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Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same Woman, the Same Dog, and a Lot Less Hair
A sports-crazed kid from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Gary David Goldberg never imagined he’d end up in Hollywood, let alone make it big there. But as a twenty-five-year-old waiter in Greenwich Village he met Diana, the love of his life; followed her out to Northern California; then moved in and never moved out. He also, without realizing it, put himself on track to found UBU Productions (named after his beloved Labrador retriever) and become a successful creator of such family sitcoms as Family Ties, Brooklyn Bridge, and Spin City.*
In Sit, Ubu, Sit, award-winning writer/producer Goldberg tells the mostly upbeat, sometimes difficult, and frequently hilarious tale of his improbable career and the people who have filled it. A love story and a rare behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, Sit, Ubu, Sit proves that it is possible to be creative and successful while holding on to your integrity, your family, and your sense of humor. *with Bill Lawrence
In Sit, Ubu, Sit, award-winning writer/producer Goldberg tells the mostly upbeat, sometimes difficult, and frequently hilarious tale of his improbable career and the people who have filled it. A love story and a rare behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, Sit, Ubu, Sit proves that it is possible to be creative and successful while holding on to your integrity, your family, and your sense of humor. *with Bill Lawrence
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 14, 2008
After living in LA and working around "the Industry",this looked like an appealing book. Once I started reading it, I found myself wanting to be this man. I wanted a hit show, I wanted Michael J. Fox to call me and cry. Sigh...
June 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this, but I’m not sure how I picked it up, other than being a fan of Goldberg’s shows. It’s structured in a really interesting way and keeps it very readable. Along with looking for info on how one gets into screenwriting, I was looking for something different from what I have been reading and hoping to reset my reading habit. Mission accomplished.
August 19, 2018
Saw this only familiar tag-line staring back at me on a visit to the library and knew right away I had to give it a read. These were the parting words on every TV show I watched growing up it seemed.
Goldberg supplies a great behind-the-scenes account of his life landing almost by accident in Hollywood.
Goldberg supplies a great behind-the-scenes account of his life landing almost by accident in Hollywood.
February 18, 2009
I think the Oregonian recommended this to me. It sounded good at the time so into the to-read Goodreads que it went. It didn't look quite as interesting when it came up in the Goodreads que, however. But I'm mostly committed to at least sampling the books I put in that que so I ordered it from the Library. I'm glad I did.
The title pretty much says it all. Reading this book, you get vignettes from different periods of the author's life: wanderinghippy, young father, daycare owner, TV writer, TV producer. I grew up hearing "Sit Ubu, sit." at the very end of Family Ties and other shows in the 80s and 90s. I did wonder who Ubu was, off and on, and now I know. In addition, Goldberg has some good stories too.
The back-and-forth vignette can be a bit confusing at times, and I agree with the statement Goldberg makes at the end of the book. Something to the effect of "memoir writers tend to cast themselves as better than they are" he hopes he hasn't done so, but guesses he has. An interesting companion to this book would be if his daughters wrote a book about their childhoods. One, the flower child and the other a successful producer's daughter. The contrasts must be amazing.
The title pretty much says it all. Reading this book, you get vignettes from different periods of the author's life: wanderinghippy, young father, daycare owner, TV writer, TV producer. I grew up hearing "Sit Ubu, sit." at the very end of Family Ties and other shows in the 80s and 90s. I did wonder who Ubu was, off and on, and now I know. In addition, Goldberg has some good stories too.
The back-and-forth vignette can be a bit confusing at times, and I agree with the statement Goldberg makes at the end of the book. Something to the effect of "memoir writers tend to cast themselves as better than they are" he hopes he hasn't done so, but guesses he has. An interesting companion to this book would be if his daughters wrote a book about their childhoods. One, the flower child and the other a successful producer's daughter. The contrasts must be amazing.
