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This is nonfiction commentary.Chapters: Groundhog Day, Stuart Saves His Family, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, Analyze This, Analyze That, Bedazzled, Multiplicity, Club Paradise, the Ice Harvest. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 68. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Stuart Saves His Family is a 1995 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, and based on a series of Saturday Night Live sketches from the early-to-mid 1990s. The movie tracks the adventures of would-be self-help guru Stuart Smalley, a creation of comedian Al Franken, as he attempts to save both his deeply troubled family and his low-rated cable access show. Some of the plot is inspired by Franken's book, I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!: Daily Affirmations By Stuart Smalley. The film was produced by Lorne Michaels. Co-stars include Laura San Giacomo, Vincent D'Onofrio, Shirley Knight, Lesley Boone and Harris Yulin. Julia Sweeney, Joe Flaherty, Robin Duke, Richard Riehle, Justin Roberts and Kurt Fuller have cameo roles. Stuart Smalley (Al Franken) has a cable access show about self-help entitled "Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley" which is moved from its noon time slot to 2:45 am by the abusive director of programing of the Chicago Public Access channel, Roz Weinstock because she despises Stuart. But when he goes on the air and personally insults her by name, Roz fires Stuart. He tells his story to his Al Anon sponsor Julia (Laura San Giacomo) about his troubles and she tells him to try to make amends to Roz. When Roz's secretary, Laurie reports to her that Stuart has arrived, Roz tells her she's 'in a meeting'. While waiting for a long time, Stuart gets restless, but after complementing his show Laurie breaks down in tears. Stuart comforts her as she tells of her boyfriend's gambl...http://booksllc.net/?id=1717500 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Vacation is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall. The film features numerous others, such as comedians John Candy and Imogene Coca, model Christie Brinkley, and Jane Krakowski in smaller roles. The screenplay was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon Magazine, Vacation '58 (the screenplay changes the year to 1983). The original story is a (reportedly) fictionalized account of his own family's ill-fated trip to Disneyland (changed to Walley World for the film) when Hughes was a boy. The success of the film helped advance his screenwriting career. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Siempre!, published by Edicional Siempre on March 9, 2003. The length of the article is 661 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Yo me analizo, tú te analizas ... Harold Ramis. (La Cultura en México).(Analízate )(Reseña de película)
Author: Tomás Pérez Turrent
Publication: Siempre! (Refereed)
Date: March 9, 2003
Publisher: Edicional Siempre
Volume: 49Issue: 2595Page: 74(1)

Article Type: Reseña de película

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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Word count: 2802. ... Read more

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Ghostbusters (titled on-screen as Ghost Busters) is a 1984 science-fiction comedy film written by co-stars Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis about three eccentric New York City parapsychologists-turned-ghost exterminators. The film was released in the United States on June 8, 1984 and like several films of the era, teamed Aykroyd and/or Ramis with headliner Bill Murray. It was produced and directed by Ivan Reitman, who also directed Stripes, and stars Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Ernie Hudson. With inflation adjustments, the film's original release grossed over $500 million US dollars counting sales in just the U.S., making it domestically one of the highest-grossing films of 1984 and also domestically the 31st highest-grossing film. It was followed by a sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), and two animated television series, The Real Ghostbusters (later renamed Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters) and Extreme Ghostbusters. Ramis, who co-wrote the first two films, has confirmed that a script for a potential third film ? a spin-off sequel with the original cast appearing only as minor characters ? is being developed by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, the writing team best known for their work on Curb Your Enthusiasm and the American version of The Office. Producer Judd Apatow (a producer of the Ramis-directed Year One) is also slated to be involved. ... Read more

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"The entire recent tradition of American theatrical satire can be summed up in three words: The Second City."--New York Times

Many of comedy's biggest stars cut their teeth at The Second City. Learn allof the backstage details--the laughs, loves, struggles, successes, fights and failures that have made Second City such a fertile ground for comedy over the years. And hear Second City's most outrageous and hilarious live performances on two audio CDs narrated by Robert Klein.

Hear:

--John Belushi try to bluff his way through an oral exam to avoid the draft--Mike Myers as a Canadian border guard who "closes" Canada--Bonnie Hunt singing "Up, Up And Away" as an annoying "on-hold" entertainer--John Candy playing Dan Aykroyd's rebellious, hockey-hating son

And read about:--Bill Murray demonstrating the proper way to deal with a heckler--Alan Arkin's pre-Second City days as a troubadour with The Tarriers--Where Gilda Radner first came up with "Emily Litella"--How Second City alum Martin Short "discovered" Mike Myers

Since 1959, The Second City has been producing cutting-edge satire and wickedly funny improvisation, while keeping countless individuals of questionable character off the streets for a couple of hours each night. It has also trained thousands of young performers in the art of improv-based theater.

The Second City recounts the early years of the comedy troupe's biggest stars, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Gilda Radner, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, David Steinberg, Robert Klein, Chris Farley, Martin Short and John Candy, as well as some of today's hottest directors, like Harold Ramis (Analyze This), Mike Nichols (The Birdcage), Betty Thomas (Private Parts) and Bonnie Hunt (Return to Me).

Author Sheldon Patinkin, one of Second City’s founding fathers, tells the story of Second City like no else can--with rare photos, profiles and backstage stories you were never supposed to hear. The Second City is both funnier and more poignant than you could have imagined. The book includes two full-length audio CDs containing hilarious classic scenes like:--"Football Comes to the University of Chicago" (with Alan Arkin and Severn Darden)--"Brest Litovsk" (with John Belushi and Joe Flaherty)--"Motivational Speaker" (with Chris Farley, Tim Meadows and Bob Odenkirk)

Plus new, never-before-heard material that will leave your sides aching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Self-Congatulatory Text/Superb CDs
Patinkin has scribed a look back at Second City that is full of self-love for all the club stood for and all the comedians who traipsed through the door.The book would have benefited from a more honest account that featured the failures as well as the successes.

