure. He also goes over many of the episodes and gives us an inside look, which I appreciated.
I do admit I always blamed Rob Morrow for the end of the series, since he left early. However, it appears the show was actually a victim of greedy and uncaring producers. That I can believe.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this look back at one of my favorite series.
Still it was interesting to learn about Darren's tough childhood and how he got the part on Northern Exposure. He also goes over many of the episodes and gives us an inside look, which I appreciated.
I do admit I always blamed Rob Morrow for the end of the series, since he left early. However, it appears the show was actually a victim of greedy and uncaring producers. That I can believe.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this look back at one of my favorite series.
February 24, 2017
This summer I participated in an Indiegogo campaign for Darren Burrows to write and release a memoir about his days on the set of Northern Exposure, playing the fan favorite Ed Chigliak. For those of you who don’t know this is my favorite TV show.... It’s just some of the best television ever created and I wanted to support this endeavor: Northern Exposed.
The book is essentially a play by play of Burrows acting career, what led up to N.E., he then breaks down each season of the show, and wraps up with what he’s done after the fact. What’s great about N.E. is that it was just supposed to be a summer fill-in, nothing fantastic that was even considered together picked up again, but it did!
Burrows shares his thoughts and feelings through all the highs and definite lows of the show. His critical analysis of how things went down from the actors stand point is fascinating - some of his bones to pick did get a little repetitive at times, but it doesn’t hinder the writing in this case, instead it firmly acknowledges his love for the character he played and his belief in how good the show could be and should have always been. A down-to-earth read for any N.E. fan!
The book is essentially a play by play of Burrows acting career, what led up to N.E., he then breaks down each season of the show, and wraps up with what he’s done after the fact. What’s great about N.E. is that it was just supposed to be a summer fill-in, nothing fantastic that was even considered together picked up again, but it did!
Burrows shares his thoughts and feelings through all the highs and definite lows of the show. His critical analysis of how things went down from the actors stand point is fascinating - some of his bones to pick did get a little repetitive at times, but it doesn’t hinder the writing in this case, instead it firmly acknowledges his love for the character he played and his belief in how good the show could be and should have always been. A down-to-earth read for any N.E. fan!
December 16, 2013
As a long-time NX fan, I was pleased to see Darren Burrows taking the initiative to revisit the show through memories, location visits, and interviews with the original cast. (I also watched the DVD "Return to Cicely" which he completed simultaneously as an accompanying project).
The book can best be thought of as an autobiography, anchored primarily by Burrows' NX reflections and analysis. The opening chapters give us a look into Burrows' childhood, his broken family, and the life of poverty he experienced. It shows us what events led him to LA and an acting class. The final few chapters take us, project by project, through Burrows' post-NX film resume.
Anchoring the story, the lion's share of the narrative is given over to Burrows' reflections about "Northern Exposure." He goes through, season by season, his own perspective on the rise & fall of this quirky character-driven television show that, 20 years later, still has a dedicated cult following of its own. Which is why a book like this is a welcome sight for those of us who own the DVDs and still associate the actors with their NX character roles...regardless of their other successes.
Burrows reflections are often times nostalgic, and other times critical. It's clear his heart was in this character Ed Chigliak--and Burrows often felt the sting of betrayal from the suits running the show from LA. There's a rift between the Washington actors & the LA producers...and the creative direction of the show and characters becomes a constant source of tension. And understandably so.
The writing style is reflective, personal, conversational, and easy to read. If you are a fan of the show, you need to pick up a copy. And the DVD is worth getting, too...there are two discs. The first is a video diary as Burrows visits many locations. The production quality is a little rough, and it appears that locations were not all secured beforehand. But Burrows should be commended for his effort, as he raised as much as he could via a crowd-funding internet campaign. The second DVD is a great mix of interviews, as Burrows sits down with all the main cast members (Peg Philips, who played Ruth-Anne, had passed away several years prior).
Kudos to Burrows for having the foresight and determination to make this book and DVD happen. Northern Exposure fans will be pleased, and anyone who has dabbled in acting can resonate with a "behind the scenes" retrospective of a successful television show.
The book can best be thought of as an autobiography, anchored primarily by Burrows' NX reflections and analysis. The opening chapters give us a look into Burrows' childhood, his broken family, and the life of poverty he experienced. It shows us what events led him to LA and an acting class. The final few chapters take us, project by project, through Burrows' post-NX film resume.
