Comedy and humour Books

Book SynopsisAs the saying goes, Comedy equals tragedy plus time, but in the face of tragedies on a national scale, comedy becomes the medium through which audiences untangle accepted understandings of what it means to be American.Trade ReviewFocusing on comedy programs from the 1990s and early 2000s, including Family Guy, South Park, The Simpsons, and In Living Color, the author adeptly explains how these programs not only offer a means of escape for viewers processing national trauma, but also create new narratives that bleed out into national dialogue, with perhaps unintentional but wide-reaching consequences reverberating in the United States today...A must for media and communication studies departments, this work will also appeal to many comedy fans, traumatologists, and the generally curious. * Library Journal *Tragedy plus Time feels prescient. Reading the book, I got the sense that I was immersed in a discourse that society will be examining for the foreseeable future in trying to understand the relationship between comedy and trauma...Tragedy plus Time advances a noteworthy collection of ideas about how collective trauma is (often unexpectedly) processed through humor...While aimed toward comedy scholars broadly, this book is particularly valuable to those curious about comedy’s intersection with history and politics. * Studies in American Humor *[An] insightful and innovative book...Scepanski is fairly thorough in his writing on both the general topic as well as its neatly-ordered subtopics. * Houston Press *[A] truly excellent new book...Tragedy Plus Time is sophisticated, compelling, timely and well-written. It has a wide appeal for readers of all generations and backgrounds—just like television itself. * Northeast Popular & American Culture Association *Scepanski effectively demonstrates throughout his book that the perceived status of television comedy as lowbrow entertainment, its ever-narrowing target audience, and its propensity to offend combine to place the TV comedy genre in an opportune position to address sensitive topics...Perhaps more than ever, this sort of historical and contextual perspective on television comedy is urgently needed for the complex mapping of the current American media culture and its ramifications. If comedy is an often quickly overlooked or dismissed genre, Scepanski proves that it should not be, given its significance in shaping Americans’ sense of national identity and history. * Film Quarterly *Tragedy Plus Time takes a serious look at how comedy and satire in American media make light of dark matters...thorough and engaging...Scepanki’s study is useful to understand the ways that comedy constructs a view of the past, thereby influencing perceptions of historical events. Those lessons do not disappear but become integrated into worldviews going forward, shaping how national trauma plays a role in both national and individual identity. * PopMatters *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Broadcast Nationalism, National Trauma, and Television Comedy Chapter 1: The Kennedy Assassination and the Growth of Sick Humor on American Television Chapter 2: Censored Comedies and Comedies of Censorship Chapter 3: Emotional Nonconformity in Comedy Chapter 4: Conspiracy Theories and Comedy Chapter 5: African American Comedies and the 1992 Los Angeles Riots Chapter 6: Television Comedy and Islamophobia after 9/11 Chapter 7: Comedy and Trump as Trauma in Narrowcast America Conclusion Afterword Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA 2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitleLove at first sight, whirlwind marriages, break-ups, divorces, remarriage What accounts for the enduring success of the Hollywood madcap comedies of the 1930s? Directed by masters of comedy (Hawks, LaCava, Leisen, Ruggles...) and featuring the decade's most iconic stars (Colbert, Dunne, Grant, Hepburn...), these films set romantic comedy standards for decades to come. Screwball comedy embarked on two challenging missions: to poke fun at established social norms and to undermine stereotypical depictions of gender roles, putting forward a discourse that postulated the possibility of equality between men and women. Grégoire Halbout's reexamination of screwball comedy provides a comprehensive overview of this (sub)genre, eschewing the auteurist approach and including minor works never before analyzed through the screwball lens. His book explains how these screwball stories met the expectations of a booming American middle class eager for theTrade ReviewThe book is smartly written and deeply researched, and it joins foundational work by such scholars of the genre as Stanley Cavell, Kathrina Glitre, and Wes Gehring ... This indispensable book will be valuable for those interested in screwball comedies or Hollywood history. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. * CHOICE *The book is smartly written and deeply researched, and it joins foundational work by such scholars of the genre as Stanley Cavell, Kathrina Glitre, and Wes Gehring ... This indispensable book will be valuable for those interested in screwball comedies or Hollywood history. Summing Up: Essential. All readers. * CHOICE *A rigorous and nuanced work which constantly brings to light the complexities of a highly unstable genre that captured many contemporary ideological challenges … a fresh and insightful perspective. * Miranda *A rigorous and nuanced work which constantly brings to light the complexities of a highly unstable genre that captured many contemporary ideological challenges … a fresh and insightful perspective. * Miranda *The result of Halbout’s insightful analysis is a stimulating appreciation of a beloved genre in American film. * Journal of American Culture *The result of Halbout’s insightful analysis is a stimulating appreciation of a beloved genre in American film. * Journal of American Culture *[The] book will be particularly relevant to scholars of American humor because of its unique interdisciplinary approach to genre studies. It is a much-needed addition to the comedy corpus, for as much as the screwball