Darrell Hammond "God, if You're Not Up There, I'm F" Read Online
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It is no surprise that Hammond'south time at Saturday Nighttime Live should underscore nearly every chapter of his memoir. His record-breaking xiv-year stint every bit an SNL cast member made him a household name, from higher dorms to the most famous house of all, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Indeed, Hammond's impressions covered a veritable pantheon of political figures—Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Jesse Jackson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, pundit Chris Matthews, and even Donald Trump (who counts merely because he briefly flirted with the idea of running for president). The man likewise famously performed as Sean Connery, Dan Rather, Ted Koppel, Phil Donahue, Regis Philbin, and scores of others. Hammond's notoriety as the preeminent comic impressionist of this generation followed him everywhere, from Presidential black-tie soirées, where Hammond was invited to perform as Clinton alongside Clinton himself, to the psychiatric hospitals where, as a patient, Hammond still couldn't escape the requests to appear in character.
Lilliputian do people know that Hammond'due south penchant for simulated began as a child, when his impressions of Porky Pig and others formed the only positive link betwixt him and his sadistically calumniating, mentally-ill female parent. Information technology was a human relationship that would germinate more than Hammond's vocal talents, leading the comedian for most of his life to struggle with severe mental and emotional problems, and in turn with alcohol and a wide assortment of other drugs. Fifty-fifty more shockingly, Hammond'due south psychological turmoil was frequently manifest in acts of self-cutting, a practice he engaged in often only moments earlier taking the stage and performing in comedy skits on live television. An amazingly persistent talent, Hammond all the same didn't ever brand it in front of the cameras. More than once his appearances were cancelled equally he was rushed from the NBC studios at Rockefeller Center to a infirmary—1 time in a straitjacket.
Hammond'southward tome is a powerful ane, with writing as dignified as it is gracious. Information technology's near surprising that the book is a memoir for as little as Hammond makes himself the eye of attending. In no fashion does he shy away from the details of his life, from his vast accomplishments and the wealth of professional respect that has come up his way. And nonetheless Hammond exudes an unwavering awe toward all of the talent with which he'due south had the laurels to have worked, a relentless gratitude for all of the wondrous occasions of which he's been a function. At the same time, Hammond openly discusses his foibles and flaws. His matter-of-fact recounting of personal weakness is neither big-headed nor apologetic nor a plea for sympathy, it is just the truth. It is a pervasive and guileless honesty that commands the respect of the reader, even when a flake of the unsolicited sympathy does manage to slip in.
I would exist remiss not to mention the expert style in which Hammond fuses informative passages into his tale. The noesis the reader gains of everything Hammond discusses, from life in Hell's Kitchen circa 1980 to law enforcement in the Bahamas, is staggering. A copious amount of detail is woven into the narrative, but it is done so seamlessly and succinctly that you'll scarce realize you lot're being educated merely every bit much as yous're being entertained. Nowhere is this equally true as when Hammond describes the inner workings of Saturday Night Live. Fifty-fifty the casual fan of the show will gain an appreciation for the controlled chaos that goes on backside the scenes. Hammond's book should be used equally a primer for anyone aspiring to join the bandage or crew of SNL.
It is incredibly fitting that Hammond should conclude his memoir discussing his well-nigh recent take chances, playing Truman Capote in a phase product of the one-man bear witness Tru. As Hammond notes, the stage is designed to brand audiences feel as though they are sitting in Capote's living room, finer transforming the nearly 100-minute monologue into something of an intimate conversation between Capote and the individual viewer. Hammond's book accomplishes near the same feat. Past the time I had reached the final few chapters, I realized that I was reading every page as though poised on the edge of my seat, with Hammond sitting straight in front of me, talking to me personally, telling me about his life as if I were a near and honey friend. It donned on me then that Hammond, whom I felt had alluded me in the earlier chapters, had been at that place all along, just with such a quiet and pleasing demeanor that I had failed to appreciate his inflow, then defenseless up was I in what he had to say. Without my even realizing it, Hammond had befriended me through his stories. And I can't retrieve of a better compliment for the writer of a memoir.
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Hammond had a horrific childhood and a brutal adulthood, floundering in the throes of misdiagnosed mental illnesses and alcoholism. Only during his seventh flavor on the show did he finally discover a DR that actually helped him properly.
This book does have some nifty stories from backside the scenes of SNL, but it is not solely a 'book nigh SNL'. I wish information technology had been.