June 19, 2009
4.0 stars. Adult nonfiction. Very humorous memoir of Gary David Goldberg the creator of Family Ties, Brooklyn Bridge, and Spin City. And, of course, his beautiful black lab, Ubu. But Ubu is not the main thrust or even a secondary thrust. Goldberg starts out with his life in the year 1985 then moves back to 1972. His story moves back and forth through 20 years. The movement was not jarring or distracting for me. Goldberg has a marvelous tightly-edited style and though there is some poignant and serious moments, for the most part, it's a marvelous breezy read. It is not "dishy" or gossipy. Goldberg comes across as a pretty decent, kindhearted guy. Fairly self-effacing too. His last paragraph (in Acknowledgments) reads "Finally, I've always felt that people who write memoirs make themselves out to be better than they actually were in real life. I'm confident I have not violated that tradition." Even if you didn't like the shows, or never watched them, it's still an interesting look at show business. (And presents the business as more normal and less ruthless and dramatic as I've imagined.)
March 31, 2009
'Sit Ubu Sit' is a sweet, funny and often touching book by a man who isn't afraid to express his love and admiration for his wife, family, friends and pet dog. I found this very refreshing and I wish more celebrity autobiographies could be this enjoyable. It was also lots of fun getting the inside scoop on "Family Ties," one of my favorite TV shows. The only thing I don't like is that the chapters aren't in chronological order. One chapter you're in the '60s, then you're in the '80s, then you're in the '70s and then you're back to the '80s. I got a little confused trying to keep the events in order. Maybe Goldberg thought he would lose his audience if he didn't mention Michael J. Fox at regular intervals. He didn't need to worry. Check it out! You'll laugh, cry and hug your own "Ubu."
March 20, 2008
I was looking forward to this book, especially after the interviews I saw with Goldberg. But reading the book was like being the guest of your spouse or a good friend at a high school reunion party. You are there, you know no one, the names you don't recognize and you listen politely as everyone revels in inside jokes and stories from the past.
I didn't even finish this book. After I read about how Goldberg and his wife got together and the story behind the Ubu photograph (the tale of their times hitchhiking in Europe was fun to read), I was ready to put this down. There was too much name dropping and shop talk about the TV industry to hold my interest.
I didn't even finish this book. After I read about how Goldberg and his wife got together and the story behind the Ubu photograph (the tale of their times hitchhiking in Europe was fun to read), I was ready to put this down. There was too much name dropping and shop talk about the TV industry to hold my interest.
August 14, 2008
Sit, Ubu, Sit! Every time I hear this, I'm transported to watching tv as a child. I enjoyed the memoir, mostly because Goldberg seems to be a pretty reasonable guy. I also really liked Family Ties and enjoyed hearing about Goldberg's role in the show's creation and finding out about his relationship with Michael J. Fox. Another point I found interesting was the differing perspectives of Goldberg's daughters. One was raised on food stamps and available but struggling parents; the other with the best money can buy. It reminded me of some of the differences that my sister and I probably see between our childhoods.
May 11, 2009
This book was written so well and really made me envious of the relatonship that Gary David has with his wife, and even Michael J. Fox. I'm now inspired to rent Family Ties and Spin City, now that I know all the blood sweat and tears that went into making each one! I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves TV.
June 27, 2008
It started out funnier than it ended up. It was interesting because I know very little about how Hollywood works. (nor do I really care.)
Now I know where the closer "Sit, Ubu" Sit" comes from. Is my life better for it?
I'm glad I read it as a library book and didn't spend $$.
Now I know where the closer "Sit, Ubu" Sit" comes from. Is my life better for it?
I'm glad I read it as a library book and didn't spend $$.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2014
Library hardcover
November 28, 2023
A TV producer with no real reason for success put together this oddly-written book. What could have been fascinating insight into the production of Family Ties or Spin City is instead a mish-mash of unconnected stories about his life that change from year to year. So the first chapters are titled: 1985, 1972, 1954, 1972, 1982, 1969, 1982, etc. They are short and skip around to unconnected events, such as his trip through Europe, his minor jobs as an actor or his producing a TV show. The hyperactive writing style may be "clever" to those within the Hollywood community but it's frustrating when trying to read a cohesive narrative and allows him to hide his faults by only emphasizing things that make him look good (which he admits).
