About book I Killed: True Stories Of The Road From America's Top Comics (2006)
If I've got my show biz/standup comedy terminology down, then the title of this book ought to start I Died instead of I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics. Because this thing died on stage. And apparently lay there for a week or two before anybody noticed. Definitely no belly laughs here, maybe a brief flicker of a smile or two. Maybe. But overall this is not a funny book. I refuse to tag it as humor on Goodreads. It would seem that Ritch Shydner and Mark Schiff, our comic hosts for this little tour, think that four letter words and sex with waitresses, strippers, and whoever else might have been available to lonely comics on the road (and the four letter word for sex) are the funniest things their fellow comedians could tell us and a close runner up is how ineptly and/or forcefully said comedians dealt with hecklers and horrendous gigs.I chose this book primarily because it helped me with Clue #3 in my Super Book Password Challenge. But I also sincerely thought I would enjoy it. With promises of stories from the likes of Jay Leno, Mike Myers, Jeff Foxworthy, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, Joan Rivers, and others, I expected better...and funnier. I was sorely disappointed. Not recommended. ★ is, I think, generous and I only give it one star in honor of the few funny bits--nearly all of which were by or in reference to older comedians (Bob Hope, Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters....).First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
As someone who put in 4 years in a Second City van, I was interested to see how stand-ups' road stories compared. The main differences: 1) more groupie and/or waitress sex. 2) More getting threatened by racists. 3) Much lonelier. This book will validate your choice to not become a standup comic.Some of these stories are f-in awesome. Most are super-funny, although I rolled my eyes at a couple comics who riddle their stories with hacky one-liners. Guys-- if I was interested in your material, I'd go catch your act.Also, the editor/compilers, stand-ups themselves, made the inexplicable choice to end a book of funny road stories with 3 consecutive Moving stories-- literally, "That's when I realized what comedy is about-- making those troops laugh" and "My Dad saw my act one more time before he died" for the last 3 stories. Nothing against the stories in and of themselves, but how do 2 career standups not know that, sure, you can make people think near the end of your set, but then you close with your biggest laugh?
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A must-read for any comedian or fan of comedy. I got a rare glimpse into the mysterious, often depraved, always hilarious lives of traveling working comedians.Some of my favorite moments:-The story Carlos Mencia shared about almost getting shot by Snoop Dogg. (And not just because I'd like to shoot Carlos Mencia...)-Ron White's story of tanking in LA and not returning until he had 15 years of road work under his belt.-All of the stories (and there are several) where a comic showed up at a Ku Klux Klan event.
—Benjamin
This book was very influential on me. As a stand-up comic, I read as many books on the subject as I could.This book is a simple collection of road stories from comedians you have\haven't heard of. Some stories are cute and funny while some are downright terrifying.Anything can happen in the world of stand-up comedy and that was the biggest takeaway from this book. Gigs are never the same, they are always different in some fashion, just like every day is. Always be on your toes and expect the unexpected.
—Dale Zawada
