Home Books Laugh Lines: Forty Years Trying to Make Funny Peo…

Laugh Lines: Forty Years Trying to Make Funny People Funnier

Laugh Lines: Forty Years Trying to Make Funny People Funnier

by Alan Zweibel

Abrams Press ·2020 ·251 pages
Near the Top
Near the Top
I Index
70/99
Near the Top

68/99

Critics' Rating Index

Near the Top

72/99

Readers' Rating Index

n/a

Scholars' Citation Index

66/99

Volume of Reviews

54/99

Volume of Reader Ratings

Sign in to add to your shelf, rate, or review this book.


About This Book

WITH THIS TENDER, FUNNY MEMOIR OF FOUR DECADES IN THE BUSINESS ALAN ZWEIBEL TRACES THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN COMEDY. Alan Zweibel started his comedy career selling jokes for seven dollars apiece to the last of the Borscht Belt stand-ups. Then one night, despite bombing on stage, he caught the attention of Lorne Michaels and became one the first writers at 'Saturday Night Live', where he penned classic material for Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and all of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players. From 'SNL', he went on to have a hand in a series of landmark shows - from 'It's Garry Shandling's Show' to 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'. Throughout 'LAUGH LINES', Zweibel weaves together his own stories and interviews with his friends and contemporaries, including Richard Lewis, Eric Idle, Bob Sagat, Mike Birbiglia, Sarah Silverman, Judd Apatow, Dave Barry, Carl Reiner, and more. The book also features a charming foreword from his friend of 45 years, Billy Crystal, with whom he cowrote and coproduced the film 'Here Today' starring Crystal and Tiffany Haddish. 'LAUGH LINES' is a warmhearted cultural memoir of American comedy. PLEASE NOTE: If you purchase this title in Audible format the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. RUNNING TIME ⇒ 8hrs. and 5mins. ©2020 Alan Zweibel (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing


Reviews

"Zweibel...has plenty of material to dish about, but his memoir is refreshingly light on dirt and scandal ..."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Comics and comedy fans alike will delight in this hilarious and self-deprecating memoir."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Zweibel is long-winded in his descriptions at times, but Laugh Lines is, overall, a well-written, enjoyable, often rambling, and funny memoir by an accomplished comedy writer."

Edith G. Tolchin· The New York Journal of Books Read review ↗ Near the Top

"This funny, wise, and touching memoir will resonate with fans of comedy and anyone seeking an intimately told life story."

Jeffrey Hastings· Library Journal Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"This is a truly fun romp."

Kathleen McBroom· Booklist Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"The stories of people making it up as they went along at S.N.L.— and especially of his close personal and professional relationship with Gilda Radner, about which he has written before but still has a lot to say—are fascinating."

Peter Keepnews· The New York Times Read review ↗ Near the Top

Preview


Reader Reviews

0 reviews

Sign in to write a review.

No reader reviews yet. Be the first!