I wish that he had written TW
As opposed to other memoirs written by 'Saturday Night Live' alums, this 1 is much more serious and heavy.Hammond had a horrific childhood and a savage adulthood, floundering in the throes of misdiagnosed mental illnesses and alcoholism. Simply during his 7th season on the show did he finally find a DR that really helped him properly.
This book does have some great stories from behind the scenes of SNL, but it is non solely a 'book about SNL'. I wish information technology had been.
I wish that he had written Ii books, one about his career and time on the show, and one most his life, childhood, health issues and addictions. They each would have been strong, well written books as Hammond is an intelligent, clear writer. Despite some flaws, this IS a well-written book. Nonetheless, the main trouble is that he tries to give BOTH of these massive topics equal justice in this I book, and equally a result, he doesn't requite either one the proper fourth dimension/length needed; creating an uneven memoir that could have easily been two different (stronger) tales. --Jen from Quebec :0)
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Memoirs are always tricky to rate a
When most people call up of Darrell Hammond they acquaintance him with being a performer on Saturday Nighttime Live and and then later equally an announcer for the show. He has ever kinda flown nether the radar and his personal life was never really splashed all over the tabloids. So when his memoir came out, I remember just about anybody existence shocked at the nighttime content. Comedians oft use laughter as a way to mask the hurting and I retrieve that definitely applies to Darrell.Memoirs are always tricky to rate and the main reason I gave this volume 3 stars is because I didn't intendance for how it was organized as the timeline bounced effectually besides much to the point in which it was confusing. Darrell likewise doesn't go into much particular about his 2 divorces from the same wife. And while I respect that maybe he prefers non to share everything about his life, information technology is a memoir and something like that to pretty much be glossed over just feels odd. I think there is a fashion to avoid certain things you don't want to talk nearly but still brand it seem to the reader like they are getting an inside look to your life. This memoir only felt incomplete.
One of the things I institute nigh interesting was he impersonated politicians from both sides of the aisle and he would get invited to all of the different events similar inaugurations. He didn't have a loyalty to either political party, and when information technology came to humor, anybody was fair game. And that'southward probably why in turn he was well-respected among the Washington D.C. crowd. Although to be fair, information technology sounded like Hilary Clinton might take thought he crossed a line with a joke as she basically dropped him before long later.
Even though this isn't my favorite celeb memoir, information technology still was a fascinating read.
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Darrell Hammond has a story that is different even the more dysfunctional comics. From most comedians you wait a piffling bullying, isolation, sadness, parents getting divorced, lots of drinki
I take never really been the kind of reader who grabs a book and reads it embrace-to-comprehend in a unmarried sitting. And I'k notwithstanding non because it took my 2 sittings, but that's fine because I've never really been the kind of reader who grabs a book and reads information technology cover-to-embrace in a couple sittings. Then ... #humblebrag.Darrell Hammond has a story that is unlike fifty-fifty the more than dysfunctional comics. From most comedians yous expect a little bullying, isolation, sadness, parents getting divorced, lots of drinking, drug use, and then sometimes sobriety. Darrell swapped out his parents getting divorced for his mom straight upwards abusing him. Otherwise, he fit the mold.
A volume with a great story is very readable, a volume with a neat story that breaks out anecdotes as their ain mini-capacity makes a book even more than readable. This was just then readable! It was as if it was in english language which is the language I read! (Spoiler alert: this volume IS in english!)
I am a comedy nerd, which is why I decided to read nearly a comic that I'yard not fifty-fifty necessarily a huge fan of, but I think fifty-fifty casual SNL fans (or Bill Clinton fans) will really savor this book.
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While living in constant fear, he likewise was busy performing stand-upwardly comedy for SNL and another club/show he could get i Growing upwardly in a family unit where his mother constantly tortured him, physically and emotionally, Darrell Hammond learned to believe that death and pain was around every corner. This pain was lodged so deep in his brain that he would wake upwardly screaming at dark, scar up his whole body with razor blades and kitchen knives, and was almost constantly drunk or being shipped off to rehab.
While living in constant fright, he also was busy performing stand-up comedy for SNL and another club/show he could go into. Hammond does a fantastic chore of guiding the reader through his messed up life while working at SNL, and the reasons for why his life was the fashion it was. He tells his tale of his night life on and off photographic camera with brutal honesty and on occasion with his comical wit that we all love him for. In God, If Yous're Not Up In that location, I'chiliad Fucked, Darrell Hammond gives the reader a glimpse into his heed and life while struggling with his childhood trauma, drugs, booze, self-mutilation, and the hard life of stand-upward comedy.
