Book Description

On Friday, May 18, 1934, radio columns in the New York press announced that Bert Parks of CBS would be "relinquishing his status as N.Y.'s youngest Network Staff Announcer to the newly appointed George Ansbro on the NBC Announcing Staff." Ansbro's successful audition led to a career that included work on Young Widder Brown, Manhattan Maharajah and Dr. I.Q., the television show from which the book's title line is taken. Fifty-five years after his broadcast beginning, he was hailed as a pioneer who in terms of service held the honor of being the oldest employee of any network.

From his role as an NBC page in 1931 to his career as a network announcer, Ansbro recalls a career that includes a who's who of early radio and Hollywood stars, and a transition from what was known as the Blue Network and its beginnings at Rockefeller Center to the massive radio and television organization now known as ABC. Along with such names as Howard Cosell, Bob Hope, and Mary Pickford, Ansbro helped shape the modern entertainment world. ... Read more

Book Description

What did CBS and ABC not know about Steve Fleischman during his thirty years in network news and why did they not know it?

In A Red in the House, Stephen Fleischman tells of the political landmines in the mainstream media that marked the Cold War era.

"Although the Communist Party disintegrated out from under me in the mid-1950s, I found Marxism a valuable tool for analyzing the political and economic world around me.

During those thirty years, I worked with the best in mainstream broadcast journalism--Walter Cronkite, Ed Murrow, Fred Friendly, Dan Rather, Howard K. Smith, Eric Sevareid, Peter Jennings, Charles Kuralt, Harry Reasoner, Roone Arledge, Bill Redeker, Brit Hume, and more." --Stephen Fleischman

A Red in the House is replete with anecdotes and sidebar stories relating to the inner conflicts in the making of the TV news documentary.

A Red in the House portrays a graphic picture of how the mainstream media arrived at the sorry state it's in today.With five corporate media giants controlling most of what we see, hear and read, this story is even more relevant today. ... Read more

Book Description

Mr.Game Show, Wink Martindale, tells about his secret for success in Hollywood's fast lane.He takes us on a journey from Jackson, Tennessee to Tinseltown and lets us peek behind curtains of game shows, radio programs, concerts, and exclusive interviews with Elvis.Winking At Life is no quick dismissal of trouble, but an intimate, informed, and insightful choice.A most interesting read. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

'Dough' yourself a favor, read this book!
Wink is one of humanity's gems. A brilliant man, genius perhaps. Where would the world be without 'Gambit' I wonder? My only response to the question is a nervous shudder.

Wink's Book A Must For Game Show Fans! (& Everyone Else!)
Wink Martindale is one of TV's best Game Show hosts! From the popular 70's "Gambit" (which I liked so much I used "Gambit" as my CB 'handle' back then) to the most recent "Debt", Wink has kept us playing for so many years! Hopefully we will see more of Wink as host in the future! Meanwhile, this book is a great read as it lets you get to know one of America's favorite hosts a bit better. It also gives you a great insider's look at TV game shows! (Chock full of exclusive "behind the scenes" photos!

Very entertaining and well written reflection from Wink
To many of us who are still in college, we may only know Wink Martindale from his gameshow "Tic Tac Dough". But there is a lot more to this very talented and gifted man.

Next to the 19 gameshows that he hosted, he had a very sucessfull career in radio, getting his very first start on his hometown's own radio station. He also went on to have a million selling single "Deck Of Cards". Then began his long and still current career as gameshow emcee.

He begins by telling of his childhood in Jackson, Tenessee. He mentions his love and fascination of radio, and his longing to one day be the one announcing the news and playing the music that was heard by everyone for miles around. He also tells of the major influence his brothers and sister had on him, as well as his parents. Also, he tells how he got his nickname of "Wink".

Without giving away too much, I can honestly say, that if you are a fan of Wink, that you will really like this book. Wink is a fantastic writer and keeps you glued to every page. When I first started reading his book, I looked at the clock a while later and didn't realize that an hour and a half had passed!

There are also A LOT of photos and a nice collection of color photos in the center of the book.

I give this book 5 stars, because of the many autobiographies that I have read lately, this one is not only informative, but also heartwarming and entertaining.

