The great comedians talk about comedy

I first read "Great Comedians" in 1972 when I was starting out as a comedian. I found it to be just what I needed as a young aspiring comedian. The interviews of Woody Allen, Shelley Berman, Jack Benny, and Phillis Diller resonated with me and helped me immensely in my standup comedy development. It also inspired me to write my own book probing the methods of my generations great comedians ("Comic Insights") in order to help today's young comedians get a better idea of what it takes to do quality standup. I recently read "Great Comedians" again, and my original verdict still stands. This book is still of immense value to all aspiring comedians.

It's no secret that comedians -- great and not-so-great -- are influenced by the WORK of other comedians. The advent of film in the 20th century made this a lot easier since when a comedian died the work was still available...and now with videos etc. it's easier than ever. But what about HOW these comedians made laughs...how they were inspired...what specific techniques they used and did not use...and what advice they would give anyone interested in going into any area of comedy? Those have been tough answers to get. To do it you'd have to buy a slew of good and sometimes rotten bios, many of them out of print. Until now. Stand-up comedian Larry Wilde's Great Comedians Talk About Comedy brings it all together. Great Comedians is a superb, singular achievement that collects within one lively, 402-page, info-packed volume, detailed interviews done over several years with some of the 20th century's greatest comedians and comedy actors. The selection is absolutely mind-boggling: Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Shelly Berman, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, George Burns, Johnny Carson, Maurice Chevalier, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Dick Gregory, George Jessle, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Thomas and Ed Wynn. Each interview is presented in straight Q & A format so you get to "hear" the question and "hear" the response, from what the comedian/comedy actor says to his/her own speech pattern. These folks worked in venues from vaudeville, to radio, to night clubs, to radio to early silent movies to talkies to TV. And their responses to questions contain revelations and constant inspiration. A key theme: how "making it" in comedy requires timing, good material, dogged persistance, constant analysis of jokes/laughs and being LIKEABLE to an audience. Copying someone's stage personna or stealing their jokes just won't do it. My favorite interviews were with Woody Allen (how he writes ten jokes on everything from matchbooks to napkins and only uses a few; how he won't try jokes out on friends since they're often too negative; how audience appeal MATTERS...and his pointing to Jackie Gleason as someone who often had a lousey show but people loved him), Jack Benny (the importance of learning comedy and advancing step by step...an explanation of his legendary timing), Joey Bishop ("...Luck cannot sustain you.Only talent can sustain you.."), George Burns (tips on timing, attitude and the importance emulating but not copying other performers), Phyllis Diller (five truly SUPERB short inspirational tips that can advance MANY careers...Her high laugh per minute standards), and Jerry Seinfeld (timing, getting into a focused mental framework and how his love of comedy as a kid blossomed). This book an essential for ANYONE interested in comedy, or for students of comedy, public speakers, or anyone who simply wants to be funny in public. It's ALL HERE: the inspiration, the tips, the stories, the bios...the TOOLS. It's now a cliche to say

If you want to learn about humor - go to the best. Larry Wilde's book Great Comedians Talk About Comedy does exactly that - Wilde interviews many of the great comedians of our time to discern the essential skills of their trade. As a former stand-up comic, Wilde knows exactly what questions to ask and the result is a priceless collection of interviews with comedians like Bob Hope, George Burns, Jerry Seinfeld, Jack Benny, Milton Berle and Johnny Carson. What makes people laugh? This is a hard question to answer. Even these masters of humor find it difficult to pin down. Perhaps this is so because humor is an emotional reaction which we are trying to explain in intellectual terms. In the book Wilde addresses this problem and at one point poses the question directly to George Jessel. "Why do you think people laugh at what you say?" Jessel answers "At what I say? Because there's an honest quality..." A surprising answer - don't you think? People laugh because they like you? Yet this same theme weaves in and out of several interviews in the book - starting with Woody Allen who elaborates "What they want is an intimacy with the person. They want to like the person and find the person funny as a human being. The biggest trap comedians fall into is trying to get by on the basis of their material. That's just hiding behind jokes..." In a crisp exchange with Jerry Lewis the same point comes up. Wilde: "Be yourself?" Lewis: "Exactly." Wilde: "What you really are?" Lewis: "Right." But the interview with Jimmy Durante summaries this point best. Wilde: "What is the greatest quality a comedian can have?" Durante: "Heart. He's gotta have heart. Otherwise he's nuthin'" Amen! It is impossible in the context of a short review like this to summarize all the priceless gems interspersed in the pages of this book. The interviews disclose the rock-solid advice of the world's best comedians. For example, Jack Benny: "...there is nothing as important as editing" - Joey Bishop about Sammy Davis Jr.'s philosophy: "I don't know the meaning of success but I do know the meaning of failure - trying to please everybody." Jimmy Durante on imitating other comics: "There's never been an imitator that ever got to be a big star - that I know of." And so on. As someone who does stand up comedy himself I have two precious books in my library on this theme. This book is the first one. The other is Larry Wilde's book How the Great Comedy Writers Create Laughter. Both summarize the views of the world's best humorists. They are, therefore, truly the greatest. I strongly recommend them to readers everywhere. Andy Semotiuk, Los Angeles, California