Collection
Publication
Harper (2014), Hardcover, 320 pages
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Performing Arts. Nonfiction. HTML: In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his famous peers as the "comedian's comedian." Short takes the reader on a rich, hilarious, and occasionally heartbreaking ride through his life and times, from his early years in Toronto as a member of the fabled improvisational troupe Second City to the all-American comic big time of Saturday Night Live, and from memorable roles in such movies as ¡Three Amigos! and Father of the Bride to Broadway stardom in Fame Becomes Me and the Tony-winning Little Me. He reveals how he created his most indelible comedic characters, among them the manic man-child Ed Grimley, the slimy corporate lawyer Nathan Thurm, and the bizarrely insensitive interviewer Jiminy Glick. Throughout, Short freely shares the spotlight with friends, colleagues, and collaborators, among them Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Nora Ephron, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Shaffer, and David Letterman. But there is another side to Short's life that he has long kept private. He lost his eldest brother and both parents by the time he turned twenty, and, more recently, he lost his wife of thirty years to cancer. In I Must Say, Short talks for the first time about the pain that these losses inflicted and the upbeat life philosophy that has kept him resilient and carried him through. In the grand tradition of comedy legends, Martin Short offers a show-business memoir densely populated with boldface names and rife with retellable tales: a hugely entertaining yet surprisingly moving self-portrait that will keep you laughing�??and crying�??from the first page to the last. Special Lyrics for "It's The Most Wonderful Show of the Year" and "Picture-Perfect Christmas In The Palisades" by Martin Short, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman; Special Lyrics for "Marty Throws a Party Just To Sing" by Marc Shaim… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member burnit99
I've seen Martin Short in a few of his movies and TV appearances, and was favorably impressed, but never really thought of him as more than a minor light in the comic actor cosmos. This autobiography paints a picture of him as a truly decent man, orphaned at 20, a widower at 60, who has lived a
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blessed life and career, fortunate to have one of "Hollywood's" great and lasting marriages, with a close circle of friends from his professional life, among them Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Gilda Radner (his first love), Mel Brooks, Nora Ephron, Eugene Levy, Paul Shaffer, Robin Williams and David Letterman. This is also a frequently hilarious collection of stories and observations, and includes sections "written" by the various character roles he has created over the years. The sections dealing with the deaths of his older brother, parents, beloved wife Nancy, and Nora Ephron, are poignant and affecting. After reading this, I'm intrigued enough to track down some of his other roles. Autobiographies are traditionally self-serving, but nevertheless Martin Short comes off as a nice, likeable funnyman, self-effacing with a solid set of values -- something all too rare in the entertainment world. This book was a Christmas gift, a brave choice for someone who reads as much as I do, but much appreciated. Show Less
LibraryThing member detailmuse
A recap of Short's comedy career (including stage troupes in Canada and then SCTV, SNL, Broadway, film and TV), plus childhood and marriage/family too, much of it tragic.
His performance of so many of his characters and impersonations makes the audio version very entertaining.
His performance of so many of his characters and impersonations makes the audio version very entertaining.
LibraryThing member grigoro
Listened to this on audio--definitely preferable to the book, as Martin Short reads it himself, often in his character's voices. Didn't know anything about his personal life, and I came away impressed with what an unassuming, nice guy he is. He has experienced a lot of tragedy in his life, but
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doesn't dwell on it in this book. Many laugh-out-loud passages--people at stoplights probably wondered why I was throwing my head back in laughter while at the wheel. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Mixed feelings abound in my muddled mind over this one. I never really saw any of Short's work except for here and there. Enough to know who he is, but not enough to know his characters.
So the book brought me up to speed in that sense, but.....
I enjoyed getting to know and like other actors through
Guess my dilemma is how do I separate the person from the memoir?
So the book brought me up to speed in that sense, but.....
I enjoyed getting to know and like other actors through
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his eyes, but was a bit uncomfortable about the oftimes TMI. As in, whoa, don't tell me Jack Benny told off-color jokes....as in not just blue but purple! On the one hand, he and his family had two homes (fairly modest for Hollywood?), but he kept flashing big bills around.Guess my dilemma is how do I separate the person from the memoir?
