Now That's Funny!: The Art and Craft of Writing Comedy
There is a feeling of pure delight that comes from laughing out loud while watching a hilarious movie or a TV show. Yet as funny as these lines may be, they are the work of people you will never see. The magic behind any comedy hit begins when an idea is hatched in the mind of a comedy writer and is then put down on paper. And while few of us are privy to this fascinating process, for writers Peter Desberg and Jeffrey Davis, the challenge of observing and understanding how comedy is born has culminated in a unique new book, Now That's Funny! Desberg and Davis provide an intimate look into the minds of twenty-four of Hollywood's funniest comedy writers, who have given us such shows as:
Saturday Night Live
Monk
Everybody Loves Raymond
The Simpsons
Frasier
Maude
Home Improvement
Valerie
Modern Family
Cheers
There's Something about Mary
The Honeymooners
Suddenly Susan
Newhart
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Archie Bunker's Place
The Tracey Ullman Show
Wings
Who's The Boss?
and more
How do you get to see the creative wheels turn? The authors' premise was simple: Using a Q and A format, they provided each writer with a story idea and let them run with it. Each of the writers was told there were no rules, no boundaries, and no limits! Because everyone started with the same concept, the authors could see how some writers jumped in and began creating, while others asked lots of questions; how some writers stuck closely to the premise, while others turned it on its head. What emerges is an entertaining look--illuminating and hilarious in turn--at the creative process behind hit TV shows and movies.
If you're one of the millions who have enjoyed watching the work of comedy writers, here is an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the madness unfold. Now that's funny!
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Peter Desberg, PhD, received his doctorate from the University of Southern California. He is a professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and also a licensed clinical psychologist. For over twenty five years, he has conducted seminars and workshops on controlling stage fright for business people, students, performers, athletes, job applicants, and others. Dr. Desberg is the author of sixteen published books and numerous articles. He and his family currently reside in the Los Angeles area.
"Desberg, a clinical psychologist, and Davis, a film and TV writer, have crafted a unique twist on the familiar writing how-to guide: they came up with a premise for a television show, which they gave to 24 comedy writers/writing teams to turn into a hypothetical series . . . The unique approach, combined with the in-depth interviews, makes this a solid go-to for aspiring comedy writers."
--Kristine Huntley "Booklist (ALA) ""Unique . . . provide[s] readers valuable insights into the creative process and the customary give and take in the job of comedy writing . . . particularly valuable to aspiring comedy writers and students of the field . . . if the creative process of writing humor and the effects of evolving societal influences on funniness are topics of interest to you, this Now That's Funny! is for you."
--reviewed by Louis R. Franzini, PhD, author of JUST KIDDING: Using Humor Effectively and KIDS WHO LAUGH) "The Humor Connection ""Provides great insight . . . if you are interested in writing comedy, this book is an important resource. It gives you the opportunity to get inside the minds of the best in the business and find out how they hone their craft . . . a really interesting and illuminating book."
--Says Me Says Mom (blog)
