An American comic icon tells the story of his second-act rise
from obscurity to multimedia stardom.
"When I was a kid," writes Rodney Dangerfield, "I worked tough
places in show business--places like Fonzo's Knuckle Room. Or
Aldo's, formerly Vito's, formerly Nunzio's. That was a tough joint.
I looked at the menu. They had broken leg of lamb." For once, one
of America's most beloved comic icons isn't kidding. Dangerfield
has seen every aspect of the entertainment industry: the
rough-and-tumble nightclubs, the backstage gag-writing sessions,
the drugs, the hookers, the lousy day jobs - and the red-carpet
star treatment. As he traces his route from a poor childhood on
Long Island to his enshrinement as a comedy legend, he takes
readers on a roller-coaster ride through a life that has been
alternately touching, sordid, funny, raunchy, and uplifting - equal
parts "Little Orphan Annie" and "Caligula." And unlike most
celebrity autobiographers, he seems to have no qualms about
delivering the unfiltered whole story, warts and all.
Dangerfield's personal story is also a rollicking show business
tale, full of marquee name-droppings (Adam Sandler, Sam Kinison,
Jim Carrey, Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld) and good stories about
same. Defying the old saws about the fleeting nature of fame and
the dearth of second acts in American life, Dangerfield transformed
himself from a debt-ridden aluminium-siding salesman named Jack Roy
to a multimedia superstar - and stayed an icon for decades. His
catchphrase - "I get no respect" - has entered the lexicon, and he
remains a visible cultural presence and perennial talk-show
guest.
Dangerfield's hilarious and inspiring musings should thrill
comedy fans and pop-culture watchers, and his second-act comeback
will strike a chord with readers of all stripes. Maybe he'll even
get some respect.
General
Imprint: |
HarperPaperbacks
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
March 2005 |
First published: |
March 2005 |
Authors: |
Rodney Dangerfield
|
Dimensions: |
202 x 146 x 17mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
288 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-06-077924-5 |
Categories: |
Books >
Arts & Architecture >
Performing arts >
General
|
LSN: |
0-06-077924-1 |
Barcode: |
9780060779245 |
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