Highly Recommended ... Read more

Book Description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"It seems to me now that Huntley's and my success lay mainly in the fact that we were new, as television was new, and we had few competitors. . . . Nearly everything we did had never been done before. . . . What is now commonplace was in its beginning a grand and glorious adventure for the people of our country and the world, a vicarious balloon ride into the stars. . . ."
Just how a young man growing up in a small southern town with only one one-hundred-watt A.M. radio station and no network affiliation became one of the world's most respected broadcasters in the nation makes for a "grand and glorious adventure" in itself. Now, in this fascinating and charmingly candid memoir of a career spanning half a century, David Brinkley recollects from his own unique vantage point the remarkable, shaky beginnings of television news, the ever-changing social and political landscape of our country, and the colorful people who have crossed his path. He includes priceless moments playing poker with Harry Truman, riding the rails with Winston Churchill, being whisked off by helicopter to Camp David by Lyndon Johnson, and receiving the distinguished Medal of Freedom from George Bush. From the New Deal to the Contract with America, David Brinkley has seen it all. . . and he knows how to tell a story--especially his own.
"Reading it is like sitting in your living room, having a conversation with this wonderful man. He writes the way he talks, the words flowing easily and comfortably; the book, a wry, elegant, funny, intimate, always interesting, often insightful trip across 75 years."
--The Boston Globe
"A WEALTH OF ANECDOTES."
--San Francisco Chronicle
"CHOCK FULL OF GOOD STORIES."
--The Christian Science Monitor
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
... Read more

Reviews (9)

Plain Writing, just like his speech!
As a non-native English speaker who has been watching ABC's "This Week" all these years, I've always found David Brinkley's manner of speaking concise and easy to understand with short sentences and simple vocabulary. This was far cry from many other loud talking heads, including David's own colleagues on his Sunday program. He taught me how English could be spoken plainly but precisely and effectively. His memoir is written exactly the way he spoke. He gets to the point without being wordy and beating around the bush.
One thing I liked about this memoir is that he wrote more about his professional life than personal, which was of little interest to me. This memoir is also a history of American TV journalism, filled with episodes that were new to me. I was particularly interested in learning what he had to say about Joe McCarthy, whom David's own sister served as secretary for many years. Quite a bit is written about Kenndey brothers, too, including JFK assasination. So glad he published this memoir before he passed away.

David Brinkley, a rambling book
I was quite excited to get David Brinkley's book, as I have enjoyed his newscasts for years, particularly the early conventions. As it turns out, this is a "Chatty-Cathy" book that rambles on about his life, with his TV persona somewhat as an afterthought. The book is quite readable with his enjoyable laconic style, but at the end, you don't know much more about him, TV, the process of TV news, or the events to which he was an eyewitness....at least not more than you already knew or could surmise.
The book was a pleasant interlude, but somewhat a bit of froth

A fun book
Having grown up with the Huntley-Brinkley report and watching them at all the conventions, I truly enjoyed this book. Especially interesting is how Brinkley trashes Jesse Helms.

Light and Entertaining Memoir of Old Style News Man
To me, Brinkley always seemed a cut above the modern TV journalist / anchor -- more sober, more professional and less interested in focusing the attention on himself rather than his subject.

David Brinkley tells his life story in this quick book. Growing up with the new medium of television, he and his partner (Chet Huntly) wrote much of the playbook for the way network news and tv interview shows are conducted.

This is an interesting story that tells not only of Brinkley's growth and development but also of the maturation of the tv news industry. Along the way, Brinkley was witness to many seminal events and has of course met many of the notables of his era.

The man's integrity and dedication to the profession of journalism shines through in this book. I can't imagine Sam or Cokie or Dan or Peter writing this book. Too much would be devoted to image and the their impact on the news. Brinkley was able to achieve the incredible credibility he enjoyed because he was made of different stuff -- this is the story of a darn good journalist who understood the difference between covering the news and entering it.

Enlightening and Entertaining
Being born in the early 1970's, the only way that I remember and have become endeared to David Brinkley was on ABC's "This Week with David Brinkley." It was Sunday morning must-see viewing for a political junkie like me. Tim Russert's "Meet the Press" has outstanding questioning of his guests, but for some reason Brinkley's show was my favorite.

This book was a treasure for me to read because it was like seeing the history of modern politics from the front-lines. Brnkley was there as tv gained its foothold, and then its firm grip as THE MEDIUM to campaign for president. His insights into the different presidents since FDR are non-partisan and quite funny. He pulls no punches about who he liked and disliked and keeps his political ideology to himself for the most part. Though in the final chapter of this book, he does provide some biting commentary on the money-grubbing and unfair tax practices in this country.

