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thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history
Babyboomers in their thirties never possessed a collective voice until thirtysomething (1987-1991), a thirteen-time Emmy Award-winning series, captured the essence of their angst. Author Scott Ryan now gives the cast and crew their voice on the making of all 85 episodes.
Revealing behind-the-scenes stories are recalled by Ken Olin, Timothy Busfield, Mel Harris, Melanie Mayron, Peter Horton, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper, Brandy Alexander, Joseph Dougherty, Liberty Godshall, Jill Gordon, Paul Haggis, Ann Lewis Hamilton, Winnie Holzman, Richard Kramer, Ron Lagomarsino, Ellen S. Pressman, Susan Shilliday, Scott Winant, Kenneth Zunder, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. They remember the episode plots, controversies, and fights with censors in revealing, no-holds-barred detail.
Enjoy other remembrances from actors David Clennon, Dana Delany, Michael Feinstein, David Marshall Grant, Patricia Kalember, Nick Meglin, Corey Parker, Charlotte Stewart, and Lenny Von Dohlen.
· How the series was canceled, and how the creators decided to end the series without telling anyone, and read the originally scripted ending that was never produced.
· A special section on directing.
· An essay by actor Peter Horton (Gary).
· An essay by a Mad magazine editor, who appeared in a cameo.
· How Ken Olin and his real life wife, Patricia Wettig, managed to work together.
· Writer Richard Kramer on writing the controversial “Strangers” episode.
· Actors Timothy Busfield, Melanie Mayron, and Peter Horton on acting and learning to direct.
Illustrated with over 150 rare photos, including original TV Guide ads, press pictures, and sets and props. Foreword by Emmy-nominated writer Ann Lewis Hamilton. Afterword by Emmy-winning writer, Joseph Dougherty.
About the Scott Ryan is the author of Scott Luck Stories, host of the Red Room Podcast, host of Big Bad Buffy Interviews, host of the thirtysomething podcast, writer and director of A Voyage To Twin Peaks, Managing Editor of The Blue Rose, contributor to Sondheim Review Magazine, Twin Peaks Fan Phenomena series, and Hot Valley Writers.
Revealing behind-the-scenes stories are recalled by Ken Olin, Timothy Busfield, Mel Harris, Melanie Mayron, Peter Horton, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper, Brandy Alexander, Joseph Dougherty, Liberty Godshall, Jill Gordon, Paul Haggis, Ann Lewis Hamilton, Winnie Holzman, Richard Kramer, Ron Lagomarsino, Ellen S. Pressman, Susan Shilliday, Scott Winant, Kenneth Zunder, Edward Zwick, and Marshall Herskovitz. They remember the episode plots, controversies, and fights with censors in revealing, no-holds-barred detail.
Enjoy other remembrances from actors David Clennon, Dana Delany, Michael Feinstein, David Marshall Grant, Patricia Kalember, Nick Meglin, Corey Parker, Charlotte Stewart, and Lenny Von Dohlen.
· How the series was canceled, and how the creators decided to end the series without telling anyone, and read the originally scripted ending that was never produced.
· A special section on directing.
· An essay by actor Peter Horton (Gary).
· An essay by a Mad magazine editor, who appeared in a cameo.
· How Ken Olin and his real life wife, Patricia Wettig, managed to work together.
· Writer Richard Kramer on writing the controversial “Strangers” episode.
· Actors Timothy Busfield, Melanie Mayron, and Peter Horton on acting and learning to direct.
Illustrated with over 150 rare photos, including original TV Guide ads, press pictures, and sets and props. Foreword by Emmy-nominated writer Ann Lewis Hamilton. Afterword by Emmy-winning writer, Joseph Dougherty.
