Letters from a Nut [Hardcover]

Ted L. Nancy (Author), Jerry Seinfeld (Introduction)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 1997

Who is Ted L. Nancy?
He's a concerned hotel guest searching for a lost tooth...

He's a superstitious Vegas high-roller who wants to gamble at a casino in his lucky shrimp outfit...

He's the genius inventor of "Six Day Underwear"...

He's a demanding dramatist seeking an audience for his play about his 26-year-old dog, Cinnamon...

He's the proud owner of Charles, a 36-year-old cat who owes his longevity to a pet food company...

He's a loyal fan of the King of Tonga...

He is, in reality, a twisted prankster -- a supremely off-kilter alter ego who sends patently ridiculous letters and queries to (and receives surprisingly earnest responses back from) corporate honchos, entertainment conglomerates, national publications, politicians, celebrities and heads of state to everyone, in fact, from the president of the Bon Ami Cleanser Company to U.S. Vice President Al Gore.  

Letters From A Nut is an insanely inspired, truly madcap collection of Nancy correspondence, a laugh-out-loud-in-public-places aggregation of official -- and officially certifiable -- requests, complaints, fan mail and questions that could not possibly have been taken seriously...but, amazingly, were!

Dear Mr. Nancy:"It is not often that we receive such enthusiastic support for the paper bag." --The Paper Bag Council

"On behalf of Greyhound, there should be no problem traveling while in your butter costume." --Greyhound Bus Lines

"I look forward to working with you to create a better future for this great nation." -- Vice President Al Gore

"An unending stream of some of the most hilarious exchanges I've ever read. Everyone I lent this book to just read it and laughed out loud like I did. It's so simple, yet totally inventive. I'm sure some sort of mail fraud charges could be brought to stop this man but, personally, I hope they never catch him." --Jerry Seinfeld

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What if you wrote to the Baseball Hall of Fame offering to donate a full set of Mickey Mantle's toenail clippings? Why, they'd be glad to have 'em--even if you are "a Level 4 bed-wetter." Cooperstown is only one of many institutions terrorized in Letters from a Nut, a collection of crazed correspondence by Ted L. Nancy. The name is a pseudonym, perhaps for Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote the introduction. Seinfeld never comes clean, but the yocks sure sound like his material. And the letters have his prints all over them--who else would write the L.A. Lakers posing as a rabid fan who wears pants with a see-through back end, "for medical reasons"? Whoever wrote it, the book's a real lark. Where else can you meet "Pip, the Mighty Squeak," a man who gambles in a giant shrimp costume, or a corn that looks like Shelley Fabares? Only inside the fevered brain of Ted L. Nancy--whether he's Jerry Seinfeld or not.

Review

"I look forward to working with you to create a better future for this great nation." -- Vice President Al Gore

"It is not often that we receive such enthusiastic support for the paper bag." -- The Paper Bag Council

"On behalf of Greyhound, there should be no problem traveling while in your butter costume." -- Greyhound Bus Lines

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: It Books; 1 edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380973545
• ISBN-13: 978-0380973545
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.8 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ted L. Nancy is a pseudonym used by Barry Marder. Finally the long national nightmare is over. Jerry Seinfeld unmasked the true author of the "Letters From A Nut" books on Larry King Live and The Today Show with Matt Lauer. (To View: Tedlnancy.com)

Mr. Nancy writes earnest letters to Icelandic malls, German theme parks, Norms Barbershop, shoe museums, waffle cone businesses, and an Indian Casino asking to sell ham sandwiches in their restroom. And publishes them along with their equally sincere but hilarious responses. He does this so that others may enjoy it. His letters include: Telling Ralphs Supermarket he bought a haunted sponge from them. Asking an Amsterdam hotel if he can check in with 300 hamsters for his production of Hamsterdam. And warning the telephone company installer about his Electronic Belching Machine on his patio.

