What do you think?
Rate this book
Make 'Em Laugh
The success of Steve Allen's How To Be Funny led first to the republication of that book, and now occasioned a companion volume, Make 'Em Laugh. This new how-to book about the art of comedy includes an even richer assortment of examples of the author's unique humor.
In Make 'Em Laugh, Allen laces his formal instruction with hilarious ad-libs, written jokes, TV comedy sketches, satires, song parodies, humorous essays, amusing autobiographical reminiscences, one-act plays, witty speeches, and stand-up monologues from his comedy concerts.
Noel Coward called Steve Allen the most talented man in America, and he is probably the most borrowed-from comedian of all time. The perceptive reader will recognize many of the comic ideas that Allen originated during the "Golden Age" of television comedy - ideas that are still influential in the 1990's.
If there were a college course in creating and performing comedy, Make 'Em Laugh would be the ideal textbook.
In Make 'Em Laugh, Allen laces his formal instruction with hilarious ad-libs, written jokes, TV comedy sketches, satires, song parodies, humorous essays, amusing autobiographical reminiscences, one-act plays, witty speeches, and stand-up monologues from his comedy concerts.
Noel Coward called Steve Allen the most talented man in America, and he is probably the most borrowed-from comedian of all time. The perceptive reader will recognize many of the comic ideas that Allen originated during the "Golden Age" of television comedy - ideas that are still influential in the 1990's.
If there were a college course in creating and performing comedy, Make 'Em Laugh would be the ideal textbook.
- GenresHumor
339 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1993
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Steve Allen
98 books43 followersStephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?
Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2022
I turned it back to the library after one day. I thought such an eminent entertainer would have come up with something infinitely better. Then I noticed that it came out only a few years before his death, and I got the impression he was going senile as he tried to finish the book.
Put it simply, the book is a mess. Crammed with so much material, often repeating itself, with little overall organization and a lot of irrelevant anecdotes and jokes that were dated when Studebaker was still manufacturing automobiles, even though a lot of more current comedians were mentioned. But in less than two chapters I could not go any further.
Put it simply, the book is a mess. Crammed with so much material, often repeating itself, with little overall organization and a lot of irrelevant anecdotes and jokes that were dated when Studebaker was still manufacturing automobiles, even though a lot of more current comedians were mentioned. But in less than two chapters I could not go any further.
July 13, 2013
As I noted in 2007,
'Great Allen Fun'.
This book is really a follow up to Allen's 'How to be Funny'. This book gets into the mechanics of presenting humor with more focus on Allen's experiences in the media. With my love Allen's writing method and how well this book is constructed, I highly recommend this book. Though, i would suggest starting with 'How to be funny' first.
'Great Allen Fun'.
This book is really a follow up to Allen's 'How to be Funny'. This book gets into the mechanics of presenting humor with more focus on Allen's experiences in the media. With my love Allen's writing method and how well this book is constructed, I highly recommend this book. Though, i would suggest starting with 'How to be funny' first.
February 22, 2013
Stories of how be a comedic witer and performer. Stories of how to straight men are often not noted enough and how certain sketches were appropriated from his shows to the new late night shows.
It is very interesting
It is very interesting
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews