Sid Caesar (1922–2014)

This is a really revealing and honest autobiography about descent in Scotch and Placidyl dependence in the midst of career success, wealth, and family. With Show of Shows etc. we get a history not only of television, but sketch comedy and it originated with Caesar and his peers. The telling, which runs into the early '80s, includes inclusions written by his family as well as colleagues like Carl Reiner.

Fascinating biography of one of the great funny men of early television. While I've always known about Sid Caesar, his hayday on television was over within a year of my birth so there is a lot I didn't know about. It has made me want to go find some of those classic sketches and watch them.

Caesar didn't have an easy early life, born of middle class parents who lost everything in the stock market crash of 1929 he learned about being poor and working hard to make money. Somewhere along the show more line he also learned how to make people laugh. With talent and incredible luck and timing he shot to the top of the entertainment world on television.

Even struggling with alcoholism later in his career he still managed to stay relevant to the entertain world. Who can forget him as the "coach" at Rydell High in Grease?

I enjoyed the book a lot. There were some weak points in the editing but overall it was a very good look into a legends life. show less

Rated: B+

Sid Caesrs's autobiography.

It was ok. I found him kind of whinny and self involved.

I wish there had been more about the early days of live TV.