genre was a reflection of a specific historical moment, Halbout shows that there is also a certain transcendent quality about its style, themes, and democratic aspirations. -- Olympia Kiriakou * Studies in American Humor *[The] book will be particularly relevant to scholars of American humor because of its unique interdisciplinary approach to genre studies. It is a much-needed addition to the comedy corpus, for as much as the screwball genre was a reflection of a specific historical moment, Halbout shows that there is also a certain transcendent quality about its style, themes, and democratic aspirations. -- Olympia Kiriakou * Studies in American Humor *Synthesizing major strands of French and English-language scholarship on the theatrical and cinematic traditions of romantic comedy, Grégoire Halbout’s Hollywood Screwball Comedy,1934-1945 offers a fresh and lively reappraisal of Hollywood screwball comedies as a distinctly American film genre. The scope of his approach alone is impressive. Adroitly side-stepping the pitfalls of genre studies that are limited to the inspection of a handful of celebrated films, Halbout identifies and explores an expansive corpus, one with permeable boundaries and in flux throughout the years bridging the Great Depression and the Second World War. With exactness, he also dives deeply into the records of Production Code Administration to demonstrate how evolving censorship practices in Hollywood triggered the emergence of new visual and verbal comic styles. He charts a cultural discourse crisscrossed with contradictory and conflicting voices, echoing public debates about sex, intimacy, and marriage at a time when a democratic mythos was under great strain. Brought to light in these pages are the institutional practices and creative responses through which the dialects and effects of 'screwball' surfaced and flourished on and beyond the screen. * Charles Wolfe, Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA *Synthesizing major strands of French and English-language scholarship on the theatrical and cinematic traditions of romantic comedy, Grégoire Halbout’s Hollywood Screwball Comedy,1934-1945 offers a fresh and lively reappraisal of Hollywood screwball comedies as a distinctly American film genre. The scope of his approach alone is impressive. Adroitly side-stepping the pitfalls of genre studies that are limited to the inspection of a handful of celebrated films, Halbout identifies and explores an expansive corpus, one with permeable boundaries and in flux throughout the years bridging the Great Depression and the Second World War. With exactness, he also dives deeply into the records of Production Code Administration to demonstrate how evolving censorship practices in Hollywood triggered the emergence of new visual and verbal comic styles. He charts a cultural discourse crisscrossed with contradictory and conflicting voices, echoing public debates about sex, intimacy, and marriage at a time when a democratic mythos was under great strain. Brought to light in these pages are the institutional practices and creative responses through which the dialects and effects of 'screwball' surfaced and flourished on and beyond the screen. * Charles Wolfe, Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA *Initiated and propelled by the writing of Stanley Cavell, Grégoire Halbout offers here a capacious yet discerning analysis of the remarkably fecund genre known by the disarming, perhaps misleading name “screwball.” Delighting in the glories of taking democratic entertainment seriously, Halbout treats readers to a lively taxonomy of the characteristics and criteria that make these films recognizable, including savvy assessments of the many directors who artfully troped love and sex into conversation—thereby eliding with comic flair the chaste restrictions of the Hays Code. Moreover, despite the madcap and zany attributes of these plots and their characters, pursuits of happiness—in their many incarnations—remain of immanent concern for one and all, on screen and off. In Halbout’s company, we contend with the exigencies of marriage; the charged private and public spaces of intimacy and power; and the vexed romance of democracy. To these ends, Halbout seizes upon the narrative traits that keep these indelible films fresh, while encouraging us to ponder how and why they proliferated. Though readers familiar with Cavell’s contributions will recognize “his films” in the line-up, they will also encounter an expanse of additional works that thrill—placing the achievements of the marquee instances in dialogue with the lesser known. Befitting his signal inspiration, Halbout sustains Cavell’s influential investigation and extends it in dynamic ways, delivering in this volume what amounts to a now-indispensable companion for exploring the moral and aesthetic incitements of the genre—especially among its hilarious and profound exemplars. * David LaRocca, Cornell University, USA and editor of The Thought of Stanley Cavell and Cinema and Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind *Initiated and propelled by the writing of Stanley Cavell, Grégoire Halbout offers here a capacious yet discerning analysis of the remarkably fecund genre known by the disarming, perhaps misleading name “screwball.” Delighting in the glories of taking democratic entertainment seriously, Halbout treats readers to a lively taxonomy of the characteristics and criteria that make these films recognizable, including savvy assessments of the many directors who artfully troped love and sex into conversation—thereby eliding with comic flair the chaste restrictions of the Hays Code. Moreover, despite the madcap and zany attributes of these plots and their characters, pursuits of happiness—in their many incarnations—remain of immanent concern for one and all, on screen and off. In Halbout’s company, we contend with the exigencies of marriage; the charged private and public spaces of intimacy and power; and the vexed romance of democracy. To these ends, Halbout seizes upon the narrative traits that keep these indelible films fresh, while encouraging us to ponder how and why