Böcker av Garry Berman

The Funniest Decade devotes one chapter to each calendar year of the 1930s, covering the landmark comedy films, radio programs, and stage performances of each year.

This is the Hardback edition. What was the very first situation comedy on American television? What was the first police drama? When was the first program broadcast in color? It takes only a moment of pondering such questions to realize how little we really know about the history of the medium that entertains us, informs us, and keeps us company at some point during each day and night. Every generation since the end of World War II has seen television become an integral part of our lives. However, even the most avid TV viewers are unaware of when, and under what circumstances, each onscreen television milestone has taken place. For the First Time on Television is a history of television presented with a fresh approach, by extensively examining the history of nearly 100 of television's "firsts," ranging from the first person ever to appear on a television screen, to the day the first HDTV screen made its debut, and everything in between. Here you'll find little-known but fascinating kernels of information regarding the groundbreaking programs, individuals, and events that have become an important part of TV history, and that still affect what we see on television today. You'll probably find yourself indulging in these "firsts" the way you'd treat an open bag of potato chips-by discovering how it is nearly impossible to enjoy just one or two without reaching for more. About the Author Garry Berman is a pop culture historian and freelance writer whose previous books include Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous, We're Going to See the Beatles!, Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn, and Between the Laughs. He has also contributed articles to Nostalgia Digest magazine, Beatlefan magazine, and several pop culture web sites. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen.

What was the very first situation comedy on American television? What was the first police drama? When was the first program broadcast in color? It takes only a moment of pondering such questions to realize how little we really know about the history of the medium that entertains us, informs us, and keeps us company at some point during each day and night. Every generation since the end of World War II has seen television become an integral part of our lives. However, even the most avid TV viewers are unaware of when, and under what circumstances, each onscreen television milestone has taken place. For the First Time on Television is a history of television presented with a fresh approach, by extensively examining the history of nearly 100 of television's "firsts," ranging from the first person ever to appear on a television screen, to the day the first HDTV screen made its debut, and everything in between. Here you'll find little-known but fascinating kernels of information regarding the groundbreaking programs, individuals, and events that have become an important part of TV history, and that still affect what we see on television today. You'll probably find yourself indulging in these "firsts" the way you'd treat an open bag of potato chips-by discovering how it is nearly impossible to enjoy just one or two without reaching for more. About the Author Garry Berman is a pop culture historian and freelance writer whose previous books include Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous, We're Going to See the Beatles!, Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn, and Between the Laughs. He has also contributed articles to Nostalgia Digest magazine, Beatlefan magazine, and several pop culture web sites. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen.

Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn is the first-ever biography of the master comedian, chronicling a legendary career that spanned over half a century.It was Ed who coined this famous definition: "A comedian is not a man who says funny things; a comedian is a man who says things funny." Ed did both, first as a vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies star,then as the "Perfect Fool" (so named from one of his many self-produced Broadway revues), as radio's "Fire Chief" on the popular Texaco-sponsored program, and as an early pioneer at the dawn of network television. He attained a level of praise and respect from his comedy peers, critics, and, of course, the public, rarely matched by any other comedian since. In his later years, he became a highly acclaimed dramatic character actor, much to the surprise and joy of all who didn't know he had it in him (including Ed himself).Yet for all his impressive achievements, this comedian/actor/director/writer has been too often overlooked in the years since his death in 1966. Perfect Fool is meant to help correct this injustice, with reviews, interviews, and never before published photos, some courtesy of grandson Tracy Keenan Wynn. This book is an appreciation of Ed Wynn's talents, foresight, and highly regarded ability to make people laugh virtually at will.About the Author:Garry Berman is an entertainment historian and freelance writer. His previous books include Best of the Britcoms, a celebration of the finest British situation comedies to appear on American television, and We're Going To See The Beatles!, an oral history of the Beatlemania era as told by the original generation of fans who lived it first-hand. Berman has also published a comic novel, Old Wave, and writes comedy scripts in between book projects. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Karen and theirtwo spoiled dogs.