TV Comedy Tie-In Books - An Overview

Yes, it is an unwieldy title but I’ve gone with it now so let’s all just accept it and move on. They’re less of a staple these days but I would say that, from the 70s through to the early 00s, the TV comedy tie-in book was something of a staple. Definitely in the pre- and early VHS days, it was (much like the comedy album) a way for you to get another fix of comedy goodness in between your televisual doses. The very best ones (also like the comedy album) provided you with something new and fresh and probably experimented with the form a little bit. The laziest simply gave you a printed version stuff you’d already seen.

Being a big old comedy geek, I’ve always had a fondness for them. If I love a comedy show, I always want more and this was a good way to get another little fix. It was also one that, depending on the size of the book, could be taken with you. Yes, that’s right, youngsters, once upon time, you didn't have magic tiny telly screens in your pocket that could access everything ever broadcast. In the 1980s and 90s, we had VHS collections and, if they were substantial enough, you could build a small bunker out of them.

Comedy books over the years have tended to fall into a few main types. Let’s break those down:-

The Script Book
The most obvious option to plump for when considering your comedy tie-in book. At the most basic level, the least satisfying ones are simply a text-based reproduction fo what you get on screen. Interesting for those who are truly dedicated but not really rewarding you for shelling out your cash. The next level up will offer maybe a draft of the script that had some scenes deleted or altered for the broadcast section (and maybe a few pictures or illustrations too). You’re getting into territory that the real comedy fan can get into. The real top notch ones will give you some commentary and behind the scenes details too - these are the ones that will end be read more than once.

The "In-Universe" Book
This is your “book as written by the characters”. It could come in a few different forms. The most common tends to be the book equivalent of a sketch-based format with one or two pages at a time being “written: by one of the characters of the show. Again, these can be hit and miss - it all depends on how much original material you're getting thrown into the mix. The other format is an autobiography, again written by one or more of the characters. As before, freshness of material tends to play a factor in how successful it is.

The “In The Style Of” Book
These are a bit more nebulous and not so frequent but are books written in the style of another type of book, be it an encyclopedia, how to manual, etc. You’re more likely to get newer material.

Other
Not everyone goes with the same thing - some are trickier to categorise.

So, if those are the types, do I have any examples to highlight what I’m talking about? I reckon you can probably guess that I’m going to tell you to come back next time, can't you? Good, ‘cause I am.