The book also fails to address anything beyond his wife, Michael J. Fox, and his precious dog, to whom Goldberg gives human attributes and intelligence. Pity anyone else that expected to see their name in this book--he leaves the entire casts out of his hit TV shows while grossly overpraising Fox. Like many other books from TV producers, this one proves that most of what you see on the screen comes from the somewhat narrow life experience of those who write or produce the shows. There are a few interesting stories here and a couple of nice Family Ties tidbits, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The main problem is that the author is a low life, a lazy do-nothing who mooched off others and society for many years. Then for reasons that are unclear he appeals to a brilliant, over-educated rich girl, who lets him stay overnight and never leave. They don't get married for 20 years, long after they've had two kids.
The couple become hippies and travel the world, totally selfish and self-centered. He has no morals and seems to think nothing of taking money from taxpayers and strangers while refusing to work. A big reason for both of the couple's hippie attitude (she doesn't visit a doctor for twenty years) is that both were spoiled brats--she from family money and parents that thought she could do no wrong, him from an older brother who protected him through school years so Goldberg never was bullied or required to contribute anything to the family.
He somehow stumbles into a career writing for sitcoms because he has no other skills or talents--and even his writing abilities aren't that great. Then he suddenly becomes famous and rich. It's bizarre. He's the opposite of what I believe life is about--he didn't work hard, didn't get education, didn't pay dues, didn't take responsibility for his own life, mooched off everyone else, was an irresponsible partner and parent...but then overnight becomes rich and a liberal elitist by working his way up while mooching off others. Not sure why he's proud of this.
The author was told by his future wife that he was "self-centered, shallow and vain." And much of that comes out in this book. He has the Hollywood-style "humility" where he says he wasn't a very good actor, is gracious enough to admit that he didn't want Michael J. Fox cast in Family Ties, fought terribly with Fox on Spin City, and then Goldberg wants us to believe that he is just a normal person. Yet in revealing his past we discover that his is totally abnormal and incredibly rebellious.
The book details quite a bit of his inappropriate behavior--immoral to some, ahead of his time to others. He brags about lying and getting physically violent with those in Hollywood. He also wasn't that good of a father, the way he describes it. It makes sense when you read that his daughter went on to produce a show like Friends that doesn't have a moral center to it. The reader will see why he is highly thought of in the Hollywood community as a thug that can get shows produced, but in middle America he is very fringe and certainly not a great role model for liberalism.
It's hard to believe one of the greatest conservative characters in the history of television was created by this man, but Goldberg admits that he created Alex Keaton to come across negatively. It was the casting of Michael J. Fox (that the author had to be talked into) that changed how America perceived the character. And really the ONLY reason for Goldberg's success.
There is an interesting section on Spin City, in which the author makes Micheal J. Fox look like a real bad guy. There is also some quasi-spirituality--such as the opening story in the book where he consults with a psychic (and continues to do throughout adulthood)! His wife is even worse, refusing to ever see a doctor before becoming deathly ill--then this dopey couple wonder why she's sick or what they did to deserve this (he went on to die of a brain tumor at age 68, so their hippie organic lifestyle didn't save them). They fit the stereotype of the selfish, ignorant, California rich radical. By the end of the book this is not a guy you want to know unless you want to ask for some of his millions--which he won't give. Goldberg spends the entire book talking about taking from others through lies and promises, but he never mentions giving anything to others beyond a few laughs.
Goldberg was accidentally successful but not good. I've rewatched Family Ties recently and it's not a well-written show. Michael J. Fox is amazing and the only reason for its success. The show's writing (which Goldberg led) is simplistic and often not funny. Fox made the material funny.
This book isn't particularly laughable either. It's just a guy who thinks that because he long ago created two successful TV shows (both starring Fox) that people will be interested in hearing about mundane things in his life such as his Frisbee-catching dog or his life in Vermont. Instead it made me realize how many untalented Hollywood people stumble into success as part of the "boys club" mentality where if you start low, sleep on people's couches, and take tough jobs that make your studio bosses look better you'll eventually rise to riches.
