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On Demand: Broadcast History and "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television" by Todd S. Purdum
Moderated by Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik
Join us on a journey into entertainment history with Desi Arnaz’s biographer Todd Purdum and two experts on the evolution of television programming. Learn more about the visionary, trailblazing Cuban American who brought laughter to millions as Lucille Ball’s beloved husband on I Love Lucy and left a legacy that influences American culture to this day.
Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to the entertainment—how he revolutionized the industry. Desi Arnaz shines light on the life and influence of this groundbreaking Latino artist and businessman known to millions as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Beyond his iconic role, he was a pioneering entrepreneur who, filming before a live audience, fundamentally transformed the television landscape: his production techniques remain a sitcom gold standard today. Don’t miss these experts’ insights on the history of television and this must-read biography about innovation, resilience, and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever.
Todd S. Purdum is a veteran journalist and author. In a career of more than forty years, he has written widely about politics and culture, starting at The New York Times, where he spent twenty-three years, covering politics from city hall to the White House, later serving as diplomatic correspondent and Los Angeles bureau chief. He has also been a staff writer at Vanity Fair, Politico, and The Atlantic. He is the author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution and An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers, with whom he has two grown children.
Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik have authored seven books on popular culture including Watching TV: American Television Season by Season, now in its fourth edition. Castleman has been a guest lecturer on TV history at Boston University’s College of Communication and worked as a media producer and consultant. He practices law in Boston. Podrazik is a communications and logistics consultant and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he teaches television history and analyzes the role of media in politics. He also serves as television curator at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
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