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Golden Girl : The Story of Jessica Savitch
Her mysterious death in an auto accident ended Jessica Savitch's life at age 36. Her star had slipped since her glory days as NBC's first anchorwoman, but she still had the love of millions of Americans. Only later did they hear the rumors that their Golden Girl was a ferociously driven woman, battling drug addiction and self-sabotage. Who was the complex, unhappy person behind the glamorous TV image? What secret demons drove her to her tragic early death?
Based on more than 300 interviews with Jessica Savitch's lovers, colleagues, friends and psychiatrists, this sensational biography gives an accurate, fascinating portrait of her public and private lives, and for the first time pays tribute to a woman who beat the odds to triumph in her profession... but paid the ultimate, terrifying price.
Based on more than 300 interviews with Jessica Savitch's lovers, colleagues, friends and psychiatrists, this sensational biography gives an accurate, fascinating portrait of her public and private lives, and for the first time pays tribute to a woman who beat the odds to triumph in her profession... but paid the ultimate, terrifying price.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionDrugs
413 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
3 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 20, 2013
I had to order this book as a used copy from the U.K. because I could not buy it here. But it was worth the effort.
Author Alanna Nash put a lot of work into this biography of American news anchor woman Jessica Savitch.
Because Savitch had a tragic life (apart from her impressive career) and died young, the book has a "Marilyn Monroe appeal". ( I had never watched Savitch on TV but somehow, her persona is still fascinating to this day.) But there is more to this book than just drama and destruction.
Nash offers an highly interesting glimpse into the world of TV news broadcasting and the work of people we see on the screen every day.
There is a lot of strategic planning and struggling going on, in order to climb up the ladder. For some people, it can be destructive.
Drug abuse was Jessica Savitch`s downfall and it makes you shiver to see how easily she could get these illegal drugs and how little people did around her to stop her doing it.
Nash talked to a lot of people for this biography. At the end, I was kind of sad that we could not get Jessica Savitch`s take on her life, posthumously, so to speak.
But this is probably part of the mystery that surrounds Savitch`s life.
Author Alanna Nash put a lot of work into this biography of American news anchor woman Jessica Savitch.
Because Savitch had a tragic life (apart from her impressive career) and died young, the book has a "Marilyn Monroe appeal". ( I had never watched Savitch on TV but somehow, her persona is still fascinating to this day.) But there is more to this book than just drama and destruction.
Nash offers an highly interesting glimpse into the world of TV news broadcasting and the work of people we see on the screen every day.
There is a lot of strategic planning and struggling going on, in order to climb up the ladder. For some people, it can be destructive.
Drug abuse was Jessica Savitch`s downfall and it makes you shiver to see how easily she could get these illegal drugs and how little people did around her to stop her doing it.
Nash talked to a lot of people for this biography. At the end, I was kind of sad that we could not get Jessica Savitch`s take on her life, posthumously, so to speak.
But this is probably part of the mystery that surrounds Savitch`s life.
October 20, 2012
What a fantastic book! It's heartbreaking, groundbreaking, well written and well researched. Jessica Savitch was a pioneer in network broadcasting. She was the first host of Frontline on PBS, (a show that still survies to this day) and the first truly beautiful woman to read the news. And she did it well, better than any man of that time. All the while battling drugs, addiction and her inner demons. It's also a classic love story (and a harrowing one at that) with echoes of A Star is Born because as Jessica rose to fame, her lover's career declined.
A funny side note, the film Anchorman starring Will Ferrell is pretty much about this book, it's a farce of course but Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone is a spot on portrayal of what I believe Jessica Savitch was really like. Smart, determined, beautiful and vulnerable.
A funny side note, the film Anchorman starring Will Ferrell is pretty much about this book, it's a farce of course but Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone is a spot on portrayal of what I believe Jessica Savitch was really like. Smart, determined, beautiful and vulnerable.
March 17, 2011
Thorough and deeply researched. Nash has compassion for Savitch while never losing sight of her self-destructive nature. I deducted one star for the author's excessively sympathetic portrait of Savitch's violent boyfriend, Ron Kershaw.
August 1, 2014
A good cautionary tale about driving yourself for fame and being a famous news anchor. Also some great insight about someone who was in the "2nd wave" of women in the broadcasting profession in the late 1970s.
This book was first published in 1988. I am guessing that I read it in 1993-1995. I remember seeing a documentary on Jessica Savitch and then getting to book from the library.
I thought of this book again after reading the first chapter of Dan Harris's new book "10% Happier" that was published in 2013. There are several similarities in the stories of Jessica Savitch and Dan Harris. The good news for Dan is that in 2013, there is so much more resources available for him and it appears that his family is more in tune to the pitfalls of his career aspirations.
This book was first published in 1988. I am guessing that I read it in 1993-1995. I remember seeing a documentary on Jessica Savitch and then getting to book from the library.
I thought of this book again after reading the first chapter of Dan Harris's new book "10% Happier" that was published in 2013. There are several similarities in the stories of Jessica Savitch and Dan Harris. The good news for Dan is that in 2013, there is so much more resources available for him and it appears that his family is more in tune to the pitfalls of his career aspirations.
January 8, 2017
The book was well researched and exceedingly interesting. It was distressing to read how a woman who reached the heights of broadcasting that Jessica Savitch did, allowed her personal demons keep her from becoming the ultimate female broadcaster that she easily could have become! Unfortunately, her untimely death, sad to say, probably saved her from what would have been an even sadder outcome on the downward spiral her life had taken. It was a very good read.
July 3, 2012
What an interesting life, sad but interesting. Ms. Nash did her homework, and through that work we get a glimpse of a person trapped in a dream. Very powerful book.