Read in 2019 and 2023.
The book also fails to address anything beyond his wife, Michael J. Fox, and his precious dog, to whom Goldberg gives human attributes and intelligence. Pity anyone else that expected to see their name in this book--he leaves the entire casts out of his hit TV shows while grossly overpraising Fox. Like many other books from TV producers, this one proves that most of what you see on the screen comes from the somewhat narrow life experience of those who write or produce the shows. There are a few interesting stories here and a couple of nice Family Ties tidbits, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The main problem is that the author is a low life, a lazy do-nothing who mooched off others and society for many years. Then for reasons that are unclear he appeals to a brilliant, over-educated rich girl, who lets him stay overnight and never leave. They don't get married for 20 years, long after they've had two kids.
The couple become hippies and travel the world, totally selfish and self-centered. He has no morals and seems to think nothing of taking money from taxpayers and strangers while refusing to work. A big reason for both of the couple's hippie attitude (she doesn't visit a doctor for twenty years) is that both were spoiled brats--she from family money and parents that thought she could do no wrong, him from an older brother who protected him through school years so Goldberg never was bullied or required to contribute anything to the family.
He somehow stumbles into a career writing for sitcoms because he has no other skills or talents--and even his writing abilities aren't that great. Then he suddenly becomes famous and rich. It's bizarre. He's the opposite of what I believe life is about--he didn't work hard, didn't get education, didn't pay dues, didn't take responsibility for his own life, mooched off everyone else, was an irresponsible partner and parent...but then overnight becomes rich and a liberal elitist by working his way up while mooching off others. Not sure why he's proud of this.
The author was told by his future wife that he was "self-centered, shallow and vain." And much of that comes out in this book. He has the Hollywood-style "humility" where he says he wasn't a very good actor, is gracious enough to admit that he didn't want Michael J. Fox cast in Family Ties, fought terribly with Fox on Spin City, and then Goldberg wants us to believe that he is just a normal person. Yet in revealing his past we discover that his is totally abnormal and incredibly rebellious.
The book details quite a bit of his inappropriate behavior--immoral to some, ahead of his time to others. He brags about lying and getting physically violent with those in Hollywood. He also wasn't that good of a father, the way he describes it. It makes sense when you read that his daughter went on to produce a show like Friends that doesn't have a moral center to it. The reader will see why he is highly thought of in the Hollywood community as a thug that can get shows produced, but in middle America he is very fringe and certainly not a great role model for liberalism.
It's hard to believe one of the greatest conservative characters in the history of television was created by this man, but Goldberg admits that he created Alex Keaton to come across negatively. It was the casting of Michael J. Fox (that the author had to be talked into) that changed how America perceived the character. And really the ONLY reason for Goldberg's success.
There is an interesting section on Spin City, in which the author makes Micheal J. Fox look like a real bad guy. There is also some quasi-spirituality--such as the opening story in the book where he consults with a psychic (and continues to do throughout adulthood)! His wife is even worse, refusing to ever see a doctor before becoming deathly ill--then this dopey couple wonder why she's sick or what they did to deserve this (he went on to die of a brain tumor at age 68, so their hippie organic lifestyle didn't save them). They fit the stereotype of the selfish, ignorant, California rich radical. By the end of the book this is not a guy you want to know unless you want to ask for some of his millions--which he won't give. Goldberg spends the entire book talking about taking from others through lies and promises, but he never mentions giving anything to others beyond a few laughs.
Goldberg was accidentally successful but not good. I've rewatched Family Ties recently and it's not a well-written show. Michael J. Fox is amazing and the only reason for its success. The show's writing (which Goldberg led) is simplistic and often not funny. Fox made the material funny.
This book isn't particularly laughable either. It's just a guy who thinks that because he long ago created two successful TV shows (both starring Fox) that people will be interested in hearing about mundane things in his life such as his Frisbee-catching dog or his life in Vermont. Instead it made me realize how many untalented Hollywood people stumble into success as part of the "boys club" mentality where if you start low, sleep on people's couches, and take tough jobs that make your studio bosses look better you'll eventually rise to riches.
