- Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Plume Books; Reprint edition (25 Sep 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0452288789
- ISBN-13: 978-0452288782
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.8 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
301,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #97 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Television > TV Genres > Comedy
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book, as I am a big fan of Everybody Loves Raymond. While the book is not solely about that show, it does cover its history, from the efforts made to sell the show to the studio, the casting of the main characters, Rosenthal's realtionships with his fellow writers, and keeping the show running for 9 seasons.
Some of the stories are funny and a few are quite poignant. The book also provides an insight into the world of show business, revealing that creating and producing a successful TV programme does not automatically bring you all the accolades you would expect. Rosenthal tells of the problems finding and maintaining a job, dealing with jealous rivals, fighting studio politics and trying to maintain control of something he created, and finally how hard work and perseverance does bring its rewards.
An entertaining book. Well worth the read.
Some of the stories are funny and a few are quite poignant. The book also provides an insight into the world of show business, revealing that creating and producing a successful TV programme does not automatically bring you all the accolades you would expect. Rosenthal tells of the problems finding and maintaining a job, dealing with jealous rivals, fighting studio politics and trying to maintain control of something he created, and finally how hard work and perseverance does bring its rewards.
An entertaining book. Well worth the read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
a great book for those interested in the workings behind an american sitcom.
it's funny, informative, and gives advice to budding comedy writers on how to write their own sitcoms.
it's funny, informative, and gives advice to budding comedy writers on how to write their own sitcoms.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
38 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Like vacationing with a funny friend
4 Feb 2007
Format:Hardcover
I picked up Phil Rosenthal's "You're Lucky You're Funny" for research, as I needed a bit of background info for a novel I'm writing. My intention was to skim it and move on. After one page, however, I knew I wasn't putting down this book until I'd read every delicious word. It's not only hilarious, but so charming I feel like I've just spent a vacation with a favorite friend. A very smart, very funny favorite friend. Plus, it taught me more about the inside world of sitcoms than I'd even hoped.
But even if you're just in it for the laughs, this book is worth the price. Hell, the fruit-of-the-month story alone is enough to make me recommend it. And that's not even the funniest part (for my money, it's his description of the "all-inclusive" vacation from hell).
I read this in hardcover, but see that it's also available in audio format, which I think might be a lot of fun, as well. I listened to a clip, and Phil Rosenthal has a delightfully anachronistic Old New York accent--kind of a cross between Top Cat and Nicely Nicely from Guys and Dolls. So whether you read or listen, you're in for a great trip.
-Ellen Meister, author of Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA
But even if you're just in it for the laughs, this book is worth the price. Hell, the fruit-of-the-month story alone is enough to make me recommend it. And that's not even the funniest part (for my money, it's his description of the "all-inclusive" vacation from hell).
I read this in hardcover, but see that it's also available in audio format, which I think might be a lot of fun, as well. I listened to a clip, and Phil Rosenthal has a delightfully anachronistic Old New York accent--kind of a cross between Top Cat and Nicely Nicely from Guys and Dolls. So whether you read or listen, you're in for a great trip.
-Ellen Meister, author of Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
We're Lucky Phil Rosenthal's Funny
24 Dec 2006
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I couldn't put this book down and I had to endure the mystified stares of my family as I laughed out loud. This is the story of a decent, mega-talented, hilariously funny man who went on to create a show that has now become one of the few classic television programs of our era. With inside stories regarding his life, the actors, and the writers who worked on Everybody Loves Raymond, the book recounts how the series was developed as well as how the ideas for many of the most memorable episodes, had their beginnings from real-life events. A brilliant, joyful read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys reading for sheer pleasure. Everybody loves this book!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Real life brought into our living rooms
31 Dec 2006
Format:Hardcover
Both "Everybody Loves Raymond" fans and aspiring writers of any kind will enjoy this enlightening and amusing book. Phil Rosenthal reveals to us how he and his fellow "Raymond" writers transferred their real life adventures to the network screen. Part memoir, part tell-all -- but not TOO tell-all, for some names are withheld to protect the stupid -- "You're Lucky You're Funny" also provides an insight into a typical writer's road to Hollywood. As such, the book is humorous in its own right. And anyone who's seen the show will nod in acknowledgement as Phil explains the basis of selected plot ideas. By the way, Phil: a complete listing of all the shows would have been a wonderful addition as an appendix.
Rosenthal leaves us with his theory about the proliferation and seeming success of TV reality shows. Regular comedies and dramas aren't believable anymore, he claims. They're not written as if the plots or the dialogue could actually happen. So folks are turning to reality TV because they see real people making real-life kinds of decisions. And that also explains the popularity and relate-ability of "Everybody Loves Raymond," for it was based on the true but bizarre experiences of people connected with the show.
For more "Raymond" tales, devoted fans should also read "Motherhood and Hollywood: How to Get a Job Like Mine" by Patricia Heaton (2002) and "Are You Hungry, Dear? Life, Laughs and Lasagne" by Doris Roberts (2004). These three books don't overlap in their coverage; and all of them are made even more poignant now, with the recent death of Peter Boyle. Holy crap.
Rosenthal leaves us with his theory about the proliferation and seeming success of TV reality shows. Regular comedies and dramas aren't believable anymore, he claims. They're not written as if the plots or the dialogue could actually happen. So folks are turning to reality TV because they see real people making real-life kinds of decisions. And that also explains the popularity and relate-ability of "Everybody Loves Raymond," for it was based on the true but bizarre experiences of people connected with the show.
For more "Raymond" tales, devoted fans should also read "Motherhood and Hollywood: How to Get a Job Like Mine" by Patricia Heaton (2002) and "Are You Hungry, Dear? Life, Laughs and Lasagne" by Doris Roberts (2004). These three books don't overlap in their coverage; and all of them are made even more poignant now, with the recent death of Peter Boyle. Holy crap.
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