Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, I’m thrilled to finally announce something that many of you have already seen or speculated on — the forthcoming release of my very first published book, Great American Sitcoms of the 1950s: How Lucy, Bilko, Peepers, Gracie and Others Defined a Television Genre. It’s a season-by-season critical study of fifties sitcoms and their best episodes. Here’s the description I gave McFarland & Company: “The situation comedy is an art form; the comedy is the art and the situation is the form. With a unique definition of the situation comedy genre as developed out of its history on radio, this critical study highlights the best American sitcoms from the 1950s, TV’s first decade as a household medium. Everything from I Love Lucy to Dobie Gillis is covered in a rigorous evaluation that seeks to find this formative era’s finest episodic samples, proving the sitcom’s inherent artistry.”
I know that if you’re a regular (or even casual) reader of this blog, you’ll be interested in this book’s subject matter, as I go chapter by chapter from 1950-1951 to 1959-1960, tracking the best sitcoms and highlighting their best samples, ultimately emerging with a list of 50 favorites: my top 50 sitcom episodes of the 1950s. Additionally, the opening chapters discuss the origins of the situation comedy as a genre — how it developed on radio out of several different types of programs — and the earliest TV sitcoms from the late 1940s (such as Mary Kay And Johnny and the Jackie Gleason-led The Life Of Riley). Naturally, all of the fifties’ great classics are then discussed — there’s a spotlight on gems that I’ve previously covered, like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Phil Silvers Show, Burns And Allen, and The Danny Thomas Show, along with comparable looks at some I’ve only barely (or NEVER) talked about before, like Amos ‘n Andy, Mister Peepers, Ozzie And Harriet, The Ann Sothern Show and more. So, not only is this your chance to find out what I think about 1950s sitcoms from which I’ve never publicly picked favorites, you’ll also get updated, more nuanced takes on the ones I haven’t analyzed since 2013 (e.g., The Honeymooners and Our Miss Brooks), when this blog was new and I knew a lot less. Indeed, my new book builds on all the work I’ve done here on this website over the last 12 years but is otherwise entirely new — with material that will only be available to you there!
As of today, the book’s release is scheduled for February 7, 2025. The publishers have told me that it’s at the printers and could be ready either before or a little after that date; I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, you can pre-order it on Amazon here — and if you do, don’t forget to leave a good review! It’s also available from other booksellers, like Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million, and on McFarland’s own website. The retail price is $39.95 — a fair price (I think) for 130,000+ words, 20 pictures, and three years of work. Also, I’m selling it here as well — at this link. I’m charging $40 flat (including shipping), but when you purchase from me, you’ll get an autographed copy (which I can also personalize — add to cart; skip the “express checkout” and attach a note with what you want me to write when you’re putting in your payment info). And since I’ll have your info, I’ll also be able to give you a digital link to some of the commercially unavailable episodes discussed in the book — shows that you won’t be able to find elsewhere, from series like Trouble With Father, Burns And Allen, The Bob Cummings Show, and more. I’m not selling them — I’m just enhancing the experience for readers with whom I am able to directly connect. Oh, and the first 16 people who order from me will also receive a special piece of 1950s sitcom memorabilia (which I’ll tell you about next week)… so act fast if you’re interested!
Meanwhile, I’m also announcing that this blog is undergoing a “1950s takeover.” From now until the end of March, every post here will be 1950s themed — discussing that decade’s shows, musicals, plays, etc. Oh, don’t worry 30 Rock fans — we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming in April. But for the time being, this website is celebrating the release of my very first book — a huge accomplishment, if I do say so myself. And I hope everyone who’s enjoyed this site in some form will consider buying a copy (or several!), for this is your first and best chance to support my efforts in a tangible way. My goal is for this to become the first in a series on sitcoms-by-the-decade books — which means, I need your help. Oh, it sounds clichéd, but it’s true in this case — I can’t do this without you and your support. So, here again is the link to order Great American Sitcoms of the 1950s. I need every single one of you to buy, buy, buy! https://jacksonupperco.com/product/great-american-sitcoms-of-the-1950s-book/
Not convinced yet? Well, come back next week for some more 1950s fun!