Brooks on Books: "Tinderbox" by James Andrew Miller

When we talked about HBO this season, I had read the section of Tinderbox covering up to about 1990 or so. James Andrew Miller's oral history is a really big book, though! I went back to it and read about The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, and Succession among other shows and events. I even finished the book!

Tinderbox is a juicy read loaded with info about most of the big HBO series, and I give it a strong recommendation. I have to tell you something, though: The real thrust of the text is the executive politics and boardroom intrigue at the company. There is ample stuff about the likes of James Gandolfini, but a whole lot of the history relates to the machinations of various network (and higher-up) people that the average TV viewer does not know at all. Even the stories of hits like Sex and the City and the creative decisions are focused on the executive level as opposed to the production level.

If you are into that sort of thing, you will love the book, but otherwise it might get a bit frustrating at times. Miller's style and format here are familiar to anyone who has read his awesome books about ESPN and Saturday Night Live. He lets the principals tell the story but uses some deft editing and frequent editorial interludes (presented in italics for distinction) to shape narratives. There are a lot of colorful voices in here, and it's fun reading their gossipy comments about colleagues.

I do wish there were more on the Seventies and Eighties as the vast majority is the more modern era of the network. I'd also like to see more about some of the programming other than the original series. We do get a taste of that as Miller highlights some concerts, events like Comic Relief, and some original movies, but I'd like to know more about the programming itself and those choices like why certain theatrical movies played ad nauseam. HBO Boxing gets a lot of space, but other sports like tennis not so much.

I don't want to talk too much about what the book is not because I like what it is. Dick Cavett is barely in it, though, and we noted how he was the de facto face of HBO for a while. Rich Little, someone I remembered as a big deal on the channel in the Eighties, is mentioned in passing. Really, programing in general is not an emphasis until the timeline reaches Larry Sanders.

So for a fan of the early days, it's a little disappointing, but viewers who love 21st-century HBO will be pleased. Eventually I plan to get more of the overall story by diving back into It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO, another one I started for the podcast and paused once I got out of the Eighties.

Top Ten #398

Folks, I had my dates mixed up last week and incorrectly reported on what had aired 40 and 50 years ago. I should have included Nell Carter and Robert F. Simon THIS week, not last, and I am sorry for the error!

1) Calendars: I really ought to learn how to read them!

So what DID air 50 and 40 years ago tonight? ABC had the conclusion of Rich Man, Poor Man in 1976; while CBS reran the pilot of Phyllis.

In 1986, CBS aired 1980's Any Which Way You Can.

2) William Shatner: The dude is out there accepting awards and whatnot, and he turns 95 today. 95!

3) Debbie Allen: The star of Fame received an honorary Oscar last Sunday. 

4) Robert Hays: Ian Talks Comedy welcomed the star of The Girl, The Gold Watch, and Everything, but he decided not to ruin the interview didn't have time to ask about that one.

5) Private Benjamin: Another program aired 40 years ago tonight was a re-air of the 1980 Goldie Hawn film, but more interesting to me is that the forthcoming Warner Archive Blu-Ray of the movie will have a couple episodes of the TV series as a bonus.

6) Battle of the Network Stars: As listener Mario first tipped us off, the outstanding Game Show Vault YouTube channel uploaded the first episode of the original Battle of the Network Stars this week. Sadly, it has frequent audio dropouts due to the music, but it would be nice if GSV could upload the whole run in good quality.

7) Barry Morse: The TV Confidential podcast has been talking about the late actor in recent weeks. We discussed him earlier this season, of course, when we covered Zoo Gang.

8) 60 years ago tonight: How about we jump in with a quick look at a few of the programs that aired this night in 1966?

Dr. Strange star Jessica Walter appeared on The Fugitive on ABC.

On CBS' variety special Carol Plus 2, Carol Burnett welcomed guests Lucille Ball and Zero Mostel.

NBC had the conclusion of a two-part Dr. Kildare and the 1961 movie Ring of Fire, meaning David Janssen was competing against himself!

9) Shadoe Stevens: As I mentioned in our Facebook group last week, I saw a 1980s Hollywood Squares promo that touted appearances by "Crazyman Jm J Bullock" and "Heartthrob Shadoe Stevens."

Bullock getting an upgrade from the standard "Funnyman" is amusing enough, but heartthrob for Stevens? Really?

10) R.I.P. Matt Clark, Ed Bernard, Chuck Norris, Dennis Condrey:

Promo Theatre: Post-Trotter Meadowlark Lemon

Here's a promo for a network appearance of Meadowlark Lemon, then touring with one of his non-Globetrotter groups, the Bucketeers:

You can hear us talk about the Harlem Globetrotters, including Meadowlark, right here.

More Peanuts commercials!

Here's a recent upload of some Peanuts ads I had never seen! Go to the great BetaGems channel for more like this:

Brooks on Books: "The Partridge Family Album" by Joey Green

During our recent Partridge Family episode, I mentioned reading Joey Green's 1994 book "The Partridge Family Album." It's very much in the vein of Green's Hi, Bob! It's a sure winner for fans of the show or anyone learning more about it but maybe a bit padded with inessential info for the others.

Green's books don't quite have as much production detail as I might like; however, there is a lot of info in this one. There's a full episode guide with Green's subjective ratings of each installment, and there's even a guide to the band's music. Like the work about The Bob Newhart Show, this one has a sense of humor; there's a faux analysis of the albums that is amusing if a bit long. In a similar sense, much of the book consists of lists gleaned from tracking things throughout all 96 episodes. A list of Danny's get-rich schemes, say, might have been of more value in the pre-Internet era, but now it seems a bit like padding.

