Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier Hardcover – Illustrated, April 14, 2020

Alan Zweibel began his career selling jokes to stand-up comedians while working in a deli in NY. He was one of the original writers for SNL and co-created It’s the Garry Shandling Show with Garry Shandling. I loved that show. Zweibel seems humble and talks about his career in the comedy trade and his talented friends and collaborators including Gilda Radnor, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, Dave Barry, and almost everyone else you can think of. (Though it did wrongly say that Billy Crystal wrote When Harry Met Sally. The screenplay was written by Nora Ephron.) This is a funny, touching, entertaining book and gives you a behind-the-scenes peek into this world. There are also some photos.

My only familiarity with Alan Zweibel was his appearance on SNL as an electroshock patient who drinks "Spud" beer "for people who can’t taste the difference." Turns out, Zweibel wrote many of the most famous sketches in SNL's early days, working very closely (and notably platonically) with Gilda Radner, who became perhaps his closest friend. The book takes you through his days writing for comedians, SNL, and Garry Shandling. It's well-written, and I could have used more. Overall, a well-done insider account of writing for television.

Fun read, was sorry when it ended. First heard Alan Zweibel speak at the inaugural Bircher Belt Festival in Ellenville, Ny. Then read his books. Please keep us laughing by writing books for us Alan!

As someone who was living through that same time period, the names of people and events described seemed to be so immediate and present. I enjoyed the peek behind the curtain, as well as the touch of emotional undercurrent that flowed under it all. Having not followed through on vague fantasies of writing and living in NYC, and frittering time away with college, medical school and middle-class life, this book made me feel that I was there and experiencing it in a way that felt more than vicarious. Thank you for a fun-to-read book… and for an appreciation of my normal-sized head. <wink>

With a mixture of Jewish guilt and almost an apology for his talent, Zwiebel presents us with a long schlep to his well-deserved success. Most comedians, especially Jewish ones, are filled with so much angst and insecurities, they are brilliant. No one can turn a phrase like Billy Crystal or create a hilarious look at life as Jerry Seinfeld.I was somewhat familiar with Zweibel before and realized his talent when he was with Garry Shandling. The author’s description of Shandling was spot-on; Garry was aware of his own brilliance but he was so caught up in turmoil, that a friendship with Garry and Alan could never follow a straight path.The theme of this book was friendship, its power and the fundamental need of all of us to capture a sense of belonging. Gilda, oh Gilda, what a joy, what a terrible loss. Zweibel’s description of her brilliance and torment evokes sorrow.Robin, Zweibel’s wife, must be a saint. She was encouraging and patient and knew exactly when to step back. I bet they have the best kids.I thoroughly enjoyed the book and learned about his happiness and anguish. Everyone that I admire usually has this mixture.

The first three quarters of this book were impossible to put down. After that point the pace was reduced to slow and the text seemed forced. I notice this more and more as I read non=fiction books. Authors seem to be just filling pages towards the end of the book, perhaps to fill contract requirements

This book has anecdotes and insights from Zweibel's life—a hilarious and entertaining read, fit for comedians and comedy fans alike. Highly recommend!

There is much validity to the phrase "laughter is the best medicine". And at a time when most of us are probably not getting enough of that panacea, Alan steps in to lift our spirits and take us on a joy ride through roughly 50 years of comedy history gold. Alan has attained the show business longevity that dreams are made of, and I think it's in large part due to the accessibility of his humor. It's smart, it's quick, it's far superior to most people's, but it's relatable. He's relatable. So even though these pages are filled with big starry household names, all of whom Alan has known and worked with, the reader stills feels like he's/she's sitting with an old friend over coffee as he recounts a tale from his day at the office. I can't think of a better way to spend some time.

Great writing, buy this.

A funny chronicle of the world of American comedy in the second half of the 20th century written by one of its protagonists

In October, 1975, I was up late watching TV in my apartment in the West Island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and this crazy program came on which I had never heard of until then. Probably because it was the first SNL to air live from New York. I've never stopped watching it as I've grown from my early twenties to a senior citizen. The author of this book, Alan Zweibel was one of the original writers for the show and stayed on for about five years. Some of us think they were the best years. Mr. Zweibel leads us through his life as a comedy writer, working for many big names and creating some of the funniest stuff that was put out for people like Garry Shandling and Billy Chrystal. His stories are personal and humorous. Much of what he wrote about made me quite nostalgic for the good old days when I was younger and laughed more.