Through American history, often in times of crisis, there have been periodic outbreaks of obsession with the paranormal. Between 2004 and 2019, over six dozen documentary-style series dealing with paranormal subject matter premiered on television in the United States. Combining the stylistic traits of horror with earnest accounts of what are claimed to be actual events, "paranormal reality" incorporates subject matter formerly characterized as occult or supernatural into the established category...
What do we see when we watch reality television? In True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us, the sociologist and TV-lover Danielle J. Lindemann takes a long, hard look in the "funhouse mirror" of this genre. From the first episodes of The Real World to countless rose ceremonies to the White House, reality TV has not just remade our entertainment and cultural landscape (which it undeniably has). Reality TV, Lindemann argues, uniquely reflects our everyday experiences and social topography back...
This beautiful cookbook showcases the best of American regional cooking from the cooks and judges featured in PBS’ The Great American Recipe In the first season of The Great American Recipe, 10 home chefs representing distinct culinary backgrounds brought with them a rich collection of recipes. Some were secret family recipes passed down through the generations, some were new twists on regional classics, and others were their own deeply personal recipes crafted with love . . . and, together, th...
Drawing from the wealth of academic literature about the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) written over the last two decades, this book consolidates and recognizes the ESC's relevance in academia by analysing its contribution to different fields of study. The book brings together leading ESC scholars from across disciplines and from across the globe to reflect on the intersection between their academic fields of study and the ESC by answering the question: what has the ESC contributed to academia?...
Ever since the "Monday Night Wars," where WWE and WCW battled for wrestling supremacy (with the WWE coming out on top), there was now only one game in town. If fans wanted to watch wrestling, it was WWE or bust. That is no longer the case. Wrestling's New Golden Age is both a historical look at the sport, while showing how everything has finally come full circle. Going back to the past, the sport was originally territory-based, with wrestlers traveling across the country from promotion to promo...
Bob Backlund began life as a poor farm boy in the little village of Princeton, Minnesota, with a population of just over 2,000 people. He was a below-average student with a lackluster work ethic and a bad attitude, who hung with the wrong crowd and made a lot of bad choices. He was a kid whose life was headed for disaster until a local coach took interest in him, suggested that he take up amateur wrestling, and offered to work with him if he promised to stay out of trouble. It was in North Dako...
Truth Be Told is a revealing and irresistibly entertaining look back on Larry's remarkable run at CNN, and an honest look at Larry's own life behind the scenes. After more than a half-century of asking questions, Larry King suddenly found everyone wanted answers from him. Was Larry King Live, CNN's highest rated program, ending after three decades? Was Larry getting divorced again? The paparazzi aimed their cameras at Larry. Jay Leno and other late-night talk-show hosts were having fun at his ex...
Wheel of Fortune (Adult Game Kit)
Test your luck and wordplay skills with a 64-page question book, answers notebook, pencils, and the iconic spinning Wheel of Fortune.
When Barbara Walters launched The View, network executives told her that hosting it would tarnish her reputation. Instead, within ten years, she’d revolutionised morning TV and made household names of her co-hosts. But the daily chatfest didn’t just comment on the news. It became the news. And the headlines barely scratched the surface. Based on unprecedented access, including stunning interviews with nearly every host, award-winning journalist Ramin Setoodeh takes you backstage where the stars...
'Leon often said he'd like to write our story. Now, I'll do it for him.'As founding cast members of hit television show Gogglebox, Leon and June won the hearts of a nation with their warm humour and unending love for each other. When Leon sadly died at Christmas 2017, Gogglebox viewers were bereft, calling for a state funeral for our national treasure. In this touching memoir she looks back at all of the laughter and love they have shared together; letting us in on the secrets to a truly happy m...
For 36 years, Jeopardy! has been a television mainstay. In that time, it has become a deeply entrenched American tradition and the sort of cross-generational touchstone the likes of which are few and far between in pop culture.With backstage missives and deep dives into backroom training sessions and alumni pub trivia teams, this is the book about Jeopardy!: its history and how it comes together; how the most successful players use strategy to dominate; how aspiring contestants revamp their live...
New York Times Bestseller: A "gripping" true story of late-night comedy and behind-the-scenes drama (Los Angeles Times). When beloved host Johnny Carson announced his retirement after thirty years on The Tonight Show, millions of Americans mourned. But inside the television industry, the news ignited a battle between two amazing talents-Jay Leno and David Letterman-who both yearned to occupy the departing legend's chair. For NBC, it would be a decision with millions of dollars at stake. Soon...
Boy, girl, artist, advocate. Courtney is more than the sum of her parts.Meet Shane Jenek. Raised in the suburbs of Brisbane, Australia, by loving parents, Shane realises from a young age that he’s not like all the other boys. At a performing arts agency he discovers his passion for song, dance and performance, and makes a promise to himself: to find a bigger stage.Meet Courtney Act. Born around the turn of the millennium, Courtney makes her name in the gay bars of Sydney. Years later, she makes...