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"God, If You're Non At that place" is about Darrell Hammond's life, both the highs and the lows. He describes his struggle with mental illness, addiction, and abuse at the han
A few years agone, I started reading "God, If You're Non There" on my Kindle. I abandoned information technology subsequently a few pages, shocked by the dissonance between my epitome of Darrell Hammond and the reality. (Naive, I know.) Last week, when Audible released the audiobook narrated past the author, I decided to give this book another endeavour. I'm glad I did."God, If You're Not There" is about Darrell Hammond's life, both the highs and the lows. He describes his struggle with mental illness, addiction, and abuse at the easily of his parents... that's difficult to listen to (and must have been difficult to narrate). But he also describes his career and includes several of his wonderful comedic impressions. He recounts his experiences from Saturday Nighttime Live (which I admittedly loved, equally an SNL fan), and notes that he refers fans to s Washington Postal service commodity in response to "Why aren't you playing Donald Trump anymore?"
The book as well describes Hammond'due south recovery from addiction and finding peace. For me, this was the about satisfying office of the book. A very interesting audiobook by and near this talented comedian. Highly recommended!
Review likewise posted to audible.com:
https://world wide web.aural.com/pd/Bios-Memoi...
I don't care that much what Hilary Clinton's entourage was and how many times yous played the White Business firm Correspondent'southward Dinner (although I suppose many people who desire to read a Darrell Hammond autobiography would be). But that person probably would similar a funny volume, and this wasn't.
I care near an in depth exploration of the horror show that got him to the point of such a astringent case of PTSD that it was misdiagnosed every bit bipolar d/o/schizophrenia for years upon years, and that he cut himself to keep himself from slipping into flashbacks at inopportune times (that's a v different pathology from near cutters). At that place was some of that, only I wanted to know a lot more than. Although that said, I can understand why he would be hesitant to talk over it in depth, merely for my money if y'all're going there, become all the way.
Anyhow, the guy certainly had a hard time of it. Also, he didn't go his break on SNL until he was 39, so I am choosing to find this very inspirational.
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This book is the autobiographical account of Hammond's struggle with alcohol and drugs during his years on Saturday Night Live and beyond. I don't desire to be mean, but the book reads as if it were written past someone who was still intoxicated.
Being a huge SNL fan and having fallen in honey with Tina Fey all once again after reading Bossy Pants last year, I was eager to read Hammond'due south book. Merely while Fey's prose is tight (and hilarious), Hammond's is nonsensical and flat.
He jumps back and
Well...This book is the autobiographical account of Hammond's struggle with booze and drugs during his years on Sabbatum Dark Alive and beyond. I don't desire to be mean, but the book reads as if it were written past someone who was still intoxicated.
Being a huge SNL fan and having fallen in dear with Tina Fey all over again after reading Snobby Pants concluding year, I was eager to read Hammond's book. But while Fey'south prose is tight (and hilarious), Hammond'south is nonsensical and apartment.
He jumps dorsum and forth between his years on SNL and his youth, non in an organized fashion, simply in a way that leaves you scratching your caput wondering, 'what were you talking well-nigh again?'
To his credit, he does admit in the book that he is non a funny person -- his success on SNL was due largely to the Emmy accolade-winning writing staff. Merely then the question must be asked - why?
Oh, correct. For the paycheck. Well, at to the lowest degree someone got something out of it. Bleh.
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On a side note, Hammond loves Les Miserables, and I honey him for loving what I love. :)
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Oh, and this was on sale.
If I'd known what I was getting into with this, I dubiousness I'd have read it. For the nearly role, there'southward not much funny to information technology. Instead, information technology's a harrowing account of Hammond's em
I never found Darrell Hammond all that funny, though, to exist off-white, I didn't watch a lot of Saturday Night Live in his era. Still, I've found myself reading as many memoirs of bandage members every bit I tin can because I'chiliad curious about what makes something funny and because I have a son imagining a career in comedy.Oh, and this was on sale.
If I'd known what I was getting into with this, I doubt I'd have read it. For the most part, at that place's not much funny to it. Instead, it's a harrowing account of Hammond's emotional illness. He was physically abused as a kid, mostly by his mother but also at times past his father. He coped in the cliched style of working to make people express mirth, but also in darker ways like substance abuse and cutting himself.
While there are some early capacity well-nigh his SNL life and his piece of work as a comedian, the majority of the first ii-thirds of this is a straightforward memoir of a deeply pained man. There's power in his self-discovery, power in the sense that he is working toward healing himself equally he tells the story, but he's simply a solid writer, not a great one. If I'd wanted memoir in full, there are a lot of others I'd take turned to starting time.