This book can be confusing at times, because Mr. Brinkley seems to have pieced it together as his thoughts were coming to him. It is random and does not follow any cohesive time-line. He will jump from talking about the 1950's then to the 1970's then back to the 1950's and 60's again. Frankly I did not understand the point and thought it might be easier to read had he decided to write in chronological order.

I was also surprised to learn that Brinkley and his co-anchor Chet Huntley were the top rated news broadcasters of hteir day. All this time I had thought Walter Cronkite had ALWAYS been the #1 rated broadcaster and in fact his CBS program only gained on NBC in the early 1970's. Mr. Brinkley continuously expresses his fierce competitiveness towards the other networks and their newscasters. Some habits die hard for this career journalist who was constantly working hard to provide the BEST presentation in his field.

This book is really an enjoyable read and I would recommend it anyone interested in the pre-CNN days of tv journalism. David Brinkley was a national treasure and I miss him every Sunday. He was truly the glue to that program among the huge egos of Sam Donaldson and George Will.

Even if you just come across this book in a book store, I would especially take a good read towards the end, about page 245-246. He writes about a page and a half on the men that died on the beaches of Normandy. It is heart wrenching and tears welled up in my eyes while I was reading it. Then I reread it again and highlighted the section, because I will save that portion one as of the most outstanding tributes to the men of that "greatest generation" who died that day. It's worth it's price for that page alone. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Laughing Out Loud
Entertaining in parts. Unfortunately somewhat disjointed and becomes rather boring towards the end. Does provide an insight into The Tonight Show and Johnny Carson. Most of the references to incidents on the show seem to come from the Video tape set- The Johnny Carson Collection" (which I highly recommend). Have also read "I'll Be Right Back" - by Mike Douglas. A much more entertaining and informative book about talk shows. I don't suppose that there is much chance of Johnny Carson writing a biography because he likes to keep his privacy. It would undoubtedly be a best seller.

all i can say is wow!
to enjoy this book, you will need soft light, smoking jacket, cohiba, and a stiff glass of bourbon. to delve into the topic of ed mcmahon it takes that kind of mindset. johnny carson's riveting forward captures the whole essence of the "hiyo," years. ed then takes us on a whirlwind tour of late nights of enebriation and carousing. shows spent drunk with johnny, burt reynolds and dom deluise are also brought to life so vividly by mcmahon you swear you could smell the vermouth and brut 33. ed also triumphantly portrays what it was like for him at the culmination of his life's work when timothy blakesley became the first winner of the american family sweepstakes. the question of whom did he prefer: johnny or dick is explored in an honest disection by the author. by this point your not quite sure of anything because you will be on your sixth bourbon and the cigar you were smoking has caught your smoking jacket on fire. i give four stars just on entertainment value alone. HIYO!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Dennis Potter redefined the standards for television playwriting. His remarkable career included "Pennies from Heaven," the inspiration for the movie starring Steve Martin-for which Potter wrote the screenplay-and the brilliantly complex "The Singing Detective," one of the finest artistic achievements ever created for television.

W. Stephen Gilbert brilliantly analyzes Potter's work, emphasizing the dramatic interplay between this brilliant, difficult man's life and the medium to which he was devoted. At the age of twenty-four, for instance, Potter was diagnosed with psoriatic arthopathy, a rare debilitating skin disease whose horrors he portrayed with biting black humor through his alter ego, the Michael Gambon character in "The Singing Detective."Weeks before his foretold death, he gave an astonishing television interview to Melvyn Bragg.Unforgettable for its honesty about life and work and death, the result was a gripping piece of television-quintessential Dennis Potter. This is an essential book for anyone interested in television, film, or this courageous and fascinating man.

"W. Stephen Gilbert recalls the lacerating wit, passionate intelligence, and courage behind the television playwright responsible for The Singing Detective and Pennies From Heaven." (Vanity Fair)

"Gilbert gives ample evidence why the fame of this iconoclastic writer should reach beyond the cult status it currently enjoys." (The Newark Star-Ledger) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gilbert vs. Carpenter... and the result is...
Last year Humphrey Carpenter published his official biography of Dennis Potter. Roughly 500 pages long Carpenter's book was a disappointing mixture of synopsis of Potters' plays, edited quotes from interviews Potter made toother journalists and interviews with people who have known Potter.Carpenter decides early on that the key fact to Potters' life was hissexual abuse, and the rest of his life is viewed from this angle. Hisremarks on Cold Lazarus are only concerned with a few, strange sexualremarks.

