Review of 'I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
One good way to get revenge on all the critics who panned your first show: Make them sob while watching your second.
I enjoy TV. I may not always be able to articulate what I like about a show be it campy, low budget, different, formulaic or popular; I like watching TV. If there is a compelling story and interesting characters I will watch it even if it's out of my typical shows. I also like considering what is happening in back of house as the staff figure out how to get themselves out of a Meereenese Knot.
...there's something cruel about analyzing how a show that you loved declined, no matter how on-target it may feel.
Like books I may struggle with finding symbolism that is not blatantly obvious. I have always appreciated what critics can dissect, for better or worse, on a program because there is probably a …
One good way to get revenge on all the critics who panned your first show: Make them sob while watching your second.
I enjoy TV. I may not always be able to articulate what I like about a show be it campy, low budget, different, formulaic or popular; I like watching TV. If there is a compelling story and interesting characters I will watch it even if it's out of my typical shows. I also like considering what is happening in back of house as the staff figure out how to get themselves out of a Meereenese Knot.
...there's something cruel about analyzing how a show that you loved declined, no matter how on-target it may feel.
Like books I may struggle with finding symbolism that is not blatantly obvious. I have always appreciated what critics can dissect, for better or worse, on a program because there is probably a lot I missed without realizing.
Emily Nussbaum has done an excellent job in these collections of essays articulating what I couldn't, highlighting themes I missed, and getting to speak with the people who make the content we love and hate.
"It's sad, but it's also Hollywood," he said. "Nobody comes here because they're healthy."
When Nussbaum wrote about shows I have a strong (and I mean strong) passion for her words were cutting, insightful and cathartic. However you don't need to know the shows in order to appreciate what, and how, she writes.
I didn't need to see all of Ryan Murphy's shows to appreciate the essay, or have even watched the show at all (The Good Wife) to enjoy it. This is an accessible book for anyone who appreciates TV as an art and has the slightest interest of those that created it.
