Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America [Paperback]

Richard Zoglin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2009

“Comedy at the Edge is a detailed examination of how our current political, religious and cultural sensibility emerged from small comedy clubs…An irresistible read and a key book for understanding our era.”—Buffalo News

What Peter Biskind did for filmmaking, Richard Zoglin does for comedy in this meticulously researched and eminently readable account of stand-up comedy in the 1970s, when a small group of brilliant, iconoclastic comedians ruled the world—and quite possibly changed it, too.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Theater and TV critic Zoglin steps into the spotlight to deliver mirthful material also worthy of applause. A senior Time writer-editor who covered the magazine's showbiz beat for 20 years, Zoglin once did major pieces on Carson, Cosby, Letterman, Seinfeld and others. Now he offers a comedy chronicle of laugh makers from the mid-1960s to the early '80s with entertaining excerpts and funny one-liners. In an opening chapter capturing the charisma and revolutionary impact of Lenny Bruce, he notes, What the younger comedians who were influenced by him brought was the discipline and craftsmanship that Bruce lacked. They were better actors and more accomplished writers. The curtain then goes up on a merry mob of iconoclastic innovators: Andy Kaufman, Richard Lewis (I left my shrink too soon; I had to take an incomplete), George Carlin and the seven dirty words, the raw racial anger of Richard Pryor, Robert Klein (Now you can get every record ever recorded!) and many more. The book's centerpiece is a potent profile of Albert Brooks, detailing the lampoons, conflicts and compromises of his now-forgotten standup career. Although some subjects (Steve Martin, Mel Brooks, David Letterman) were initially reluctant to be interviewed, Zoglin's conversations with numerous top talents enabled him to add fresh quotations to his extensive research through books, magazines and liner notes. Always highlighting how these comics transformed the culture, Zoglin on standup is standout. (Feb. 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Zoglin is a clear and informative writer. Comedy at the Edge is genial and good fun.”—New York Times

“Evocative…first-rate.”—Wall Street Journal

“An intimate glimpse through the keyhole of a rebel subculture birthed on the smoke-filled stages of New York’s Improv and Catch a Rising Star that found its way into the heart of mainstream America.”—Los Angeles Times

“Sharp, perceptive history…Especially fascinating are tales about the inner politics of comedy clubs and the struggles of female comedians.”—Christian Science Monitor

“Wise, concise, effortlessly erudite.”—Boston Globe

“Mesmerizing. Incisive and often thrilling. Zoglin conducted meticulous and thorough research [and] manages to uncover new insights. A fun read.”—New York Post

“A very desirable addition for the pop-culture shelves.”—Booklist

“Mirthful material worthy of applause…Zoglin on standup is standout.”—Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; Reprint edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582346259
• ISBN-13: 978-1582346250
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #744,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Overview of the Modern Comic Age, March 3, 2008

By 

R. C Sheehy "deadsox" (Foxboro,MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful overview of the emergence of modern comedy and the role many of today's leading comics had in its emergence. The author does a wonderful job how pioneers such as Lenny Bruce paid an enormous price to make observational and topical humor of as much relevance as the one liners that were common place before hand. The book provides outstanding backgrounds on such comedy legends as George Carlin and Richard Pryor and what drove them.

The book also provides a background on lesser known comics who while legends in the comedy world did not carry over into the larger mainstream world. By this I am referring to the Richard Belzer's and Albert Brook's of the world whose commercial success was not as powerful as their influence. If there is one flaw in this novel it is the lack of information on these acts who may have been more influential then their commercial talents demonstrated. But all in all a book well worth your time and highly entertaining.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Writer, Truly Interesting, Read This Book!!, July 16, 2008

By 

D. Olsher (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America (Hardcover)

Richard Zoglin has taken a period of our lives, when laughing at ourselves and the world we live in, was something we just expected, enjoyed and used in our own everyday conversations---"excuuuuuse me". The comedians we thought we knew so well that we used their material to get our own laughs.

Comedy At The Edge tells us what a serious, sometimes heartbreaking business comedy is. Zoglin interviewed every living comedian, producer, writer and entertainer that was part of this piece of history--and researched those who weren't. He shows us how comedy has evolved to the point of the modern intellectual stand-up routines we have now come to expect. How the performance bar was raised and how each comedian struggled to become who they were. Who made it, who didn't and why.

Their comedic talent came across so effortlessly. I didn't and probably most in our generation, who laughed their way through the 70's, did not understand what a gift it was.

Zoglin has made all the pieces fit. The continuity and connection to real life, each comedian and their effect on each other, how they perfected their craft, their place in history and how it all related to current events of the times is flawless. He has taken an entire decade of our lives, organized it, given us new insight into what was really going on and keeps us laughing all the way through.

Richard Zoglin, himself, is very funny. His writing is superb and you want to keep turning the pages just to find out what happens next. But what makes it even more interesting is that you were there--some of the things Zoglin writes about you go 'oh yeah, I remember' and then he gives you information that puts a whole new spin on what you thought you knew.

I've recommended this book to everyone I know--and I'm recommending it to you.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just go ahead and buy this book, February 25, 2008

By 

Gary A. Gortenburg (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America (Hardcover)

Just go ahead and buy this book, you won't be disappointed. Zoglin writes well and you keep learning new things about stand-up comics you thought you knew and how the business has been changing. But don't expect a textbook - Zoglin includes many extremely funny bits taken straight from these comedians to illustrate points and keep you laughing. A good read!