The Art of Comedy: Getting Serious About Being Funny (Paperback)

~ (Author) "OKAY, IT'S TIME TO LET THE COMEDY GAMES BEGIN..." (more)
Key Phrases: comedy notebook, sketch comedy character, comedy exercises, New York, Dixie Dugan, Character Bio Page (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Want to know a secret? Sssshhhh. Great comedy actors aren’t born...they’re made. Who makes them? Paul Ryan, that’s who. Now Ryan, the top comedy acting coach in Hollywood, shares his secrets in The Art of Comedy, a step-by-step guide for turning actors into comedy actors. Packed with exercises, The Art of Comedy explains exactly how to build a character, how to incorporate improvisation into a written scene, where to turn for comic inspiration, and how to increase your comedic imagination. Also included is a technical analysis of comedy greats from Milton Berle to Jerry Seinfeld. For anyone who wants to work in film, in television, or in community theater, here’s the complete guide to acting funny.

About the Author

Paul Ryan, dubbed Hollywood's premier comedy acting coach, has credits that include hosting/producing over 700 TV Talk shows, series co-host for Mid-Morning L.A., celebrity correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and recently hosted and co-produced Celebrity Master Class for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, shown to film departments in Universities around the country. Paul teaches a monthly video taped TV Hosting/Media Coaching Intensive.

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Product Details Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: Back Stage Books; 1st edition (May 29, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0823084671 ISBN-13: 978-0823084678 Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,968 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #13 in  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Comedy #73 in  Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater #95 in  Books > Entertainment > Performing Arts

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More About the Author

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
OKAY, IT'S TIME TO LET THE COMEDY GAMES BEGIN. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
comedy notebook, sketch comedy character, comedy exercises, comedy imagination, comedic core, offstage person, sense memory work, comedy acting, comedy gold, bio page, comedy legends, comedy workshop, comedy actors, comedic timing, acting partner, second actor

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Dixie Dugan, Character Bio Page, Neil Simon, Saturday Night Live, Sweet Charity

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

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Black Comedians on Black Comedy by Darryl Littleton

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The Comedy Bible by Judy Carter Discusses: comedy gold comedy workshop comedy actors Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia by Leonard Maltin Discusses: comedy actors comedic timing Neil Simon Twentieth Century Actor Training by Alison Hodge Discusses: sense memory work acting partner second actor Black Comedians on Black Comedy by Darryl Littleton Discusses: comedy acting comedy legends Saturday Night Live Loading...

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	41% buy the item featured on this page: The Art of Comedy: Getting Serious About Being Funny 4.3 out of 5 stars (11) $12.89
	17% buy The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not 4.4 out of 5 stars (42) $10.17
	16% buy The Comedy Bible: From Stand-up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate "How To" Guide 4.2 out of 5 stars (47) $10.80
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (2)           Average Customer Review 4.3 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 4 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Comedian, April 10, 2009 By  J. Sullivan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    If you are a stand-up wanting to get a book to help you in the craft - this is not the book for you! You would be much better off buying Ajaye's "Comic Insights" or Carter's "Comedy Bible" and watching a lot of comedy. This book is more for comic theatre actors, and then it is not much chop. The end. 5 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for All!, November 28, 2007 By  C. L. Adzich (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Paul Ryan has the ability like no one else to bring out the humor and fun in anyone. His exercises and advice can help the most serious and intense lighten up and have a good time. Whether your an actor looking to improve your comedic talents or a business person wanting to inject humor in your presentations, this is the perfect book. Great gift for the holidays. 3 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An informative and fun read!!!, October 16, 2007 By  TMart (Toluca Lake, CA) - See all my reviews As an acting teacher, I have suugested my students struggling with understanding comedy, buy this book. It's current, easy, fun, funny and will give you a step by step guide on how to be funny, how to understand funny and how to recognize funny. The exercises are very helpful. A must read if you have any interest in getting into comedy as a performer.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 1.0 out of 5 stars If You Want to be Funny to Your Grandparents... All of the author's comedy heros are dead. The style of comedy that he teaches died with the cancellation of "The Honeymooners". Read more Published 18 months ago by Kenneth J. Mancini 5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC! Comedy made easy! Paul has a gift for making comedy easy--whether you're an actor, a housewife, or a CEO. Comedy is so important in all walks of life, and this book helps bring out the "funny" in... Read more Published 22 months ago by E. High 5.0 out of 5 stars This book has got it all As a creative person, I am always looking for ways to improve my quality of life and add enjoyment for me and my clients. Read more Published 24 months ago by Vivian Eisenstadt 5.0 out of 5 stars What an Amazing Book.... As an aspiring actor Paul's Book has opened my eyes to so many fun and interesting acting techniques I never knew about. Read more Published on November 15, 2007 by R. J. Macik 5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book! I never knew being funny was so simple. This author really makes the way known,...what a precious skill,..seriously. Published on October 17, 2007 by William J. Merritt 5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Funny, Funny! Okay, so you want to know how to be funny? Take my advice and get this book! So many helpful hints and words of wisdom from someone who has spent his life in the business and... Read more Published on October 17, 2007 by J. Ainsworth 5.0 out of 5 stars How to bring over the top Humor and Fun in to your life! Forget about the Secret, this book will give you dozens of ideas on how to bring laughter and fun in to your life. Buy one for yourself and one for a friend. Published on October 14, 2007 by H. Schmidt 5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Punchy and Provocative This is one of the finest books I've read for anyone aspiring to comedy acting in movies and on TV and the live stage. Read more Published on October 8, 2007 by Loren Ek Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Back Stage Books; 1st edition (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823084671
• ISBN-13: 978-0823084678
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,968 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Comedy
  #73 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater
  #95 in	Books > Entertainment > Performing Arts

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Comedian, April 10, 2009

By	J. Sullivan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are a stand-up wanting to get a book to help you in the craft - this is not the book for you!

You would be much better off buying Ajaye's "Comic Insights" or Carter's "Comedy Bible" and watching a lot of comedy.


This book is more for comic theatre actors, and then it is not much chop. The end.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for All!, November 28, 2007

By	C. L. Adzich (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Paul Ryan has the ability like no one else to bring out the humor and fun in anyone. His exercises and advice can help the most serious and intense lighten up and have a good time. Whether your an actor looking to improve your comedic talents or a business person wanting to inject humor in your presentations, this is the perfect book. Great gift for the holidays.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative and fun read!!!, October 16, 2007

By	TMart (Toluca Lake, CA) - See all my reviews

As an acting teacher, I have suugested my students struggling with understanding comedy, buy this book. It's current, easy, fun, funny and will give you a step by step guide on how to be funny, how to understand funny and how to recognize funny. The exercises are very helpful. A must read if you have any interest in getting into comedy as a performer.