I mention this because it makes such a contrast to Gilvert'sbook. At times it is clumsy, wooden overwritten and a bit unfocused, andyes, a lot of it doesn't hold together but it is distinguished by agenuine, though healthily critical approach to his life.Gilbert understandsPoters' importance as both a literary figure and a creative figure andwrites passionately about both. Potter was a brilliant, difficult man andalthough he has not yet got the brilliant, difficult review he deserves,Gilbert's goes a long way to understanding the man and his extraordinarywriting. ... Read more

Book Description

No wonder this sexy, shy-guy actor is landing the coolest roles in young Hollywood--from Dawson Leery on the WB's Dawson's Creek to quarterback John "Mox" Moxon in the hit movie Varsity Blues--he's got that aw-shucks, guy-next-door irresistibility (not to mention those baby blue eyes!).James also happens to be a talented actor who wowed the Dawson's Creek creators with his brilliant audition for the part of the sensitive, introspective Dawson.Now, in this revealing biography, you can get the low-down on this hot young celebrity, including:

--What life is like behind the scenes and off-camera
--How James got his start in acting
--Where he plans to go with his budding career
--What kind of women he likes
--And much, much more!

WITH EIGHT PAGES OF COOL PHOTOS! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'm in James Heaven!
I have to say that I loved this book. And that's not only because they gave my website a A+. There are tons of pictures. and the writing was really good too.

AWESOME BOOK!
I loved James ever since the first episode of DC. The book was also really great. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Simply Scrummy?
Don't be fooled by "Simply Scrummy" a couple of reviews down. I'll bet it's the author plugging the book. Instead, listen to everything the review directly above "scrummy" has to say, and then I won't have to say it myself.

No good reason for this book to exist
It's hard to accept the credibility of a book that's full of either typos or outright errors. Halfway-knowledgable Python fans will spot these immediately: erstwhile Goodie Graeme Garden is repeatedly referred to as Graeme "Gardner", Neil Innes is both a member of the Bonzo Dog Band and the "Bongo" Dog Band, Terry Gilliam's opening sequence in "The Meaning of Life" is referred to as both "The Crimson Permanent Assurance" (its actual title) and "The Crimson Pearl Assurance," and the lyrics to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" are misquoted... those are the ones _I_ found. The only place this book fills is for Python completists who might want its handful of possibly unique photos. Python fans, either oldtimers or newbies, are advised to stay away from this patent 30th anniversary cash-in project which, stripped of the author's subjective re-hashings of the TV programs and movies, leaves very little that is new or inspired. Instead, pick up a copy of the new and stratospherically superior "Python Speaks" (read the real stories from the Pythons and their associates themselves), and find copies of George Perry's "Life of Python" (even if it is a few years old), both volumes of "All The Words", and perhaps supplement with Robert Hewison's "Monty Python : The Case Against," all cornerstones of a worthy Python history library.

SIMPLY SCRUMMY!!!
By far the VERY best book not to come out yet about Monty Python this year!! The wife and I both look forward to it not coming out any sooner,at all. In the best tradition of other books not yet released about Monty Python.... this is surely one of them! ... Read more

Book Description

Jackson is an experienced tour director, having gained travel experience in all fifty states and many foreign countries escorting groups on trips and cruises, some sponsored by the radio and television stations she represented.

Many years in radio and television afforded Carolyn experiences that ran the gamut from comedy to tragedy. In We Interrupt This Program..., she tells these tales with wit, humor, and sensitivity.

From being the first Austin television personality to jump local stations to jumping from a moving train, Carolyn spins a yarn that reveals not only the glamour of the world of radio and television, but also its occasionally darker side.

We Interrupt This Program... offers readers a unique peek into the lives of many of the television and movie stars Carolyn interviewed during her career and tells what it was like to work for Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson and alongside the legendary Cactus Pryor.

