Comedy at the Edge by Richard Zoglin

 

Comedy at the Edge by Richard Zoglin

Bloomsbury USA

$24.95, hard back, 256 pages, 1582346240 (2007)

 

I managed to pick up an advanced reading copy of this book and I’m glad that I did – it’s fascinating.  The book is a review of how present day stand-up began in New York City in the 1970s with people like David Steinberg, Robert Klein, Lenny Bruce and George Carlin.  Early chapters also include the perhaps less well remembered Richard Lewis, Dave Astor, David Brenner, Steve Landesberg, Jimmy Walker and Ed Bluestone. 

 

The book traces how the comedians of the 1970s emerged and evolved into being so different from earlier comics.  Gone were the gag lines and scripts – the new breed of comics discussed popular topics – politics, race, the Vietnam war, sex, drugs and other formerly taboo things. 

 

The book soon discusses more familiar comics: Jay Leno, Freddie Prince, David Letterman, Joe Piscopo, Billy Crystal and Eddie Murphy.  All have their own stories and the author provides wonderful insight into the early careers of some of the most talented comedians of that era – many of whom are well recognized even today.

 

The author, Richard Zoglin, is a senior writer and editor at Time.  He was the magazine’s television critic for twelve years and he not only saw many of the stand-up routines he writes about, he interviewed nearly all of the comedians (or their families or friends, their managers) in writing this book. 

 

Entire chapters are written about Albert Brooks, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld, Andy Kaufman, Elayne Boosler, and Sam Kenison.  Along the way, all your favorite comedians are discussed: Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Bill Cosby and many, many others.

 

If you like stand-up comedy, this trip down memory lane will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the biggest names of today began their careers.  The author includes plenty of the routines that made these comedians household names – and some startling revelations and anecdotes.  (Did you know that Robin Williams was known throughout the industry as someone who routinely stole other comedian’s material – or that Andy Kaufman slept with the entire workforce of 42 women at the Mustang Ranch during a weeklong engagement in Nevada?) 

 

If many of these comics are familiar, you’re certain to enjoy this highly entertaining and satisfying history of the outstanding comics of the 1970s.

 

Buy it on Amazon here.