TV

Sitcom: A History in 24 Episodes from I Love Lucy to Community by Saul Austerlitz is a well written look at the history of the sitcom as it progressed from fixed camera sets where husbands and wives couldn't mention the word pregnant to the boundary busting All in the Family which took on social issues and politics, to the multiple camera focus and live action of M*A*S*H (technically a sitcom but with deep undertones exposing darker themes).   What a long way we've gone from having spouses in twin beds (with one of the spouses always having at least one foot on the floor) to The Golden Girls who were surprisingly raunchy.  Take a walk down memory lane with The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cheers, Friends, and more and see American culture through the magic of television.  SG

If you're like me you enjoy lists - the best books of all time, the top grossing movies of 2013, etc.  Here's a book of lists that is a bit more unusual than most:  100 Most Influential People who Never Lived by Kelly Knauer.  This book covers everyone from Mary Poppins to Atticus Finch from To Kill  Mockingbird.  All of these iconic figures do not exist but we all know who they are and many of them have permeated our culture and influenced entire generations.  Remember Homer Simpson?  How about Santa Claus?  One of my favorites was reading about what Mary Tyler Moore had to say about her character on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  This is a fun book even if you just have a moment to browse the pictures. SG

Dealing With The Devil

Detective Chief Inspector John Luther has a lot of problems. He's incredibly volatile, he's haunted by the terrible crimes he investigates, his marriage is falling apart, and a psychopath is obsessed with him. But he's also a brilliant detective who will stop at nothing to punish the deserving for their monstrous actions. Always balancing on a tight-rope across a moral grey area, will Luther be pushed over the edge when he faces the ultimate betrayal? Find out in Luther: Season 1. And keep an eye out for Season 2, coming soon to the Oxford Public Library! HM

A funny lady!

Betty White has been in many tv series and movies. She has also written about her life and her latest book, If You Ask Me, (And of Course You Won't), mixes observations about aging, television, and acting. The focus is on the last fifteen years of her long and productive life. What a treat to read a memoir that is funny, uplifting and without rancor. ML