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I Must Say: My Life As a Humble Comedy Legend Paperback – July 21, 2015
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“Short’s endearing memoir is, of course, funny, but it’s also a rare thing: the tale of a genuine human being who’s thrived on planet Hollywood.” — Washington Post
In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz-obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his famous peers as the "comedian's comedian."
Short takes the reader on a rich, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking ride through his life and times, from his early years in Toronto as a member of the fabled improvisational troupe Second City to the all-American comic big time of Saturday Night Live, and from memorable roles in such movies as ¡Three Amigos! and Father of the Bride to Broadway stardom in Fame Becomes Me and the Tony-winning Little Me.
He reveals how he created his most indelible comedic characters, among them the manic man-child Ed Grimley, the slimy corporate lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the bizarrely insensitive interviewer Jiminy Glick. Throughout, Short freely shares the spotlight with friends, colleagues, and collaborators, among them Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Nora Ephron, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Shaffer, and David Letterman.
But there is another side to Short's life that he has long kept private. He lost his eldest brother and both parents by the time he turned twenty, and, more recently, he lost his wife of thirty years to cancer. In I Must Say, Short talks for the first time about the pain that these losses inflicted and the upbeat life philosophy that has kept him resilient and carried him through.
In the grand tradition of comedy legends, Martin Short offers a show-business memoir densely populated with boldface names and rife with retellable tales: a hugely entertaining yet surprisingly moving self-portrait that will keep you laughing—and crying—from the first page to the last.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Paperbacks
- Publication dateJuly 21, 2015
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.76 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100062309544
- ISBN-13978-0062309549
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“A self-deprecating book filled with funny anecdotes about his family and famous friends. . . . Short is by turns philosophical and endearingly goofy.” — USA Today
“Very entertaining, lovely new memoir. I read it and wished I had read it again. It is nothing but delightful.” — David Magee, screenwriter of Life of Pi and Finding Neverland
“I read it back to front and was surprised by its shocking beginning.” — Steve Martin
“I love this book...If you love comedy, you have to read this book. I don’t want it to end…every chapter is so fun and interesting and great.” — Jimmy Fallon
“Martin Short is a comedy superhero and this book is a peek inside his Fortress of Solitude.” — Amy Poehler
“As long as I’ve known him I’ve tried to figure out what makes Marty tick. Now I have to read this book to find out? What a rotten Canadian trick!” — Tom Hanks
“What a wonderful book! If only it was about someone else.” — Larry David
“This book, like Marty’s life, is a nutty-mahvelous affair.” — Paul Shaffer
“A true vaudevillian, Short is always on as he delivers funny anecdotes from a diffuse and storied career.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Short’s memoir is filled with all sorts of lovely anecdotes about…eccentric and endlessly interesting people.” — New York Magazine
“I loved the book. I loved everything in it.” — Rosie O'Donnell
“An engaging, often quite funny, story of a man’s life, with all of its highs and lows.” — Booklist
“Short’s endearing memoir is, of course, funny, but it’s also a rare thing: the tale of a genuine human being who’s thrived on planet Hollywood.” — Washington Post
“Short’s delightful memoir more than proves that he is a very funny comedian.” — Publishers Weekly
“This book is a wonderful combination of the very funny and the very poignant.” — Matt Lauer
From the Back Cover
In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz- obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his famous peers as the "comedian's comedian."
Short takes the reader on a rich, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking ride through his life and times, from his early years in Toronto as a member of the fabled improvisational troupe Second City to the all-American comic big time of Saturday Night Live, and from memorable roles in such movies as ¡Three Amigos! and Father of the Bride to Broadway stardom in Fame Becomes Me and the Tony-winning Little Me.
He reveals how he created his most indelible comedic characters, among them the manic man-child Ed Grimley, the slimy corporate lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the bizarrely insensitive interviewer Jiminy Glick. Throughout, Short freely shares the spotlight with friends, colleagues, and collaborators, among them Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Nora Ephron, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Shaffer, and David Letterman.
But there is another side to Short's life that he has long kept private. He lost his eldest brother and both parents by the time he turned twenty, and, more recently, he lost his wife of thirty years to cancer. In I Must Say, Short talks for the first time about the pain that these losses inflicted and the upbeat life philosophy that has kept him resilient and carried him through.
In the grand tradition of comedy legends, Martin Short offers a show-business memoir densely populated with boldface names and rife with retellable tales: a hugely entertaining yet surprisingly moving self-portrait that will keep you laughing—and crying—from the first page to the last.
