Customer Reviews

Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the Same Woman, the Same Dog, and a Lot Less Hair

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2 star:		(1)
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Gary David Goldberg is the creator/co-creator of three major television series. Two of them were smash hits; the third was one of the best shows ever on and thus, almost by definition (alas), a flop. For the record they were/are "Family Ties", "Spin City", and the brilliant "Brooklyn Bridge". This memoir is on a par with any/all of them and will bring a smile and a tear to any sentient reader. Having said that, one must follow up with: "What's wrong with you people at Harmony Books?!?! Don't you have any respect for a (minor) classic?" The binding on, at least my copy of, the book seems "tenuous" at best; and where's the photo section the book cries out for? (Yes, the are photos on the end-papers... unidentified and uncaptioned). This is a fine reading experience. One can only wish that the publishing attained even half the level of the writing.

There are essentially two problems with this book. It is so engrossing it's hard to put down and you will get nothing else done. Two if you read it in public, as I did the first time, you will alter between laughing and crying so much that people will think you're a manic-depressive. Other than that you are good to go.

I was never a big fan of Gary Goldberg's TV shows -- "Family Ties," "Spin City" -- only because I haven't been too big of a TV fan in general. I am, however, a huge fan of funny, compelling, compassionate writing, and I couldn't read Goldberg's book fast enough. This is a clever, laugh-out-loud book that also can double as a primer on the insider's world of writing for network TV. I loved the way Goldberg played with chronology, switching back and forth in time, creating separate storylines that are each fascinating in its own way. My one fear was that, in the early chapters, Goldberg seems to live a charmed existence. Everything he touches turns to gold. Of course, outside of Donald Trump's wigmaker, no one escapes bad news for long, and the second half of the book finds Goldberg, his family, and his best TV friend, Michael J. Fox, all being severly tested. Throughout, Goldberg maintains his sense of humor as if that charmed existence of his had never been shaken to its core. Of course, the problem with racing through such a delightfully humane memoir is that I'm left without the pleasure of its company all too soon. Sigh!

By which I mean that it's possible the book's flashback, then-flash-flashback, then flash-flash-flashback, then flash-forward structure was a mistake.

The story's ending is certain--we already know it ends up with Goldberg rich and successful. So the telling of it might've had more pleasures to offer if we'd gone step-by-step along the way with him.

This is not to say the book has no pleasures. It's very much what you would expect from the creator of "Family Ties," (and-co-creator of "Spin City").

It's tender and affectionate in feel, with a relish for a funny story, and it tells some very funny ones indeed. (One such is the story of how he became a television producer after all of 18 months in the business. It's like someone touched him with a wand.)

But it's also, kind of, ultimately...without a point. This Gary David Goldberg fellow seems like a nice guy to whom more good things have happened than most...but when his story is over, you wonder where the Diet Coke commercial is.

Gary David Golberg had a successful career as a TV writer/producer, but his life story's just as entertaining as the shows he created...you'll particularly enjoy the story of how he met his wife Diana, their experiences trekking across Europe w/their dog Ubu (the namesake for Goldberg's production company), and getting back home to set up a home-based day care center and get Goldberg's TV career started, which leads to some interesting stories, such as:

- How Goldberg's much-beloved Brooklyn childhood served as the basis for his early 90s series, "Brooklyn Bridge" (and the factors that led to its cancellation after only a short run)
- How their aforementioned home day care center inspired his short-lived late 80s sitcom, "Day By Day"
- Michael J. Fox almost being passed over for the role of Alex Keaton on "Family Ties"
- The feud between Goldberg and Fox while working on "Spin City" that almost destroyed their longtime friendship

A great read for classic TV fans that's amusing, poignant, and intriguing...highly recommended!