There are, eventually, some chapters virtually his SNL life, but he seems to admit in his afterward that they're at that place because his publisher asked for them. He's surprisingly unhappy in describing his time on the show. He was older than nearly of the cast, and he was a drinker in a serious and solitary manner, then he didn't connect with his castmates the way so many others of the same era seemed to.
More to the point of what I was hoping for, though, Hammond was never quite a comedian. He was, instead, an impressionist. And, equally far as I'm concerned, the best parts of this book come up from him discussing what goes into a thoughtful impression. You lot don't want to be as well exact, he says. Mimicry is more a gimmick than something funny.
Instead, the challenge is to find a quirk and then exaggerate it. He credits Dana Carvey as a mentor and model, and he recalls the ability of a sketch the two did together. Carvey every bit George Westward. Bush promised he was "Not gonna do information technology" when it came to raising taxes. Hammond as Al Gore promised to have Social Security and put it in a "lock box." He nailed the impression then fully and with such mockery that some observers thought information technology was a factor in that razor-close ballot.
And so it's interesting to hear him discuss how he listens – studies deeply – the characters he does impressions of. For his Bill Clinton, the most famous of his characters, he developed 3 different sets of tapes to hear the President in his morning time, afternoon and evening voices. He listens for where in the throat the voice comes. Others concentrate on the material, but Hammond lets the writers handle that. He wants to go at a subtler performing quality of someone he "does."
And, intriguingly, he claims to have a form of synesthesia that makes him hear some voices in color. That gift seems a function of what it takes for him to "get" his subjects.
There'due south ultimately less of that assay than I'd similar, though, and that leaves the uncomfortable fact that – absent-minded his striking abilities every bit an impressionist – he'southward simply not that funny a comedian. (In the edition I listened to, the memoir itself is frequently flat, laughless. In the appended live routine, though, some of the aforementioned stories – presented with total-throated impressions – becomes funnier. It's in the delivery.)
Between the candor of the memoir and the analysis of his art, at that place are some legitimate elements here. Information technology has some power, only not quite the power I was looking for when I picked it up.
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Every bit has been written in several other reviews of this book on this site, the timeline is kind of screwy. Or maybe it isn't so much the timeline, every bit the chapters all pertain to a specific prepare of years, only the switching back and forth from the years discussed in the affiliate with remembrances of childhood. Granted, those flashbacks were important, and happening in his real life, but they tended to be a petty confusing.
A
I enjoyed reading this book, though I have to admit that it has its problems.As has been written in several other reviews of this volume on this site, the timeline is kind of screwy. Or peradventure it isn't so much the timeline, as the chapters all pertain to a specific set of years, but the switching back and forth from the years discussed in the chapter with remembrances of childhood. Granted, those flashbacks were of import, and happening in his real life, but they tended to be a piffling confusing.
As well, from an editing standpoint, there are most no quotation marks in the book (ok, there are some, but strangely not always). It's so confusing to read something where he is quoting someone and just having their in-line quote begin with a capital letter and no other reference to where the quote really begins. For example:
They say, This criminal has your silver. And the priest says, I gave it to him. I gave him this god, as well, which, he says to Jean Valjean, yous forgot.
I lifted that directly from page 249 where he is cartoon a comparison between him and characters in Les Miserables. It's just confusing to figure out what is happening in that sentence, and that happens throughout the book.
It'southward interesting to read near his life and his many traumatic experiences, only sometimes the details are missing and information technology tin read a lot more similar picayune diary entries. The stuff about SNL is interesting, only also seems to be missing then much. Again, I know that he isn't a author, merely this could have been put together then much better.
Finally, maybe I'm just cynical, but some of his stories just seemed unbelievable. I don't mean in an "Oh man, no Way!" way, but more like a "Um, no, that couldn't have happened." Like his story about a woman he befriended in rehab calling him as she was being arrested, then somehow sending him a pair of sneakers a few days later, while she was in jail? There were a couple other stories that were improbable likewise. I did believe everything about his horrible mother and tortured father, merely I started to wonder if he was either embellishing, or exaggerating some other stuff subsequently on. Maybe he wasn't, who am I to say, but I have some questions. And he only mentions his married woman (now ex-married woman) maybe once or twice. He does mention them not living together, only again no details on that. How did that work? Where was she when he was going through all this stuff?
It'southward an engaging read, however, and equally such I finished information technology in virtually 2 days.
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I have e'er watched SNL fifty-fifty through good years and bad, and Hammond was always solid and consistent performer. Which is even more than of a compliment now that I read his memoir. I loved all the tidbits about cast members and guest hosts, and especially about his political views (Which are basically nonexistent, which surprised me). I read Bossypants by Tina Fey too, and its not bad to get bot
Read this in about a 24 hour flow. VERY engrossing, and held me spellbound as his interviews did besides.I have always watched SNL even through good years and bad, and Hammond was always solid and consistent performer. Which is even more of a compliment now that I read his memoir. I loved all the tidbits near cast members and guest hosts, and peculiarly about his political views (Which are basically nonexistent, which surprised me). I read Bossypants past Tina Fey as well, and its neat to get both their perspectives on 9/11 and the anthrax scare at thirty Rock. I liked the structure, we become through his childhood and his struggles chronologically until the nativity of his daughter which causes him to flashback to early in his childhood. We and then go dorsum to bits of his childhood where he went through what tin only be described every bit torture by the hands of his mother. Nosotros so see his struggles and even more rehab (and a correct diagnosis of postal service traumatic stress disorder from the torture) up through basically this nowadays year. I respect his decision to proceed his wife and daughter out of the book, but information technology does seem to exist a lilliputian unprocessed. A lot of facts but no real synthesis of 'what all this means'. I call back that information technology was just written too close to his quantum. He is only at present connecting the dots, and while this book and going public with his struggles has probably helped him, and the memior is a work for him, information technology wasn't for us. A chip more than distance would create a more polished slice--merely would information technology be as raw? Probably non. Overall, a expert read but information technology might be a one time read for me.
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Verdict: SNL fans will enjoy the behind-the-scenes expect at the show and Hammond's recollections on hosts (John McCain fares well; Paris Hilton doesn't). However, this is a rehab memoir, non a comedic reflection. Hammond's tenure on SNL assures demand, but painful admissions in a somewhat disjointed narrative aren't desire readers will be expecting.
[Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, November 4, 2011]
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My one criticism is that the book jumped around too much. There were often times too many topics or fourth dimension periods discussed within a affiliate, or even on the same page. The book, like Hammond's life, felt very disjointed at times.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Darrell Hammond and/or SNL.
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Really well written, and I wonder if he wrote it without assistance or just had a wonderful editor or what. Lastly I want to add together that merely a photo o
I wanted to read this volume afterward hearing Hammond being interviewed on NPR. It was the virtually disturbing thing I've ever heard on NPR, not simply from the fact that Hammond'southward mother had horribly abused him, but because you could actually hear the hurt in his voice. So this book deals with trauma and addiction along with the celebrity-filled world of SNL.Actually well written, and I wonder if he wrote it without assist or merely had a wonderful editor or what. Lastly I desire to add that merely a photo of Darrell Hammond makes me laugh--couldn't believe he was on SNL for 14 years! I remembered a lot of the sketches he recounts.
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Overall, another story of a person whose life has been screwed up by addiction to alcohol and drugs. In this instance, self-medication was the re
A proficient but not great story. It contains a few insights into working in comedy/testify biz/SNL. It seems honest, written with enough sarcasm to not get also sappy or nighttime. A trivial lite, though on revealing anything too spiritual or deeper than personal tragedy, and relationship stories that were begun (spousal relationship and child) were not brought up to date in the end.Overall, another story of a person whose life has been screwed up past habit to alcohol and drugs. In this example, self-medication was the result of deep-seated childhood / psychological bug. (Note to parents, don't pass on your problems to your kids. Instead, pass on some God-given grace!)
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Hammond doesn't spend a lot of fourth dimension feeling deplorable for himself, and he's a sympathetic character. He'southward getting assistance but one gets the idea that he's not there yet, practically falling
It would be a cliche if information technology weren't then frequently true--our funniest comics are born of tragic circumstances. Childhoods don't come up much crueler than Hammond's, and the SNL impressionist didn't do himself whatever favors as he got older with his overindulgences. Yep, while he was playing Al Gore, he was pretty effed upwards on cleft.Hammond doesn't spend a lot of time feeling distressing for himself, and he'southward a sympathetic graphic symbol. He's getting assistance but one gets the idea that he's non in that location yet, practically falling into nonetheless another relapse as he pens his epilogue.
Get better, Darrell.
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I realized then that the difference between my mother and me was that I had had Myrtise, who for a few precious years held me and loved me, and my mother had had no one.
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