Sign-In
Cart
The Unknown Critic Presents: Channelmania - Cable TV's Rise & Fall and the 100 Shows that Made the Medium
Paperback
Series: The Chronicles of the Unknown Critic
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: May 31 2025
Pages: 194
Weight: 0.59
Height: 0.41 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Cable is Dead...And Only One Man Can Give It the Eulogy It Deserves...
That's me, the Unknown Critic, your snark-slinging guide through the static-filled, coaxial-cabled jungle of Channelmania: Cable TV's Rise & Fall and the 100 Shows That Made the Medium. From the fuzzy glow of MTV's 1981 debut to the streaming-induced demise of your once-beloved Bravo marathons, this book is a rollicking requiem for the medium that shaped our eyeballs and melted our brains.We're talking 100 iconic shows-The Sopranos to Sportscenter, Real World to Real Housewives-that turned cable into a cultural juggernaut. I'll take you behind the screens of 11 legendary networks, from HBO's prestige obsession to TLC's freakshow fixation, with essays that unpack the madness. Ever wonder how pro wrestling and cable became the ultimate tag-team champs? Wrestling Ropes & Cable Coax spills the tea on that sweaty, spandex-clad love affair. Or how about Cable's Kiddie Revolution, where I roast the networks that turned tots into TV zombies? Don't miss The Chameleon of Cable, my takedown of network rebrands that screamed, We're relevant, we swear!
I also give props to the CableAce Awards-cable's scrappy Oscars before the Emmys gatecrashed the party-and trace the rise and podcast-fueled demise of cable news in Headlines to Headphones. Then there's Pay-Per-View's Punch-Out, where I memorialize cable's cash-grab circus, and 90 Days of Drama, a love letter to TLC's K-1 visa empire that made us all scream, Why are they still together?!
With my signature blend of wit sharper than a pixelated screen and insights deeper than a late-night infomercial, Channelmania is for anyone who's ever fought over the remote or cried when their favorite show got axed.
Cable's dead, and I'm here to laugh, lament, and maybe throw a little shade at the medium that raised us all.Also from
Critic, Unknown
The Unknown Critic Presents Flopocalypse Now: Corporate America's 100 Most Catastrophic Crashes
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
Cryptid Chaos: The Unknown Critic's 100 Wildest Monster Sightings in America
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
The Unknown Critic Presents: Bite of the Bizarre - 100 Weird Foods That Time Forgot
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
The Unknown Critic Presents: Cliffhangers and Catfights - The 100 TV Soap Operas That Stole Our Hearts
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
The Unknown Critic Presents: Enhancement Talent - A Glorious Tribute to Pro Wrestling's Job Guys and Mic Men
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
The Unknown Critic Presents: Crash of the Titans - Corporate America's 100 Epic Flops that Burned Billions
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
The Unknown Critic Presents: Prizemasters! What Are the 100 TV Game Shows That Captivated America
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
Slamtastic Stupidity: The Unknown Critic's Blistering Commentary on Pro Wrestling's 100 Most Outrageous Gimmicks
Critic, Unknown
Paperback
Also in
Television
The Official Sherlock Puzzle Book: Are You as Smart as Sherlock Holmes? (Sherlock Holmes Puzzle, Detective Gifts, Mystery Gifts)
Maslanka, Chris
Tribe, Steve
Paperback
Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation
Napier, S.
Paperback
I'll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry Season 1 (the Annotated Scripts)
Tierney, Jacob
Hardcover
Lil' John: Laughing My Way Through Life: Stories from an Accidental Career on Cleveland Tv--And More!
Rinaldi, John
Paperback
Screenwriter's Bible, 7th Edition: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
Trottier, David
Paperback
Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life
Sioux, Nia
Hardcover
The Tribe and I Have Spoken: The Definitive (Unofficial) Lore and Legacy from the Game's Smartest Surviving Loser
Cesternino, Rob
Kavutskiy, Alex
Hardcover
Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit'rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America
Keishin Armstrong, Jennifer
Hardcover
A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Meslow, Scott
Hardcover
The Sopranos Family Cookbook: As Compiled by Artie Bucco
Scicolone, Michele
Bucco, Artie
Rucker, Allen
Hardcover
Don't Buy What I'm Selling: On Breaking Up with Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole, Fat Self
Chekowsky, Lu
Hardcover
Scriptnotes: A Book about Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
Mazin, Craig
August, John
Hardcover
Book Meets World: The Definitive Inside Story of the Hit Sitcom Boy Meets World
Friedle, Will
Fishel, Danielle
Strong, Rider
Hardcover
Andy's Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse
Cohen, Andy
Hardcover
Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend
Malkoff, Mark
Hardcover
I Am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series
Dockery, Daniel
Hardcover
Heroes' Feast (Dungeons & Dragons): The Official D&d Cookbook
Witwer, Michael
Newman, Kyle
Peterson, Jon
Hardcover
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Paperback
Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook: Delicious Homestyle Recipes from Character and Real-Life Chef Gabriel Gator Guilbeau
Guilbeau, Gabriel Gator
Hardcover
Save the Cat!(r) Writes for TV: The Last Book on Creating Binge-Worthy Content You'll Ever Need
Nash, Jamie
Paperback
The Love Producer: My Unscripted Journey from a Reality TV Career to My Own Happily Ever After
Laplaca, Julie
Paperback
Love in the Afternoon, and Evening: Essays and Conversations on Soap Operas
Sen, Mayukh
Druckman, Charlotte
Paperback
Sookie's Recipe Book: Gilmore Girls: An Official Cookbook
Craig, Elena
Fish, Elizabeth
Ostow, Micol
Hardcover
Reality TV for Snobs: Everything You Need to Know about the Shows You're Too Intellectual to Watch
Barthwell, Ali
Paperback
No Lessons Learned: The Making of Curb Your Enthusiasm as Told by Larry David and the Cast and Crew
Ali, Lorraine
HBO
Hardcover
Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role
Szewczyk, Jesse
Marsham, Liz
Critical Role
Hardcover
The Dunder Mifflin Employee Manual: How to Succeed in Work--And Life--According to the Office
Lieberstein, Warren
Baumgartner, Brian
Silverman, Ben
Hardcover
Star Wars: Galactic Drinks: From Mandalorian Mocktails to Cantina Cafs, Captivating Beverages Inspired by a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
Fujikawa, Jenn
Sumerak, Marc
Hardcover
Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw's-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy
Radloff, Jessica
Hardcover
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated
Arngrim, Alison
Paperback
Supernatural: The Official Cookbook: Burgers, Pies, and Other Bites from the Road
Tremaine, Julie
Hardcover
Gilmore Girls: The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge: The Official Guide to All the Books
Berlin, Erika
Hardcover
The Golden Girls Cookbook: More Than 90 Delectable Recipes from Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia
Styler, Christopher
Hardcover
Survivor Legends: The Players Who Changed the Game (Unofficial & Unauthorized)
Merchant, Shaan
Hardcover
The Witcher Official Cookbook: Provisions, Fare, and Culinary Tales from Travels Across the Continent
Krupecka, Karolina
Sarna, Anita
Hardcover
So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All
Hailey, Leisha
Moennig, Kate
Paperback
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Paperback
Do What You're Gonna Do: The Definitive Oral History of Breaking Bad
Norris, Dean
Layden, Joe
Hardcover
This Book Is All Elite: The Inside Story of All Elite Wrestling
Greenberg, Keith Elliot
All Elite Wrestling
Hardcover
Cinematic Immunity: An Oral History of New York Filmmaking as Told by the Crews That Got the Shot
Nirenberg, Michael Lee
Paperback
Doctor Who: 1,001 Nights in Time and Space: Folktales Rescued from Around the Whoniverse
Magrs, Paul
Official Doctor Who Licensed
Cole, Steve
Hardcover
Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down: The Official Behind-The-Scenes Companion
McIntyre, Gina
Hardcover
Essentials of Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing
Walter, Richard
Paperback
The Crafter's Kitchen: An Official Minecraft Cookbook for Young Chefs and Their Families
Berne, Emma Carlson
Mojang Ab
Davidson, Danica
Hardcover
Midsomer Murders Location Guide: Discover the Villages, Pubs and Churches Behind the Hit TV Series
Hopkinson, Frank
Paperback
I Blame Television: Essays on the Pop Culture that Raised, Ruined, and Enraptured Me
Teets, Elizabeth
Paperback
Stupid Tv, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of the Simpsons Changed Television-And America-Forever
Siegel, Alan
Hardcover
So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All
Moennig, Kate
Hailey, Leisha
Hardcover
My Friend Johnny: The Last 20 Years of a Beautiful Life with Johnny Carson and Friends
Smith, Howard
Hardcover
What's Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy Ofservice
Fitzgerald, Melissa
McCormack, Mary
Hardcover
Fallout: The Official Drinks Book: Post-Apocalyptic Potations for Every Wastelander
Reeder, Cassandra
Kwong, Erin
Hardcover
The Golden Girls Cookbook: Cheesecakes and Cocktails!: Desserts and Drinks to Enjoy on the Lanai with Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia
Styler, Christopher
Hardcover
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Cookbook: Official Recipes from the Outer Reaches of the Galaxy
Sumerak, Marc
Fujikawa, Jenn
Hardcover
The Official Wednesday Cookbook: The Woefully Weird Recipes of Nevermore Academy
Mancusi, Mari
Melendez, Jarrett
Hardcover
Gilmore Girls Life Lessons: The Official Guide to Love, Friendship, and Coffee
Ulster, Laurie
Hardcover
The Official Bridgerton Guide to Entertaining: How to Cook, Host, and Toast Like a Member of the Ton: A Cookbook
Timberlake, Emily
Hardcover
En Vivo Desde América: Cómo La TV Latina Conquistó Estados Unidos. Premio Publishers Weekly Booklife 2026
Marín, Javier
Paperback
Goodnight, John Boy: A Celebration of an American Family and the Values That Have Sustained Us Through Good Times and Bad
Hamner, Earl
Giffin, Ralph
Paperback
Lost (and Found) in Space 2: Blast Off into the Expanded Edition
Cartwright, Angela
Mumy, Bill
Hardcover
Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for the Simpsons
Reiss, Mike
Klickstein, Mathew
Paperback
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Hardcover