Prime time, prime movers

Television is the most maligned of the modern media. Critics and even viewers casually call it the "boob tube" or the "idiot box" or even "bubble gum for the eyes." But in the hands of certain individuals it can become a creative canvas, a dramatic art that opens a distinctive window on our culture. There is a growing argument--an auteur theory--that despite all the commercial constraints, the television producer is capable of using TV as a medium of personal expression. Prime Time, Prime Movers is an entertaining and informative guide to the major creators of televisual art who have emerged over the past forty-five years. From dominant performers such as Jackie Gleason and Carol Burnett to powerhouse producers such as Norman Lear and Steven Bochco, it reviews the stories and styles of the most important architects of the airwaves. Milton Berle brought a "hellzapoppin'" vaudeville aesthetic to TV. Gleason used it as an autobiographical. medium. Red Skelton was the classic clown from the heartland. Paul Henning, who created, wrote, and produced The Beverly Hillbillies, was himself a kid from Missouri who grew up to become a millionaire in Los Angeles. Norman Lear modeled Archie Bunker after his own cantankerous father. Steven Bochco productions, such as Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law, made TV watching respectable for yuppies. Authors David Marc and Robert J. Thompson are the most outspoken proponents of. the auteur argument. Covering a broad spectrum of TV programming formats, from old-time variety shows to sitcoms, from action/adventure shows to documentaries, from gameshows to soap operas, they challenge the tastes and interests of television viewers--a group roughly equivalent to the American population at large.