I feel a bit unfair complaining about a book offering too much information. It's just that I am more interested in the behind-the-scenes info than I am the trivia. It's not so much a narrative history of the series as it is a collection of sections, but if you read carefully you do get some great info. 

Green conducts his own interviews and draws on archival quotes to get thoughts of creator Bernard Slade, the cast (Susan Dey didn't participate), and others. They are often presented almost like an oral history without context, but here you get great tidbits about what the production thought of the acting ability of the youngest cast members (not much) and the musings of Dave Madden. The former Rueben Kincaid cracks me up with his matter-of-fact practical takes on what the show is about and its ambitions.

One of the best treats in the book is the reprinting of the original Mad parody of the series, "The Putrid Family." Arnie Kogen and Angelo Torres' 1972 piece is exactly what you think it will be. There's also lyrics, merchandising photos, and other ephemera. If you have any interest in the series and can find this used, as I did, it's a no-brainer to pick it up.

Top Ten #397

1) Anson Williams at Seaworld: Ian Talks Comedy discussed this syndicated 1977 special a while back, and then I had to go and see it for myself, and I don't think I have recovered. Lou Rawls singing "Pure Imagination" is top notch, though.

2) The Oscars: Will anyone on that stage tonight match Anson Williams's tribute to Al Jolson? Color me skeptical.

3) Gavin MacLeod: I read his book and wrote about it. His AUTOGRAPHED book. Yeah, baby!

4) Nell Carter...Never too Old to Dream: A review of this variety special aired 40 years ago tonight on NBC said that Carter was upstaged in her own special by Phylicia Rashad, and that amused me. Harry Anderson and Levi Stubbs also starred.

5) Black Gold Awards: The third annual airing of this award show took place 40 years ago tonight as well. I guess it's a good thing Phylicia Rashad wasn't there to upstage hosts Lou Rawls (Hey, there HE is again!) and Melba Moore.

6) Alfred Hitchcock: A MeTv story discussed the legendary director's TV work, which we discussed a few weeks ago. In a stunning twist, the end of the article was about The Twilight Zone.

7) Good Heavens: An episode of this Carl Reiner sitcom debuting 50 years ago tonight featured Robert F. Simon, one of the stars of our Spider-Man episode from this season.

8) Black Adder: Peacock added the classic Britcom last week.

9) Judd Hirsch: Happy birthday to the Taxi star, who turns 91 today!

10) R.I.P. Jennifer Runyon:

Brooks on Books: "This Is Your Captain Speaking" by Gavin MacLeod

What a wonderful surprise it was when my wife gifted me an autographed copy of Gavin MacLeod's autobiography. It's great just to have it in my TV collection, but of course I wanted to read the book as well as admire it.

It's a solid read that covers a lot of ground, though it is also breezy and a fast read. The conversational tone suits its subject, though. One of the charming aspects of the text is MacLeod's frequent interjections of how thrilled he was to be doing this or how honored he was to be working with whoever (Joe Flaherty's impersonation on SCTV comes to mind). It feels genuine, though, and is usually an aside after an anecdote. That is, it's not like he spends the whole book naming names and sharing "gee whiz" enthusiasm.

His enthusiasm for his life and career is palpable, though, and it makes for an engaging narrative. You may be surprised at some of the darkness in the early part of MacLeod's professional career. The most alarming story in the bio is Gavin's telling of nearly driving off Mulholland in despair, then ending up at the home of his good friend Robert Blake (!) to get advice. One of the biggest revelations for me is learning how miserable MacLeod was on McHale's Navy. He took the gig, which was a way smaller part than reflected his career status as an actor, because he wanted the security after buying a new house. With little to do on the series, though, he felt stifled, leading to depression and increased drinking.

He got out of the show, though (and out of Robert Blake's house), and has great things to say about his other high-profile gigs. He loved his time on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was great friends with Ted Knight. As for The Love Boat, MacLeod appreciated the series, the joy it brought to people, and the opportunities it gave him, and it's nice reading him express that gratitude.

One of the amusing recurring threads in This Is Your Captain Speaking concerns his hairpiece. The story of how he got the piece he used in his early days is a good one, and before he finally discards it, it is a regular part of his career. MacLeod's self-deprecating humor about this topic is refreshing, and it's the kind of thing you don't always get in showbiz memoirs--both the honesty and the topic itself.

Later in life, after being born again, he took roles in faith-based projects, and his role in 2008's The Secret of Jonathan Sperry is one that gave him the most pride late in life. I hadn't heard of this film, but MacLeod's enthusiasm for it is appealing. Overall, his treatment of his faith is sincere and, while it does dominate much of the last third of the book, it seems like the natural progression of his life story. You don't feel like it comes at the "expense" of Love Boat stories.

MacLeod, with collaborator Mark Dagostino, tells his journey in an appealing manner. He draws you in with his casual, accessible style. He doesn't ignore the dark aspects of his life, like his drinking problem and early career stagnation, but he maintains an upbeat tone throughout the book that has you rooting for him and happy to get to the triumphs. I'm sure Love Boat fans would love even more about the show, but there are plenty of fun anecdotes about the cast, the guest stars, and the travels associated with that hit series.