From Bush to Bush: The Lazlo Toth Letters (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Soon!, in less than two months, you will be going into office, and so I say, - Hello!..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lazio Toth, Bob Dole, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Comedian Novello, a.k.a. Lazlo Toth, is still at it: writing zany letters to famous people-to Bill Cinton, the Pope, Dubya-and sometimes getting replies. To President Clinton in 1996, Toth proposes that the solution for the Balkans is a "new multi-religion inspired religion," with Wednesday as its sabbath. He asks Pope John Paul II for the Church's position on whether Earth has a "mirror planet" on the other side of the Sun, and if such a planet exists, whether the Pope on that planet is also infallible (this letter appears not to have received a response). Al Gore is one of Toth's favorite epistolary targets. After the 2000 election, Toth writes to cheer him up about losing the election: "Be Positive! Stop saying that you're already thinking about running again in 2004. People are going to think you have nothing else to do." He suggests Gore consider dental school instead. For those who share Novello's wacky sense of humor, this third volume of Lazlo correspondence will bring many laughs.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Don't call Novello a one-trick pony. The early Saturday Night Live cast member and writer does at least two tricks. Out in public, he plays Father Guido Sarducci, a priest-caricature given to excruciating monologues on such matters as the bill for the last lunch. At home, he plays Lazlo Toth, writer of impertinent letters to political celebrities and big businesses. Typical Lazlo missives are the ones in this third collection of them complaining to Delta Air Lines on the assumption that the company has something to do with the Delta Partners that keeps him waiting for the crown for a broken tooth. Only the occasional insult in the letters is funny (e.g., Monica Lewinsky can't get a date except with a man who can't leave the house alone), so most of the book's laughs arise from the lameness of the replies Lazlo receives. No pol or business will risk telling a fool he's a fool. Hawking by Novello's fellow TV geeks will boost initial interest in this surefire next-year's-garage-sale item. Acquire with caution. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1 edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743251083
• ISBN-13: 978-0743251082
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #556,427 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lazlo Toth for Poet Laureate, January 20, 2004

By	Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Lazlo Toth is back with more of his hilarious letters. This is his third book of letters to corporations, politicians, religious leaders and anyone else he feels like writing to. Lazlo is a funny as ever, but the responses he receives aren't as funny as in his other books. Most of the time, he just receives a form letter, if they bother to write back at all. Still, a very funny book, if you share Don Novello's absurd sense of humor.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don Novello's done it again., October 13, 2003

By	Chuck Stepner (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

Don Novello a.k.a. Lazlo Toth has done it again.
As hilarious and insigtful a read as I've had this century.
The letters are as great as ever and the responses show these guys for what they are.
While reading I had to put it down more than a few times because I can't laugh that hard and read at the same time.
My only question...Don...what took you so long?
Get this book!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give the gift of laughter by giving someone this book!, December 9, 2003

By	Robert B. LIVINGSTON (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had the pleasure of meeting Don Novello at a book signing. He is such a sincere and intelligent person-- one of America's best wits.

Sadly, he said that this is his last "Lazlo Toth" book.

I almost described this book here as being "remorselessly" funny. But that would be incorrect. Don Novello's humor lacks any nuance of cruelty-- his is a quirky, kind humor. Biting, yes! But humane.

An abbreviated example:

England's Queen Mother, he notes in one letter, may be burdened by titles supreme and inconsequential-- but probably will never be bestowed the title of "designated driver".