About the Author
Martin Short is an Emmy- and Tony Award-winning Canadian-born actor and comic, adored for his work on SCTV and Saturday Night Live, as well as in such acclaimed movies as ¡Three Amigos!, Father of the Bride, and Inherent Vice, not to mention dozens of memorable talk-show, prime-time, and theatrical appearances, from TV's Damages to his one-man Broadway hit Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. He lives in Pacifc Palisades, California.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper Paperbacks; Reprint edition (July 21, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062309544
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062309549
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.76 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #93,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #136 in Comedy (Books)
- #839 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #3,137 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer.[1][2] He is known for his work on the television programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live. He has starred in comedy films, such as Three Amigos (1986), Innerspace (1987), Three Fugitives (1989), Father of the Bride (1991), Pure Luck (1991), Father of the Bride Part II (1995), Mars Attacks! (1996) and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), and created the characters Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley. He has won a Tony Award for Leading Actor in a Musical for the 1999 Broadway revival of Little Me.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Dominick D [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing quality wickedly talented and solid. They also describe the writing style as truly written from the heart and solid tome. Readers describe the intellectual quality as humble and appreciative, with an uncanny ability to stay positive. They find the emotional content unexpectedly touching and sensitive. They describe the life and experiences as very interesting and full. Customers also mention the content as funny, touching, and honest. They mention the characters as poignant, loving, and gentle. Overall, customers describe the book as an enjoyable memoir and a lovely sounding man.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book enjoyable, funny, and joyful. They also say the childhood stories are touching and show how the Canadian grew up. Readers also appreciate the razor sharp wit, impeccable timing, and lovely sounding voice.
"...His remarkable marriage to his wife Nancy is always described as a joyful, playful and stimulating union, and her comparatively early death in 2010..." Read more
"Martin Short is an interesting comedian and this book explains why. I especially liked the way he told you who he was gossiping about!" Read more
"...This book is incredibly funny - my family must have thought that I was having a heart attack, with the way I was struggling to hold on and breathe..." Read more
"This is a wonderful book, written by a deeply caring human being...." Read more
Customers find the characters poignant, funny, and personal. They also say the anecdotes are hysterical and tear their hearts out.
"...growth as a comic and actor in first Toronto, then the U.S., this is a gentle, funny and philosophical read...." Read more
"...His love of family is evident, and I would wish all people could feel that deeply and experience the kind of love Short had with his best friend......" Read more
"...His anecdotes were hilarious and his writing style made me feel as if I was sitting across from him in a very intimate conversation...." Read more
"Much better than your typical celebrity auto-bio, and at times very funny, but there are..." Read more
Customers find the writing style easy to get involved with, candid, and wonderful. They say the author is a good author and a wonderful person. They also say the book reads marvelously, like the author was sitting next to them.
"...in first Toronto, then the U.S., this is a gentle, funny and philosophical read...." Read more
"I read this book very quickly....his writing style was easy to get involved with...." Read more
"...are too inside Hollywood for outsiders, I found Martin Short to be a caring, sensitive man of resilience with an over abundance of theatrical talent...." Read more
"...Almost all of them have been very well written. Comedic entertainers have a very unique perspective on everything...." Read more
Customers find the content fascinating, self-deprecating, and touching. They also describe the book as a wonderful tome about overcoming adversity, being happy, and never giving up. Readers also mention that the book is entertaining, factual, and a good self-help guide.
"...and fellow celebrities, including his own friends and idols, in an honest and fearless, but sensitive and non-gratuitous way...." Read more
"...His love for his wife, ongoing, is truely inspiring and I liked the items about after with both wife and brother...." Read more
"...for outsiders, I found Martin Short to be a caring, sensitive man of resilience with an over abundance of theatrical talent...." Read more
"...His "Nine Categories" are as good a self-help guide as you'll ever see." Read more
Customers find the writing quality smart, wickedly talented, and real. They say it's an intimate look at his career through the lens of the unique love he has. Customers also say it’s interesting to hear Mr. Short’s stories and learn about the personal.
"...I came away thinking that Martin Short was a really great, genuine, brilliant guy...." Read more
"...and conversations with his family of origin, he shows incredible talent and creativity...." Read more
"...book will make you laugh many times, but you'll also be impressed by his serious side...." Read more
"...Live, then films like Three Amigos and Father of the Bride....a very talented, and very funny guy...." Read more
Customers find the book unexpectedly touching, yet sensitive. They also say it has great energy, heart, and humor.
