Nell Scovell

A by turns funny and infuriating memoir about working as woman in the mail dominated world of Hollywood writers rooms. The author recounts formative moments in her career while taking her profession to task for its lack of interest in even the barest attempts at diversification. The male fragility is evident as entirely white male writers rooms complain about "affirmative action". The author has plenty of stories and examples of her own encounters with misogyny even as she ascends the ladder show more of authority. Throughout, she manages to balance critique and good humor.

This book is also interesting for the glimpse it offers into the life of a writer, especially one who is writing for television and film. Careers aren't always linear and that doesn't mean they aren't successful and meaningful. I had no idea who Nell Scovell was before reading this book, and honestly, I'm not sure I have a much better sense now. But I still enjoyed learning about her career and experiences, even if it was often frustrating to hear. show less

Here's the hilarious and painfully truthiness of a woman who was born funny but so often denied opportunities to reap the rewards of her obvious talent. As a writer for many comedies and sitcoms, producer, co-author of Lean In, joke writer for President Obama, and also as the subject of brutal sexism in almost every job she's struggled for, Scovell tells it all (or most of it - too bad that some of the worst behavior is unattributed). Her ability to write strikingly and stingingly shines show more through in all her anecdotes and recollections. And Nell herself admits to being part of the problem in not making sure that people of color were hired on projects where she had control. I'll just leave it to quotes for the rest of the review, but I urge anyone who STILL DOESN'T GET #METOO, or who denies the deadening impact it has on women's psyches, to read this book and wake the hell up!

"If I want Italian and you want Japanese, why can't you compromise and have Italian?" my husband once said to me, redefining the word 'compromise' ".

"The casting couch" sounds a lot nicer than "the rape sofa".

"Moral licensing" is when no one wants to admit bias, so they search their brains for examples that disprove the accusation. This is better know as the "Some of my best friends are..." defense. It's not enough to be aware of the injustice; you must also understand that your knee-jerk defensiveness is a big part of the problem." show less

I powered through this nonfiction account of the author's time writing for a dozen famous TV shows (The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, NCSI, Murphy Brown, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, etc.). Her glimpse inside the writer's room was fascinating. It was heartbreaking to realize just how much of her career was shaped by her gender, but she presents the stories with humor and grace. She encourages other to take action to improve things for the future while at the same time show more acknowledging that it will probably be an uphill battle. show less

This memoir from television writer, show creator, producer, and director Nell Scovell is a fascinating insight into a woman's career as a television comedy writer. Scovell details experiences from throughout her career (#MeToo moments and all) and remains funny even when relating stories that would be enough to make any feminist's blood boil. Although the narrative jumps a bit, making it difficult to always keep track of the timeline, Scovell is charming and intelligent and her writing is show more compelling. Recommended whether you're a fan of one of the many shows she worked on, interested in television writing in general, or just interested in a smart memoir from a funny and bright woman in Hollywood. show less