Television Books

Book SynopsisA collection of stunning brand-new exclusive original art celebrating the TV series Firefly. An original glossy coffee table book bursting with brand new and exclusive art. The book includes over 120 pieces by professional artists, illustrators, concept artists, comics artists and graphic designers. The featured artists include Joe Corroney, Rian Hughes, John J Hill, Sandra Kamenz, Angel Onofre, Stephen Sampson (The Dark Inker), Liza Shumskaya, and Angel Trancon. From character portraits, faux book covers and poster concepts, to iconic scenes, wanted posters and renderings of Serenity, each artist puts their own stamp on the Firefly universe.

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Book SynopsisIn unabashed celebration of Captain James T. Kirk's singular fighting skills, Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is every Starfleet cadet's must-have training guide for surviving the final frontier. As captain of the legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirk engaged in his share of fisticuffs, besting opponents with a slick combination of moves and guile that remains unmatched. Is there anyone you’d rather have watching your back as you take on Klingons, alien gladiators, genetically engineered supermen, and even the occasional giant walking reptile? Kirk Fu is a series of unarmed combat techniques developed by one of Starfleet’s most celebrated starship captains over several years of exploring deep space. A blend of various fighting styles, Kirk Fu incorporates elements of several Earth-based martial arts forms as well as cruder methods employed in bars and back alleys on planets throughout the galaxy. It is as unorthodox in practice as it is unbelievable to behold. Including excerpts from Kirk’s own notes and personal logs, the Star Trek: Kirk Fu Manual is the perfect training guide for surviving the depths of space. With proper training and practice, every Starfleet cadet can become one with Kirk Fu.

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Book SynopsisToughened by both her criminal ties and her dedication to her family, Ruth Langmore is guided by one principal: She doesn't know sh*t about f*ck. Far from being wilfully ignorant, Ruth admits that she has much to learn, forming a personal philosophy based on a positive attitude toward lifelong learning. A born survivor, Ruth knows a thing or two about persevering through life's most difficult situations. In this blunt but profound guide to life, Ruth shows you how to navigate your own personal blind sides, while simultaneously learning the skills you need to thrive. So, listen motherfu*kers, and forget everything you think you know.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERMegan McKenna is the Essex girl who exploded onto our screens in some of the biggest reality TV shows in Britain, including Ex on the Beach, Celebrity Big Brother and, of course, TOWIE. Her sassy, no-holds-barred story follows her journey to the spotlight - from first ever steps on the stage, through to being flown to the EOTB villa for the first time. She speaks candidly about having her heart broken on national TV, as well as pursuing her musical dreams. Megan also shows readers her more vulnerable side, telling of the shy girl who hid from bullies, her struggles with coeliac disease, and the anxiety she still battles every day. Throughout all the meltdowns and mayhem, she has never let go of her dreams and passions - resulting in the launch of her own clothing and makeup brands, and a gluten-free fine-dining restaurant, McK Grill. MOUTHY will give readers unique access to what really goes on when the cameras stop rolling and the paparazzi have gone home. Megan uncovers the truth behind the headlines in her own words - straight from the famous Megan McKenna mouth!

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Book SynopsisBring the magic of The Repair Shop into your home with a stunning official 2025 calendar from the BAFTA-award-winning television show.The calendar features beautiful photography from the show, showcasing the experts hard at work, the special objects they bring back to life and the famous barn itself. Short descriptive captions give context to the images selected to celebrate each month.The Repair Shop has an enormous, international audience, as fans worldwide have been enchanted by the uplifting stories and heartwarming repairs that the show captures. The show has regular viewing figures of 7 million in the UK alone, and has cemented its place in the nation''s heart as a classic series in the vein of Antiques Roadshow.This beautifully-produced calendar is the perfect gift for any Repair Shop fan, as it brings show highlights and characters into your daily life with lovely photographs sure to raise a smile.

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Book SynopsisWhere are we going? The future, Doc! Great Scott! Not forgetting the wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey past. That’s right, ticket holders, Destination Time Travel is your journey into the many worlds of the time travel tale – exploring its tropes, its rules, its devices, its science, its values, its plots, its characters and, most importantly, its enduring – and timeless – appeal.Alongside their upcoming film seminar at the British Film Institution in October, join Steve Nallon and Dick Fiddy as they explore the world’s obsession with time travel in film and television. From the classics of Doctor Who and Back To The Future to the Netflix hit Dark, Nallon and Fiddy explore just what it is about time travel that makes us tick. This book will be a guaranteed hit with fans of time travel and the different film and television series that Nallon and Fiddy explore. It will also be key to film buffs and those interested in the medium. Trade ReviewHe has certainly hit on a rich vein of storytelling here.DAVID BROWN on The Time That Never WasA wonderful read of black and white TV.AMAZON USER on Missing, Believed Wiped

