Mickey Rooney as Archie Bunker and Other TV Casting Almosts

Mickey Rooney as Archie Bunker and Other TV Casting Almosts

Category: (Book)

15 new, starting at $24.53

10 used, starting at $19.75

Buy Now

Editorial Reviews

Would Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts be the superstars they are today if they had not been turned down for roles on soap operas? Would Everybody Loves Raymond ever have been created if Ray Romano hadn't been fired from Newsradio? Would the character of Fonzie have become such a pop culture icon in the 1970s if it had been played by Micky Dolenz? How different would Lisa Kudrow's career have turned out if she had not been turned down for a spot on Saturday Night Live? MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER and Other TV Casting Almosts answers these questions and many more. Mickey Rooney was producer Norman Lear's first choice for the starring role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family. Worried about the public's reaction to the bigoted character, he turned the role down. Carroll O'Connor was cast and became a star. TV's most famous and infamous casting decisions are explored in MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER and Other TV Casting Almosts. You'll read the stories behind the choices that have altered the course of TV history. Inside you'll learn many fun facts including: Katie Holmes was the first choice to play Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rosie O'Donnell auditioned for Elaine on Seinfeld Gene Hackman was rejected for the part of Mike Brady Sandra Bullock didn't have the right look for Baywatch Lara Flynn Boyle was considered to play Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City The shows are listed alphabetically from According to Jim to Zorro. This book lets you imagine how different your favorite shows could have been.

Customer Reviews

Casting Hits and Misses!

Reviewed by Michael OConnor, 2008-11-29

Eila Mell's 2008 book is a compendium of TV series and TV movie casting decisions that television and trivia buffs should love. Mell casts a pretty wide net so casting decisions for winners like ALL IN THE FAMILY, ST. ELSEWHERE, THE FUGITIVE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, GENERAL HOSPITAL and THE VIEW compete with also-rans like HAWAII, THE JOB and BABY BOOM. As 524 pages, it's one hefty dose of trivia.

Mell's book is alphabetically organized. Entry length can vary from a few sentences to three-four pages. A small number of entries come with photos so that, for instance, you can see what Kennneth Johnson - producer of THE INCREDIBLE HULK - looks like. Eight pages of 'Random Quotes' on casting choices follow the main text.

I'm ambivalent about MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER AND OTHER TV CASTING ALMOSTS. I gave it four stars but still wonder about that. The trivia buff in me applauds the completeness of Mell's book. The leisure reader in me counters with "too much, too much."

Most entries in the book are interesting enough, furnishing background info on different casting judgement calls. Some of the bare bone entries are about as exciting as the back of a cereal box. They cross the line from "That's interesting" to "So what?" For instance, the entry for IT'S ALL RELATIVE reads as follows: "Christine Lakin tested for the role of Maddy O'Neil in the ABC comedy, IT'S ALL RELATIVE. The role went to Paige Moss instead." Christine Who? Maddy What? See my point?

The best way to approach this book is to dip into it. Pick a favorite show or TV movie and see what Mell has to say. There is some interesting television history here so jump in and have a ball! Recommended.

really bad book

Reviewed by Marlene Young, 2008-09-30

this book was a bore. it isn't interesting. it isn't written well. it is a list of shows, most I've never heard of with no interesting side notes or anything but a cold list of facts. there's no story behind the choices, just this actor was considered for the role and didn't get it. If I could help some one else not spend their money on this book, I would as it was a big waste of money and I've thrown the book out as it has no value.

What if...

Reviewed by Eileen Weiskopf, 2008-09-21

A great source book. Who was NOT cast in so many of our favorite TV series.

The Ultimate Reference Book for TV Lovers

Reviewed by Sandra Grabman, 2008-07-10

This book is fun to read! It's very conveniently arranged with almost 500 shows alphabetically listed, as well as an index so we can search for our favorite stars. The shows range from early TV to current series, so everyone's favorites are bound to be in there. As "whipped cream on the top," there's an appendix of random quotes about auditions. These quotes enable the reader to see this facet of show biz through the actors' and casting directors' eyes.

MICKEY ROONEY AS ARCHIE BUNKER would be of particular interest to writers of celebrity biographies.