Books : Show Turners

If you or someone on your holiday gift list is a reader more than a viewer--or, more likely here, likes to read about what they’ve been viewing--there are plenty of choices in bookstores this year:

Memoirs

“Back to the Batcave” by Adam West with Jeff Rovin (Berkeley, $12): Pow! Zam! Zowie! The star of the ‘60s cult series “Batman” unmasks behind-the-scene stories in this book that West states in the intro is “not the memories of an aging actor. ... This is a book for the many loyal Batfans who have asked for it.” Included are candid photos and a complete episode guide.

“To the Stars: The Autobiography of George Takei, ‘Star Trek’s’ Mr. Sulu” by George Takei (Pocket Books, $22): The Asian American actor, who came to fame as Sulu on another ‘60s cult series, “Star Trek,” relates his journey from childhood in a World War II internment camp in Arkansas to his stint on “Star Trek.” In it he discusses his feelings about William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk, and goes over his career in politics at local and national levels.

“Beyond Uhura: ‘Star Trek’ and Other Memories” by Nichelle Nichols (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, $23): “Star Trek’s” Lieutenant Uhura writes about being the first African American actress to have a major role in a dramatic TV series, offers up behind-the-scenes scoops on the series--including her relationship with “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry--and her feelings about William Shatner.

“Tinker in Television: From General Sarnoff to General Electric” by Grant Tinker and Bud Rukeyser (Simon & Schuster, $23): Acclaimed memoir and insider’s look at the medium by the television executive who founded MTM Enterprises with then-wife Mary Tyler Moore and, as chairman of NBC, transformed the last-place network into a first-place proud peacock.

“Just Farr Fun” by Jamie Farr with Robert Blair Kaiser (Eubanks/Donizetti Inc., $22): Farr is the first “MASH” regular to pen his memoirs. The actor, who donned the most outrageous outfits as the Section 8-seeking Cpl. Maxwell Klinger, discusses his Lebanese American upbringing; his big movie break in Richard Brooks’ 1955 classic, “The Blackboard Jungle”; his family; his warm memories of ‘MASH,” and his typecasting woes after the series ended. The book concludes with Farr making his Broadway debut this year in the musical “Guys and Dolls.”

“Forever Dobie: The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman” by Dwayne Hickman and Joan Roberts Hickman (Birch Lane Press, $20): The personable star of the popular sitcoms “‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” and “The Bob Cummings Show” has penned a breezy autobiography. (Hickman discusses writing the book, Page 79.)

“Love, Alice: My Life as a Honeymooner” by Audrey Meadows with Joe Daley (Crown, $22): Fans of “The Honeymooners” needn’t fret that Meadows, who played Alice Kramden on the series, has written a kiss-and-tell book. She writes with love and affection about her years playing Alice opposite Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden. In fact, Meadows states on the jacket that the book is a “love letter to my television husband Ralph Kramden (a.k.a. Jackie Gleason) in recollection of grand, rare, nutsy days and nights when ‘The Honeymooners’ was America’s Saturday night ritual.”

Miscellaneous

“Please Stand By: A Prehistory of Television” by Michael Ritchie (The Overlook Press, $24): The director of such lauded films as “The Candidate,” “Smile” and “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom” penned this amusing, informative account of the very early days of television. The book covers the history of TV from 1920 to ’48 and offers such historical trivia as Eddie Albert being paid $5 for his TV debut in 1936. The book also includes 100 vintage photographs chronicling TV’s infancy.

“The Smart Parent’s Guide to Kids’ TV” by Dr. Milton Chen (KQED Books & Tapes, $9): Mr. Rogers himself, Fred Rogers, penned the afterword of this guide, which offers parents practical techniques and strategies to control the type of programs and amount of TV children watch.

“How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Conversation” by Larry King with Brad Gilbert (Crown Publishers, $20): The talkmeister, who has chatted with the likes of Marlon Brando and Ross Perot on his live CNN series, shares his secrets on how to communicate confidently and effectively.

Tributes

“The Official ‘Dick Van Dyke Show’ Book” by Vince Waldron with a foreword by Dick Van Dyke (Hyperion, $15): Oh, Robbbbb! Fans of the 1961-66 sitcom classic should enjoy this in-depth look at the Emmy-winning comedy series. The book features a guide to all 158 episodes, a who’s-who of characters, candid photographs, anecdotes and new interviews with members of the show’s original cast: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie and Larry Matthews.

“ ‘Saturday Night Live’: The First Twenty Years,” edited by Michael Cader with photographs by Edie Baskin (Cader Books, $25): It’s hard to believe NBC’s irreverent late-night variety show is celebrating its 20th season this year. This amply illustrated history follows the format of the show, beginning with “cold openings,” followed by cast and guest-host introductions and interviews. The book also features summaries of each sketch, an overview of the series’ commercial parodies, a roundup of all the musical acts ever to appear and a look at world events as seen through the skewered sensibilities of “Weekend Update.”