Tina Fey’s Bossypantsmeets David Carr’s The Night of the Gun in Darrell Hammond’sgroundbreaking memoir, God, If You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked—a raw look inside the troubled life and mind of anAmerican comic genius. By turns poignant and hilarious, Hammond takes readersfrom the set of Saturday Night Live, where he was the show’slongest-tenured cast member, to the drug-ridden streets of Harlem and into thetwisting corridors of his own unflaggingly humorous consciousness. Minglingbehind-the-scenes stories from television’s best-loved comedy series with adark look inside a world-class funnyman, God If You’re Not Up There,I’m F*cked is a book sure to resonate with anyonewho shares a talent for performance, a love of comedy, or a desire to know howan artist can climb from the deepest despair to the very top of his profession.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Hammond’s moving memoir contains surprising detours. . . . [His] breezy style and facile storytelling will keep readers entertained even while reading about his struggle with alcoholism. . . . This funny man’s serious life can be an inspiration to all.” (Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) )
From the Back Cover
A raw, poignant, and often hilarious look inside the troubled life and mind of an American comic icon
From his harrowing childhood filled with physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his parents, to a lifetime of alcoholism and self-mutilation, psychiatric hospitalizations, and misdiagnoses, to the peak of fame and success as the longest-tenured cast member of Saturday Night Live, Darrell Hammond delves into the darkest corners of his life, both in front of and behind the camera, with brutal honesty and fierce comic wit. On the back of his hilarious dead-on impressions of Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney, Chris Matthews, and a hundred other prominent figures, Hammond was invited into the inner sanctums of the country's political leaders, including three presidents, all the while suffering debilitating and largely undiagnosed mental anguish that resulted in horrifying flashbacks, shocking benders, a hair-raising stint in a Bahamian jail, and ultimately a dark night in a Harlem crack house. His long fight for sobriety, filled with heartbreaking relapses, was propelled by a desire to do right by his young daughter and to set the record straight about how he fell so low while achieving such heights. Throughout, Hammond lays bare the real inner workings of an iconic television show.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 80 people found the following review helpful
By bippi333
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was one of the best memoirs I have ever read. Darrell allows us into his brilliant and troubled mind, showing us the painful results of serious child abuse. The writing, itself, is spellbinding and funny. I loved reading about the insides of SNL and how difficult it is to actually put on a show. Never have I sensed the chaos and last minute changes that Darrell allows us to see. I have even more respect for all the SNL cast and employees as a result.
As a recovering person, I appreciate Darrell's integrity and honesty about his struggles. As a therapist, I appreciate his willingness to delve into his past and expose himself as well as the mental health community. I do disagree with the psychiatrist's recommendation to confront his parents because of exactly what happened. If the people being "confronted" are in therapy themselves and have the support to deal with the confrontation, it can work but in almost all cases I have seen it done, it is more harmful than helpful.
With all he has been through, Darrell could be bitter and angry but not one time does he bash anyone from his past or present. He seems to have an extraordinary ability to know people on a deep level and allows us to know them through his genuine eyes and heart. Darrell, there are millions of us out here who love and admire you and are cheering on your recovery and joy-filled life. You have earned it and deserve it!
As a recovering person, I appreciate Darrell's integrity and honesty about his struggles. As a therapist, I appreciate his willingness to delve into his past and expose himself as well as the mental health community. I do disagree with the psychiatrist's recommendation to confront his parents because of exactly what happened. If the people being "confronted" are in therapy themselves and have the support to deal with the confrontation, it can work but in almost all cases I have seen it done, it is more harmful than helpful.
With all he has been through, Darrell could be bitter and angry but not one time does he bash anyone from his past or present. He seems to have an extraordinary ability to know people on a deep level and allows us to know them through his genuine eyes and heart. Darrell, there are millions of us out here who love and admire you and are cheering on your recovery and joy-filled life. You have earned it and deserve it!
54 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best book I have read in the last ten years.
I listened to Darrell Hammond being interview by Howard Stern. I was shocked at what I heard. Just shocked. I ordered the book right away and read it in one day.
It is amazing that Darrell is still alive considering all the shear torture at this Mothers hands that he went through.
The wicked mother never admitted her behaviour. His father did right before he died.
At times I cried and at times I laughed.
Darrell - if you happen to read this review please know that we love you, that you belong on this earth, are valued and, with the publication of this book want you to make the second half of your life fulfilling and happy. You deserve it.
