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Kerry's Reviews > Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
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Wow, this took me FOREVER to read. It was in my bathroom, so I only read it sporadically, but STILL. I go to the bathroom EVERY DAY.
I think it could have been shorter if it had been edited better. This was only the second "oral history"-stylee book I've read (the other was Gonzo) and it wasn't put together nearly as well. The interstitial writing was so pandering and complimentary that it made me want to barf. And the interviews themselves were very repetitive (newsflash: Lorne Michaels doesn't hand out compliments very often. Tell me one thousand times!) and sometimes poorly edited. Can't you take out all the "likes" and "ums"? I mean seriously.
The stuff about the early years was interesting, but the more recent years aren't very interesting because no one is doing drugs or screwing each other. But there are still just as many pages devoted to them.
All in all, it was okay, but I had heard SUCH great things about this book, and it pretty much shot its load in the first 150 pages. Also it was almost never funny.
I think it could have been shorter if it had been edited better. This was only the second "oral history"-stylee book I've read (the other was Gonzo) and it wasn't put together nearly as well. The interstitial writing was so pandering and complimentary that it made me want to barf. And the interviews themselves were very repetitive (newsflash: Lorne Michaels doesn't hand out compliments very often. Tell me one thousand times!) and sometimes poorly edited. Can't you take out all the "likes" and "ums"? I mean seriously.
The stuff about the early years was interesting, but the more recent years aren't very interesting because no one is doing drugs or screwing each other. But there are still just as many pages devoted to them.
All in all, it was okay, but I had heard SUCH great things about this book, and it pretty much shot its load in the first 150 pages. Also it was almost never funny.
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Reading Progress
June 2, 2008
– Shelved
June 2, 2008
– Shelved as:
fromthelibrary
June 2, 2008
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
Started Reading
July 15, 2008
–
Finished Reading
July 16, 2008
– Shelved as:
oral_history
November 11, 2014
– Shelved as:
comedy
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Brandon
(new)
Jul 17, 2008 10:15AM
Aw, man! I'm right at the 100 page mark and that's exactly what I was thinking already. That's disappointing and may give me reason enough to quit.
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i agree with everything you said. and as an added bonus, i now think harry shearer is a real jackhole. this book added very little to my life, except maybe a renewed desire to actually watch the old episodes again.
I like your review, especially the part that the book was your bathroom reading material. I use the same method, if the book is excellent, I would carry it with me everywhere. If the book is good, I leave it on my night stand, but if it's less than good it turns into bathroom reading.
Reading it now & i agree, it is a very slow read. There is too much repetition. I get it, the "limo for a lame-o" sketch created a rift between Lorne & the NBC president. But I don't need to read 3 more people describing the same scenario. Yikes.
When I purchased it I didnt realize the style of the whole book was anecdotal, otherwise I might not have. But being a long-time fan of the show I wanted to give it a shot. Yes, very repetitive and not funny at all. And way too long. Similar to the show itself, these days.
