DIFFICULT MEN By Brett Martin

difficult_men_book_cover
Brett Martin’s Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution from The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad provides an inside look into the history of television. Martin shows how key series like Hill Street Blues opened the door to more daring TV series. Martin explores the marketing of cable TV which opened up new markets and new audiences. HBO’s impact on the viewing habits of viewers cannot be overestimated. If I have a quibble with this fine history, it’s that Martin really doesn’t explore what might be ahead. Network and cable TV are facing mounting pressure from the Internet and Netflix. Audiences for anything other than live sporting events are eroding. But if you’re interested in the recent history of television dramas, Difficult Men delivers. GRADE: B+

7 thoughts on “DIFFICULT MEN By Brett Martin

  1. Prashant C. Trikannad

    George, thanks for writing about this book. I’d be interested to know how cable television has evolved since it’s less than 25 years old in India. I think the urban television viewer has come to know more about the American way of life, to the extent that it’s real, through sitcoms and soap operas. I suspect serials like FRIENDS have shaped friendships and relationships among the youngsters. Sitcoms in non-English languages in India, numbering over a dozen. have cultivated their own identity. Most of them are tearjerkers with excessive display of emotion shot in repeated slow motion. These are popular among both urban and rural viewers.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *