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Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood
 
 
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Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood [Paperback]

Robby Benson (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 28, 2007

A Hollywood insider draws from his four decades of experience to create a scathingly brilliant and caustically comedic bird's-eye view behind the scenes of comedy television.

A wickedly delicious roman-a-clef about the making of a sitcom called My Urban Buddies, this satirical romp of a novel portrays life on the other side of the television lens, hilariously sending up self-serious Hollywood stereotypes across the board.

Programmed-for-success director J. T. Baker has to bring an up-and-coming sitcom to fruition after its initial director shoots himself in the head with a nail gun. Comically annotated with helpful and enlightening Hollywood glossary terms ("Creative-type director: One who has no hope of working in this town again"; "Eccentric: Affecting a style of dress, coiffure, speech, mannerisms, etc., carefully calculated to give the impression of creative credibility"), Benson creates an exaggerated world of crazy writers; backstabbing executives, agents, and producers; foul-mouthed everyone-elses; and hardcore cynics—and the ridiculous inner monologues behind them.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on his experience directing Friends, Benson offers in his debut a derivative parody of behind-the-scenes Los Angeles that fails to skewer any of its easy targets. Has-been sitcom director J.T. Baker, a passionate schmuck in a self-imposed exile from Hollywood, is picked to helm the hit show I LoveMy Urban Buddies (the biggest sitcom in eons) after his predecessor meets an unfortunate end via an unfaithful wife, a hot tub and a nail gun. Desperate for money and health insurance to cover his son's kidney dialysis treatment, J.T. accepts the assignment and flies to California. Upon his arrival, he clashes with Debbie, the voluptuous sexpot network liaison; Lance, the underqualified studio exec; and the married terrors Stephanie and Marcus Pooley, the show's creators. J.T.'s only ally on the lot is his friend Asher Black, who helps J.T. survive Marcus's lecherous casting sessions, puerile assistant directors, an on-set pederast and a cast of babied egoists. Benson's flat, one-dimensional characters are hard to take seriously, and readers may have a hard time sympathizing with the long-winded J.T., especially after he anoints himself the Sergeant at Arms of the Moral Police. Benson's background in the TV biz is apparent, but his roman à clef doesn't pop. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“’Who Stole The Funny?’ benefits from Mr. Benson’s deep knowledge of his subject matter...” (Wall Street Journal )

“An irreverent and hilarious stroll down the dark alleys of Hollywood’s TV landscape.” (Peter Bart, Editor in Chief, Variety )

Product Details

  • Paperback: 349 pages
  • Publisher: It Books (August 28, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061245003
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061245008
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Important book for those in Entertainment, September 15, 2007
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K-skill "K-skill.com" (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood (Paperback)
Who Stole The Funny is a fantastic book about how screwed up the entertainment industry has become. If you're in the industry or about to enter, this book does a great job at exposing how absurd things have become. Written by Robby Benson, no stranger to the field, this book is full of real life situations and characters disguised as fiction. I wouldn't doubt this will be turned into a movie.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Funny, November 25, 2007
This review is from: Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood (Paperback)
Benson gives a true insiders look at the absurdities of Hollywood in this hilarious novel. WHO STOLE THE FUNNY? Benson did--and put it all in this book.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Really funny, April 28, 2008
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This review is from: Who Stole the Funny?: A Novel of Hollywood (Paperback)
I happened to be shopping in Borders Book store when a crowd caught my attention. I asked who the rather good looking guy signing the books were and was told he was a 70's teen idol. His book looked interesting so I bought it but did not get an autograph. I later asked my mom had she heard of a Robby Benson and she went nuts...hahahaha. Now I wish I would have gotten an autograph. The book is hilarious i'm standing in lines at the store or banking and laughing out loud.
I've never seen any of Robby's movies but I give him credit for being a good author. If you are interested in a little inside look into hollywood and love to laugh get this book. It's well written and funny, and I wonder if not a little autobiographical.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
reality show, stole the funny, badder news, fake park, quad split, candy glass, number one show, shoot night
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Robby Benson, Marcus Pooley, The Hollywood Dictionary, Stephanie Pooley, Dick Beaglebum, Love My Urban Buddies, Kirk Kelly, Ron Copper, Phat Azz, Leo Thacker, Los Angeles, Jasper Jones, Agent Tiffy, Vincent Volari, Rocky Brook, Devon Driver, Staples Center, Directors Guild of America, Paddy Chayefsky, Ash Black, William Kay, Las Vegas, Loretta Nady, Stage Five, Lance Griffin
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ROBBY BENSON - A MAGICAL TALENT AMONG US 0 Jun 11, 2007
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