There has never been enough good television to satisfy hungry viewers and advertisers. Every year, studios spend millions of dollars developing a fresh slate of programs for the new season, but only a fraction of what is developed actually gets on the air. The simple steps outlined in this book help clarify which projects are most likely to be written as pilot scripts, produced, and ultimately given a series order. Making Great Television presents a new twist on the old notion of formulaic television. By analyzing the best television has given us, a new formula emerges-the four essential ingredients common to all successful television series: Immediacy, The Mirror, Character, and Time. Great comedy, drama, half hour, or miniseries can utilize this New and Improved Hollywood Formula.

Reviews

"[Making Great Television] is everything that we all want good television to be-entertaining, comprehensive, insightful, funny, thought provoking and stimulating."

-- Sheldon Epps, Television Director, Girlfriends, Frasier, and Friends

"LaDuke identifies the distinctive characteristics of this medium, demonstrating how it can be evaluated and improved."

--Paul V. Turner, Wattis Professor of Art, Stanford University

"Dee LaDuke identifies the crucial ingredients of creating great television programming."

--David Janollari, Executive Producer, Six Feet Under

"[Making Great Television] warmly helps us relive some of television's greatest moments and … gives us context and valuable clues to the elusive nature of television excellence."

-- Steve Stark, Producer and Executive, Gramnet Productions

"Read this book and then go do what she says. And hurry, have you seen what's out there?"

--Norma Vela, Co-Executive Producer, Life With Bonnie

"This useful and serious book is a must read for teachers, students, and others seeking to produce television that has the potential to reflect and move culture."

--Mary Ellen Strom, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

"Dee LaDuke has written a book that is truly an encyclopedia on television."

--Julie Hagerty, Actress

About the Author
Dee LaDuke recently completed her fourth season on the UPN series Girlfriends where she served as Executive Producer and is currently Consulting Producer. She has co-created and produced numerous pilots such as the series Reunited, also for UPN, and was Supervising Producer for Designing Women. She has also co-created several TV movies including Jackie's Back for Lifetime. She began her career at Nickelodeon where she helped develop programming including the game show Double Dare. She currently lives in San Francisco with her husband and son.