The Platinum Age of Television : From I Love Lucy to The Walking Dead, How TV Became Terrific

**Television shows have now eclipsed films as the premier form of visual narrative art of our time. This new book by one of our finest critics explains--historically, in depth, and with interviews with the celebrated creators themselves--how the art of must-see/binge-watch television evolved.**Darwin had his theory of evolution, and David Bianculli has his. Bianculli's theory has to do with the concept of quality television: what it is and, crucially, how it got that way. In tracing the evolutionary history of our progress toward a Platinum Age of Television--our age, the era of__The Sopranos__and__Breaking Bad__and__Mad Men__and__The Wire__and__Homeland__and__Girls__--he focuses on the development of the classic TV genres, among them the sitcom, the crime show, the miniseries, the soap opera, the western, the animated series and the late night talk show. In each genre, he selects five key examples of the form, tracing its continuities and its dramatic departures and drawing on exclusive and in-depth interviews with many of the most famed auteurs in television history.Television has triumphantly come of age artistically; David Bianculli's book is the first to date to examine, in depth and in detail and with a keen critical and historical sense, how this inspiring development came about. Television Shows Have Now Eclipsed Films As The Premier Form Of Visual Narrative Art Of Our Time. This New Book By One Of Our Finest Critics Explains--historically, In Depth, And With Interviews With The Celebrated Creators Themselves--how The Art Of Must-see/binge-watch Television Evolved. Darwin Had His Theory Of Evolution, And David Bianculli Has His. Bianculli's Theory Has To Do With The Concept Of Quality Television: What It Is And, Crucially, How It Got That Way. In Tracing The Evolutionary History Of Our Progress Toward A Platinum Age Of Television--our Age, The Era Of The Sopranos And Breaking Bad And Mad Men And The Wire And Homeland And Girls--he Focuses On The Development Of The Classic Tv Genres, Among Them The Sitcom, The Crime Show, The Miniseries, The Soap Opera, The Western, The Animated Series And The Late Night Talk Show. In Each Genre, He Selects Five Key Examples Of The Form, Tracing Its Continuities And Its Dramatic Departures And Drawing On Exclusive And In-depth Interviews With Many Of The Most Famed Auteurs In Television History. Television Has Triumphantly Come Of Age Artistically; David Bianculli's Book Is The First To Date To Examine, In Depth And In Detail And With A Keen Critical And Historical Sense, How This Inspiring Development Came About-- Quality Television: What Is It, And, Crucially, How Did It Get That Way? Bianculli Focuses On The Development Of The Classic Tv Genres, Among Them The Sitcom, The Crime Show, The Miniseries, The Soap Opera, The Western, The Animated Series And The Late Night Talk Show. In Each Genre He Selects Five Key Examples Of The Form, Tracing Its Continuities And Its Dramatic Departures And Drawing On Exclusive And In-depth Interviews With Many Of The Most Famed Auteurs In Television History. Children's Programs -- Animation -- Matt Groening -- Variety/sketch -- Mel Brooks -- Carol Burnett -- Tom Smothers -- Amy Schumer -- Soap Operas -- Crime -- Steven Bochco -- David Chase -- Kevin Spacey -- Vince Gilligan -- Legal -- David E. Kelley -- Robert And Michelle King -- Medical -- Family Sitcoms -- Norman Lear -- Workplace Sitcoms -- James L. Brooks -- Garry Shandling -- Splitcoms -- Carl Reiner -- Bob Newhart -- Larry David -- Louis C.k. -- Single Working Women Sitcoms -- Judd Apatow -- Sci-fi/fantasy/horror -- Westerns -- David Milch -- Spies -- General Drama -- David Simon -- Aaron Sorkin -- Matthew Weiner -- War -- Miniseries -- Ken Burns -- Topical Comedy -- Larry Wilmore. David Bianculli. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [553]-555) And Index. Television shows have now eclipsed films as the premier form of visual narrative art of our time. This new book by one of our finest critics explains—historically, in depth, and with interviews with the celebrated creators themselves—how the art of must-see/binge-watch television evolved. Darwin had his theory of evolution, and David Bianculli has his. Bianculli's theory has to do with the concept of quality television: what it is and, crucially, how it got that way. In tracing the evolutionary history of our progress toward a Platinum Age of Television—our age, the era of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad and Mad Men and The Wire and Homeland and Girls—he focuses on the development of the classic TV genres, among them the sitcom, the crime show, the miniseries, the soap opera, the western, the animated series and the late night talk show. In each genre, he selects five key examples of the form, tracing its continuities and its dramatic departures and drawing on exclusive and in-depth interviews with many of the most famed auteurs in television history. Television has triumphantly come of age artistically; David Bianculli's book is the first to date to examine, in depth and in detail and with a keen critical and historical sense, how this inspiring development came about. --- [(source)][1] [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Age-Television-Walking-Terrific/dp/0385540272 Television shows have now eclipsed films as the premier form of visual narrative art of our time. This new book by one of our finest critics explains--historically, in depth, and with interviews with the celebrated creators themselves--how the art of must-see/binge-watch television evolved. Darwin had his theory of evolution, and David Bianculli has his. Bianculli's theory has to do with the concept of quality television: what it is and, crucially, how it got that way. In tracing the evolutionary history of our progress toward a Platinum Age of Television--our age, the era of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad and Mad Men and The Wire and Homeland and Girls --he focuses on the development of the classic TV genres, among them the sitcom, the crime show, the miniseries, the soap opera, the western, the animated series and the late night talk show. In each genre, he selects five key examples of the form, tracing its continuities and its dramatic departures and drawing on exclusive and in-depth interviews with many of the most famed auteurs in television history. Television has triumphantly come of age artistically; David Bianculli's book is the first to date to examine, in depth and in detail and with a keen critical and historical sense, how this inspiring development came about. Television today is better than ever. From The Sopranos to Breaking Bad , Sex and the City to Girls , and Modern Family to Louie , never has so much quality programming dominated our screens. Exploring how we got here, acclaimed TV critic David Bianculli traces the evolution of the classic TV genres, among them the sitcom, the crime show, the miniseries, the soap opera, the Western, the animated series, the medical drama, and the variety show. In each genre he selects five key examples of the form to illustrate its continuities and its dramatic departures. Drawing on exclusive and in-depth interviews with many of the most famed auteurs in television history, Bianculli shows how the medium has evolved into the premier form of visual narrative art. Includes interviews with: MEL BROOKS, MATT GROENING, DAVID CHASE, KEVIN SPACEY, AMY SCHUMER, VINCE GILLIGAN, AARON SORKIN, MATTHEW WEINER, JUDD APATOW, LOUIS C.K., DAVID MILCH, DAVID E. KELLEY, JAMES L. BROOKS, LARRY DAVID, KEN BURNS, LARRY WILMORE, AND MANY, MANY MORE