In November 1939, NBC's fledgling television station W2XBS broadcast the first known holiday special, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite its small viewership (very few TV sets existed at the time), the experimental telecast was a harbinger of a now-beloved American tradition: the holiday television special. This book offers a thorough account of holiday television specials in the United States from 1939 to 2021, highlighting variety shows, comedic performances, musical spectaculars and more. From familiar favorites (1964's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) to campy one-offs (1985's He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special), the 1140 programs are covered alphabetically and feature performance casts, production credits and storylines for each. Three appendices cover "lost" holiday specials, along with Christmas and Halloween-themed episodes of popular television series.

The early years of television relied in part on already successful narratives of another medium, as studios adapted radio programs like Boston Blackie and Defense Attorney to the small screen. Many shows were adapted more than once, like the radio program Blondie, which inspired six television adaptations and 28 theatrical films. These are but a very few of the 1164 programs covered in this volume. Each program entry contains a detailed story line, years of broadcast, performer and character casts and principal production credits where possible. Two appendices ("Almost a Transition" and "Television to Radio") and a performer's index conclude the book. This first-of-its-kind encyclopedia covers many little-known programs that have rarely been discussed in print (e.g., Real George, based on Me and Janie; Volume One, based on Quiet, Please; and Galaxy, based on X Minus One). Covered programs include The Great Gildersleeve, Howdy Doody, My Friend Irma, My Little Margie, Space Patrol and Vic and Sade.

In 1936, as television networks CBS, DuMont, and NBC experimented with new ways to provide entertainment, NBC deviated from the traditional method of single experimental programs to broadcast the first multi-part program, Love Nest, over a three-episode arc. This would come to be known as a miniseries. Although the term was not coined until 1954, several other such miniseries were broadcast, including Jack and the Beanstalk and Women in Wartime. In the mid-1960s the concept was developed into a genre that still exists. While the major broadcast networks pioneered the idea, it quickly became popular with cable and streaming services. This encyclopedic source contains a detailed history of 878 TV miniseries broadcast from 1936 to 2020, complete with casts, networks, credits, episode count and detailed plot information.

A fun and accessible guide to foreign television series that were later broadcast in or adapted for the US, including popular favorites such as The Office and Doctor Who. In Broadcast in the US: Foreign TV Series Brought to America, Vincent Terrace delivers a wonderful resource of over 400 foreign television shows broadcast in the United States, along with their American adaptations. From British comedies like Fawlty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances to the Australian fantasy series The Girl from Tomorrow and the Japanese cartoons Astro Boy and Kimba, the White Lion, this book explores an often-overlooked side of American television and popular culture. Each entry includes details regarding the cast, genre, episodes, US and foreign networks, broadcast dates, storylines, and trivia. Containing information not easily found anywhere else, such as unsold script proposals, internet TV series, and unaired pilots, this first and only guide to foreign television series broadcast in the US is a valuable reference for all fans of television history.

For the major broadcast networks, the heyday of made-for-TV movies was 20th Century programming like The ABC Movie of the Week and NBC Sunday Night at the Movies. But with changing economic times and the race for ratings, the networks gradually dropped made-for-TV movies while basic cable embraced the format, especially the Hallmark Channel (with its numerous Christmas-themed movies) and the Syfy Channel (with its array of shark attack movies and other things that go bump in the night). From the waning days of the broadcast networks to the influx of basic cable TV movies, this encyclopedia covers 1,370 films produced during the period 2000-2020. For each film entry, the reader is presented with an informative storyline, cast and character lists, technical credits (producer, director, writer), air dates, and networks. It covers the networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, Ion, and NBC) and such basic cable channels as ABC Family, Disney, Fox Family, Freeform, Hallmark, INSP, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Syfy, TBS and TNT. There is also an appendix of "Announced but Never Produced" TV movies and a performer's index.

The first and only of its kind, this book is a straightforward listing of trivia facts from hundreds of TV series aired between 1947 and 2019. Organized by topic, trivia facts include everything from home addresses of characters, to names of pets and jobs that characters worked. Featured programs include popular shows like The Big Bang Theory and Friends and more obscure programs like A Date with Judy or My Friend Irma. Included is an alphabetical program index that lists trivia facts grouped by series.

Covering the years 1945-2017, this alphabetical listing provides details about 3,000 unaired television series pilots, including those that never went into production, and those that became series but with a different cast, such as The Green Hornet, The Middle and Superman. Rarities include proposed shows starring Bela Lugosi, Doris Day, Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, Orson Welles, Claudette Colbert and Mae West, along with such casting curiosities as Mona Freeman, not Gale Storm, as Margie in My Little Margie, and John Larkin as Perry Mason long before Raymond Burr played the role.

