They'll Never Put That on the Air

By Allan Neuwirth,

Book cover of They'll Never Put That on the Air: An Oral History of Taboo-Breaking Comedy

Book description

In the 1950s, Lucille Ball couldn't even say the word “pregnant” on TV. But by the 1990s, Carrie Bradshaw and her posse could say everything there is to say about sex—and demonstrate most of it. How have broadcast standards changed from the dawn of television till today? Through interviews with…

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Why read it?

1 author picked They'll Never Put That on the Air as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is an utterly spellbinding collection of personal interviews with people who shaped history’s most groundbreaking television.

If there was a boundary to be broken or taboo to be smashed, the story of how it happened can be found here. Every time I flip through this book I find myself rushing to watch the episodes described by the pioneers in its pages.

From Matt's list on queer characters on television.

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