Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Book Review: Television Without Pity



Television Without Pity: 752 Things We Love to Hate(and Hate to Love) About TV
by Tara Ariano

Summary (from Goodreads):

Television Without Pity features irreverent entries about the shows, characters, actors, clichés, plot devices, memorable moments, and catch phrases that make watching TV such a guilty pleasure. From weekend-long Real World marathons to the People's Choice Awards, from favorite characters (Brenda Walsh, Seth Cohen) to the most unfunny recurring skits on Saturday Night Live, this is a celebration of television unlike any other. Written by the creators of televisionwithoutpity.com (hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "the industry standard" for obsessive TV fanatics), this snarktastic volume features 100 illustrations and an encyclopedic two-column design. It's great fun for nostalgic browsing and guaranteed to prompt more laughter than a whole season of Seinfeld.

Even though I love books, there is a part of my heart that will always belong to television. From Rugrats to Friends to LOST to Glee, I have always and will always be a fan of the tube. That is why I love books about television, for I get to combine two of the things I love--reading and television. Television Without Pity: 752 Things We Love to Hate (and Hate to Love) About TV is the perfect read for the snarky television lover (and hater) in all of us.

If you've ever visited the Television Without Pity website, you know what you'll be in for while reading this little treasure. These ladies have no qualms with making fun of shows that jumped the shark and over-used clichés still prevalent in today's programming. For example, bringing in an adorable child that say's the funniest things when everyone else on the show has grown up (The Cosby Show, One Tree Hill).

If you have no problem recognizing the fault in your favorite shows, characters, and plot lines, then you'll love this book. And although, the entries can be a little scathing, they will only bother you if you let them.

Overall, if you love television--and even more, like to poke fun at it--this book is the perfect fit for you.

Rating: 4 Stars

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