Tom Shales
Tom Shales – Life, Career, and Noteworthy Perspectives
Explore the life and legacy of Tom Shales — the Pulitzer Prize–winning American television critic and cultural commentator. Learn about his background, work, influence, and memorable remarks.
Introduction
Tom Shales (Thomas William Shales) was a prominent American journalist, critic, author, and chronicler of television and media, whose incisive, witty, and sometimes scathing critiques made him a respected—and sometimes feared—voice in American cultural commentary. Over several decades, he shaped how audiences and professionals understood television’s role in society, and co-authored definitive histories of Saturday Night Live and ESPN.
Early Life and Education
Thomas William Shales was born on November 3, 1944, in Elgin, Illinois. (There is occasional confusion in some sources citing a birth year of 1948, but more authoritative references, including his obituary, confirm 1944 as the correct year.)
His father was Clyde Shales and his mother Hulda Shales.
Shales began his higher education at Elgin Community College, then transferred to American University in Washington, D.C., where he completed a bachelor’s degree in journalism. The Eagle and served as the campus movie critic.
Career and Achievements
Early Career & Entering Criticism
Shales’s first media work came early: as a teenager he worked at WRMN / WRMN-FM in Elgin, Illinois, where he served as disc jockey, announcer, news reporter, and writer. Voice of America, particularly programming aimed at the Far East.
In 1968, he joined the Washington Examiner as its entertainment editor. The Washington Post, initially writing in the Style section.
By July 1977, he was appointed chief television critic for The Washington Post; later he became TV editor as well. “On the Air”, reached a national audience.
Shales was known for his sharp, uncompromising style. He often delivered withering critiques of programs he deemed shallow or ill conceived, earning nicknames like “Terrible Tom.”
Awards & Recognition
In 1988, Shales received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for his writing at The Washington Post, particularly his review of the Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination hearings, where he blended political, media, and narrative analysis.
Beyond his print work, Shales appeared as a critic on National Public Radio (NPR), especially Morning ion, and guest co-hosted Siskel & Ebert & the Movies. Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1991 to 1996.
Later Years & Authorship
After years as staff critic, Shales shifted to a contract role in 2006. 2010, he ceased his affiliation with The Washington Post altogether, following organizational cuts.
Shales authored and co-authored several influential works, including:
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On the Air! — his collected columns
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Legends: Remembering America’s Greatest Stars
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Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live (with James Andrew Miller) — a behind-the-scenes oral history of SNL, widely praised and still a touchstone for television historians.
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Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN (also with Miller) — chronicling the rise and internal culture of ESPN.
Shales continued writing essays, reviews, and commentary even after leaving the Post. For a period, he contributed to
Tom Shales’s influence on television criticism and cultural commentary was multifaceted: Elevating TV criticism: He pushed TV review beyond plot summary into cultural, social, and technical analysis, showing how television reflects and shapes public life. Tone and style: His writing combined wit, sarcasm, passion, and erudition; he did not shy from strong opinions. His influence can be seen in later critics and pop culture writers who adopt a more assertive, personality-driven voice. Documenting media history: Works like Live from New York are not just behind-the-scenes gossip — they contextualize television evolution, entertainment business, and cultural shifts. Crossing media boundaries: Shales understood both print and broadcast, moving between newspaper, radio, television, and books seamlessly. Encouraging accountability: His critiques often demanded more from creators and networks; he called out mediocrity, laziness, or hypocrisy in media. Shales was reputed to be tough, demanding, and unflinching—but also deeply knowledgeable and passionate about television as a medium. He held a conviction that television, though often dismissed as lightweight, could and should aspire to art, cultural significance, and social impact. A few signature elements of his style: Scathing analogies and imagery: He often used vivid metaphors or biting image to drive a review’s point. Historical depth: He drew on knowledge of earlier media eras, comparing modern shows against their predecessors. High expectations: He did not accept mediocrity. He often framed criticism in terms of potential — what the show could or should have been. Humor and irony: Even harsh criticism was delivered with irony, wit, or sardonic humor. While Tom Shales was primarily a critic rather than a quotable aphorist, several of his observations stand out: Upon seeing overly flashy action films: he derisively described them as “huge things crashing into other huge things.” In his critique of Seinfeld, he wrote that the show spread “darkness … a quality some sophisticated viewers find redeeming” and called Jerry Seinfeld himself “a tremendously uninteresting, empty-headed man for someone who makes his living by his wits.” On aging and taste: “When you’re young, you have way fewer taboo topics, and then as you go through life and you have experiences with people getting cancer and dying … rebelliousness really is the province of young people.” These lines reflect both his critical edge and his more reflective side. Tom Shales passed away on January 13, 2024, in Alexandria, Virginia, at the age of 79, due to complications from COVID-19 and kidney failure. His passing prompted tributes from many in journalism and media, with colleagues noting that few critics had his combination of intelligence, humor, daring, and cultural insight. His legacy lives on not just in his columns, but in his books, the standards he set for criticism, and in the way we still talk about television as a serious cultural form.Influence & Importance
Personality, Style & Critic Persona
Memorable Quotes & Remarks
End & Legacy