Description
Book Synopsis Although television critics have often differed with the public with respect to the artistic and cultural merits of television programming, over the last half-century television has indubitably influenced popular culture and vice versa. No matter what reasons are cited--the characters, the actors, the plots, the music--television shows that were beloved by audiences in their time remain fondly remembered.
This study covers the classic period of popular television shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, focusing on how regular viewers interacted with television shows on a personal level. Bridging popular and scholarly approaches, this book discovers what America actually watched and why through documents, footage, visits to filming locations, newspapers, and magazine articles from the shows'' eras. The book features extensive notes and bibliography.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
Part I. 1960s: Fun, Family, and Fantasy
1. Only Yesterday
2. The Mayberry Trilogy
The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68)
Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–71)
Gomer Pyle, USMC (1964–69)
3. Homespun Fun
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–71)
Petticoat Junction (1963–70)
Green Acres (1965–71)
4. A Flurry of Fantasy
Mister Ed (1961–66)
Bewitched (1964–72)
I Dream of Jeannie (1965–70)
5. Cool Ghouls and Castaways
The Addams Family (1964–66)
The Munsters (1964–66)
Gilligan's Island (1964–67)
It's About Time (1966–67)
Dark Shadows (1966–71)
Part II. 1970s–90s: The Good, the Cunning, and the Clever
6. Goodbye Hooterville, Hello Big City
7. Murder, Mystery, and Intrigue
The Magician (1973–74)
Ellery Queen (1975–76)
Murder, She Wrote (1984–96)
8. Peacekeepers and P.I.s
Nichols (1971–72)
The Rockford Files (1974–80)
Magnum P.I. (1980–88)
MacGyver (1985–92)
9. Television with a Twist
Dark Shadows (1991)
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993–94)
Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
10. Same Place, Different Shows: A Quick Tour of Some Popular Filming Locations
Epilogue
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
