Dad is Fat - A Review

Dad is Fat

Author: Jim Gaffigan

Publisher: Crown Archetype

Release Date: May 2013

    Two months ago today I lost a man that was near and dear to my heart. My father-in-law. At the time of his sudden passing I was halfway through another book that I was very much enjoying but on that day everything changed, and I put that book down. Shortly after all of the ceremonies and family had dispersed some turned toward Religion for comfort, I turned to those who make me smile, comedians.

    Jim Gaffigan has been near the very top of the current comedian pile for a long time now(and one of my personal favorites for close to a decade) and I trusted that "Dad is Fat" would give me exactly what I was looking for during my time of need. Thankfully, Mr. Gaffigan delivered.

    "Dad is Fat" boils down to a series of very short essays(typically no more than 5 pages) on Mr.Gaffigan's take on raising his five children in a crowded New York City apartment. He tackles subjects ranging from what it's like attempting to get five kids ready to go to the park, to the importance of candy to a child to toddler-hood (my personal favorite chapter and well worth the price of the book alone). With each chapter and essay the book builds momentum and the laughs seem to occur at a much more rapid pace. Whether this was done intentionally or whether it was simply a writer/comedian getting more comfortable working in a different medium I cannot say for sure, however I can say with certainty that this book will make you laugh out loud on a regular basis.

    One of things that impressed me most about "Dad is Fat" is that it is not just a rehashing of Mr. Gaffigan's stand-up material. It would have been easy for him to simply use his stage material as a transcript for this book. While fans of his will surely recognize some of the premises and jokes they are few and far between. Ultimately what you get is a book that delivers consistently from beginning to end.The style, tone and pacing are reminiscent of a Bill Cosby book, and there is not a greater compliment that I can give to a comedian in this genre.

    As someone who lost a father figure, who has a father who is very active in his life and as someone who hopes to be a father in the not too distant future this book hit home when I needed it most. It allowed me to reminisce and reflect in an incredibly safe environment and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you Mr. Gaffigan.

We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy - A Review

We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy

Author: Yael Kohen

Publisher: Sarah Crichton Books

Released: October 2012

    It was about six months ago when I was on my honeymoon in a small "mom and pop" book store when I first saw "We Killed" on the bookshelf. The hot pink jacket and familiar title jumped off the shelf at me.(There is another book that I own "I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics") Since I was on my honeymoon and didn't want to spend the rest of it engrossed in a book I snapped a photo of the cover and reminded my wife that Christmas was coming. I finally found some time and got around to reading this gem of a book.

    It's hard to describe Yael Kohen's book without essentially repeating the title. In "We Killed" she examines the history, role and perception of women in modern day comedy. From Phyllis Diller to Sarah Silverman and everything in between Yael tactfully moves the reader through the struggles(perceived or otherwise) that have faced women through the years.

    The book reads like a transcript of a documentary with snippets of conversions and interviews intertwined to tell the story. Yael does her best to get out of the way in that regard and let's the people who lived the moments tell their stories. And to her credit Yael gets "everyone" to participate. There are stories and antidotes from Joan Rivers, Marget Cho, Lisa Kudrow, Lilly Tomlin, Paula Poundstone, Ellen DeGeneres, Chelsea Handler and the list goes on and on. Their insight is invaluable in providing context and depth to the hurdles that women had to, and continue to face.

    As an amateur comedy historian I found this book to be enthralling. I've read countless books on where the genre is and where it's been but rarely do women get anything more than a mention or footnote so it was nice to get another perspective on things. Furthermore, the pacing is brisk and I feel like Yael gives everyone and every topic the time and reflection it deserves.

    Finally the thing I found most fascinating was the message that was being delivered by the females themselves. I got the sense that some were hesitant to really open up and share everything they went through in an effort to protect how far they've come in the industry(as a group or individually). However the overwhelming theme from generation to generation was that in their eye's sex shouldn't matter and they should be judged solely on the quality of their work and nothing more. In the end, isn't that what we all want?

#womenarefunny

Bob Saget Live Show - A Review

I know it's been a while(too long really) but my new work schedule has given me precious little time for my passions in life. However this past Sunday I carved out a little piece of time for Bob Saget.

Bob Saget
When: Sunday March 3rd
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto

    At this stage in Bob Saget's career I feel it should go without saying that he does not work clean. In fact it's safe to say that he works dirty - very dirty. He does not get into religion or politics whatsoever and truth be told he's not overtly descriptive in his use of the "foul language"(like he was during his turn at telling the "Aristocrats" joke). However it is always present and I suspect there are no limits that Bob wouldn't be prepared to go to. So I have to admit I was a bit surprised to find a few preteens sprinkled into the audience, albeit with parental supervision but still. This show is not safe for children. 

    Before we got to the main attraction comedian Graham Chittenden (@grahamchit) surprised everyone by being an opening act. As someone who was really looking forward to this show I searched the internet on a regular basis on the days leading up to the show to see if there was going to be an opening act and only found out about him hours before the show. All that being said Graham knocked it out of the park. People were still filtering in as he was going through his set and I'm sure some, at first, had no intention of listening to him however when that many other people around you are laughing it becomes contagious. By the peak of his set(he's ripping on how easy HGTV makes home renovations look) he had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand. He did a very solid fifteen minutes in total and is someone I would gladly pay to see headline in a smaller venue.

