They Don't Make Funny Like They Used To

Things of Awesome

I've always been a sucker for books by comedians. People erroneously assume they can't be talented writers, which is stupid as hell considering they're famous because of their ability to write jokes. It's not like they're athletes.

When handled in a candid way, these books make me feel like I'm getting to know the person behind the entertainer, and it's refreshing to know that even our heroes have struggled with everyday problems too.

In the last year I've read autobiographies from classic comedians Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield. The books have a similar format (a slightly chronological collection of stories), but these two take a different approach for presenting their worlds.

Rickles' Book is a nostalgic tour through entertainment history, and a fascinating look at the dilemmas of being the world's most lovable insult comic. Frequently imitated, but never trumped, the book makes it obvious that Rickles is a one-of-a-kind entertainer, and anyone should be jealous of the way he's managed to live his dream. The stories are amazing, although considering he was pretty tight with Frank Sinatra this shouldn't be surprising.

Dangerfield's book is MUCH more surprising, and although I'm not sure how I feel about it, certainly a good read. Rodney's life seems a lot more sombre, and although he was loved my many, his journey was certainly not an easy one. The book is quite inspirational since he never gave up on his dream, but holy hell some of his stories were just... weird. Dangerfield does talk a lot more about drug use and the seedier sides of the entertainment business, so you could call it more realistic, but how realistic was Rodney's life to begin with?

I certainly enjoyed Rickles' book more, but both are interesting reads if only for the different versions of showbiz they present. Plus you can't forget that they're two of the funniest people who ever existed, and their books certainly remind you that there will never be another comedian quite like either of them.