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helenburak's review against another edition
1.0
What a slog. While there were some interesting moments, the vast majority of this book wasn't so much inspiring as depressing to witness how much of a boy's club the comedy scene is, and how unaware so many of these people are that they are benefiting from and upholding that system. And because Judd participates equally in most of the interviews, in this compilation we hear the same comments about his divorced parents again and again and again.
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
Terrific interviews with some of the best comedians in the business.
briannegk's review against another edition
3.0
It was a fun long read. Easy to pick up and read one comedian, and then another at another time. Obviously some comedians I enjoyed more than others.
jenaabra1's review against another edition
4.0
Important Read if You Want To Learn Comedy Writing
This is probably a really excellent guide or even textbook for young, hungry people about the how to work in entertainment business. Apatow is one of the best, and I began reading this book with an unwavering interest in him. However, his real genius is interviewing all these different comedians/writers/directors/entertainers to understand how the came to the craft, how they work, the big break, and how they keep an interest in working. All the stuff is here to learn and inspire young people to just do the thing. School is a huge distraction for most of these performers, and they learned by doing. So just like Apatow models himself, it doesn’t matter what you start, just start. And don’t quit.
This is probably a really excellent guide or even textbook for young, hungry people about the how to work in entertainment business. Apatow is one of the best, and I began reading this book with an unwavering interest in him. However, his real genius is interviewing all these different comedians/writers/directors/entertainers to understand how the came to the craft, how they work, the big break, and how they keep an interest in working. All the stuff is here to learn and inspire young people to just do the thing. School is a huge distraction for most of these performers, and they learned by doing. So just like Apatow models himself, it doesn’t matter what you start, just start. And don’t quit.
jamesthesnake's review against another edition
5.0
really 4.5 but really good all the same. Won't find every bit of conversation and interview great and people born post 1988 may not know many references in some interviews but there are gems hidden throughout. Judd himself would love this book the most and how much you like his thinking is how much you will like hisbook
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
2.0
There's some great stuff in here and also a bunch of junk. I love Apatow's enthusiasm and his interviews as a kid were fascinating. In his later years he has become pretentious in a provincial way that is uniquely irritating.
msmelinda's review against another edition
2.0
I use the term "finished" loosely...I got to the end, but there was a lot of skimming. Reading interviews is sort of awkward and felt lazy...I wish the info from the interviews was boiled down into a more readable format. The whole thing felt very braggadocios; Judd Apatow telling us, "I KNOW EVERY FUNNY PERSON ALIVE! AND THEY THINK IM FUNNY!"