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#921175 in eBooks 2011-09-01 2011-09-01File Name: B00LXV76TS
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Really Good Look At An Important Time In The History of ComedyBy Geoffrey KleinmanThis is the book that the Shotime series of the same name is based on. That series is a fictionalization of the book; but the book is actually non-fiction and it tells the story of the comedy explosion of the 70s and 80s. The book is well written and flows between narrative and oral history really well.The first half of the book is the stronger half as it follows many of the threads that lead to the careers of Jay Leno; David Letterman; Richard Pryor; Robin Williams and especially Richard Lewis. If the book were to really have a main character its Richard Lewis and his story really intersects with many of the different branches of what happened in NY and LA at the Improv and Comedy Store.The second half of the book gets really caught up with the quazi-union of comedians and their struggle with Mitzy Shore and the Comedy Store. The conflict is important; but it dominates the narrative so strongly it eclipses many of the individual comics narratives.I listened to the Audiobook version of this book; which is well narrated by William Dufris; who does a good job keeping the comic timing from the sections of the book which are taken from the oral history. If you are interested in this topic; I solidly recommend this book0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Laughing to Keep from Crying One of the best narratives of comedy in the seventiesBy Peter DollardLaughing to Keep from CryingOne of the best narratives of comedy in the seventies. It walks the perfect line when everyone one was living for the day and the next hour yet pursuing a truly dangerous career(names are simply not necessary in this case): A novel brought to life; the golden Svengali promising fabulous wealth and fame; endless verbose brilliance delivered by the downtrodden;; oppressed; depressed; and distressed. The complete freedom to fail on stage and by that very act able to carve out a name for yourself. The story line in this work is very well connected and filled with little vignettes of all the successful comics from Williams to Leno. The off stage Letterman surprised me more than anything; He was so dare I say it kind and it illustrates the bankrupt nature of having your persona on TV being the only real knowledge anyone has of you. A very strong five stars.... I wished it had gone on farther but really this was the story...0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well told true tale of comedys Camelot period.By EdgeA true account of those golden times when the best comedians had some homes where they could hone their craft. The results can be seen today in the likes of Leno; Letterman and Lewis. It also shows how such a laboratory could not sustain. Lighting in a bottle.
