Customer Reviews

Wake Me When It's Funny: How to Break into Show Business and Stay (Newmarket Insider Filmbooks)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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This book is a must for Garry's fans. It's funny and heartfelt. The forward, written by sister Penny, is hilarious. This book lets us all into the heart of one of America's funniest men. I have read this book half a dozen times and am looking forward to reading it again. If you love Garry, you'll love this book.

I used to think I was in love with Garry Marshall because of his films and sitcoms, but now it's because he's truly a fine person. Read the book and I think you'll agree. If you're a screenwriter thinking about writing for sitcoms, this should be required reading. I'm more of a spec writer, so I just enjoyed the stories and laughs. This is a story of one of the most successful people in Hollywood and more importantly, a good father, brother, son, and grandfather.

This surprisingly bland book about a Hollywood producer is poorly organized and frustrating to read. Instead of going through his career and clearly discussing each major production, Garry Marshall mixes everything together, jumping from show to show within the same paragraph and often making no sense. And his "jokes" on the written page are just not funny, so he never actually is able to explain his own success.

Considering the family material he had to work with there should have been much more insight and depth into his background, but instead there are just surface stories of growing up and odd events (maybe because his daughter co-wrote it?). When it gets to his career he just kind of falls into everything and doesn't really explain what his life was like as a struggling writer other than a few off-hand references to staying up all night or smoking things that weren't cigarettes. It all sounds way too easy.

Many of the stories about how shows got on the air are very familiar to those in the business and Marshall fills in a few extra details. But he might not have all of his facts straight--he says at one point about network programmer Fred Silverman, "Fred had been the head of NBC and spent his days trying to figure out a way to beat Happy Days in the ratings. Now he was the head of ABC and preoccupied with keeping Happy Days at the top of the Nielsen charts." That's not true. Fred Silverman had left CBS for ABC and had roundly defeated Happy Days at his old network (Silverman went to NBC AFTER he left ABC). After the move from CBS to ABC Silverman then saved Marshall's show, which should have been cancelled, and turned it into a top hit. So instead of using the book to point out Silverman's role in Happy Days success, Marshall writes revisionist history. Those facts are all pretty easy to research, so one wonders what else in the book is wrong.

He has known many, many major comedy figures, but that too just gets the surface treatment here. He even refuses to name a couple in some of his best stories, which is really frustrating. He doesn't seem to want to hurt anyone's feelings and that makes for a dull book. For example, this is the third book in the past year where I've read about Joey Bishop's shocking mistreatment of writers, but Marshall (who was a writer for Bishop) does nothing but praise the guy and glosses over the star's blow-ups.

Marshall certainly has a lot of advice to give others and provides lessons galore. He'll tell a mediocre story and then finish it with a lesson to the reader. The problem is that not all of his experiences are universal and therefore what may have been his lesson may not apply to others in the business. He also has a weird habit of quoting authors and philosophers that have nothing to do with what he's talking about.

This book should have been fantastic. He has had major TV successes and big flops. You don't get a feel for any of that. His sister had one of the biggest on-set feuds in TV history and he devotes less than two pages to it, never explaining it beyond a misunderstanding. He had one giant movie and one giant film embarrassment, but he treats them both the same. If he can't discern the difference and dig deep inside himself to try to figure out what works and what doesn't, then the book becomes just a series of musings of an old-timer who either can't remember all the details or chooses not to print them.

This book is a joy! Garry Marshall is a fine writer of jokes for stand-up comedians of yore, sitcoms &, apparently, of full-length show biz autobiographies. He discusses his life in an extremely entertaining way. His asides - about moviemaking, camerawork & tips on the directing/producing process - are enjoyable for everyone, not just aspiring filmmakers. There are (truly) laugh out loud sections as well (Two Words: Kathi Wathi)...this is a man who seems to live his life with passion & decency & drive, ALWAYS with the added bonus of humor. Yes, he dishes the "dirt" about his celeb peers, but in a completely non-malicious way. Best of all, here's a man who accomplishes much but doesn't take himself too seriously. Good-humored, good-hearted, crisply written & hilarious. Can't recommend this book highly enough!

A most amazing book about a most amazing man. Follow Mr. Marshall's assertive and generally hilarious approach to breaking into the world of comedy writing - and beyond. The book is a bit of a family affair (forward by sister Penny Marshall, and co-authored by daughter, Lori) chronicling his often hysterical trek from an allergy-laden childhood to the life of a very successful actor, writer, producer, and director. I've had the unique pleasure of meeting this man in person, and he truly is as determined, grounded and compassionate a man as this book reflects...all with that sparkling sense of humor!

No need to be woken ... it IS funny. Garry the master of comedy. If your starting in "Show-Biz" it's a must read.

The Marshalls and Television viewers are all privileged to have had Gary in our lives.

Garry Marshall writes like he talks: FUNNY. His tales of happiness, hard work and inspiration are as entertaining as they are informative. This book has no lag, and actually should serve as a textbook to aspiring directors. I loved this book.

Garry Marshall is a true gem in Hollywood. He is a beloved and respected producer/director/writer/actor who never takes himself too seriously to appreciate life and his family and friends. In his own humorous way, Garry tells his story from his humble beginnings to his incredible career in TV and film. He has worked with some of the top actors in Hollywood and it is a total delight to read about the behind the scenes making of HAPPY DAYS, MORK AND MINDY and LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY along with his films BEACHES, FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, NOTHING IN COMMON and PRETTY WOMAN. Garry tells it like it is and doesn't hold back when talking about actors and studio executives. He also admits to his fondness for nepotism. Good timing and luck put Garry in the right place at the right time and he shared his good fortune with his sister Penny Marshall by helping launch her career. The book is filled with insight and revelations. Garry's anecdotes are too humorous to miss. How did they come up with the famous opening for LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY? How did he come to cast Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in MORK & MINDY? Despite budget restraints, Garry was able to create a very memorable opening for Bette Midler in the film BEACHES. It's fascinating to read how Garry created some of our most beloved TV shows and films. When a problem arose with a production, Garry found a solution. He never hestitates to admit to his failures and mistakes and never fails to give credit to others who have supported him. WAKE ME WHEN IT'S FUNNY is inspiring and a great motivator for anyone trying to aspire in any field...not just TV or film. Garry's honest and down to earth insight will leave the reader wanting more.

Pretty Woman has been my favorite movie since I saw in in the theater at the age of fifteen and since then Garry Marshall has been my favorite director. But Garry proved what a great person he is when I attended a book signing for this book back in 1995. I was only twenty, and pretty much the only young woman in line. Most of the people in line were young men giving him treatments, which really disgusted me. But when I finally got up there I just stared at him, the first thing he said to me was that I was very pretty, so I started crying like the girl that I am. He held my hands and just smiled at me, and I told him that Pretty Woman was my favorite movie and thanked him for making it and told him that I wanted to be an actress, so he signed my book "Andrea a very Pretty Woman here's hoping you Happy Days as an actress." that made me cry as well:) His daughter Lori was also very sweet which just proves what a great dad he is as well.

As for the book, of course it's fabulous! You get to learn behind the scenes info on, of course Pretty Woman, but all his other shows and movies as well. His sense of humor cracks me up, especially when he overheard someone talking about Exit To Eden saying "That movie was so bad he doesn't deserve to be Penny Marshalls father!" I laughed SOO hard at that. Not to mention that you can't help but love a director who thanks his wife at the end of every one of his films.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the ends and outs of the entertainment industry from a vetern who knows what he's talking about!:)