Chandler Bing, Oscar Madison, et al.

Undoubtedly, Matthew Perry’s most recognized role is Chandler Bing on Friends, the powerhouse sitcom on NBC’s Must See TV Thursday night lineup in the 1990s.  Perry has a distinguished roster of roles beyond the wisecracking Bing, who used humor as a...

Desperation in the Vast Wasteland

In 1961, FCC Chairman Newton Minow decried television as a vast wasteland.  Nearly a half-century later, Bill Carter analyzed the landscape, coalescing his findings into the 2006 book Desperate Networks. A television show reaching the prime time airwaves is a...

Dreams of the Diamond

Rogers Hornsby did it after an illustrious playing career. Leo Durocher did it after a not-so-illustrious one. Joe Torre did it as a journeyman, not achieving success for a couple of decades. Billy Martin did it with the only team he ever loved. Gil Hodges did it with...