Comedy Central: the Essential Guide to Comedy

by Christopher Claro

From standups to sitcoms, The Simpsons to Saturday Night Live, this is the book that no one who likes to laugh should be without. Designed for lively reading with photos, sidebars, excerpts, and lists, it runs the gamut from an overview of the late-night talk show scene to interviews with hot young standup comics. Comedy The Essential Guide to Comedy is a backstage pass to the business and a behind-the-scenes tour with the talents who make it happen.

Genres: Humor

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[aedan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was gonna give this 2 stars but then in the end they said Johnny dangerously was a bad movie and that just put a sour taste in my mouth.

[Quinn Lavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't complain too much about this book because it's exactly the kind of book I would write on the given topic -- basic principles of comedy (10%) interspersed with lists of the best albums/movies/TV shows (80%) interspersed with very random insights (worst movies by SNL alumni / comedians who have been animated at some point - 10%). The book obviously suffers from being outdated (published in 1996, I believe, when Comedy Central was just getting off the ground). An interesting note about this is that their list of classic TV shows remains timelessly accurate (I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Dick Van Dyke Show, Newhart, Cosby Show, Simpsons, Seinfeld) but their list of must see comedy movies was full of strangely random pictures that have clearly not stood the test of time. Throw in a review of comedy albums -- yes, like actually records/cassettes/CDs and a section about CD-ROMs (the future of comedy?) and you'll get a good laugh at this book as a time capsule. The chapters on comedy principles are good but short.

[Ketan Shah]

Some very clever insights into what makes people laugh. I really liked the chapter on sitcom cliches. The interviews with standup comics are rather bland though.A bit dated (1997) but still worth reading. I'd like to see an update of this book that analyses relatively recent phenomena like South Park,the rise of ethnic comedians like Russell peters ,and the impact of the internet on the comedy industry.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit out dated since it was published in the mid 90's. Unless I missed something and the CD-ROM really is the future of comedy. But the people/shows/movies/books they talk about are still funny to me.