Boxed In Trapped in 80’s Television – Through the Shattered Lens

My wife is due a good, relaxing vacation at the beach. Back in June, we took off from central Arkansas in our Toyota Camry, eventually making our way to the Canadian border and back home over the course of about 9 days. We drove around 3,500 miles with stops in Nashville, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, White River Junction (VT), Niagara Falls, Louisville, and Memphis. We had a blast, and it was a special trip, but we were worn out when we got home. Well next week I’m taking her to the beautiful white sands of Perdido Key, FL. She told me that she may not want to leave the condo all week! While I suspect that may not be completely true, I do understand her desire to relax with a beautiful view, a brisk gulf breeze, and a few opportunities to dig her toes into the sand. We can’t wait!

I’m also looking forward to settling in with a few of the entertainment related books on my shelf. I’m definitely taking these three:

“Boxed In – Trapped in 80’s Television,” by Fanacek: I’ve read the first 100 pages of this exhaustively researched book on 80’s TV. It’s a very funny read, and it’s full of so much good info, especially for someone like me who went from 7 to 17 during that decade. I literally grew up on the shows he discusses. And just in case you’re worried I’ll finish it too early in the week, rest easy because it’s about 750 pages long. I may not get to anything else!!

“Marlon Brando – Hollywood Rebel,” by Burt Kearns: I must confess that I don’t know as much about Marlon Brando as I should, especially if I want to call myself a serious film buff. Burt has been a guest on the This Week in Charles Bronson podcast a couple of times, and I enjoyed his book on troubled Hollywood tough guy Lawrence Tierney. I think he’ll be the perfect guide as I enter the world of Brando.

“Winner Takes All – a life of sorts,” by Michael Winner: I really need to read this one. Michael Winner directed the first three DEATH WISH films, and a total of six Charles Bronson films, so I know there will be a lot of good information on my movie hero. Winner also directed a lot of other good movies and even spent time as a restaurant/ food critic in his later years. It’s well past time for me to cross this one off the list.

There are others that I’ll probably take as well, such as Dwayne Epstein’s “Killin’ Generals: The Making of the Dirty Dozen” and “Lee Van Cleef” by Mike Malloy. I can definitely see some Brad’s Book Reviews in the near future! I’m just excited to have some time to slow down, relax and read about the people who interest me.

I have about a 35-minute commute to work every day, so I often listen to various podcasts as I’m driving in. There are several that I really enjoy, with “Fanacek” being one of my very favorites. I pretty much always listen to his new episodes on the same day they come out. He’s been talking about the book he’s been working on for quite a while, and it’s finally come out. The name of the book is BOXED IN – TRAPPED IN 80’s TELEVISION, and it’s a monster, coming in at 750 pages. One of the best things I can say is that he’s captured the fun of the podcast in the book, with it being both incredibly funny and informative. I laughed out loud frequently while I was reading it. I also made quite a few notes as the book reminded me of shows I wanted to revisit or shows I may not have ever even heard of. I recommend the book to any person who grew up in the 80’s. There’s a lot of nostalgia here. I also recommend the book to everyone else who just enjoys the history of TV. There’s so much to learn, and Fanacek’s exhaustive research is a great start!

If any of that sounds good to you, just search for BOXED IN – TRAPPED IN 80’s TELEVISION on Amazon. I don’t think there’s any way you’ll be disappointed!