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I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics (Hardcover)

by Ritch Shydner (Author), Mark Schiff (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Some of the funniest—and most outrageous—stories a comedian has don't get told onstage. They're passed around after hours and derive from the bizarre intersection of travel, intoxicants and the colorful characters on the fringes of the comedy world. (A little poverty can't hurt—the best stories from "top comics" often come from the early days.) In this collection, Ron Shock tells of being goaded by outlaw comic Bill Hicks into dropping acid before a show, infuriating the audience and escaping just in time. Jay Leno recounts how he accidentally left a groupie tied to her bed overnight—and she loved it. Black comic Alonzo Bodden recalls ripping into a redneck from the stage and having audience members tell him later that his target ran the local Klan. Shydner, early in his career, performed regularly at a variety of bars around Washington, D.C., and found himself opening for a riled-up audience eager to see the Ramones. He suffered through a "beer shower," and one of the Ramones thought that was his act: human beer sponge. Jerry Seinfeld, in his foreword, calls comedy "one of the Great Jobs"; this volume makes for excellent bathroom reading—and that's a compliment. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
In a hilarious look at real life on the comedy circuit, some of America's most famous comics share their own stories of life on the road, gigs gone wrong, and unexpected, zany moments, with contributions by Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Bill Maher, Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, and others. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Crown (October 3, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0307341992
  • ISBN-13: 978-0307341990
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #503,558 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics
74% buy the item featured on this page:
I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics 4.4 out of 5 stars (33)
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Customer Reviews

33 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (4)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (33 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Really fun read, October 3, 2006
The Publishers' Weekly review on this page says this book is fantastic "bathroom reading." I guess they mean that it's perfect for people who don't always have time to sit down and read for an hour or two at a stretch. Because the stories in here are so short, it's easy to read for ten minutes, get a few complete stories and good chuckles, and then put the book down for next time. There are well over a hundred stories in here so if you read the book this way it'll last you for a while!

The feeling of the book is a bit like the documentary The Aristocrats-- you get the feeling that the comics are not "performing" but just sitting back and exchanging their favorite crazy stories. Not all the stories are hilarious, but most of them are very entertaining and there are some that will stick in my mind for a LONG time. Some of the stuff these guys confess to is great--Chris Rock talking about call girls, Tom Arnold about murdering goldfish, many, many stories of one-night stands and drug use. I think my favorite story has to be Doug Stanhope's one about the 5-dollar streetwalker who turns out to have a couple of surprises hidden away. I also loved the one about the comic's mother and Rodney Dangerfield.

This is also a good book for anyone interested in the history of comedy--along with all the contemporary stuff, there are lots of stories about legendary comedy greats like Rodney Dangerfield, Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman (Bob Zmuda contributes a great story about the Tony Clifton character).

This book doesn't go for the gross-out humor nearly as much as The Aristocrats did, but because it shows comics talking how they REALLY talk, it is definitely PG-13 or R-rated. But if you don't need your humor to be squeaky, sit-com clean (I certainly dont) then you will really get a kick out of this book.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars These stories elicit chuckles and Guffaws, October 28, 2006
This book takes you into the comedy trenches and excavates some of the greatest comedic anecdotes ever. Not only are the longer stories great but there are short segments that are really funny as well. The Tony Clifton and Kevin Pollack stories were my two favorites but I loved them all. The pacing of the book was great. I can't wait for volume 2.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this Book (used): it'll save you money, February 1, 2007
I am amazed that no one thought of writing this book sooner. Hysterical, brilliant, an enjoyable read. A few stories aren't so funny but that just gives you a chance to catch your breath from laughing so hard. BTW: After reading this rent Seinfeld's movie "Comedian" which goes well with this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I Killed....I laughed...a lot!
Having known Ritch for a long time and being a fan of comedy, every story he has ever told me has been entertaining. Read more
Published 11 months ago by R. Durkin

5.0 out of 5 stars Wicked funny!
This book is a riot! Anyone who appreciates great stand-up comedy will enjoy reading this behind-the-scenes look at life on the road for stand-ups. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Loren A. Scott

5.0 out of 5 stars As insane as the comedians themselves!
These stories are insane. Some vulgar, some hilarious, and some downright disturbing. A must read for the noob comedian, fan of comedy or anyone with a funny bone. Read more
Published 16 months ago by JPEZ

3.0 out of 5 stars Should have dug deeper......
It was a good book, although I thought there could have been more in depth coverage of the comics. Having been on "Road Tours" before, I know there is a lot more that goes on... Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. M. Qualman

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Are Hilarious!
As noted in the summary, this is a series of short stories, virtually all under three pages, written by comics of humorous road travel. Read more
Published 18 months ago by R. Spell

4.0 out of 5 stars A peek behind the curtain, but not THAT funny.
I really did enjoy this book and some of the insider stories are very interesting. However, the book has very few laugh out loud moments and features more smile inducers than... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Kevin W. Campigotoot

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique collection of road stories from comics
As a former road comic for ten years, I found this book an honest and funny representation of life on the road. It was a fast, fun read. Read more
Published 20 months ago by John Jesionowski

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy the funny and depraved lives of stand up artists!
I Killed is a collection of real life experiences and anecdotes from today's top stand up comedians like Drew Cary, Ron White, Paul Reiser, Mike Myers, Jay Leno, Chris Rock,... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Robert Nolan

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and depraved...I loved it!!!
When I first saw this book, I feared it would be a bunch of sanitized, corny stories, the last thing I wanted to read was cleaned up road tales watered down for the Full House... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Max

3.0 out of 5 stars Not laugh out loud funny...
While the majority of these stories are definitely entertaining, I wasn't rolling on the floor by any means. Read more
Published 22 months ago by William Conner

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