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Maybe We'll Have You Back: The Life of a Perennial TV Guest Star
“I don’t know why Fred was never a regular on a show. Maybe because he’s annoying . . . just kidding!” -Ray RomanoFred Stoller has played the annoying schnook in just about every sitcom you’ve seen on TV-Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs, Hannah Montana, My Name Is Earl-and was even a staff writer for Seinfeld, but he’s never found a solid gig. When it comes to Hollywood, it’s a case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride, except in his case he’s always the snarky waiter, the mopey cousin, or Man #2.This hilarious and bittersweet rags to rags story of the hardest-working guy in showbiz follows Fred, who started his career as a stand-up comic, from set to set as he tries to find a permanent home for his oddball character. With candor, Fred shares stories of his great adventures pounding the Hollywood pavement, including a humiliating encounter with Billy Crystal, a disastrous one-night stand with Kathy Griffin, and plenty of awkward run-ins at craft service tables. And he always shares his ups and downs with his skeptical, yet loving, mother waiting by the phone in Brooklyn.Everyone can relate to searching for a dream job or waiting for the next big break, and will root for Fred as he weaves his way through the cutthroat world of Tinseltown.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
29 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 15, 2014
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
Poor Fred Stoller. Or maybe not.
I almost never pick up biographies, but my husband loves comedians’. I saw this one on edelweiss and read the summary to see if it was something I might want to recommend to him. The preview chapter was super readable and really funny. In a depressing, "50-years-old and never made it", kind of way. So I took down the name and moved on.
A week later, I kept coming back to the thought of Matt LeBlanc at the height of his fame telling a guest star, “Man, I’ve seen you everywhere,” or the fact that dressing like a loser has earned Stoller $33.00 in wardrobe fees as costumers just look at him off the street and go, “perfect”. That’s funny stuff. So I requested the ARC for myself, despite it being outside my usual genre. And you know what? Despite ruining my childhood with the knowledge that Harry Anderson is an asshole, I really loved it.
Stoller relives his early home life with an overbearing Jewish mother and a functionally-mute father, breaking into the stand-up business, (“You’re so depressed, how are you going to make people laugh?”,) moving to LA, acting, switching to writing, switching back to acting. voice-over work, and on to his webseries and own movie. Each time in his life is told fondly, (OK, maybe not Seinfeld,) with jokes and a lot of name dropping. He comes off as happy as he can about where his life is and how his career has gone, which makes me happy, though I hope he does get that permanent spot on a sitcom soon. I’m rooting for him.
It does get a bit self-deprecating with the, “I never found a home!” theme, (dude, I hate to tell you this but 200 episodes of Handy Manny is so a home and more of one than some sitcom stars get, ) and towards the end it does start to devolve into a list of sitcoms with an anecdote or two for each. Still, Stoller is charming and those anecdotes are pretty funny, which kept the story from lapsing into a total pity-party. Though if anyone deserves to throw one, it may be the guy who didn’t get the part of a “Fred Stoller” type in an ad.
Poor Fred Stoller. Or maybe not.
I almost never pick up biographies, but my husband loves comedians’. I saw this one on edelweiss and read the summary to see if it was something I might want to recommend to him. The preview chapter was super readable and really funny. In a depressing, "50-years-old and never made it", kind of way. So I took down the name and moved on.
A week later, I kept coming back to the thought of Matt LeBlanc at the height of his fame telling a guest star, “Man, I’ve seen you everywhere,” or the fact that dressing like a loser has earned Stoller $33.00 in wardrobe fees as costumers just look at him off the street and go, “perfect”. That’s funny stuff. So I requested the ARC for myself, despite it being outside my usual genre. And you know what? Despite ruining my childhood with the knowledge that Harry Anderson is an asshole, I really loved it.
Stoller relives his early home life with an overbearing Jewish mother and a functionally-mute father, breaking into the stand-up business, (“You’re so depressed, how are you going to make people laugh?”,) moving to LA, acting, switching to writing, switching back to acting. voice-over work, and on to his webseries and own movie. Each time in his life is told fondly, (OK, maybe not Seinfeld,) with jokes and a lot of name dropping. He comes off as happy as he can about where his life is and how his career has gone, which makes me happy, though I hope he does get that permanent spot on a sitcom soon. I’m rooting for him.
It does get a bit self-deprecating with the, “I never found a home!” theme, (dude, I hate to tell you this but 200 episodes of Handy Manny is so a home and more of one than some sitcom stars get, ) and towards the end it does start to devolve into a list of sitcoms with an anecdote or two for each. Still, Stoller is charming and those anecdotes are pretty funny, which kept the story from lapsing into a total pity-party. Though if anyone deserves to throw one, it may be the guy who didn’t get the part of a “Fred Stoller” type in an ad.
July 4, 2013
Wonderful inside look at the life of a TV guest star. There are plenty chuckles and a few laugh-out-louds in this memoir by Fred Stoller, who we've all seen or heard on shows like Friends, Seinfeld, King of Queens, Everyone Loves Raymond, The Nanny ... and many, many more. The life of a guest star can be lonely, like being the new kid at school over and over and over again.
This should be required reading for anyone with stars in their eyes, hoping against hope to become the next big Hollywood success story. One telling vignette involved the author working on a short-run series called Vinnie & Bobby with a pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc. Although LeBlanc was a headliner in that sitcom, just months later he and Stoller were both auditioning for the same regional (not national) TV commercial.
Although the warts of a few famous names are brushed upon, this is no hatchet job (although one suspects the author could have gone that way, if it wasn't totally against his nature). Instead, Mr. Stoller goes out of his way to mention the big names who helped him in the business or who made him feel comfortable on their sets: Ray Romano, Kevin James, Fran Drescher and Treat Williams, to name just a few.
There are plenty of behind the scenes peeks at some of TV's biggest shows, including Seinfeld where Mr. Stoller was both a writer for one season and a guest star. I found fascinating the impact that show had on the rest of the business, as the actors on other shows the author worked on seem to always want to know what was happening with Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.
A lot of fun, I highly recommend this great read.
This should be required reading for anyone with stars in their eyes, hoping against hope to become the next big Hollywood success story. One telling vignette involved the author working on a short-run series called Vinnie & Bobby with a pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc. Although LeBlanc was a headliner in that sitcom, just months later he and Stoller were both auditioning for the same regional (not national) TV commercial.
Although the warts of a few famous names are brushed upon, this is no hatchet job (although one suspects the author could have gone that way, if it wasn't totally against his nature). Instead, Mr. Stoller goes out of his way to mention the big names who helped him in the business or who made him feel comfortable on their sets: Ray Romano, Kevin James, Fran Drescher and Treat Williams, to name just a few.
There are plenty of behind the scenes peeks at some of TV's biggest shows, including Seinfeld where Mr. Stoller was both a writer for one season and a guest star. I found fascinating the impact that show had on the rest of the business, as the actors on other shows the author worked on seem to always want to know what was happening with Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.
A lot of fun, I highly recommend this great read.
September 25, 2017
Fred Stoller rocks! Was nice reading about his experiences on the Sitcoms he appeared in but the book got repetitive and tedious making the second half of the book difficult to get through.
November 4, 2018
The spirit of this book is fun. Character actor Fred Stoller takes the reader through his up and down career path as a seasoned Hollywood bit player. With a clear sense of self and great honesty about Hollywood, his stories are fun and entertaining. Stoller’s varied and numerous television guest appearances give him a unique and down-to-earth perspective. His writing style is informal and conversational, with a humorous and positive slant. His list of television credits and co-stars is impressive.
April 22, 2014
I was a little too hard on Fred Stoller's Amazon Kindle MY SEINFELD YEAR, which I think I wanted to be something more and other than what it was, but I really like Stoller's literary and comic voice, and I really enjoyed MAYBE WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK. It's a fascinating glimpse into the way television works from the perspective of a perpetual day player and guest star. This is a light, engaging and highly recommended read; it's sort of the literary equivalent of The A.V. Club's Random Roles, in book form.
September 7, 2013
Fantastic read about show business. Fred is a super funny stand up comedian and his outstanding humor is reflected in his book. Couldn't put it down.
December 23, 2025
When I worked at a bakery in LA, Fred Stoller came in like 2 or 3 times. I recognized him instantly, but had no idea his name. When he left, I turned to my coworker and was like “That was that guy!! The depressed weird guy on every TV show from Nick and Disney! He’s been on everything!” I also knew he was a voice actor from Bob’s Burgers and Over the Garden Wall (talk about iconic) because his voice was so distinctive. But also… I had no idea how to figure out who he was. Was I just supposed to Google “middle aged man depressed actor Disney Nickelodeon.” I vaguely had the name “Fred” in my mind, but didn’t know if that was enough to go on.
That didn’t work… but then the next time he came in, he left his credit card behind, so I looked and saw his name there. Then, when he called to get it back, I answered the phone and didn’t know whether it’d be weird to say “Oh you left your card” just because I recognized his voice. And when he came back to get it, he didn’t have to say who he was. He maybe could tell I was one of those Late-Millennial-Early-Gen-Z kids who knew him as the Foam Finger Guy.
Mainly though, I was fascinated by how many shows he’d been on, always a guest star, but also iconic. So this was an interesting read, pulling back the curtain on what being a working actor in LA is like when you haven’t hit the “A-list.” I definitely thought he was “A-list” or had “made it,” but this memoir told a different story! So, very interesting.
Also appreciated how he didn’t say he did it all for some “love of the craft,” but rather just because he… wanted a job and a life and an income doing something he was good at.
That didn’t work… but then the next time he came in, he left his credit card behind, so I looked and saw his name there. Then, when he called to get it back, I answered the phone and didn’t know whether it’d be weird to say “Oh you left your card” just because I recognized his voice. And when he came back to get it, he didn’t have to say who he was. He maybe could tell I was one of those Late-Millennial-Early-Gen-Z kids who knew him as the Foam Finger Guy.
Mainly though, I was fascinated by how many shows he’d been on, always a guest star, but also iconic. So this was an interesting read, pulling back the curtain on what being a working actor in LA is like when you haven’t hit the “A-list.” I definitely thought he was “A-list” or had “made it,” but this memoir told a different story! So, very interesting.
Also appreciated how he didn’t say he did it all for some “love of the craft,” but rather just because he… wanted a job and a life and an income doing something he was good at.
February 16, 2020
Actor and comedian Fred Stoller serves up an engaging glimpse into life as a performer who's always the bridesmaid but never the bride. Or, as he puts it in the subtitle, someone who's a "Perennial TV Guest Star."
He's gotten countless small gigs and guest spots, but never struck oil as a series regular in a hit show early in its run (or even a modestly successful show -- he did land regular spots on a few series, but probably nothing you've ever heard of because they were gone before you could say "New issue of TV Guide"). He got or nearly got regular spots on a few higher profile shows, but it always came just before the series ended. This is not the guy to blow on your dice for luck at Vegas, 'cause he's got none to spare.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Ray Chase. I found it a worthwhile use of a precious Audible credit, but it was unusual that Stoller didn't read the book himself as most actors/comics do. Whatever his reason for passing on narrator duties, before you're far into the eight-hour listen you'll start thinking of that voice in your ear as belonging to Stoller and it won't be an issue.
While this book recounts many funny stories, don't expect a non-stop laugh riot just because it's by a comedian. Stoller openly details his struggles in the industry as well as his own anxiety and periods of loneliness. It's a compelling look at life in the entertainment business for someone who's always just successful enough to not give it up, but never succeeding enough to stop constantly struggling to get by. For a book about life in comedy, the tone can be downbeat at times. That's fine by me; it's his reality and he's willing to open up about it.
I've known several comedians, and most were road comics that, while talented and with a modest fan base, never built up the level of recognition that Stoller has, and even his level isn't high enough to mean the security of a few big paydays here and there. It's a brutal lifestyle of constantly working it, never making much money, and trying your heart out for a big break (many comics tend to swing between anxiety and depression, cut with a healthy ego to balance it all out).
If you're interested in an inside glimpse of the entertainment industry, you'll enjoy this book (or audiobook, as the case may be). Sitcom fans can find a lot here about life on set, at least from the viewpoint of a lowly guest star. The asides about working with stars of several hit sitcoms will satisfy some curiosity as well. And if you recall seeing Stoller on TV for years and years, from stand-up sets to guest appearances, this book offers plenty of details on what life was like for him off camera while trying constantly to get back on camera.
He's gotten countless small gigs and guest spots, but never struck oil as a series regular in a hit show early in its run (or even a modestly successful show -- he did land regular spots on a few series, but probably nothing you've ever heard of because they were gone before you could say "New issue of TV Guide"). He got or nearly got regular spots on a few higher profile shows, but it always came just before the series ended. This is not the guy to blow on your dice for luck at Vegas, 'cause he's got none to spare.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Ray Chase. I found it a worthwhile use of a precious Audible credit, but it was unusual that Stoller didn't read the book himself as most actors/comics do. Whatever his reason for passing on narrator duties, before you're far into the eight-hour listen you'll start thinking of that voice in your ear as belonging to Stoller and it won't be an issue.
While this book recounts many funny stories, don't expect a non-stop laugh riot just because it's by a comedian. Stoller openly details his struggles in the industry as well as his own anxiety and periods of loneliness. It's a compelling look at life in the entertainment business for someone who's always just successful enough to not give it up, but never succeeding enough to stop constantly struggling to get by. For a book about life in comedy, the tone can be downbeat at times. That's fine by me; it's his reality and he's willing to open up about it.
I've known several comedians, and most were road comics that, while talented and with a modest fan base, never built up the level of recognition that Stoller has, and even his level isn't high enough to mean the security of a few big paydays here and there. It's a brutal lifestyle of constantly working it, never making much money, and trying your heart out for a big break (many comics tend to swing between anxiety and depression, cut with a healthy ego to balance it all out).
If you're interested in an inside glimpse of the entertainment industry, you'll enjoy this book (or audiobook, as the case may be). Sitcom fans can find a lot here about life on set, at least from the viewpoint of a lowly guest star. The asides about working with stars of several hit sitcoms will satisfy some curiosity as well. And if you recall seeing Stoller on TV for years and years, from stand-up sets to guest appearances, this book offers plenty of details on what life was like for him off camera while trying constantly to get back on camera.
June 8, 2013
Actor/comedian Stoller expands upon his Kindle single My Seinfeld Year to cover his entire career as a perennial guest star. To recap my review of the previous eBook (which serves here as the Seinfeld chapters), I've pasted that review:
"Fred Stoller strikes me as one of those actor you don't know by name. You see his face, or hear his voice, though, and you snap your fingers and say, "Yeah, that guy." I remember him mainly through "Everybody Loves Raymond" as the cousin who gets Robert sucked into that happy cult, and as the voice of the wrench on "Handy Manny" (the price of having a pre-schooler). I hadn't realized he worked on one of my favorite shows, "Seinfeld", as a writer. Not only that, he wrote one of the more memorable episodes - "The Soup," where Jerry accepts a new suit in exchange for buying a friend a meal...that turns out to be several small meals.
What I found most interesting about this Kindle single is that it provides an fascinating perspective on how sitcom writing works - at least for one particular show. It is actually more competitive than I had realized, and even if you manage to get a script accepted there's no guarantee your work will survive massive rewrites. I wish this story could have been a bit longer, it left me wanting more to read."
Building on the last sentence of that review, I was happy to see Stoller did just that. Some might think this book reads more like a cautionary tale than as a memoir - when you realize a small percentage of SAG members work regularly, you're not certain whether or not you should feel bad for Stoller. At least he's working, right? Well, I suppose as an author I can sort of relate, considering how I continue to work toward my equivalent brass ring (a major book deal for me, a lead in a sitcom for Fred). Maybe one day we'll both get lucky.
I enjoyed this book, though. My next novel features a stand-up comedian as a major character, and I liked reading a story from a comic's perspective. I feel, too, as though I know a little more about how Hollywood works.
I'd like to add my two cents about one chapter (bit spoilerish) where Laurie Metcalf is challenged to name on guest star actor who appeared on Roseanne and went on to become famous. She couldn't do it (people like Martin Mull didn't count because he was already established). I don't when she was asked, but there was one - Joseph Gordon-Levitt. So there's hope for Fred yet.
"Fred Stoller strikes me as one of those actor you don't know by name. You see his face, or hear his voice, though, and you snap your fingers and say, "Yeah, that guy." I remember him mainly through "Everybody Loves Raymond" as the cousin who gets Robert sucked into that happy cult, and as the voice of the wrench on "Handy Manny" (the price of having a pre-schooler). I hadn't realized he worked on one of my favorite shows, "Seinfeld", as a writer. Not only that, he wrote one of the more memorable episodes - "The Soup," where Jerry accepts a new suit in exchange for buying a friend a meal...that turns out to be several small meals.
What I found most interesting about this Kindle single is that it provides an fascinating perspective on how sitcom writing works - at least for one particular show. It is actually more competitive than I had realized, and even if you manage to get a script accepted there's no guarantee your work will survive massive rewrites. I wish this story could have been a bit longer, it left me wanting more to read."
Building on the last sentence of that review, I was happy to see Stoller did just that. Some might think this book reads more like a cautionary tale than as a memoir - when you realize a small percentage of SAG members work regularly, you're not certain whether or not you should feel bad for Stoller. At least he's working, right? Well, I suppose as an author I can sort of relate, considering how I continue to work toward my equivalent brass ring (a major book deal for me, a lead in a sitcom for Fred). Maybe one day we'll both get lucky.
I enjoyed this book, though. My next novel features a stand-up comedian as a major character, and I liked reading a story from a comic's perspective. I feel, too, as though I know a little more about how Hollywood works.
I'd like to add my two cents about one chapter (bit spoilerish) where Laurie Metcalf is challenged to name on guest star actor who appeared on Roseanne and went on to become famous. She couldn't do it (people like Martin Mull didn't count because he was already established). I don't when she was asked, but there was one - Joseph Gordon-Levitt. So there's hope for Fred yet.
January 11, 2018
Fred Stoller is certainly not a name you will know, but if you've watched just about any TV comedy in the past 20 years, you've probably seen him.
Stoller is a TV guest star, or as he puts it, a perennial TV guest star. He's a professional sad sack, with a nasal voice, scrawny physique and a perpetually put-upon air. He's also very funny — but somehow not funny enough, or appealing enough, to become a series regular. However, Stoller has made a living as a guest star, usually just once, on (ready for this?) Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, The Nanny, Dharma and Greg, Scrubs, Suddenly Susan, Amen, Empty Nest, The King of Queens, My Name is Earl, Mad About You, Norm, The Drew Carey Show, and dozens of others you've probably never seen or heard of. His resume includes some 70 TV shows. But he's never made it big.
Stoller shares stories of the humiliating auditioning process, which is often required for even a two or three line performance. He includes backstage scuttlebutt on some favorite (and less favorite) shows; for the most part he doesn't burn any bridges (he's still a working actor, after all) but the wretched Kathy Griffin comes off as exactly as awful as I would expect. The best chapter is about what should have been his career highlight, a year as a staff writer on Seinfeld. It was not, however, a highlight for him.
