March 27, 2006
The power relationships of network television have turned topsy-turvy in the last five years. Carter, who covers the industry for the New York Times
, reveals as one example how NBC was muscled out of its first-place standing as the other networks developed hit after hit. The shows he chooses to showcase are instantly recognizable—American Idol
, Survivor
, Desperate Housewives
—and in every case, the show's path to the airwaves is at least as dramatic as its content. Though Carter is primarily concerned with prime-time hits, his reporting spreads out from the Today
Show
to the nightly newscasts and, harking back to his bestselling The Late Shift
, the negotiations that cemented Conan O'Brien as Jay Leno's successor on The Tonight Show
. Despite multiple narrative threads, the story never gets confusing or bogged down. Though some clear heroes emerge, like Housewives
creator Marc Cherry, most of the key figures, from Idol
's acerbic Simon Cowell to network execs like CBS head Les Moonves and NBC's Jeff Zucker, are depicted ambiguously, reflecting failures as well as successes. And it's Carter's insider access, illuminating the players' states of mind, that makes this backstage drama so riveting.
July 10, 2006
Are you the sole Survivor
of a bunch of Desperate Housewives
who got Lost
on their way to becoming an Apprentice
to the latest American Idol
? Many recent hit network television shows have come to fruition under the most unlikely of happenstances, and Carter explains how some of America's favorite shows evolved from idea to pilot after struggling with numerous pitfalls and false starts. Carter also explores how the four networks have risen and fallen in popularity because of those hit shows. Olsher reads with a very conversational manner and handles the material with ease. He brings characters to life with expression and tone that clarifies each speaker's intent. While Olsher shines, the abridgement dulls this audiobook's content. The text often jumps from one direction to another without strong transitions. At times, unnecessary anecdotes are included at the expense of better details surrounding Carter's premise. While the abridgement confuses through its lack of continuity, listeners will enjoy learning a great deal about their favorite shows. Simultaneous release with the Doubleday hardcover. (Reviews, Mar. 27).