Set in sun-drenched 1964 Los Angeles Meet the Newmans chronicles America's favorite TV family
whose perfect façade starts to unravel when their iconic show is up for renewal and one of them
suffers a tragic accident. For two decades Del and Dinah Newman and their sons Guy and Shep
have ruled the airwaves as America's Favorite Family. Thirty million viewers tune in every week
to watch them play airbrushed flawless versions of themselves. But behind the smiling
black-and-white exterior the Newmans are a mess. Patriarch Del is the propulsive motor and
visionary behind the Newmans machine? producing directing writing and starring in every
single one of the 400 plus episodes. But at forty-five he suddenly feels like a relic. Ratings
have plummeted the studio is threatening cancellation his own fame has been eclipsed by his
youngest son's and their money (that he was managing) is suddenly gone. Meanwhile Dinah
struggles to figure out what is making her body literally go numb and to break out of her
traditional roles as wife and mother. Roles that?off camera? she is terrible at. Lately she
finds herself wondering is this all there is and daydreaming about having an affair with the
neighbor. Guy and Shep aren't faring much better. Guy has lived life by the book doing
everything right?at least as far as anyone can see? in a futile effort to win his dad's
approval. Behind closed doors though his personal life is in chaos. Younger brother Shep on
the other hand is a dreamy rock n' roll idol who seems to be on top of the world?until an
ill-timed romance and a surprise baby change the course of his life. When Del gets into a car
accident in a mysterious location across town the Newmans' world is turned upside down. Dinah
Guy and Shep scramble to keep his hospitalization and comatose state from the press and the
studio and at the same time figure out how to keep the show afloat without Del at the helm.
Being everyone's fantasy family is a lot to carry! Enter LA Times Reporter Juliet Dunne here
to cover the life and times of America's beloved Newmans. Trouble is Juliet loathes them. She
grew up watching the show and blames Dinah in particular for setting an unrealistic and
antiquated version of what it means to be a woman. Juliet fully expects to get her fluff
interview and go back to her actual journalism pursuits. But Dinah has a different plan...
Meet the Newmans is as relevant today as it will be tomorrow as it was yesterday. A novel about
love money fame purpose friendship creativity loss and most of all the evolution of a
family. This funny warm affecting read is also about the dual lives we all lead? the version
we present to the world and the version that exists off stage. Because it turns out even when
our lives aren't televised weekly we all have a behind-the-scenes.
