Television

This is a collection of new essays on the religious themes in, and the implications of, the works of Joss Whedon, creator of such shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, and more recently writer and director of the box-office hit Marvel's The Avengers.

This is a complete revision of the author's 1993 McFarland book Television Specials that not only updates entries contained within that edition, but adds numerous programs not previously covered, including beauty pageants, parades, awards programs, Broadway and opera adaptations, musicals produced especially for television, holiday specials (e.

The Fugitive made its debut on ABC on September 17, 1963.

The sitcom made its first appearance in January of 1949 with the introduction of television's first family, The Goldbergs.

When the space drama Battlestar Galactica debuted on ABC in 1978, it was expected to be the most popular new program of the year.

Reversing a common science fiction cliche, Farscape follows the adventures of the human astronaut John Crichton after he is shot through a wormhole into another part of the universe.

This collection of 19 new essays by 21 authors from the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia and India focuses on contemporary film and television (1989 to the present) from those countries as well as from China, Korea, Thailand and France.

This is an exploration of the potent blend of Arthurian legend, cartoon animation, and cultural and artistic trends from 1933 to the present.

On the TV screen as elsewhere, there is often more than meets the eye.

In the three decades since the first SF film produced for television--1968's Shadow on the Land--nearly 600 films initially released to television have had science fiction, fantasy, or horror themes.

In the world of slapstick comedy, few are more beloved than the Three Stooges.

The long-running BBC science fiction program Doctor Who has garnered an intense and extremely loyal fan base since its 1963 debut.

This essay collection explores the phenomenon of "e;teen TV"e; in the United States, analyzing the meanings and manifestations of this category of programming from a variety of perspectives.

Rod Serling's anthology series The Twilight Zone is recognized as one of the greatest television shows of all time.

Whether rocketing to other worlds or galloping through time, science fiction television has often featured the best of the medium.

Although some scholars credit Shakespeare with creating in Henry IV's Falstaff the first "e;second banana"e; character (reviving him for Henry IV Part Two), most television historians agree that the popular co-star was born in 1955 when Art Carney, as Ed Norton, first addressed Jackie Gleason with a "e;Hey, Ralphie-boy,"e; on The Honeymooners.

The portrayal of clergy, saints, missionaries, monks, and other spiritual leaders dates back to the very beginnings of motion pictures and television.

Midnight, 1954.

In Only the Lonely (1991), Ally Sheedy appeases prospective mother-in-law Maureen O'Hara by going along to see the 1939 film How Green Was My Valley--starring Maureen O'Hara.

Did you know that detective Adrian Mont (Monk) is afraid of milk?

How is the android Data like Shakespeare's character Hamlet?

Rudyard Kipling and Sir Henry Rider Haggard--close friends--wrote about adventure and the exotic in very different ways.

From the early days of the movies, "e;cavemen"e; have been a popular subject for filmmakers--not surprisingly, since the birth of cinema occurred only a few decades after the earliest scientific studies of prehistoric man.

Television is awash with newly embraced gay and lesbian themes that have crossed over into the collective pop culture of America.

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This work examines the unique and ever-changing relationship between politics and comedy through an analysis of several popular American television programs.

The "e;live era"e; or "e;golden age"e;of television drama originating from New York, 1946 through 1951, was an exciting time of creative and commercial accomplishment.

The Red Skelton Show was on the air for 20 years, the longest-running primetime network comedy variety series on television.

With television programming broadcast worldwide 24/7, the industry needs a common language.

For the few hundred television viewers in 1946, a special treat on the broadcast schedule was the variety show called Hour Glass.

Do you remember the 1959 game show where ABC cancelled a tape featuring a female impersonator (Across the Board)?

"e;Quinn Martin was the most innovative and most creative of his kind.

Blake's 7, Terry Nation's science fiction tale of cosmic freedom fighters, became a hit series in Great Britain when it premiered in 1978.

This unique work profiles the private lives and careers of 32 American game show hosts, including the originals (e.

Fan CULTure explores how present-day fans interact with the films, television shows, books, and pop culture artifacts they love.

Born Joan Boniface Winnifrith on January 2, 1913, Anna Lee is best known for her portrayal of General Hospital's Lila Quartermaine, a character who she brought to life for over two decades.

Although horror shows on television are popular in the 1990s thanks to the success of Chris Carter's The X-Files, such has not always been the case.

This book is the definitive guide to the film, stage, radio and television career of Kay Francis, one of the most glamorous stars from the golden age of Hollywood.

This analysis examines several recent reimagined science fiction franchises (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, V, and Star Wars) in order to capture how "e;reboots"e; work from a fan perspective.

Starting in 1996, U.

Archie Bunker, George Jefferson, Maude--the television sitcom world of the 1970s was peopled by the creations of Norman Lear.

Jim Henson was the creative force behind a huge catalog of television series, films, specials, and other productions, even excepting the Muppets.

As Doctor Who nears its 50th anniversary, it is very much a part of British popular culture, and the Doctor has become a British icon.

Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was one of the most unusual programs on television, defying definition as simply comedy, variety, or burlesque.

Bonanza aired on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973, playing to 480,000,000 viewers in over 97 countries.

American viewers are attracted to what they see as the non-scripted, unpredictable freshness of reality television.

This oral history of television sitcom writing offers the perspectives of 22 of the best and most prolific early comedy writers.

This collection of fresh essays addresses a broad range of topics in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, both old (1963-1989) and new (2005-present).

On the February 2, 1960, episode of The Danny Thomas Show, entertainer Danny Williams (Danny Thomas) is arrested for a traffic violation by a small-town sheriff named Andy Taylor, played by a good-natured Southern actor named Andy Griffith.

Ricky Nelson (he later preferred "e;Rick"e;) was 8 years old when he began his career in show business.