Throughout the book, Carolyn reveals how her developing faith in God sustained her through triumphs, heartaches, and tragedy as she pursued her career, eventually leading her into a challenging new profession. ... Read more

Book Description

In the tradition of Tuesdays with Morrie comes the heartwarming story of a man who gave up a multi-million dollar contract as a television news anchor to care for, and make peace with, his dying father. John Johnson grew up in Bed-ford-Stuyvesant and Harlem, the only son of a man who worked hard to support his family, but also tyrannized them with violent outbursts and regular beatings. His childhood made Johnson tough and angry--and fueled his determination to be a successful black man in a white world. Eventually, he became one of the biggest names in New York television news. Then something happened. His mother, whom he loved dearly, died in his arms, and his father was diagnosed with lung cancer soon after. Stunned, Johnson stepped back and realized that he had been so driven to succeed that he had forgotten the values--and the people--that truly mattered. So he quit his lucrative job and hard-won career to take care of the father who had tormented him so many years ago. ONLY SON is the story of a father and son who must untangle the bitter memories of their past in order to say goodbye...with love. ... Read more

Book Description

Linn Sheldon delighted Cleveland children with his "Barnaby" character and television show in the 1950s and Õ60s. His overwhelming popularity made Barnaby an icon of an era of childhoodÑa warm, lasting memory that thousands of Clevelanders hold on to still.

Now this master storyteller is ready to tell his most fascinating story of all; his own.

Behind the unusual character of a lovable six-foot-tall elf was an equally unusual man. Abandoned as an infant, the young Linn Sheldon quickly learned how to entertain as a matter of necessityÑin order to convince people to take care of him. He parlayed that skill into an early career in show business and, soon, a lucky break brought him local fame. Unfortunately, some of the other things Sheldon learned from his early years led him to destroy his chances for greater stardom in Hollywood.

Some might look back on a life that has swung from low to high and back and forth again with bitterness or longing. Linn Sheldon retains a beautiful sense of humor. That, along with an exceptionally good ear for a story and a deft touch with words make Linn Sheldon eminently qualified to tell this touching and very human tale. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Somewhat interesting, but overall disappointing
Linn Sheldon's Barnaby character was probably one of the most sincere of the great 1960's kiddie show hosts. In many ways, his warmth and understanding were predecessor to what Mr. Rogers brought to children's TV -- although an essential difference is that Mr. Roger's entire agenda was about supporting children, whereas Baranaby hosted a show that marketed cartoons to children, and was supported by advertising...

Anyway, I find myself perplexed at the 5-star reviews of this book. Sheldon has collected and strung together a bunch of anecdotes about his life on-the-way, during, and after showbiz. What grabbed his attention and what he seems to find worth writing about are the high points in life. So there are anecdotes are about times of triumph, like performing or hanging out with Bob Hope or Robert Mitchum or Emmet Kelly; or times of despair like being ripped off as a child during the Great Depression, lost loves, or dealing later with sickness and alcoholism. For me the truest and most vivid parts of the book were of his vagabond childhood in the 20's and 30's, including a couple of absolutely heartbreaking stories; and of regional showbiz in the 40's. Parts of these sections paint colorful pictures, and we can identify with his feelings and experiences.

Later this is lost, especially when it comes to Barnaby. There's very little there about Barnaby and what made the character alive, and more importantly what makes Sheldon tick. We're told about his battle with alcoholism and how Barnaby kept him going, but the level of engagement is somehow superficial; Sheldon keeps himself, and therefore engages us, at a distance. After some basic info about how the show started, he goes back again into the anecdotes; a story about Jeanne Dixon, a story about a run-in with a park maintenance worker while in costume...there's surprisingly little meat about the Barnaby Show itself, its development and growth, and little of him or his involvement in it. Indeed, Woodrow the Woodsman, his sidekick, is mentioned only in the photo captions, and not at all in the text!

Maybe it was all lost to him in a blur, and maybe I shouldn't expect so much from someone who is not a writer to begin with, but I think there could have been a lot more here. Perhaps he needed to distance himself from what he went through in order to write about it at all. But given what he has been through, there is enough pain, tragedy, triumph, humor, and history to be of universal interest; whereas all we have now is a minor book of nostalgic interest to those who grew up in Cleveland, with very little in the way of detail.