they proliferated. Though readers familiar with Cavell’s contributions will recognize “his films” in the line-up, they will also encounter an expanse of additional works that thrill—placing the achievements of the marquee instances in dialogue with the lesser known. Befitting his signal inspiration, Halbout sustains Cavell’s influential investigation and extends it in dynamic ways, delivering in this volume what amounts to a now-indispensable companion for exploring the moral and aesthetic incitements of the genre—especially among its hilarious and profound exemplars. * David LaRocca, Cornell University, USA and editor of The Thought of Stanley Cavell and Cinema and Movies with Stanley Cavell in Mind *Table of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction Being happy Line of descent: from remarriage comedy to screwball film Deploying a new approach to an indeterminate and unstable genre A social and political reading of a typically American genre Part One – The screwball expression: a genre shows its credentials Preamble: the fertility of Hollywood comedy in the 1930s Chapter One: Proof of identity The origins of the genre 1934, a pivotal year The “Americanization” of fictional sources A matter of language The etymology and the improbable “trajectory” of the term screwball Genre signaling in film discourse and movie reviews Chapter Two: Protagonists: the artisans of screwball comedy The directors at the helm The reign of the jack of all trades The director and the “screwballization” of scripts The actors, stars of the genre American actors for American stories The stars, genre reference points Screwball timbres and tones The importance of the background: recurring secondary characters Chapter Three: Narrative tropes and genre categories Preliminary decryption Narrative structures: “New Love”, “Old Love” and fornication forestalled Plot types, a descriptive catalogue A first attempt at a delineation of narrative tropes Conditions precedent: zeroing in on the couple The masquerade and the faces of conflict The ordeal of alterity Crises of identity “Cocktails” and genre mixing The impact of current events Tones and subjects: a repetitive and polymorphic genre A generation fades away Shifting centers of interest and changing expectations Part Two – Screwball discourse: interdiction and indirection Chapter One: A socio-economic context conducive to censorship Hollywood and the consequences of the 1929 financial crisis New audiences, new censors Popular art and popular culture: the ideological straightjacket Men of circumstance take control The censors’ mission and their ideological apparatus An improbable coincidence Chapter Two: Expressions: Screwball comedy and the forms of censorship The objective signs A lengthy, comprehensive and conflictual approval process The imprint of censorship on the Hollywood work process Forms of regulation: rhetoric and frames of reference Phraseology of the PCA How the Hays Office intervened Efforts towards an evolving methodology and judicial policy What analytical tools for which interpretation? The “Charter”, jurisprudence and the reinforcement of prohibitions Chapter Three: Content: Ideological scrubbing Creation under supervision: a system of prohibitions Purified language to fit the needs of Hollywood’s social project Forbidden images: bodies and behavior The Code, protecting institutions from the screwball menace Echo and mirror: the press’s final seal of approval Chapter Four: Indirect discourse: The invention of the screwball style Procedural Delinquency The boomerang effect: censorship becomes fodder for comedy The screenplay for Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife, a model of narrative expurgation and lexical attrition The rule-breakers’ arsenal: words and images Wordplay: the ruses and pleasures of screwball language Gags and the advent of disorder The symbolic function of objects From one image to another: the metaphorization of forbidden gestures An unexpected mirror: the amplifying effect of marketing “Screwball Comedy, Sex Comedies” Part Three – The screwball celebration and the democratic discussion Chapter One: The screwball New Deal and the society of mutual consent The discourse on marriage in 1930s America A consumer society in a civilization of leisure America’s marriage debate “Advice” comes to the rescue of marriage Questioning marriage The failure of authority figures Screwball outlaws and their special arrangements The revolution of modern marriage Chapter Two: The tension of the screwball celebration; preserving the democratic space The persistence of the established order Paternal consent and the wife’s return to domesticity The missions of the screwball couple Negotiation between private and public space Escape from society Invasion and living together Conclusion The romantic relationship, a reinterpretation of the democratic bond Appendices Filmography Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMothers on American television takes an in-depth look at how motherhood is represented on some of the most popular television series produced this century. Adopting a feminist, Marxist, cultural studies and psychoanalytical approach, the book offers a history of the positioning of mothers within American society. It provides detailed analysis of The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Handmaid’s Tale and more, while reflecting on the newspaper ‘mommy wars’, employment patterns and alternative views of motherhood.Table of ContentsIntroductionPart I: Mothers on network television1 Motherhood, culture and society2 Motherhood on network television, 1940s to 1980s3 Motherhood on network television, 1980s onwardsPart II: Original dramas4 Sex and The City (HBO, 1998-2004)5 The Sopranos (HBO, 1999-2007)6 Six Feet Under (HBO, 2001-5)7 Deadwood (HBO, 2004-6)Part III: Adaptations8 The Killing (AMC/Fox/Netflix, 2011-14)9 Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011-19)10 The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu, 2017-)11 Big Little Lies (HBO, 2017-19)ConclusionSelect bibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis'This is the Pandora's Box of self-help books.' - Conan O'Brien One of this generation's hottest and boldest young comedians, Daniel Sloss presents a transgressive and hilarious analysis of all of our dysfunctional relationships, and attempts to point us in the vague direction of sanity. Including lovers, ex-lovers, ex-lovers who you hate, ex-lovers who hate you, with parents, with best friends (male and female), not-best friends, with children, with siblings, and even with the global pandemic and our own mortality.Trade ReviewThis is the Pandora's Box of self-help books. -- Conan O'BrienWhat a book. Smart, acerbic, and incredibly funny. I suggest you read it. -- Bob SagetThe only thing wrong with this book is that at my age everyone I hate is already dead. -- Peter BartEveryone You Hate... turns out to be a very enjoyable read, unsurprisingly. Written in the rhythm of a seasoned comedian's set, there are laughs liberally sprinkled, serious bits with elements of self-examination, and the impression that each carefully placed word has simply come to him in conversation. Just like any good Edinburgh show. -- Vicky Nangle * Beyond The Joke *Sloss offers insights on toxic masculinity, gender and sexuality that are at once deliciously dark, hilarious and profound. -- Debbie Hall * Daily Record *

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Book SynopsisKenergy. The word on everybody's lips. But what actually is Kenergy? And how can you unlock your own Kenergy from within? Kenergy is main-side-kick-character energy. It's carrying someone's purse like your life depends on it. It's letting your girlfriend test out her makeup ideas on you first to check they look good. It's hiding in your girlfriend's suitcase to surprise her on vacation, then happily getting the 6 hour flight home alone when she says she doesn't want you there.Someone with Kenergy always takes care of his appearance, but only to make his girlfriend look even hotter - not that it's even possible. He's (somehow) always got a tan and his abs are so shredded you could grate cheese on them. And he polishes his motorcycle every morning just in case he learns to ride it one day. But Kenergy is not all smiles and sparkles. Sometimes he wants so badly to be admired and adored that he can barely carry on when he doesn't get the praise he craves so deeply. But he patiently waits for the crippling invasive thoughts to pass, then merrily resumes making his strawberry daiquiri.In a nutshell, Kenergy is joyful, whimsical and - above all - delights in the absurd. And with this book, you'll become an expert in identifying Kenergy, harnessing your Kenergy, embodying your Kenergy, and learning how to be the ultimate hype-man.*UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHORIZED*

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Book SynopsisFor decades, amidst the bright lights, studio-audience laughs, and absurdly large apartment sets, the real-life story of American LGBTQ liberation unfolded in plain sight in front of millions of viewers, most of whom were laughing too hard to mind. From flamboyant relatives on Bewitched to closely-guarded secrets on All in the Family, from network-censor fights over Soap to behind-the-scenes activism on the set of The Golden Girls, from Ellen’s culture clash to Modern Family’s primetime power-couple, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! is the story not only of how subversive queer comedy transformed the American sitcom, from its inception through today, but how our favourite sitcoms transformed, and continue to transform, America. Accessible, entertaining, and informative, Hi Honey, I'm Homo! is filled with exclusive commentary and interviews from celebrities, behind-the-scenes creators, and more

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Book SynopsisNamed one of People Magazine''s 50 Food Faves of 2022! From Jerry’s kitchen to Monk’s café, food is central to many of Seinfeld’s most memorable moments, and this official cookbook teaches fans to prepare favorite dishes from the show right in their own homes!Stash the takeout menus and cancel reservations at Mendy’s, it’s time to stay in for a taste of New York City as only Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook can deliver in this collection of more than 60 recipes inspired by the hit ‘90s sitcom. For a show about “nothing” one constant throughout Seinfeld’s nine seasons is food! Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, George, and the whole gang are always talking about food, shopping for food, or grabbing a bite in Monk’s coffee shop! There are contemplations on the black and white cookie, the Big Salad, proper (or improper) shrimp cocktail etiquette, an irresistible soup stand, lobster revenge omelets, the proper ranking of babka varieties, mouthwatering mackinaw peaches, and so much more. Now these culinary comedy classics are celebrated with a variety of recipes that will help any Seinfeld fan relive their favorite moments. Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook offers a variety of recipes for chefs of all levels. From appetizers to main courses and from drinks to desserts, each chapter includes delicious show-focused food that will have diners raving, “It’s like a circus in your mouth!” 60+ RECIPES INSPIRED BY SEINFELD: Ever wondered “What’s the deal…?” with the delicious eats and treats that Jerry and crew enjoy on the show? Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook let’s you experience mealtime as part of the Seinfeld world. NO SOUP FOR YOU!: Just kidding, there’s recipes from all the greatest food moments in the show that will have fans of all ages gathering around the table to swap favorite Seinfeld scenes! THE FIRST OFFICIAL SEINFELD COOKBOOK: The only cookbook with official recipes directly inspired by Seinfeld! The perfect gift for the Seinfeld fan in your life. RECIPES FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: With accessible step-by-step instructions and helpful cooking tips, Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook is a great guide for fans of any age and skill level, from kitchen novices to seasoned chefs.

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Book SynopsisThe Simpsons Merchandise Guide for all Simpsons Lovers#1 New Release in Antiques and CollectiblesThis quirky book unleashes the entire story of all Simpsons merchandise, spanning over decades. Warren Evans, the Bart of Darkness, details a massive collection of rare Simpsons memorabilia.Jump right into 90s nostalgia! Simpsons Lovers everywhere can explore the explosion of Simpsons merchandise and products, right in the comfort of their own home. From action figures, video games, comics, lunch boxes, and yes, even cookie jars, this book is a collectors paradise full of insightful information.The perfect collector’s item to have! This full-color guide features high quality photos of Simpsons-inspired products, and never-before-seen interviews from the toys' creators, writers, actors, and producers. This is the perfect gift for fans of Friends, Family Guy, and the like!Inside, you’ll find: Never-before-seen in-depth interviews and collector items from real-life Simpsons lovers Read for fun: all of the words of Warren Evans, a note-worthy expert on The Simpsons family Full-colored photographs of Simpsons merchandise and collector items from the beginning of the Simpsons dynasty If you're looking for one of the best books for tv nerds who like The Big Bang Theory, Welcome to Dunder Mifflin, or The Simpsons Secret, then Collecting the Simpsons belongs right on your bookshelf!Table of ContentsTable of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Simpsons Mania - The Explosion of Simpsons Merchandise Chapter 2: Toys Chapter 3: Clothing Chapter 4: Comics Chapter 5: Video Games Chapter 6: Trading Cards and Stickers Chapter 7: Home Entertainment VHS/ DVDs Chapter 8: Simpsons House Giveaway Chapter 9: Bootlegs Chapter 10: The fall of The Simpsons Chapter 11: Resurgence Conclusion About the Authors

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Book SynopsisThe world is a bewildering place and we're ill-equipped to deal with it. From the horrors of childhood to the vagaries of old age, from confused people to humiliated animals, we're all just trying - and often failing - to keep it together. How carefully should you answer when asked what you'd take to a desert island? What do you do if your parents are reading your diary? How useful is a Swiss Army Knife? And what's A Brief History of Time really about? Armed with a sharp eye for the absurd and an overwhelming sense of doom, Simon Rich explores the ridiculousness of our everyday lives, from the most minute of anxieties to one of life's biggest questions: Does God really have a plan for us? Yes, it turns out. Now if only He could remember what it was ... 'Simon Rich is very much laugh-out-loud funny. He can conjure authentic, from-the-abdomen laughter on almost every page. He stacks surrealism on top of slick satire on top of pure childish silliness in such a brilliant and condensed way, there are sometimes three laugh-out-loud moments within the same paragraph ... He is exactly the right kind of writer for the internet: funny, high-concept, accessible, short, sharable, a James Thurber for the Twitter age' Matt HaigTrade ReviewSimon Rich is outrageously, lavishly gifted -- Caitlin MoranHow fabulously funny -- Lauren LaverneHilarious. Open this book anywhere, begin reading, and you will laugh -- Jon StewartThe wittiest American humourist of his generation * Guardian *This year's giggliest read * Observer magazine *A remarkably funny writer, likely to make you laugh harder than any other ... there's no funnier writer working today * Shortlist *Rich has a wonderful way of making a familiar situation strange and then presenting it in deceptively simple language, within a perfectly lucid, concise structure ... Genius ... He is a Thurber, even a Wodehouse, for today. Who could ask for more? You can give his books to people and just watch them laugh. Only after you've snorted through them yourself, though -- David Sexton * Evening Standard *Simon Rich is very much laugh-out-loud funny. He can conjure authentic, from-the-abdomen laughter on almost every page. He stacks surrealism on top of slick satire on top of pure childish silliness in such a brilliant and condensed way, there are sometimes three laugh-out-loud moments within the same paragraph ... He is exactly the right kind of writer for the internet: funny, high-concept, accessible, short, sharable, a James Thurber for the Twitter age -- Matt Haig * Guardian *Brilliant ... Slightly nerdy and very sharp -- William Leith * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisDo you know which Cluedo character was killed off in 2016? How about which band has a species of shrimp named after it? Reckon you could guess the name of a song from lyrics where the words have been replaced with synonyms?Then fingers on buzzers, because House of Games is back and it's better than ever!Packed with 104 new, classic and fiendishly difficult rounds from the hit BBC show's question writers, House of Games: Question Smash is the ultimate collection of brainteasers, puzzles and trivia. Pit your wits against friends and family with favourites like Highbrow Lowbrow, Rhyme Time and Don't State the Obvious, as well as brand new games from the brilliant minds behind the show. So limber up your frontal lobes, brush up on your trivia and get ready to return to the House of Games.

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Book Synopsis‘This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway.’ GREG DAVIES‘One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book.’ ROMESH RANGANATHAN‘Full of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining.’ TOM KERRIDGE'One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners.'NISH KUMAR---The hilarious memoir from comedian, Off Menu host and Great British Menu judge, Ed Gamble.From a young age, Ed Gamble's immaculate bibs and extremely dirty nappies hinted at his capacious appetite. Before he could walk, Ed already knew that he preferred poached salmon to puree, that celery was a calorie-sapping waste of time, and that mashed potatoes should be made with lashings of butter.Whilst he might ordinarily have been upset by the calls of 'precocious little sh*t' coming from his family, he was too busy stuffing his gob and staging rebellions against the patronising list of misery that is a children's menu.In Glutton, Ed shares a relatable buffet of experiences and stories from a life lived through food. From the trials of being a diabetic with a sweet tooth to his teenage battles with obesity, to the joy of cooking and the power of food to bring us together, this is a wonderful, hilarious and heart-warming memoir of a delightful obsession.Trade ReviewFull of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining. * Tom Kerridge *This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway. * Greg Davies *Funny as hell. Ed's love of food is absolutely infectious. * Claudia Winkleman *One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book. * Romesh Ranganathan *A cracking read. * Chris Evans *Bloody brilliant. * Alan Carr *Ed Gamble just has funny written through his very core, like a stick of rock (he probably loves a stick of rock). This book is full of heart, empathy and it is of course crackling with his customary wit. It is all that you’d expect from this most excellent of humans! * Andi Oliver *One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners * Nish Kumar *An absolute joy and delight. * Zoe Ball *Gamble has plenty of stories and tells them with an easy charm and warmth. Among his lively accounts of food-based capers that wouldn't be out of place in the Beano [there are] many funny observations. * The Times *A heart-warming memoir about the joy of eating. * My Weekly *Full of belly laughs and full bellies, this book is warm, honest and wonderfully entertaining. * Tom Kerridge *One of my favourite comics has now written an annoyingly great book. * Romesh Ranganathan *One of the funniest comedians in the world, Ed is only serious about one thing - dinners * Nish Kumar *This book made me laugh and then order an unholy amount of takeaway. * Greg Davies *An absolute joy and delight. * Zoe Ball *Ed Gamble just has funny written through his very core, like a stick of rock (he probably loves a stick of rock). This book is full of heart, empathy and it is of course crackling with his customary wit. It is all that you’d expect from this most excellent of humans! * Andi Oliver *

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Book SynopsisThe Simpsons, Matt Groening's animated sitcom, is arguably the greatest show in TV history. To its critics, the dysfunctional family embodies the decline of wholesome values. To its fans, the show provides a window into America's soul, with each new season seeing the Simpsons spiral into ever-increasing levels of craziness, reflecting the nation's blurring of parody with reality.For more than 30 years, and across nearly 750 episodes, an entire generation has been shaped by some of the most influential and memorable characters on TV: Homer, the classic, middle-class anti-hero; Bart, the lovable brat eternally trapped inside the body of a 10-year-old who questions everything; Lisa, talented and gifted, the voice of reason prepared to stand up and make herself heard; and Marg, overworked and underappreciated, with endless amounts of forgiveness for Homer.It may only be a cartoon on the surface, but The Simpsons resonates with viewers on a much deeper level. Offering charm, humor, and life lessons, it's perfect TV that has stood the test of time."Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers." Homer SimpsonIn 1998, the 10 year-old Bart Simpson was named as one of the 'Most Influential People Of The Century' by TIME Magazine.Table of ContentsHomer's Words of Wisdom - believable parody with bruising reality • Bart's Best One-Liners - the enfant terrible, blessed with an ironic sense of humour • The Voices of Reason - the Best of Marge and Lisa Simpson • Family Life - if the Simpsons teach us anything, it's that family matters most • The Weird and Wonderful World of Springfield - misfits, oddballs, and everything in between • The Best of Treehouse of Horror - where nothing and no-one is safe from ridicule • Beer and Donuts - Homer's Best One Liners

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Book SynopsisSatire, Comedy and Mental Health examines how satire helps to sustain good mental health in a troubled socio-political world. Through an interdisciplinary dialogue that combines approaches from the analytic philosophy of art, medical and health humanities, media studies, and psychology, the book demonstrates how satire enables us to negotiate a healthy balance between care for others and care of self. Building on a thorough philosophical explication and close analysis of satire in various forms - including novels, music, TV, film, cartoons, memes, stand-up comedy and protest artefacts - Declercq investigates how we can harness satirical entertainment to ease the limits of critique. In so doing, the book presents a compelling case that, while satire cannot hope to cure our sick world, it can certainly help us to cope with it.Trade Review'Dieter Declercq's main argument is that one of the important aspects of satire is its ability to help us cope with a frustrating reality. Satire helps us accept the facts that are troublesome and at the same time without our reach, that is, things we cannot change. At the same time, it helps us keep our opposition to this state of the world and not just give in and give up. The book is thus both a realistic critique of those