Anchoring the story, the lion's share of the narrative is given over to Burrows' reflections about "Northern Exposure." He goes through, season by season, his own perspective on the rise & fall of this quirky character-driven television show that, 20 years later, still has a dedicated cult following of its own. Which is why a book like this is a welcome sight for those of us who own the DVDs and still associate the actors with their NX character roles...regardless of their other successes.
Burrows reflections are often times nostalgic, and other times critical. It's clear his heart was in this character Ed Chigliak--and Burrows often felt the sting of betrayal from the suits running the show from LA. There's a rift between the Washington actors & the LA producers...and the creative direction of the show and characters becomes a constant source of tension. And understandably so.
The writing style is reflective, personal, conversational, and easy to read. If you are a fan of the show, you need to pick up a copy. And the DVD is worth getting, too...there are two discs. The first is a video diary as Burrows visits many locations. The production quality is a little rough, and it appears that locations were not all secured beforehand. But Burrows should be commended for his effort, as he raised as much as he could via a crowd-funding internet campaign. The second DVD is a great mix of interviews, as Burrows sits down with all the main cast members (Peg Philips, who played Ruth-Anne, had passed away several years prior).
Kudos to Burrows for having the foresight and determination to make this book and DVD happen. Northern Exposure fans will be pleased, and anyone who has dabbled in acting can resonate with a "behind the scenes" retrospective of a successful television show.
November 25, 2020
Great for Fans of the Show and Ed
It is as much a book about the author as it is about Northern Exposure. You do get a nice glimpse into the work behind the scenes, and I never felt like he was stripping the show of its magic, which was refreshing.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this, but I still get kind of sad realizing how many years it has been since this show aired and how old I’m getting.
It is as much a book about the author as it is about Northern Exposure. You do get a nice glimpse into the work behind the scenes, and I never felt like he was stripping the show of its magic, which was refreshing.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this, but I still get kind of sad realizing how many years it has been since this show aired and how old I’m getting.
January 11, 2014
While Northern Exposed is not the best written or edited book I have ever read, Darren Burrows put together an entertaining book about his life and the show Northern Exposure. In some ways the book made me appreciate the show more. In other ways I'm concerned that Burrows showed me how the "sausage was made" and it may make me be critical of aspects of the show that didn't bother me before.
In the end, however, I would definitely recommend the book and the companion DVD "Return to Cicily" to fans of the show.
In the end, however, I would definitely recommend the book and the companion DVD "Return to Cicily" to fans of the show.
February 9, 2020
I like Ed Chigliak more than I like Darren Burrows. Darren's okay; Ed is great! Like Burrows (the actor who played Chigliak), I am sorry that "Northern Exposure" was treated badly by CBS, was deserted by Rob Morrow, and was moved from Monday nights to Wednesday nights. Burrows' book is very much an insider's look at what happened from the beginning with the eight-episode summer replacement deal, up to the show's placement in the top ten programme's on American TV, and then down to the depths leading to cancellation. The author is a bit more emotionally involved than I am. That is one of the reasons why he so desperately needs an editor. Burrows has considerable skill as an actor; much less as an author. In the same way that the same person doesn't write a show, act in it, direct it, run the camera, dub the audio, and do the editing, there needs to be more than one person involved in producing a book. "Northern Exposed" is proof of that. My curiosity about "Northern Exposure" was prompted by my near-cultic devotion to the programme when it aired. I thought Chris was an oracle. I wanted to cook with Holling. I wanted Ruth Anne to be my mother. I might have stripped off for the running of the bulls when the spring ice cracked. Sweetness and I went to Roslyn to look at where the TV series was shot. We found the main street window front of radio station KBHR, preserved as a tribute. We saw The Brick although the interiors of Holling's restaurant were shot on a set rather than in the actual restaurant/bar because the cameras and lights wouldn't fit well into the actual structure. I'm glad I read this little book; I can't recommend it to anyone other than a true devotee of "Northern Exposure."
December 14, 2013
This book is like having audio commentary on many episodes of NX. A must for all fans of the show. Reads quick and fun
December 18, 2013
This book is a must read for any Northern Exposure (the t.v. show) fan; especially Ed Chigliak fans. It had a lot of behind the scenes information that I have never heard about before. The format is an episode by episode run down of Darrren's experiences while working on Northern Exposure, and as such, is rather "Ed-centric," but this is Darren's experience and he can only tell it from his viewpoint (though I would have liked to have heard more about some of the other actors' experiences). Darren also gives the reader a glimpse of his own personal life and how he came to be a husband and father; and of his own childhood. I can tell from the reading of this book that Darren Burrows is not a professional author, some of the proofreading and editing is shaky. I have the feeling it was written in a rush. But it was definitely worthwhile to be able to get a peek at the behind the scenes action of my very favorite T.V. show of all time! I am so glad that this book is out there available for all the fans of Northern Exposure.