THIS BOOK BRINGS BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES
I GREW UP WATCHING BARNABY FOR MANY YEARS AS A SMALL FRY. HE WAS AND STILL IS ONE OF MY HEROES. LINN SHELDON DOES A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING HIS LIFE, CAREER, AND ADVENTURES IN SHOW BIZ. HE IS VERY CREATIVE, HUMOROUS, DETAILED, AND WITTY. HE WRITES WITH CLASS AND DIGNITY. HIS TELLING OF THE DARK SIDE OF HIS LIFE (ALCOHOLISM) IS VERY HONEST, TOUCHING, AND HUMOROUS. I AM A RECOVERING ONE MYSELF. I CAN IDENTIFY WITH HIS FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES. THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING LOOK AT A VERY LOVING AND CREATIVE MAN WHO BROUGHT A LOT OF JOY TO MANY CHILDREN IN CLEVELAND OVER A FEW DECADES. VERY VERY RECOMMENDED.

Barnaby & Me
Although it is about the life of a television performer,one who was a pioneer in the industry, I feel that this book is an easy read, fun, and hard to leave alone...I find myself referring to favorite chapters many, many times. This is not a book about Cleveland, it is a book about everyone. Someone should do a musical or movie about this author.

Beautifully written stories about a remarkable life
Like millions of others in this region, I grew up watching Barnaby on TV. Linn Sheldon was on television for 32 years as Barnaby, the elfin-eared pal of children and parents alike. Left to fend for himself at the age of seven, he lived by his wits and with the kindness of sympathetic citizens in Norwalk, Ohio. As a teenager he hitchhiked across America playing the banjo for meals, spent three years on the MGM lot, and returned to the Cleveland area to begin a career as actor and standup comic. In 1948 he joined WEWS-TV in Cleveland, the first TV station in the region, and his accounts of early televion are fascinating. In time his fame spread well beyond Cleveland to Westinghouse TV markets, and he did extensive work in Texas as well. As his career developed, so did his need for alchohol. He made and lost a fortune, married four times, and had serious bouts with depression. His stories about his drinking days and his brushes with the psychiatric community are at once moving and hilarious. Now retired and healthy again, he looks back on his life with the same kind of joy and sensitivity he imbued in the character of Barnaby. Reading it made me feel like a kid again enthralled with the musings of this wonderful elf. ... Read more

Book Description

Fifteen friends offer a lively appreciation of "Two Fat Ladies'" Jennifer Paterson. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great fun!
Ok, it's not War and Peace, but for all us who miss Jennifer Paterson or who never knew the range of her unconventionality from the TV show, this is a quick and delightful ride driven by those who knew and loved her. Loving testaments from those who fired her for throwing all the dishes out the window, those she insulted, those she cooked for, are published alongside photos from her birth to old age, and of her helmet being carried behind her coffin at her funeral . Let your hair down, pour a glass, and dig this one!

Disappointed!!
I was very disappointed in this book. It seems to have been rushed to press. It just mulls over the same things, what Jennifer's jobs were and her heavy drinking. There must have been more to this interesting lady. Wish it had been better. Maybe someone will write a better book about this woman. ... Read more

Book Description

"Every ordinary American knows this catchphrase, and it's all thanks to the dynamic commentary of sportscaster Warner Wolf. Here, in a book as colorful and good-humored as he is, Warner presents a sports feast of quirky observations, quotes, memories, debates, and trivia. "C'MON! GIMME A BREAK!" In this fast-break journey through the world of sports broadcasting, Warner Wolf plays back his fabulous career and some of his most memorable meetings with sports superstars. Share an elevator with Shaquille O'Neal and his entourage. Dine with Joltin' Joe DiMaggio. Ride in a Miami taxi cab with Joey Maxim, the man who beat Sugar Ray Robinson in 1952 when Robinson collapsed from the heat. Along the way, take a look at sports through the eyes--and voice--of Warner Wolf:

"HERE'S THE "BOO" OF THE WEEK!"When a ball hits a foul pole, it's a fair ball. Then why doesn't baseball call it a fair pole? Proof that baseball is harder to play than golf: Major league baseball players often spend their days off golfing. But when's the last time you heard of a golfer spending his free time playing baseball?

Why do NFL teams still use the prevent defense? Don't they know that the only thing the prevent defense prevents is their WINNING THE FOOTBALL GAME? "IF YOU HAD THE CLIPPERS AND 37 POINTS--YOU LOST!"

