Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama: The Sunday Times bestseller

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About the book:Bob Odenkirk's career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explain it here, because that is what memoirs are for. Charting a "Homeric" decades-long "Odyssey" from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago all the way to a dramatic career that is baffling to his friends, it's almost like there are two or three Bob Odenkirks...but there is just one and one is enough, frankly.Bob embraced a life in comedy after a chance meeting with Second City's legendary Del Close, which eventually led to a job as a writer at SNL. As he weathered the beast that is live comedy, he stashed away the secrets of sketch writing--employing them in the immortal "Motivational Speaker" sketch for his friend Chris Farley, honing them on The Ben Stiller Show, and perfecting them on Mr. Show With Bob and David, which inspired an entire generation of comedy writers and stars. Then his career met the hope-dashing machine that is Hollywood development. But when all hope was lost for the umpteenth time, Bob was more astonished than anyone to find himself on Breaking Bad. His embrace of this strange new world of dramatic acting led him to working with Steven Spielberg, Alexander Payne, and Greta Gerwig, until finally re-re-inventing himself as a bona-fide worldwide action star for reasons that even he does not fully grasp! Read this and do your own psychoanalysis--it's fun!Throughout Bob's travels, his memoir preserves the voice he cultivated from years of comedy writing. Featuring humorous tangents, joyful interludes, never-before-seen photos, wild characters from his winding career, and his trademark upbeat but unflinching drive, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale--and a moving story about what it's like to risk everything you think you know to make a change Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama was an entertaining memoir. Not as juicy as I was hoping but Bob is one hilarious mfer. He definitely knows how to keep you entertained.

Bob Odenkirk's career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explain it here, because that is what memoirs are for. Charting a "Homeric" decades-long "Odyssey" from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago all the way to a dramatic career that is baffling to his friends, it's almost like there are two or three Bob Odenkirks...but there is just one and one is enough, frankly.In contrast, Plato taught that comedy is a destruction to the self. He believed it produces an emotion that overrides rational self-control and learning. In The Republic, Plato says that the guardians of the state should avoid laughter, "for ordinarily when one abandons himself to violent laughter, his condition provokes a violent reaction." Plato says comedy should be tightly controlled if one wants to achieve the ideal state. Sadly Chris was headed for tragedy with his drinking and drug use. Odenkirk notes, "The worst part of watching Chris's downfall....was the inevitability of the whole damn thing. His rise to fame, blazing moments, assured destruction - it played out just as everyone said it would. Said it to his face." Hill, Michael (August 6, 1989). "Bochco gives dramedy another go with 'Doogie Howser, M.D.' ". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 15, 2018. Final Thoughts: I found this book to be funny, entertaining, and charming. Listening to Bob go over bits of his life were fun and I enjoyed learning about how he came to meet up with certain people. Memoirs are always dangerous territory because you never know if you'll come out of the book still a fan. I still am! Bob Odenkirk’s elegantly titled Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama takes readersona hilarious tour of the comedian and actor’s career. . . . Celebrity memoirs are a dime a dozen, but if there were one we’d put our money on as being well worth the time this year, it’s this one.” — AV Club

In between seasons of SNL, Odenkirk worked at Chicago's 'Second City Theatre.' One fellow comic at Second City was Chris Farley, who was 'undeniably funny, undeniably likable, and undeniably mesmerizing.' When Bob was asked about the best time he ever had doing his job, he said it was "doing a scene with Chris Farley seven times a week at Second City." Like the rest of the world, I didn't know much about Bob and his life. We all remember some of the characters he portrayed in his life but that is as far as it goes. Bob opens up his brain and spills some long-lost memories into this book. Some we remember, lots we never even knew, and some we all like to forget. It was equal parts surprising and fascinating knowing the man himself based on his memoir. Knowing about his relationship with his father was sad and his slow rise working in Hollywood/New York as a comedy writer, stand-up comedian, writer at SNL, etc. etc. was a bittersweet read. It amazes me how much loss he takes from failed projects, pilots that never took off, etc., and somehow didn't stop him from striving and doing what he loves, which is comedy. His perseverance and positivity is inspiring to read. I can't help but cheer for him when I read he got the role of Saul in BB since I know that it would made him worldwide fame and open up new opportunities for him, career wise, and that's what happened.There are also examples which can potentially cross boundaries to the extent it could be a matter of personal perception. Is Fleabag a comedy series or a comedy drama, or even a sitcom? Personally I’d call it a comedy, but if someone else called it a comedy drama I wouldn’t drag them out of the room by their hair. Is Killing Eve a drama or a comedy drama, or a comedy? It feels safe to go with the middle option, but there could be arguments either side. With both of these shows the elements are so well integrated, emotion in the former and humour in the latter, that it never feels out of place, so however they may be interpreted, they remain strong, effective pieces of writing. Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explicate it for you. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “Odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago to a dramatic career full of award nominations and including a side-trip that is baffling to all who know him, into the action-man world, it’s almost like there are many Bob Odenkirks! But there is just one and one is plenty.