Searching for Michael Jackson's Nose: And Other Preoccupations of Our Celebrity-Mad Culture

Debbie Feisst is the reference/Internet resources librarian in the
Information Services Division of the Edmonton Public Library.

Scott Feschuk, an Ottawa-based columnist with the National Post, pokes a
satirical finger at the world of television pop culture and our
obsession with celebrity in his first book. Feschuk writes a daily
column on television and “watches television for a living.”

In his own words, “There are no intriguing plot developments in this
book—nor even, for that matter, a plot.” And he is correct. This
book is a series of essays, comedic sketches, and parodies of familiar
television shows and celebrity gatherings. The author takes a look at
the birth of reality television, which he states “is tame … in
comparison to the reality of television” and provides some scary yet
funny insights into the future of this television format. Some
highlights include interesting plot lines for popular sitcoms during
sweeps month, an Oscar bingo card, and television listings for what’s
on tonight in Hell.

The chapters are written in a sharp and witty tone, with some
laugh-out-loud pieces that may be lost on you if you don’t enjoy
watching prime-time television or the many entertainment news programs
offered. While the first half of the book kept me laughing, the second
half seemed to peter off and had me asking myself, “When will it
end?”

Fans of reality television and related pop culture will certainly enjoy
this fun read.