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Book SynopsisIn this new edition of The Television Genre Book, leading international scholars have come together to offer an accessible and comprehensive update to the debates, issues and concerns of the field. As television continues to evolve rapidly, this new edition reflects the ways in which TV has transformed in recent years, particularly with the emergence of online streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Amazon Prime. It also includes a new chapter on sports TV, and expanded coverage of horror, political thrillers, Nordic noir, historical documentary and docu-drama. With analyses of popular shows like Stranger Things, Killing Eve, The Crown, Chernobyl, Black Mirror, Fleabag, Breaking Bad and RuPaul’s Drag Race, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of television genre for scholars and students alike.Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Notes on Contributors I Introduction: What Is Genre? · Genre Theory - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Studying Genre - Steve Neale (Kent University, UK) · Television And Genre - Steve Neale (Kent University, UK) · Genre Development: Henri Focillon’s Four Stages Of Evolution - Terry Bailey (University of East London, UK) · The Uses And Limitations Of Genre - Graeme Turner (Queensland University, Australia) · Genre, Hybridity And Mutation - Graeme Turner (Queensland University, Australia) · Stranger Things - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Genre And Format - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Genre Study: Beyond The Text - Jason Mittell (Middlebury College, USA) · Genre And Streaming - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) II Drama 1. Studying Television Drama - Robin Nelson (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, UK) 2. The Crime Series - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) · Breaking Bad - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Peaky Blinders - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · The Detective Series - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) · Dexter - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) · Sherlock - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) & Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) 3. The Police Procedural - Lez Cooke (Royal Holloway, University of London, UK) · The Wire - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) · Hawaii Five-0 - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) 4. Nordic Noir - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Broadchurch - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 5. The Action Series - Toby Miller (Loughborough University, UK) · Homeland - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Killing Eve - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) & Stephanie Jones (Aberystwyth University, UK) 6. Teen Drama - Rachel Moseley (Warwick University, UK) · Glee - Rachel Moseley (Warwick University, UK) · Sex Education - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) 7. Hospital Drama - Jason Jacobs (Queensland University, Australia) · Grey’s Anatomy - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) · House, M.D. - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) 8. Drama-Documentary - John Corner (Leeds University, UK) · Chernobyl - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · The Crown - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 9. Costume Drama - Robin Nelson (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, UK) · Jane Austin Adaptations - Robin Nelson (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, UK) · Downton Abbey - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 10. Telefantasy - Catherine Johnson (Huddersfield University, UK) · Game Of Thrones - Helen Wheatley (Warwick University, UK) · Black Mirror - Brian Faucette (Kansas University, USA) 11. Science Fiction - Luke Hockley (Bedfordshire University, UK) · Doctor Who - Matt Hills (Huddersfield University, UK) · Westworld - Laura Stephenson (South Wales University, UK) 12. Horror Tv - James Rendell (South Wales University, UK) · American Horror Story - James Rendell (South Wales University, UK) 13. Comic Book Adaptations - Brian Faucette (Kansas University, USA) · The Flash - Brian Faucette (Kansas University, USA) · Wandavision - Morgan Genevieve Blue (Independent Researcher, UK) III Soap Opera 14. Studying Soap Opera - Anna Mccarthy (New York University, USA) · Dallas - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 15. Realism And Soap Opera - Anna Mccarthy (New York University, USA) · Eastenders - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 16. Soap Operas And Their Audiences - John Tulloch (Glasgow University, UK) 17. The Telenovela - Thomas Tufte (Johannesburg University, South Africa) 18. Brazilian Telenovelas - Thomas Tufte (Johannesburg University, South Africa) IV Comedy 19. Studying Comedy - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) 20. Humour Theory - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) 21. Comedy And ‘Child-Directed Speech’ - Ian Wilkie (Salford University, UK) 22. The Sketch Show - Steve Neale (Kent University, UK) · Monty Python’s Flying Circus - Steve Neale (Kent University, UK) 23. Stand-Up Comedy - Ian Wilkie (Salford University, UK) 24. Situation Comedy, Part 1 - John Hartley (Sydney University, Australia) · The Unruly Woman Sitcom - Jane Feuer (Pittsburgh University, USA) · Fleabag - Laura Stephenson (South Wales University, UK) 25. Situation Comedy, Part 2 - Jane Feuer (Pittsburgh University, USA) 26. The ‘Gay’ And ‘Queer’ Sitcom - Jane Feuer (Pittsburgh University, USA) · Will And Grace - Jane Feuer (Pittsburgh University, USA) 27. Contemporary Sitcom:‘Comedy Vérité’ - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) · The Office - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) 28. The Panel Show - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) · Qi - Brett Mill (University of East Anglia, UK) V Children’s Television 29. Children’s Television As Genre - Jason Mittell (Middlebury College, USA) 30. Studying Children’s Television - Máire Messenger Davies · Horrible Histories - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) 31. The Child Audience - Máire Messenger Davies 32. Pre-Schoolers: A Special Audience - Máire Messenger Davies · Sesame Street - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 33. Moral Panics - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) · Teletubbies - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) 34. Children And Advertising - Merris Griffiths · Disney & Children’s Television - Morgan Genevieve Blue VI News 35. Studying Television News - Justin Lewis · ‘The Propaganda Model Of News’: Herman And Chomsky - Justin Lewis · The Glasgow Media Group - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) 36. Analysing Television News - Justin Lewis · How To Analyse A Tv News Programme - John Hartley (Sydney University, Australia) 37. Constructing News Values - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) · Gatekeeper Studies - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) 38. Objectivity And Television News – Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) · The Aesthetics Of Twenty-Four-Hour News - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · The BBC And Impartiality - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) 39. The Globalisation Of Television News – John Hartley (Sydney University, Australia) · Cable News Network (CNN) - John Hartley (Sydney University, Australia) 40. Citizen Journalism - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) · Al-Jazeera - Jackie Harrison (Sheffield University, UK) 41. Tv News And The Internet - Rod Munday VII Documentary 42. Studying Documentary - John Corner (Leeds University, UK) · Big Fat Gypsy Weddings - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 43. Form And Content In Documentary Study - John Corner (Leeds University, UK) 44. Documentary Realism - John Corner (Leeds University, UK) 45. Observational (‘Fly-On-The-Wall’) Documentary - Stella Bruzzi 46. Natural History Programming - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) · Planet Earth - Brett Mills (University of East Anglia, UK) 47. The Travelogue - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 48. Netflix And True Crime Documentaries - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) VIII Reality TV 49. Introduction - Jon Dovey (UWE Bristol, UK) · Love Island - Stephanie Clayton (East Anglia University, UK) 50. Studying Reality Tv - Annette Hill (Lund University, Sweden) · Audiences And Reality Tv - Annette Hill (Lund University, Sweden) 51. Docusoaps - Stella Bruzzi (University College London, UK) 52. Reality Talent Shows · Strictly Come Dancing - Annette Hill (Lund University, Sweden) · Rapaul’s Drag Race - Stephanie Clayton (East Anglia University, UK) 53. Constructed Reality Shows - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) · The Only Way Is Essex - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 54. Makeover Shows - Annette Hill (Lund University, Sweden) · The Great British Bake Off - Lisa Richards (Aberystwyth University, UK) IX Sport 55. Studying Sport - Rod Brookes (Cardiff University, UK) · The Super Bowl - Rod Brookes (Cardiff University, UK) 56. Tv And Sport: A Symbiotic Realtionship - Richard Haynes (Stirling University, UK) · Snooker - Richard Haynes (Stirling University, UK) 57. Tv Sport Documentaries - Dan Ward (Sunderland University, UK) · O.J.: Made In America - Dan Ward (Sunderland University, UK) 58. Sport News - Richard Haynes (Stirling University, UK) · Gillet Soccer Saturday - Richard Haynes (Stirling University, UK) 59. Professional Wrestling - Thomas Alcott (Aberystwyth University, UK) · Hybrid Sport - Dan Ward (Sunderland University, UK) X Animation 60. Studying Animation - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) 61. Tv Animation: A Brief Overview - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) · Tv Anime And Japanese Aesthetics - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) 62. Children’s Cartoons - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) · Cartoon Controversies - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) · Disney+ & The Status Of Animation – Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) 63. Adult Animation - K. J. Donnelly (Southampton University, UK) · Adult Swim - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) · Bojack Horseman - Paul Wells (Loughborough University, UK) XI Popular Entertainment 64. The Populist Debate - Toby Miller (Loughborough University, UK) 65. The Quiz Show - William Boddy (Pennsylvania University, USA) · Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? - William Boddy (Pennsylvania University, USA) 66. The Celebrity Talk Show - Jane Shattuc (Emerson College, USA) · The Tonight Show - Jane Shattuc (Emerson College, USA) 67. The Confessional Talk Show - Jane Shattuc (Emerson College, USA) · The Oprah Winfrey Show - Jane Shattuc (Emerson College, USA) 68. Music On Television - K. J. Donnelly (Southampton University, UK) · Music Television (MTV) - K. J. Donnelly (Southampton University, UK) 69. Religious Television - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) 70. Ordinary Television - Frances Bonner (Queensland University, Australia) 71. Daytime Tv - John Hartley (Sydney University, Australia) 72. Advertising - Daniel Chandler (Aberystwyth University, UK) · The Levi’s 501 ‘Launderette’ Commercial - Daniel Chandler (Aberystwyth University, UK) · QVC - Glen Creeber (Aberystwyth University, UK) Conclusion: Genre, Streaming And Contemporary Tv - Mareike Jenner (Anglia Ruskin University, UK) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisChallenging the study of both celebrity and the cinema, Mandy Merck argues that modern fame and film melodrama are part of the same worldview, one that cannot resolve the relation of personal worth to social esteem. Tracing the history of this conundrum back to the philosophy of the 17th century and the theatre of the 18th, she demonstrates its convergence in stage melodrama and its intensification in the Hollywood star system. Are today’s celebrities worth our attention? In that demand for judgement and the hope for its visual guidance, the melodramatic imagination survives – permeating not only fiction film, but documentary, the artist’s film, and our self-exhibition on social media. Examining a range of classical and contemporary films from Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931) to Laura Poitras’s Citizenfour (2014) , the many remakes of A Star Is Born, the compulsory exhibitionism of political celebrity and the unmasking of whistle-blowers, Merck illustrates the ways in which the cinema constantly restages the moral evaluation of prominent individuals, whether they are actors, artists, politicians or activists.Trade ReviewIt was an exhilarating read, in its hugely impressive range of references, the unexpected connections it made, and the wide range of films it considered. This is a major study which advances the theorization of melodrama, celebrity culture, and the relationship between the two. -- Sue Thornham, Professor of Media and Film Studies , University of Sussex, UKHere is one of the most astute uses of melodrama theory to analyze popular fiction film, documentary, and television as well as events in popular circulation to have been produced in recent years. It is a work of subtle wit and sharp insight that carries over a tradition at the same time that it supplements it significantly. -- Jane Gaines, Professor of Film, University of Columbia, USAMandy Merck’s exploration of the charms and pitfalls of a self-worth to be gained through the public attention celebrity affords in our media saturated culture is truly an eye-opener. Witty yet scrupulous in its analysis of texts ranging from Rousseau’s theatrical melodrama Pygmalion to Dreiser’s stardom novel Sister Carrie, from the renown tramp in Chaplin’s City Lights to royal prestige in Frears’ The Queen, and culminating in the news notoriety of former congressman Anthony Weiner and whistleblower Edward Snowden, it dissects the long cultural history that has made fame such an interesting thing – on the page, the stage, the screen and in politics. -- Elisabeth Bronfen, author of Crossmappings. On Visual CultureTable of ContentsTOC List of Figures Acknowledgements 1. Personal Worth and Public Attention 2. The Drama of a Recognition: City Lights 3. Imitations of Celebrity 4. Women’s Pictures 5. Melotrauma 6. Melodrama, Celebrity, The Queen 7. Home from the Hill: Weiner 8. Unmasked: Hacktivism, Anonymity and Celebrity Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisReveals the truth about Doctor Who - what makes it so successful, how it became such a phenomenon and why it's so popular.

