Deborah Pearlman and Abby Finer of the Warner Bros. Television Writers Workshop reveal in this essential guide insider tips and tricks aimed at paving the way to better scripts by new writers. The book focuses on all aspects of writing for television.

This anthology presents writings that examine the TV sitcom in terms of its treatment of gender, family, class, race and ethnic issues. The selections range from early shows such as I Remember Mama to the more recent Roseanne. The volume also looks unflinchingly at major controversies, for example, the NAACP boycott of the stereotypical yet wildly popular Amos n' Andy and the queer reading of Laverne and Shirley.

A critical inquiry into the new woman warrior's appropriation of violence and the Western war narrative. It delves into the meaning of that appropriation for alternative storytelling, and provides a forum to recognize women's increasing role in popular culture as they are cast as action heroes.

Eminent scholars Peter C. Rollins and John O'Connor make an important contribution to the field with an eclectic mix of essays, which translate visual language into on-screen politics. While the series may be criticized as "idealistic," its clever techniques of camera work, lighting, editing, and mise en scene reflect America's best image of itself, and entertains a loyal audience that desperately wants to believe in the nobility of the American dream. This collection introduces readers to the sensibilities to appreciate the show's nuances and the necessary knowledge to avoid any misreadings....