If you enjoy TV, particularly TV comedy, and you have a fascination on how the system works, Stoller provides an eye-opening, very funny and often quite sad look at the struggles of a talented guy who somehow doesn't quite "make it", but in the end comes to be satisfied with his career. A breezy, very entertaining read.
Stoller is a TV guest star, or as he puts it, a perennial TV guest star. He's a professional sad sack, with a nasal voice, scrawny physique and a perpetually put-upon air. He's also very funny — but somehow not funny enough, or appealing enough, to become a series regular. However, Stoller has made a living as a guest star, usually just once, on (ready for this?) Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, The Nanny, Dharma and Greg, Scrubs, Suddenly Susan, Amen, Empty Nest, The King of Queens, My Name is Earl, Mad About You, Norm, The Drew Carey Show, and dozens of others you've probably never seen or heard of. His resume includes some 70 TV shows. But he's never made it big.
Stoller shares stories of the humiliating auditioning process, which is often required for even a two or three line performance. He includes backstage scuttlebutt on some favorite (and less favorite) shows; for the most part he doesn't burn any bridges (he's still a working actor, after all) but the wretched Kathy Griffin comes off as exactly as awful as I would expect. The best chapter is about what should have been his career highlight, a year as a staff writer on Seinfeld. It was not, however, a highlight for him.
If you enjoy TV, particularly TV comedy, and you have a fascination on how the system works, Stoller provides an eye-opening, very funny and often quite sad look at the struggles of a talented guy who somehow doesn't quite "make it", but in the end comes to be satisfied with his career. A breezy, very entertaining read.
August 24, 2016
I’m not typically interested in celebrity insider books or really celebrity memoirs in general, but they are also not typically written by Fred Stoller. So, like probably thousands of people, I knew who Fred Stoller was before I ever knew his name was Fred Stoller. As a child of the 90s, I was exposed to him countless times in everything from Dumb and Dumber to “Friends” to “Seinfeld” and countless other shows. He was just one of those guys, always popping up in everything, who was always funny. Late last year I got into “The Carson Podcast” hosted by comedian Mark Malkoff, and one of his guests was Fred Stoller. The name rang a bell, and I Googled him and, lo and behold, it was “that guy” from every TV show I grew up watching. He was great on the Carson podcast so I went searching for old stand-up clips on Youtube. All hilarious. So, naturally, I wanted to check out his book that they plugged on the show, and I am really glad I did. This book is absolutely packed with great jokes, show business insight and amazing and funny stories from a journeyman guest star. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2017
The Thrillseeker himself, Fred Stoller tells all, or well, maybe not so much, or maybe too much, well...
This was a great memoir insofar as it is not from a huge celebrity, but lives on the fringes, and has been in countless shows that we all know and love, but isn't a power player. He has made a living doing what he loves, one would hope, and decided to tell us all about it.
Throughout this book, his persona shines through, or peeks out as it were, and it is at times fascinating, funny, moving, and a bit bittersweet. It was great to read this book after I read his two other singles, and the only repetitive item was about a chapter and a half that was used in Seinfeld Year.
One may want to feel sorry that the author never had the huge breakout, and while that would have been great I think that Stoller is ok with what he has got, and as long as these books keep coming, so is this fan. Though a nice new comedy special might be nice too.
This was a great memoir insofar as it is not from a huge celebrity, but lives on the fringes, and has been in countless shows that we all know and love, but isn't a power player. He has made a living doing what he loves, one would hope, and decided to tell us all about it.
Throughout this book, his persona shines through, or peeks out as it were, and it is at times fascinating, funny, moving, and a bit bittersweet. It was great to read this book after I read his two other singles, and the only repetitive item was about a chapter and a half that was used in Seinfeld Year.
One may want to feel sorry that the author never had the huge breakout, and while that would have been great I think that Stoller is ok with what he has got, and as long as these books keep coming, so is this fan. Though a nice new comedy special might be nice too.
May 27, 2014
An at-times funny look at life as a constant guest star, this book gets repetitive at points, and the sad-sackiness of the author is so overwhelming that it must just be part of the schtick (...right?). Weirdly, Mr. Stoller does not read the audiobook himself; not sure if that would be an improvement or not, but boy was this narrator whiny. All that having been said, there were some genuinely funny bits and I appreciated hearing bits of gossip about everyone's favorite 90s sitcoms (sorry, kids, if you were born after 1990 this book isn't for you).
Apparently the book was developed out of the author's kindle single My Seinfeld Year; maybe that's the best way to take this in, especially if you're a Seinfeld fan.
Apparently the book was developed out of the author's kindle single My Seinfeld Year; maybe that's the best way to take this in, especially if you're a Seinfeld fan.
