Customer Reviews

The Lazlo Letters

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During the classic years of Saturday Night Live, I would always check the opening credits to see if Don Novello or Andy Kaufman would be on that night, my two favorite comedians, both writers of completely original, completely crazy bits.

The Lazlo Letters (TLL) shows Novello as a writer who, like Kaufman, totally commits to his comic premise. In this case, the premise took twenty years of letter writing to make happen. This book is truly great American satire, busting the pretensions of corporations and celebrity icons in a truly original way.

The fact that Novello's original concept is hilarious is proven by the reams of pissant imitators who ripped him off

Well, Novello has written a funny sequel CITIZEN LAZLO, which I'd also recommend.

The hell with 'em, Lazlo! Fight! fight! fight!

This was one of the first prank letter books ever published. Several books have tried to follow the originality of Lazlo Letters but pretty much fail, with two exceptions: Letters From a Nut - by Ted Nancy (possibly Jerry Seinfeld) and Hire Me Dumbass by Joe Mozian. Own all three and you have the best of this hilariously underrated genre. But Lazlo Letters especially is a must have.

Don Novello (formerly known as Father Guido Sarducci from the "Saturday Night Live" of the 1970s and 1980s) has compiled a comic gem with this collection of his letters to corporations, mayors, presidents--even Saudi princes.

Lazlo Toth, Novello's hilariously opaque and irony-free alter ego charges forth into the world under the motto, "You send out letters, you get back letters, that's for sure!" He sends out letters on essentially NOTHING to everyone he can think of, and he gets back letters which are sometimes side-splitting in their serious response to his blather. The Mister Bubble correspondence is a classic in which Toth complains to the Mister Bubble company that he doesn't understand how he is supposed to make use of their product when the box clearly states, "KEEP DRY." The ensuing letters back and forth are golden comedy.

Such an amazing & hilarious compilation of letters and responses! My sister-in-law had these books for years, and I always pulled them out to re-read every time I visited. She finally gave them to me for a recent birthday. You can re-read this book (and its companion volume "Citizen Lazlo") over and over and they never lose their edge.

To truly appreciate this book, it needs to be placed into perspective. It was originally published in 1977, and the letters span late 1973 through November 1976. The main (although not sole) thread is Watergate and its various actors. You need to remember the mood of the country at the time, and then understand the methods of Don Novello - liberal comic - posing as Lazlo Toth - uber-patriotic & unreconstructed Nixon man.

In this book (unlike some of the second), the respondents - not in the joke - reply (mostly) with heartfelt thanks to whom they assume is a true believer. One can only imagine their reactions when they see their earnest repsonses in print and placed in this hilarious context.

The very idea of writing crank letters and publishing the responses is funny enough, but Novello's wit takes it to a nearly unimaginable level of humor. It's true, as another reviewer suggests, that some of the humor will fly over the head of those unknowing of 1970's politics and popular culture. But that's only part of the book. Most of the exchanges can be understood by anyone who reads carefully and ponders the subtext of ridiculousness with which the author toys. Most impressive are the series of letters in which Lazlo's fictional voice gets more and more exasperated as the replies fail to comprehend his point. The identity of who is playing the fool becomes blurrier and blurrier as corporate drones try to answer his outlandish queries. This is a milestone of American humor.

I had read Letters from a Nut by Ted Nancy and was made aware of the original Lazlo letters. Having read the book, I was, of course, entertained.

We see the world through the eyes of Lazlo Toth, American Hero. A man who berates the Hershey Corporation upon receiving a deformed M&M. A man who "congradulates" Richard Nixon repeatedly for taking on all those "Commie newsmen." A man who writes new lyrics to The Lady is a Tramp and submits his version, The Lady is a Queen, to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Having read Nancy's book first, I must say that I found that book to have more entertainment (the idea of a bus passenger dressed as a giant stick of butter still continues to amuse me) than Toth's "Fight! Fight! Fight!" But you can't knock an original, and all will enjoy Lazlo's letters and his courteous replies from those who can't decide whether or not Lazlo is for real!

In the Mae Brussell Collection, I came across this wonderful book by Don Novello. Humerous, educational, empathetic, insightful - it is a must read. I assume that Don Novello (Lazlo) still has the original letters he received from the powerful public figures to whom he wrote. If so, I hope that he prices these ageless treasures and publishes a book detailing the current worth of his priceless collection. Curators, such as myself, would love to see that sequel.

Long before the less thoughtful and often ridiculous "Letters from a Nut," Don Novello's alter ego, Lazlo Toth, was already making a name for himself in the world of politics and big business. Perhaps the funniest thing about this book (and the succeeding volume) is the emergence of Lazlo's oddball personality in his oft-misspelled but earnest proposals, congratulations, and complaints. Though some of the subject matter hasn't aged very well, this is still hilarious stuff.

Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) is a prince among the creative geniuses of the 1970's and beyond. The Lazlo Letters is a masterpiece of comedic concept writing.

The first time I bought this book, it was selling $2.95 (yes, I still have it and that was the new cover price!). Even for whatever it costs now, it is still priceless.

It's one of those books I like to keep around to give out as a gift to friends and family. Everyone who ever got it from me told me they laughed and loved every page.

My only regret is that one of the follow up books (there are two) was on back order and never arrived.

Get this book and have a good laugh with still another one of Don Novello's alter egos.

If you're into cynical, sarcastic humor this is a must read. Half the fun is that no one knows that they're the butt of a joke & would be mortified if they knew how many people were reading it & laughing at them. This of course is my favorite type of humour but if you're not into it than I'd stay away from this one. Overall it gets two thumbs up. Stand up for our president! Fight, fight, fight!