This is a warm, funny, book that starts when he was out on his own, with his wife, and dog, UBU, and needed to give blood for money and his wife held up a $10.00 bill that he got (in Europe) reviving him after he passed out and woke up in an alley. There were many funny comments, and Gary's wife seems sweet, and it just basically tells about his life and how he got going in show business.
It is an entertaining book. You have to read it and see. It's definitely worth reading! There's so much more to talk about, but I do want to say that certain parts make you laugh out loud!! He's great!!

Overall, I liked the book, but I have a few problems with it.

First, the arrangement of the chapters is insane. I was incredibly frustrated reading this book and not for the writing. The writing is fine, the stories kept my interest for the most part. It would have been okay if Mr. Goldberg had started in the future and then flashed back to the beginning and show how he got to that point. Mr. Goldberg has written the chapters of his life by year but unfortunately rather than telling his story in a sensible manner, he jumps all over the place.

He goes from 1985 ==> 1972 ==> 1954 ==> 1972 ==> 1982 ==> 1969 ==> 1982 ==> 1972 ==> 1984 ==> 1974... you get the idea. At no point does the storytelling ever stabilize and proceed in a chronological order. The net result of this dyslexic approach is that just as I am getting into the inner workings of Family Ties, I get jerked back into the 1970s. If I am enjoying some tale of Mr. Goldberg's early years, it will end abruptly as I am once again redirected back to the future. I got to the end of the book and realized that he never explained how Family Ties came about (he starts with the casting of the show already in production, but how did he come up with the idea and how did he get the deal?).

My second problem is with Mr. Goldberg himself. His life goes from rags (self-imposed, not from his upbringing) to riches and he still stubbornly clings to empty, liberal, non-religious beliefs despite an abundance of experiences in his life which contradict this thinking.

For example, Family Ties was supposed to focus on the liberal hippie parents (modeled after Mr. Goldberg and his longtime girlfriend). However, audiences absolutely loved Alex Keaton. Mr. Goldberg readily admits that after only a few shows aired it was crystal clear that no one cared about the liberal hippie parents. Millions of Americans identified with the inventive, hard-working, business-minded Alex Keaton. The liberal parents who contributed nothing to society were of no interest to the legions of fans of the show. Mr. Goldberg was told to switch the focus of the show to the kids and he did. Millions of people can't be wrong, right? Yes they can, in Mr. Goldberg's confused mind these millions of fans are misguided. He writes:

"Whatever harsh theories or concepts Alex put forth, the audience simply refused to acknowledge the dark side of whatever he was saying."

What Mr. Goldberg fails to acknowledge is that the Alex Keatons of the world enabled him to live the hippie lifestyle of not paying taxes, using food stamps, and relying on the kindness of strangers. Mr. Goldberg does not connect the dots between his own entrepreneurship venture of running a day care center with Alex Keaton's ideas for finding a need and filling it. Mr. Goldberg sums up the 1980s as the time he made a lot of money, yet he defines Alex Keaton as greedy, not himself.

Mr. Goldberg talks about being Jewish, but he relies on psychics and the universe to give him guidance. Only when a family member is dying, does Mr. Goldberg turn to God. After that family member makes a miraculous recovery, Mr. Goldberg returns to his secular beliefs and attributes the cure to luck.

So there is no character arc, the man learns nothing from his life, but it is still an interesting life.

Goldberg writes like people think -- at least people from Brooklyn, the Bronx and those other boroughs. Simple words, simply wonderful. The Goldberg's adventure through life is a map for life.
Lopriore

What a refreshingly funny, sincere, and insightful read. I laughed out loud so many times I lost count. I loved the way he included just the right amounts of different aspects of his life, none dominating the story - his work in television, his adorable chocolate Lab Ubu, his friendships, and his heartwarming relationship with his wife Diana. It was simply delightful cover to cover. I read few books more than once; this will be one of them.

I've read sooooooo many books in my day, but this one has the charm, warmth and insight into Gary's humanity, that I couldn't put it down. Now what do I read????!!!! Please, Gary, write another one!!!