Funny You Should Say That

by Gerry Dee

One of Canada’s top comedians shares the funniest stories from his life and career in this collection of hilarious essays

For more than two decades, Gerry Dee has made audiences laugh, first as a hard-working stand-up comedian, and then as the star of his own CBC television program, Mr. D. Dee became a physical education teacher, thinking he would have it coaching, summers off and a good pension. But he found himself dreaming of a career in comedy, until one day, years later, he turned in his teaching certificate and picked up a microphone. He went on to become one of Canada’s top comics.

In his new book of essays, Dee writes about his life—being a kid in suburban Toronto, becoming a father, starring in his own TV show, going on the road to comedy clubs across Canada and the US. He takes us behind the scenes of Last Comic Standing, Mr. D and everywhere in between. There was the time he set up his own DVD-signing appearances, only to have no one show up. Or the time he was flown to the Bahamas, where he performed for drunken fishermen and their “nieces.” And he shares his lifelong affliction with hypochondria and all the medical conditions he doesn’t have. This is Gerry Dee at his comedic finest. 

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Humor

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah | sarahsbookcase · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really love rating memoirs but I will always provide a rating for my reading experience. I listened to this audiobook and I really wish that the author himself was the narrator. Regardless, I was so excited for this as I was obsessed with the show 'Mr. D' (and plan to rewatch soon!) and have seen the author hosting Family Feud Canada. I found the chapters kinda hopped around all over the place and felt there was no sequence. I wish there was more the show Mr. D and his personal life with his wife and kids rather than some chapters which seemed like fillers to me.
I am happy I read it but had higher expectations.

[Marie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun on audio although it wasn’t Gerry narrating, which was unfortunate. I was looking forward to that. This memoir is a glimpse into the business. I was hoping to hear more about the show Mr. D and the part his kids played in that, but that wasn’t to be.

[Almira · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're not a fan of Gerry Dee, don't read this book.

If you are a fan of Gerry Dee, also don't read this book.

It's like he forgot to be funny. It's like he lost a bet and the stakes were that he had to write the most bland book of all time. I actually had to stop reading and immediately go watch segments of "Gerry Dee Sports Reporter" on YouTube just to remind myself that this guy was, in fact, a comedian...

I gave it a solid effort, but unfortunately, DNF.

I don't feel bad. I'd still gladly pay big (ok, maybe medium) bucks to watch him in concert, but this book wasn't it.

I'll also watch reruns of Mr. D in order to even out my rating.

In conclusion, stick to the stage, Gerry.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I like Gerry Dee and his comedy. We usually watch Family Feud Canada because of him. He told stories of his life,as expected, and shed some light on his road to stardom. At times it did jump around a bit but it wasn't confusing when that happened.

[Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite comedians and performers. My only disappointment is that Gerry didn't narrate his own memoir audiobook. It would have been funnier.

[Leanne Krahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny as his first book

[Enid Wray]

Prior to listening to this, I had no idea who Gerry Dee is - I had never heard of him before - despite his (apparently) being “(o)ne of Canada’s top comedians”

As someone who knows nothing about him I come to this with a blank slate… and after listening to almost 2 hours of this - there is nothing that makes me want to listen to all of it.

I will say that I was singularly unimpressed with the narration. If, as appears to be the case, Gerry Dee is both a comedian and an actor, why did he not voice this himself? I’m sure that people who are familiar with his voice will be missing hearing him deliver his own work.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy… even though it’s taken til now for me to get to it - and even then, I ended up listening to an audiobook version (also provided by the publisher).

DNF

[Sammy Berrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong , I love Gerry Dee …
But I found the layout of this to be a little all over the place. I wish it were composed more chronologically

Also shocked to find it light in the jokes but heavy in the short story telling and I didn’t hate that!

[Kristin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it although I expected it to be funnier. I know comedians have a serious side and that’s okay but at times it felt like it was dragging on. I almost gave up on it but I saw it through.

It’s just okay. I would not recommend it to anyone

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 3.5

[Dianne Gow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good biography

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointing that Gerry didn’t narrate the audiobook himself… that would have made it way better. I was also hoping for more with Mr. D but that was hardly touched on.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like a nice guy but could sure use an editor

[Fiona Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not even a little bit funny.

[Joshua Goetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, and good lessons on a lot of hard work and even a little bit of luck sometimes. Very enjoyable read.

[Taylor Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: here’s all the things I failed at. But I’m a success. Humble brag humble brag humble brag.

[Harold Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I've liked Mr. D from the get go.

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis
******************
One of Canada’s top comedians shares the funniest stories from his life and career in this collection of hilarious essays For more than two decades, Gerry Dee has made audiences laugh, first as a hard-working stand-up comedian, and then as the star of his own CBC television program, Mr. D . Dee became a physical education teacher, thinking he would have it coaching, summers off and a good pension. But he found himself dreaming of a career in comedy, until one day, years later, he turned in his teaching certificate and picked up a microphone. He went on to become one of Canada’s top comics.