December 9, 2013
I loved this book. Fred Stoller is a name you might not recognize but he's the guy you've seen on many popular sitcoms and yell "I know that guy!" when you see him. His unique take on agents, auditions, stars of sitcoms you know and love (Drew Carey, Matt LeBlanc etc) are so dishy I couldn't put the book down. This is a must read for anyone planning a life in Hollywood who has a desire to act. But even if you're not planning a life in Hollywood, you'll love this book.
Fred's stories of his non-supportive mom are just hilarious. His stories of his faux-pas are also hilarious, even though it felt wrong to laugh at them. All he wants is a regular spot on a sitcom. Come on Hollywood, give it to him! He's a very funny guy.
Fred's stories of his non-supportive mom are just hilarious. His stories of his faux-pas are also hilarious, even though it felt wrong to laugh at them. All he wants is a regular spot on a sitcom. Come on Hollywood, give it to him! He's a very funny guy.
February 24, 2018
I remember first seeing Fred Stoller on Comedy Central doing stand up in the '90's. I thought he was hilarious and I would see him guest starring on shows and wonder why he had never done anything big (I think I assumed he was still doing stand up). On twitter he was offering autographed copies of his book for twenty bucks so I went ahead and got one. I'm glad I did! I read this in a day, and basically couldn't put it down. It made me laugh out loud, chuckle and actually get misty eyed a little bit.
You may have to be a fan of his to enjoy it, but if you are you will love it.
You may have to be a fan of his to enjoy it, but if you are you will love it.
September 30, 2013
I ended up liking this book more than I'd thought I would, once Fred got out of NYC and started working in L. A. Basically, he had a truly bad run of luck at getting hired as a regular cast member on series after series, even though he got along with his co-workers and bosses (pretty much). Still, he just kept on trying and now he's known by sight among American viewers from his many roles anyway! He's good at expressing frustration without any self-pity. Recommended.
June 12, 2019
Fred Stoller is a That Guy actor--not famous, not recognizable on the street, but you've seen him in a million TV shows as a waiter or a dog walker with a couple of lines. I enjoyed reading his memoir, and he's not afraid to name names, like Billy Crystal is kind of a dick, and some shows don't feed the entire cast.
December 22, 2017
Love Fred
He's a regular guy who won't accept no for an answer. A lot of maybes; but never a no! Love his books.
He's a regular guy who won't accept no for an answer. A lot of maybes; but never a no! Love his books.
February 2, 2019
Well-written story of a lesser star on television. Honest and revealing and surprisingly entertaining considering the events tend toward the ordinary.
May 30, 2020
Hey it's a memoir by that one guy from that show.
April 26, 2020
Really weak, negative book from a low-rung, sad-sack TV guest star. I'm not familiar with Stoller's work because his parts are almost always just a couple of lines, but I love to read about TV history. This is a bare-bones approach to his career with few actual stories of his time on sets. He spends more time talking about craft services food than anything else, and uses way too much of the book to compain about his career and himself.
I went online to check him out and it's unclear how he even got cast for sitcoms--he lacked much talent. I'm unsure how this even got published, there are so few interesting career stories. It would e like asking a mailman to share some of his stories from being on the route for 30 years--he may have a couple but beyond that it's pretty dull.
Stoller does, however, deliver solid negative opinions of a few co-stars. He really slams Kathy Griffin big time (he had even dated her once), as well as revealing the meanness of Larry David and Caroline Rhea. Jerry Seinfeld and Bob Saget don't come off real well either. The author equally praises the few that were decent to him, including Treat Williams.
What's most odd, beyond the chapter devoted to his eating alone in restaurants (seriously!), is that he glosses over many of the shows he was on with only a sentence or two. And after checking his imdb credits, realized that he doesn't even mention some of the movies or TV shows he has been in.
So I'm unsure why this book was written. There's not one funny thing in it other than a page of bad jokes from his time on a cruise ship, odd for a stand-up comedian. It may have made a good magazine article with tips for those wanting to get into acting. But 260 pages of neurotic self-flagellation is too much negativity. I can see why so few shows had him back.
I went online to check him out and it's unclear how he even got cast for sitcoms--he lacked much talent. I'm unsure how this even got published, there are so few interesting career stories. It would e like asking a mailman to share some of his stories from being on the route for 30 years--he may have a couple but beyond that it's pretty dull.
Stoller does, however, deliver solid negative opinions of a few co-stars. He really slams Kathy Griffin big time (he had even dated her once), as well as revealing the meanness of Larry David and Caroline Rhea. Jerry Seinfeld and Bob Saget don't come off real well either. The author equally praises the few that were decent to him, including Treat Williams.
What's most odd, beyond the chapter devoted to his eating alone in restaurants (seriously!), is that he glosses over many of the shows he was on with only a sentence or two. And after checking his imdb credits, realized that he doesn't even mention some of the movies or TV shows he has been in.
So I'm unsure why this book was written. There's not one funny thing in it other than a page of bad jokes from his time on a cruise ship, odd for a stand-up comedian. It may have made a good magazine article with tips for those wanting to get into acting. But 260 pages of neurotic self-flagellation is too much negativity. I can see why so few shows had him back.
