Top of the Rock
By Warren Littlefield
- Release Date: 2012-05-01
- Genre: TV
Description
Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, ER, Cheers, Law & Order, Will & Grace…Here is the funny, splashy, irresistible insiders’ account of the greatest era in television history -- told by the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the network executives who made it happen…and watched it all fall apart.
Warren Littlefield was the NBC President of Entertainment who oversaw the Peacock Network’s rise from also-ran to a division that generated a billion dollars in profits. In this fast-paced and exceptionally entertaining oral history, Littlefield and NBC luminaries including Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Kelsey Grammer, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie, Debra Messing, Jack Welch, Jimmy Burrows, Helen Hunt, and Dick Wolf vividly recapture the incredible era of Must See TV.
From 1993 through 1998, NBC exploded every conventional notion of what a broadcast network could accomplish with the greatest prime-time line-up in television history. On Thursday nights, a cavalcade of groundbreaking comedies and dramas streamed into homes, attracting a staggering 75 million viewers and generating more revenue than all other six nights of programming combined. The road to success, however, was a rocky one. How do you turn a show like Seinfeld, one of the lowest testing pilots of all time, into a hit when the network overlords are constantly warring, or worse, drowning in a bottle of vodka?
Top of the Rock is an addictively readable account of the risky business decisions, creative passion, and leaps of faith that made Must See TV possible. Chock full of delicious behind-the-scenes anecdotes that run the gamut from hilarious casting and programming ploys to petty jealousies and drug interventions, you’re in for a juicy, unputdownable read.
Reviews
Boring...Must See Tv was a snooze.
2By CuzcarolHoped it would be more interesting and have more chewy insider stories, but it really didn't. I've read other books that were of the some ilk that were much more fascinating. This was just...Meh. Meh.Top of the Rock
5By Mrvideo427A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the nether regions of network television.Good read
4By arachnoman666I really enjoyed thisGood, but lacks venon
3By LuukitasGreat read if you were fan of the shows, but too much sucking up and wanking between some of the talent interviewed. Lots of people involved in the shows are missing, and we know there was much more drama behind the scenes than we are told. It does get more interesting in the end, where Warren is fired and he lets his interviewees trash Jeff Zucker. Best depositions come from Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Lisa Kudrow.Great Read
5By RossilliAs a fan of television, it was awesome to read behind the scenes at the last great age of Primetime. Awesome firsthand accounts from the people who lived it.Top of the rock...indeed!
5By Crystal5555I loved this book! So much inside information. You really got the sense of what it took to make "must see TV" happen.If interested, interesting.
3By JayLandoIt was good enough because I was interested and accept it as the self and group wank fest it was.Fun read
5By tomreaganI watched at least 80% of the shows featured in this book, religiously. There was a time in which I was glued to the tv on Thursday night between 8:00-11:00. And that's exactly what this book is about. Those great shows and the guy who made it happen. If you were on the same couch schedule as I was and you enjoy behind the scenes goodies like I do, then you'll love this book.Just an amazing read!
5By silverdragon3474If you just enjoy good television and remember Must See Tv on NBC this book shows you how it got there. I love the style of the book, feels like watching a documentary where different people all tell the story & so the perspective changes every paragraph. It does show how dumb executives are as well, and proves some of them have no idea what tv is or why people watch. It shows both the rise and decline of must see tv. It's showing the history that predicts what NBC did after Warren Littlefield left, and explains why they currently don't know what to do with good programming on the network.Great insight to behind the scenes
5By Vince.JohnsonHeard about this book on the Adam Corolla podcast and had to get it. Really cool format, like reading the Bio channel script for "Must See TV".