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Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2012-11-08

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0786493054

This book finally casts a spotlight on some short-lived and almost forgotten sitcoms--those which aired for only one single season. Many books have already been written about situation comedies that enjoyed long and storied runs on television but this volume focuses upon the others. Overflowing with fresh facts, interviews, photographs, and stories, nearly 300 short-lived sitcoms over a 32 year span are presented A-to-Z, whether network or syndicated, prime time or Saturday morning.

Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2016-05-16

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1476623848

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As the cable TV industry exploded in the 1980s, offering viewers dozens of channels, an unprecedented number of series were produced. For every successful sitcom--The Golden Girls, Family Ties, Newhart--there were flops such as Take Five with George Segal, Annie McGuire with Mary Tyler Moore, One Big Family with Danny Thomas and Life with Lucy starring Lucille Ball, proving that a big name does not a hit show make. Other short-lived series were springboards for future stars, like Day by Day (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), The Duck Factory (Jim Carrey), Raising Miranda (Bryan Cranston) and Square Pegs (Sarah Jessica Parker). This book unearths many single-season sitcoms of the '80s, providing behind-the-scenes stories from cast members, guest stars, writers, producers and directors.

Single Season Sitcoms of the 1990s

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2018-09-14

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 1476631980

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During the “Must See TV” 1990s, Americans enjoyed such immensely popular sitcoms as Friends, Seinfeld, Home Improvement and The Drew Carey Show. Shows that did not make the ratings cut numbered in the hundreds—the emergence of new networks and cable channels airing original programming resulted in a vast increase in short-lived sitcoms over the previous decade. Some of these “flops” were actually quite good and deserved a better fate. The author revisits them—along with the “dramedies” of the day—with detailed entries providing production and broadcast information, along with critical analyses, and recollections by cast and crew members. A subsection highlights sitcoms that returned for an abbreviated second season. Dozens of cast and crew photographs are included.

Dynamic Duets

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2016-10-07

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1442271507

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The second half of the twentieth century saw a great number of powerful vocal pairings as short-lived but undeniably magical collaborations. Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999 uncovers the stories behind 110 of the most memorable duets between otherwise independent musical artists. Whether the two artists came together for only one song or for many, the story of each duet’s inception, the collaboration process, and the song’s success and promotion paint a dynamic portrait of each artist and the music they created. Focusing on songs that made it into the Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 between 1955 and 1999, this encyclopedic work includes such classics as Nat “King” Cole and Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s “The Girl Is Mine,” and Mick Jagger and David Bowie’s “Dancing in the Street.” Arranged alphabetically from Bryan Adams to Dottie West, the entries feature firsthand interviews with many of the artists, including Dolly Parton, Neil Sedaka, Eddie Money, and Billy Vera. The book also includes photographs of many of the records and/or the performers and chart and label information. An appendix lists honorable mentions of twosomes that did not reach Top 100 but should not be overlooked or those whose duet partners played more of a minor role. As a chronicle of the best pop vocal pairings from the second half of the twentieth century, Dynamic Duets is a must-read for vinyl collectors, music historians, and classic hits radio DJs, and music lovers of all ages.

Who Did It First?

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2014-07-10

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1442233222

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“Everybody has to start somewhere. Businessmen start on the ground floor and try to work their way up the corporate ladder. Baseball players bide their time in the minor leagues wishing for an opportunity to move up and play in the majors. Musical compositions aren’t very different – some songs just don’t climb the charts the first time they’re recorded. However, with perseverance, the ideal singer, the right chemistry, impeccable timing, vigorous promotion, and a little luck, these songs can become very famous.” So writes Bob Leszczak in the opening pages of Who Did It First?: Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artists. In this third and final volume to the Who Did It First? series, readers explore the hidden history of the most famous, indeed legendary, rock songs and standards. Did you know that the Wild Ones had a “Wild Thing” before the Troggs? Were you aware that it took a second shot for “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” to make the charts? Had you heard that Guy Villari and the Regents dated “Barbara Ann” five years before the Beach Boys? Were you privy to the fact that there was “Hanky Panky” going on with Ellie Greenwich and the Raindrops, as well as the Summits, before Tommy James and the Shondells made the song a number 1 classic? Some of the information contained within these pages will shock, rattle and roll you. You may fancy yourself a music expert, but this third and last in a series of titles devoted to the story of great songs and their revival as great covers is filled with eye openers. In many instances, one’s eyes will open even wider as a result of the list of cover artists (with Paul Anka’s remake of Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” leading the pack). Who Did It First?Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artistsis the perfect playlist builder. So whether quizzing friends at a party, answering a radio station contest, or just satisfying an insatiable curiosity to know who really did do it first, this work is a must-have.

