Flip
Subtitle: the inside story of TV's first black superstar
By: Kevin Cook
Publisher: Plume
Published: 2014
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 242
ISBN-13: 9780142180754
Subjects: Comedians; Biography; African American comedians; Television personalities; African American television personalities; Comiques; Biographies; Comiques noirs américains
Description: When The Flip Wilson Show debuted in 1970, black faces were still rare on television and black hosts nonexistent. Then came Flip -- to instant acclaim. His show dueled Marcus Welby, M.D. for the top spot in the ratings. His characters and catchphrases fixed themselves in America&#x2019;s consciousness, and he helped launch new talent, including Richard Pryor and George Carlin. But how did Clerow Wilson, a motherless Jersey City grade-school dropout, become the celebrity heralded on the cover of TIME as "TV&#x2019;s First Black Superstar"? Drawing on interviews with family, friends, and celebrities, Kevin Cook offers an inspiring salute to a self-made star who fell from grace, but not before blazing a trail for generations of entertainers to come.
Notes: "First published in the United States of America by Viking, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2013"--Back of title page.

Includes bibliographical references (page 233) and index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: Killer ride; title: Rags. Jersey City runaway ; He flippeth! ; Look at the lights ; Circuit rider ; Miami vise ; Flip flops; title: Riches. Surprises ; One giant leap ; Thursday night lights ; Top of the world ; Crossroads; title: Liberty. Looking for the why ; Flip out ; God's fool ; Naked in the wind; title: Epilogue: Back to the beach.