Philip Rapp, creator of The Bickersons, was radio's greatest comedy writer. Until I read this book, I was not aware that Larry King once hailed The Bickersons as "the best radio comedy ever." Rapp did not just write for radio. He also wrote for Hollywood. he was one of Hollywood's highest paid script writers, using his gift of the gag to write films for Danny Kaye, best-selling albums for Don Ameche and Frances Langford, and classic television series like Topper and I Married Joan. He wrote the final Tv series for Joan Davis, and for the Marx Brothers, and influenced everything from The Honeymooners, The Flintstones and Married With Children.
Culled directly from the Philip Rapp files, this biography showcases the best of Philip Rapp, including a large chunk of Rapp's scripts, jokes and writings. Teaming with rare photos and interviews with family and friends, author Ben Ohmart has written a detailed book that is a must for any comedian.
If you ever wanted to know what Philip Rapp thought about The Honeymooners being a direct rip-off of The Bickersons, chapter eight offers a lot of material for thought, including direct comments from Rapp himself.
Roger Corman, the famed director, once remarked that this book offers "anything you want to know about comedy writing and much more." Talk about praise! This book is available in hardcover and paperback. I bought the paperback and wish I bought the hardcover instead. I wore the cover out a bit and now it looks dog-eared.
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