Directed by James Burrows : five decades of stories from the legendary director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and more /
Material type: TextPublisher: New York : Ballantine Books, [2022]Edition: First editionDescription: xi, 352 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cmContent type:- text
- unmediated
- volume
- 9780593358245
- 0593358244
- Directed by James Burrows : 5 decades of stories from the legendary director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and more
- 791.4502/32092 B 23
- PN1992.4.B8957 A3 2022
Item type | Current library | Home library | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Loan | Liberty Lake Library Adult Biography | Liberty Lake Library | Book | BIO BURROWS BUR (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 31421000701608 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
"Being directed by the Jimmy Burrows, while on Friends, was like hitting the jackpot. I'm delighted that everyone can now share in his incredible insight with this book."--JENNIFER ANISTON
From the director of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, and Will & Grace comes an insightful and nostalgic behind-the-scenes memoir that's "as difficult to put down as a Friends marathon is to turn off" ( The Washington Post ).
Legendary sitcom director James Burrows has spent five decades making America laugh. Here readers will find never-revealed stories behind the casting of the dozens of great sitcoms he directed, as well as details as to how these memorable shows were created, how they got on the air, and how the cast and crew continued to develop and grow. Burrows also examines his own challenges, career victories, and defeats, and provides advice for aspiring directors, writers, and actors. All this from the man who helped launch the careers of Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Aniston, Debra Messing, and Melissa McCarthy, to name a few.
Burrows talks fondly about the inspiration he found during his childhood and young adult years, including his father, legendary playwright and Broadway director Abe Burrows. From there he goes on to explain his rigorous work ethic, forged in his early years in theater, where he did everything from stage managing to building sets to, finally, directing. Transitioning to television, Burrows locked into a coveted job with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where he first observed and then started to apply his craft. Directing most of the episodes of Taxi came next, where he worked closely with writers/producers Glen and Les Charles. The three formed a remarkable creative partnership that helped Burrows achieve his much sought-after goal of ownership and agency over a project, which came with the creating and directing of the seminal and beloved hit Cheers . Burrows has directed more than seventy-five pilots that have gone to series and over a thousand episodes, more than any other director in history.
Directed by James Burrows is a heart-and-soul master class in sitcom, revealing what it truly takes to get a laugh.
Growing up -- Abe -- My early adventures in theater and television -- The Mary Tyler Moore show -- Taxi -- Screwball and romantic comedy -- Cheers, part 1 -- Cheers, part 2 -- Frasier -- Friends -- Mike & Molly & Chuck -- Behind the scenes, more favorite people, and near misses -- Will & Grace -- Epilogue: Die with your boots on.
"From the director of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, and Will & Grace comes an insightful and nostalgic memoir that offers a bounty of behind-the-scenes moments from our favorite shows, peeling away the layers behind how a successful sitcom comes together--and stays that way. In Directed by James Burrows, the legendary talent not only provides backstories into the genesis and casting of the dozens of great sitcoms he directed, Burrows also offers insight into how these memorable shows are created, how they get on the air, and how the cast and crew continue to develop and grow each season, all coupled with tales of his challenges, career victories, and defeats, as well as advice for those who aspire to direct. All this from the man who helped launch the careers of Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Aniston, Debra Messing, and Melissa McCarthy. Readers will discover the childhood and young adult influences and experiences that inspired Burrows, including, first and foremost, his father, legendary playwright and Broadway director Abe Burrows. Directed by James Burrows explores Burrows's journey in theater and television, including his first gigs in "the family business" in the late 1960s, his start working on Broadway and regional theater, directing, stage managing, and building sets. Hoping that his theatrical experience could be transferable to TV directing, he applied for a job with The Mary Tyler Moore Show. From there, he became a sought-after television director. His major break came with Taxi, for which he directed more than half of the series. Forming a partnership with writers/producers Glen and Les Charles, he then co-created the mega-hit Cheers, directing most of its episodes. Burrows went on to direct the pilots and multiple episodes of Frasier, Friends, Mike & Molly, The Big Bang Theory, and Two and a Half Men, plus all 246 episodes of Will & Grace and episodes of more than a hundred other shows. A heart-and-soul master class in sitcom, Directed by James Burrows reveals what it truly takes to get a laugh"--
