First published 2016
Jerry Lewis sits down with Richard Belzer to reflect on his extraordinary career in entertainment. At eighty-six, the comedy legend shares stories from his decades in show business, discussing his partnership with Dean Martin, whom he calls the greatest straight man who ever lived. Lewis opens up about his approach to comedy, insisting that comedians must embrace being crazy to succeed. He critiques the current generation of performers, praising some while expressing frustration with others he wants to discipline. The conversations cover his groundbreaking technical work in film, including his invention of the digital assist camera that transformed the industry. Lewis also discusses the origins of his famous muscular dystrophy telethon and shares personal photographs and memorabilia. Through their friendship, Belzer draws out Lewis's unfiltered thoughts on the craft of comedy, his career highlights, and his place in entertainment history. The book captures Lewis's humor, sincerity, and hard-earned wisdom about a lifetime spent making audiences laugh.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, comedy, 21st-century, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-reflection
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
288 pages · Hardcover · Weinstein Books