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LibraryThing member Narshkite
This is a perfect Hollywood (by way of Canada) memoir. Behind the scenes stories that are not at all salacious, but rather honest, loving, touching, funny, informative, just great. Worth the price of admission just for the various descriptions of Paul Schaffer (his great friend.) Paul in black tie
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-- a maître de at an alien restaurant. EXACTLY~ Absolutely get the audiobook for this. Short does his characters, and you will want to hear them. I laughed a lot, even though so many sad things happen. He talks a lot about how his default is happiness, and I really find that inspirational. What a delightful human. Show Less
LibraryThing member Meggo
Martin Short is a genuinely likable character, and not just because he is Canadian. Written in a refreshingly self-deprecating style, this book made me keep reading simply because I wanted to know what happens to Short. Well worth the time.
LibraryThing member bohemianshell
Over the past two or three years I've read a number of celebrity biographies, many somewhat uneven if not fairly egocentric. This book is not. The one caveat I would add would be that it really, REALLY needs to be listened to to be justly appreciated. Short does a number of his characters' voices
Sometimes we so closely identify these folks as entertainers that we forget that many of them have also been adept writers. Short scores on both points.
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(Ed Grimley is my favorite, I must say) as well as uncanny imitations of celebrities such as Robin Williams and Sammy Davis, Jr. Most impressive, though, are not his interactions with stars but the depth of his personal life, especially with his wife Nancy.Sometimes we so closely identify these folks as entertainers that we forget that many of them have also been adept writers. Short scores on both points.
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LibraryThing member JamesPaul977
A superb audio book, as read by the author with personal feeling and plenty of character voices and impressions.
LibraryThing member diana.hauser
I just finished reading Martin Short’s autobiography, I MUST SAY: MY LIFE AS A HUMBLE COMEDY LEGEND. ‘I must say’ that I enjoyed it very much. We are close in age and my experiences growing up in midwestern Ohio was very much like his own in Hamilton, Ontario in the 1950s and 1960s. His
I enjoyed his memories of his work in Toronto’s Godspell production, his SCTV work and all his work that came afterward. Those programs and his friends and costars are still my favorite comedic personalities. I found several sketches on YouTube and watched them all - my favorite being the ‘Battle of the PBS Stars’ when Mr. Rogers knocked out Julia Child with his King Friday puppet. Absolutely hilarious.
Mr. Short added many insights to Canadians and Canadian comedy which I appreciated. I would like to quote from his book, “While Second City Chicago was often more pointedly topical and satirical, Second City Toronto’s material seemed to be more character-based and just plain strange. Canada is a sparsely populated nation, a mere 34 million people across a vast expanse of land. Consequently, as you grow up there, you encounter more weirdos who have been given a wider berth to stew in their weirdness and become gloriously eccentric. These are precisely the kind of folks who served as our comic muses in Toronto. On top of this, the performers in SC Toronto were a particularly nice, un-mean group, so the characterizations were sweet and empathetic rather than cruel.”
I love Martin Short and his comedy. I am a big fan. I am also a fan of his autobiography. A very good read.
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anecdotes were hilarious and his writing style made me feel as if I was sitting across from him in a very intimate conversation. Mr. Short’s personality fills the pages and his deep feelings for his wife, Nancy, and their children, family members and friends were very emotional for me.I enjoyed his memories of his work in Toronto’s Godspell production, his SCTV work and all his work that came afterward. Those programs and his friends and costars are still my favorite comedic personalities. I found several sketches on YouTube and watched them all - my favorite being the ‘Battle of the PBS Stars’ when Mr. Rogers knocked out Julia Child with his King Friday puppet. Absolutely hilarious.
