A humorous, anecdote-filled, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a television icon.

A collection of humorous poems by writers including Ellen Raskin, Karla Kuskin, Ogden Nash, and Arnold Lobel.

Whoever wrote "Make 'em laugh!" knew that it's easier said than done. But people love to laugh, and good comedy will always sell. With the help of this complete and entertaining guide, writers and would-be writers for film and television can look forward to writing comedy that goes far beyond stereotypic jokes and characters. In Laughing Out Loud, award-winning screenwriter and author Andrew Horton blends history, theory, and analysis of comedy with invaluable advice. Using examples from Chaplin to Seinfeld, Aristophanes to Woody Allen, Horton describes comedy as a perspective rather than merely as a genre and then goes on to identify the essential elements of comedy. His lively overview of comedy's history traces its two main branches—anarchistic comedy and romantic comedy—from ancient Greece through contemporary Hollywood, by way of commedia dell'arte, vaudeville, and silent movies. Television and international cinema are included in Horton's analysis, which leads into an up-close review of the comedy chemistry in a number of specific films and television shows. The rest of the book is a practical guide to writing feature comedy and episodic TV comedy, complete with schedules and exercises designed to unblock any writer's comic potential. The appendices offer tips on networking, marketing, and even producing comedies, and are followed by a list of recommended comedies and a bibliography. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 2000. Whoever wrote "Make 'em laugh!" knew that it's easier said than done. But people love to laugh, and good comedy will always sell. With the help of this complete and entertaining guide, writers and would-be writers for film and television can look forward

Internationally bestselling author Rowan Coleman delivers a heartwarming new tale about a recent divorcee who finds the courage to tackle her weight issues, her love life, and the dark family secret that has haunted her for years. Willow Briar (known as Will) is thirty-six-years old, five feet two, and a size eighteen. Now that she’s divorced, Will’s social life revolves around her job—working for her demanding talent agent boss Victoria Kincade—and her best friend Daniel Fayre, a successful fashion photographer for whom she harbors a secret crush. An identical twin, Will has struggled with her self-esteem for years—particularly when she looks at her slim, married, happy sister. One day she finds her luck suddenly turning around after buying a fabulous pair of vintage shoes that make her feel slimmer, taller, and sexier. These shoes seem to have a secret history, and Will starts to wonder if they are a little bit magic. Little does she know not even a magic eight ball could predict the shocking turn her life is about to take or that the courage she needs to confront her deep-seated issues will require more than a fashion makeover—it will take a life makeover. Armed with newfound confidence to begin her journey, Will finds the courage to face the dark family secrets of her past—and claim the future meant for her.

This book is an auxiliary of my Ministry of Laughter and to that end, it is my privilege and appointed duty to sprinkle as much laughter into the world until a psych squad scraps me down and hauls me away kicking and laughing. Laughter can save you from danger. It's true! I once made a street robber laugh so hard that he left me along and robbed my grandmother standing next to me. But granny wasn't one to hold a grudge. Instead of staying angry with me, she later asked me to teach her some one-liners. However, I discovered, years later after she died, that I was the only family member not in her will. Humor has been known to revive dying parties, bring people out of depression, and even restore health. Humor should be shared. What is the benefit of knowing a good joke or funny poem and get anal retentive with it? Not only will you enjoy the easy to remember poems alone but you can share a favorite selection before a boring meeting begins, share with a hospitalized friend, or at a party setting because a good laugh is always welcome. After you purchase this book, the next time you're in the mood for cheer sit down and flip through a few pages, you'll be glad you did... is my prayer.

"Tom Mullen shows how in this thoughtful/hilarious anatomy of the human laugh. He spends some time exploring just what makes humor tick--Why do we laugh? What does our laughter mean? What does our humor have to do with our health, our relationships, our faith? He suggests several possible answers in the course of this book." --Inside cover.

Volume contains: (People v. Mullens)