Total Television: Revised Edition

by Alex McNeil

A TV guide includes more than 5,400 series, prime-time fall schedules for every season, more than one thousand noteworthy specials, more cable series than ever before, Nielsen's top twenty season by season, Emmy and Peabody award winners, and more. Original.

Genres: Reference, Tv, Nonfiction

1254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Daniel Hiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this reference book. For starters, you have to admire someone who was able to stick with a gargantuan project, such as this, to the bitter end. At 1,251 pages long, it's a treasure trove of information for anyone even remotely interested in television history. There are over 5,400 show summaries listed, prime-time fall schedules for every season from 1948-1996, as well as the top-rated series for the same time period. There are 1,000 noteworthy specials listed, as well as Emmy and Peabody Award winners, not to mention an index containing over 19,000 TV personalities. Some will say that this book is woefully out of date- but when you consider how much higher the entertainment bar used to sit, compared to modern times, you'll realize how much better television was back in the day.

[Wade Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up used a couple of decades ago and still refer to it all the time. At this point it only covers about half the history of television, but it covers the first half so well. One of my favorite things to do is randomly find an obscure series mentioned in it, then search YouTube for an episode. With amazing frequency I find them. An old fashioned paper reference book still has a great advantage over the Internet when it comes to browsing or even a quick look-up. If anyone knows of a similar book about TV programs since the mid-80s I'd love to know about it.

[zely✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

tv studies are quite interesting. this is pretty much an insider on all the tv shows there were from the 40s to mid 90s, i believe. really intriguing stuff. i picked this up mostly for research for my paper on the twilight zone, but kept reading forward about other tv shows. full of cool and informative facts.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for reference of most TV shows up to the mid-90s, if you get the updated version, the 4th revision released in 1996.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. 'TOTALLY' got to say it: This singular book CHANGED MY LIFE. Got it at a book sale in local mall when maybe in my early teens. I was ALWAYS very much into television and this opus MIGHT be why, or partially why I have often been the go-to guy for info on TV, actors, writers, film etc. Plus my freakish long-term memory. Don't know whatever happened to my massive paperback (1000+ pages)of this fine, informative, truly comprehensive guide to network TV program info from the beginning. Would sure appreciate a copy. Haven't seen this book anywhere, and I have looked. Amazing book to have around - especially if you don't have go-to people like me in your life. "Who was that actor who played on 'Another World'; her character was on their first spin-off, and she was on that show with the dark-haired 'Criminal Minds' guy?" LOL. Answer: The greatly talented Susan Sullivan. But if you didn't know this. "Total Television" would have lead you to the answer with many more fun, interesting factoids along the way. Highly recommended. People who have me in their lives DO NOT BUY! (Gotta feel useful1.) ~K

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's as big as the industry. Every show is documented in this encyclopedia. CPO Sharkey, eat your heart out.