In his new book of essays, Dee writes about his life—being a kid in suburban Toronto, becoming a father, starring in his own TV show, and going on the road to comedy clubs across Canada and the US. He takes us behind the scenes of Last Comic Standing, Mr. D, and everywhere. There was the time he set up his own DVD-signing appearances, only to have no one show up. Or the time he was flown to the Bahamas, where he performed for drunken fishermen and their “nieces.” And he shares his lifelong affliction with hypochondria and all the medical conditions he doesn’t have. This is Gerry Dee at his comedic finest.

I love Gerry Dee and his hosting of "Family Feud Canada" (Not in the Steve Harvey THINKS THAT he is funny - but isn't - way, but drily droll and funny!) and this book was amusing, too. How he went from teacher to comic and his adventures are great to read and I had no idea that he was a hypochondriac, but that would explain why he doesn't do the Richard Dawson kissing of the contestants on his show.
A cute book - a great Canadian read. #shortbutsweetreviews

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerry Dee is a Canadian actor, stand-up comedian, game show host, director, producer and writer. This book caught my eye because Dee is Canadian, is from Toronto and went to the same university in Nova Scotia as I did (though I was a few years ahead of him). Plus I like reading books to get the behind the scene scoop on how things work in the entertainment world.

Dee tells his life in essays ... he talks about his parents and how they came from Scotland to Canada, how he was small as a child but loved sports (he was competitive ... he wasn't the best but he wasn't the worst), being a teacher until he discovered is passion for being a comic, the struggle of the years to make it as a comedian and actor in Canada and the U.S., his love for his family, being a hypochondriac and more.

I liked this book and Dee's writing style ... it's conversational. It was interesting to read about all he did to get to where he is and how his priorities changed when he got married and starting have children. As a head's up, there is some swearing. It would have been nice if there had been pictures (there were none).

I never watched "Mr. D." when it was on from 2012 to 2018 so I'll check it out. He was funny as Donny on "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie" and Gord and I have been to the live tapings of "Family Feud Canada" (most recently in August).

Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2023/10...

[N. E. Rule · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some reviews that thought this wasn’t funny enough and although I did laugh quite a few times, it is not as funny as his standup. maybe because he didn’t narrate so the timing is different. But then again, I feel like I learned about him and how the standup community in Canada works. It is more in keeping with what I think a memoir should be— not just a bunch of “bits”. and it did show how hard he worked and what he gave up (time with family) to get started in show biz. And you get a feel for his personality. He may do jokes about his kids but from this book you can tell he is an engaged father. I only took one star off because I think it would have been that much better if he narrated it himself but otherwise it was interesting and worth the read. Enough so that I will buy tickets to his next show.

[Maurice Tougas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Gerry Dee (saw him in Edmonton, and he was great, and he's the reason to watch Family Feud Canada), but this book was mildly disappointing. His stories about his rise through the stand-up ranks are very entertaining, and his chapter about his hypochondria is a lot of fun. But he said surprisingly little about his long-running sitcom, Mr. D, and even less about Family Feud Canada. And, for such a funny guy, the book is good for only a few chuckles. Better editing would have made for a better book. An enjoyable, easy read, but could have been better.

[AllieLG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the reviews I am seeing are annoyed because this book wasn’t funny, but here’s the thing: I don’t think it was supposed to be hilariously funny the entire way through. It wasn’t a book of Gerry Dee “bits.” It wasn’t joke-joke-joke. It was his memoir. If you like stories that tell how celebrities got from their hometown to their current status (which I do), you’ll probably like it just fine.

I found it interesting, but wish it was organized more chronologically- it did jump around a bit.

[Jayson Campeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so this memoir reads very easy and it is humorous. He gives it to you straight and it gives you some idea of what it would be like to be a Canadian comedian trying to make it in the world. Not easy. His trials and tribulations as he tried to figure out his career path was interesting and a little familiar. I do think that the classroom and the education setting in general is a fountain of humour. There is more good stuff to come from this niche.

[Jennifer N · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I love Gerry Dee. I think Mr. D was one of the best shows on television and I enjoy his stand up. I did not enjoy this at all. It just wasn't funny. It was a book about how hard it is to make it as a comic in Canada. It also jumped around a lot. I feel like I know a lot more about him as a person but it didn't make me laugh.

[Lauren Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Actually, it was chaos from before the beginning." (270)

Man, I wanted to love this book, but it was too all over the place. I thought it really didn't hot on too much about his life, and it was too back and forward. I did laugh a few times though.

This book was a quick read, as I read it in a day!

I would recommend it to any Garry Dee fan.

[Catherine Thayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I’m a huge fan of Gerry Dee and have had the opportunity to meet him after a standup show in Ottawa. Even have a picture with him. I think the expectation from some others is that he would put out a funny book but honestly this was him being real and honest. I found it funny and human. I loved getting to know Gerry the human and not just the funny guy.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I think that Gerry Dee is hilarious and his first book had me laughing out loud the whole time. This one is more of a strict autobiography and kind of jumped all over back and forth in his life. While there were some interesting parts, my expectation for it to be funny left me feeling unfulfilled.

[Andrew McKinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading about his early struggles and the development of his TV show. Life is certainly hard for Canadians that wish to become comics, and his self depreciating humor about being 'Famous' is refreshing.

[To Read Pile Too Big · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some parts were interesting. None of it was funny.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good life story but not as funny as I thought it would be