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The Monthly Catch: Wilderpeople, Beatles, Raiders and more!

The Monthly Catch: Wilderpeople, Beatles, Raiders and more!

Last updated on: October 8, 2016 at 8:16 pm by Chris Williams

The Monthly Catch: Wilderpeople, Beatles, Raiders and more! 2016-10-08T20:16:45-05:00 Chris Williams

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TV: The Book

Two of my favorite working critics are Alan Sepinwall at Hitfix and Matt Zoller Seitz at Vulture, The New Yorker, and RogerEbert.com. The two critics, who formerly were colleagues at the New Jersey Star-Ledger, are the best authorities about television in an age where it’s becoming one of the most fascinating storytelling forms.

So it’s only fitting that they would be the ones who took the lead on a canon of television with their new tome “TV (The Book).” The lengthy collection of essays and lists does nothing less than argue for what its authors feel are the 100 greatest American television shows of all time. I’ve just started reading but already I’m in love with this book.

I wouldn’t dream of spoiling their list, but I will say I can’t argue with their top 10. But part of the fun is that you might be able to, and that’s perfectly okay. The book actually opens with an argument, as the two hash out the rankings of their top five TV shows, and the discussion itself is so gripping and well thought-out that it’s worth the price of the whole thing. Normally, a book like this will list its entries, give them a cursory paragraph and then call it a day. But Zoller Seitz and Sepinwall go the extra mile, crafting well-written, insightful and funny essays about each show that will make you really rethink your views on say, “The Simpsons” contributions to culture or “Breaking Bad’s” “Mr. Chips becomes Scarface” storyline.

Television is at an exciting point in this age of “Peak TV.” There are few places where better stories are being told, and the volume of great television continues to grow. It’s great to have these two fantastic writers placing their authoritative stamps on this age of television and I hope it’s a work that keeps being returned to over the decades to compile an essential television canon.

You can purchase “TV (The Book)” at bookstores or online now.

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