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You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom
The creator and executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond dissects the art of comedy and the making of a sitcom classic
In television, where programs can premiere and disappear in the same week, Everybody Loves Raymond reigned as America�s best-loved show for nine years with more than seventeen million viewers. As the number-one sitcom, it received more than seventy E...more
In television, where programs can premiere and disappear in the same week, Everybody Loves Raymond reigned as America�s best-loved show for nine years with more than seventeen million viewers. As the number-one sitcom, it received more than seventy E...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
October 19th 2006
by Viking Adult
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Interesting stuff about Rosenthal's serendipitous journey, from nice Jewish middle-class New York potz (putz, for my American friends) to creator/showrunner of Raymond. A proper schlemiel who wanted to be an actor, he worked in a variety of crappy jobs while auditioning, performing in blink-and-you'd-miss-'em productions and, mainly, waiting for his opportunity. He discovered his real knack was for writing comedy when re-writing a part in a largely extemporised piece (for which someone else took...more
ok. i just want to start by thanking phil rosenthal and his crew for Everybody Loves Raymond. so many wonderful laughs. days without network tv were never dull when filled with Raymond on DVD. it seems like it never gets old. that being said, i expected this book to mak me double over in laughter, just as the show did. well, as you might imagine, the book is about all the hard work that made that amazing comedy possible. the book is only funny when it mentions a well-known show bit. even so, it...more
While I'm not a rabid fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, I'd never seen an episode I didn't enjoy and I was intrigued by the notion of learning about the behind-the-scenes leadership of the healthy creative writing environment. I'm thrilled I gave it a try. Phil Rosenthal is a smart, self-deprecating, hilarious, generous writer who broke Hollywood's standards by eschewing egos, focus groups and bureaucracy to see if valuing human connections and high quality writing might just work in something oth...more
A fun read, and interesting if you're into TV writing.
Admittedly my typical response to "Everybody Loves Raymond" is sighing "not everybody" as I change the channel. I got this mp3 on the cheap and was just hoping to have a few laughs amid what was sure to be a name-dropping, big-shot-Hollywood memoir, filled with crazy party stories.
I got my laughs. And tears. And some touching family stories, sentimental moments, and invaluable advice that extends well outside of television. There was only one "big-shot-Hollywood" story where Rosenthal uses a per...more
I got my laughs. And tears. And some touching family stories, sentimental moments, and invaluable advice that extends well outside of television. There was only one "big-shot-Hollywood" story where Rosenthal uses a per...more
I was a big fan of the show "Everybody Loves Raymond," so this was fun to read. The book is a memoir of the creator of the show. The creation of the sitcom was a part of the book. He tells how they found the cast and how the premise for the show was based on his and Ray's real families. Things that happened in their lives with their wives and kids would end up on the show. I liked his attention to details and how they tried to make the characters as real as possible.
If you are interested in come...more
If you are interested in come...more
A great look behind the scenes of a hit sitcom. Phil Rosenthal is known for running one of the best writers' rooms in recent years. He was insistent that his writers worked regular hours because how could they write about real life if they weren't actually living it? It's a funny book, no matter how you feel about the show itself.
This book is HILARIOUS. I mean, I laughed out loud numerous times. I am a huge fan of Everybody Loves Raymond but this book is a must read for anyone wanting to become a writer/producer of sitcoms/television. A MUST read! Great book, quick read. I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Everybody Loves A Funny Memoir
As a kid, Phil Rosenthal loved television with a passion. He learned how to turn that passion into creativity, and to make that creativity his way of earning a living. He is one of the best writers alive today, because he knows how to find the funny (as he says, "almost anyone's life can be turned into fuel for comedy); but also how to impart good themes and a value system at the same time: kindness, loyalty, forgiveness, love your family, enjoy your life.
Jocks use...more
As a kid, Phil Rosenthal loved television with a passion. He learned how to turn that passion into creativity, and to make that creativity his way of earning a living. He is one of the best writers alive today, because he knows how to find the funny (as he says, "almost anyone's life can be turned into fuel for comedy); but also how to impart good themes and a value system at the same time: kindness, loyalty, forgiveness, love your family, enjoy your life.
Jocks use...more
Great book from the exec director of "Everybody Loves Raymond". I loved watching his path from kid who got by be funny and loved to watch sitcoms to one who created one of the best. Esp loved all the insight into what makes good comic writing and good quality tv.
I loved this book! It's funny with a lot of heart. Good read with insights on collaborating on a TV sitcom (Everybody Loves Raymond).
I listened to the audio book narrated by the author. Very funny. It's not fair that one guy has had so many great experiences.
funny background info on the creation of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. Quick read, lots of fun facts, great for fans of the series.
The Audio book is the best way to consume this book. Wonderful insight into writing comedy. Read by the author.
Enjoyable light read. It brought back memories of all the "Raymond" episodes that were referenced.
Extremely entertaining and delightful. It was a lot of fun to learn where the stories for Everybody Loves Raymond came from. Wonderful.
Extremely entertaining. I loved his story about filming "The Last Days" with President Clinton!
Loved, loved, loved this one.
I am an spiring comedy wiriter, so I found this book to be pretty inspiring as well as cautionary. If the "suits" in the business are as back biting and deplorable as Rosenthal paints them, I may have to remember to, "be careful what I wish for".
Anway, this is a breezy, fun read and loaded with a lot of funny anectdotes. Anyone interested in "the business" or a fan of the show should check this out.
Anway, this is a breezy, fun read and loaded with a lot of funny anectdotes. Anyone interested in "the business" or a fan of the show should check this out.
A good peek into putting together a shew and someone with opinions about tv that you'll like. Also, a good description of getting an acting career "just struggle for 10 years, be a writer for 5, make a hit sitcom, write that for 9 years, finally do a movie" That is a crap paraphrase.
This is an autobiography and how-I-did-it book by the creator of "Everyone Loves Raymond." It's a fun, easy read if you're OK with his ba-dum-bum, Borscht Belt writing style. I enjoyed it because I'm a fan of the show and it had a lot of interesting behind-the-scenes TV-business stuff.
For my media class this week we are focusing on Everybody Loves Raymond. This is a nice little book by the shows creator about his funny life and how the show came into being. It is pretty funny, and also some interesting insights into the world of US media.
Funny, interesting, neat "behind-the-scenes" book. The author is a hoot, of course, and reading the book made me want to rent the EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND DVDs to see the episodes mentioned in the book.
Fun to read!
The man behind one of the funniest sitcoms of all time - Everybody Loves Raymond - shares his life story that inspired different elements of the show.
This was a really interesting look into how a show is made. Didn't realize exactly what I was getting into - but I liked it.
Great book! Fun to read. Loved learning the backstory on some of my favorite episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond.
People in The Industry are generally living lives of quiet desperation, with the occaisional fun party thrown in.
We're lucky too.
Mar 21, 2010
Debbie Carnahan-Nichols
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Hollywood writers, TV fans
Shelves:
2010-reads
An insider's account of "Everybody Loves Raymond," from casting to writing for 9 years.
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Television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
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Jan 06, 2011 07:30pm