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The Show Runner: An Insider's Guide to Successful TV Production
Cy Chermak will charm readers with his humor as he takes us into the world of television show business’ dealing with writers, directors, actors and the networks. His producing credits include the iconic TV series CHiPs, Ironside, The Virginian, The Bold Ones, Barbary Coast, and The Night Stalker, among others. During his 30-year career in television, Cy also worked as a freelance writer (Bonanza, Star The Next Generation, and dozens of others), a Story Editor (Rescue 8 and The Virginian), and has been nominated for three primetime Emmys, the Writers Guild of America Award, and the Humanitas Prize. Mr. Chermak is also the proud recipient of the NAACP’s Image Award. In this memoir, Cy reveals his real-life experiences, lessons learned, regrets, and many delights.
- GenresNonfictionTv
290 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 3, 2017
This book was recommended to me by a friend. The book details the work of a television show producer or "Show Runner". Cy Chermak has a sense of humor that is evident in this book. Trying to explain who is a producer and who really runs a show, and the fact that studios hand out job titles like candy. The book has many interesting anecdotes from his years on such shows as The Virginian, The Barbary Coast, Ironsides, Amy Prentiss, Kolchak the Night Stalker and CHiPs. For a while he had the reputation as a show fixer. The book describes the egos, and eccentricities of some stars and paints a picture of a business where you really don't know who your friends are or whether television executives actually know anything about good television. It is interesting to read an insider's view of what goes on while a TV show is in production. Made me thankful I never entered that business. It is a good quick read and if you were a fan of any of the shows he ran, you'll find this book interesting and amusing. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes MeTV and classic TV shows.
March 13, 2021
"The Virginian" (1962-1971), "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" (1969-1973), "Ironside" (1967-1975), "Amy Prentiss" (1974-1975), "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1974-1975), "Barbary Coast" (1975-1976), "CHiPs" (1977-1983). Cy Chermak (1929-January 29, 2021) served as producer and/or executive producer on all of these series, and this is his behind the scenes accounting/memoir of his long and accomplished career in television.
Chermak spends most of the book going over all of the things a "show runner" (what Chermak describes as a "working executive producer", versus others with that title who do not actually take care of the day to day needs of production) must take care of. All the people he or she must meet with and decisions that must be made. Working with the stars, the casting director, the production managers, set designers, directors, editors, etc.
All the while, Chermak sprinkles in interesting anecdotes from the various series he worked on and the people he worked with. Then, in the last part of the book he discusses “The Virginian”, “Ironside”, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”, and “CHiPs” in more detail, each in their own chapter.
A very enjoyable read. Chermak could be both biting at times of others yet was always fair in his assessments of just what went down in each instance. And he could be just as critical of himself. And his sense of humor runs throughout the book, making it a fun read (in addition to reading about all of the behind the scenes stuff like actors walking off of sets when not getting their way, and others trying to exert control over the entire production or squabbling with their fellow co-stars).
Sadly, Chermak just recently passed away this past January. I learned of Chermak’s book when he was interviewed on Ed Robertson’s “TV Confidential” radio show/podcast. The copy of Chermak’s book is one that I borrowed from the Tampa/Hillsborough County Public Library (added to their collection as one of my monthly “please buy” requests).
Chermak spends most of the book going over all of the things a "show runner" (what Chermak describes as a "working executive producer", versus others with that title who do not actually take care of the day to day needs of production) must take care of. All the people he or she must meet with and decisions that must be made. Working with the stars, the casting director, the production managers, set designers, directors, editors, etc.
All the while, Chermak sprinkles in interesting anecdotes from the various series he worked on and the people he worked with. Then, in the last part of the book he discusses “The Virginian”, “Ironside”, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”, and “CHiPs” in more detail, each in their own chapter.
A very enjoyable read. Chermak could be both biting at times of others yet was always fair in his assessments of just what went down in each instance. And he could be just as critical of himself. And his sense of humor runs throughout the book, making it a fun read (in addition to reading about all of the behind the scenes stuff like actors walking off of sets when not getting their way, and others trying to exert control over the entire production or squabbling with their fellow co-stars).