Mr. Short added many insights to Canadians and Canadian comedy which I appreciated. I would like to quote from his book, “While Second City Chicago was often more pointedly topical and satirical, Second City Toronto’s material seemed to be more character-based and just plain strange. Canada is a sparsely populated nation, a mere 34 million people across a vast expanse of land. Consequently, as you grow up there, you encounter more weirdos who have been given a wider berth to stew in their weirdness and become gloriously eccentric. These are precisely the kind of folks who served as our comic muses in Toronto. On top of this, the performers in SC Toronto were a particularly nice, un-mean group, so the characterizations were sweet and empathetic rather than cruel.”
I love Martin Short and his comedy. I am a big fan. I am also a fan of his autobiography. A very good read.
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LibraryThing member michigantrumpet
Like the Greek masks of theater, successful comedy and tragedy are closely conjoined. Tragedy is more palpable and close to life when leavened with a little humor. Comedy strikes home when informed by bathos. 'We laughed, we cried, we came back for more' is a familiar rallying cry. Comedian Martin
His recent "I Must Say" combines all the aspects of a truly satisfying Hollywood memoir: tons of humor, delicious dish and name-dropping, and plenty of humanity, too. I won't forget his tales of colonoscopy parties past anytime soon! My audio version narrated by Short came replete with songs and impersonations. Short has also suffered loss and sadness. The most affecting and memorable parts of this book surprisingly aren't the funny bits, but the tearful ones. Get this one for the gossip, but you'll stick around for the wonderful tales of love and friendship.
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Short has risen high from his Canadian roots, gracing the stage, TV (SCTV and SNL) and movies alike. He can do broad comedy -- physical pratfalls are not beneath him, as well as nuanced sketches and characters. His recent "I Must Say" combines all the aspects of a truly satisfying Hollywood memoir: tons of humor, delicious dish and name-dropping, and plenty of humanity, too. I won't forget his tales of colonoscopy parties past anytime soon! My audio version narrated by Short came replete with songs and impersonations. Short has also suffered loss and sadness. The most affecting and memorable parts of this book surprisingly aren't the funny bits, but the tearful ones. Get this one for the gossip, but you'll stick around for the wonderful tales of love and friendship.
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LibraryThing member ShellyS
Comic performer Short's memoir is an entertaining, breezy read, laugh out loud funny in many places, yet poignant when he discusses his love for his late wife, Nancy Dolman Short. Excerpts of his comedy bit and some nice photos accompany the text. Short is one of my favorite performers and it's
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good to know his positive attitude isn't an act; this is a happy, resilient man who loves to spread cheer and laughs, and it comes across on every page. Show Less
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
I like Martin Short and I really enjoyed reading his book.
He tells his story in such a way that you feel as if he is talking to you directly. It feels intimate and as if he is sort of lost in the moment.
I was given just enough information to feel I know what was and is important to Martin Short.
He tells his story in such a way that you feel as if he is talking to you directly. It feels intimate and as if he is sort of lost in the moment.
I was given just enough information to feel I know what was and is important to Martin Short.
LibraryThing member dpappas
The number-one rule in show business is: Never follow a singer with a singer. The number-two rule in show business, incidentally, is: Never look Barbra Streisand in the eye when she is walking onstage, or during foreplay.
This was quite a fun read, I must say. I just love Martin Short
This was quite a fun read, I must say. I just love Martin Short
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so I had been really eager to read this memoir. Apparently I didn't know as much about Martin Short as I thought I did because I learned a lot about him while reading this. There were some absolutely hilarious parts to this book and Short did talk about all the different comics that he has worked with that I wanted him to talk about. Short has gone through some tough things, which are covered in the book, but I really liked that he didn't ever let those events stop him from living. I laughed and at times cried and I would highly recommend this book to any Martin Short fans. The only thing that I'd caution is that this book might be better in the audio book format as he does have chapters from the point of view of some of his famous characters and those might be better in audio format. Show Less
LibraryThing member iBeth
I was never a fan of Martin Short's characters; Ed Grimley and such are too broad for me. (Though I could watch the synchronized swimming sketch 1000 times.) When I heard that this audiobook was nominated for an award, I decided to listen. I ended up reading the ebook and listening to the audio,
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and the audio (narrated by Short himself) was especially funny. The book kept me up late into the night, giggling. Short comes across as interesting, smart, loyal, self-deprecating, funny, and kind . . . and he tells great stories about himself and about the many other famously talented people he knows. This book was alternately hilarious and touching. I laughed, I cried--really! Show Less
LibraryThing member UberButter
What an absolute delight. Oh, Martin Short, I have a whole new respect for you. What a touching, sincere, and funny memoir. Get it in audio form if you can, absolutely amazing.