March 3, 2014
Wish I could've edited this! Blimey. But it's a great insight into the world of the best ever TV show IMO. It's great that DB loved playing Ed so much but sad the inevitable clash of producers losing touch with the show and actors trying to keep the credibility.
February 24, 2014
This book is worth five stars for fans, but only two stars as a book. It has great background info if you loved Northern Exposure, but it is not well written. It is repetitive. It is dry. I laughed twice in 225 pages, and only once seriously (evil bear cub). Burrows alludes to issues with the making of the show, but does not substantiate them. This book could have been so amazing if Burrows had either: Deepened his own NE journey OR included perspectives of other cast members and Cicely "residents." Instead, it is a barely engaging book not quite about a young actor growing up and not quite about a hit TV show.
March 26, 2024
Watched this show when originally aired and during COVID queued up the DVDs and watched it all again. Such a great show that seemingly dropped out of sight for no good reason. This book, written by the actor who played Ed Chigliak, was crowd sourced and while not very good literary-wise, is heartfelt and outlines the reasons for the demise of the show (hint: it's not Rob Morrow's fault).
I enjoyed this book with the exception of Burrows' hammering (by name) of the actress who portrayed Barbara Semanski, the delightful cop and paramour of NASA astronaut Maurice Minnifield. Burrows calls her out several times by name, disparages her looks, and - undermining his own thesis about his own character (mainly that he disagreed with the writers/producers whenever they projected something overtly "native American" on Ed, something cliche and obvious) - posits that the character of Barbara was not an appropriate love interest for Mr. Minnefield. I beg to differ: The whole point of Northern Exposure is this collection of quirky people in this tiny town in Alaska - nobody is exactly what you'd expect. Maurice Minnifield is a John Wayne type who plants tulips and listens to showtunes and during the entire run of the show, he often is uncomfortable with these dichotomies. Barbara appeals to Minnifield because she's kind of like him - tough and disciplined, and not like him - not into the finer things the way he is, completely 100% law abiding; they are a perfect non-cliched pairing.
Anyway, in an otherwise nice accounting of the show and its demise, this was a classless criticism from someone who should know better.
Lastly, it seems that Northern Exposure died because nobody really knew what they had, even though they were nominated for Emmys, etc. The powers that be managed the show from LA and seemed to be more interested in other projects.
I enjoyed this book with the exception of Burrows' hammering (by name) of the actress who portrayed Barbara Semanski, the delightful cop and paramour of NASA astronaut Maurice Minnifield. Burrows calls her out several times by name, disparages her looks, and - undermining his own thesis about his own character (mainly that he disagreed with the writers/producers whenever they projected something overtly "native American" on Ed, something cliche and obvious) - posits that the character of Barbara was not an appropriate love interest for Mr. Minnefield. I beg to differ: The whole point of Northern Exposure is this collection of quirky people in this tiny town in Alaska - nobody is exactly what you'd expect. Maurice Minnifield is a John Wayne type who plants tulips and listens to showtunes and during the entire run of the show, he often is uncomfortable with these dichotomies. Barbara appeals to Minnifield because she's kind of like him - tough and disciplined, and not like him - not into the finer things the way he is, completely 100% law abiding; they are a perfect non-cliched pairing.
Anyway, in an otherwise nice accounting of the show and its demise, this was a classless criticism from someone who should know better.
Lastly, it seems that Northern Exposure died because nobody really knew what they had, even though they were nominated for Emmys, etc. The powers that be managed the show from LA and seemed to be more interested in other projects.
August 26, 2024
Love Northern Exposure? Read this book!
When the TV show Northern Exposure first ran in the 90’s, my husband and I fell in love with it. We thought it was smart and quirky. After he passed away, I remarried and my new husband had never heard of the show. We were lucky to find it on Prime a few months ago and watched an episode every night until we were done. I still love the show. I appreciate it even more now than back then. They don’t make shows like that anymore. There was so much good there and I loved learning about Native culture. Darren Burrows (playing Ed Chigliak) was one of my favorite characters in the show and he gives a lot of the back story to many of the episodes in this book. Experiencing a difficult childhood and following in his dad’s footsteps he found himself in this show. A great read and I learned a lot about all the actors and the ups and downs they went through to create a wonderful life in the little Alaska town called Cicily.