    After a fifteen minute intermission for the mainly male audience to go outside and smoke Bob finally took the stage at around 9pm. As much as I was looking forward to his show there was a big part of me who had some doubts. His online reviews are not always favorable and I had watched his last HBO special countless times so I was worried that I may be hearing the same thing re-hashed several years later. My doubts were put to rest very quickly.

    Bob comes out and immediately starts picking out the drunks that are yelling at him and incorporates them into the show. This is unique in that it guarantees no two shows are the same. Every audience gets an inside joke that only they will get. They get a "you had to be there" moment, which is very cool thing for an entertainer to give to an audience. After about 10 - 15min of working the audience he tip toes into set material all the while calling back to the various comments and references constantly throughout the show. His material is based heavily on his own experiences in show biz with Full House being the most common topic or theme.(He even called John Stamos during the show and put him on speaker phone - the crowd ate it up) However, if Bob was simply trying to use his image as Danny Tanner for shock value the effects would wear off quickly. It's because Bob is a charming, charismatic individual he can get away with material I'm not sure others could. He works way dirtier than most and his material is not in the traditional sense, well crafted, but who cares about those things when you have 2,000 plus people laughing. 

    He ends the show with what is becoming his signature - his guitar. He sits down and sings a number of songs, none of which are safe for work and ends the show with the now infamous "Danny Tanner was not Gay". The crowd immediately stood up and he didn't hesitate  He told us to sit back down and he played one more "off color" song.

    You can be shocked by the language. You can be shocked by the image he's crafted for himself but no one should be shocked by the fact that Bob Saget is very funny.

Finally, Bob Saget telling the "Aristocrats"...NOT SAFE FOR WORK, CHILDREN OR PEOPLE WITH WEAK STOMACHS!...you were warned...

I'm Dying Up Here - A Review

I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand Up Comedy's Golden Era - Audio Book

Author: William Knoedelseder

Narrator: William Dufris

Publisher: Tantor Media

Release Date: September 7, 2009

    We all do it, we go to the dollar store for a single item but decide to roam the aisles anyway just to see if there's any other useless crap we may need for around the house. Well my friends, I finally left the dollar store with a purchase I am likely going to cherish for years to come, you see this is where I found "I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era" on audio book format for a whopping two dollars! I had never heard of this book before but bought it for a lark thinking I may get two dollars worth of enjoyment from it and after listening to it I would have gladly paid the suggest retail price of close to forty dollars.

    "I'm Dying Up Here" covers the rise in popularity of stand-up comedy in the 70's using the infamous "comedian strike" as it's major narrative throughout. This was my first experience with the audio book format and I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself listening to all seven cd's while driving myself to and from work to be incredibly relaxing. The narrator, William Dufris, does a good job with his tone, enunciation and pacing. At beginning I found his voice to be a bit on the mundane side of things but after reflecting on the material it may be due to the fact that in the beginning the story is on the mundane side of things. The biggest downfall to William's narration is that there is an awful lot of dialogue in this book and while William is no Rich Little he does vary his voice enough so that each male character and female character get a relatively distinct sound. 

    William Knoedelseder has put together one of these most comprehensive and important comedy history books I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.(*note - I really wanted to type reading but that's not true and typing the phrase "pleasure of listening to" felt wrong as well). William starts us off in New York at Bud Friedman's The Improvisation and describes how Bud is credited with establishing what is now the modern day comedy club. At this time Johnny Carson is filming The Tonight Show in New York and comedians are getting plucked right from Bud's stage to stardom, then The Tonight Show moves to LA and so does the comedy world.

    William has a unique perspective on what would go on to become "Stand -Up Comedy's Golden Era" in that he was there when it happened. He wrote articles on the scene while it was happening and wrote profiles of the future stars before they were a part of the pop culture movement. His passion for the work comes through in every word.

    The work is also very easy to digest, I found myself learning a lot about an important point in comedy history that I thought I already had a solid understanding of. The running time of the audio book is 8.5hrs so for the average motorist it's about a weeks worth of driving. 

    A single word of warning, this book is strictly for comedy nerds, I cannot envision someone outside of the comedy world really getting into this. While I would love to believe that others would care for the short lived CFC(Comedians for Compensation) or to hear the tragic story of Steve Lubetkin I'm not sure the average reader/listener will enjoy it as much as I did or as much as I'm sure you will.

    As an "epilogue" if you will to this lengthy review Bud Friedman was on the WTF Podcast with Marc Maron recently where they also talk about the rivalry between himself and Mitzi Shore and this era of comedy. Also, after reflecting on the main narrative of this book I couldn't help but think this would make a fascinating movie that would appeal to people outside of the comedy world and a quick google search reveals that Pajiba is reporting that Tom Hank's production company is working on a film based off of the "I'm Dying Up Here" story arc. Granted this report is several years old but one can be hopeful.

