What a different world it was 24 years ago, when the first edition of this book was published. Three networks, a nice orderly prime time schedule, and all decisions about what we saw made (as the saying went) “by three middle-aged white guys in New York.” For most people television was still relatively new, something that had begun during their lifetime, and we were just beginning to see inklings that it had a history. The first major TV retrospectives appeared in the late 1970s, starting with NBC’s fiftieth anniversary special in 1976. Not everyone believed there was value in TV’s past. Twenty publishers turned this book down, telling us that no one would be interested in a book about old TV shows. What did they know?
Ballantine Books said yes and now, half a million copies later, we bring you the eighth edition of this chronicle of American prime time TV. If we had known back then what TV would look like 24 years later—more than 100 networks (including cable), hundreds of new series every year, Ozzy Osbourne as a sitcom dad—we might never have begun. We are sincerely grateful to our readers for the support that has made it possible to continually update and refine this volume. Popular television may still not get the respect accorded films or the theater— you will never see this book reviewed in The New York Times—but we the viewers don’t care, do we?
We are also grateful for your feedback and suggestions. This book is not a “factory” production but handcrafted, by the two of us, and it is quite a challenge to keep up. As Earle mentioned over lunch the other day, the real miracle is not that the book has grown so much, but that we are still talking to each other, and still friends.
We’ve tried to give you the most complete, accurate and interesting book possible on prime time TV. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome, in care of the publisher.
—T.B. and E.M.