"Martin Short's memoir is a very likable and touching account of his life thus far...." Read more
"...including his own friends and idols, in an honest and fearless, but sensitive and non-gratuitous way...." Read more
"...It was difficult to read but Martin handles it with great sensitivity...both for his reader as well as himself...." Read more
"...The book is a fast read and I found it very funny, entertaining and touching." Read more
Customers find the book intellectually good, with a candid reveal of Martin Short's life. They also appreciate his humble and appreciative attitude, and say the book is interesting to get some details of their lives.
"...mentions of his friends and other entertainers—a fascinating glimpse into others while humanizing—I’m more interested in also reading their..." Read more
"This is a wonderful book, written by a deeply caring human being...." Read more
"...friends is dished up with warmth and appreciation, and enough personal details are given to keep up readers' interest, but not so intimate that they..." Read more
"...Yes, he is witty and what an incredibly kind, decent, and honest man...." Read more
Customers find the book very interesting, engrossing, and entertaining. They also appreciate the cute items of positive celebrity gossip about colleagues such as Tom Hanks and Steve Martin. Readers describe the book as a wonderful look at Short's life told by the man himself. They mention that the book is a stimulating union, a great history lesson in Canadian and American comedy, and that the author shares his personal life with ease.
"...to his wife Nancy is always described as a joyful, playful and stimulating union, and her comparatively early death in 2010 brings a sorrowful, but..." Read more
"...friends and idols, in an honest and fearless, but sensitive and non-gratuitous way...." Read more
"...Some cute items of positive celebrity gossip about colleagues such as Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, John Candy and Gilda Radner, with whom he had a..." Read more
"...There are touching tidbits without unnecessary gossip about Gilda Radner (his ex girl friend), Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and..." Read more
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Martin Short, as one would expect, knows everyone, and is quite close to many of the bigger names in show business (Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Steve Martin and his wife Ann, to name a few, and of course the Second City Toronto crew of Gilda Radner, John Candy, Andrea Martin, et al), so we read about some riotous times involving them. (He actually dated Radner, which he describes as fairly bombastic. She brought a lot of insecurities to the relationship.)
When they found they couldn't have children, he and his wife adopted three, and it's clear that they were spectacular and loving parents. There is occasionally a sense of regret in his prose, one that wishes he had gotten more recognition, or work, or something. At one point, he bemoans that fact that his career "almost" took off. I'm not sure how anyone could say that Martin Short does not have a successful career, but he is saying it sometimes. Many of his endearing characters - and there are dozens - put in an appearance in the memoir, and are always welcome reminders of his fertile imagination and sweet nature.
Also I really liked the mentions of his friends and other entertainers—a fascinating glimpse into others while humanizing—I’m more interested in also reading their autobiographies now because of Marty mentioning them.
And for the critics who didn’t like hearing so many “names drops”—I guess they really just wanted to hear more about Marty himself. I just saw it as him talking about people he actually knows and is proud to know them as they are influential in his life.
I especially liked the stories of him and his wife Nancy and their family.
Short gives all of the "juicy" stories about his life and fellow celebrities, including his own friends and idols, in an honest and fearless, but sensitive and non-gratuitous way. He's got stories in here about everyone from Frank Sinatra to George Harrison to Steve Martin and Tom Hanks and all of the usual suspects. This book is incredibly funny - my family must have thought that I was having a heart attack, with the way I was struggling to hold on and breathe - but I was close to tears when he described his loved ones and friends in such a touching way.
Short intersperses the personal tales with short chapters about his various characters. It's a great design for a book, and I am sure that many people would enjoy it, but I was less drawn to those chapters than I was to the personal stuff. The photos are terrific, though!
I came away thinking that Martin Short was a really great, genuine, brilliant guy. It's written in a conversational, immediately compelling style, as if Short were telling you himself. One of the best books I've read! If you read any celebrity memoir this year, let this be the one!
Martin Short's book tells why being bored is a good thing - it forces you to be creative. From plays and conversations with his family of origin, he shows incredible talent and creativity. No matter the level of fame, he remains completely human - vulnerable to the curves we all face through life, and bringing creativity and humor to his own family. I would LOVE to attend one of his parties, especially the Christmas party which sounds like a highlight of the year for many.
He reminds us that life is always filled with choice. Things happen - sometimes terrible things - but we still have a choice in how we respond to those events. You can get mired down with anger, depression, grief, etc., or you can continue pushing through. He reminds us of the important things in life - family, friends, and passion for whatever you decide to do. His love of family is evident, and I would wish all people could feel that deeply and experience the kind of love Short had with his best friend... his wife.
Martin Short lays bare his creative genius (and those other creative talents from SCTV and SNL) while remaining a humble human being. He truly *is* a humble comedy legend. I'll be reading this one again.