About the Scott Ryan is the author of Scott Luck Stories, host of the Red Room Podcast, host of Big Bad Buffy Interviews, host of the thirtysomething podcast, writer and director of A Voyage To Twin Peaks, Managing Editor of The Blue Rose, contributor to Sondheim Review Magazine, Twin Peaks Fan Phenomena series, and Hot Valley Writers.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2017
7 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Scott Ryan
19 books139 followersScott Ryan’s newest book is Moonlighting: An Oral History which covers the Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis series that aired from 1985-1989. Scott interviewed the cast, crew and producers from the series. This is the first book ever written about Moonlighting. Order it at fayettevillemafiapress.com for a signed copy
The Last Days of Letterman, covers the final 6 weeks of The Late Show. Place an order at fayettevillemafiapress.com
He wrote a comic essay book, Scott Luck Stories (Amazon) in 2014. He directed A Voyage to Twin Peaks in 2016 (available for rent or purchase at Amazon.com). A documentary about the 25th anniversary of the Twin Peaks Festival, which has played at Twin Peaks events across the globe. He is the host of the podcasts: Red Room Podcast, Scott Luck Stories and The thirtysomething Podcast. His writing has been published in The Sondheim Review and the essay book Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks (Intellect Press). He is told he has been happily married for an amount of years. He is the co founder of Fayetteville Mafia Press.
Order signed copies of thirtysomething at thirty at www.ScottRyanProductions.com
Order The Blue Rose Magazine at www.bluerosemag.com
Follow @scottluckstory and on Facebook for more information or e-mail superted455@gmail.com for promotional materials.
The Last Days of Letterman, covers the final 6 weeks of The Late Show. Place an order at fayettevillemafiapress.com
He wrote a comic essay book, Scott Luck Stories (Amazon) in 2014. He directed A Voyage to Twin Peaks in 2016 (available for rent or purchase at Amazon.com). A documentary about the 25th anniversary of the Twin Peaks Festival, which has played at Twin Peaks events across the globe. He is the host of the podcasts: Red Room Podcast, Scott Luck Stories and The thirtysomething Podcast. His writing has been published in The Sondheim Review and the essay book Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks (Intellect Press). He is told he has been happily married for an amount of years. He is the co founder of Fayetteville Mafia Press.
Order signed copies of thirtysomething at thirty at www.ScottRyanProductions.com
Order The Blue Rose Magazine at www.bluerosemag.com
Follow @scottluckstory and on Facebook for more information or e-mail superted455@gmail.com for promotional materials.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 31, 2020
Recently I binge watched all four seasons of thirtysomething, then discovered an active group of fans on Facebook. When I learned about this book, I immediately ordered it. What a pleasure to read this!
Scott Ryan interviewed writers, actors, producers, dozens of people involved in making this series unique and timely, 30 years later. There are commentaries about every episode, dozens of photos both on and off camera, TV guide snippets, and so much more. I couldn't put it down. This book reminded me what an impact the show had on me at the time, and how timeless it remains. Talent, fearless explorations of behavior, relationships, flawed human beings... at the time I wanted to be Melissa, but I've turned out to be more like Ellyn. I love them all, and I'm grateful that Scott Ryan put so much thoughtful and tenacious energy into tracking down everyone involved in the series.
There has been talk of rebooting the series, picking up with the kids in their thirties now, as well as Hope and Michael, Nancy and Elliot, Melissa and Ellyn (and hopefully Miles Drentell too). Coronageddon has canceled the project, but perhaps enough fans can convince a network there's still an avid audience.
Thank you, Scott Ryan, for bringing an important time in my life back to me! Thirty years later, thirtysomething is still humorous and heartbreaking, complex and caring, relevant and real.
Scott Ryan interviewed writers, actors, producers, dozens of people involved in making this series unique and timely, 30 years later. There are commentaries about every episode, dozens of photos both on and off camera, TV guide snippets, and so much more. I couldn't put it down. This book reminded me what an impact the show had on me at the time, and how timeless it remains. Talent, fearless explorations of behavior, relationships, flawed human beings... at the time I wanted to be Melissa, but I've turned out to be more like Ellyn. I love them all, and I'm grateful that Scott Ryan put so much thoughtful and tenacious energy into tracking down everyone involved in the series.
There has been talk of rebooting the series, picking up with the kids in their thirties now, as well as Hope and Michael, Nancy and Elliot, Melissa and Ellyn (and hopefully Miles Drentell too). Coronageddon has canceled the project, but perhaps enough fans can convince a network there's still an avid audience.
Thank you, Scott Ryan, for bringing an important time in my life back to me! Thirty years later, thirtysomething is still humorous and heartbreaking, complex and caring, relevant and real.
