Oh, the sweet, sweet sound of laughter. I love humor, and Steve Martin is quite likely my all-time favorite comedian. Ironically, I recall having a serious dislike for him, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, and Benny Hill growing up.
Martin started out as a punk kid with a magic show and managed to carve out a unique comedy act based largely on visuals and interaction with his audience. In fact, he was known "in the trenches" for leading his audiences outside to end his act. While it became a bit of a trademark of his early stand-up routine, he actually began this prank because he didn't know how to wind things down and close the show.
When Saturday Night Live came along, Martin became a household name. He'd conquered the panic attacks and paid his dues. SNL introduced us to that "wild and crazy guy" our generation knows so well. Martin rode SNL to the height of comedic fame, along with Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, John Belushi ... until he realized stand up comedy wasn't going to provide him the longevity he desired.
From The Man With Two Brains (one of my favorite old Martin movies) to It's Complicated, and everything in between, Martin continues to dazzle us with his nonsense and, yes, even charm.
If you're a fan, you'll enjoy this book, which maintains a respectful boundary with regard to Martin's private life and fills in the gaps of his "overnight" claim to fame.
No comments:
Post a Comment