Excerpt provided by Syndetics
Reviews provided by Syndetics
Library Journal Review
After five decades directing classic sitcoms, Burrows is uniquely qualified to write both a love letter to the art of TV comedy and a how-to guide for aspiring writers, directors, and actors. Burrows movingly reflects on a childhood immersed in the theater of his father, legendary playwright and director Abe Burrows, who instilled the importance of hard work and passion for entertainment in his young son. Burrows turned to television as a way to separate himself from his father's shadow, cutting his teeth on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s. He then moved on to direct Taxi, co-create Cheers, develop Frasier, and direct every episode (including the reboot) of Will & Grace, among many others. Burrows provides entertaining behind-the-scenes stories and explains his belief in the importance of harmony among cast members, his favorite set designs (varying levels and pillars), and his recognition of the importance of utilizing his platform to promote understanding and empathy. Infused with classic scenes and memorable lines from his many shows, Burrows' writing is funny, self-effacing, and nostalgic. VERDICT Burrows's insights will delight fans and inspire ambitious artists.--Lisa HenryPublishers Weekly Review
In this dazzling tell-all, director Burrows takes readers on a rollicking tour through the hardworking world of sitcoms, "the best, most enduring, and most resilient form of comedy." The son of Broadway director Abe Burrows, James tumbled onto the sitcom scene in his 30s in the 1970s, where he created stories that would become the pulsating plot of the next 50 years of his life. Offering a lively jaunt behind the scenes of his oeuvre, he unpacks the brilliance of Frasier, whose protagonist "loved fully, wholly, deeply"; reveals that Cheers was originally pitched as "a light-beer commercial" ("The network loved it"); and recounts producer Chuck Lorre's astonishment upon being surprised by Bruce Springsteen backstage at Mike & Molly ("It was the only time I'd ever seen him speechless"). He's also frank about his missteps, including his decision to leave Friends after the second season: "One of my few regrets in my career is that I didn't stay with those six kids." Fans will relish the intricate breakdowns of movements, lines, and characters ("The center is the least crazy person in the room"), as much as they will Burrows's infectious passion for his craft: "Where in other workplaces familiarity may breed contempt, our familiarity bred even more affection." This delivers on all counts. (June)Booklist Review
If the title doesn't have you practically salivating, then perhaps you need to brush up on your contemporary television history. Burrows, the son of Tony-winning theater director Abe Burrows, is indeed legendary; for decades, he's been the go-to director for people who want their sitcom pilot to get turned into a series. He's been involved in some of the most popular sitcoms in television history--and not just the ones listed in the subtitle. He directed every episode of the groundbreaking Will & Grace, all 246 of them. In this absolutely essential book, he takes us through his career, from his early days (he started on The Mary Tyler Moore Show) right up to the present day. There's plenty of behind-the-scenes stuff, and Burrows writes about dozens of TV stars (Ted Danson, Jennifer Aniston, and Debra Messing, among them), but if you're looking for dirt, dig for it elsewhere. This is very much a celebratory book, an award-winning director looking back not only on his own career but also on his friendships with his colleagues and the things he learned from them. A wonderful book about the world of television, easily as valuable as Levinson and Link's Stay Tuned (1981) and Bill Carter's Desperate Networks (2006).Author notes provided by Syndetics
James Burrows has directed more than one thousand episodes of sitcom television and has earned eleven Emmy Awards and five Directors Guild of America Awards. His five-decade career began in theater, stage managing on Broadway and directing regional theater. In 1974, he began his television career directing episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and Laverne & Shirley . He became the resident director on Taxi, then co-created the beloved classic Cheers, directing 243 of the 273 episodes, as well as all 246 episodes of Will & Grace . He has directed the pilots and multiple episodes of Frasier, Friends, Mike & Molly, the pilots of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, and hundreds of other shows, where he has nurtured and mentored some of television's biggest stars.There are no comments on this title.