Joan Collins, left, and Linda Evans, the battling stars of the soap opera Dynasty, exuded glamour in striking red dresses.
"Many photographers of the time would eschew the 'over-the-top' Dynasty glamour look, wanting a more simple naturalistic approach, but not Mario," Collins writes in her foreword. "He absolutely adored the 'dressing up box'."
A Casilli portrait of Moonlighting stars Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd.
Oprah Winfrey, in a black-and-yellow sequined top, during the early years of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
"Mario wasn't the kind of guy who would try to take advantage of knowing all these celebrities — quite the opposite," Casilli says in the book. "He always separated the personal and the professional."
"Guilty"-singer Barbra Streisand, bathed in white, posed over a radiator.
Casilli utilized some of his best lighting tools "with subjects as legendary as Barbra Streisand, known for her forensic attention to detail, who was charmed by the beauty of his work with her," according to the book's introduction.
Linda Gray and Larry Hagman in their Dallas days, smiled with champagne and balloons.
"Getting the cover of TV Guide would add three or four ratings points to your show, automatically, so everyone wanted to be on there," says Bernie Boudreau, Casilli's assistant, in the book.
Philip Michael Thomas, left, and Don Johnson stood with a prop alligator in a nod to their show Miami Vice.
"The 1980s also brought an explosion of colorful styles in men's clothing, none more influential than the costumes worn by leading men Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice," the book says.
Casilli captured a close-up of '80s beauty Morgan Fairchild in an elaborate headdress. He often helped budding stars rise to fame.
"The most enduring names from that era," including Fairchild, the book reads, "soon became as well-known to the global TV audience as to their own families."
Television medical drama Cutter to Houston starred Shelley Hack, Jim Metzler and a young Alec Baldwin.
"TV Guide always wanted them in character, but in some cases the actors didn't know what the personalities of their characters were, as they had just only been hired," assistant Boudreau says in the book about shooting TV stars. "They were just happy to be photographed for TV Guide."
Casilli photographed country star Dolly Parton in popping pink.
"He had a vision — he could see the light that would work perfectly for each shot," says Boudreau.
Three Company's star and infomercial pioneer (Thighmaster) Suzanne Somers as shot by Casilli.
"Sometimes he would take a picture and think that the set-up looked OK, nothing special — and then, in the photo it was amazing," says Boudreau. "And I'd think, 'How did he do that?'"