Read in 2019 and 2023.
July 9, 2018
This book is a great memoir about moving from "rags to riches", about taking risks and being rewarded for them, and about balancing family life and a successful television writing and production career. There are also quite a few interesting bits of trivia, and I see a lot of myself in both Gary David Goldberg and Dr. Diana Meehan. Well worth the read!
December 31, 2021
Good book about Gary David Goldberg's life. I wasn't sure I would like the stories about his life before he came a writer (Family Ties was his first big show), but I did. I think it helped that he skipped around from pre-writer life to writer life, to keep it interesting. The paperback was hard to read unless you broke the spine, as the margins were too close to the middle of the book.
January 26, 2023
A delightful read for any of us that enjoyed the 60's and on. Many stories from a voice that experienced barely surviving to great wealth but through it all seeing it with a lens of presence and joy. I would not have heard about it if it had not been for another author, Claire Cook. I am sure glad I was able to discover this book and enjoy the stories of Gary David Goldberg.
June 10, 2025
Gary David Goldberg (writer and producer of TV shows--most notably Family Ties) talks about his life before he came to Hollywood and then his life working in TV. Interesting...
I picked this up on sale and because I remember this logo at the end of Family Ties. Not too bad.
I picked this up on sale and because I remember this logo at the end of Family Ties. Not too bad.
September 8, 2017
Self serving
September 16, 2017
Enjoyably read. Lost a bit of interest when Ubu went to live in the Ozarks, but enjoyed reading about Michael J Fox and many of the TV programs I watched as a young mom.
October 2, 2023
I usually don't read autobiographies but I was drawn to Gary's story. He's a writer by trade so if course or was well written, but it was also entertaining and heartwarming. I highly recommend.
May 26, 2024
An OK read, but if you are more interested in the entertainment industry, you might like it more than me. It is effectively humorous in places.
June 8, 2011
I read this book on a whim, because it looked like it might be an interesting story.
I especially enjoyed the formatting of the book - short, punchy tales that jumped around in chronology. There were some great life lessons to be gleaned from Gary's roundabout path into show business - he certainly stumbled before he found his way, and the love story between him and his wife is compelling if also a bit short in the telling.
Gary's humorous tone was nice, but it sometimes felt a bit too self-indulgent, especially when he talked about some of the politics that went into creating his very popular television shows. I enjoyed learning more about his relationship with Michael J. Fox, and how it became strained on Sin City. It was powerful to read about his wife's struggles with illness, and nice to hear of their charity work. But still, a bit too self-indulgent. There was one story when he took a stand against people trying to limit how much he spent on food for the crew. They said no more bagels and he ordered more bagels. What hilarity! What a way to stick it to the man! Fell totally flat for me.
But I did end up reading the whole book. And I feel the way this man wrote was good, even though the content got a bit messy. Definitely a good book to read in spurts, since the chapters are so short.
I especially enjoyed the formatting of the book - short, punchy tales that jumped around in chronology. There were some great life lessons to be gleaned from Gary's roundabout path into show business - he certainly stumbled before he found his way, and the love story between him and his wife is compelling if also a bit short in the telling.
Gary's humorous tone was nice, but it sometimes felt a bit too self-indulgent, especially when he talked about some of the politics that went into creating his very popular television shows. I enjoyed learning more about his relationship with Michael J. Fox, and how it became strained on Sin City. It was powerful to read about his wife's struggles with illness, and nice to hear of their charity work. But still, a bit too self-indulgent. There was one story when he took a stand against people trying to limit how much he spent on food for the crew. They said no more bagels and he ordered more bagels. What hilarity! What a way to stick it to the man! Fell totally flat for me.
