Laughing Matters: On Writing Mash, Tootsie, Oh, God!, and a Few Other Funny Things |
 |
 click here for more details, find new or used items |
Larry Gelbart
|
|
Pages: 276 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 067942945X
Pub: Random House Inc (T)
Pub date: 1998-02
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1104240
Reader Reviews:
Not the great career book that Gelbart has in him (0/0 people found this helpful)
This book is a grabbag of stray pieces and brief recollections (interrupted by odd notes from the editor, who seems to have forced these contributions from Gelbart). Almost all are entertaining in themselves but they don't add up to the comprehensive overview that such a varied and stellar career deserves. The best sections are written with a Hollywood-weary knowingness that is smart and funny (can we just call that "Gelbartian"?) The worst are his star-struck adulation of the comics of his youth, which brings out the previously unseen hack in this great writer. Regularly fun, but not what it should be.
a gloss-over of the career of a brilliant comedy writer (0/0 people found this helpful)
In this quick-read, Larry Gelbart, the man who not only wrote most of TV's MASH, but also penned the funniest Broadway Musical of all time, can't seem to settle on a topic long enough to analyze it. Because of this, even the aforementioned "Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," gets a quick, glossed-over treatment - then it's on to the next topic. Gelbart is usually an adept comedy writer, but much of this book comes off cute and superficial. Not recommended.
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Film -> Production & Technology -> Screenwriting
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Film -> Production & Technology -> Bestsellers
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Film -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Television -> Screenwriting
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Television -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Hardcover
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)