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Mr. Funny Pants: A Memoir of False Starts
The writer and star of The State, Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter , and Michael & Michael Have Issues brings readers his uniquely absurd humor in his hilarious first book.
I was at my wit's end. I'd had enough of this job, this life, and my relationship had broken up. Should I eat chocolate, or go to India, or fall in love? Then I had a Why not do all three, in that order? And so it was that I embarked on a journey that was segmented into three parts and was then made into a major motion picture. Later, I woke up on an airplane with a hole in my face and a really bad hangover. I was ushered brusquely off the plane by my parents who took me to a rehab where I tested positive for coke, classic coke, special k (the drug), Special K (the cereal), mushrooms, pepperoni, and Restless Leg Syndrome. It was there that I first began painting with my feet.
But rewind...the year was 1914. I was just a young German soldier serving in the trenches while simultaneously trying to destroy an evil ring with some help from an elf, a troll, and a giant sorcerer, all while cooking every recipe out of a Julia Child cookbook. What I'm trying to say is that there was a secret code hidden in a painting and I was looking for it with this girl who had a tattoo of a dragon! Let me clarify, it was the 1930s and a bunch of us were migrating out of Oklahoma, and I was this teenage wizard/CIA operative, okay? And, um then I floated off into the meta-verse as a ball of invisible energy that had no outer edge...
Ugh, okay. None of this is true. I'm just kind of a normal guy from New Jersey who moved to New York, got into comedy, wrote this book about trying to write this book, and then moved to Alaska, became the mayor of a small town, spent $30,000 on underwear, and now I'm going to rule the world!!!
I was at my wit's end. I'd had enough of this job, this life, and my relationship had broken up. Should I eat chocolate, or go to India, or fall in love? Then I had a Why not do all three, in that order? And so it was that I embarked on a journey that was segmented into three parts and was then made into a major motion picture. Later, I woke up on an airplane with a hole in my face and a really bad hangover. I was ushered brusquely off the plane by my parents who took me to a rehab where I tested positive for coke, classic coke, special k (the drug), Special K (the cereal), mushrooms, pepperoni, and Restless Leg Syndrome. It was there that I first began painting with my feet.
But rewind...the year was 1914. I was just a young German soldier serving in the trenches while simultaneously trying to destroy an evil ring with some help from an elf, a troll, and a giant sorcerer, all while cooking every recipe out of a Julia Child cookbook. What I'm trying to say is that there was a secret code hidden in a painting and I was looking for it with this girl who had a tattoo of a dragon! Let me clarify, it was the 1930s and a bunch of us were migrating out of Oklahoma, and I was this teenage wizard/CIA operative, okay? And, um then I floated off into the meta-verse as a ball of invisible energy that had no outer edge...
Ugh, okay. None of this is true. I'm just kind of a normal guy from New Jersey who moved to New York, got into comedy, wrote this book about trying to write this book, and then moved to Alaska, became the mayor of a small town, spent $30,000 on underwear, and now I'm going to rule the world!!!
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
30 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
Michael Showalter
7 books23 followersMichael Showalter is the star/creator of Michael & Michael Have Issues, The State, Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Stella, Die Hard* and Die Hard 2: Die Harder**. He lives in Brooklyn with his lady and a bunch of cats."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 28, 2013
I really think Michael Showalter's comedy is super funny. So, I expected this book to also be super funny. Some parts of it certainly were, but overall, I think it kind of missed the mark. Usually, as I read a book, when I put my bookmark in, I start thinking about what I would say if I were to write a review right then and there. Here are some of the bookmark reviews I came up with as I was reading:
"Unless you want to read about someone who's trying to write a book but not writing it but still writing about that, don't read this book."
"Michael Showalter is hilarious! You must read this book!"
"There really aren't enough cat stories."
"I'm glad I bought this book on remainder."
"Reading this book is kind of like a night early on in your drinking career. The evening starts out kind of slow and directionless. Then, as you drink more in, you start to loosen up, and everything suddenly becomes very funny. But, by the end of the night, you end up in the bathroom, thinking, 'maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
"I wonder how much of this is real."
"Does he have Asperger's Syndrome?"
Overall, I had to give this book a middle-of-the-road rating because, while there were some parts that I loved and would read again, there were other parts that kind of made me want to punch him in the face. Maybe if I could rip out a couple of sections of the book, I could give it four or five stars.
If you're a fan of Showalter's, I'd suggest checking the book out of the library or buying it on remainder somewhere!
"Unless you want to read about someone who's trying to write a book but not writing it but still writing about that, don't read this book."
"Michael Showalter is hilarious! You must read this book!"
"There really aren't enough cat stories."
"I'm glad I bought this book on remainder."
"Reading this book is kind of like a night early on in your drinking career. The evening starts out kind of slow and directionless. Then, as you drink more in, you start to loosen up, and everything suddenly becomes very funny. But, by the end of the night, you end up in the bathroom, thinking, 'maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all."
"I wonder how much of this is real."
"Does he have Asperger's Syndrome?"
Overall, I had to give this book a middle-of-the-road rating because, while there were some parts that I loved and would read again, there were other parts that kind of made me want to punch him in the face. Maybe if I could rip out a couple of sections of the book, I could give it four or five stars.