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Book SynopsisBest known for her role in cult comedy TV hit, Benidorm and for playing Maggie Conlon in Ken Loach's remarkable film Ladybird Ladybird, Crissy Rock is a hugely popular actress and comedienne. But Crissy's path to success was far from easy and her life has been plagued by trauma and turmoil. Never has there been a more honest and disturbing biography ever written; never has there been so much to tell. Crissy Rock's poor but idyllic young life was plunged into darkness at the age of eight, when her grandfather began to abuse her both physically and sexually. Pregnant and married to a violent bully at sixteen it seemed that trouble and turmoil would always stalk her. Having finally escaped her violent marriage, Crissy began to turn her life around. Having firmly established herself on the comedy circuit she was then cast in Ladybird Ladybird for which she won Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival. This is one of the most astonishing books you will ever read.

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Book SynopsisJulie Christie's prickly relationship with stardom is legendary. This fascinating text provides a comprehensive account of Christie's career, from her emergence in the 1960s to present day. It moves from analysing her star persona, to exploring her performance and her politics, and in doing so raises important questions for the film industry.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments.- Introduction.- 1. Persona: Becoming 'Julie Christie'.- 2. Performance: The Poetic and the Ironic.- 3. Politics: Feminist Praxis amd Cultural Production.- Coda: Afterglow and Away from Her.- Notes.- Select Bibliography.- Filmography.- Index.

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Book SynopsisPortraying the Ku Klux Klan as heroic underdogs, silent epic The Birth of a Nation (1915) is widely considered to be the most controversial film of all time. At once one of US culture's greatest artistic achievements and one of its most abhorrently racist artefacts, it becomes more shocking with every passing year. Comprising a decade of archival research and published on the 100th anniversary of the film's release, this richly detailed study considers both the film's afterlife and the artistic, industrial and moral surroundings in which it was created. Drawing on an unbroken century of production and reception history, Paul McEwan recounts the film's origins and development, Griffith's unique editing and cinematography and the construction of racial identity and fear in the film. Assessing its contribution as an art form, while directly grappling with the complexity of the art-or-racism debate, Paul McEwan shows how The Birth of a Nation has had a central role in the development of film and Film Studies worldwide.Trade ReviewPomerance's eloquent (and, yes, impassioned) study offers a welcome complement to the expanding body of work on Marnie, thoughtfully building on what went before and offering fresh insights and new lines of enquiry. -- University of Sunderland * Susan Smith *Paul McEwan's well-written book is a compendium of the film's creation, intentions, meaning, and effects. -- All Classical PortlandIndisputably a classic, but undoubtedly in need of context and interpretation, The Birth of a Nation is a prime candidate for the BFI Film Classics treatment. While it's a surprise that D.W. Griffith's 1915 landmark film hasn't already been featured in the series, Paul McEwan's monograph proves to be worth the wait. -- Sight & Sound * Pamela Hutchinson *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmets.- Introduction: 'True As That Blade'.- 1. The Film.- 2. The Legacy.- Notes.- Credits.

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Book SynopsisThe first computer-generated animated feature film, Toy Story (1995) sustains a dynamic vitality that proved instantly appealing to audiences of all ages. Like the great Pop Artists, Pixar Studios affirmed the energy of modern commercial popular culture and, in doing so, created a distinctive alternative to the usual Disney formula. Tom Kemper traces the film's genesis, production history and reception to demonstrate how its postmodern mishmash of pop culture icons and references represented a fascinating departure from Disney's fine arts style and fairytale naturalism. By foregrounding the way in which Toy Story flipped the conventional relationship between films and their ancillary merchandising by taking consumer products as its very subject, Kemper provides an illuminating, revisionist exploration of this groundbreaking classic.Trade ReviewI've read plenty of the BFI's excellent Film Classic series, but Tom Kemper's take on Toy Story is up there among the very best. -- The CrackOne of the many praiseworthy things about the BFI's Film Classics series is that it has not shafted animation... Toy Story inspired so many [animated films] as to be genre-defining, so it is often easy to lose sight of what made the film stand out on its first release twenty years ago. With Toy Story: A Critical Reading, Kemper has given the film the in-depth analysis it deserves. -- Toronto Film ReviewTom Kemper's new critical monograph on Toy Story stands out from its fellows in the British Film Institute's Film Classics series not only in its choice of subject — a beloved and massively successful children's film, as opposed to the established classics or "cutting-edge" modern films typically featured in the series — but in the sophistication and persuasiveness of its argument. Kemper offers a wealth of insight on this foundational film in the Pixar canon, contextualizes it within the history of animated films and the pictorial arts, and highlights the film's surrealist touches. Most importantly, it accomplishes what any good single-film monograph should do: make you want to go out and watch (or re-watch) the film immediately. -- Toronto International Film Festival * David Davison *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments.- 1. Power Pop.- 2. 'The Rat's Nest'.- 3. 'A Rebel Group'.- 4. 'What Would Walt Say?'.- 5. 'Hip loveable, urban. Think Simpsons'.- 6. Playtime: The Film.- 7. Stories.- Notes.- Credits.- Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood traces the evolving relationship between the American comic book industry and Hollywood from the launch of X-Men, Spider-Man, and Smallville in the early 2000s through the ascent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Arrowverse, and the Walking Dead Universe in the 2010s. Perren and Steirer illustrate how the American comic book industry simultaneously has functioned throughout the first two decades of the twenty-first century as a relatively self-contained business characterized by its own organizational structures, business models, managerial discourses, production cultures, and professional identities even as it has remained dependent on Hollywood for revenue from IP licensing. The authors’ expansive view of the industry includes not only a discussion of the “Big Two,” Marvel/Disney and DC Comics/Time Warner, but also a survey of the larger comics ecosystem. Other key industry players, including independent publishers BOOM! Studios, IDW, and Image, digital distributor ComiXology, and management-production company Circle of Confusion, all receive attention. Drawing from interviews, fieldwork, archival research, and trade analysis, The American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood provides a road map to understanding the operations of the comic book industry while also offering new models for undertaking trans- and inter-industrial analysis.Trade ReviewThe superhero team-up of Perren and Steirer reveals how the American comic book industry intersects with the world of film and television without losing focus on the unique business and creative culture that makes comics unique. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in how the 21st century comics business has—and has not—changed through its alliance with Hollywood. Yet students of film and television will find the book equally important as it reveals how those industries, too, might be transformed in turn by their relationship to comics. A must read for anyone interested in the amazing convergences, spectacular strategies, and uncanny mutations that define media industries. -- Derek Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USAIf you are looking for an analysis about how the comic book industry works in the twenty-first century and the connection between it and Hollywood then you will be richly rewarded by Perren and Steirer’s meticulous and insightful book. -- Ian Gordon, National University of Singapore, SingaporeWhat Perren and Steirer have penned is long overdue, but arguably well-worth the wait. As the comic book industry continues to be exploited by Hollywood, the questions of impact and effect on both industries have grown ever more important. To those of us for whom comics is our passion as much as our livelihood, analysis of the relationship between the two is more important than ever. This is a relationship that will never be unmade, and understanding not just the tensions binding us together, but the dangers, isn’t simply wise; it may be vital to the very survival of our medium. This is a work that every comic creator should study, and that comics publisher should learn, and that every Hollywood exec should, at the least, pretend they’ve read. -- Greg Rucka, creator of The Old GuardAn interesting and informative read for all those tinfoil-and-Super-8 kids in ‘70s and ‘80s who grew up watching half-heartedly made TV shows and movies about their favorite comic characters, thought they could do better, and went on not just to create comics, but also modern movies and TV inspired by them. For those interested in the secret origin of how Hollywood got super-powers, Perren and Steirer reveal all. -- Amanda Conner, comic book artist and illustratorThe book can also be used in dialogue with formal or narrative studies of contemporary superhero comics and films, or as an economic counterpoint to fan studies approaches. In any case, this is an undeniable success. * La Brèche (Bloomsbury Translation) *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The More Things Change…: The American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood in the Twenty-First Century 1 Comics Pros Go to Hollywood: The Historical Evolution of the Comics-Hollywood Relationship 2 Comic Books and the Economics of Intellectual Property Production 3 Drawing Lines: The Place of Comic Book Artists and Writers in Hollywood 4 Synergy in Theory and in Practice: Comic Books and the Contemporary Media Conglomerate 5 Organizational (Dis-)Integration: Publisher-Hollywood Relationships in the Twenty-First Century 6 From Dental Floss to Dental Tape: The Strange Case of Digital Comics Distribution Afterword: Days of Future Present: The View from 2020

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Book SynopsisThe American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood traces the evolving relationship between the American comic book industry and Hollywood from the launch of X-Men, Spider-Man, and Smallville in the early 2000s through the ascent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Arrowverse, and the Walking Dead Universe in the 2010s. Perren and Steirer illustrate how the American comic book industry simultaneously has functioned throughout the first two decades of the twenty-first century as a relatively self-contained business characterized by its own organizational structures, business models, managerial discourses, production cultures, and professional identities even as it has remained dependent on Hollywood for revenue from IP licensing. The authors’ expansive view of the industry includes not only a discussion of the “Big Two,” Marvel/Disney and DC Comics/Time Warner, but also a survey of the larger comics ecosystem. Other key industry players, including independent publishers BOOM! Studios, IDW, and Image, digital distributor ComiXology, and management-production company Circle of Confusion, all receive attention. Drawing from interviews, fieldwork, archival research, and trade analysis, The American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood provides a road map to understanding the operations of the comic book industry while also offering new models for undertaking trans- and inter-industrial analysis.Trade ReviewThe superhero team-up of Perren and Steirer reveals how the American comic book industry intersects with the world of film and television without losing focus on the unique business and creative culture that makes comics unique. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in how the 21st century comics business has—and has not—changed through its alliance with Hollywood. Yet students of film and television will find the book equally important as it reveals how those industries, too, might be transformed in turn by their relationship to comics. A must read for anyone interested in the amazing convergences, spectacular strategies, and uncanny mutations that define media industries. -- Derek Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USAIf you are looking for an analysis about how the comic book industry works in the twenty-first century and the connection between it and Hollywood then you will be richly rewarded by Perren and Steirer’s meticulous and insightful book. -- Ian Gordon, National University of Singapore, SingaporeWhat Perren and Steirer have penned is long overdue, but arguably well-worth the wait. As the comic book industry continues to be exploited by Hollywood, the questions of impact and effect on both industries have grown ever more important. To those of us for whom comics is our passion as much as our livelihood, analysis of the relationship between the two is more important than ever. This is a relationship that will never be unmade, and understanding not just the tensions binding us together, but the dangers, isn’t simply wise; it may be vital to the very survival of our medium. This is a work that every comic creator should study, and that comics publisher should learn, and that every Hollywood exec should, at the least, pretend they’ve read. -- Greg Rucka, creator of The Old GuardAn interesting and informative read for all those tinfoil-and-Super-8 kids in ‘70s and ‘80s who grew up watching half-heartedly made TV shows and movies about their favorite comic characters, thought they could do better, and went on not just to create comics, but also modern movies and TV inspired by them. For those interested in the secret origin of how Hollywood got super-powers, Perren and Steirer reveal all. -- Amanda Conner, comic book artist and illustratorThe book can also be used in dialogue with formal or narrative studies of contemporary superhero comics and films, or as an economic counterpoint to fan studies approaches. In any case, this is an undeniable success. * La Brèche (Bloomsbury Translation) *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The More Things Change…: The American Comic Book Industry and Hollywood in the Twenty-First Century 1 Comics Pros Go to Hollywood: The Historical Evolution of the Comics-Hollywood Relationship 2 Comic Books and the Economics of Intellectual Property Production 3 Drawing Lines: The Place of Comic Book Artists and Writers in Hollywood 4 Synergy in Theory and in Practice: Comic Books and the Contemporary Media Conglomerate 5 Organizational (Dis-)Integration: Publisher-Hollywood Relationships in the Twenty-First Century 6 From Dental Floss to Dental Tape: The Strange Case of Digital Comics Distribution Afterword: Days of Future Present: The View from 2020

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Book SynopsisWhen Tony Roper discovered at the age of twenty- seven that acting could be a proper job, it changed his life forever. Having drifted from occasional schooling to various adventures on the bread vans, down the mines and in the shipyards, Tony then saw an advert in the newspaper for part-time actors to star opposite glamorous actresses. He liked the sound of that, and it was to be the start of a whole new life. Now, for the first time, Tony tells his colourful life story. There's his large extended family which had more than its fair share of characters, his father's secret war record, the incident with the bread knife and his brother, his narrow escapes from death, and plenty of unexpected family revelations. Then there's his time as the legendary Jamesie Cotter in Rab C. Nesbitt , his enduring friendship (and the odd fallout) with Rikki Fulton, hilarious appearances in Only an Excuse?, Scotch & Wry and Naked Video , in-depth discussions with Billy Connolly about who really makes the best pies, how he came to write his classic play The Steamie - and why it nearly didn't make it to the stage. Tony also describes his shocking recent health scares and his agonising decision about whether to go for a life-saving operation or play one last game for Dukla Pumpherston. I'll No Tell You Again is the inspiring and hilarious autobiography of one of our funniest and best-loved actors, known to millions as Tony Roper and to his family as... well, read it and you'll find out!

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Book Synopsis"The L Word" captured international attention when it first appeared on American screens in January 2004. The groundbreaking primetime drama from Showtime is about a group of lesbian and bisexual friends living and loving in Los Angeles, and challenges traditional notions of relationships, queer life styles, gender identities, race and ethnicity and sex and sexuality. "Reading the L Word" is the first book about this television phenomenon. With an introduction by Sarah Warn, the founder of premier lesbian entertainment website, AfterEllen.com, and a foreword by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, the collection brings together leading academics, feminist critics, scholars and award-winning journalists to discuss "The L Word". There is also a complete episode guide, as well as a series of interviews with the actors Erin Daniels, Katherine Moennig, and the writer, Guinevere Turner. Analytical, often humorous and sometimes provocative, "Reading the L Word" uncovers what makes this show both so compelling and groundbreaking.Trade Review'A must-read book about the must-see lesbian sex drama that everybody loves but some love to hate.' --Jane Feuer 'Interesting and provocative.'- TLS

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Book SynopsisWhen "24" exploded onto TV screens in 2001, "Time" magazine called it one of the 'Best Television Events of the Decade'. "24" has gone on to establish itself as groundbreaking and controversial entertainment that has changed the face of television. Each season of "24" traces the events of a single day in the life of CTU Field Agent Jack Bauer. Racing against the clock, Bauer battles assassination attempts, germ warfare and terrorist factions to 'save the day'. "24" presents the nail-biting events of each day through its use of split-screen and 'real-time' devices. Dramatically explosive and visually dynamic, "24" taps into a global sense of uncertainty and suspicion with its provocative depiction of America's role on the world stage and of terrorist activity and political double-dealing. "Reading '24'" is the first book to bring together critical discussions of "24" from a wide range of perspectives. Entertaining and illuminating, the book looks in detail at the creative and controversial features of "24". It considers, for example, "24"'s stylistic innovations, its engagement post 9/11 with the 'War on Terror', and its masking of identities. The pioneering spirit of the show is matched by the original arguments on display here, celebrating and censuring "24" - TV on the edge.Trade ReviewLIBRARY JOURNAL 'This is a two-fisted double shot of polysyllabic PhD works. Recommended only for academic pop culture and media collections.'SOUTHERN DAILY ECHOReading 24 - TV Against the Clock is a scholarly work that is proving popular with fans of the series as well as those planning to write a thesis on the influence of Bauer.- Kate Thompson

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Book SynopsisWith the explosion of reality television onto screens and schedules worldwide, this timely and original book explores makeover tv, the ubiquitous reality format that has received little critical attention to date. Top writers and scholars take discussion of reality tv to the next level with lively examination of a wide range of contemporary makeover shows, such as "Extreme Makeover", "The Swan", "Faking It", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", and "The Apprentice", that ultimately speak to television's own enduring ability to reinvent itself. The book is organized around the overarching argument that contemporary makeover programming provides the paradigmatic example of reality television's far-reaching prominence and mass appeal, an appeal that lies in "powers of transformation' or televisual performance that tries not only to capture reality but to intervene in it, with the ultimate aim of remodelling reality. They examine how makeover programming annexes the private space of the home, transforms the body through surgery and rigorous discipline, recreates aspects of social identity and consumer lifestyle, and changes ordinary persons into celebrities and celebrities into ordinary persons.Trade ReviewFEMINIST REVIEW'This is an interesting collection providing thought-provoking insights into what is actually being made over by the television makeover...a worthy and worthwhile collection.'- Elaine Beale

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Book SynopsisThis is what we know, this is the truth: CSI is a global television phenomenon. It began in 2000 with "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", a dark procedural drama about forensic science set within the neon escapism of Las Vegas, in which Grissom and his team search within the very vitals of the murder victims they investigate. Nearly 17 million viewers tuned in each week and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" fast became America's number one show. The success of the series moved it into franchise territory, continuing in 2002 with the body beautifuls and dismembereds of "CSI: Miami" (now the world's biggest television show) and again in 2004 extending the francise to the melancholic noir of post-9/11 New York with "CSI: NY". "Reading 'CSI'" pieces together the evidence in order to understand what the CSI shows mean to contemporary television culture, both in America and beyond. The varied, intellectually curious and often polemic responses to CSI from critics, journalists and industry professionals focus on a range of issues from the pornographic quality of the CGI effects, the relationship of characters to their narratives, and the reaction of the fans, to the semiotics of Horatio Caine's sunglasses. This in depth, compulsive read also includes a full episode guide.Trade ReviewMichael Allen (Birkbeck College) - " So Many Different Ways to Look At It: CSI as Multi-platform Storyworld." Matt Hills and Amy Luther (Cardiff School of Journalism) - "'Crime Scene - Do Not Cross': Investigating the Textual Boundaries and Paths of 'CSI Fandom'" Simone Knox (University of Reading) - "Five's Finest: The Import of CSI to British Terrestrial Television" Roberta Pearson (University of Nottingham) - "Anatomising Gilbert Grissom: the Structure and Function of the Televisual Character" Karen Lury (University of Glasgow) - "The Sound of CSI" Charlie Gere (Lancaster University) - "The Digital Trace and the Absent Body in CSI" Sue Turnbull (LaTrobe University, Australia)- "CSI and the Aesthetics of the TV Crime Series" Silke Panse (University of Kent) - 'The Bullet Confirms the Story told by the Potato': Materials without Motives in C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" Karen Boyle & Elke Weissmann (University of Glasgow) - "Evidence of Things Unseen: The Pornographic Aesthetic and the Search for Truth in CSI" Deborah Jermyn (Roehampton University) - "Body Matters: Realism, Spectacle and the Corpse in CSI" Patrick West (Griffith University, Australia) - "Horatio Caine's Sunglasses and the Construction of Identity: 'Looking' and 'Being Looked At' in CSI: Miami" Janet McCabe (Manchester Metropolitan University) - "Mac's Melancholy: Cultural Trauma, 9/11 and Bodily Absence in CSI:NY" Lucia Rahilly - " The Quintessence of Con: the Las Vegas of CSI" David Bianculli - "The CSI Phenomenon" Dermot Moran - "RTE and the C.S.I. Franchise: Buying and Scheduling CSI on Irish Television" Anna Konig - "Who are they? Style Codes of the CSI Investigators " Shelley Robinson - "CSI on the (Real-life) Pathology Table" Andrew Anthony - "No Need to Pathologise..." (The Observer Review)

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Book Synopsis'Little Britain' arrived on British TV in 2003 - and was an instant hit. Matt Lucas and David Walliams wrote and performed, and their sharp satirical genius created this character-based sketch show - Vicky Pollard, Dafydd 'I'm the only gay in the village', Ting Tong Macadangdang are hard to forget. Its huge popularity as cult-comedy on radio, then television, with its success as mainstream award-winning comedy and as a national and international TV phenomenon, have been tempered by criticism. It's pushed the boundaries of taste too far, some have claimed; it's grotesquely un-politically correct, mocks social groups and participates in the 'humour of humiliation' say others. Timely and comprehensive, this must-read book on 'Little Britain' for fans and scholars is the first to provide lively critiques of the show by leading writers, who explore its appeal and dissect its controversies. They look into representations of gender, sexuality, race, disability and class, into sketch-show conventions, the art of the comedy catchphrase, audiences' responses and still more. It provides too a Film, TV and Radio Guide.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Notes on Contributors Character List Introduction: Britain, Britain, Britain (Sharon Lockyer) PART 1: Narrative, Genre and Comedic Techniques 1) Analysing Little Britain as a Sketch Show (Ian Mowatt) 2) Little Britain Live (Stephen Lacey) 3) ‘Yeah but no but yeah’: A Linguistic Perspective on the Humour of Little Britain (Julia Snell) PART 2: Little Britain and Identity 4) ‘I can’t believe you just said that’: Figuring Gender and Sexuality in Little Britain (Deborah Finding) 5) How Little Britain does ‘race’ (Sarita Malik) 6) ‘Mischief and Monstrosity’: Little Britain and Disability (Margaret Montgomerie) 7) Chavs, Chav-nots and Anyone-in-between: Social Class in Little Britain (Sharon Lockyer) PART 3: Little Britain and Inter/national Audiences 8) ‘I’m anti-Little Britain, and I’m worried I might start laughing’: Audience Responses to Little Britain (Brett Mills) 9) Little Britain: An American Perspective (Arthur Asa Berger) 10) ‘In English please!’ Lost in Translation: Little Britain and Italian Audiences (Delia Chiaro) POSTSCRIPT: Little Britain USA (Kim Akass) Figure 1: Comparison of Anderson’s (1997) results with the speech of Vicky Pollard Film, TV and Radio Guide Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom "The Next Generation" and "The X-Files", to "Farscape" and "Enterprise", sci-fi television series in the US have multiplied since the 1980s. Jan Johnson-Smith shows how, in line with national political upheavals, this vibrant and perplexing genre set about expanding the myth of the Western frontier into deep space. She looks at the "sense of wonder" or sublime that infuses much Frontier art and science fiction, and traces a possible historical precedent to the genre in the fabulous and heroic journeys of the Classical epic. She discusses narrative styles and their influences, from the overarching narrative of "Babylon 5" to the episodic formula of "The Outer Limits", considers how experimental series such as "Twin Peaks" challenge conventional structures, and how and why sci-fi television has adopted new technologies. She also explores the juxtaposition of arcane language and technological jargon in modern American sci-fi television, revealing the extraordinarily alien, yet curiously familiar arena it creates.Trade Review'...a transcendental ride...'Media Education Journal, December 2005.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisSince its establishment in 1922 the BBC has continually asserted itself as one of the great British institutions at home and abroad. David Pat Walker offers an in-depth analysis of the history of BBC Scotland from its creation in 1923 through to its 50th anniversary in the seventies. Examining how the firm developed over the course of the 20th century, the author portrays how the broadcaster developed its own Scottish identity despite governance from London and how it thrived within the context of the history it reported and created.Trade ReviewPat Walker charts the continuing challenges and development in television and radio across drama, light entertainment, music, news, current affairs, sport and ground-breaking programmes such as the weekly series Scope. Alongside this there was a battle between the Director General Hugh Carelton Greene and BBC Scotland’s controller Andrew Stewart over tradition and trendiness, only one of many confrontations. – THE SCOTSMAN

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Book SynopsisChallenging the study of both celebrity and the cinema, Mandy Merck argues that modern fame and film melodrama are part of the same worldview, one that cannot resolve the relation of personal worth to social esteem. Tracing the history of this conundrum back to the philosophy of the seventeenth century and the theatre of the eighteenth, she demonstrates its convergence in stage melodrama and its intensification in the Hollywood star system. Are today’s celebrities worth our attention? In that demand for judgement and the hope for its visual guidance, the melodramatic imagination survives – permeating not only fiction film, but documentary, the artist’s film, and our self-exhibition on social media. Examining a range of classical and contemporary films from Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931) to Laura Poitras’s Citizenfour (2014) , the many remakes of A Star Is Born, the compulsory exhibitionism of political celebrity and the unmasking of whistle-blowers, Merck illustrates the ways in which the cinema constantly restages the moral evaluation of prominent individuals, whether they are actors, artists, politicians or activists.Trade ReviewThe book makes a worthwhile study for a diverse range of readers—it is indicated not only for an academic audience, but also for cinephiles who would enjoy a pleasant read recalling the moments of every film and its celebrity’s anecdotes addressed in the book. * Comparative Cinema *It was an exhilarating read, in its hugely impressive range of references, the unexpected connections it made, and the wide range of films it considered. This is a major study which advances the theorization of melodrama, celebrity culture, and the relationship between the two. -- Sue Thornham, Professor of Media and Film Studies , University of Sussex, UKHere is one of the most astute uses of melodrama theory to analyze popular fiction film, documentary, and television as well as events in popular circulation to have been produced in recent years. It is a work of subtle wit and sharp insight that carries over a tradition at the same time that it supplements it significantly. -- Jane Gaines, Professor of Film, University of Columbia, USAMandy Merck’s exploration of the charms and pitfalls of a self-worth to be gained through the public attention celebrity affords in our media saturated culture is truly an eye-opener. Witty yet scrupulous in its analysis of texts ranging from Rousseau’s theatrical melodrama Pygmalion to Dreiser’s stardom novel Sister Carrie, from the renown tramp in Chaplin’s City Lights to royal prestige in Frears’ The Queen, and culminating in the news notoriety of former congressman Anthony Wiener and whistleblower Edward Snowden, it dissects the long cultural history that has made fame such an interesting thing – on the page, the stage, the screen and in politics. -- Elisabeth Bronfen, author of Crossmappings. On Visual CultureTable of ContentsTOC List of Figures Acknowledgements 1. Personal Worth and Public Attention 2. The Drama of a Recognition: City Lights 3. Imitations of Celebrity 4. Women’s Pictures 5. Melotrauma 6. Melodrama, Celebrity, The Queen 7. Home from the Hill: Weiner 8. Unmasked: Hacktivism, Anonymity and Celebrity Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisThis book covers a dramatic decade in the fortunes of Britain’s quirkiest broadcaster. It opens in 2009, with the realisation that Channel 4’s biggest money spinner, Big Brother, had become a toxic asset and would have to be discarded, at the same time as advertising revenues were shrinking in the wake of the 2008 financial crash. Maggie Brown’s compelling narrative, which draws on interviews with key players in Channel 4’s story and unique access to the broadcaster’s archives, takes us inside the boardroom battles, changes in senior management and commissioning teams, interventions by the media regulator Ofcom, and the channel’s response to a rapidly-changing media and political landscape. Brown describes how the channel, under its new chief executive David Abraham, successfully fought off the threat of privatisation, which became a reality after the Conservatives’ general election victory in 2015. The price for remaining publicly funded was a substantial relocation of Channel 4’s operations, with Leeds announced in 2018 as a new ‘regional hub’. The Channel 4 story is also one of ambitious and innovative programming, with a new director of content, Jay Hunt, instigating radical changes in commissioning and scheduling. Brown traces programming hits and losses during this period, with the departure to competitors of celebrity chefs, Black Mirror and Charlie Brooker, horse racing and Formula 1, and a reappraisal of the remit of institutions such as Channel 4 News and Film 4. But there were successes too, with the 2012 Paralympics helping to restore a public service sheen, and new programmes such as Gogglebox in 2013 connecting with younger audiences, and, in 2016, the coup of taking The Great British Bake Off from its home at the BBC.Trade ReviewAs enthralling as the best Channel 4 drama and as searching as the best of its documentaries, this is the definitive account of a unique British institution's difficult, dramatic second act. -- Andrew Billen, Feature Writer, The Times, UKMaggie Brown has done it again. She has breathed life into years of complex negotiations and hugely difficult decisions that went on trying to keep Channel 4 intact in its original form against strong political and financial pressures. A major achievement, as well as a terrific read. It's an important record of the most turbulent time in the Channel's history. -- Roger Graef OBE, filmmaker and founding Board Member of C4Everyone in British television talked to Maggie Brown and this account of the key years of Channel 4’s history is as thorough, detailed and meticulously reported as you would expect from her notebook. Told with her eye for juicy detail and ability to pick out the big narrative, it is as compelling for its revelations of the behind the scenes backstabbing as the onscreen drama. Whether you were there or not, Maggie saw and heard it all. -- Janine Gibson, Assistant Editor, Financial TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Alex Mahon and Ian Katz - New Brooms Appointed, and the Relocation Decision 2. No Escape From Big Brother’s Embrace Yet 3. Radio Adventure 4. The Rise of Fixed Rigs 5. Channel 4’s Online adventures 2007-2010 6. The Andy Duncan Sacking. Luke Johnson over ruled. 7. The David Abraham appointment 8. After Chucking Out Chintz, and Bidding For Channel Five 9. The Challenge as Abraham picks Jay 10. Jay Hunt in charge 11. Attack The Hunt - Advertising Revolt Foiled 2011-13/14 12. Gogglebox and Success, Factual and Onwards 13. Paralympics 14. Racing 15. Data 2010-2017 and how 4oD became All 4 but not all right. 16. Drama Hopes Dashed 17. Comedy and no Black Mirror 18. Film4 19. News 20. Current Affairs 21. Privatisation 22. 2016 – The Great British Bake Off snatch, the Hunt for CEO? 23. The Big Move North 24. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisSongs for Ireland is the third publication from Irish experimental writer and audio-visual artist, Robert Herbert McClean, following his debut poetry collection, Pangs! (Test Centre, 2015) and his prose chapbook, Skrubolz Garbillkore (Book Works, 2018).Songs for Ireland is an experimental, interdisciplinary work, drawing on McClean's practices as writer and artist film-maker. It is a motley hybrid of voices and modes that satirically styles itself as a cartoonish call and response, a polyvocal tech startup melodrama, a Wi-Fi, Sci-Fi comic hallucination.Exploding the boundaries of the form and style of traditional poetry collections, Songs for Ireland is a radical rethinking of poetic practices, characterised by its energetic humour and McClean's unique, distinctive, idiosyncratic voice.

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Book SynopsisThese 450+ questions will put even the most die-hard TV addicts to the test! What type of animal is Rocko in Rocko’s Modern Life? What is the phrase that appears on the poster that hangs above Fox Mulder’s desk? What show’s theme song refers to “tossed salad and scrambled eggs”? How many times did Mr. Sheffield propose to Fran? This interactive trivia book is the ultimate opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the small screen’s greatest decade, from daytime talk shows to crime dramas, Baywatch to The Simpsons, and everything in between. Grab your remote, the truth is out there!

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Book SynopsisPsychologists turn their attention to The Simpsons, one of America's most popular and beloved shows, in these essays that explore the function and dysfunctions of the show's characters. Designed to appeal to both fans of the show and students of psychology, this unique blend of science and pop culture consists of essays by professional psychologists drawn from schools and clinical practices across the country. Each essay is designed to be accessible, thoughtful, and entertaining, while providing the reader with insights into both The Simpsons and the latest in psychological thought. Every major area of psychology is covered, from clinical psychology and cognition to abnormal and evolutionary psychology, while fresh views on eclectic show topics such as gambling addiction, Pavlovian conditioning, family therapy, and lobotomies are explored.

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Book SynopsisWhen actress Claudia Christian flees a troubled childhood and moves to Hollywood at age 17, she steps through the looking glass into another world. From the set of Dallas to her starring role on the sci-fi series Babylon 5, Claudia's affairs with billionaires, supermodels, rock stars, and celebrities are mixed with shootings, stalking, heartbreak, and betrayal. Onset and off, drama follows Claudia--an alcohol-fueled coke run and makeout session with a bridesmaid on her wedding day; her tempestuous, love-hate relationship with actor Angus Macfadyen; the conspiracy theories surrounding her ex-husband's death; and a 20-year on-and-off relationship with billionaire Dodi Fayed before he dated Princess Diana. Hollywood life takes its toll on Claudia as she descends into alcohol addiction and a desperate battle to reclaim her life. Rehab, alternative treatments, and even hypnotism can't break the cycle of alcohol abuse that threatens to destroy Claudia. Close to despair she discovers The Sinclair Method, a treatment that saves her life. Sometimes shocking, often humorous, always captivating -- Babylon Confidential is a story of hope that will inspire and enlighten you.Trade Review"An honest, page-turning insight into alcoholism and the road back out." --Neil Gaiman, New York Times Bestselling Author "Warning: Once you start reading Babylon Confidential you may not be able stop until the last page. Babylon Confidential offers mesmerizing insight into the allure of success, the pressures of Hollywood, the pitfalls of love, and the nature of addiction." --Rebecca Moesta, New York Times Bestselling Young Adult Author "Babylon Confidential is compelling, horrifying, and uplifting. Claudia Christian has an amazing story of glitz and darkness and ultimately a journey as strange and exciting as any of her films." --Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times Bestselling Co-author of Sisterhood of Dune "This story is a runaway train on a roller coaster rail. Told with brutal honesty, Claudia Christian takes us on a trip through her life of sex, drugs, despair, betrayal, courage, humor, love, and triumph. She has lived it all and she's inviting us along for the ride. Hold on to your hat!" --Walter Koenig, Actor, Director, and Author "I was gratified my method of alcoholism treatment could play a part in Claudia's journey from addiction to successful recovery. This vivid and insightful book can help save others suffering from this disease." --John David Sinclair, PhD, Founder of The Sinclair Method for the treatment of alcohol addiction "The dashing and darling Claudia puts herself on the line with her struggles with addiction. Claudia shares and bares it all to help everyone else... A must-read for fans and for folks dealing with any kind of addiction." --Pat Tallman, Actress, Stuntwoman, and Author, Pleasure Thresholds "Fearless and inspiring. Claudia not only remembers the torturous calamities of her life, as well as the highs, but she recalls them here with skill, grace, and utterly no apology. If you have an addiction, or know someone who does, you must read this book." --Shari Shattuck, Actress, and Author, Callaway Wilde novels "[Babylon Confidential] is from the heart, succinct, clear, and gives hope where there is none." --Stephen Michael Cox, MD, President, National Anxiety Foundation "Babylon Confidential is riveting--it is a great book filled with humor, warmth, and compassion. I was by deeply impressed by Claudia's courageous life story and I was grateful that I could play a role in helping her. I know this book will save lives and help families effected by alcoholism." --Dr. Roy Eskapa, Author of The Cure for Alcoholism "A wild ride. Claudia's James Frey-like voice reveals the secret life of an alcoholic. Read, laugh, and learn. But most importantly, share--to save a life." --Clare Kramer, Actress from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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Book SynopsisFor the first time ever, the two people who knew Andy Kaufman best open up about the most enigmatic artist of our generation. Comedian and Taxi star Andy Kaufman, known for his crazy antics on screen and off, was the ultimate prankster, delighting audiences with his Elvis and Mighty Mouse impressions while also antagonizing them with his wrestling and lounge-lizard alter ego, Tony Clifton. Some say he died in 1984, while others believe he performed the ultimate vanishing act. In Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally, Bob Zmuda, Andy's writer and best friend, and Lynn Margulies, the love of Andy's life, reveal all--including surprising secrets that Andy made Lynne and Bob promise never to tell until both of his parents had died. Hilarious and poignant, this book separates fact from fiction, and includes a candid inside look at the Milos Forman film Man on the Moon, which Zmuda coexecutive produced and featured Jim Carrey as Andy, Paul Giamatti as Zmuda, Courtney Love as Margulies, and Danny DeVito as Andy's manager, George Shapiro. Finally, Bob Zmuda shares in detail the reasons he believes Andy Kaufman did, in fact, fake his own death, including exactly how he did it and why he will return.Trade Review"Bob Zmuda connects on so many levels with this gripping yet hilarious inside industry chronicle. A great story of unconditional friendship and love framed in a studied portrait of a fascinatingly complex, brilliant, unduplicable anti-performance artist who may well resurrect to blow our minds again." --Dan Aykroyd "Danger. What would've or WILL Andy do next???? We wondered every time we saw him on TV or live on stage. I still wonder. We still laugh. The definition of an enigma, LIKE NO OTHER." --Kathy Griffin "I never worked with Andy Kaufman and I never even watched Taxi. I do like the name Andy, if that's any help." --Paula Poundstone "Bob Zmuda was (is?) Andy Kaufman's partner in all of Andy's reality-bending adventures. Is Andy's death yet another elaborate hoax by the ultimate performance artist? An absolutely astonishing read, Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally reveals all. Prepare to be amazed!" --John Landis "I was so fascinated by the melding of Andy's and Zmuda's mind that I spent two years of my life making a movie about it." --Milos Forman "Zmuda offers what he calls 'a blow-by-blow account of how Andy Kaufman faked his own death.'" --Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisHow a Show, and the Support of Its Fandom, Changed—and Saved—Lives Supernatural, a three-time People's Choice Award winner for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show and Tumblr's 2015 Most Reblogged "Live Action TV," has made a name for itself by supporting and encouraging its fans to "always keep fighting," and a memorable line from early in the show's run, "Family don't end with blood," became an inspiring mantra for many who found community in the fandom. In 25 powerful chapters written by Supernatural's actors and fans, including series lead Jared Padalecki, plus special messages from Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, and Mark Sheppard, Family Don't End with Blood: Cast and Fans On How Supernatural Has Changed Lives examines the far reach of the show's impact for more than a decade. Supernatural has inspired fans to change their lives, from getting "sober for Sam" to escaping a cult to pursuing life-long dreams. But fans aren't the only ones who have been changed. The actors who bring the show to life have also found, in the show and its community, inspiration, courage, and the strength to keep going when life seemed too hard. Including essays and special messages from Supernatural 's cast: • Jared Padelecki ("Sam Winchester") • Jensen Ackles ("Dean Winchester") • Misha Collins ("Castiel") • Mark Sheppard ("Crowley") • Jim Beaver ("Bobby Singer") • Ruth Connell ("Rowena MacLeod") • Osric Chau ("Kevin Tran") • Rob Benedict ("Chuck Shurley aka God") • Kim Rhodes ("Sheriff Jody Mills") • Briana Buckmaster ("Sheriff Donna Hanscum") • Matt Cohen ("Young John Winchester") • Gil McKinney ("Henry Winchester") • Rachel Miner ("Meg Masters") Collected and edited by Lynn S. Zubernis, a clinical psychologist, professor, and passionate Supernatural fangirl, Family Don't End with Blood provides an insightful and often uplifting look into the way international fan communities become powerful, positive forces in the lives of so many. In keeping with the show's message to "always keep fighting," a portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to RANDOM ACTS, a nonprofit founded by Misha Collins, and AT TITUDES IN REVERSE, whose mission is to educate young people about mental health and suicide prevention.Trade Review"No one knows the world of Supernatural better than Lynn Zubernis—and this collection is a compelling exploration of the powerful binding spell woven by the Winchester brothers' saga, and a terrific road map of the heavenly rewards that come from being part of the show or its one-of-a-kind fandom. In short, this book rocks." —Maureen Ryan, Variety "For those who think that Supernatural is just another show, or who think its Fandom is just like any other fandom, Family Don't End With Blood is a sweet introduction to everything that makes the Supernatural experience unique. I can offer it no higher praise than this: It already occupies an honored place on Metatron's bookshelf!" —Curtis Armstrong, author of Revenge of the Nerd and actor on Supernatural, Revenge of the Nerds, Risky Business, Better Off Dead, and Moonlighting

