Limo

by Dan Jenkins

In addition to being lifelong friends, Dan Jenkins and Bud Shrake are authors with reputations for writing best-sellers like Semi-Tough, Dead Solid Perfect, and Harvey Penick's Little Red Book (which has sold more than 2.7 million copies).

Now Woodford is pleased to bring back into print this 25-year-old collaboration between the two authors -- a biting satire with a prescience even Nostradamus would admire.

Limo is a hilarious romp that foretells what television 25 years ago would turn into by the time the new millennium rolled around. The main character, Frank Mallory, is a high-powered network TV executive charged with developing primetime programming for Chambers Broadcasting Company (CBC-TV). The focus of his energies is a "breakthrough" documentary-style program called "Just Up the Street", which observes the "typical" home life of four American families. (Today, of course, the concept has been popularized by shows like "Cops", "America's Funniest Home Videos" and MTV's "The Real World".)

To make CBC's TV dream a reality, Mallory must juggle his boss (who likes to be called The Big Guy), his estranged wife (who thinks psychotherapy can explain why her husband is ambitious), and the myriad of daily personal and professional pitfalls on the inside track between corporate Manhattan and Hollywood sound stages.

Filled with Jenkins' and Shrake's signature wit and insight, Limo has something for everyone -- from fans of today's "real life"-style programming to Baby Boomers and beyond. It's pop satire at its very best. With a laugh-out-loud line on every page, the book would make -- behold the irony -- a terrific sitcom.

Jenkins and Shrake hold the reprint rights. Woodford isproud to put this book in its fold. And back into print.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Dan Jenkins was an American author and sportswriter, most notably for Sports Illustrated.

Jenkins was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School and Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played on the varsity golf team. Jenkins worked for many publications including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. In 1985 he retired from Sports Illustrated and began writing books full-time and maintained a monthly column in Golf Digest magazine.

Larry King called Jenkins "the quintessential Sports Illustrated writer" and "the best sportswriter in America." Jenkins authored numerous works and over 500 articles for Sports Illustrated. In 1972, Jenkins wrote his first novel, Semi-Tough.

His daughter, Sally Jenkins, is a sports columnist for the Washington Post.

Reviews

[Jerry Virtue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visited a good friend out in Telluride, Colorado a few months ago. Forgot a book but remembered ski goggles. After five days of sleeping on the hardwood floor for free, overpaying for lift tickets and drinking at every happy hour in town - it was time to go. My pal drove me and my brother to Montrose, where had plenty of time to kill. Boy did we kill it. New Jersey through and through, I spent the first hour wrapping my head around the idea of being able to purchase a rifle in a Walmart. Didn’t buy one, but thought about taking it for a test ride. Not sure if they allow that. A few doors down, a Goodwill had just opened up. How lucky were we? Stocked is an understatement. It’s almost as if they knew we were coming. My pal bought a painting of a pirate ship to liven up his apartment that’s only interior decorations had been empty bottles of Miller High Life and dirty clothes. I bought a $4 Colorado Rockies t-shirt

And… Limo. I knew I needed a book for the five hour flight to Newark and promised myself I’d find one at Goodwill. I picked Limo off the shelf because of the bright red text on spine and drawing on the front. A few months later (I’m a slow reader and a bad writer) I finally finished. Somewhat of a breath of fresh air if you can see past some of the “colorful” 1976 comments. I really did enjoy reading it though. I think I’ve dreamt of being as cool as Frank Mallory (a new pen name of mine). It was very funny and has somewhat inspired me to want to succeed in life. RIP to Dan Jenkins and Bud Shrake.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1978. Comic novel.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riotous read. Ahead of its time with the emphasis the reality tv look into the lives of "ordinary folks".

Quote of Note: "It's hotter than a prick stuck in a mare's ass."