Most television historians agree that the popular co-star was born in 1955 when Art Carney, as Ed Norton, first addressed Jackie Gleason with a "Hey, Ralphie-boy," on "The Honeymooners." The phenomenon has proved to be one of the most enduring achievements of the American sitcom, and oftentimes so popular that the co-star becomes the star.
Twenty-nine of those popular co-stars get all of the attention in this work. Each chapter focuses on one television character and the actor or actress who brought him or her to life, and provides critical analysis, biographical information and, in many instances, interviews with the actors and actresses themselves. It includes people like Art Carney of "The Honeymooners," Don Knotts and George Lindsey of "The Andy Griffith Show," Ted Knight of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Max Baer, Jr., of "The Beverly Hillbillies," Vivian Vance and William Frawley of "I Love Lucy," Ann B. Davis of "The Brady Bunch," Tim Conway of "The Carol Burnett Show," Jimmie Walker of "Good Times," Tom Poston of "Newhart" and Michael Richards of "Seinfeld," to name just a few. Besides Don Knotts and George Lindsey, other actors with TAGS connections include Ronnie Schell (for "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C." and Jamie Farr.
Note: This is not an inexpensive book (especially for being a paperback), but it's published mainly for libraries and therefore has limited circulation. For the TV enthusiast, though, it's fascinating reading and has loads of rare info about some of TV's funniest people.
