Inside Comedy

The Soul, Wit, and Bite of Comedy and Comedians of the Last Five Decades

By: David Steinberg

Narrated by: David Steinberg

Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The world of comedy and comedians of the last five decades. By the man the New York Times calls "a comic institution himself", the only comedian (26 years in stand-up) to have made Elie Wiesel laugh, as well as having appeared on The Tonight Show (140 times, second only to Bob Hope, but who's counting). From the director of TV comedy series Mad About You, Seinfeld, Friends, Weeds, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Larry David: "I’m lucky. I know and love David Steinberg. You don’t. Now's your chance. Don’t blow it!"

"David has always been a comedy hero to me. One of his many gifts is the ability to inspire funny people to be even funnier, as you will discover in this truly hilarious, insightful book." (Martin Short)

From David Steinberg, a rabbi's son from Winnipeg, Canada, who at age 15 enrolled at Hebrew Theological College in Chicago (the rabbinate wasn't for him) and four years later, entered the master's program in English literature at the University of Chicago, until he saw Lenny Bruce, the "Blue Boy" of Comedy, the coolest guy Steinberg had ever seen, and joined Chicago's Second City improvisational group, becoming, instead, the comedian's comedian, director, actor, working with, inspired by, teaching, and learning from the most celebrated, admired, complicated comedians, then and now. A funny, moving, provocative, insightful look into the soul, wit, and bite of comedy and comedians - a universe unto itself - of the last half-century.

From the greats: George Burns, Lenny Bruce, Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner, et al., to the newer greats: Carol Burnett, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, Bob Newhart, and the man for all comedy, Martin (Marty) Short; to the greats of right now: Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wanda Sykes; and more....

Steinberg, through stories, reminiscences, tales of directing, touring, performing, and, through the comedians themselves talking (from more than 75 interviews), makes clear why he loves comedy and comedians who have been by his side in his work, and in his life, for more than 60 years.

Here are: Will Ferrell, Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, Mike Myers, Groucho himself, and the greatest of them all (at least of the last half century), Jonathan Winters....

©2021 David Steinberg (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“If I had written this, it would be filled with jealousy, envy, and snide remarks. But fortunately, David Steinberg wrote it, so it abounds with insights, humor, and joy. I loved it so much!” (Steve Martin)

“At first glance, David Steinberg might seem like too much of a mensch to really spill the beans about his chosen profession...the venerated stand-up comic, actor, and sitcom director, has impeccable nice-guy credentials.... [He] truly admires his peers and understands what makes them tick. And he proves to be a genial, generous raconteur and reciter of showbiz lore...charming.” (Dave Itzkoff, The New York Times)

“A memoir that nearly qualifies as a history of American comedy during the last six decades...illuminating...Steinberg’s recollections are vivid as they are hilarious.” (Booklist)

Great book despite total lack of human foibles

Mr. Steinberg has direct experience with comedians from Vaudeville all the way to the present. And his work experience itself spans half a century of comedy. Combined with what is clearly a love of the subject, the result is a fabulous book for any fan of comedy.

I respect Mr. Steinerg’s choice to focus on the positive almost exclusively. But it does leave one with the sense of not knowing Mr. Steinberg, and that the comedians mentioned are not real humans. That aside, this is a marvelous book - thank you Mr. Steinberg!

I enjoyed this as much s as the TV series

I loved his insights into each of his comedian friends of a lifetime. And gained insight into what it takes to succeed in Hollywood and in comedy. I also enjoyed hearing about the thrill of performing each one enjoyed.
I saw Inside Comedy theTV series many times through and now I want to see that one season of the four that’s been missing on Prime! Looks like it’s on a couple other services now.

I’ve been waiting for David Steinberg‘s book and I am not disappointed.

What a beautiful book of love and respect towards all of our great comedians the history of comedians. And David Steinberg is a very very funny man. And he was around amazing people. I love this book!

Must Listen to! If you like comedy

To listen to David Steinberg for 11 hours was pure joy. There were so many great memories of all the comedians who touched our lives for the last 60 years!! I so wish I could come up some some funny line right now! But I’m sad it is over with.

It’s not really the history of comedy

There are some good stories in here, but it’s more a fluff book on lives of people he knows, which is interesting, but I was hoping for something more in depth.

Fact Check

One fact David got wrong was " Conan O'Brien took over for David Letterman"
Actually he took over for Tom Snyder, then David. Aside from this minor goof, enjoyed immensely.

A director who doesn’t know he has the wrong performer

David Steinberg is a great director, but he is not a very good narrator. He makes use of many interviews with people he is talking about but it becomes hard to tell who is speaking at any given moment. Just a slight change of tone, pitch, or rhythm would have made the stories much more enjoyable.

What a fantastic career in Comedy Engaging listeni

Great material! Narration seemed stilted many times. Illuminating and well worth your time! Buy

I love comedy & absolutely loved this audiobook!

The comedians David talks about are so interesting. Their stories are terrific and very enjoyable, even when I had not followed that comedian. David is a consummate professional with amazing talent as a comedian, writer, performer, interviewer, and director. His own life and professional experiences made wonderful listening too. Highly recommend!

great perspective on some shows that we all know

if you live Seinfeld and Curb You Enthusiasm,you might really live this book. The author gives a unique inside perspective of these shows and more. fun and interesting!