From what goes on behind the camera to what happens on the playing field, Warner Wolf knows what sports is all about--having fun. And in an arena filled with out-of-control media hype, LET'S GO TO THE VIDEOTAPE replays the lighter side of the sports world. So don't put off reading this book, because, as the late, great NFL coach George Allen used to say, and Warner wholeheartedly agrees...

"THE FUTURE IS NOW!"" ... Read more

Reviews (12)

If you paid full retail for this book ... YOU LOST!
I picked this up ... at a discount bookstore and could not have been more delighted.After first being introduced to Wolf on the ...morning radio program, I can't get enough! Unlike some celebrity authors, this book was actually written by Warner Wolf.It reads just as though he were speaking to you during one of his rants during a broadcast.Warner has a very unique take on the sports world and he "gets it".If you "get it", you will enjoy this book.If you don't, you probably stumbled upon this book by accident...

Fun reading
Lots of short chapters.Each on a different subject, so you can put the book down anytime and not need to remember a big story when you pick it back up.The author has a good sense of humor and covers some interesting subjects.

If You Had Warner Wolf & No Laughs...YOU LOST!!
One of the truly great personalities in sports broadcasting, Warner offers his unique perspective on everything from baseball to golf, and most points in between. Wolf is so brutally honest about his career and the people he has met that you have to admire his step-up-to-the-plate, fresh takes on a variety of subjects.

This is a real page-turner, written in a light vein and laugh-out-loud funny! There are also a few surprises in store for the many fans of the Don Imus radio show, whose impression of Warner may be only from the few minutes he is allowed for his sports reports there. Warner doesn't mince words, but a lot of what he has to say is pretty deep, once you get past the laughs.

I really enjoyed this book. It's for fun and it's a quick read, but the author also makes the reader think. "CHANGE THE RULES!" An entertaining book doesn't HAVE to be only for laughs...this one will also make you say, "Hm-m-m-m-m!" I would recommend it to anyone. Even my wife(who yells, "Isn't there anything ELSE on?", whenever I turn on a TV sporting event)loved it. It has enough substance outside of the sports environment to make a book that's even interesting to sports HATERS!

You won't regret the few bucks you'll spend for "Let's Go To The Videotape!"

"Gimme a break"
Warner Wolf is an endearing character and a fabulous sportscaster.Never one to pull a punch, Mr. Wolf makes it his lifelong ambition to correct all idiotic rules and misnomers in modern sports.The problem is that he does it much better as a television personality than as a writer.I have no problem with opinionated people, but in a novel at leastsome effort should be made to offer the arguments of both sides before tendering the author's opinion.Also, there are so many chapters that are no more than a few paragraphs long.I found that to be somewhat tedious.It is more enjoyable to read a book where the author spins the story around many similar events and ties them together rather than penning numerous disjointed anecdotes.Nothing more is revealed here than many of Mr. Wolf's fans do not already know so they will be disappointed.The argument about the admission of Pete Rose into baseball's Hall of Fame hardly ranks up there with the exclusion of Galileo from the Catholic Church.Gimme a break!

It's Warner Lite! Very Light
"Let's Go to the Videotape" consists of 112 short anecdotes, observations and stories packed into 303 pages. To say that "Let's Go" is quick reading is to overstate the obvious. If this compilation had no weaknesses other than brevity, it could be highly recommended. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Mr. Wolf is an entertaining and very popular TV sports newsman. I looked forward to his 11:00 PM slot on NYC's Channel 2 for years. He is also a very able-and serious- public speaker. Mr. Wolf is in a different element here and his writing skills fall resoundingly short of his broadcasting abilities. Is this for a lack of effort?To be specific, many of the "chapters" could have easily been combined into a more concise format. Also, the grammar, or lack of same, cries out for an EDITOR! Did Warner, or his ghostwriter, ever notice the spell check icon? This is an affliction common to many books these days. Editing is an expense to be cut! More importantly, Warner (the publisher) should either invest in a fact checker or Warner (the author) should refresh his memory.i.e: 1) He mistold the tale of Mickey Mantle's 1956/1957 holdout by $40,000- a fortune in those days. 2) The "Bad News" Barnes basketball player was Jim, out of Texas Western (now Texas El Paso) and later the Knicks. 3) Chapter 84 ("Hello Allie") utterly glosses over how unpopular Allie Sherman was during his disastrous tenure as coach of the NY football Giants. The franchise needed 20 years to recover from that clown and his disastrous trade of the great Sam Huff. The author blew that one! If I had read with a red pencil, I could compile a longer list, but I'm certain the point is made. This is lightweight stuff. No harm no foul but no red meat either. I can't resist a closing pun: If you paid full hardcover price for this one, YOU LOST! ... Read more