His books on Amazon.com are under Ted. L. Nancy or Jerry Seinfeld. No one else. He has no affiliation with any other books or DVD's except what is on this Author's Page. He is proud that his books are suitable for all ages. Many teachers use them in their classrooms as learning tools for students. Mr. Nancy has moved to Glendale, California to be near the Turkish paranormal community. (of which he has attended a meeting) He does not like olives! Visit his website at tedlnancy.com

Barry Marder is a comedian, former writer on "Seinfeld" and the co-writer of Dreamworks' animated hit "Bee Movie." He was a writer for Bill Maher, Jay Leno, & David Letterman. He has performed at most major theaters in the United States as opening act for Jerry Seinfeld. He has also written with George Carlin.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute scream...but who's the NUT?? September 4, 2001

By Joel L. Gandelman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

When Jerry Seinfeld introduces Ted L. Nancy's Letters from a Nut you know it's not going to be just another humor book. The premise is simple: Nancy (is it Jerry Seinfeld? Or Jerry's former collaborator Larry David? Or does Nancy exist -- or is he really some very SERIOUS author having fun?) writes seemingly serious, off-the-wall letters to various companies and indivduals. Some of the funniest are to hotels. In a 1996 letter he writes to the Las Vegas Hilton, saying he has saved up a long time for an Elvis concert and wants to make reservations for the croaked King's Sept 1996 show. Sometimes (as in the Hilton's letter)he gets back a form letter ignoring his letter's contents. Or sometimes, such as when he writes a hotel asking if they found his lost tooth, they answer seriously...as does the Disneyland Hotel, when he writes and asks if he could check in with his own ice machine (the hotel says no). This is laugh-out-loud stuff that you won't be able to put down: a letter to Nordstrom asking to buy a mannequin that looks like his deceased best friend; a letter to the University of Alabama praising the CITY of Alabama, etc. In each case, the complete letter is shown plus the often puzzled response. One note: this is modern "ironic" humor which means the humor isn't in just reading a single letter. It lies in reading the letter and THEN the response (or seeing a nonresponse). Nancy writes even nuttier follow up letters. FOOTNOTE: There are several additional books in the "Letters" series and they are all wonderfully, incredibly nutty. I own all three.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Group or Family Reading November 4, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a hilarious look at our culture. It is mischevious without being mean. It can be read aloud, and in short spurts. I confess that I am stopping on the way home tonight to buy stamps....watch out

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Who Is This Guy??? October 22, 2002

By L. Shirley TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

This is a very funny book for a one time read. It's best on the coffee table as an ice breaker for people to pick up and take a gander at. Once they do they will start reading these letters and the replys to them out loud.
Ted L. Nancy writes letter's. He writes to EVERYONE! He writes to hotels, with special requests. Requests that are so outrageous, it's funny that he is actually taken seriously by them. He may ask if he can bring some of his own furniture with him, or if he can have special security because he looks "just like Abe Lincoln", and it's so close to President's day that he doesn't want to get mobbed. He writes to Pet food companies telling them he has a 28 year old dog, and has been using their brand,and would they give him advice for senior dogs. He writes to candy bar companies, suggesting new names for candies,baseball card companies saying he has Mickey Mantle's toenail clippings, and so much more.
In some cases the responses are funnier than the letters. Some will brush him off politley, saying there are no reservations for the day he wants to visit, or they maybe interested in his clippings, could he send a polaroid of them, some send coupons for 50 cents off the candy but are not interested in any new names.
You can open up to any page and get a good laugh. But don't read the last letter first!! Save it for the end.
It's not a book that you can read again right away,or from cover to cover, as some of the letters do get a little repetative, but if you know someone who is a little down or laid up and could use a good laugh this is perfect.
There is an introduction by Jerry Seinfeld, talking about how he "found" some of these letters on a freinds coffee table and thought they would make a great book. Do Ya think? Nah. He couldn't be. Could he?
Enjoy.......Laurie

for something different and funny:
Cousin Tina Disappears