November 30, 2015
did not finish
June 3, 2024
Very well researched, but it was like reading a report. What a sad lady. I read this because I wanted to read the book that the movie Up Close And Personal was about. The movie was nothing like the book/her life. I was too little to know who she was, but if you do remember her on TV it might be interesting to you.
October 26, 2009
Autobiography of the first successful anchorwoman in the US during the 1980s. Based on interviews done by the author, it seems that everyone had a different impression of Jessica. She was always putting on a show, projecting her best foot forward. Felt that how she was was greatly a result of her high-achieving family and the fact that she lost her father at an early age.
Find the story of her life pathetic, but I also sympathize. Must being someone else ALL the time.
Find the story of her life pathetic, but I also sympathize. Must being someone else ALL the time.
February 18, 2010
Habe zwar angefangen zu lesen, aber da ich Jessica Savitch und ihre Geschichte überhaupt nicht kenne (und der Film mit Michelle Pfeiffer wohl doch um einiges anders ist) war es für mich nicht wirklich interessant.
September 11, 2024
Reading this is giving me a lot of thoughts.
First of all - this book is not a primary source book, and the author was never shy away from this fact. Pisces Savitch’s story mostly through other people’s later accounts. Books like this are prone to be riddled with inaccuracies - yet, as the author mentioned later in the book, even primary sources, the book Savitch herself wrote, Anchorwoman, was riddled with inaccuracies according to many people the author interviewed.
But yet - there’s a larger theme in the book that kept me thinking. Which is why we do certain things.
The author opened the book with Savitch’s childhood. Her sadness of her dad’s early passing, her work ethic instilled to her by her mother since she was young and how she found Television - or Television found her - as her destiny, the moment she was on it. And television loved her too. Her career took off, and paved the way for many other anchorwomen to come.
Yet underneath all the glamor, was someone deeply flawed, deeply hurt, deeply insecure and deeply and unapologetically - lonely. Savitch’s later years were filled with sadness and uncontrollable drug use hidden just seconds before each broadcast.
The author throughout the book repeatedly brought out Savitch’s father and Savitch’s craving for her father’s approval - even though her father died long ago. There were hints - sometimes subtly and sometimes not - about Savitch’s need to prove herself.
My initial thoughts were that I’d ramble on and on about the importance of childhood, the importance of finding oneself, and the importance of balance in life. But yet, I also realized that perhaps my own definition of what a balanced life would be would be unfair to impose on other people - and vice versa. Is Savitch a cautionary tale? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Because while times have progressed, and that we believe the society has progressed, Savitch’s story still lives on in many people of yesterday, today, and beyond.
Some people - myself included (although I hope I’m doing better now) - are often too stubborn to change, and rather suffer than to better themselves underneath. But who is to say they’re not living life “correctly”?
First of all - this book is not a primary source book, and the author was never shy away from this fact. Pisces Savitch’s story mostly through other people’s later accounts. Books like this are prone to be riddled with inaccuracies - yet, as the author mentioned later in the book, even primary sources, the book Savitch herself wrote, Anchorwoman, was riddled with inaccuracies according to many people the author interviewed.
But yet - there’s a larger theme in the book that kept me thinking. Which is why we do certain things.
The author opened the book with Savitch’s childhood. Her sadness of her dad’s early passing, her work ethic instilled to her by her mother since she was young and how she found Television - or Television found her - as her destiny, the moment she was on it. And television loved her too. Her career took off, and paved the way for many other anchorwomen to come.
Yet underneath all the glamor, was someone deeply flawed, deeply hurt, deeply insecure and deeply and unapologetically - lonely. Savitch’s later years were filled with sadness and uncontrollable drug use hidden just seconds before each broadcast.
The author throughout the book repeatedly brought out Savitch’s father and Savitch’s craving for her father’s approval - even though her father died long ago. There were hints - sometimes subtly and sometimes not - about Savitch’s need to prove herself.
My initial thoughts were that I’d ramble on and on about the importance of childhood, the importance of finding oneself, and the importance of balance in life. But yet, I also realized that perhaps my own definition of what a balanced life would be would be unfair to impose on other people - and vice versa. Is Savitch a cautionary tale? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Because while times have progressed, and that we believe the society has progressed, Savitch’s story still lives on in many people of yesterday, today, and beyond.
Some people - myself included (although I hope I’m doing better now) - are often too stubborn to change, and rather suffer than to better themselves underneath. But who is to say they’re not living life “correctly”?
April 30, 2023
It breaks my heart that Jessica Savitch is largely forgotten. She was a trailblazer, a truly gifted broadcaster, and an early role model for working women. She was also a hot mess. That dichotomy -- the polished performer vs. self-destructive real woman -- gives this book its tension.
Biographer Alanna Nash is careful, sympathetic and fair. This book is a product of its time, though. More than 30 years ago, it was considered (gasp!) scandalous that she had lesbian friends and at least one black lover. Nash also seems to look at long-time lover Ron Kershaw's physical abuse of Jessica as an outgrowth of their grand passion. No, it was abuse.
Rest in peace, Jessica. I hope everyone who watches Anchorman realizes that without you, there would be no Veronica Corningstone.
Biographer Alanna Nash is careful, sympathetic and fair. This book is a product of its time, though. More than 30 years ago, it was considered (gasp!) scandalous that she had lesbian friends and at least one black lover. Nash also seems to look at long-time lover Ron Kershaw's physical abuse of Jessica as an outgrowth of their grand passion. No, it was abuse.
Rest in peace, Jessica. I hope everyone who watches Anchorman realizes that without you, there would be no Veronica Corningstone.
October 10, 2019
Great book. Still think about every now and again.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews