Make 'Em Laugh
35 Years of the Comic Strip, the Greatest Comedy Club of All Time!
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Once in a lifetime a venue comes along that changes show business dramatically, that fosters growth and camaraderie, experimentation and freedom. The Comic Strip is one of those places, and Make ’Em Laugh is an inside look at how it all happened, straight from the mouths of the stars who built their careers on its stage. Owner Richie Tienken and a wealth of comics open their hearts and souls to share their most intimate memories, the laughs and tears, the good times and the bad, in order to paint an all-encompassing, behind-the-scenes history of this iconic club. Interviews include famous comedians, such as:
• Jerry Seinfeld
• Gilbert Gottfried
• Paul Reiser
• Lisa Lampanelli
• George Wallace
• Billy Crystal
• Jim Breuer
• Susie Essman
• Lewis Black
• Ray Romano
• And many more!
Relive the excitement as these comics explain how they came to belong to the Comic Strip family, and how they went on to enjoy huge careers, bringing laughter to millions of people all over the world. This book is a must for any comedian or comedy lover’s library!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
After a short summary of events that led to finding a Manhattan location and opening the Comic Strip in the mid-1970s, more than 30 interviews amplify and fill in gaps on the club's 35-year history. Noticeably short of funny ladies, the impressive lineup of interview subjects kicks off with Jerry Seinfeld reminiscing about the exhilaration of passing the club's audition: "It certainly was the last time I auditioned as a comedian for anything. Once you became established here you were golden.... This club really took care of us." For Chris Rock "it was a magical place." Susie Essman recalls, "Now in those days all I did was characters. It took me a long time until I spoke in my own voice." Others interviewed include Lewis Black, Jim Breuer, Billy Crystal, Judah Friedlander, Gilbert Gottfried, Lisa Lampanelli, Colin Quinn, Paul Reiser, Ray Romano, and Jeffrey Ross. Historians will find much valuable documentation on the inner workings of comedy clubs and the creation of standup routines, but some readers might wonder why they find few jokes.
