You're Lucky You're Funny

How Life Becomes a Sitcom

By: Phil Rosenthal

Narrated by: Phil Rosenthal

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

For nearly 10 years no TV comedy was a popular or beloved as Everybody Loves Raymond.

In You're Lucky You're Funny, Phil Rosenthal, the creator and executive producer of the show, tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of a number one smash-hit sitcom. Based on Ray Romano's actual life, the show also took much of its material from Phil's equally, and hysterically, dysfunctional family characters and experiences.

Besides being one of the funniest books ever written about television, You're Lucky You're Funny is one of the most illuminating, Phil offers an unprecedented look at the making of a hit show, considering everything from casting to writing to production to managing egos to keeping a series fresh after it has comfortably settled in for the long haul.

For anyone who loves comedy, for the millions of devoted fans of Everybody Love Raymond, and for all the aspiring writers who are edging their way toward Hollywood, You're Lucky You're Funny will be a gift and an inspiration.

©2006 Phil Rosenthal (P)2006 Phoenix Audio

Critic reviews

"Like listening to a very long and funny stand-up routine." (Publishers Weekly)

Best Book ever read

This would have to be the best book I have ever read. Its as good as the Raymond series.

Very entertaining

very entertaining and wonderful to listen to it kept me busy for hours hours, I enjoyed both the stories and the authors voice.

A Joy From Beginning to End

Phil Rosenthal is a marvelous raconteur. This book is a marvelous tapestry woven from his journey through the entertainment industry. You'll laugh, sniffle and look forward to his next creation

We're lucky he's funny!

Would you listen to You're Lucky You're Funny again? Why?

I've already listened to this twice!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Phil Rosenthal has an incredible story and it's very inspiring for those of us who are working on creating a career as a writer or actor.

Have you listened to any of Phil Rosenthal’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first book of Phil's that I've listened to, but I've seen every episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, his TV series, multiple times and consider it to be the best-written, best-acted, best-directed sitcom of all-time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was touched when Phil talked about his family and how ultimately family is the most important thing to him, and it's his experiences with his family that inspired his TV series.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read for anyone who wants to break into the entertainment industry, as well as anyone who wants to hear the inside scoop from one of TV's most successful showrunners.

Great listen!

If you, like me, learned to love Phil from his food series on PBS and Netflix, then you will love this book, as it serves as a prequel to those projects. If you love "Everybody Loves Raymond" you'll love this book as it gives you the context for some of your favorite moments. If you're a fan of comedy, writing or acting you'll love this show for the breadth of good advice Phil has to offer. And if you don't love Phil, Raymond, Comedy, writing or acting, why are you reading this review.

Will you be my friend Phil!

I just love Phil and everything here stands for! Thank you for the laughs and stories!

A great escape

I loved the television show and thought the book could be interesting. I was delightfully surprised and enjoyed the entire story. The insights are hilarious! Having watched the show, I related to most all of his comparisons and respected the creativity more. (The show made was so easy and fun to follow-now I understand why.)

A great listen all the way around. The audio clips from live speeches were a great touch, as well. Enjoy!

A fun behind the scenes view

Mr. Rosenthal's ability to relate the stories that happened was engaging and fun. A perspective only an insider could give. There's also some nice snippets on his life. A few insights on how to get a program made and on the air were pretty interesting also.

Solid and funny

I never heard of Rosenthal and "Raymond" was a show I watched only when the wife had it on, but this book, and especially Rosenthal's reading of his book, is just wonderful. Hilarious at times, moving at times, it moves along at a good clip. It offers mostly good information on how he and Ray Romano and the 5 men and women writers in the backroom worked together to mine their lives. You can get a good sense of the acting skills, too. I can now see the soul that was intentionally placed in each episode. One boring part about a boring vacation, and yes, there are many mysterious spots of silence throughout this audio. Yet overall one of the best audiobooks I've heard. And I have heard dozens.

Story Of The Month

Thank you Phil Rosenthal for this amazing treasure and for sharing your family with ours. People! If you have audible, don’t like to read, or are blind you need to listen to this! Even if it’s just to hear the fruit of the month story. Lived, written, and read by Phil himself. From the bottom of our hearts thank you @phil.rosenthal ❤️🍐#philrosenthal #somebodyfeedphil #everybodylovesraymond