November 12, 2020
Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. There’s not a huge audience, I’d imagine, for this type of book.
Fred Stoller is, like the title says, the perennial guest-star on all your favorite shows. He’s been around seemingly forever playing that quirky guy with the distinctive voice.
The book itself was a little drawn out. He wrote some tidbits about this person or that person. Kathy Griffin was a jerk to him (no real surprise there) Ray Romano was nice to him. (Again, not a shocking revelation). Truly, there were many surprises and Fred doesn’t seem like the type of guy that would write a book full of gossip just to do so. One, he seems too nice, and two; he still needs to work!
Ray Chase did a pretty excellent job of narration. You could tell he was channeling Stoller without so much doing a full-on impression.
A worthy listen that wasn’t too heavy, although at time one does feel sorry for Fred and really hopes he can land that long awaited part as a regular on a hit show. I’m pulling for you, Fred!
Fred Stoller is, like the title says, the perennial guest-star on all your favorite shows. He’s been around seemingly forever playing that quirky guy with the distinctive voice.
The book itself was a little drawn out. He wrote some tidbits about this person or that person. Kathy Griffin was a jerk to him (no real surprise there) Ray Romano was nice to him. (Again, not a shocking revelation). Truly, there were many surprises and Fred doesn’t seem like the type of guy that would write a book full of gossip just to do so. One, he seems too nice, and two; he still needs to work!
Ray Chase did a pretty excellent job of narration. You could tell he was channeling Stoller without so much doing a full-on impression.
A worthy listen that wasn’t too heavy, although at time one does feel sorry for Fred and really hopes he can land that long awaited part as a regular on a hit show. I’m pulling for you, Fred!
August 7, 2021
I had heard Stoller read a couple of chapters from this book on Audible a while back, and found it interesting and entertaining (the chapters focused on his year as a writer for Seinfeld). More recently, I happened to find the book “free” online and it turns out the whole book is pretty interesting. It gives you a sense of what life is like for a perennial TV guest star. Stoller is not a superstar, but rather made a career of guest appearances on sitcoms. He was the annoying waiter who appeared once in the 7 year run of a series. Or the boyfriend who appears 2-3 times one season. Fred Stoller made a career of these parts, all while hoping for and pursuing his big break. It’s compelling storytelling. If you want a peak behind the curtain provided by an admittedly neurotic character, this is worth your time. It isn’t too terribly long (less than 300 pages) and is a quick read, but interesting. I found the return on investment worth my time (again, I got it for free!).
June 7, 2023
🚨 REVIEW 🚨
3/5 🌟 for this body of work from a Perrenial TV Guest Star. If you have seen or watched television in the last decade, then you have seen this character before…and if you are sap for sitcoms/comedies like me then you have definitely seen this guy before & a lot. What drew me to this #audiobook was curiosity. He tells his life story and details what it’s like to, simply put “always be the bridesmaid, but never the bride” in Hollywood. He has featured in some of Hollywoods best sitcoms and movies as a side character/ guest star. His CV is impressive. But that also has typecast him but has led to a life of which he is proud (and that’s all we can ask for in this life). I would have personally enjoyed it more had he read the #book himself, but #memoir nonetheless. Also, this book served as a journey to fostering SELF-LOVE & SELF-ACCEPTANCE, which might not be an easy journey for most, but it sure is worthwhile.
3/5 🌟 for this body of work from a Perrenial TV Guest Star. If you have seen or watched television in the last decade, then you have seen this character before…and if you are sap for sitcoms/comedies like me then you have definitely seen this guy before & a lot. What drew me to this #audiobook was curiosity. He tells his life story and details what it’s like to, simply put “always be the bridesmaid, but never the bride” in Hollywood. He has featured in some of Hollywoods best sitcoms and movies as a side character/ guest star. His CV is impressive. But that also has typecast him but has led to a life of which he is proud (and that’s all we can ask for in this life). I would have personally enjoyed it more had he read the #book himself, but #memoir nonetheless. Also, this book served as a journey to fostering SELF-LOVE & SELF-ACCEPTANCE, which might not be an easy journey for most, but it sure is worthwhile.
May 23, 2024
Genuinely funny and warm without being too mean or too sentimental. It's also honest without being overly gossipy or petty.
This is an interesting first-person take on a level of celebrity just below the average person's radar. Fred Stoller has appeared in dozens of successful sitcoms and a handful of hit movies. Just never as the lead. Or as the lead's spouse, sidekick or sibling.
He is the ultimate "guest star." He gets cast for a specific type of New Yorker and he does a great job with it. He's also a good stand-up comedian.
A lot of this book expresses the frustration of never "winning the lottery", that is to get a long, steady run as a regular cast member of a show. But he's worked a lot and made a lot of interesting friends.
