Loose Lips: Real Words, Real People, Real Funny

Beyond the delivery of a prepared speech or the correctness of a press agent's spin, celebrities' hidden faces are often only revealed in those candid moments when they think the camera is off or the documents will be sealed. "Loose Lips" is a collection of transcriptions, ranging from near apocryphal "between takes" remarks to "why wasn't THAT on the news?" court records. In all cases, you'll be introduced to new facets of the speakers (and often unflattering sides at that). Since the transcriptions are fact rather than fiction (much like "found" art"), I'm mostly basing my fairly high rating on the idea to compile this book, and deducting slightly for the uninspired illustrations. Also, there really is no substitute for actually hearing the words out of the mouth of the speaker (as listeners of the Don & Mike Show and the Howard Stern Show already know), so if you have not heard the Casey Kasem "rave-out" or the Orson Wells frozen food commercial, you might not fully appreciate the verité of it all. Finally, perhaps the biggest compliment/criticism I can give is that, with the wealth of accusatory depositions, asides, misspeaks, and cornered self-rationalizations forever preserved for posterity in the media age, "Loose Lips" could have (and should have) been several times as long. Let's hope for "Looser Lips: The Sequel."

Beyond the delivery of a prepared speech or the correctness of a press agent's spin, often celebrities' hidden faces are only revealed in those candid moments when they think the camera is off or that the documents will be sealed. "Loose Lips" is a collection of transcriptions, ranging from near apocryphal "between takes" remarks to "why wasn't THAT on the news?" court records. In all cases, you'll be introdced to new facets of the speakers (and often unflattering sides at that). Since the transcriptions are fact rather than fiction (much like "found" art"), I'm mostly basing my fairly high rating on the idea to compile this book, and deducting slightly for the uninspired illustrations. Also, there really is no substitute for actually hearing the words out of the mouth of the speaker (as listners of the Don & Mike Show and the Howard Stern Show already know), so if you have not heard the Casey Kasem "rave-out" or the Orson Wells frozen food commercial, you might not fully appreciate the verité of it all. Finally, perhaps the biggest compliment/criticism I can give is that, with the wealth of accusitory depositions, asides, misspeaks, and cornered self-rationalizations forever preserved for postarity in the media age, "Loose Lips" could have (and should have) been several times as long. Let's hope for "Looser Lips: The Sequel."