But I did end up reading the whole book. And I feel the way this man wrote was good, even though the content got a bit messy. Definitely a good book to read in spurts, since the chapters are so short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2011
I generally liked this book. I liked hearing more about Goldberg's adventures with his wife and family then with his TV show career, mainly because I never watched those shows (I wasn't born yet) and also because, besides Michael J. Fox and Steven Spielberg a lot of the name dropping and episode discussing in the book was lost to me. Besides that, Goldberg is mainly funny and is a great writer. The title of the book grabbed me and made me want to read it. Gary's happy-go-lucky lifestyle and loyalty to his loved ones makes him instantly likable to any reader. This was a very easy read and worth reading out to the end. The last sentence of the book was a great close.
August 30, 2008
The creator of the TV series "Family Ties" loosely based the series on his own life story, told in this memoir. The author jumps back and forth between his writing career and his hippy days with his partner with the humor one expects from a humor writer. But first and foremost, it is a love story, both about his partner/wife and his dog, (the real Ubu of the tag seen after his show each week). Throw in a psychic, a few kids, a medical crisis, and a feud with Michael J. Fox and you have a very entertaining read.
February 9, 2014
I wish GDG had been my friend. I liked his easy-going storytelling style. Even when he had something negative to say, he said it kindly. I was a big fan of "Family Ties" so, of course, I found that whole storyline interesting. And I didn't find his mention of all the famous people he knew and worked with offensive. To me it was kind of like catching up with an old high school friend. "So, what have you been doing with your life? Wow, cool!" It didn't come off as bragging to me. Just the facts, ma'am.
August 14, 2013
I was inspired to read this after reading of the death of Gary David Goldberg. And I am glad that I did! A laugh-out-loud funny and touching memoir that gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating a sitcom. At its core, it is essentially a book about Goldberg's loves: his wife, his family, his dog, his career, and his friends. I found his very close relationship with Michael J. Fox especially interesting. I would highly recommend this to any fan of Family Ties and/or Spin City.
March 10, 2016
This was a happy birthday surprise: a quick, amusing, and enjoyable read. Another good title would be "Good Guys in Hollywood," since it is the memoir of a nice man who enjoys "kind, sweet" people and manages to find several of them where we've grown to expect subethical selfishness only.
I don't mean to poke fun. The book is emotional--you should be prepared for that--but in a refreshingly positive way. Goldberg is also funny, which really helps. He's a generous, sensitive man who has had good fortune as a writer/producer and is able to share a part of his joy in this book.
I don't mean to poke fun. The book is emotional--you should be prepared for that--but in a refreshingly positive way. Goldberg is also funny, which really helps. He's a generous, sensitive man who has had good fortune as a writer/producer and is able to share a part of his joy in this book.
May 6, 2008
Not my typical read, but I really enjoyed it!! I don't like biographies, but I found myself not able to put it down for so many different reasons. Sometimes, it was the flashback to Family Ties days and how much I loved Michael J. Fox. Sometimes, it was something he was going through that I was strangely relating to. It was definitely a book I'd recommend (especially to non-biography readers!)
June 15, 2008
I loved this book. I laughed and cried. What a great writer, though one would expect no less from the person who created Family Ties and worked on many of the other great sitcoms. I had forgotten that Tom Hanks played Alex's uncle, but when Goldberg described the scene where Alex found Tom's character, his hero, drunk in the middle of the night, it all came back. I also found interesting the comments about the relationships between Michael J. Fox and Hanks, and between Fox and Goldberg.
August 24, 2009
Love this book! I can see why the writer became so successful at writing television comedy. If you loved watching Family Ties, its definitely worth reading. Or, if you were traveling Europe in the early 70s in reaction to Nixon's presidency and the Vietnam war, as my husband was, this will take you down memory lane. I find myself chuckling throughout, a welcome relief from the recent spate of books about Nazi Germany that I have read.
February 4, 2012
I thought this book was very heartfelt. The personal anecdotes about how it took him a while to make it big are sure to give wannabe writers out there some much needed inspiration.
I really loved how he described his friendship with Michael J Fox. All to often we hear about fallings out in the media and never how they find the strength to work things out. It is a credit to both men that they put their creative differences aside.
I really loved how he described his friendship with Michael J Fox. All to often we hear about fallings out in the media and never how they find the strength to work things out. It is a credit to both men that they put their creative differences aside.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews