The Guy Under the Sheets: The Unauthorized Autobiography

by Chris Elliott

"This hugely entertaining pack of lies reads like a Woody Allen essay from the New Yorker." — David Pitt, Booklist

Is Chris Elliott a highly successful and beloved comedian—or a slightly dim-witted notalent from a celebrity family who managed to convince a generation of disillusioned youth that he was funny? From a ghastly childhood on the posh Upper East Side to his first job entertaining mobsters with his Judy Garland impersonation, The Guy Under the Sheets is packed with countless episodes from the life of a mediocre artist who somehow faked his way to the top—of semi-moderate fame and fortune. Woven throughout the fictional fun in Elliott's memoir are wonderful real-life anecdotes that will delight many new readers and loyal fans alike.

"The arc of [Elliott's] career remains unique and inspiring . . . that he blazed a trail for Arrested Development and Community and all the other freaky, convention-flouting TV comedies."— Grantland

Genres: Humor, Memoir, Comedy, Audiobook, Biography, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2012

About the author

There is more than one author with this name. This profile is for the American actor, comedian and writer.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Along with Norm MacDonald, Michael Showalter, and Larry David, Chris Elliott could read a cereal box and have me in tears. While this book is better than a box of cereal, it's starting to feel like his act is wearing a bit thin. Just a touch, as I still love me some Chris!

Simply, Daddy's Boy was the better of the two fake autobiographies. Taking a different approach for this one and actually telling real stories of his experiences on Get A Life and Cabin Boy would have been more interesting. Maybe not as funny, but more interesting.

Still, if you are a fan of Chris, then it's hard not to at least get a few laughs out of his bizarre, random, and surreal tales. For me, this is a pretty high 6, just not quite a 7. Perhaps I am the one who needs to get a life.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was kind of OK…kind of.

I had the sense that Elliott has been struck by Sedaris's Disease, a persistent and tragic wasting sickness that strikes writers who try to draw too much water from the same comedic well. As material ages and thins, patients become desperate. The once-robust comedic body begins to feed on itself, resulting in humor hypotrophy. The disease is usually terminal.

[Leslie Langtry · Rating 4 out of 5]

As reviewed at Bookendbabes.com:


The Guy Under The Sheets by Chris Elliott, reviewed by Leslie Langtry

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Leslie Langtry


He had me at “Damp”.

Actually, I’ve been a fan of Chris Elliott since his weird and wonderful tv show, GET A LIFE. It appears he’s written a book. Well, I guess he’s written other books too, but this is the first time I noticed.

If you don’t know who Chris Elliott is – try this: If you are my parents, Chris Elliott is the son of Bob Elliott of the comedy duo Bob and Ray. If you are my kids, Chris Elliott is the father of SNL funnywoman Abby Elliott. Did that help?

I know, I know, you’re saying to yourself, “Leslie – all you’ve reviewed lately are nonfiction biographies! Is that all there is to laugh at these days?”

And to that I say, “No! The Guy Under The Sheets is actually fiction! So there, dammit! So get off my back so I can finish eating this cheese sandwich.”

Apparently, Bob Elliott is not really Chris’ father (and get ready for this – Elinor Donahue was NOT his mother!). According to the book, Chris’ parents were the intimidating Bette Davis and the deep-throated cowboy – Sam Elliott. THE GUY reads like a weird, kinky tabloid written by an Andy Kauffman impersonator (a good one, though).

This very funny book answers long held suspicions about Elliott’s sleazy associations with Shelley Winters and Big Edie of Grey Gardens. Laugh out loud about his Benny Hill hijinks with Aileen Wuornos and John Gotti! Marvel at the trail of dead bodies Elliott leaves in his wake (along with the slimy trail of shame he oozes at one point). Find out what really happened between him and Marlon Brando in Tahiti (and make sure you are not eating while reading this chapter).

A word of caution (as mandated by my legal advisors) – if you don’t know or like Chris Elliott – then this is not the book for you. If this does not apply to you – go forth and READ!

[John Kube · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical silliness that you would expect from Chris Elliott writing his "autobiography." Yes, I put that in italics. Read it and you'll know why. If you know Chris' humour, you'll also know why! lol

[Jason Gemmill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Elliott, but this book just wasn't very good. If you want a book that mixes fiction and biography for a comic that's a great read, pick up Norm MacDonald's Based on a True Story.

[Jason Cady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny counter-factual autobiography. Elliott includes fictional accounts of real people like John Gotti, Andy Kaufman, and Dr. Ruth.

[Ben Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasingly daft but not being a Letterman buff I was bemused to find out how much of it was based on real stuff.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I've always been a big fan of Chris Elliott, and I loved his previous pseudo-memoir, Daddy's Boy. There was something on just about every page of this book that brought a smile to my face or made me chuckle, and yet it was something of a letdown for me. It had a lot of familiar Elliott comedic themes and style, but it got a little too far out there at times and often seemed like it was just nonsense for the sake of nonsense, not really adding up to anything. Really, I think this book--even though it was written by a man that I consider a comic genius, and even though I found it somewhat amusing throughout--rates 2.5 stars, but I'm adding another half star for the great cover and interior pics.

[Peter Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the problem with these books written by famous TV writers (I would link this one with the ones I've just read by Jack Handey and Bob Odenkirk; the one by Adam Resnick was better than these) is that the writing style seems like it would work much better on TV than it does on the written page. That's probably not too surprising for Chris Elliott as his fake (although with a lot of factual people and career moments) autobiography is over-the-top ridiculous. But it doesn't quite capture what I'm going to call his genius stupidity that was on display when he was a Letterman regular or his TV show Get A Life (which I'm proud to say my dad called the worst show of all time) or his movie Cabin Boy. It's a fun enough read if you're a fan of Elliott and don't take it too seriously (which, when I think about it, is impossible if you're a fan of Elliott).

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, it's Chris Elliott, what do you want?

You'll probably really enjoy this, if you're an Elliott fan, if you can handle jokes that are sometimes ridiculous, sometimes gross, sometimes stupid, sometimes in extremely poor taste, and sometimes just completely nonsensical, and if you can handle the fact that this autobiography is pretty much entirely a work of fiction. It's basically a spoof of the traditional celebrity auto/biography.

I thought it was pretty hilarious.

I suppose we have John Gotti to thank for this?

P.S. I now reeeeally want Elliott to go back and record audio versions of all his previous books. Pleeeease?

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointed. I'm a big Chris Elliott fan and expected this book to be hilarious. It absolutely wasn't. Perhaps print isn't the best medium for Elliott's sense of humor. He falls into the trap of many books that are supposed to be funny: the jokes simply can't sustain the reader for the length of a book. This book would have been a lot better and probably a lot funnier if it had been a true and accurate version of Elliott's life. That or it might have worked on film but as a book I just didn't find it funny or entertaining. It gets two stars instead of one only because I'm a fan of the author.

[CindySR · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

I couldn't do it, sorry Chris!

I wanted to like this fake Chris Elliot bio but I couldn't. It was too surreal. Like a string of inside jokes that leave you out in the cold, or a bad dream you can't interpret. I got a few chuckles from the first chapter but it was all downhill from there.

I loved his character Peter from Everybody Loves Raymond and I remember him vaguely from Letterman. Never saw his movie. The other reviewers mentioned his first book which they liked much better. I hope to stumble across it one day, I might like that one.

[Dave Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical!

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I didn't find it at all funny, just vaguely annoying. I thought I might like it as I find him funny in person but I don't think I laughed once.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the comedy of Chris Elliott, then this is the book for you. It's an offbeat history of Chris' career so far.

[Beth Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as absurdly endearing as 'Daddy's Boy', but certainly funny. I don't think Elliot's fans will be disappointed.

[Noah Sturdevant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea of a fictional autobiography is great.

[Brian Sendelbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be taught in schools.

[Jack Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best unauthorized autobiography I've ever read.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Chris Elliot

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Within the first minute I started the book, I was laughing. I don't know if it was the content or the fact that Elliott himself is reading it, as it should be. However, to really get good laughs out of this book, you need to be a Chris Elliott fan. I don't mean just a fan of his movies, but a fan of his shows, books, etc. The typical Elliott schtick permeates every sentence of this book, and at times it can be repetitive. Very repetitive. I almost wish the book was shorter, but I understand it's supposed to be an "autobiography", so it's hard to make it short.

I think the fact that it's NOT truly an autobiography is why I liked this book much less than his other output. I found it a bit maddening. When he would talk about a time in his life, like creating "Get a Life", it was all BS. I realized about a third of the way into the book I was genuinely interested in learning about his life and not hear all lies.

I'll still watch/read/listen to Elliott in the future, but if you aren't familiar with him, this is not where I would start. However, if you want to hear a great Letterman impersonation, listen to this book!