Kelly's Book Log: It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time: The Worst TV Shows in History and Other Things I Wrote by Bruce Vilanch

Favourite quote: At least nobody sued.

—Bruce Vilanch

I laughed out loud many times while listening to this book on audio, read by the author. It’s described as a history of television flops but is a sidecar to how to survive as a writer in Hollywood. Bruce is by his own admission, gay, Jewish, multitalented, not only a writer but a songwriter, and also one funny guy. Famous for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares. This book was sheer fun and a great antidote to the news right now. But what I liked best about it is how Vilanch bucks the trend of we shall overcome memoirs that can feel a bit easy in troubled times. The truth Vilanch says is sometimes we fail. Great ideas crash and burn. The wrong person gets credit. Things go sideways. How refreshing! Vilanch manages to make fun of himself, but when making fun of others, he remains generous. My favourite anecdote was the one about Carol Channing. In the heat of her divorce, she confessed to Vilanch that she and her husband only had sex twice during their entire marriage of many years. Vilanch replied with (I paraphrase)--Now you can write the book. You can call it Twice Upon a Mattress.

LOL. We need this.

Other suggested chuckle-moirs about Hollywood, actors and writers:

Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat and Tears by Michael Schulman

Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Check out @brucevilanch