When the TV show Northern Exposure first ran in the 90’s, my husband and I fell in love with it. We thought it was smart and quirky. After he passed away, I remarried and my new husband had never heard of the show. We were lucky to find it on Prime a few months ago and watched an episode every night until we were done. I still love the show. I appreciate it even more now than back then. They don’t make shows like that anymore. There was so much good there and I loved learning about Native culture. Darren Burrows (playing Ed Chigliak) was one of my favorite characters in the show and he gives a lot of the back story to many of the episodes in this book. Experiencing a difficult childhood and following in his dad’s footsteps he found himself in this show. A great read and I learned a lot about all the actors and the ups and downs they went through to create a wonderful life in the little Alaska town called Cicily.
August 31, 2023
So. It’s an interesting book. I think he gets a lot of it wrong. He fundamentally misunderstands the show itself but it’s interesting how him being right wouldn’t let him the see the show as a show.
I do think it’s a shame about the lawsuit and how it changed the course of the best tv series. Also I had no idea David chase who did the sopranos hates the show.
One thing is how important the writers and producers are to the process. He seems to miss the entire point of their role.
But overall it was a behind the scenes look at a show that had provided some good memories of me and my dad watching it and discussing it and that can’t change.
I’d recommend the book to anyone who likes the show. They may not like what he writes but that’s ok, it gives you another sense of the specialness of the show.
I do think it’s a shame about the lawsuit and how it changed the course of the best tv series. Also I had no idea David chase who did the sopranos hates the show.
One thing is how important the writers and producers are to the process. He seems to miss the entire point of their role.
But overall it was a behind the scenes look at a show that had provided some good memories of me and my dad watching it and discussing it and that can’t change.
I’d recommend the book to anyone who likes the show. They may not like what he writes but that’s ok, it gives you another sense of the specialness of the show.
August 13, 2020
Mixed feelings about this book. I've been binging the show (old DVD's - apparently it's not streaming anywhere which is a bummer.) This book reads more like a blog in some ways - Burrows goes over the shooting of various episodes and ... well .. complains a lot. I think this is a reflection that as an actor he cared a lot about his portrayal of the character but as a viewer, it kind of bummed me out to discover he hated some of the things I enjoyed about the show when it first aired.
Still, there are some interesting behind the scenes stories that if you're a fan of the show you may enjoy reading.
Still, there are some interesting behind the scenes stories that if you're a fan of the show you may enjoy reading.
July 9, 2024
Darren Burrows is a decent writer! He expresses gratitude and humility throughout his stories. As many people state, he definitely IS NOT Ed Chigliak, but why would he be?
Ed Chigliak is who he got paid to act as. (Though, he does at one point state that Ed Chigliak is “the best parts of him,” showing he understands his shortcomings). It kind of reminds me of when we learned that Julia Stiles wishes she was Kat Stratford and isn’t ACTUALLY Kat Stratford (10 Things I Hate About You, anyone?).
It reads more as an autobiography for Darren Burrows in general, as opposed to a memoir about his time on NX. That’s okay; his story is an important one that should be heard.
Ed Chigliak is who he got paid to act as. (Though, he does at one point state that Ed Chigliak is “the best parts of him,” showing he understands his shortcomings). It kind of reminds me of when we learned that Julia Stiles wishes she was Kat Stratford and isn’t ACTUALLY Kat Stratford (10 Things I Hate About You, anyone?).
It reads more as an autobiography for Darren Burrows in general, as opposed to a memoir about his time on NX. That’s okay; his story is an important one that should be heard.
July 9, 2020
Return to Cicely
A lovely reminiscence of a real life and a mythical place. Of course Darren Burrows isn’t Ed, but Ed does percolate to the surface in terms of just how kind Darren is even to people who don’t really deserve it. Any Northern Exposure fan will love this book. If you’re not a fan you’re dead to me anyway. Lol
A lovely reminiscence of a real life and a mythical place. Of course Darren Burrows isn’t Ed, but Ed does percolate to the surface in terms of just how kind Darren is even to people who don’t really deserve it. Any Northern Exposure fan will love this book. If you’re not a fan you’re dead to me anyway. Lol
December 1, 2020
The first part about the show was very interesting, the parts about Burrows’ life were sadly less so. Burrows does express himself in a forthright manner, however, and I came away feeling that while the movie and TV products of Hollywood can sometimes be genius, the business side of it is vile and should be avoided at all costs.