And it turns out, he can write! The book is not just a string of show biz anecdotes. It's a portrait of a lonely person struggling to accept the good in his life, while still struggling for a little bit more.
This is an interesting first-person take on a level of celebrity just below the average person's radar. Fred Stoller has appeared in dozens of successful sitcoms and a handful of hit movies. Just never as the lead. Or as the lead's spouse, sidekick or sibling.
He is the ultimate "guest star." He gets cast for a specific type of New Yorker and he does a great job with it. He's also a good stand-up comedian.
A lot of this book expresses the frustration of never "winning the lottery", that is to get a long, steady run as a regular cast member of a show. But he's worked a lot and made a lot of interesting friends.
And it turns out, he can write! The book is not just a string of show biz anecdotes. It's a portrait of a lonely person struggling to accept the good in his life, while still struggling for a little bit more.
Read
September 26, 2023I listened to this book off and on through the course of this year and it's interesting if you know Stollers work and want to hear about his experiences on shows you know. Otherwise it's kinda sad and would kill any dreams of acting fame someone reading this might have. I found it odd that the narrator of the audible version wasn't Stoller but a look alike enough that even though I searched for clips of Stoller on tv while listening to it, I didn't notice the narrator was a different person until the credits.
Stoller says he is most recognized by fans that knew him from guest appearances on kids shows and I am one of those fans. I remember him from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide the most clearly!!
Stoller says he is most recognized by fans that knew him from guest appearances on kids shows and I am one of those fans. I remember him from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide the most clearly!!
December 25, 2023
Decent book to see how tough life can be in showbiz. To some extent his misery is a bit self inflicted. The guy refused to change or improve himself. At Seinfeld, he couldn’t come up with stories outside of his few life experiences. At Norm, he burned bridges because he couldn’t let a jacket go.
Talking about his date experience and how he slept with Kathy Griffin seemed to come from a place of envy. Actually he talked about most famous people with envy. Seemed somewhat incel behavior who loves to say woe is me. His main point was I have one trick that is my weird natural personality. But why am I not more famous. **shocked pikachu fave**
His tenacity got him opportunities and his refusal to improve meant he couldn’t be the success he believes he deserves.
Talking about his date experience and how he slept with Kathy Griffin seemed to come from a place of envy. Actually he talked about most famous people with envy. Seemed somewhat incel behavior who loves to say woe is me. His main point was I have one trick that is my weird natural personality. But why am I not more famous. **shocked pikachu fave**
His tenacity got him opportunities and his refusal to improve meant he couldn’t be the success he believes he deserves.
June 28, 2020
As an actor Fred has been around for decades, mostly in bit parts and he's also a funny, skilled writer. He describes the soul sucking experience show business can be, hopping from show to show, never finding a home. He talks about having friends & family point out he should get his own show, as if the only reason he doesn't is that is hadn't occurred to him! The most interesting parts, to me, were descriptions of the casts and the environments of shows most of us know only from watching TV. Which sitcoms, and stars were supportive, which weren't?: it's all here. This is a quick read and absolutely worth the time.
March 5, 2021
Fred's a quirky guy! To say the least. I've always enjoyed his parts in anything I've seen him in. Of course the classics for me are Seinfeld and Scrubs.
I liked his stories about his tons of guest star roles. They were quick and easy reads. But what this book really needed was some more personal tidbits thrown in between all those stories. There's the odd stuff here and there about some blind dates, parents, etc, but I wanted more. When he did get into some deeper thoughts about his mom at the end that was the best part.
Otherwise it gets into a cycle of "I did this show...(story). Then I did this show...(story)." Just would have liked a little more of the day to day Fred. 😁
I liked his stories about his tons of guest star roles. They were quick and easy reads. But what this book really needed was some more personal tidbits thrown in between all those stories. There's the odd stuff here and there about some blind dates, parents, etc, but I wanted more. When he did get into some deeper thoughts about his mom at the end that was the best part.
Otherwise it gets into a cycle of "I did this show...(story). Then I did this show...(story)." Just would have liked a little more of the day to day Fred. 😁
February 22, 2023
I have seen Fred Stoller in so many tv shows for so many years. He always plays a lovable depressed and annoying character. I even saw him do standup at the Improv in NYC when he first started. I always thought he was funny.
When I saw his book, I wanted to read it and it was really interesting. Not just a book about the shows he was in and actors he knew (although that’s there and is fascinating) but really it’s about his acceptance finally of who he is, his life, and realizing he has done well and is happy.
I still wish he had his own show because I think a great comedy could be made around his character. It would be a hit! 😊❤️
When I saw his book, I wanted to read it and it was really interesting. Not just a book about the shows he was in and actors he knew (although that’s there and is fascinating) but really it’s about his acceptance finally of who he is, his life, and realizing he has done well and is happy.
I still wish he had his own show because I think a great comedy could be made around his character. It would be a hit! 😊❤️
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