Make 'Em Laugh: Short-Term Memories of Longtime Friends

Audiobook- excellent narration
Debbie Reynolds just passed away just hours after her daughter left this world. The two of them had a strong bond, beyond blood. I was named after Debbie, she was my mother's idol when she was young, everything she wanted to be. I wanted to know this person who inspired my mother so I grabbed this for a peek of who this woman was.
Debbie Reynolds was a strong independent woman who alway held her head high, and never forgot she was just a human. She was funny, with an off center sense of humor. She traveled with the royalty of Hollywood and is honest about her feelings about them. I was surprised by many of these famous personalities, it was nice to see the person see got to know not the publicized version. show more Most were better than expected a couple were complete jerks, but that's the way it goes.
I laughed, chuckled, and felt sorrow as she told some of her most memorable moments. It was so bittersweet, knowing this was just 2 years ago and she was so alive. I recommend this to anyone who wants to remember the days of old and an interesting lady. show less

The subtitle of Debbie Reynolds' book Make 'Em Laugh is Short-Term Memories of Longtime Friends and it aptly describes this book; it's filled with short anecdotes about Reynolds and the people she met in her long and storied career.

While reading it, I felt like I was sitting next to her on her couch in her beautiful home while she flipped through a scrapbook, sharing memories of the many famous people she has met and known.

Reynolds is hilarious, as anyone who has seen her on a talk show or award show knows. She has a sharp, quick wit that is well on display here. She also has some funny stories to share about her family, including daughter Carrie Fisher who inherited her mom's sense of humor.

Carrie opens the book recounting the evening show more that her brother Todd accidentally shot himself in the thigh with a blank from a gun. Debbie called a cab to take him to the hospital because "ambulances can be so loud", and when Debbie was brought to the police station to be fingerprinted, Debbie gave them one finger to be printed. And we're off.

Reynolds shares that she likes to do talk shows, The View and The Talk being two of her favorites. She really loved being on Craig Ferguson's show, saying that no matter what she said, he was right there with her.

She was one of Joey Bishop's first guests on his talk show in the 1960's and recalls demonstrating on Regis Philbin (Joey's sidekick) the proper method taught to Girl Scouts to put out a fire. She jumped on him and he came out of it bruised and scraped, while she split her dress. She was a hit, making the front page cover of New York Sunday News.

Reynolds talks about her visits to the White House, sitting next to Prince at the Oscars, who was wearing a purple lace shawl over his head, dancing the night away with Belgium's bachelor King Baudouin and having her rear end pinched by both Prince Philip (Queen Elizabeth's husband) and Robert Kennedy.

Jonathan Winters and Jimmy Stewart were favorite dinner party seat mates, Milton Berle, whom Reynolds called "obnoxious", was not. Neither was Shelley Winters, "a pain in the ass." She shares a tale of dumping a bucket of ice and water over a drunken Elaine Stritch's head when Stritch was talking through an entire cabaret performance of a friend of Reynolds.

One anecdote she shares is one I was there for. She recounts attending the first preview for Bette Midler's Broadway show about agent Sue Mengers. She was seated near Liza Minelli, and I was sitting across the aisle from them and was so excited to see both of these superstars.

If you are a fan of Debbie Reynolds, Make 'Em Laugh is a book you'll enjoy. It would make a lovely gift for the Turner Classic Movie aficionado in your life. show less

Laugh out loud at the short vignette's Debbie uses to describe different episodes in her life with famous people like Jim Nabors, Don Rickles, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, Betty Davis, Phyllis Diller, Richard Nixon, and so many others.

This hilarious book takes a look at Hollywood's famous and infamous by a clown who is also "America's Sweetheart".

http://nicolewbrown.blogspot.com/2016/07/make-em-laugh-short-term-memories-of.ht...

The handlers led me over to her [Shamu], and asked me to put my head inside her mouth…Shamu didn’t chomp me. But on the way home from Sea World I still couldn’t shake the fresh orca smell. I had noticed that many of the restaurants at the park had a seafood theme. Was this the final fate of the fish who misbehaved?
-Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway (Make ‘Em Laugh: Short Term Memories of Longtime Friends p 56)
We had a short fling. But my friends worried. “Debbie, he’s so young,” they said. “Aren’t you afraid that dating him show more could be fatal?” “What the hell,” I said. “If he dies, he dies.”
-Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway (Make ‘Em Laugh: Short Term Memories of Longtime Friends p 134)
I decided to commission the artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan, to paint my portrait as a surprise gift for him[Eddie Fisher]. Unfortunately Eddie left me before the paint was dry. He heard that Elizabeth’s portrait had never been claimed, bought it as a gift for her, and left me for the real thing…When my painting was finished, I called Ralph to tell him I didn’t want it, even though I’d already paid for it. Ralph sent it to me sometime later anyway…So, ladies, if you’re reading this remember: when you’re thinking of a birthday gift for your husband, buy something that you can return—in case he doesn’t.
-Debbie Reynolds and Dorian Hannaway (Make ‘Em Laugh: Short Term Memories of Longtime Friends p 213) show less