September 19, 2024
Just hold on …
Beautifully written story of how life plays out if you just let go and let it run. no matter what life threw at him,Darren went with the flow, and then he landed on top with a beautiful family and a wonderful tale. Very interesting read, especially if you want the inside scoop on Northern Exposure
Beautifully written story of how life plays out if you just let go and let it run. no matter what life threw at him,Darren went with the flow, and then he landed on top with a beautiful family and a wonderful tale. Very interesting read, especially if you want the inside scoop on Northern Exposure
September 10, 2025
A thoughtful memoir about the life of an actor. As a fan of Northern Exposure I enjoyed all the behind the scenes memories. Being that Darren played Ed Chigliak it’s definitely an Ed centric memoir and Darren is fiercely defensive of Ed’s legacy. It’s great to hear from an actor who cares so much about his work and I’m glad I ran across this book.
March 7, 2022
Behind the scenes in Cicely
If you like the series, you'll like this book just as much. Darren tells you what it was like to work on the series, And the devastation when the producers allowed our favorite show to crash and burn.
If you like the series, you'll like this book just as much. Darren tells you what it was like to work on the series, And the devastation when the producers allowed our favorite show to crash and burn.
December 20, 2025
A fun accompaniment to rewatching Northern Exposure while following the Northern Disclosure podcast. My all time favorite show, beloved characters, and I have come to love the actors, directors and crew as well!
May 6, 2019
Interesting, detailed behind the scenes look. Lots of appreciation for fellow actors . Fans of Northern Exposure will appreciate it
February 5, 2024
What a life he lead. Interesting read, especially enjoyed the behind the scenes of Northern Exposure.
July 31, 2014
This is a must read for all die hardnNorthern Exposure fans. Growing up through this show during my teen years made an impact on me and realized that there are just as quirky characters as me, and i always felt at home in this made to believe town. This book helped open my eyes to where the show went and why i ended, and it ended on a different note than what i believed, which helps me feel at peace. But at the same time it was so sad to hear of the background in how the "LA" execs really could care less to the value of this show. No matter what I will always be a die hard fan and dream of living in a town such as Cicely and having some of the best and quirkiest friendships in the town. Darren did a great job reliving his memories and sharing the best and worst of the show. The editing could habe been a bit better as spelling and gramatical errors occured, but that didnt bother me too horribly bad as tgis was his first book and he did the best he could with what limited resources he had. I do wish there was more feedback and insights from the others on the show, but thats ok. This will be atreasured book for me, and i am thankfulbfor it! (I got his autograph in it!!) Now it is time to watch his DVD.
July 19, 2016
"Northern Exposure" is my all-time favorite TV show, so I was looking forward to reading about what went into making it a hit. Darren Burrows played the role of Ed Chigliac in all six of the shows seasons. Good actor, lousy writer. He comes across pretty much as one of those whiney employees who knows he could do a better job that all of those above him on the food chain. The producers and some of the writers catch most of the blame. If you didn't know better, you'd think the show lasted about six weeks instead of six years. That said, there is some interesting info to be gleaned by Northern Exposure buffs. The book came with a DVD of Burrows back in Cicely, Alaska, (Roslyn, Wash.) pointing out where the scenes were shot and interviewing the cast members. The interviews on side 2 were good. Burrows by himself, not so much.
February 29, 2016
I loved Northern Exposure, so I found this behind-the-scenes story pretty interesting, even if it was kind of dismaying to learn how much the L.A. side let down the Washington-state-as-Alaska side. Still, it was good to know that my instincts about what worked in the show and what didn't were mostly in line with at least one of the actors' opinions. (So true that Lightfeather had no chemistry with Ed. They should've called me up; I'd have played her for free!)
January 10, 2016
Not the best written book in the world - but if you are a Northern Exposure fan, it is a great read. Lots of inside scoops and behind the scenes stories, and a lot about Darren Burrows and his life that I had never heard before. Ed was my favorite. :)
May 1, 2014
If you were a fan of Northern Exposure, you will enjoy this book. Lots of inside information on a season by season, episode by episode basis.
July 1, 2015
If you are a fan of the show, there are some interesting details shared. However, to risk sounding pretentious, I felt like this was mostly just a poorly written egomaniacal rant.
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