A Fun and Funny Memoir That Pulls No Punches – What’s Not to Like?
Full disclosure upfront: I am a friend of the author, having interviewed him when I researched and wrote The Carol Burnett Show Companion (he was a regular writer on the series in its last season). Having said that, this book shows what a great teller of tales Robert Illes is. Having spent decades as a comedy writer in Hollywood, he’s experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows while navigating the egos and eccentricities of fellow writers plus actors, producers, directors, and studio and network executives. He tells about all of them vividly and humorously.
Best of all for those wanting inside stories, Illes has no problems bluntly stating how he feels about his professional career rather than sugarcoating what happened in the past. He details clearly what people irritated and harmed him along the way, and it’s fascinating to follow. Among those individuals getting his full wrath are Joey Bishop (humorless despite a comedian), Jim Stafford (another comic who wouldn’t pay for jokes Illes submitted and he used), Ray Horl (a psychotic producer), Chevy Chase (a self-absorbed jackass in Illes view, lacking writing or improv skills), Berry Gordy (an impresario who demanded lots of script revisions after they were printed on The Motown Revue variety shows, often making the skits less funny or getting them cut); Ricky Schroder’s mom (a classic stereotypical stage mother on Silver Spoons), and Steve Pritzker (a comedy writer whose misdeeds are too many to catalogue here). And these are only some of the highlights, or should I say lowlights?
At the same time, there are several personalities that Illes admires both for their talent and their pleasant personalities and praises them highly, chief among them Carol Burnett and Sherman Hemsley. He also acknowledges some of his own flaws and details the ups and downs of his personal life as well. It all adds up to an enjoyable remembrance of a life fully lived well worth reading. Highly recommended.
Full disclosure upfront: I am a friend of the author, having interviewed him when I researched and wrote The Carol Burnett Show Companion (he was a regular writer on the series in its last season). Having said that, this book shows what a great teller of tales Robert Illes is. Having spent decades as a comedy writer in Hollywood, he’s experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows while navigating the egos and eccentricities of fellow writers plus actors, producers, directors, and studio and network executives. He tells about all of them vividly and humorously.
Best of all for those wanting inside stories, Illes has no problems bluntly stating how he feels about his professional career rather than sugarcoating what happened in the past. He details clearly what people irritated and harmed him along the way, and it’s fascinating to follow. Among those individuals getting his full wrath are Joey Bishop (humorless despite a comedian), Jim Stafford (another comic who wouldn’t pay for jokes Illes submitted and he used), Ray Horl (a psychotic producer), Chevy Chase (a self-absorbed jackass in Illes view, lacking writing or improv skills), Berry Gordy (an impresario who demanded lots of script revisions after they were printed on The Motown Revue variety shows, often making the skits less funny or getting them cut); Ricky Schroder’s mom (a classic stereotypical stage mother on Silver Spoons), and Steve Pritzker (a comedy writer whose misdeeds are too many to catalogue here). And these are only some of the highlights, or should I say lowlights?
At the same time, there are several personalities that Illes admires both for their talent and their pleasant personalities and praises them highly, chief among them Carol Burnett and Sherman Hemsley. He also acknowledges some of his own flaws and details the ups and downs of his personal life as well. It all adds up to an enjoyable remembrance of a life fully lived well worth reading. Highly recommended.