who have hailed satire as a cornerstone of democracy and a way to overthrow despots, and a defense of satire as a means for both the artist and the public to maintain a state of mental health. In other words, satire is not saving the world, but it might save us. The book is truly interdisciplinary, with examples picked from recent popular culture, rather than Classic literature. The book is accessible and a brilliant introduction to the question of why satire has kept its popularity for more than 2000 years.' -- Orla Vigsö, Professor in Media Studies‘In his book, Satire, Comedy, and Mental Health-Coping with Limits of Critique, Dr. Dieter Declercq offers us a welcomed tonic for our heightened existential angst born of pandemic, economic crisis, and social injustice. His is a carefully reasoned, critical approach. He provides a convincing theoretical argument for satire as narrative tool in the service of authenticity. His scholarly exposition of the interface of satire with its interdisciplinary foundations is refreshingly clear and concise. It is a must read for humanities scholars and health practitioners alike.’ -- Daniel Hall-FlavinTable of ContentsChapter 1. What is satire?; Chapter 2. Satire as therapy: curing a sick world?; Chapter 3. Satire as therapy revisited: coping with a sick world; Chapter 4. The solace of entertainment; Chapter 5. Comic irony and narrative coping;

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Book SynopsisHe is one of the best known faces in television comedy, yet the long-suffering vicar of Walmington-On-Sea is in real life a Christian of deep conviction. Perfectly cast as the eccentric vicar, constantly tetchy at the invasion of his church hall by Captain Mainwaring and the elderly platoon, he appeared in "Dad's Army" throughout its nine-year run and also in many other television and stage dramas. Still in constant demand for public appearances, Frank takes an affectionate view behind the scenes of the series and the world of show business and reveals his personal journey through faith. 2018 will be the 50th anniversary of the television series "Dad's Army", with Frank one of just two original cast members still alive.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author, comedian, actress, and producer Phoebe Robinson is back with a new essay collection that is equal parts thoughtful, hilarious, and sharp about human connection, race, hair, travel, dating, Black excellence, and more. Written in Phoebe's unforgettable voice and with her unparalleled wit, Robinson's latest collection, laced with spot-on pop culture references, takes on a wide range of topics. From the values she learned from her parents (including, but not limited to, advice on not bringing outside germs onto your clean bed) to her and her boyfriend, lovingly known as British Baekoff, deciding to have a child-free union, to the way the Black Lives Matter movement took center stage in America, and, finally, the continual struggle to love her 4C hair, each essay is packed with humor and humanity. By turns insightful, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartfelt, Please Don't Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes is not only a brilliant look at our current cultural moment, but a collection that will stay with you for years to come.

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Book SynopsisA hilarious and timely essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from comedy superstar and 2 Dope Queens podcaster Phoebe Robinson Being a black woman in America means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities every day. Comedian Phoebe Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend," as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isn't that...white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the page-and she's going to make you laugh as she's doing it. Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus," to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise.

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Book SynopsisLIMITED FIRST EDITION contains blue foil gilded page edges and a white satin ribbon marker.In the ‘70s and ‘80s Saturday Night Live, SCTV, and Monty Python ruled the television airwaves with sketch comedy. But then came the 1990s—and alongside grunge music and oversized denim, sketch comedy was turned up to 11. With the promise of low budgets, big laughs, more diverse cast members, and fresh content, an ever-expanding number of television stations each wanted their very own hit sketch show. Saturday Night Live was ‘dead’ anyway, right?We’re Not Worthy is the definitive account of ‘90s sketch comedy, the decade that forever changed what we laugh at. Author and comedian Jason Klamm goes behind the scenes of more than 50 sketch shows that ruled the ‘90s, including groundbreaking staples such as In Living Color, MTV’s The State, Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall, The Ben Stiller Show, and Mad TV, along with several swiftly canceled gigs (The Dana Carvey Show, anyone?). Each show seemed to launch at least one big name into the stratosphere: The Wayans family, Ben Stiller, Jennifer Coolidge, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Judd Apatow, Janeane Garofalo . . . the list goes on and on.Klamm brings readers back to the ‘90s comedy landscape like never before, through over 150 new and candid interviews with trailblazers such as Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Carol Burnett, Tommy Davidson, Adam McKay, Dave Thomas, Patton Oswalt, Reno 911!’s Kerri Kenney-Silver, and a litany of additional favorites. Plus the producers, writers, directors, and other insiders that pulled it all together.Steeped with hilarious stories, on-the-set antics, and head-turning television politics, We’re Not Worthy is a revealing trip back to the decade that placed comedy on the razor's edge.Trade ReviewHoliday 2023 Gift Guide Mention: Cracked, /Film."The '90s were an exciting time for TV sketch comedy. In We’re Not Worthy, Jason Klamm does a beautiful job compiling this rich history of nonsensical fart jokes, ratty synthetic wigs, and stick-on mustaches for all the world to read." — Kerry Kenney-Silver (The State / Reno 911!)"We're Not Worthy is a real blast. Jason