Encyclopedia of Pop Music Aliases, 1950-2000

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2014-12-11

Total Pages: 495

ISBN-13: 1442240083

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Recording Artists don't always enjoy success with their first release. A hit record relies on any number of factors: the right song, a memorable performance, a healthy promotional budget, great management, a spot of luck, and even some intangibles. Take choice of a name. For a single artist, duo, vocal group or band, the name can carry a lot of weight. Some recording artists changed their name to appeal to an entirely different demographic, like when country superstar Garth Brooks recorded as Chris Gaines to score on the pop charts. The Beefeaters became the Byrds—and they spelled the band name with a "y" in the wake of the meteoric success of the Beatles, whose letter "A" turned the image of a nasty bug into something intriguing. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel amassed a litany of aliases—Simon went by True Taylor, Jerry Landis, and Paul Kane; Art Garfunkel as Artie Garr; together they were Tom & Jerry before finally using their very ethnic-sounding given names. Bob Leszczak has amassed several hundred examples of musical pseudonyms in The Encyclopedia of Pop Music Aliases, 1950-2000, describing the history of these artists from their obscure origins under another name to their rise to prominence as a major musical act. Music trivia buffs, rock historians, and popular music fans will uncover nugget after nugget of eye-opening information about their favorite acts and perhaps learn a thing or two about a number of other acts. Leszczak goes the extra yard of gathering critical data directly from many of these famous recording artists through in-person interviews and archival research. Whether skipping around randomly or reading from cover-to-cover, readers will find The Encyclopedia of Pop Music Aliases, 1950-2000 a must-have for that music library.

From Small Screen to Vinyl

Author: Bob Leszczak

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2015-06-25

Total Pages: 495

ISBN-13: 1442242744

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From its infancy, television networks and studios explore others avenues to increase their revenues. Conveniently enough, several film studios and production companies—MGM, MTM, Columbia/Screen Gems, Talent Associates, Warner Brothers—had their own record label divisions. The obvious benefit was cross promotion: a television series could be plugged on the record and the record could be promoted on the TV show. Though few and far between, several television performers went on to become major recording stars. Ricky Nelson started as a child actor on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet before dominating rock and pop charts. Johnny Crawford of The Rifleman, Walter Brennan of The Real McCoys, and even Bruce Willis of Moonlighting all scored Top Ten hit singles. But these were just the standouts from the hundreds of TV actors who recorded songs, and the stories behind their records are simply fascinating. In From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to TV Stars Who Made Records 1950-2000, author Bob Leszczak offers a look at hundreds of stars who performed double duty: as a television performer as well as a recording artist. He looks not only at the show and the performer but the behind-the-scenes dramas that unfolded as each attempted to tackle the two different mediums. Through his interviews with many of these multitaskers, the author has uncovered new, and mostly never before known facts about those who sought to conquer the world of vinyl. As Leszczak stresses, most eagerly embraced the opportunity to record, while others saw it as a necessary evil—the result of contractual obligations or industry pressures. Entries are listed alphabetically from Nick Adams (of The Rebel) to Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (of 77 Sunset Strip). Also included are over 80 photos of these rare releases taken from the author’s private collection. For a new look at your old favorites, From Small Screen to Vinyl, will let you see that just because one is a TV star does not mean that he or she does not have the ability to expand beyond their acting prowess. Baby boomers, fans of classic hits radio, and devotees of classic TV programs will find From Small Screen to Vinyl a treasure trove of TV and record trivia—and no TV or music library can be considered complete without it.

Vic and Sade on the Radio

Author: John T. Hetherington

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 219

ISBN-13: 1476616051

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Vic and Sade, an often absurd situation comedy written by the prolific Paul Rhymer, aired on America's radios from 1932 to 1944 (with short-lived revivals afterward). The title characters, known as "radio's home folks," were a married couple exploring the comedic side of ordinary life along with their adopted son and an eccentric uncle. This book examines the program's depiction of many aspects of American culture--leisure activities, community groups, education, films--in light of the critiques put forward by the era's critics such as William Orton. Vic and Sade offered its own subtle cultural critique that reflected how ordinary people experienced mass culture of the time.

Radio Drama and Comedy Writers, 1928-1962

Author: Ryan Ellett

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2017-11-02

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 1476629803

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More than 700 uncredited scriptwriters who created the memorable characters and thrilling stories of radio's Golden Age receive due recognition in this reference work. For some, radio was a stepping stone on the way to greater achievements in film or television, on the stage or in literature. For others, it was the culmination of a life spent writing newspaper copy. Established authors dabbled in radio as a new medium, while working writers saw it as another opportunity to earn a paycheck. When these men and women came to broadcasting, they crafted a body of work still appreciated by modern listeners.