The two compact discs are worth the price you'll pay for a copy on the used book club market, however.They are full of funny bits featuring many famous comedians, and will give your money's worth back in laughter.

I put up a bunch of reviews there
Sheldon's portion is great.It's an interesting background on a philosophy.The rest is the most masturbatorial text you'll ever read -- and it praises the tragically mediocre.I worked there over the course of the two managements.It's horrible now.Of course, nobody asked me or fellow cast members who could actually make me laugh.

Great for comedy fans
If you are already a fan of Second City -- or of comedy in general -- this is a very entertaining and informative book, containing many nuggets that elucidate the overwhelming impact Second City has had on comedy in the US.But if you know nothing about them, it is not the greatest introduction.It doesn't give a real sense of the improv process.It is accompanied by two CDs of performances.The CD of the early years has pretty bad sound, and some of the performances are dated.THe second CD is great.

Pioneers in Improvisionational Entertainment
It is important to understand what this package (ie book and two audio CDs) is not. It is not a definitive history of the group, nor does it provide detailed biographical information about the group's most prominent members, nor is it a probling analysis of the broader and deeper context in which the group was established and then evolved. Yes, the reader is "taken backstage at the world's greatest comedy theater" but the experience (albeit enjoyable) very much resembles what a family member or friend would probably encounter when literally allowed backstage. After having read the book, I understood more about the group's development and the interaction (onstage) between and among the principals.

Perhaps you have seen the Olivier film based on Henry V in which, during the first 12-15 minutes, the viewer is transported back to the Elizabethan Age, to the London theatre world, and to the stage on which Shakespeare's play was performed. Brief scenes backstage are included. When reading this book, I had the same sense of being allowed limited access. Only when the two audio CDs are heard are the unique talents of the various performers brought to life. I view the book as being supplementary to the CDs. Together, they provide exceptional entertainment to those who enjoy comedic improvisation.

So-So Book, Great CD set!
There are far better books on the history of The Second City for those who want to know the personalities of those who created it from an objective and historical perspective.

I've never been to a Second City show and that strikes me the same way as when I think that, I could have bought IBM or Microsoft on the ground floor and been there at the very beginning.Granted, I wouldn't be a millionaire today if I had seen Robert Klein or George Wendt or Bill Murray or Mike Meyers working their gifts on stage in their prime, but it would be a great feeling to know I got to see them before they become television and comedy legends.Its something to tell the grandkids about, being able to say, "I saw Belushi on stage with Radner long before Saturday Night Live."This book sgives the reader, if nothing else, a sense of intimacy and connection to the stage and the personalities of SC.

This is a yearbook for Second City, much the same as the Saturday Night Live 20th Anniversary book was years back.It doesn't talk about the show in depth or with any significantly abrasive conflict, but as art and as an institution to be measured on the surface and by its product of great stage and screen talent.

It is a great coffee table book that covers a long history and a lot of personalities with really, really big pictures and bright colors to make it pretty.It does have a great set of CDs with original SC performances ranging from the days of Klein and Rivers to David Sedaris and others of the new generation.It is worth maybe $30 of the price of the book, which balances out the remainder of the cost for the big pictures and pretty pages. ... Read more

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Bill Murray has joined the Army, and it will never be the same! When John Winger (Murray) loses his job, his car, his apartment, and his girlfriend - all in one day - he decides he has only one option: volunteer for Uncle Sam. He talks his friend Russell (Harold Ramis) into enlisting with him. Where else, they figure, can they help save the world for Democracy and meet girls at the same time! Insanity follows as the two are arrested twice, have endless run ins with their drill sergeant, and get into a big mess at a female mud wrestling match! Lots of laughs. Warren Oates and John Candy put in memorable supporting performances . And "That's A Fact Jack!". ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! National Lampoon's Animal House is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. The screenplay was adapted by Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller and Harold Ramis from stories written by Miller and published in National Lampoon magazine based on Miller's experiences in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at Dartmouth College, as well as Ramis' experiences in the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis, and producer Ivan Reitman's experiences at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The film is about a misfit group of fraternity men who challenge their college's administrators.Early casting ideas included Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi. Of these five comedians, only Belushi was cast and he received $35,000 for the film with a bonus after it became a hit. Several of the actors, including Karen Allen and Kevin Bacon, were just beginning their careers. The studio's executives disagreed with Landis' selections and wanted to cast dramatic actors as well as comedians. ... Read more

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Limited Collectors Edition! Contains: 1) Together Again for the First Time Part 1; 2) The Slime of Their Lives Part 2; and 3) A Big Date With Liberty Part 3. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from CD Computing News, published by Worldwide Videotex on July 1, 2009. The length of the article is 970 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: "GHOSTBUSTERS: VIDEO GAME" NOW AVAILABLE AT RETAILERS.
Author: Unavailable
Publication: CD Computing News (Newsletter)
Date: July 1, 2009
Publisher: Worldwide Videotex
Volume: 23Issue: 7Page: NA

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

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The Real Ghostbusters 3-D Slimer Special! Comic is individually bagged w/ special 3-D glasses. Featuring:Egon's Health & Safety guide ~ Full color story ~ 3-D stories and more...Summer # 1, 1993 issue. ... Read more