Bøger af Garry Berman

"Barkers Upon Tyne" is an original, unproduced situation comedy series created and written by Kelly Marie Thompson (from England) and Garry Berman (from America). The six episodes follow the exploits of three siblings in their twenties: Pete, Alex, and Nicola Barker of the northeast English city of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The Barkers are 'temporarily' all sharing Pete's apartment, and have a knack for causing considerable disruption in each others' lives. Accident-prone Nicola's disastrous dating history is legendary among those who know her, as is chronically-unemployed Alex's half-hearted attempts to hold a job for more than a week at a time. Responsible nightclub manager Pete is often the hapless victim when his younger siblings' lifestyles intersect with his own--and usually at the worst possible moments. While writing the pilot episode, the collaborators decided to write a total of six full episodes, partly just to see if they could do it. And they did--in about eight weeks. The pilot episode earned a Top 10 finish in the 2012 Writer's Digest magazine annual scriptwriting competition. Due to the unpredictable fate of scripts intended for production but which may not reach that goal, the authors decided to make "Barkers Upon Tyne" available in printed form for any reader with a healthy sense of humor to enjoy.

"Old Wave" is the story of a 1980s pop band named Magenta Nun, with one-and-a-half hits to its credit, and whose members reunite after 25 years to record a new album, and take part in a tour featuring "the cream of the mediocre crop" of bands from the New Wave era. Once the band is brought back to life, their founder and leader, Terry Kirkwood, finds himself excited, but conflicted. He's happily married, but the reunion has rekindled his unrequited crush on Magenta Nun's lead singer, Svetlana. And it isn't long before Terry sees her receive the lion's share of attention and accolades for the band's new and improved sound. Magenta Nun's comic mis-adventures are full of eccentric characters, snappy dialogue, and unexpected plot twists and turns, as the band forges ahead with its comeback.

In this follow-up volume to "Why Are You Telling Me This?" Garry Berman offers a new collection of comic writings, spanning many years, writing styles, and formats. Here you'll find eccentric characters, absurd situations, and various flights of fancy that defy simple description; from a nervous court jester auditioning for King Henry VIII, to supposed excerpts of modern-day podcast "transcripts", to legendary bandleader John Philip Sousa finding himself temporarily filling in for a New York City hot dog vendor. And, if you've ever heard of the expression, "It's like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic," you can read the surviving diary of the young man who was actually responsible for arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. So treat yourself to the quirky creations from Berman's imagination. You'll laugh 'til you stop!

"From Me to You" is a lighthearted coming-of-age story, placed against the backdrop of the Beatlemania era in the early and mid-1960s. The story poses this question: Can a friendship between two pen pals, living on separate continents, lead to something much, much more?It's the summer of 1963 when we first meet teenagers Ricky Kramer (in New Jersey) and Maggie Carter (in Liverpool), who have been writing to share their enthusiasm for the Beatles. Maggie has regaled Ricky with her stories of seeing the group often at the Cavern club in Liverpool, and has sent him the Beatles' early records, giving him a jump on the rest of America, before the Fab Four take the country by storm.Their friendship begins to blossom into something deeper than a typical correspondence. Even their friends sense that the two are truly kindred spirits, perhaps even soul mates.But can Ricky and Maggie's relationship grow when they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean?"From Me to You" follows their often comic transition to young adulthood, on both sides of "the pond." Whether you were a teenage Beatles fan in the '60s or later, you will likely recognize yourself in Ricky, Maggie, and their friends, as they get swept up in Beatlemania, while learning a few of life's lessons along the way.

The Funniest Decade devotes one chapter to each calendar year of the 1930s, covering the landmark comedy films, radio programs, and stage performances of each year.

This is the Hardback edition. What was the very first situation comedy on American television? What was the first police drama? When was the first program broadcast in color? It takes only a moment of pondering such questions to realize how little we really know about the history of the medium that entertains us, informs us, and keeps us company at some point during each day and night. Every generation since the end of World War II has seen television become an integral part of our lives. However, even the most avid TV viewers are unaware of when, and under what circumstances, each onscreen television milestone has taken place. For the First Time on Television is a history of television presented with a fresh approach, by extensively examining the history of nearly 100 of television's "firsts," ranging from the first person ever to appear on a television screen, to the day the first HDTV screen made its debut, and everything in between. Here you'll find little-known but fascinating kernels of information regarding the groundbreaking programs, individuals, and events that have become an important part of TV history, and that still affect what we see on television today. You'll probably find yourself indulging in these "firsts" the way you'd treat an open bag of potato chips-by discovering how it is nearly impossible to enjoy just one or two without reaching for more. About the Author Garry Berman is a pop culture historian and freelance writer whose previous books include Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous, We're Going to See the Beatles!, Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn, and Between the Laughs. He has also contributed articles to Nostalgia Digest magazine, Beatlefan magazine, and several pop culture web sites. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen.

What was the very first situation comedy on American television? What was the first police drama? When was the first program broadcast in color? It takes only a moment of pondering such questions to realize how little we really know about the history of the medium that entertains us, informs us, and keeps us company at some point during each day and night. Every generation since the end of World War II has seen television become an integral part of our lives. However, even the most avid TV viewers are unaware of when, and under what circumstances, each onscreen television milestone has taken place. For the First Time on Television is a history of television presented with a fresh approach, by extensively examining the history of nearly 100 of television's "firsts," ranging from the first person ever to appear on a television screen, to the day the first HDTV screen made its debut, and everything in between. Here you'll find little-known but fascinating kernels of information regarding the groundbreaking programs, individuals, and events that have become an important part of TV history, and that still affect what we see on television today. You'll probably find yourself indulging in these "firsts" the way you'd treat an open bag of potato chips-by discovering how it is nearly impossible to enjoy just one or two without reaching for more. About the Author Garry Berman is a pop culture historian and freelance writer whose previous books include Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous, We're Going to See the Beatles!, Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn, and Between the Laughs. He has also contributed articles to Nostalgia Digest magazine, Beatlefan magazine, and several pop culture web sites. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Karen.

Perfect Fool: The Life and Career of Ed Wynn is the first-ever biography of the master comedian, chronicling a legendary career that spanned over half a century.It was Ed who coined this famous definition: "A comedian is not a man who says funny things; a comedian is a man who says things funny." Ed did both, first as a vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies star,then as the "Perfect Fool" (so named from one of his many self-produced Broadway revues), as radio's "Fire Chief" on the popular Texaco-sponsored program, and as an early pioneer at the dawn of network television. He attained a level of praise and respect from his comedy peers, critics, and, of course, the public, rarely matched by any other comedian since. In his later years, he became a highly acclaimed dramatic character actor, much to the surprise and joy of all who didn't know he had it in him (including Ed himself).Yet for all his impressive achievements, this comedian/actor/director/writer has been too often overlooked in the years since his death in 1966. Perfect Fool is meant to help correct this injustice, with reviews, interviews, and never before published photos, some courtesy of grandson Tracy Keenan Wynn. This book is an appreciation of Ed Wynn's talents, foresight, and highly regarded ability to make people laugh virtually at will.About the Author:Garry Berman is an entertainment historian and freelance writer. His previous books include Best of the Britcoms, a celebration of the finest British situation comedies to appear on American television, and We're Going To See The Beatles!, an oral history of the Beatlemania era as told by the original generation of fans who lived it first-hand. Berman has also published a comic novel, Old Wave, and writes comedy scripts in between book projects. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Karen and theirtwo spoiled dogs.