Political TV Routledge Television Guidebooks Series

This book serves as an accessible critical introduction to the broad category of American political television content. Encompassing political news and scripted entertainment, Political TV addresses a range of formats, including interview/news programs, political satire, fake news, drama, and reality TV. From long-running programs like Meet the Press to more recent offerings including Veep, The Daily Show, House of Cards, Last Week Tonight, and Scandal, Tryon addresses ongoing debates about the role of television in representing issues and ideas relevant to American politics. Exploring political TV?s construction of concepts of citizenship and national identity, the status of political TV in a post-network era, and advertisements in politics, Political TV offers an engaging, timely analysis of how this format engages its audience in the political scene. The book also includes a videography of key and historical series, discussion questions, and a bibliography for further reading.

Introduction: Political TV and Mediated Citizenship 1. Selling Politics: Advertising After Citizens United 2. Political News in the Post-Network Era 3. Fake News as Political Satire 4. Comedy and the Political Spectacle 5. Political Process Melodramas and Serial Narrative 6. Surveillance Culture: Melodramas of National Security Conclusion Political TV: Questions for Discussion

Chuck Tryon is Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at Fayetteville State University. He is the author of On-Demand Culture: Digital Delivery and the Future of Movies and Reinventing Cinema: Movies in the Age of Media Convergence.