This unique study offers a comprehensive and invaluable account of television from the perspective of the programs themselves. From I Love Lucy to The Simpsons, from The Twilight Zone to The X Files, from the moon landing to the events of September 11, the book chronicles some of the mostfascinating and influential shows and global events ever to hit the small screen. Each entry will offer a basic guide to the history of the show, its textual and thematic context, and its critical and popular reception, while also explaining and frequently reconsidering ways in which it may havebeen analyzed in the past.

Notes on Contributors

ix

Introduction

xiii

1. 24

Rod Brookes

1

(5)

2. An American Family and The Family

John Corner

6

(5)

3. The Benny Hill Show

Brett Mills

11

(5)

4. Big Brother

Jane Roscoe

16

(5)

5. Boys from the Blackstuff

Robin Nelson

21

(5)

6. Brass Eye

Brett Mills

26

(5)

7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

David Lavery

31

(5)

8. Cagney and Lacey

Ros Jennings

36

(4)

9. Cathy Come Home

Catrin Prys

40

(5)

10. Charlie's Angels

Jason Jacobs

45

(5)

11. The Civil War

Gary R Edgerton

50

(5)

12. Coronation Street

Ros Jennings

55

(5)

13. The Cosby Show

Justin Lewis

60

(5)

14. Culloden

Jamie Sexton

65

(5)

15. Dallas

Ros Jennings

70

(5)

16. Doctor Who

Matt Hills

75

(5)

17. ER

Jason Jacobs

80

(5)

18. The FIFA World Cup

Rod Brookes

85

(5)

19. Grange Hill

Brett Mills

90

(5)

20. Heimat

Glen Creeber

95

(5)

21. Hill Street Blues

Robin Nelson

100

(5)

22. I Love Lucy

Brett Mills

105

(5)

23. The Jerry Springer Show

Jane Roscoe

110

(5)

24. Marty

Jason Jacobs

115

(5)

25. Middlemarch

Robin Nelson

120

(5)

26. The Monkees

K J Donnelly

125

(5)

27. Monty Python's Flying Circus

Brett Mills

130

(5)

28. The Moon Landing

Gary R. Edgerton

135

(5)

29. Neighbours

Ros Jennings

140

(4)

30. News at Ten

Glen Creeber

144

(5)

31. The Olympic Games

Rod Brookes

149

(5)

32. Popstars

Jane Roscoe

154

(5)

33. Prime Suspect

Glen Creeber

159

(5)

34. The Prisoner

Matt Hills

164

(5)

35. Queer as Folk

Glen Creeber

169

(5)

36. September 11, 2001

Justin Lewis

174

(4)

37. The Simpsons

Brett Mills

178

(5)

38. The Singing Detective

Catrin Prys

183

(5)

39. The Sopranos

David Lavery

188

(5)

40. Star Trek

Matt Hills

193

(5)

41. Sunday and Bloody Sunday

John Corner

198

(5)

42. Teletubbies

Jason Jacobs

203

(5)

43. Till Death Us Do Part and All in the Family

Brett Mills

208

(5)

44. Top of the Pops

K J Donnelly

213

(4)

45. The Twilight Zone

Matt Hills

217

(5)

46. Twin Peaks

David Lavery

222

(5)

47. Walking with Dinosaurs

K J Donnelly

227

(5)

48. Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Glen Creeber

232

(5)

49. World in Action

Peter Goddard

237

(5)

50. The X-Files

David Lavery

242

(5)

Bibliography

247

(28)

Index

275

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