Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Sellevision

Sellevision
Sellevision
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


PUBLISHER COMMENTS
Darkly funny and gleefully mean-spirited, "Sellevision" explores greed, obsession and third tier celebrity, in the world of a fictional home shopping network.

Welcome to the troubled world of Sellevision, America's premier retail broadcasting network. When Max Andrews, the much-loved and handsome (lonely and gay) host of "Slumber Sunday Sundown" accidentally exposes himself in front of twenty million kids and their parents during a "Toys for Tots" segment, Sellevision faces its first big scandal. As Max fails to find a job in television, another host, the popular and perky Peggy Jean Smythe is receiving sinister emails about her appearance from a stalker. Popping pills and drinking heavily, she fails to notice that her husband is spending a lot of time with the very young babysitter who lives next door. Then there's Leigh, whose affair with Sellevision boss Howard Toast is going nowhere, until she exposes him on air; and Bebe, Sellevision's star host, who finds Mr. Right through the Internet if she can just stop her shopping addiction from taking over.

REVIEWS
"An absolute howl, about on-camera personalities who sell things on those home-shopper channels. This one has its characters fall apart very publicly: One is axed after he accidentally exposes himself on air. Another is the target of a surprising stalker.
And so on."
-- New York Daily News

"This kaleidoscope of gleefully salacious intrigue aims to titillate and amuse in a purposefully over-the-top way."
-- Publishers Weekly

"First-time novelist Burroughs writes fluidly and shows a flair for fun, campy material....As a bubbly soap opera, 'Sellevision'
is good company for the beach or the plane. Its literary value may be low, but the material sparkles, just like the Diamonelle earrings on the shopping channels."
-- Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Augusten Burroughs is the author of "Running with Scissors" and "Sellevision." He lives in New York City.