This book finally casts a spotlight on some short-lived and almost forgotten sitcoms--those which aired for only one single season. Many books have already been written about situation comedies that enjoyed long and storied runs on television but this volume focuses upon the others. Overflowing with fresh facts, interviews, photographs, and stories, nearly 300 short-lived sitcoms over a 32 year span are presented A-to-Z, whether network or syndicated, prime time or Saturday morning.

"Everybody has to start somewhere. Businessmen start on the ground floor and try to work their way up the corporate ladder. Baseball players bide their time in the minor leagues wishing for an opportunity to move up and play in the majors. Musical compositions aren't very different--some songs just don't climb the charts the first time they're recorded. However, with perseverance, the ideal singer, the right chemistry, impeccable timing, vigorous promotion, and a little luck, these songs can become very famous." So writes Bob Leszczak in the opening pages of Who Did It First? Great Rhythm and...

"Everybody has to start somewhere. Businessmen start on the ground floor and try to work their way up the corporate ladder. Baseball players bide their time in the minor leagues wishing for an opportunity to move up and play in the majors. Musical compositions aren't very different--some songs just don't climb the charts the first time they're recorded. However, with perseverance, the ideal singer, the right chemistry, impeccable timing, vigorous promotion, and a little luck, these songs can become very famous." So writes Bob Leszczak in the opening pages of Who Did It First? Great Pop Cover...

Inspired by the real life post-divorce experiences of television comedy writer Danny Simon, The Odd Couple, whether on stage, film or television, has touched multiple generations of fans. Playwright Neil Simon embellished his brother Danny's pseudo-sitcom situation and created an oil-and-water twosome with memorable characters showcasing the foibles of mankind.

The original Broadway production enjoyed a run of 964 performances. The story of the cohabitation of Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison then translated extremely well to the silver screen, and the original Odd...

Recording Artists don't always enjoy success with their first release. A hit record relies on any number of factors: the right song, a memorable performance, a healthy promotional budget, great management, a spot of luck, and even some intangibles. Take choice of a name. For a single artist, duo, vocal group or band, the name can carry a lot of weight. Some recording artists changed their name to appeal to an entirely different demographic, like when country superstar Garth Brooks recorded as Chris Gaines to score on the pop charts. The Beefeaters became the Byrds--and they spelled the band...

From its infancy, television networks and studios explore others avenues to increase their revenues. Conveniently enough, several film studios and production companies--MGM, MTM, Columbia/Screen Gems, Talent Associates, Warner Brothers--had their own record label divisions. The obvious benefit was cross promotion: a television series could be plugged on the record and the record could be promoted on the TV show. Though few and far between, several television performers went on to become major recording stars. Ricky Nelson started as a child actor on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet before...

A player's short stay with a major league baseball team is referred to as "a cup of coffee". The programs written about in this volume drank from the very same mug, and the behind-the-scenes stories from cast members, guest stars, writers, producers, directors and musicians affiliated with these short-lived shows are the cream and sugar.

The second half of the twentieth century saw a great number of powerful vocal pairings as short-lived but undeniably magical collaborations. Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999 uncovers the stories behind 110 of the most memorable duets between otherwise independent musical artists. Whether the two artists came together for only one song or for many, the story of each duet s inception, the collaboration process, and the song s success and promotion paint a dynamic portrait of each artist and the music they created. Focusing on songs that made it into the Top 40 on...