Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 280
Trim: 6¼ x 9¼
978-1-5381-0918-2 • Hardback • September 2018 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
978-1-5381-0919-9 • eBook • September 2018 • $42.50 • (£35.00)
Paula Finn—the daughter of Honeymooners writer Herbert Finn—has authored ten gift books including Believe in Yourself,When Love Isn’t Easy, and Make This Your Day.
Preface
Introduction
Foreword by Ed Asner
Foreword by Carol Kane
1: Carl Reiner Q&A
2: Leonard Stern Q&A
3: Norman Lear Q&A
4: Austin (“Rocky”) and Irma Kalish Q&A
5: James L. Brooks Q&A
6: Treva Silverman Q&A
7: Ken Estin Q&A
8: Matt Williams Q&A
9: Dava Savel Q&A
10: Larry Charles Q&A
11: David Lee Q&A
12: Phil Rosenthal Q&A
13: Jay Kogen Q&A
14: Al Jean Q&A
15: Mike Reiss Q&A
Appendix: Tales from the Writers’ Room
Interviewees
Index
About the Author
There's an old saying: if you like sausage, don't watch it being made. When it comes to comedy, that couldn't be more untrue. This book is all about the process. How does comedy happen, anyway? You'll hear candid admissions from writers and producers. It's a fascinating insight into the world of comedy.
— Jay Leno, The Tonight Show
For fans or anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes peak at those who've created successful sitcoms...you'll totally enjoy this book!
— Valerie Harper, Actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda)
I am nothing but jealous of Paula Finn. She got to sit down with writers of some of the greatest sitcoms ever made, the ones we circled in TV Guide, and planned our nights around viewing. Here, in Sitcom Writers Talk Shop, Paula Finn pulls up a chair and pumps these legendary writers and show creators on how they did it and what it was like. Luckily for us, she asked the right questions and carefully recorded their answers. I've read this book twice, and it hasn't even come out yet.
— Paula Poundstone, Stand-up Comedian, Author, Actor
You think you’re funny and you wanna write, right? So write. You wanna know how, what, where, when or why? Read Paula Finn’s book. She asked the experts.
— Mike Farrell, Actor (M*A*S*H)
What a wonderful book! I loved hearing from my generation’s greatest comedy writers in their own words about their TV shows!
— Georgia Engel, Actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
Fortunately or unfortunately, for almost 50 years I've led a tortured life that gave birth to millions of jokes on my own. Had I been a boring, unfunny man, . . . the likes of Herb Finn and the other geniuses chronicled in this book could have turned me into a genius without a word of my own.
— Richard Lewis, Stand-up Comedian, Actor
Love those classic sitcoms? Want to know how they were created and why we loved them? This book has the answers, some of which are quite surprising. This book may become a classic itself.
— Fred Willard, Actor, Comedian (Fernwood 2 Night, Everybody Loves Raymond, Modern Family)