If you have watched TV sitcoms since the late 1970s, then you should recognize the title of this book. In fact: if you pick up and look at the physical book, then the dust jacket alone should trigger your memory. The book title appears exactly as the credit slide that was shown before or after many a fun program from the past. Maybe it will look immediately familiar to you.

But which shows were connected to it and to this James Burrows guy? You'll have to find out by opening up the pages and by starting to read his stories. You will undoubtedly land on many an "a-hah" moment.

Is this book an autobiography, a memoir or a historical chronicle of 20th-century television broadcasting? Let's say that it is more of the latter than the former. We do learn about James "Jimmy" Burrows' background and beginnings in the first quarter of the book. He was born at the end of 1940 and grew up in New York City. His father, Abe Burrows, was a successful writer, playwright, director and producer. Jimmy participated in a number of public productions as a young member of the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus.

Because of his experience, he was able to attend Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. Then he went on to study at Oberlin College and to the Yale School of Drama. Along the way, Jimmy made valuable personal connections and was involved in a variety of plays and such. By watching and studying the approaches of directors like his father and others over the years, Jimmy gained an understanding of what the task required. He eventually made a sitcom directorship debut with The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Talk about going right to the top, at the time.

But what we really want to know is what happened on all of those other famous shows, right? Right. We want to be in those living rooms and those work spaces again, we want to peek behind the curtains and to get the inside scoops. So, yes, most of the book gives us the opportunities to "see" all of those familiar places and faces. We spend the most time with the stories and characters/actors of Taxi, Cheers and Will & Grace. Add more vignettes from Frasier, Friends, Mike & Molly, and other shows, and this book becomes a TV fan's delight. No wonder we recognized the director's name on the slide.

For me, the only omission here is a complete list of Burrows' directing credits. I mean, this book is about all of the shows that he directed, and about his expertise in his endeavors. We could look up his credits online. But wouldn't it have made sense to include the full list here as a concluding appendix? Celebrate the entire catalogue of the expert? Maybe the librarian in me is coming through on this one.

Directed by James Burrows offers a lot of memory-lane trotting for television viewers. It's better than a bloopers reel. It also weaves in a lot of quiet technical advice, for anyone who aspires to work in the film-making or television production business. In the end, it's just a lot of fun to revisit the sets of some of the most successful sitcoms of the 20th century. We enjoy going back to the people and places that we remember, and to find out how they all came about. After all, it's where everyone knows your name.

[ visit James Burrows' IMDb page ]