I highly recommed that you purchase and read "God, If You're Not Up There, I'm _______ (Amazon won't let me put the word even with an asteric): Tales of Stand-Up, Saturday Night Live, and Other Mind-Altering Mayhem" by Mr. Darrell Hammond; Hardcover
Love,
Erica Phillips
(It is rainy in Hawaii right now but I still surf daily anyway)
I listened to Darrell Hammond being interview by Howard Stern. I was shocked at what I heard. Just shocked. I ordered the book right away and read it in one day.
It is amazing that Darrell is still alive considering all the shear torture at this Mothers hands that he went through.
The wicked mother never admitted her behaviour. His father did right before he died.
At times I cried and at times I laughed.
Darrell - if you happen to read this review please know that we love you, that you belong on this earth, are valued and, with the publication of this book want you to make the second half of your life fulfilling and happy. You deserve it.
I highly recommed that you purchase and read "God, If You're Not Up There, I'm _______ (Amazon won't let me put the word even with an asteric): Tales of Stand-Up, Saturday Night Live, and Other Mind-Altering Mayhem" by Mr. Darrell Hammond; Hardcover
Love,
Erica Phillips
(It is rainy in Hawaii right now but I still surf daily anyway)
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By JBean1583
Format:Hardcover
I don't write book reviews. I don't pre-order books. I rarely even buy a hard-back. I do read A LOT of memoirs, and even more books on mental illness and/or addiction. I have suffered from both for over half of my life and feel as though I have been searching for that one book that would actually get it right. Darrell Hammond did that for me.
Only a few months out of rehab myself, the press for this book caught my eye while I was waiting to get my oil changed. Mr. Hammond was doing an interview on one of the news channels and I was enthralled. I immediately came home and ordered the book. According to his interview, we had almost identical experiences in rehabs (and psych-wards). I think I just needed to know that I wasn't the only one with my experience. I spent the past two days with my head in his pages.
I am so thankful for how raw he is when describing his trials. I am even more thankful for the lessons I took away from the last few chapters. He describes perfectly the mentality of an addict, and also that of a survivor.
I will warn you, the writing style is one that may take a few chapters to get used to. It would normally bother me that jumps around so much. Yet somehow, it is appropriate in this context. I think if it flowed perfectly, or was seamless it would take away from the experience of reliving this lifestyle. I really felt like someone went in my brain and put it on paper.
Thank you so much!!!
Only a few months out of rehab myself, the press for this book caught my eye while I was waiting to get my oil changed. Mr. Hammond was doing an interview on one of the news channels and I was enthralled. I immediately came home and ordered the book. According to his interview, we had almost identical experiences in rehabs (and psych-wards). I think I just needed to know that I wasn't the only one with my experience. I spent the past two days with my head in his pages.
I am so thankful for how raw he is when describing his trials. I am even more thankful for the lessons I took away from the last few chapters. He describes perfectly the mentality of an addict, and also that of a survivor.
I will warn you, the writing style is one that may take a few chapters to get used to. It would normally bother me that jumps around so much. Yet somehow, it is appropriate in this context. I think if it flowed perfectly, or was seamless it would take away from the experience of reliving this lifestyle. I really felt like someone went in my brain and put it on paper.
Thank you so much!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not great
I kept waiting to get into the thick of his life, but what we get is a walk around the perimeter. I like Mr. Hammond but I was hoping for more. Read more
Published 19 days ago by gray castle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insight on the man who i grew up watching
Having watched this man throughout my childhood (9yrs and onward) I will say that I was saddened to read about his demons. Read more
Published 29 days ago by MemoirObsessed
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome biography
I heard him interviewed on Opie And Anthony Sirius XM and had to have this book. It was an easy book to read and i finished it within a couple hours. Read more
Published 1 month ago by toby l thomas
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting....
TBD; still reading this book (slowly) ... so far, so good. We enjoyed SNL years ago and hope this gives the same sort of enjoyment
Published 1 month ago by Betty Bodlak
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
Read this book in 2 evenings. Lots of info about SNL behind the scenes and a bit about the silent struggle with mental illness. I'm a fan of the show and the author. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Rubin
2.0 out of 5 stars
Review of God, If You're not up there
The book is not for me. The language is just too vulgar, perhaps I should have known that by the title. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous Memoir
I understand why a reviewer might have wished for a more heavily edited book or more details, but for me this was so very well done, so naturally told, and I read it in one... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. A. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
candid honest autobiography
First off, I'm a big SNL fan. Darrell Hammond is brilliant. So when I heard about this book I got it right away. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Linda Whitney
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising
I found this book surprising, I don't think anyone expected this out of Darrell Hammond. Good for him for being able to write about it.
Published 2 months ago by Kocese
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
It is a very good book. Reflects another funny man with a tragic home life. I would recommend it very much. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sara Warner
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