"Kohen assembles more than 150 interviews from America's most prominent comediennes (and the writers, producers, nightclub owners, and colleagues who revolved around them) to piece together the revolution that happened to (and by) women in American comedy"--Provided by publisher. An oral history tracing the careers and achievements of comediennes from the past half century challenges opinions about why women cannot be effective comedic entertainers...

In this memoir, the author writes about the evolution of Cosmo Kramer, his character on Seinfeld, sharing insecurities and successes he experienced creating the character. He discusses his childhood with his schizophrenic grandmother and single mother, and his drive to unravel the mystery of his father. He tells of his early passion for theater and performance, his tour of duty in the army, his interest in psychology and religion, and his days coming...

Draws on exclusive reporting to honor Bob Hope's top-rated successes while discussing such topics as his secret first marriage, stint in reform school and ambivalent relationships with fellow stars.

A concise portrait of the iconic film star traces his humble theatrical beginnings through his honorary Academy Award win, sharing anecdotes about his lesser-known antics and associations.

The actress best known for her work on "Parks and Recreation" and "Saturday Night Live" reveals personal stories and offers her humorous take on such topics as love, friendship, parenthood, and her relationship with Tina Fey.

"Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents' indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measure his mother took to hide him from a government...

"The Comic Offense from Vaudeville to Contemporary Comedy examines how contemporary writer/performers are influenced by the comedic vaudevillians of the early 20th century. By tracing the history and legacy of the vaudeville era and performance acts, like the Marx Brothers and The Three Keatons, and moving through the silent and early sound films of the early 1930s, the author looks at how comic writer/performers continue to sell a brand of themselves...

"An intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes readers through his life--the highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes. Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the Internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells...