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)

The last 4 hours are what you really want to hear

I wasn't so much interested in how he got into writing but the television show everyone loves. Raymond. but I guess it was necessary to put some details in to explain how difficult it was to get that show made and what led up to it. could have done without the first few hours or at least reedited them. but overall it was pretty good book which I can't say for the majority of the ones I listen to

I was lucky to find this book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Phil Rosenthal has mastered the art of story telling. I never watched a full episode of Raymond, until after I I heard Phil discuss the making of the episodes. I then watched the first season on Netflix and I got an amazing education of the art of writing comedy for television.

If you thing you might want to write for TV or for yourself for that matter, this is a must have in your library.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a very real book. There are no made up lines just to fit into the book. Everything that Phil talks about is meaningful to him and he presents his material in a light and funny manner, without ever getting jokey.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure what my favorite scene of the book would be, although there are quite a few moments that I remember reading and thinking this is very interesting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed out loud more than once from reading this book. It is heartfelt and genuine,

Any additional comments?

Well worth the read.

The best

Who knew after 10 years on Audible and hundreds of books in I’d find one of my favorites with Phil.
Just get it.

REALLY FUNNY!!!!

If you are a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, you will LOVE this audiobook!!! Phil Rosenthal is not only very funny, but he, also from Queens (like Ray Romano), talks like Ray! Many of the episodes were based on his (Phil’s) life. Lots of interesting info on all of the characters/actors and on the making of the show. Phil’s life story is darn funny (in his telling of it) and it is integral to understanding and appreciating Everybody Loves Raymond. I will re-listen, probably more than once. The book made me happy!

An absolute favorite of mine

If I had not flamed out with a B.A. in Psychology and segued into Computer Science and spent 4 decades programming, I think just maybe I could have been a comedy writer. First, that would have made me poorer than I am today. Second, I could have hung out with people like Phil Rosenthal. He's a funny guy. I didn't associate him with Everybody Loves Raymond. I just assumed someone saw his standup and decided they could make a show around him. Well, it was a bit more complicated than that. I feel like I got to know Phil better through his PBS food show, "I'll have what Phil's having". There is funny and there is the ability to tell a funny story and there is the ability to tell a story funny. But Phil does it all so that previous sentence I wrote was just for my own amusement. I really liked this book.

MEANT to be an Audio Book!

I don't think this book would have been nearly as interesting or funny as a traditional book - Phil Rosenthal does a fantastic job narrating! Plus, there are some audio clips inserted throughout this audio book.

My one criticism is the **frequent** gaps where there's no sound. At first they had me wondering if the book had stopped. They're particularly annoying because they often occur in the middle of the story. I've never experienced an audio book with gaps like this before. And, in another type of book it would have been a serious flaw. But, this book is so much fun that it's just a mild annoyance.

I really liked this book!

Funny, revealing, and not mean. Phil seemed like a nice guy. I hadn’t realized how funny he was. I also loved the trip down memory lane, being reminded of episodes and then feeling compelled to revisit them on YouTube. I loved the “inside looks”, too. I very well may listen again not too long from now.

It gets a five because I can't give it a 6

Laughed out lout throughout. I hadn't watched that many 'Raymond' episodes before listening to this book, but it didn't matter as his own comedy writing and delivery was hilarious. Great summer read.

Great For Anyone Interested in Show Biz

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

Yes. This book, amid the funny storytelling is ripe with insider info into how Hollywood works. As a wannabe writer, this helped me see the inside a little bit better than I would have expected.

What other book might you compare You're Lucky You're Funny to and why?

Bossy Pants by Tina Fey - Both give great insights and explain how their lives led them to a life of comedy and helped shape their artistic talents in the television format.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed-out-loud several times. Great story telling.

Any additional comments?

Definitely worth the investment!

Reads like Cinderella for comedy writing

Any additional comments?

For anyone getting into comedy writing, sitcoms, or show business in general, Rosenthal’s story feels a little like a magical fairytale. I loved hearing how his career took off, and how all of the pieces came together to create and sustain a successful and long-running sitcom. There are a lot of great tips sprinkled throughout as well. The author was great as a narrator; his tone was pleasant and conversational, and his passion and excitement for the field and his experiences really came through. On a technical note, there are quite a few long pauses (like 5-10 seconds) sprinkled throughout the audio -- I thought it was my app at first, but got used to it. One suggestion: Skip Chapter 9. The majority of the chapter is a painfully detailed account of a bad vacation he took with his family, and I’m not sure why it was included. It wasn’t funny or insightful, the whiny tone contrasted with the other chapters, and there was no real tie-in to the rest of the book that made it necessary to listen. Don't worry, the rest of the book is still worth the download!