A Carlin Home Companion Review

A Carlin Home Companion

Performed by: Kelly Carlin

Theater: Santa Monica Playhouse

    Following in the footsteps of one's parents is a natural part of life. Despite what some may think or do, we all eventually end up like our parents in some respect. For some, this transition is easy and welcomed; for others, it can be incredibly painful and drawn-out. Regardless of how you feel about it, you are who raised you, and Kelly Carlin was raised by George and Brenda Carlin.

    A Carlin Home Companion is a one-woman show by Kelly Carlin, daughter of the late George Carlin. In it, Kelly recounts tales of growing up in a household filled with drugs, brilliance, strength, turbulence, and love. The show is approximately two hours long with a brief ten minute intermission. Kelly takes advantage of the smaller theatre to create a strong connection with her audience and seemingly looks every person in the eye. Throughout the show, Kelly uses a video screen to show videos of her father at various points in his career and then adds context to those bits by providing the audience with her take on life in the Carlin household at that time. 

    Kelly is a natural born story teller with a very distinct voice from her father that needs to be heard. With that being said, the two hours flew by and, like many people in the audience, I didn't want the tales to end. Kelly shares the stories in such a natural way that it feels like she's talking to friends, and in a room full of people who grew up idolizing her father, she was. Kelly delivers a compelling performance from beginning to end that will make you laugh and cry (there is a strong chance you will shed a tear). You may enter the theatre a fan of George with an interest in Kelly, but by the end you will also be singing the praises of Kelly.

    Finally, a brief word of warning to any artist or aspiring artist: This show will make you question your own motivations and likely cause a great deal of personal reflection. Kelly talks a lot about not being sure what to do in her own life and having to follow your inner voice until finally reaching that pinnacle moment in life where you are happy with who you are. I cannot imagine a painter, a comedian, a writer, or an actor who will leave the show not questioning where they are in life and how they can get to that next level. It truly was something I will never forget.

"Carlin Home Companion" Sizzle Reel from Kelly Carlin on Vimeo.

The Big Electron

    Today a very funny comedian friend of mine(Sean Quinlan or @seanquinlan17 on Twitter - follow him!) posted a video on Facebook that inspired this post. The video contains clips from Bill Hicks and George Carlin linked together through auto-tune in an inspiring song that should be heard by all.

    First some background on the video for some context before the main event. The video was produced by John D. Boswell AKA melodysheep(@musicalscience) who produces YouTube videos aimed at hitting the viewers soul. This video was posted one week ago and has garnered over 53,000 hits and with a good word of mouth campaign we can make this his most viewed yet. 

    The first clip is from Bill Hicks' comedy special "Revelations"(1993) in which he closed the show with the bit "It's Just a Ride". 

The second clip is from George Carlin's comedy special "Jammin in New York"(1992) in which he is talking about how the planet is fine and will continue to be fine long after the human species is gone.

    Finally Mr. Boswell added some inspirational music and wonderful scenes from around the world to complete, in my opinion, one of the best videos on YouTube.

     There is not a single living human being who can say that they know with 100% certainty what is waiting for us on the "other side". It is foolish to think otherwise. We need to treat each other with love and respect today, not because some book told us to, but because it's the right thing to do.

Love All The People - Review

Bill Hicks: Love All The People

Author: Bill Hicks

Publisher: Constable & Robinson

Release Date: 2004

    Okay, now I get it. I'll start with a small confession before I go too far into my review of "Bill Hicks: Love All The People". Truthfully, before I started reading "Love All The People", I knew very little of Bill Hicks. He had become something of a mythical creature to me because I could never seem to find any recordings of his at the local record store. His name, while often mentioned as being a "Legend" in the comedy world, is rarely highlighted to the same extent of say a Carlin, Pryor or even Bruce. All I really knew about him was that he was considered a "Legend" and that he had a no-nonsense approach to comedy and getting his message across.

    "Love All The People" opens with a brief foreword/biography of Hicks life that is incredibly beautiful and moving. Although I had just started learning about the man, by the time I had reached the description of his death there was a tear in my eye. I realized at that moment this book was going to do more than just make me laugh. "Love All The People" is essentially a collection of transcripts highlighting some of the more memorable performances of Bill Hicks career. As someone who was diving head first into my first exploration of Hicks style of comedy I found it to be incredibly satisfying. Although you do miss out on his timing and delivery the words themselves force you to understand where this man was coming from. 

    "Love All The People" has only one major flaw and that is it can be repetitive. Often times two shows that are transcribed as back-to-back chapters may contain only a single "joke" that appears to be different or that the order of the material is now being used differently. While the idea of being able to see how a comedian(especially someone of Hicks status) evolves his material and performance was fascinating for myself as a comic I'm not sure how much the average reader would enjoy this.

   "Love All The People" truly shines when Hicks is responding to questions from fans or interviewers,  it is at these moments where he is speaking from the heart and with passion that you get the sense that this man was not operating on the same level as the rest of us. He had a vision for the world and all it's surroundings that speaks to your inner voice as being sound and reasonable requests from humanity. You may not agree with everything he said or the manner in which he chose to say it but you cannot disagree with the overall theme of his comedy, his writing or his life: Love All The People.