Book Description

Talking Politics presents the opinions of some of America's leading broadcasters and political commentators on the tension-fraught relationship between politics and the media. In a series of personal, frank, and in-depth interviews, Tom Brokaw, Larry King, Robert MacNeil, Linda Ellerbee, Bernard Shaw, and others talk about the extraordinarily influential, sometimes volatile, relationship between journalists and political figures. Providing a window onto political campaigns and governance, political analysts, journalists, and media figures address issues such as: * When does a tabloid story become news, worthy of the attention of the serious media * Can a talk show really give us a "closer look" at a candidate or is that closeness an illusion? * When can voters trust candidate images presented on TV--network news, talk shows, or otherwise? In an age when the media has become as much a topic as the politicians it covers. Talking Politics will be fascinating reading for all who follow politics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Almost Like the "On the Road" Series
I enjoyed listening to this audiocassette. I find that the journalist's job is one of the most intriguing. Kuralt explains one of his early first assignments in the beginning of the book, and works up to some of his favorite stories that he had covered during his stint with CBS.

Although this book may not be as exciting as watching it on video, his biography is one that shouldn't be missed if you are interested in the field of journalism & writing. ... Read more

Book Description

No one is more identified with the great events of our times than the distinguished and highly honored former CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite. For more than half a century, Cronkite was there celebrating America's greatest achievements, and helping the nation and world through some of the most difficult times in history.

In Walter Cronkite Remembers, Cronkite recounts the journey of his life and his extraordinary career in broadcasting. He gives a vivid account of his early daysas a World War II correspondent at Normandy and Nuremberg. He retells the highlights of four decades spent behind the anchor desk at the CBS Evening News. When the United States landed on the moon, Cronkite brought us there and joined in a nation's patriotic astonishment. When Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, it was Cronkite who delivered the shocking news to the nation with compassion and empathy.

Using exceptional archival material, as well as intimate interviews at Cronkite's home, Cronkite Remembers takes us on a truly memorable odyssey through the great stories of our times. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

That's not the way it was -- there was more to it!
Don't confuse CRONKITE REMEMBERS with A REPORTER'S LIFE. The latter is a genuine memoir from TV's second greatest journalist (next to Edward R. Murrow). The former is a brief tape that breezes through events so quickly as to be wholly unsatisfying. Walter Cronkite has lived a long enough life and had a rich enough career to merit two autobiographies, but CRONKITE REMEMBERS is so superficially brief as to trivialize his career and the events he covered rather than add to our understanding of them. This isn't a terrible tape. It isn't unpleasant to listen to. I liked hearing Cronkite's voice, which I could only imagine while reading A REPORTER'S LIFE. But I was left wanting more - much, much more. That's why CRONKITE REMEMBERS merits a low rating. Skip this and get A REPORTER'S LIFE.

And that's the way it is!
Walter Cronkite narrates his life, with comments from his friends and family. His life, however, is filled with special moments that make it very interesting. With humor and very personal opinions, he will take you from the day Kennedy was assassinated, to Russian bombs and Nazism, while at the same time providing insights about the American Presidents he met. In this narration, Cronkite shows a very human side, including comments about his mistakes while assessing news. I found this book very enjoyable to listen to, and if you have an interest in history, I think you will enjoy it too. Or as Cronkite would say: And that's the way it it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Illuminating text for luminous works
This book was published in 1970, and so does not have anything on Marc Chagall's later works.However, the text does cover the time up until 1970 quite adequately and in just a few pages so we can dig into the beautiful color plates.The author writes more about how Chagall's career evolved and how his work was perceived than about his life in general.The author then provides a hefty bibliography for further reading.

And then on to the plates!These watercolors and gouaches were sometimes studies for oil paintings and sometimes works on their own.They're all as imaginative, optimistic, and eloquent as we expect Chagall's works to be.And the text that accompanies each gives just the right amount of background information and points out salient features of design, color, and composition.Fun to read and fun to look at. ... Read more