Stealing the Show - by Joy Press (Paperback)

About the Book

"Shonda Rhimes, Lena Dunham, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, Mindy Kaling: these ... women have shaken up the entertainment landscape, making it look like an equal opportunity dream factory. But things weren't always this rosy. It took decades of determination in the face of preconceived ideas and outright prejudice to reach this new era. In this ... book, veteran journalist Joy Press tells the story of the maverick women who broke through the barricades, starting with Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) and Diane English (Murphy Brown), whose iconic shows redefined America's idea of 'family values' and incited controversy that reached as far as the White House"--

Book Synopsis

From a leading cultural journalist, the definitive cultural history of female showrunners--including exclusive interviews with such influential figures as Shonda Rhimes, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Mindy Kaling, Amy Schumer, and many more. "An urgent and entertaining history of the transformative powers of women in TV" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). In recent years, women have radically transformed the television industry both behind and in front of the camera. From Murphy Brown to 30 Rock and beyond, these shows and the extraordinary women behind them have shaken up the entertainment landscape, making it look as if equal opportunities abound. But it took decades of determination in the face of outright exclusion to reach this new era. In this "sharp, funny, and gorgeously researched" (Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker) book, veteran journalist Joy Press tells the story of the maverick women who broke through the barricades and the iconic shows that redefined the television landscape starting with Diane English and Roseanne Barr--and even incited controversy that reached as far as the White House. Drawing on a wealth of original interviews with the key players like Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), Jenji Kohan (Orange is the New Black), and Jill Soloway (Transparent) who created storylines and characters that changed how women are seen and how they see themselves, this is the exhilarating behind-the-scenes story of a cultural revolution.

Review Quotes

"A roaring tour of women's professional, artistic, and political impact on television and on popular culture. By turns invigorating and sobering, Stealing the Show maps the progress of the expanded voice, vision, and reach of women on television and behind its scenes."-Rebecca Traister, New York Times bestselling author of All the Single Ladies and Big Girls Don't Cry

About the Author

Joy Press is the TV correspondent for Vanity Fair. She was previously the chief television critic at The Village Voice, an entertainment editor and writer for Salon and the Los Angeles Times, and a contributor to publications such as New York, The Guardian, and The New York Times. She lives in Los Angeles