Meet the Newmans
The Newmans have been in the spotlight for twenty years. First on radio and then on television, their show Meet the Newmans presents a picture-perfect snapshot of the all-American family. There is Del, the well-meaning but sometimes bumbling father; Dinah, the traditional mother, always wearing an apron and cooking or cleaning; Guy, their 20-year-old, attractive, athletic eldest son; and 17-year-old Shep, with heartthrob good looks and the musical talent of a bona fide rock star.
But their televised life is losing its appeal to the public and no longer resembles real life in 1964 America. Viewers want something that more closely reflects the challenges they are facing, while the network wants more of the same, albeit an updated version in which Del and Dinah step aside and the show focuses solely on Guy and Shep. Scrambling to keep their show going, a catastrophic accident threatens to upend their lives and reveal the secrets each member fears will destroy the show and their family.
Niven crafts a deliciously dishy tale of a television family, à la Ozzie and Harriet, on the brink. She cleverly intersperses the story with reviews of the show, Dinah’s advice articles in women’s magazines, and even a recipe for her signature coffeecake, which appears in TV Guide, giving it a more authentic feel. Each character is complex and given a full backstory, and the tension between family members believable. Some parts are unlikely—like language and images referenced that would not have made it past 1960s censors—and the ending is a bit too neat, but overall, this is an enjoyable read for those who love behind-the-scenes stories.
