THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! TELEVISION ICONS – NONFICTION

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David Margolick’s When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Reinvented American Comedy is the first definitive biography of the founding father of television comedy. At his peak in the 1950s, 20 million Americans tuned in to Caesar’s show weekly to watch his groundbreaking humor. Despite burning out quickly – a victim of exhaustion, addiction, and his own impossible standards – he remains TV’s first comic giant. Susan Morrison’s Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live takes readers behind the curtain to tell the story of how Lorne Michaels created and maintained the program that changed comedy forever. Even after more than 50 years at the helm, he has largely remained a mystery. Lorne is a deeply reported, entertaining account of the man and his creation. The name Desi Arnaz resonates with fans of classic television as Lucille Ball’s beloved husband on I Love Lucy – but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment industry. Todd S. Purdum’s Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television argues that his innovations in front of and behind the cameras, his resilience, and his relentless drive changed TV forever.

Buy When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Reinvented American Comedy – Margolick

Buy Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live – Morrison

Buy Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television – Purdum