Television screens in the 1980s reflected some of the most memorable programs of all time. In that decade, such critically acclaimed shows as Cheers, The Golden Girls, Hill Street Blues, Newhart, and St. Elsewhere debuted. In that same decade, iconic shows like The A-Team, Baywatch, Cagney & Lacey, Knight Rider, MacGyver, Miami Vice, and Roseanne appealed to millions of viewers. Even after these shows departed the airwaves, they live on in syndication and on DVDs, entertaining many generations of viewers. In Television Series of the 1980s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about more than seventy programs from the decade. For example, did you know that Sam Malone had an ex-wife named Deborah? Or that MacGyver's alias was Dexter Fillmore? Or Dan Fielding's license plate on Night Court read "Hot to Trot"? These are just a handful of hundreds of fun and intriguing specifics found inside this volume. Programs from all four major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC)-as well as select syndicated programs-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs but a treasure trove of facts associated with each show. From the name of Roseanne's diner to the title of Jessica Fletcher's first novel, readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found elsewhere. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that currently exists on bygone shows of the era. Television Series of the 1980s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

Often regarded as the first golden era of television, the 1950s was a decade when many classic programs-from I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke to The Honeymooners and Perry Mason, among others-made their debuts. Even after these shows departed the airwaves, they lived on in syndication, entertaining several generations of viewers. Devoted and casual fans alike can probably remember basic facts about these shows-like the names of Lucy and Ricky's neighbors or the town where Marshall Matt Dillon kept the law. But more elusive facts, like the location of the most successful defense attorney in Los Angeles (Suite 904 of the Brent Building), might be harder to recall. In Television Series of the 1950s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about 100 programs from the decade. Did you know, for example, that the middle initial of Dobie Gillis' friend Maynard G. Krebs, stood for Walter? Or that Ralph Kramden's electric bill came to only 39 cents a month? Or that on I Love Lucy, Ricky originally performed at Manhattan's Tropicana Club? These are but a few of the hundreds of fun and intriguing trivia facts contained within this volume. Shows from all four networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and DuMont)-as well as select syndicated programs-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs, but a treasure trove of the facts associated with each of these programs. Readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found anywhere else. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that exists currently on bygone shows of the era. Television Series of the 1950s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

Since the beginning of network television, many shows have been preceded by an announcement or theme song that served various purposes. In the 1950s and '60s, it was common for announcers to declare that a program had been "brought to you by" a sponsor who paid for the privilege of introducing a show. Other programs, such as The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and The Odd Couple, provided a brief encapsulation of the show's subject matter, a practice that has continued for recent shows like Alias, Battlestar Galactica, Person of Interest, and the various editions of Law & Order. In Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings since 1949, Vincent Terrace has assembled openings for more than nine hundred television shows from the past seven decades. The only documented history of narrated television program introductions, this volume is arranged by type of programming, such as comedy, drama, Western, game show, soap opera, and children's show. In addition to quoting the opening material, entries provide information about each show's network history and years of broadcast. Many entries include descriptions of the show, the names of announcers, and a list of main cast members, as well as a sponsor pitch exactly as spoken. Openings for programs with multiple introductions like The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Charlie's Angels are also included. For programs that featured new guest stars every episode-such as game shows and variety programs-Terrace has selected a representative introduction. In addition to the theme song credits found in the main text, there are also appendixes of theme songs and their composers and/or singers, as well as a listing of commercial releases (on DVD, VHS, CD, and LP) of shows and their soundtracks. A comprehensive resource for researchers and pop culture aficionados alike, Television Introductions provides a fascinating look at this neglected part of TV history.

In 1954 NBC President Pat Weaver introduced "spectaculars"??????lavish entertainment shows designed to bring a new dimension to television. Though special programs had been around since 1939, Weaver's effort heralded a new age, with programs ranging from variety shows with big name hosts (Judy Garland, Cher, Perry Como, Bob Hope, for instance) through animated holiday specials and outstanding dramas to acclaimed children's programming. This is "the" guide to 3,197 entertainment specials, 1939 to 1993, that were broadcast on network, cable or syndicated television. For each show the cast, including guest stars and announcer, is provided. Also included are comprehensive production credits (director, producer, writer and music), dates aired, networks and running times, and program synopses.

Did you know that detective Adrian Mont (Monk) is afraid of milk? That Pinky's real first name on The Roaring '20s is Delaware? That on Charlie's Angels, Sabrina was the only Angel who was never seen in a bikini or swimsuit? These are only a few of the more than 9,800 facts readers will find in this work, which presents detailed information on 134 syndicated and cable series broadcast from 1948 to 2003, plus six experimental programs broadcast from 1937 to 1946 and 204 unsold pilots broadcast from 1948 to 1996, that featured the work of television's law enforcers who risk their lives to solve crimes and bring criminals to justice. The entries are arranged alphabetically and provide such details as character names, addresses, names of pets, telephone numbers, and license plate numbers - in short, anything and everything that adds interest to a program and its characters. Many of the entries contain information about related projects, including TV movies and pilots that were broadcast as part of a series (for example, Sharon Stone's appearance as detective Dani Starr on the ""Hollywood Starr"" episode of T.J. Hooker).

Superheroes and characters who fight crime by extraordinary means have populated the television airwaves from the beginning. This broad-ranging reference contains a trove of information on shows featuring such characters, from Superman in its various incarnations to programs like The A-Team, but excluding regular police and detective shows. Alphabetical entries on 125 network and syndicated series broadcast from 1949 to 2001, plus 26 pilot films, deliver information about story premises, characters, and myriad elements that add flavor and interest to the shows, as well as cast listings and broadcast data. A handy index of performers is included as well as an appendix listing the crime fighting machines that appear in the programs.

By 1960, watching television had become the pastime of millions of viewers around the world. Week after week, audiences tuned in to watch their favorite programs and catch up with their favorite characters. During the 1960s, some of the most beloved shows of all time originally aired, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Fugitive, Get Smart, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Wild, Wild West. Even after these shows departed the airwaves, they lived on in syndication, entertaining several generations of viewers. Devoted and casual fans alike can probably remember basic facts about these shows-like the name of Rob Petrie's boss on The Dick Van Dyke Show or the original captain of the USS Enterprise-but more obscure facts, like Barney Fife's middle name, might be harder to recall. In Television Series of the 1960s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about more than seventy-five programs from the decade. For example, did you know that on The Addams Family, Lurch's mother wanted him to become a jockey? Or that on The Avengers, John Steed had a pet dog named Freckles? Or that Patty and Cathy Lane of The Patty Duke Show had a distant cousin named Betsy Lane? These are but a few of the hundreds of fun and intriguing specifics contained within this volume. Shows from all three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC)-as well as select syndicated programs-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs but a treasure trove of the facts associated with each of these programs. From Mister Ed's social security number to the zip code for Hooterville on Green Acres, readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found anywhere else. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that exists. Television Series of the 1960s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

Created around the world and available only on the web, internet ""television"" series are independently produced, mostly low budget shows that often feature talented but unknown performers. Typically financed through crowd-funding, they are filmed with borrowed equipment and volunteer casts and crews, and viewers find them through word of mouth or by chance. The fourth in a series focusing on the largely undocumented world of internet TV, this book covers 573 children's series created for viewers 3 to 14. The genre includes a broad range of cartoons, CGI, live-action comedies and puppetry. Alphabetical entries provide websites, dates, casts, credits, episode lists and storylines.

Created around the world and available only on the web, internet ""television"" series are independently produced, mostly low budget shows that often feature talented but unknown performers. Typically financed through crowd-funding, they are filmed with borrowed equipment and volunteer casts and crews, and viewers find them through word of mouth or by chance. The fourth in a series covering Internet TV, this book takes a comprehensive look at 1,121 comedy series produced exclusively for online audiences. Alphabetical entries provide websites, dates, casts, credits, episode lists and storylines.

This is the first ever book on Internet television and is a detailed history of 393 programmes from 1998 to 2013. Each entry contains a detailed storyline, descriptive episodes for each series, cast and crew lists, the official website and a comment regarding each programme. An index of actors and production credits concludes the book. From Barry the Demon Hunter to Time Traveling Lesbian to Hamilton Carver, Zombie P.I., it's a previously unexplored world that is just now coming into focus.

How did Philip Gault become ""The Whisperer""? What radio series was the proving ground for a motion picture? Who owned the Solomon Levy Department Store? The answers to these and many other questions can be found in this encyclopedic reference work to 1802 radio programs broadcast from the years 1924 through 1984. Entries include casts, character relationships, plots and storylines, announcers, musicians, producers, hosts, starting and ending dates of the programs, networks, running times, production information and, when appropriate, information on the radio show's adaptation to television. Hundreds of program openings and closings are included.

In the 1990s the big three networks were being challenged by upstarts FOX and the WB for viewer loyalty. Alongside must-see stalwarts like Frasier, Friends, and Seinfeld, the new networks introduced pop culture touchstones like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files. Such shows not only made household names of their stars, but also thrived in syndication and some even graduated to the big screen. In that decade, shows such as ER, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Northern Exposure were vying for awards while programs like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Home Improvement drew in millions of viewers each week. Even after these shows departed the airwaves, they live on in syndication and on DVDs, entertaining many generations of viewers. In Television Series of the 1990s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about sixty programs from the decade. For example, did you know that Ally McBeal's favorite brand of ice cream is Ben and Jerry's? Or that Hank Hill's shoe size is 12? Or that Carrie Bradshaw's favorite cookie is Double-Stuff Oreos? These are just a handful of hundreds of fun and intriguing specifics found inside this volume. Programs from all of the major networks-as well as select syndicated programs and HBO-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs but a treasure trove of facts associated with each show. From Niles Crane's I.Q score to George Constanza's high score on Frogger, readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found elsewhere. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that currently exists on bygone shows of the era. Television Series of the 1990s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

In the first decade of the new millennium, the four major networks struggled to hold their own as cable channels and unscripted shows began to dominate the television landscape. Network powerhouses like 24, Desperate Housewives, and Two and a Half Men competed for viewers siphoned off by cult shows like The Closer, Gilmore Girls, and Veronica Mars. In that decade, shows such as 30 Rock and Modern Family were vying for awards while programs like Bones, CSI, and Dexter were pushing the envelope for graphic violence. All of these shows live on in syndication, streaming services, and DVDs, generating a constant wave of new viewers. In Television Series of the 2000s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about fifty programs from the decade. For example, did you know that Adrian Monk's father was a textbook writer? That psychic Shawn Spencer carries a travel-size packet of Johnson's Baby Shampoo in his wallet? Or that Gregory House's street address is the same as the fictional world's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes? These are just a handful of hundreds of fun and intriguing specifics found inside this volume. Programs from all of the major networks-as well as select syndicated programs and premium cable channels-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs but a treasure trove of facts associated with each show. From the time of day that Sheldon Cooper calls his "alone time" to the janitor's name on Scrubs, readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found elsewhere. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that currently exists on shows of the era. Television Series of the 2000s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

Television of the 1970s reflected the shifting attitudes of the nation, as more shows attempted to represent social changes across the country. Edgier programs like All in the Family and M*A*S*H pushed the boundaries of popular programming to become standards of quality viewing. At the same time, the small screen began to acknowledge that viewers were open to more diverse programming, resulting in hit shows like Sanford and Son and Good Times. Some of the most beloved shows of all time originally aired during the 1970s, including Columbo, Happy Days, Little House on the Prairie, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Even after these shows departed the airwaves, they live on in syndication and on DVDs, entertaining many generations of viewers. In Television Series of the 1970s: Essential Facts and Quirky Details, Vincent Terrace presents readers with a cornucopia of information about more than seventy programs from the decade. For example, did you know that Jim Ignatowski on Taxi attended Harvard? Or that John-Boy Walton was a reporter for the Jefferson County Times? Or that Lieutenant Columbo's favorite sandwich was peanut butter and raisins? These are just a handful of hundreds of fun and intriguing specifics found inside this volume. Programs from all three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC)-as well as select syndicated programs-are represented here. This is not a book of opinions or essays about specific television programs but a treasure trove of facts associated with each show. From Oscar Madison's middle name on The Odd Couple to Jim Rockford's license plate number, readers will discover a wealth of fascinating information that, for the most part, cannot be found elsewhere. In some cases, the factual data detailed herein is the only such documentation that currently exists on bygone shows of the era. Television Series of the 1970s is the ideal reference for fans of this decade and anyone looking to stump even the most knowledgeable trivia expert.

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.g., Christmas and New Year's Eve), the early 1936-1947 experimental specials, honours specials. In short, this is a reference work to 5,336 programmes - the most complete source for television specials ever published.

Over the course of 80 years television has produced countless programs, many of which fit a particular profile. Did you know, for example, some programs are devoted to ghosts, genies, angels and even mermaids? Color broadcasting was first tested in 1941? Live models were used to advertise lingerie as early as 1950? Or that nudity (although accidental) occurred on TV long before cable was even thought possible? These are just a few of the many facts and firsts that can be found within the 145 entries included. Appropriate for fans and scholars, and bursting with obscure facts, this work traces the evolution of specific topics from 1925 through the 2005-2006 season. Entries include such diverse themes as adolescence, adult film actresses on TV, bars, espionage, gays, immigrants, lawyers, transsexuals and truckers, as well as locations like Canada, Hawaii, New York and Los Angeles. Each entry is arranged as a timeline, clearly displaying how television's treatment of the subject has changed through the years. Each entry is as complete as possible and contains series, pilot, special and experimental program information. Whether just a fan of television and eager to know more about the medium or a scholar seeking hard-to-find facts and information, this book traces the history of specific topics from television's infancy to its changes in the early twenty-first century.

In November of 1937, NBC presented the first known pilot film, then called an "experimental." Over the years that followed, thousands of aired pilot films have appeared on TV either as stand-alone broadcasts or as part of a series. This reference work, the most complete guide to aired television pilot films ever published (or made available in any way), contains 2,470 alphabetically arranged programs, each with story information, performer and character cast listings, producers, air dates (where applicable), genre, and network or cable association. This edition also includes an appendix listing aired series spin-offs, like Agent Carter (2015), Fuller House (2016) and Magnum P.I. (2018). (Information on unaired pilot films can be found in the companion volume, Encyclopedia of Unaired Television Pilots, 1945-2018.)