If you're a fan of Showalter's, I'd suggest checking the book out of the library or buying it on remainder somewhere!
February 7, 2011
I really dug into this book over the weekend and I am not quite sure what I expected of it before starting, but I can quite generally say, it was not for me. I'll qualify that a bit. For the most part, each chapter reads in a stream of conscience format covering any number of random and seemingly loosely bound ideas into a very open interpretation of a story.
You certainly cannot love everything you read and come across and I am not saying that this book is without its audience. I am simply not the ideal candidate. Where there was substantive glimpses of history or insight, they are brief and mired in substantial volume of jumping thoughts.
He writes in many places that his view, initially at least, is that there are not enough interesting things about his life to fill a book. I would have been very interested to hear more about how he was drawn into comedy and what inspires his humor, in a more cohesive flow than he chose to pursue. As he has gotten older, married, etc., how have these elements changed his work? How has his work shaped his life? I am sure there is more of this within his pages and thoughts, but they were too scattered for me to see with much clarity.
You certainly cannot love everything you read and come across and I am not saying that this book is without its audience. I am simply not the ideal candidate. Where there was substantive glimpses of history or insight, they are brief and mired in substantial volume of jumping thoughts.
He writes in many places that his view, initially at least, is that there are not enough interesting things about his life to fill a book. I would have been very interested to hear more about how he was drawn into comedy and what inspires his humor, in a more cohesive flow than he chose to pursue. As he has gotten older, married, etc., how have these elements changed his work? How has his work shaped his life? I am sure there is more of this within his pages and thoughts, but they were too scattered for me to see with much clarity.
August 3, 2011
Mr. Funny Pants is really less a memoir than a disorganized "graphic set" of underedited Michael Showalter musings. He attempts some meta-humour (with a "post-," "post-post-" and "pre-post-post-preface" and bits about him trying to get over his writer's block) but most of this comes off as self-indulgent, prolix, and really just boring. The other pieces in the book, once Showalter has gotten past his "writing about writing," are often funny and well-constructed - some prose-versions of his stand-up bits; some illuminating reminiscences about his unpopular child-/adulthood; a few goofy sketches that feel like State rejects. However, it takes about half the book to get past the rambling filler and onto anything actually funny or substantial, and even as a Showalter fan, I can't really say it was worth the wait.
May 11, 2012
I love Michael Showalter, so I wanted to love this book, but I found it extremely hit-or-miss. At times, I could feel the effort he was putting into being quirky and it caused the humor to fall flat. Or else the humor just fell flat all on its own. A huge theme of the book was blatantly trying to fill up space (a la Colbert, Dinello, & Sedaris' Wigfield), but the bit wore thin quickly in this case. He wasn't comically wasting space to fill out the book, he was simply wasting space. However, there were some wonderful moments that made me laugh aloud at work. There simply weren't enough of them for this to be a good book overall, or to overcome the moments of making me wince when he was straining to be funny. I will stick to loving Michael Showalter for his acting.
May 3, 2011
So far, this is one of the funniest books I have ever read in my life.
Srsly- I am banned from reading this book at work b/c I distracted my coworkes from my muffled guffaws and chuckles and I just sounded like a creepy elmer fudd since I was trying to hide how fucking funny all this shit is.
HOLY FUCK I LOVE THIS BOOK.
The poems, the fake books with the Lakers, the story about being the smelly hipster on the plane, of being given a psychiatric drug for being annoyed with noise from his frat neighbors, shitty LA interviews...UUUUUUGGGHHHH>
I LOVED IT.
Srsly- I am banned from reading this book at work b/c I distracted my coworkes from my muffled guffaws and chuckles and I just sounded like a creepy elmer fudd since I was trying to hide how fucking funny all this shit is.
HOLY FUCK I LOVE THIS BOOK.
The poems, the fake books with the Lakers, the story about being the smelly hipster on the plane, of being given a psychiatric drug for being annoyed with noise from his frat neighbors, shitty LA interviews...UUUUUUGGGHHHH>
I LOVED IT.
February 28, 2014
This barely should count as a "book", and if it seems like I'm "abusing" the device of "quotation marks" in my review of it, it's because the "author" can't seem to get through a "sentence" without using them "repeatedly".
I hated this book. A few minor laughs, and about 250 pages of filler. Skip it.
I hated this book. A few minor laughs, and about 250 pages of filler. Skip it.
March 12, 2011
Pure Genius! I never knew you could be sarcastic and earnest at the same time. This is one of the funniest celebrity pseudo-memoirs I have read in a long time Anyone who hides their guilty pleasures in music on their iPod by labeling them really cool and hip indie bands, has my vote. I would do the same thing, but I have quite figured out how to do it. Michael Showalter pokes fun at the seriousness of writing by making fun of some of the things "serious" writers do like the preface only he takes his to the third level by having a post-preface. Oh and you can't forget the afterword, the after-afterword or the just-before-the-afterword.
This is really a book that you should leave out on your coffee table since there are so many fun things to do like a fill in the blank romantic-comedy plot and the one minute mysteries. You can easily reread this several times. There are also little bits and pieces of the author's life and what junior high meant to him. There are some other important things, but I forgot them. I think they had something to do with drinking games, which is probably why I forgot. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This is really a book that you should leave out on your coffee table since there are so many fun things to do like a fill in the blank romantic-comedy plot and the one minute mysteries. You can easily reread this several times. There are also little bits and pieces of the author's life and what junior high meant to him. There are some other important things, but I forgot them. I think they had something to do with drinking games, which is probably why I forgot. I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2012
The author does an outstanding job reading his material. He has a very unique, soothing voice and he knows how to play with words in just the right way. It makes sense because, after all, he is a comedian. I really enjoyed listening to him in my car everyday. I was juggling between 3 and 4 stars for this book because he tells some extremely funny stories, but I wish there were more of them. Some parts were lackluster and/or annoying. Overall, a stellar vocal performance. I am so glad I listened to it on audio rather than reading the book.
October 23, 2015
a paean to procrastination & silliness, half-assedly masquerading as memoirs. it legitimately feels like the process of not writing: of jabbering away words that hold no greater meaning just to get SOMETHING on the page. and some of it is inspired. but much of it is not. i know it isn't fair to always tie them together, but i enjoyed both of Michael Ian Black's books more. that being said, if you are a State/Stella/Showalter fan, you pretty much have to read this...
April 20, 2018
Just how funny are these pants? Yeah, they are pretty funny pants.
I laughed out loud more at this book than almost any I’ve ever read. And yet, I wanted something else. But maybe, just maybe, that’s on me.
Since this is essentially a book of skits, some are going to fall flat. What worked consistently throughout, though, were the chapters on his dating life and audition struggles. The personal stuff. A basis of more of his real life mixed in with wacky comedy would have been a more memorable read.
As it is, the book barely scratches the surface of much better material. He could have added in more anecdotes and just changed it to “Semi-Funny Pants.”
But if you like Showalter, it would be hard not to embrace much of his ridiculousness. Plus, the chapters on Frogs and Toads (!!!!) end the book on a hoppin’ good time.
I laughed out loud more at this book than almost any I’ve ever read. And yet, I wanted something else. But maybe, just maybe, that’s on me.
Since this is essentially a book of skits, some are going to fall flat. What worked consistently throughout, though, were the chapters on his dating life and audition struggles. The personal stuff. A basis of more of his real life mixed in with wacky comedy would have been a more memorable read.
As it is, the book barely scratches the surface of much better material. He could have added in more anecdotes and just changed it to “Semi-Funny Pants.”
But if you like Showalter, it would be hard not to embrace much of his ridiculousness. Plus, the chapters on Frogs and Toads (!!!!) end the book on a hoppin’ good time.
June 2, 2019
I have watched most if not all of the various TV series and films that Showalter has been involved in. I've seen him do standup. I'm a fan.
But I didn't make it very far into this book. The first page is a silly "About the Author" list. The second page is "About the Author (Canadian edition)" which featured every lame and typical American-joke-about-Canada, which at this point in history, does anyone ever need to see again? It's not that we can't handle being made fun of, it's that we expect the mockery to come from a place of insight and understanding, not lazy dismissal. That's what makes things funny, right? Anyway, a total turnoff. I shut the book and moved on.
But I didn't make it very far into this book. The first page is a silly "About the Author" list. The second page is "About the Author (Canadian edition)" which featured every lame and typical American-joke-about-Canada, which at this point in history, does anyone ever need to see again? It's not that we can't handle being made fun of, it's that we expect the mockery to come from a place of insight and understanding, not lazy dismissal. That's what makes things funny, right? Anyway, a total turnoff. I shut the book and moved on.
July 18, 2017
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I have no idea who Michael Showalter is or if I am supposed to know who he is but being inside his brain was sure a trip! There were times where I was laughing and thinking "This guy is a genius," and then there were other times where I just couldn't wrap my head around what was being said when he started rambling.
I am basically on the fence for this one. It was good but it was weird.
I am basically on the fence for this one. It was good but it was weird.
September 9, 2019
Anyone expecting this to be an explosive tell-all memoir will be disappointed; Showalter keeps his readers at a distance, preferring to be silly to the point of absurdity. That said, it was still fun to read. Those familiar with his stand-up album "Sandwiches and Cats" will recognize some bits here.
March 24, 2017
This was equal parts funny and confusing.
July 31, 2024
2.5, that was exhausting
March 30, 2022
Total silliness, mostly just bits with some personal autobiographical elements sprinkled in. Worthwhile to listen to the audiobook. Riddle and games chapter was very funny. Loved the script breakdowns and his whole “I shouldn’t have to wash my hands after I use the bathroom” diatribe.
January 31, 2012
TO see this review with pictures and see if it's better than Mindy Kaling's novel read the review here:
http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/...
I literally laughed until I cried more than once when reading this book. Michael Showalter started his career on the 90’s skit MTV show The State and carried that over to films like cult hit Wet Hot American Summer and a hilarious turn on the show Stella.
The book opens with an About the Author, then moves onto About the Author (For Canadian Edition), then About Bea Arthur, then About New Jersey, About Brooklyn, then continues on with its silliness with a preface, post-preface, post-post-preface, pre-post-post-preface and so on. By the time he reaches the introduction he’s joked and played around with the point of the book for so long you wonder what the book could possibly be about. Like a Rubix Cube Showalter keeps turning the idea of writing a comedy book so many different hilarious ways you can’t help but want to read more.
His writing has a slightly manic sense of urgency and the reader can’t help be caught up in it.
"How I See This Book
I see it with my eyes.
I also “see” it with my hands, but if and only if I’m blind and read Braille.
I take that back. I could also see it with my hands if I knew how to read Braille but wasn’t blind.
To Conclude: Reading Braille is one very good way to “see” it with my hands (and by hands, I really mean fingers). Another way to “see” the book with my hands would be to have eyes on my hands."
He continues on with this thread and builds off of it for another 2 paragraphs. It gets to a point where you question the point, as if he’s rambling yet it remains funny because the tone appears to be taking it all so very seriously. Showalter is playing with the idea of a stuffy author attempting to write a masterwork only the actual book consists of his working out how to write the damn thing in the first place.
It might appear as though he’s filling the pages to reach his contractual page count, but it’s more of an open journal into his comedic mind. Who wouldn’t give a day with their favorite comedian and see how they think? In this case we’re seeing his spin on comedy solely, and it’s an interesting place to hang out.
"Swine Flu is such a horrible name. It’s terrifying. As if flu wasn’t bad enough on its own, they gotta add swine to it? Then again, anything with flu in the name is scary. It doesn’t matter how cute the word before it is. If anything, the cuter the word before the word flu, the more terrifying it sounds: Bran Muffin Flu, Marshmallow Flu, Baby Carrot Flu."
Once he’s finished speaking briefly about his life and how he pitched the book he goes on to what he’ll do once his fame explodes with the books release. Instead of writing jokes (as Bill Maher does) or write about his life in a comedic way (as Chelsea Handler does) he’s created an amalgamation of the two. His life is the joke, and it’s beautifully nonsensical.
Kevin Kline reads from the book.
There’s also some great advice, for instance if you’re male, “why wash your hands after you pee. Isn’t your penis the cleanest thing on your body?” Cut that out to save yourself hundreds of hours. He also packs in short stories, fill in the blank screenwriting tips and poetry.
Anything goes in this book and it keeps things very fresh. There are segments where he has full scenes from plays that were a tad boring, but so much of this book is random and off the wall you can’t put it down.
http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/...
I literally laughed until I cried more than once when reading this book. Michael Showalter started his career on the 90’s skit MTV show The State and carried that over to films like cult hit Wet Hot American Summer and a hilarious turn on the show Stella.
The book opens with an About the Author, then moves onto About the Author (For Canadian Edition), then About Bea Arthur, then About New Jersey, About Brooklyn, then continues on with its silliness with a preface, post-preface, post-post-preface, pre-post-post-preface and so on. By the time he reaches the introduction he’s joked and played around with the point of the book for so long you wonder what the book could possibly be about. Like a Rubix Cube Showalter keeps turning the idea of writing a comedy book so many different hilarious ways you can’t help but want to read more.
His writing has a slightly manic sense of urgency and the reader can’t help be caught up in it.
"How I See This Book
I see it with my eyes.
I also “see” it with my hands, but if and only if I’m blind and read Braille.
I take that back. I could also see it with my hands if I knew how to read Braille but wasn’t blind.
To Conclude: Reading Braille is one very good way to “see” it with my hands (and by hands, I really mean fingers). Another way to “see” the book with my hands would be to have eyes on my hands."
He continues on with this thread and builds off of it for another 2 paragraphs. It gets to a point where you question the point, as if he’s rambling yet it remains funny because the tone appears to be taking it all so very seriously. Showalter is playing with the idea of a stuffy author attempting to write a masterwork only the actual book consists of his working out how to write the damn thing in the first place.
It might appear as though he’s filling the pages to reach his contractual page count, but it’s more of an open journal into his comedic mind. Who wouldn’t give a day with their favorite comedian and see how they think? In this case we’re seeing his spin on comedy solely, and it’s an interesting place to hang out.
"Swine Flu is such a horrible name. It’s terrifying. As if flu wasn’t bad enough on its own, they gotta add swine to it? Then again, anything with flu in the name is scary. It doesn’t matter how cute the word before it is. If anything, the cuter the word before the word flu, the more terrifying it sounds: Bran Muffin Flu, Marshmallow Flu, Baby Carrot Flu."
Once he’s finished speaking briefly about his life and how he pitched the book he goes on to what he’ll do once his fame explodes with the books release. Instead of writing jokes (as Bill Maher does) or write about his life in a comedic way (as Chelsea Handler does) he’s created an amalgamation of the two. His life is the joke, and it’s beautifully nonsensical.
Kevin Kline reads from the book.
There’s also some great advice, for instance if you’re male, “why wash your hands after you pee. Isn’t your penis the cleanest thing on your body?” Cut that out to save yourself hundreds of hours. He also packs in short stories, fill in the blank screenwriting tips and poetry.
Anything goes in this book and it keeps things very fresh. There are segments where he has full scenes from plays that were a tad boring, but so much of this book is random and off the wall you can’t put it down.
June 17, 2014
I love reading all kinds of memoirs and biographies and so when I found this book at a second-hand bookstore, I was really excited. My copy is even personally signed by Showalter with a sketch inside! I've liked a lot of Showalter's work over the years and so I was interested to read about him. Unfortunately, it didn't really work out that way.
My personal peeve with any memoir/biography is when the writer spends too much time explaining how they didn't really want to write a book, but then someone offered them money and so they took it and now they're writing against their will. I understand that these people are trying to defend themselves against criticisms like "why does this guy think he's important enough for a memoir? Isn't he in his 30's?" but still, I feel it's really rude to the reader. It's the same as a musician going on stage and saying "I really don't want to be here and I have no respect for my fans. I'm only here because I need the money, so shut up and let me play this set and get out of here."
Unfortunately for me, Showalter’s book is 99% “deconstructing” the book writing process (which is the gracious term that some celeb friend used for their quote on the back cover). Which means that there are hundreds of pages where he documents his procrastinations with writing this book (for which he’d already received an advance payment; he reminds you over and over). Some of these pages are charts and graphs and doodles. Others are free-form word associations and bullet lists. All of them are boring.
It was around 70+ pages in when the “real” memoir-like content started showing up. THAT was the stuff that I wanted to read. He writes about looking for love and pursuing girls who were already in relationships – the kind of fodder that readers really want. But even in these stories, he splices in some offbeat humor by “interrupting” his story to relay a secondary story about his girlfriend wanting him to see something cute that the cat was doing in the other room. I think that sort of joke works on screen, but not on paper and so the constant back-and-forth of interruptions got stale. Other reviewers have commented similarly, but WHY did a major publisher produce this? It seems that any editor would have been unhappy with a memoir that was filled with so much fluff and charts and graphs.
About 150 pages in, I gave up. I sincerely hate to leave a book unfinished and I have trudged through some crummy books in the past, but I just couldn’t do it this time. Normally, I feel like these authors – I have a financial commitment to this book, so I have to see it through even if I don’t want to! But not today. Sorry, Michael Showalter. You’re a nice and funny guy and I’ll gladly watch your movies and comedy – and if you ever decide to write a REAL memoir, I’ll check it out – but this book wasn’t your best work.
My personal peeve with any memoir/biography is when the writer spends too much time explaining how they didn't really want to write a book, but then someone offered them money and so they took it and now they're writing against their will. I understand that these people are trying to defend themselves against criticisms like "why does this guy think he's important enough for a memoir? Isn't he in his 30's?" but still, I feel it's really rude to the reader. It's the same as a musician going on stage and saying "I really don't want to be here and I have no respect for my fans. I'm only here because I need the money, so shut up and let me play this set and get out of here."
Unfortunately for me, Showalter’s book is 99% “deconstructing” the book writing process (which is the gracious term that some celeb friend used for their quote on the back cover). Which means that there are hundreds of pages where he documents his procrastinations with writing this book (for which he’d already received an advance payment; he reminds you over and over). Some of these pages are charts and graphs and doodles. Others are free-form word associations and bullet lists. All of them are boring.
It was around 70+ pages in when the “real” memoir-like content started showing up. THAT was the stuff that I wanted to read. He writes about looking for love and pursuing girls who were already in relationships – the kind of fodder that readers really want. But even in these stories, he splices in some offbeat humor by “interrupting” his story to relay a secondary story about his girlfriend wanting him to see something cute that the cat was doing in the other room. I think that sort of joke works on screen, but not on paper and so the constant back-and-forth of interruptions got stale. Other reviewers have commented similarly, but WHY did a major publisher produce this? It seems that any editor would have been unhappy with a memoir that was filled with so much fluff and charts and graphs.
About 150 pages in, I gave up. I sincerely hate to leave a book unfinished and I have trudged through some crummy books in the past, but I just couldn’t do it this time. Normally, I feel like these authors – I have a financial commitment to this book, so I have to see it through even if I don’t want to! But not today. Sorry, Michael Showalter. You’re a nice and funny guy and I’ll gladly watch your movies and comedy – and if you ever decide to write a REAL memoir, I’ll check it out – but this book wasn’t your best work.
February 11, 2011
What I Can Tell You:
There aren't too many things I can't live without. My kids, my family and friends, water, air, food and laughter. Personally, I love to laugh and since getting Netflix have looked up every stand up act on there. There aren't many that make me ROFL and even less that make me ROTFLMAO but I find a few that make me LOL. When it comes to books, I can count on one and a half hands the ones that have made me laugh out loud. This book is one of them.
Michael Showalter was one of the creators of The State (1993-1995), a show that was on MTV when MTV was funny. I saw the show live during it's first year and watched it weekly. My husband and I still quote it; "I'm Doug and I'm Outta Here" and "I Want To Stick My Balls In It" can be heard often in my house. We love watching it now on Netflix (thank you Netflix). When I agreed to review Mr. Funny Pants, I didn't know that this was Michael from The State.
The book is so funny. I love the fact that Michael spends five chapters talking about his process for starting to write the book including reviews for the finished project. The book is a quick read and moves rapidly, showing the genius process of a comedians mind. I can only imagine that Michael just wrote down his every random thought from the moment he started writing THIS book. There are so many random moments that cracked me. I would just be reading along la, la, la...chuckle..haha...funny..than I would literally LOL. My husband would look at me out of the corner of his eye while he read his smart, scientific, educational, engineering books and there I was with Mr. Funny Pants. I can only imagine how much his rolling eyes hurt. Oh well, he has no idea what he is missing. Michael's book can be educational too, in fact this morning over breakfast with my girlfriends, we spent 15 minutes trying to find the missing $1.00 in Michael's Games, Puzzles, Brainteasers, Brain Twister section. So...there! Take that you educated muckety-mucks.
If you were a fan of The State or if you love laughing or reading about randomness this is the book.
My favorite chapter is The Mixed Tapes. It is only 3 pages long but Michael explaining why he loves Christina Aguilers Beautiful is genius.
There aren't too many things I can't live without. My kids, my family and friends, water, air, food and laughter. Personally, I love to laugh and since getting Netflix have looked up every stand up act on there. There aren't many that make me ROFL and even less that make me ROTFLMAO but I find a few that make me LOL. When it comes to books, I can count on one and a half hands the ones that have made me laugh out loud. This book is one of them.
Michael Showalter was one of the creators of The State (1993-1995), a show that was on MTV when MTV was funny. I saw the show live during it's first year and watched it weekly. My husband and I still quote it; "I'm Doug and I'm Outta Here" and "I Want To Stick My Balls In It" can be heard often in my house. We love watching it now on Netflix (thank you Netflix). When I agreed to review Mr. Funny Pants, I didn't know that this was Michael from The State.
The book is so funny. I love the fact that Michael spends five chapters talking about his process for starting to write the book including reviews for the finished project. The book is a quick read and moves rapidly, showing the genius process of a comedians mind. I can only imagine that Michael just wrote down his every random thought from the moment he started writing THIS book. There are so many random moments that cracked me. I would just be reading along la, la, la...chuckle..haha...funny..than I would literally LOL. My husband would look at me out of the corner of his eye while he read his smart, scientific, educational, engineering books and there I was with Mr. Funny Pants. I can only imagine how much his rolling eyes hurt. Oh well, he has no idea what he is missing. Michael's book can be educational too, in fact this morning over breakfast with my girlfriends, we spent 15 minutes trying to find the missing $1.00 in Michael's Games, Puzzles, Brainteasers, Brain Twister section. So...there! Take that you educated muckety-mucks.
If you were a fan of The State or if you love laughing or reading about randomness this is the book.
My favorite chapter is The Mixed Tapes. It is only 3 pages long but Michael explaining why he loves Christina Aguilers Beautiful is genius.
July 8, 2012
Well, obviously this isn’t the type of book that I usually review. I do almost exclusively YA here with the odd non-fiction or adult fiction thrown in, and this is a humor memoir. I’m only reviewing it for two reasons: a) it’s really freaking funny; and b) I love Michael Showalter.
There. I said it. I love Michael Showalter. If you don’t know who he is, he’s a distinguished alum of MTV’s The State (if you are not familiar, acquaint yourself at once) as well as the cult comedy troupe Stella and the movie Wet Hot American Summer.
He’s an exceptionally awkward human being, which I can totally relate to. There is a story in the book where he sneakily reads a text being sent by a woman who he is sitting next to on an airplane, only to find out that it’s a not-flattering text about him. Obviously he can’t say anything because she’ll know that he’s been creeping on her while she’s texting. So after being momentarily heartbroken he does what all awkward human beings do – he stews on it for the entire flight and comes up with a real zinger, then hunts her down and delivers it when they get off of the plane…only to realize after she’s gone that all he succeeded in doing was agreeing with what she said about him in the first place. And apologizing to her for it. Oops.
While I read this book I made several noises that did not previously exist. I snorted, I snarfled, and I thought I’d die laughing. It’s quite possible that some of these stories are embellished, but it doesn’t really matter. All great storytellers embellish a bit. Then again, maybe it’s all 100% true…the truth is usually stranger than fiction, after all.
He and I also have similar problems with taking naps. One of my favorite quotes from the book, which not coincidentally also reminds me of myself: “Like, I could take a nap at 4:15 PM and then I’ll wake up twenty minutes later and have absolutely no clue where I am. I’m like, “What era is this? Is it the 1920s? Am I a flapper? Should I go put on a flapper costume and flap at a party?”
Basically I’m not going to do this book any justice. If you like to laugh, read it. If you hate fun, don’t read it. The choice is yours.
There. I said it. I love Michael Showalter. If you don’t know who he is, he’s a distinguished alum of MTV’s The State (if you are not familiar, acquaint yourself at once) as well as the cult comedy troupe Stella and the movie Wet Hot American Summer.
He’s an exceptionally awkward human being, which I can totally relate to. There is a story in the book where he sneakily reads a text being sent by a woman who he is sitting next to on an airplane, only to find out that it’s a not-flattering text about him. Obviously he can’t say anything because she’ll know that he’s been creeping on her while she’s texting. So after being momentarily heartbroken he does what all awkward human beings do – he stews on it for the entire flight and comes up with a real zinger, then hunts her down and delivers it when they get off of the plane…only to realize after she’s gone that all he succeeded in doing was agreeing with what she said about him in the first place. And apologizing to her for it. Oops.
While I read this book I made several noises that did not previously exist. I snorted, I snarfled, and I thought I’d die laughing. It’s quite possible that some of these stories are embellished, but it doesn’t really matter. All great storytellers embellish a bit. Then again, maybe it’s all 100% true…the truth is usually stranger than fiction, after all.
He and I also have similar problems with taking naps. One of my favorite quotes from the book, which not coincidentally also reminds me of myself: “Like, I could take a nap at 4:15 PM and then I’ll wake up twenty minutes later and have absolutely no clue where I am. I’m like, “What era is this? Is it the 1920s? Am I a flapper? Should I go put on a flapper costume and flap at a party?”
Basically I’m not going to do this book any justice. If you like to laugh, read it. If you hate fun, don’t read it. The choice is yours.
October 20, 2012
I have to admit that I love everything Sho does. The State, Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Stella, The Michael Showalter Showalter, Michael and Michael Have Issues -- all brilliant comedy, in my opinion. So, it should come as no surprise that I loved this book.
Is it a little strange? Sure. Is it sometimes over the top, containing things like a "Pre-Post-Post-Preface"? Of course. Is it partially incomprehensible stream-of-consciousness gobbledygook? Yes. But it's also hilarious and often genius. The chapter where Michael breaks his recent Scrabble victory down step-by-step had me in tears. The chapter about his experiences trying to be an actor is both painful and very, very funny. And two chapters in this book, "Boy Gets Girl but Then Discovers Girl Already Has Boyfriend" and "Dos and Don'ts for Girl with Boyfriends Who Go Out on Dates with Guys Who Aren't Their Boyfriends", immediately shot to the top of the list, "Things I Wish I'd Written First". And they're all alone on the list, "Things I Wish I'd Written First and then Mailed to Girls with Boyfriends Who Went Out on Dates with Me and Didn't Tell me They Had Boyfriends Until I'd Already Gotten My Hopes up for a Relationship with Them". Thanks, Sho!
So, if you really like good comedy, read this book, and you will be glad you did. If strange things annoy you, don't read this book, and you will be glad you didn't.
Is it a little strange? Sure. Is it sometimes over the top, containing things like a "Pre-Post-Post-Preface"? Of course. Is it partially incomprehensible stream-of-consciousness gobbledygook? Yes. But it's also hilarious and often genius. The chapter where Michael breaks his recent Scrabble victory down step-by-step had me in tears. The chapter about his experiences trying to be an actor is both painful and very, very funny. And two chapters in this book, "Boy Gets Girl but Then Discovers Girl Already Has Boyfriend" and "Dos and Don'ts for Girl with Boyfriends Who Go Out on Dates with Guys Who Aren't Their Boyfriends", immediately shot to the top of the list, "Things I Wish I'd Written First". And they're all alone on the list, "Things I Wish I'd Written First and then Mailed to Girls with Boyfriends Who Went Out on Dates with Me and Didn't Tell me They Had Boyfriends Until I'd Already Gotten My Hopes up for a Relationship with Them". Thanks, Sho!
So, if you really like good comedy, read this book, and you will be glad you did. If strange things annoy you, don't read this book, and you will be glad you didn't.
April 9, 2011
Just as funny as the book by his sometimes-collaborator Michael Ian Black, this is a random collection of humorous writings with even less cohesive focus than "My Custom Van." A good chunk of the book is writing about not being able to write/not knowing what to write about, the length alone of which makes it funny. Funnier chapters include a look at the worst mix-tape ever, a guide to writing a romantic comedy screenplay with fill-in-the-blanks, and my personal favorite, the chronologically diagrammed unfolding of his besting of an opponent in Scrabble using lengthy and obnoxious dirty words. There are also a few essays that I think are honestly autobiographical, one of which is just the documenting of the numerous girls who have gone out on dates with him, only to reveal during said date that they have a boyfriend. So yeah, funny shit.
March 10, 2011
I finished it!
Whew!
It took an entire short plane ride but I finished it. I also enjoyed it immensely and laughed out loud on quite a few occasions.
I will admit it does take a certain sort of person to enjoy this humour. A silly sort. If you think that is you then you are in for brevity and a treat.
If you do not have "funny bones" or this does not fit within your "funny bone paradigm" then you will find much to hate, and that is kind of sad. Why are you so full of hate?
Michael Ian Black has books of essays, this is not that. It is kind of "essay-lite". There are chapters in this I am positive were either bits from Showalter's standup or just a phrase copy/pasted.
I enjoyed it.
The end.
Whew!
It took an entire short plane ride but I finished it. I also enjoyed it immensely and laughed out loud on quite a few occasions.
I will admit it does take a certain sort of person to enjoy this humour. A silly sort. If you think that is you then you are in for brevity and a treat.
If you do not have "funny bones" or this does not fit within your "funny bone paradigm" then you will find much to hate, and that is kind of sad. Why are you so full of hate?
Michael Ian Black has books of essays, this is not that. It is kind of "essay-lite". There are chapters in this I am positive were either bits from Showalter's standup or just a phrase copy/pasted.
I enjoyed it.
The end.
April 9, 2011
When it was good, it was very very good, and when it was bad, it was horrid. Well, that's not entirely true. There are indeed many moments of sheer comedic brilliance, and the book was wholly enjoyable when Michael shared stories from his past. Although self-deprecating, they were written in a relatable way. However, one of the running jokes of the book are the chapters where he writes about writing the book: how he's going to do it, how many pages he will write, how he writes a couple of sentences and takes a break for the rest of the time... The constant repeat felt a bit like a dead horse, and made me like the book less overall.
Regardless, I do suggest it for a light read that will make you laugh and cringe at the same time.
Regardless, I do suggest it for a light read that will make you laugh and cringe at the same time.
April 4, 2011
while i certainly enjoyed this book (even recommending it to my doesn't-read-often boyfriend!), it certainly fell in the later chapters of the book. showalter's discussions of how and why he's writing this book, what he's going to write about, etc were all very funny but i really started enjoying it when he got more into the antecdotal stories (especially the one about trying to write but being interrupted by his girlfriend and their cats).
i probably would've given it four stars but sadly, it drops out toward the end of the book. it began to feel forced and just barreling towards the end.
still a funny read though.
i probably would've given it four stars but sadly, it drops out toward the end of the book. it began to feel forced and just barreling towards the end.
still a funny read though.
October 14, 2011
4.5/5, actually, but in lieu of that, I will say 5/5, because 4 would feel like an insult. A very clever, unexpected, slick and breezy read. The book never really gets anywhere per se, but it has a great time *trying* to. The book is largely made up of M.S. talking about writing a book that he never really writes, but that's kind of the running joke that makes up the final product which ends up being one of the best comedy books I've ever read. Fun, smart, silly in oh so perfect doses-and with flawless comic timing, diverse, original and oddly inspiring. I look forward to future books by Mr. Showalter as it seems his brain is full of endless possibilities.
November 13, 2023
Things I liked about this book:
1.) His favorite phrase is "Apropos of nothing" and uses it frequently.
2.) Duck Imprinting (pg 34)
3.) Even Gangbangers Get the Sniffles (pg 44-48)
4.) Artificial High Chart (pg 6)
5.) When he talked about himself and opened up to the reader (i.e. having OCD, being shy, college days, drug history, social awkwardness, etc.)
6.) His obsession with cats, sweaters, and sandwiches were hilarious!
Things I disliked:
1.) Too much emphasis on the process of writing a book (SO BORING even though he was trying to be funny)
2.) Some chapters were obviously created as page fillers, which was a huge disappointment and felt like he was dumbing down his audience.
1.) His favorite phrase is "Apropos of nothing" and uses it frequently.
2.) Duck Imprinting (pg 34)
3.) Even Gangbangers Get the Sniffles (pg 44-48)
4.) Artificial High Chart (pg 6)
5.) When he talked about himself and opened up to the reader (i.e. having OCD, being shy, college days, drug history, social awkwardness, etc.)
6.) His obsession with cats, sweaters, and sandwiches were hilarious!
Things I disliked:
1.) Too much emphasis on the process of writing a book (SO BORING even though he was trying to be funny)
2.) Some chapters were obviously created as page fillers, which was a huge disappointment and felt like he was dumbing down his audience.
May 20, 2016
This book, by the comedian from The State and Stella, is all over the place, but it works. I've seen Showalter perform live, and his routines are a lot like that, switching topics pretty frequently. Indeed, parts of it are pretty much verbatim from live performances. There's a mixture of autobiographical material (often with a self-deprecating tone), absurd observations, parody, wordplay, and commentary on writing the book itself. I found myself identifying with parts of the book, like Michael and his girlfriend constantly calling each other to see a funny thing the cat was doing, or his dreams about being lost in IKEA.
March 10, 2011
Would Thanksgiving be as popular of a holiday if it were called Turkeybutt Party?
* * *
And let's be honest, jogging is bad for you. I already mentioned the part about the pooping on the leg, but it also gets your heart rate pumping and that could make you have a heart attack. I don't want that. That's why I smoke!
* * *
I said that I didn't have it in me to write "creative nonfiction" because I'm not from San Francisco. He said that wasn't true. He said that San Francisco had nothing to do with it.
* * *
And let's be honest, jogging is bad for you. I already mentioned the part about the pooping on the leg, but it also gets your heart rate pumping and that could make you have a heart attack. I don't want that. That's why I smoke!
* * *
I said that I didn't have it in me to write "creative nonfiction" because I'm not from San Francisco. He said that wasn't true. He said that San Francisco had nothing to do with it.
January 17, 2016
I occasionally found the meta-ness of it all very tiring. But I also liked the OCD undertones, and I liked a lot of the sections anyway. I was a little disappointed with some of the re-used stand-up material (plus I think it works better/is more dynamic as stand-up), but obviously that wouldn't bother someone who hasn't heard it before. Not good as a memoir (though there are some nice personal bits), better as pieces that will make you laugh. Probably for Showalter/Stella/State/Baxter/WHAS fans only.
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