Before Larry David, before Louis C.K., before Ray Romano, there was
the true Golden Age of television comedy, an era of brilliant and
landmark programming that dominated the dial from the 50's to the
70's. Bill Persky, the five-time Emmy Award-winning writer,
director and producer of over 300 TV shows and films was at the
center of that special time in TV history. Along the way, he was
responsible for some of the most successful and acclaimed sitcoms
of all time, including the classics The Dick Van Dyke Show, That
Girl and Kate & Allie. Among the marquee names that sparkled
brightly in Persky's universe are Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Cosby, Sid
Caesar, Steve Allen, Goldie Hawn, Peter Sellers, Susan St. James,
Jane Curtin, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Tim Conway, Andy Williams,
Cary Grant and The Smothers Brothers.
Persky blazed a trail through television during a time of
tremendous social upheaval, when TV was still discovering its power
to influence and move audiences. To this day, Persky's
groundbreaking female characters, such as That Girl's Ann Marie,
remain pop culture icons.
In his memoir, My Life is a Situation Comedy, Bill shares his tales
of a life well lived and vividly recollected. Persky's touching,
often hilarious and occasionally alarming backstage portrayal is
one of triumphs and disappointments, celebrity and calamity,
romances and breakups. "I attempted to make things right and
maintain a semblance of dignity," he writes, "while constantly
slipping on the banana peels of life." Lucky for us, many of those
slip ups wound up as fodder for the TV episodes we came to know and
love so well. My Life is a Situation Comedy is populated by the
larger than life legends and one-of-a-kind characters that figured
so prominently in Persky's world. From his work with Carl Reiner on
The Dick Van Dyke Show, to a surreal six weeks in London with the
mythic Orson Welles, Persky knew them all and somehow lived to tell
the tale.
Bill Perskys writing is exactly what you would expect from one of
the most accomplished comedy writers in show business...brilliant!
From his auspicious start producing infomercials to the sitcoms we
all love which earned him five Emmys, Billy takes a hilarious look
at success, failure, triumph, divorce, children, marriage, and even
death with heart, soul and humor. Billy is such a descriptive
storyteller, I feel like I was there! You will too! Instructions
for a good time: Read Bill Perskys book. Laugh and repeat.
-- Kelly Ripa
Billy Perskys life has been one long and beautiful love-fest -- he
loves writing, he loves women, and he loves laughter -- and this
marvelous memoir captures every touching and funny step along that
journey. I read it with tears in my eyes and a warm feeling in my
heart. You will, too.
-- Marlo Thomas
Bill Persky guided me through the wonderful world of half hour
comedy, keeping me laughing and well fed along the way. Hell make
you feel happy and well fed too. Hes a wonderful story teller.
Taste!
-- Jane Curtin
MY LIFE IS A SITUATION COMEDY is a funny, wonderful primer on a
life lived well, equal parts love and humor. I am just thrilled
that as Kate in KATE AND ALLIE that I got to be a situation in
Billys comedy.
-- Susan Saint James
For more than thirty years I have lived with a woman who loves
another man, Bill Persky (she calls him Billy). Having read his
book, I finally see why.
-- Phil Donahue
Bill Persky is the man behind some of my all-time favorite TV
shows. Hes also hilarious, and appreciates women. Thats my kind of
guy - and his book is full of my kind of stories, hilarious!
-- Andy Cohen
The reason this book, MY LIFE IS A SITUATION COMEDY, is so
brilliantly funny is because its author, Billy Persky, is a
meticulously honest biographer. I daresay that had Bill Persky not
come into my life in
1963, I would most certainly not be here today writing a heartfelt
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