This is an unusual book chronicling many of television’s firsts … the
first host of a TV variety show; the first host of a network game show;
the first host of an infomercial; the first TV wrestling commentator;
the first TV boxing commentator; the first reporter to cover a
political convention for TV; the first person to host an Easter parade
on network television; the first person to appear on a videotaped
commercial; the host of the first major annual telethon; the first man
to put Dick Van Dyke, Jonathan Winters, and The Carpenters on
television; the first host hired for The New Price is Right.

The unusual part is that this book is about one man: Dennis
James. When it came to being first, he was number one.

A portion of every book sold benefits United Cerebral Palsy. Dennis hosted
the United Cerebral Palsy telethons for more than forty years, and
UCP is honored to continue Dennis’ legacy.