December 22, 2018
This a fantastic book, full of insights into every aspect of the show, and told in a unique and truly compelling fashion: almost entirely in stand-alone, capsule quotes from actors, writers, directors and producers who made the series. The author acts more like a film editor, arranging the quotes in the best order to tell the story but also to maintain narrative tension. It’s brilliantly done…and is not only informative, but very entertaining, like listening in to a fascinating, Hollywood dinner party. The book tracks the show season by season, episode by episode, and goes into remarkable, behind-the-scenes detail. There’s a feast here for writers, directors, actors, producers and fans of the show to devour. Particularly fascinating and revealing for me was the story, told almost in a Rashomon fashion, behind the fifth season that the network and studio wanted…but that the showrunners didn’t…and all the emotions, creative conflicts, and politics that led to the series’ premature demise. The book even includes the script pages for the unshot, final scene of the final episode. The author clearly put enormous work into the book, engaging in hundreds of hours worth of interviews. You don’t need to be a fan of Thirtysomething to learn something from this book…especially if you’re a student of TV history, or contemplating a career in TV, or are even an established writer/producer about to embark on running your own show. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read about a TV show and should be required reading in classes about writing and producing series television. The only drawback is that there’s no index…which isn’t a problem is you’ve got the ebook edition, but if you have a print copy, it’s definitely missed.
June 14, 2017
I was a huge thirtysomething fan in the 80's. It was the show that for me, had all the answers to life. The cast was so identifiable for me. I felt like at one time or another I was each character. For years I waited for it to come out on DVD and then finally it did. I was so excited I even bought a back up set. Well when I first read on Facebook that there was a podcast created about thirtysomething I was thrilled. I listened to each and every podcast listening to all the insightful detail given by the cast and group of talented writers. The podcast is called Thirtysomething podcast and it was by a director and writer named Scott Ryan. He has a website www.scottryanproductions.com I loved listening to Scott and a woman named Caroyn Hendler talk to all the actors and writers about my favorite show. Well when Scott announced he was writing a book about the show I literally counted the days until it's release. I got my copy last week and couldn't put it down. It was loaded with behind the scenes info, photos never before seen and intimate details from the directors, actors and writers involved. It is a must have for any real thirtysomething fan. I shall treasure it.
July 23, 2017
I don’t remember where I first heard about this book, but several months ago I read something about it online and, since "thirtysomething" is one of my all-time favorite shows, I immediately headed to amazon.com and pre-ordered it. I was disappointed to find out it wouldn’t be coming out for several months, but I was willing to wait.
Fast-forward to the day the book was finally released and my copy arrived. Only minutes ago, I finished reading it, and all I can say was that it was worth the wait. I loved this book. It is comprised, largely, of interviews with all of the major players behind the series, including producers, directors, writers, and the main cast. They discuss what went into the show and into individual episodes and even specific scenes. It was fun to read what each person had to say and what they remembered. The book captures the joy and the love—and the hard work—of the artists who made the show what it was.
I only made it through the chapters covering the first two seasons before I pulled out my DVDs of the first season and started re-watching the show itself, now armed with the behind-the-scenes recollections and insights from this book. I am still working my way through the first season, but I know I will end up re-watching the entire series.
Seriously, if you are a fan of "thirtysomething," you will love this book. But don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself.
Fast-forward to the day the book was finally released and my copy arrived. Only minutes ago, I finished reading it, and all I can say was that it was worth the wait. I loved this book. It is comprised, largely, of interviews with all of the major players behind the series, including producers, directors, writers, and the main cast. They discuss what went into the show and into individual episodes and even specific scenes. It was fun to read what each person had to say and what they remembered. The book captures the joy and the love—and the hard work—of the artists who made the show what it was.
I only made it through the chapters covering the first two seasons before I pulled out my DVDs of the first season and started re-watching the show itself, now armed with the behind-the-scenes recollections and insights from this book. I am still working my way through the first season, but I know I will end up re-watching the entire series.
Seriously, if you are a fan of "thirtysomething," you will love this book. But don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself.
February 28, 2021
Nostalgic piffle. I enjoyed it without actually liking it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews