We’re Not Worthy: From In Living Color to Mr. Show, How ‘90s Sketch TV Changed the Face of Comedy

by Jason Klamm, David Wain (Foreword)

LIMITED FIRST EDITION contains blue foil gilded page edges and a white satin ribbon marker. In the ‘70s and ‘80s Saturday Night Live , SCTV , and Monty Python ruled the television airwaves with sketch comedy. But then came the 1990s—and alongside grunge music and oversized denim, sketch comedy was turned up to 11. With the promise of low budgets, big laughs, more diverse cast members, and fresh content, an ever-expanding number of television stations each wanted their very own hit sketch show. Saturday Night Live was ‘dead’ anyway, right? We’re Not Worthy is the definitive account of ‘90s sketch comedy, the decade that forever changed what we laugh at. Author and comedian Jason Klamm goes behind the scenes of more than 50 sketch shows that ruled the ‘90s, including groundbreaking staples such as In Living Color , MTV’s The State , Mr. Show , Kids in the Hall , The Ben Stiller Show , and Mad TV , along with several swiftly canceled gigs ( The Dana Carvey Show , anyone?). Each show seemed to launch at least one big name into the The Wayans family, Ben Stiller, Jennifer Coolidge, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Judd Apatow, Janeane Garofalo . . . the list goes on and on. Klamm brings readers back to the ‘90s comedy landscape like never before, through over 150 new and candid interviews with trailblazers such as Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Carol Burnett, Tommy Davidson, Adam McKay, Dave Thomas, Patton Oswalt, Reno 911! ’s Kerri Kenney-Silver, and a litany of additional favorites. Plus the producers, writers, directors, and other insiders that pulled it all together. Steeped with hilarious stories, on-the-set antics, and head-turning television politics, We’re Not Worthy is a revealing trip back to the decade that placed comedy on the razor's edge.

Genres: Tv, Nonfiction, Humor

392 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Jason Klamm is the author of "We're Not Worthy," the history of 90s sketch comedy, as well as two books of satire, with another in the works. He trained under beat author Fielding Dawson, and directed one of the world’s first viral videos. He has written three feature films, and his comedy shorts have been distributed by NBC Universal, Comedy Central and Frontier Airlines. He has also written films and TV pilots for Jamie Kennedy Entertainment.

Reviews

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

on page 16 there is a footnote marked #1 and on page 345 there is a footnote marked #2. good bit.

clearly a passion project and I’m glad he made it. the typos and punctuation errors get frustrating at times, and even the writing is sometimes unclear about who is talking and when -- the timeframe is the 90s, why is this story about cecily strong? now its 2012? now its the 90s again? tell me the years!

definitely valuable as textbook / reference material

[Jana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched but dryyyyy. Felt like reading a textbook at times.

[Tom Brazelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never has the subject of a book been so narrowly defined yet so exhaustingly researched. Telling people I was reading a book about sketch comedy from the 90s felt like a very niche interest to try and explain - and it is - but Klamm does a good job of explaining the influence of the era before everything ended up on YouTube.

Klamm not only does a good job of digging up stories about series that I had watched and entirely forgot like Alex Winter's "Idiot Box" or John Leguizamo's "House of Buggin'," but he includes anecdotes about shows like Nickelodeon's All That and Roundhouse or the sceience-entertainment program Beakman's World and how they are tied to the form of sketch.

Sketch itself is also thoroughly explored as what was once considered acting exercises became entertainment in its own right. The Groundlings, ComedySportz, Improv Olympic, The Upright Citizens Brigade and the ubiquitous Second City all collect their flowers in this tome.

Anyone who is a fan of comedy in general will find something attractive in Klamm's book. Klamm will also likely put you on the trail of other comedy innovators you were unfamiliar with. Enjoy your deep dive down this rabbit hole.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nearly comprehensive history on the proliferation of sketch comedy in the 90s. There are light background stories that cover some ground on how the shows made it to air, but I didn't find anything all that surprising. The most interesting parts were involving descriptions of short-lived, lesser known sketch shows, and how some popular sketch players bounced around so many different shows. I might have enjoyed it better if there was more of an oral history telling from the creators/performers. Often, I didn't feel like I wanted to seek out any of the shows/sketches because I felt the premise descriptions were sparse or unenthusiastically described, nor could I really understand how seminal 90s sketches were for future of sketch comedy.

MS: A list of sketch shows uncovered in the final chapter with notable funny people. Hey, now that piques my interest!

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is well researched and I enjoyed learning about lesser known shows, but I agree with some other reviews about typos. It's clear that the author likes some shows more than others, and I was somewhat turned off by his biases. The chapter on The State (his favorite sketch show, based on an interview I read) reads like a fan letter, lauding everything about the troupe and show, while the chapter on The Kids in the Hall, also an important '90s sketch show, felt comparatively tossed off, with almost no descriptions of sketches and no mention of some of that show's innovations or stake in LGBTQ issues. Worth reading if you're interested in '90s sketch comedy but uneven in the writing and tone.

[Kelly Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 43 so I am the perfect audience for this book. The shows, episodes, performers and writers mentioned here are part of my childhood. Every page had a "I LOVED THAT" moment.

Jason Klamm has written an absolute treasure of a book. It's meticulously researched with so many interviews (including CAROL BURNETT!) and first-hand accounts. I could've happily read several more hundred pages; I'm sure there's more than enough to fill them.

This is the gold standard of pop culture books. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Highly recommended.

[Lauren Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re Not Worthy is an educational and nostalgic ride through the history of ‘90s sketch comedy. No matter how much you think you know on the subject, I guarantee this book will surprise you. If you don’t know much about sketch, this book is the place to learn. Author Jason Klamm’s love of sketch comedy and his skill as an interviewer come together to deliver a practically all-encompassing account of ‘90s sketch comedy that will make you feel like you were there.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invaluable history of sketch comedy and improv that covers many of the most influential shows/movies/troupes of the genre. The author decides not to cover SNL as its history has already been detailed in so many other works.

I highly recommend picking up the physical version as it is a gorgeous volume that will look great on any fan's shelf.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great range of interviews in the book and brings spotlight to some shows that are impossible to find. Held back a little by a litany of typos and a few style inconsistencies, at least in the ebook version.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have benefitted from another edit. The many typos aside, it is somehow very dense but not deep enough. I appreciated call outs to many beloved, yet overlooked shows, but it was at times hard to follow. Good as a compendium of 90s sketch shows, but lacking in finesse.

[jab bers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, super insightful! Loved it.