Sadly, Chermak just recently passed away this past January. I learned of Chermak’s book when he was interviewed on Ed Robertson’s “TV Confidential” radio show/podcast. The copy of Chermak’s book is one that I borrowed from the Tampa/Hillsborough County Public Library (added to their collection as one of my monthly “please buy” requests).
September 17, 2017
Growing up, I saw some of Chermak's productions and his was one of the first behind-the-camera names I grew to recognize (beyond STar Trek that is). When I saw he had written an insider's guide to TV production, I figured I would learn some things and read some anecdotes about shows I enjoyed from Amy Prentiss to Barbary Coast, and of course, Klochak.
Sadly, he walks you through a producer's life and an executive producer's life but really doesn't explain the things I most wanted to read about: show creation, running multiple shows, and t what point did he know he had a hit or a miss. There's precious little here about those topics and less about Barbary Coast.
He does go on in detail about his battles with Dareen McGavin on Kolchak and the outsized egos of Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada when he helped turn CHiPS into a hit series. Given that he made his name on Ironside, he focuses solely on his relationship with Raymond Burr and little else.
Frankly, I was deeply disappointed by what was not written about. What's here is perfectly interesting but given how he hasn't produced a show in decades, the question is how relevant are those experiences today? It would have been far better had he written about how TV production changed from his early days through the 1980s.
The book design is airy, large type, lots of space, too few photographs. I wish the line editing was sharper and actual book editing coaxed more out of the man who no doubt has lots of stories left to tell.
Sadly, he walks you through a producer's life and an executive producer's life but really doesn't explain the things I most wanted to read about: show creation, running multiple shows, and t what point did he know he had a hit or a miss. There's precious little here about those topics and less about Barbary Coast.
He does go on in detail about his battles with Dareen McGavin on Kolchak and the outsized egos of Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada when he helped turn CHiPS into a hit series. Given that he made his name on Ironside, he focuses solely on his relationship with Raymond Burr and little else.
Frankly, I was deeply disappointed by what was not written about. What's here is perfectly interesting but given how he hasn't produced a show in decades, the question is how relevant are those experiences today? It would have been far better had he written about how TV production changed from his early days through the 1980s.
The book design is airy, large type, lots of space, too few photographs. I wish the line editing was sharper and actual book editing coaxed more out of the man who no doubt has lots of stories left to tell.
January 10, 2022
We miss a lot of history because those who write about it often focus on the unusual, and not the day to day business of how the sausage is made, so to speak. This 2017 memoir of Mr. Chermak's time in television series in the 1970's gives a fascinating peek into the sausage-making of that world.
I am not sure that it serves as much of a guide to someone trying to enter the industry today, however. I'm sure much of the industry has remained the same (white, male-dominated, based on recommendations from friends), but much is probably different.
One thing that undoubtedly remains the same, is that when egos butt heads, studios are going to keep the stars, not the folks behind the scene who pissed off the stars. The writing style... simply didn't engage me. I did enjoy the photos, and some of the stories. This is really a niche book for those interested in Hollywood television history, and perhaps, those shows Mr. Chermak worked on.
I am not sure that it serves as much of a guide to someone trying to enter the industry today, however. I'm sure much of the industry has remained the same (white, male-dominated, based on recommendations from friends), but much is probably different.
One thing that undoubtedly remains the same, is that when egos butt heads, studios are going to keep the stars, not the folks behind the scene who pissed off the stars. The writing style... simply didn't engage me. I did enjoy the photos, and some of the stories. This is really a niche book for those interested in Hollywood television history, and perhaps, those shows Mr. Chermak worked on.
February 13, 2021
Cy Chermak went through the ranks - actor, writer, producer - and tells his stories here. It's a wonderfully witty and informative look at how TV shows are made - and why they so often fail. Lots of amusing inside stories and plenty of fun along the way. Chermak sadly died recently, but this book is a wonderful memorial to him. Absolutely brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews