This time of year often comes with a variety of gift giving options for fans of television, especially in the niche realm of behind-the-scenes tomes regarding landmark or popular television and the extensive roster of creatives responsible for their creation. The 2024 holiday season is no exception as it provides an impressive collection of making-of books guaranteed to satisfy the super TV fan on your shopping list. Here are five books worth checking out or putting under the tree:
Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul by Alan Sepinwall
Abrams Press brings the latest from prolific prestige-TV chronicler Alan Sepinwall, as the Rolling Stone critic takes a very deep dive into the making of AMC's critically acclaimed Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul. Drawing from interviews with key cast members like Saul himself, Bob Odenkirk, and co-creator and showrunner Peter Gould, Sepinwall mines all six seasons for behind-the-scenes insights and story analysis, with a special section devoted to the ponytail of Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn).
Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation by Jim O'Heir
NBC's Parks and Recreation went from being a near-constant show "on the bubble" to a cult hit thanks in large part to its Simpsons-esque deep bench of endearing and funny denizens of fictional Pawnee, Indiana. The affable Garry "Jerry" Gergich (Jim O'Heir) emerged as a fan favorite among Parks and Rec's eclectic ensemble, with the character playing a small but pivotal role in the Parks Department's operations as overseen by Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman).
Now, O'Heir revisits his time on the series with Welcome to Pawnee, a fascinating mix of anecdotes and heartfelt reflections as he shares his unique perspective during the making of the series, along with stories and interviews from his fellow castmates. Some of these stories have never been shared before, making this a must-read for fans of the home to Lil' Sebastian.
Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts by Jeremy Egner
Ted Lasso fans looking to bide their time until the recently announced fourth season of the Apple TV+ show arrives will be happy to know that author and entertainment journalist Jeremy Egner has got them covered. Like the series it extensively chronicles, Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts is an engaging mix of heart and humor that explores the show's origins with help from cast members, Apple executives and key creatives (especially Coach Lasso himself, Jason Sudeikis). From Ted's first appearance in a funny NBC commercial for the Premier League to how the show's creators pitched it to the streaming service, with a generous stop in the Lasso writers' room, Believe is an essential look at the making of the Emmy-winning hit.
Hanna and Barbera: Conversations Edited by Kevin Sandler & Tyler Solon Williams
The first book of its kind to celebrate prolific animation duo Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, Hanna and Barbera: Conversations provides a fascinating, warts-and-all collection of first-person accounts about how these aspiring producers created several load-bearing columns of pop-culture. Hanna-Barbera studios was the creative force behind such popular shows as Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones, and Conversations pulls back the curtain on the creation of those iconic franchises and the legacy of their creators, with interviews that encompass 50 year's worth of riveting TV history.
What's Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew and Its Enduring Legacy of Service by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack
West Wing actors Mary McCormack and Melissa Fitzgerald enlist fellow castmates (including Martin Sheen and Bradley Whitford) for a look back at the Emmy-winning political drama's legacy just in time for its twenty-fifth anniversary.
The New York Times bestseller offers a very intimate and candid collection of insights from both cast and crew regarding how the series put real-world politics through its fictional lens. What's Next also explores in-depth the show's lasting impact on fans and the relationships forged by those working in front of and behind the camera. Reading this book is the closet you can get to sitting behind the Resolute Desk with President Jed Bartlett himself.