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWhat is the mutual relationship between TV and art? The publication introduces artistic strategies used to explore TV and its specific contents and narrative forms in video, film, painting, sculpture and performance, ranging from the sculptural object of the TV box to the manipulation of the TV image and the use of its structure of lines and pixels in works of art. Television, which is among the most important inventions of the twentieth century, has developed a unique aesthetic and new communication structures worldwide. The early 1960s, the beginning of the development of TV as the first visual mass medium, were also the beginning of an artistic exploration of TV. From artists known for their work in this field such as Nam June Paik and Vostell to current works by younger generations of artists such as Thomas Demand, Tobias Rehberger, Ulrich Polster and Melanie Gilligan, this publication focuses on the analysis, paraphrasing and parody of TV formats and their pictorial nature, amongst other things.

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Book SynopsisThe best-selling Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tarot Deck and Guidebook—now made tiny! Follow the wisdom of Buffy, Willow, Xander, Spike, and others with this beautifully illustrated tiny tarot deck inspired by the beloved series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Collectors will delight in holding these perfectly scaled down decks in their hands.In every generation, there is a chosen one. Explore your destiny like Buffy the Vampire Slayer with this magical and bold take on the traditional 78-card tarot deck, now made tiny. This fully functioning miniature tarot deck features the heroes you love in gorgeous original illustrations based on classic tarot iconography. Featuring both major and minor arcana, the set also includes a helpful guidebook explaining each card’s meaning and simple instructions for easy readings. This alluring tiny tarot deck, packaged in a beautiful custom tin, is the perfect gift for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan or tarot enthusiast. THE REAL THING: Fully functional tarot deck in an adorable, portable pocket size (1.77” x 3”) PERFECTLY PACKAGED: Housed in a beautifully designed, full color, eco-friendly tin box READY TO GIFT: Great gift for collectors; perfect stocking-stuffers ALL LEVELS, ALL AGES: Includes a complete 128-page guidebook, perfect for beginners and experts alike OFFICIAL LICENSED TINY BUFFY DECK: This is the official tiny version of the only official licensed Buffy the Vampire Slayer deck and guide.

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Book SynopsisAre talk shows turning everything they touch into freak shows? This book claims that the socially deviant may be featured on-air for ridicule in the public eye, but the result is empowerment through exploitation. The book illuminates the dilemmas and practicalities of media visibility.

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Book SynopsisGrindstaff takes the reader behind the scenes of daytime television talk shows. This study draws on interviews with producers and guests and asks not just what talk shows can tell us about mass media, but also what they reveal about American culture more generally.Trade Review"Laura Grindstaff went to the front lines of talk show production and lived to tell the tale. She comes back with the goods. The Money Shot is a rare tour through one of the stranger spots on American television, combining funny/disturbing stories and inside scoops with sharp, learned insights into the management - by producers, guests, audiences, and American culture as a whole - of emotion, expertise, fame, and, most important, of class." - Joshua Gamson, author of Freaks Talk Back

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1: Why Responsibility Matters 2: Framing Effects of News Coverage 3: Methods of Research 4: Effects of Framing on Attributions of Responsibility for Crime and Terrorism 5: Effects of Framing on Attributions of Responsibility for Poverty, Unemployment, and Racial Inequality 6: Effects of Framing on Attributions of Responsibility for the Iran-Contra Affair 7: Effects of Attributions on Issue-Specific Opinions 8: Effects of Attributions on General Opinions 9: The Role of Individual Differences Conclusion Appendix A: Content Analysis Appendix B: Field Experiments Appendix C: Correlational Analysis Notes References Index

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