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alexrobinsonsupergenius's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
A collection of interviews with comedy writers focusing on tips and tricks to becoming a professional humoredian. The bottom line is they all seem as baffled by how humor works as anyone.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Cursing, and Misogyny
spamrisk's review against another edition
4.0
Screw amphibians.
They deserve all the poking.
Their guts crave viewing.
They deserve all the poking.
Their guts crave viewing.
chloekg's review against another edition
4.0
Some essays are hilarious and indispensable, others seem like they were included on the grounds of being well-rounded and meeting the appropriate number of pages. The voices present in this collection are distinctly full of laughter as they try to describe the process and products of comedy. It's good insight, only marginally useful for someone thinking about stand-up or screenwriting. Probably not worth the cost of the investment for someone pursuing those particular careers.
averagegardener's review against another edition
5.0
Interviews with comedy legends like Mel Brooks, Adam McKay, James Downey, Glen Charles and a shitload more. Hilarious and inspiring.
pixie_d's review against another edition
4.0
These are interesting interviews about comedy writing in various mediums. Some were living history, and the reader feels grateful that the author did the interviews before everyone from those eras died out. Before the longer interviews the author gives overviews of the writers' careers, and those stories are also interesting.
Many interviews were current at time of publication, 2014. The reader will be relieved to know that many of the writers and their shows are still familiar; some are still on the air. So, the book does not feel "dated" to read. These are interviews and advice about work, not necessarily a book trying to be funny. But the last sentence on the last page is very funny (if you have watched the same shows I have over the years). Don't miss it.
I just want to add a note about something that triggered me in one of the interviews (I'm looking at you, Dan Handler). A writer had complained to him about the cost of getting her work self-published. He recalled stealing toner cartridges from his employer when he worked for a dying man, and basically said if you can't find a way to steal paper or whatever from your day job you don't deserve to be a writer. I wonder if he thinks that way now that he is successful and possibly has an assistant. It reminded me of Just Kids where Patti Smith reminisced about stealing art supplies. Would that mean if you can't afford art supplies and won't steal that you don't deserve to be an artist? Screw that. There is no excuse. Stealing is not noble or romantic. It really annoys me that someone would think a thief is more deserving than an honest person.
Btw, most of the interviewees are very clear about how much luck is involved in their business, that they know many deserving people who don't get a break. They all seem very grateful for their breaks and all the people who helped them along the way. Which is to say, this is not just a book of disparate interviews. It all coheres since they are all talking about the same business and more or less know all the same people, even if they don't all work in the same medium.
Many interviews were current at time of publication, 2014. The reader will be relieved to know that many of the writers and their shows are still familiar; some are still on the air. So, the book does not feel "dated" to read. These are interviews and advice about work, not necessarily a book trying to be funny. But the last sentence on the last page is very funny (if you have watched the same shows I have over the years). Don't miss it.
I just want to add a note about something that triggered me in one of the interviews (I'm looking at you, Dan Handler). A writer had complained to him about the cost of getting her work self-published. He recalled stealing toner cartridges from his employer when he worked for a dying man, and basically said if you can't find a way to steal paper or whatever from your day job you don't deserve to be a writer. I wonder if he thinks that way now that he is successful and possibly has an assistant. It reminded me of Just Kids where Patti Smith reminisced about stealing art supplies. Would that mean if you can't afford art supplies and won't steal that you don't deserve to be an artist? Screw that. There is no excuse. Stealing is not noble or romantic. It really annoys me that someone would think a thief is more deserving than an honest person.
Btw, most of the interviewees are very clear about how much luck is involved in their business, that they know many deserving people who don't get a break. They all seem very grateful for their breaks and all the people who helped them along the way. Which is to say, this is not just a book of disparate interviews. It all coheres since they are all talking about the same business and more or less know all the same people, even if they don't all work in the same medium.
gjmaupin's review against another edition
4.0
Just my cup of tea. Serious shop talk. Worth it for some of the older ones in particular.
nickdouglas's review against another edition
5.0
This is the closest I've seen to a straight-up comedy writing manual outside of improv. I especially appreciated the "ultra-specific comedy advice" that's hundreds of times as practical as the typical vague reruns of "rewrite a lot!" and "good scripts will get noticed!" It's much more helpful to read comedy writers analyze specific jokes and why they worked or not in their particular situation.
lesliethewanderlust's review
4.0
And that's all you can hope for: to lose track of time and to get into a zone to produce writing you're happy with. So I'd recommend that to all young writers. Just write. Lose yourself. And when you look up, maybe you'll be somewhere you always wanted to be. - James L. Brooks
I don't find myself particularly funny and I'm not sure if I would ever have the chops to write comedy but any tips on writing is a benefit when you're an "aspiring" writer. What initially drew me to Poking a Dead Frog was Amy Poehler's name. I think she's hilarious and although I was slightly disappointed she wasn't a main feature in the book, I enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot about television shows I had never heard of before, writers I hadn't known were behind some of the shows that I watch, and the behind the scenes experience of writing for television, radio and film.
Something I didn't realize before this book was how many writers have an ivy league background. I'd heard of and even watched Lampoon films but I didn't know anything about its history at all. At times, a lot of the writers featured in this book made it feel like in order to be a successful writer you need to be a part of an exclusive club, that the average writer without the pedigree would not be able to join. I think it was Henry Beard who said rebellion was going to Harvard instead of Yale. Very rebellious! But I digress, there are writers in the book who didn't come from an ivy league education and they seem to be doing quite well, so there's hope!
Poking a Dead Frog is filled with interviews with numerous writers from all spectrums of the writing world. Through antidotes and tips the consensus seems to be that there is no format to success. Some of the writers love and sing the praises of the Lampoon and some detest it. Some say move out to LA, some say get an agent, some say an agent will find you. Through it all hard work and loving what you do is a big theme. It seems like a no brainer but it's true. Writing can be lucrative for some, but isn't for many, and if you aren't it because you're passionate about it, what's the point? I've been an editor at a magazine and website for about six months but my goal is to write books and write for television. This has definitely given me a look into the hard work that is done and sacrifices that are made to be successful in these fields. It's a lot of work. A lot of writing. And as a master procrastinator, I have a lot of work to do to get there. Definitely pick this book up if you have writing aspirations—it's not a "how-to," more of a "how I did it" type book.
Random thought while reading a specific part of the book. Dan Gutman said he wasn't sure if kids watch shows like Colbert. They are. Get on Tumblr. Kids are way more aware than those in different generations may give them credit for.
Happy reading!
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
3.0
This book was an amusing collection of interviews with great comic writers. It is interesting how quickly some of it aged, as this book is from 2014. Reverence to Bill Cosby. Also it was too heavy on dude writers. Some women interviewed, but not enough. Definitely not an advice book for aspiring comic writers in spite of its intent; each writer seems to contradict the next.
woodlandglitter's review
4.0
I specifically bought this because of the Tom Scharpling interview (which is great, of course), but ended up really liking the whole thing. Lots of great anecdotes.