They Did What!?: The Funny, Weird, Wonderful, Outrageous, and Stupid Things Famous People Have Done

by Bob Fenster

Whether they're actors or singers, politicians or statesmen, famous folks have no choice but to stand squinting in the limelight as their odd and offbeat exploits become fodder for scrutiny. Author Bob Fenster has captured all their hilarious, behind-the-scenes antics in They Did What!? Consider, for The Beach Boys originally wanted to call their group the Pendletons, so they could get free shirts from the Oregon clothing manufacturer; At her wedding, movie star Lana Turner had "I love you" spelled out in pimentos in the sides of baked hams; Before they hit it big in the movies, Angelina Jolie studied to be a funeral director and Sean Connery polished coffins. Filled with hundreds of fascinating escapades and interesting idiosyncrasies, They Did What!? also looks at issues associated with fame, such as "Why do famous people marry other famous people?" and includes tongue-in-cheek lessons we can learn from celebrities, like "How to become famous and still get into heaven."

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Trivia

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2002

Reviews

[David Keep · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a book of sorts

Much like toilet paper, this book exists to make trips to the bathroom more pleasant. I hope that there is never a kindle edition of toilet paper

[SOS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book ages ago, and it's just been sitting around taking up room since then. I thought it about time I read it. So I did. I found it full of interesting and entertaining glimpses into the lives of celebrities and other famous people, living and dead. It included quotes and humorous little stories about those famous souls. I enjoyed the majority of the book very much, but I found the last forty pages or so to be nothing but filler, stuff thrown together included to fill pages. Still, the first two hundred or so pages were amusing and, at times, thought provoking.

It's a novelty book and good to pick up when you only have a few minutes and are looking for a quick distraction. Reading this in short bits worked well for me. I don't think I'd want to sit down and spend an hour with it though. Five minutes here and there made it a pleasurable read for me.

[Penni · Rating 3 out of 5]

First third of the book was interesting with quotes from celebrities and historians. Second and third parts of the book got too cute. Instead of discussing the antics of famous people, the writer tried his hand at comedy, writing what he thought was satirical bullet points about being famous. It fell flat and took away from the interesting concept of part one. You can skip part three just as well. In which case, you should be able to breeze through the first part of the book and be done with it.

[Karen A. Cardinalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

This book puts the fun in famous! Not too much physiological or "heavy" stuff. Some snark but not too much. Like a good wine the result is a good balance but if you are looking for heavy duty weird
you might be disappointed. I prefer Hollywood Babylon myself .

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

FUNNY AND UNUSUAL THINGS FAMOUS PEOPLE DID

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of mindless trivia about a lot of famous folks both current and historic. Sometimes fun--for instance, Dr Guillotin did NOT invent that head chopping device but he thought it was a good idea since it made execution more equal--you know along with brotherly and free! Egalite,Fraternite et Liberte--not necessarily in that order. Seems that before the Revolution only nobles were beheaded, the rest of the peons were hung--now EVERYONE could lose their heads. Yea, EGALITE!

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good, some bad

The first section is entertaining, even if it does contain a number of urban myths and misrepresentations.

The first section is a collection of anecdotes and stories. The second section is much less entertaining, as it stops being a collection of anecdotes. The third section is better than the second, but not as good as the first, largely because it has anecdotes, but they are secondary at best.

[Michael]

Finally finished; I highly recommend it if you need to feel more normal, sane, or entertained.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pointless celebrity trivia. It's great if you're a hardcore trivia buff, or don't want to think too much, but it wasn't for me.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great trivia about famous people past and present.