Klamm takes us on a wild ride through a breakthrough era. Thank goodness for all that ridiculousness!" — Kevin Allison (The State / RISK!)"An indisputably sensational decade in comedy. We're Not Worthy is a labor of love driven by an urge to demystify. Klamm misses no opportunity to point out that before they were household names, the likes of Amy Poehler, Jennifer Coolidge, and Will Ferrell toiled in the low-pay, no-glory sketch-comedy trenches. Interviews with shining stars (Carol Burnett, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk) as well as lesser lights and behind-the-scenesters get across how the TV-sketch-comedy sausage is made." — Shelf Awareness (starred review)Table of ContentsForeword (David Wain)Prologue1. Friday Night Frolic: The Birth of Sketch Comedy on TV92. Stupid Human Tricks: Late Night with David Letterman3. A Do-It-Yourself Movement: The Compass, The Second City, and The Committee4. Sniglets and Hedgehog Sandwiches: Not Necessarily the News5. The Show That Bumped SNL: Almost Live!6. And The Simpsons!: The Tracey Ullman Show7. Easy to Beat Up, Hard to Kill: The Kids in the Hall8. Canadian Content: Sketch Shows from the Great White North9. Poets and Geniuses: iO / ImprovOlympic10. Unskied Snow: In Living Color11. A Taste That’s Oddly Familiar: The Ben Stiller Show12. No Time to Breathe: The Weirder Side of ‘90s Sketch13. I Am a We, and There's Eleven of Us: The State14. At Its Best When You Were in Middle School: Saturday Night Live15. Gelatinous Cube Eats Village: Wayne’s World16. Cookin' with Gas: The Groundlings17. You Insist on Watching: Late Night with Conan O’Brien18. Performing for Snotty Rich Anglo Brats: House of Buggin’19. The Lighter Side: Mad TV20. Don’t Do Your Act: LA’s Alternative Comedy Scene21. Devour Cowards Every Hour: Mr. Show with Bob and David22. Too Many Nipples: The Dana Carvey Show23. When Improv Was Illegal: Theatresports and ComedySportz24. Leave Them Wanting Some: One-Offs and Pilots25. Veal Chops in Dill Sauce: The Bert Fershners26. Staging a Comeback: Viva Variety27. Not Another Pineapple: Improv Comes to TV28. Hit and Run Comedy: Upright Citizens Brigade29. …and the Rest: Every Other Sketch Show (Perhaps) of the ‘90sEpilogueAcknowledgmentsList of IntervieweesAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisThe FOX television show The Simpsons has been around for over 30 years, with more than 700 episodes. A satirical, animated comedy, The Simpsons has millions of fans around the world and its numerous characters are instantly recognizable. Two of the main characters, children Bart and Lisa, are in elementary school and their educational experience is satirized frequently, with episodes taking place at Springfield Elementary and featuring their teachers, classmates, and administration--often with biting criticism of curriculum, privatization, and standardized testing, to name a few. The Simpsons also features episodes retelling historical events, where the family experiences different countries and cultures, and participates in the political process. The Simpsons is unique in that the show itself is also a historical source, having been on the air since 1989. Issues that were current in the early 1990s at the height of popularity of The Simpsons are now considered historical, and there is room in classrooms to critically analyze the show with students about whether the show has adapted well to the 2020s, particularly with the show's use of cultural stereotypes.This edited book offers a collection of classroom-ready tools based on the Hollywood or History? strategy and designed to foster historical inquiry through the careful use of episodes or clips from The Simpsons. This book will be organized by the 10 Themes of Social Studies as outlined by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS, 2010). Each of these 10 sections of the book feature two or three lesson plans from the massive catalog of The Simpsons. There is also an 11th section featuring two lesson plans using episodes of The Simpsons that satirize public education more broadly, which can be used by teacher candidates in methods classrooms to examine the realities of the history of public education and current issues that affect the profession.

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Book SynopsisThe FOX television show The Simpsons has been around for over 30 years, with more than 700 episodes. A satirical, animated comedy, The Simpsons has millions of fans around the world and its numerous characters are instantly recognizable. Two of the main characters, children Bart and Lisa, are in elementary school and their educational experience is satirized frequently, with episodes taking place at Springfield Elementary and featuring their teachers, classmates, and administration--often with biting criticism of curriculum, privatization, and standardized testing, to name a few. The Simpsons also features episodes retelling historical events, where the family experiences different countries and cultures, and participates in the political process. The Simpsons is unique in that the show itself is also a historical source, having been on the air since 1989. Issues that were current in the early 1990s at the height of popularity of The Simpsons are now considered historical, and there is room in classrooms to critically analyze the show with students about whether the show has adapted well to the 2020s, particularly with the show's use of cultural stereotypes.This edited book offers a collection of classroom-ready tools based on the Hollywood or History? strategy and designed to foster historical inquiry through the careful use of episodes or clips from The Simpsons. This book will be organized by the 10 Themes of Social Studies as outlined by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS, 2010). Each of these 10 sections of the book feature two or three lesson plans from the massive catalog of The Simpsons. There is also an 11th section featuring two lesson plans using episodes of The Simpsons that satirize public education more broadly, which can be used by teacher candidates in methods classrooms to examine the realities of the history of public education and current issues that affect the profession.

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