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It’s A Funny Thing - How the Professional Comedy Business Made Me Fat & Bald
In this chronicle of one person's poignant and harrowing road to fulfillment, Mike celebrates his chosen life in the comedy business with personal tales of romantic calamities, celebrity run-ins, professional misfortunes, and triumphs. He reinforces the notion that you can accomplish (almost) anything you want if you're willing to get your ass kicked along the way.
It's a Funny Thing solidifies Michael Rowe's reputation as not just an all around nice guy, but also a skilled observer in self, the human condition, and dogged perseverance.
MICHAEL ROWE , a former comedian now comedy writer/producer, has been nominated for six Emmys for his work on Futurama and Family Guy , earning one along the way. Mike's also been nominated for two Annie Awards, earning two; a Writers Guild Award, and a Gemini Award. He has earned a Webby Award for his original animated series The Paranormal Action Squad . His writing has also appeared in Vanity Fair magazine. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, twin sons and a silly dog named Marty Allen. "If you've ever had any interest in comedians, like what went wrong in our lives to make us so deeply disturbed, you will devour Mike Rowe's insightful, personal, and yes, very funny book. Such a great read for smart people-and morons will like it, too." - Larry David "During long, grueling nights working way too late in the writers' room, when everyone had grown snarly and surly and silent, Mike would continue to pepper us with hilarious jokes. He was that cruel. And now he's written a book that's not only funny, but also sweet and sensitive. What is it with this guy?" - Matt Groening "Why would I want to read Mike's book that highlights the struggles of coming up the ranks in the New York comedy club scene? I was there with him! I could write that book myself!! Then I read it and realized...I can't write like this! Son of a bitch." - Ray Romano
It's a Funny Thing solidifies Michael Rowe's reputation as not just an all around nice guy, but also a skilled observer in self, the human condition, and dogged perseverance.
MICHAEL ROWE , a former comedian now comedy writer/producer, has been nominated for six Emmys for his work on Futurama and Family Guy , earning one along the way. Mike's also been nominated for two Annie Awards, earning two; a Writers Guild Award, and a Gemini Award. He has earned a Webby Award for his original animated series The Paranormal Action Squad . His writing has also appeared in Vanity Fair magazine. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, twin sons and a silly dog named Marty Allen. "If you've ever had any interest in comedians, like what went wrong in our lives to make us so deeply disturbed, you will devour Mike Rowe's insightful, personal, and yes, very funny book. Such a great read for smart people-and morons will like it, too." - Larry David "During long, grueling nights working way too late in the writers' room, when everyone had grown snarly and surly and silent, Mike would continue to pepper us with hilarious jokes. He was that cruel. And now he's written a book that's not only funny, but also sweet and sensitive. What is it with this guy?" - Matt Groening "Why would I want to read Mike's book that highlights the struggles of coming up the ranks in the New York comedy club scene? I was there with him! I could write that book myself!! Then I read it and realized...I can't write like this! Son of a bitch." - Ray Romano
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2021
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rowe
59 books87 followersMichael Rowe is an independent international journalist who has lived in Beirut, Havana, Geneva, and Paris.
His work has appeared in the National Post, The Globe & Mail, The United Church Observer and numerous other publications. He has been a finalist for both the Canadian National Magazine Award and the Associated Church Press Award in the United States. The author of several books, including Writing Below the Belt, a critically acclaimed study of censorship, pornography, and popular culture, and the essay collections Looking For Brothers and Other Men's Sons, which won the 2008 Randy Shilts Award for Nonfiction, he has also won the Lambda Literary Award. He is currently a contributing writer to The Advocate and a political blogger for The Huffington Post.
--from the author's website
His work has appeared in the National Post, The Globe & Mail, The United Church Observer and numerous other publications. He has been a finalist for both the Canadian National Magazine Award and the Associated Church Press Award in the United States. The author of several books, including Writing Below the Belt, a critically acclaimed study of censorship, pornography, and popular culture, and the essay collections Looking For Brothers and Other Men's Sons, which won the 2008 Randy Shilts Award for Nonfiction, he has also won the Lambda Literary Award. He is currently a contributing writer to The Advocate and a political blogger for The Huffington Post.
--from the author's website
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October 21, 2021
Mike Rowe has had an almost unbelievable career as a comic and then Emmy-winning TV comedy writer and producer. For those of us who aren't the Forrest Gumps of the comedy world, Mike has shared his Mr. Toad's Wild Ride of a career in his memoir, "It's a Funny Thing: How the Professional Comedy Business Made Me Fat & Bald."
Mike has worked and is friends with just about every well-known comedian and several of the absolute classic greats. The over three dozen shows he's been a writer on include a dozen years on Futurama (the Emmy), Family Guy, Paranormal Action Squad (which he created), many Comedy Central Roasts, 2 Broke Girls, The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, The PJs, The Martin Short Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Coach, The Nanny, and of course, Lifetime's Free to Laugh: A Comedy and Music Special for Amnesty International.
There are countless memoirs of famous people that make me wonder "why would I read that?" Then, there's this book by a guy who's done everything, but will likely never be a household name (unless you live in a "Rowe" house), yet whose memoir is worthwhile for every one of its 244 pages.
So, if you want a peek behind the (shower) curtain of the comedy business and not a single big word, I highly recommend Mike's enjoyable book.
Mike has worked and is friends with just about every well-known comedian and several of the absolute classic greats. The over three dozen shows he's been a writer on include a dozen years on Futurama (the Emmy), Family Guy, Paranormal Action Squad (which he created), many Comedy Central Roasts, 2 Broke Girls, The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, The PJs, The Martin Short Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Coach, The Nanny, and of course, Lifetime's Free to Laugh: A Comedy and Music Special for Amnesty International.
There are countless memoirs of famous people that make me wonder "why would I read that?" Then, there's this book by a guy who's done everything, but will likely never be a household name (unless you live in a "Rowe" house), yet whose memoir is worthwhile for every one of its 244 pages.
So, if you want a peek behind the (shower) curtain of the comedy business and not a single big word, I highly recommend Mike's enjoyable book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review