Martin Short (2) (1950–)

Like the Greek masks of theater, successful comedy and tragedy are closely conjoined. Tragedy is more palpable and close to life when leavened with a little humor. Comedy strikes home when informed by bathos. 'We laughed, we cried, we came back for more' is a familiar rallying cry. Comedian Martin Short has risen high from his Canadian roots, gracing the stage, TV (SCTV and SNL) and movies alike. He can do broad comedy -- physical pratfalls are not beneath him, as well as nuanced sketches show more and characters.

His recent "I Must Say" combines all the aspects of a truly satisfying Hollywood memoir: tons of humor, delicious dish and name-dropping, and plenty of humanity, too. I won't forget his tales of colonoscopy parties past anytime soon! My audio version narrated by Short came replete with songs and impersonations. Short has also suffered loss and sadness. The most affecting and memorable parts of this book surprisingly aren't the funny bits, but the tearful ones. Get this one for the gossip, but you'll stick around for the wonderful tales of love and friendship. show less

I've enjoyed what movies of Martin's I've seen so I'm not suprised I found his memoir funny as well. It's interesting to hear about how he got his start and the genuine friendships he's made with other stars such as Eugene Levy, Steve Martin, and Tom Hanks. What was surprising is how much loss Martin has suffered and how strongly he's moved through it, when it might bring many of us down.

I haven't really watched any of his sketch comedy, but for those interested the book contains excerpts show more about and from the perspective of his more famous characters, if that's of interest.

I'm thinking that if you like him as an actor/comedian and you enjoy memoirs, you'll like this one. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version partly because Martin Short narrated it himself and just hearing his upbeat presentation was enough to put a smile on my face. Like me, Short was (and still is) Canadian, and he delivers his account with usual Canuck matter-of-factness, hitting all the high notes of sincerity and never veering into nastiness. That I could relate to and enjoy as well.

Martin Short has lived a remarkable life, yet he seems not to really know it. Even when he show more name-drops, he does it in such a way that it feels ordinary. And talk about high energy! He cracks jokes throughout and even breaks into song at some points. Yet, when he talks about his wife, Nancy, you sense his love and devotion to her, and then later, the depth of his loss when she is taken too soon.

I rode the highs and lows of Martin Short's life, never losing interest. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. show less

I love the movies Pure Luck and Innerspace. They are ridiculous, and probably do not hold up, but I love them. I also hold a special place in my heart for The Three Amigos. The one thing they have in common? Martin Short.

This is a very sweet book, which makes sense, because Mr. Short is, by all reports, a very sweet guy. He seems kind, generous, and funny in a dorky way that works for some people but not everyone. And if written by anyone else, I think this book would rub me the wrong way. show more It’s basically a few chapters about his early life, followed by a whole lot of name dropping. But the thing is, he’s not actually dropping names. These are just his friends, and they of course feature prominently in his memoir.

Mr. Short faced some rough stuff in his life. He lost his older brother when he was in his early teens; by the time he was 20 he was an orphan. His wife died in 2010, after 30 years of marriage. He’s experienced a lot of loss, but he’s also experienced a lot of joy. He’s had an extraordinarily successful career without necessarily being everywhere all the time. I don’t know if most people think of him as a big name of comedy, but I think comedians think of him as a big name in comedy, and they would know. I also have some issues with some of his choices – especially using a fat suit as Jiminy Glick – but I do genuinely believe it does not ever come from a place of hate.

One thing I really took away from this book is the Nine Categories. It sounds like a cult, but it’s kind of amazing, and I think I’m actually going to try it. Basically, as he faced some challenging times in his career, he wanted to keep things in perspective, and make sure he was devoting time to the things in his life that matter. So, to quote him: “I decided to systematically compare my performance in that one specific category of my life – work – with my performance in the other important life categories, and to give them all equal importance.” Man, that is a refreshing outlook. It doesn’t put work at the center of everything. In case you’re interested, the categories are:
- Self
- Immediate Family
- Original Family
- Friends
- Money
- Career
- Creativity
- Discipline
- Lifestyle (this is meant to include both having fun and making a difference in the world)

I love it.

I read the book, but I believe he read the audio version, and I’m betting that would be fantastic. show less