LibraryThing member ssimon2000
I think I'm done with audio-autobiographies. This book is filled with tons of name-dropping and the requisite "humble beginnings" catchphrases. Not to say he isn't funny, but rehashing old skits as filler between chapters was too much. The parts of the book in which he talked about growing up,
Martin Short is obviously a very accomplished comedian and actor, but 8 hours in audiobook format is too much.
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losing his parents and an older sibling were touching, though.Martin Short is obviously a very accomplished comedian and actor, but 8 hours in audiobook format is too much.
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LibraryThing member jbenge
great balance of funny, historical (SE.TV & SNL) and personal insights. Audio will be better than reading.
LibraryThing member melydia
Reading this memoir, I discovered that as much as I love Martin Short's movies (Merlin and Inner Space are particular favorites), I'm not too excited about his improv characters. But that's okay. This is his life story so far, unexpectedly equal parts funny, sad, lewd, and contemplative. The
A note on the audio: It's worth it to hear Short read this if only for the impressions and singing.
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ceaseless name dropping would be annoying if it weren't for the fact that Toronto in the 1980s was teeming with soon-to-be-famous talent. If you're a fan of SCTV, early SNL, and Canadian comedy (and of course Martin Short in particular), you'll probably enjoy this.A note on the audio: It's worth it to hear Short read this if only for the impressions and singing.
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LibraryThing member ASKelmore
I love the movies Pure Luck and Innerspace. They are ridiculous, and probably do not hold up, but I love them. I also hold a special place in my heart for The Three Amigos. The one thing they have in common? Martin Short.
This is a very sweet book, which makes sense, because Mr. Short is, by all
Mr. Short faced some rough stuff in his life. He lost his older brother when he was in his early teens; by the time he was 20 he was an orphan. His wife died in 2010, after 30 years of marriage. He’s experienced a lot of loss, but he’s also experienced a lot of joy. He’s had an extraordinarily successful career without necessarily being everywhere all the time. I don’t know if most people think of him as a big name of comedy, but I think comedians think of him as a big name in comedy, and they would know. I also have some issues with some of his choices – especially using a fat suit as Jiminy Glick – but I do genuinely believe it does not ever come from a place of hate.
One thing I really took away from this book is the Nine Categories. It sounds like a cult, but it’s kind of amazing, and I think I’m actually going to try it. Basically, as he faced some challenging times in his career, he wanted to keep things in perspective, and make sure he was devoting time to the things in his life that matter. So, to quote him: “I decided to systematically compare my performance in that one specific category of my life – work – with my performance in the other important life categories, and to give them all equal importance.” Man, that is a refreshing outlook. It doesn’t put work at the center of everything. In case you’re interested, the categories are:
- Self
- Immediate Family
- Original Family
- Friends
- Money
- Career
- Creativity
- Discipline
- Lifestyle (this is meant to include both having fun and making a difference in the world)
I love it.
I read the book, but I believe he read the audio version, and I’m betting that would be fantastic.
This is a very sweet book, which makes sense, because Mr. Short is, by all
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reports, a very sweet guy. He seems kind, generous, and funny in a dorky way that works for some people but not everyone. And if written by anyone else, I think this book would rub me the wrong way. It’s basically a few chapters about his early life, followed by a whole lot of name dropping. But the thing is, he’s not actually dropping names. These are just his friends, and they of course feature prominently in his memoir.Mr. Short faced some rough stuff in his life. He lost his older brother when he was in his early teens; by the time he was 20 he was an orphan. His wife died in 2010, after 30 years of marriage. He’s experienced a lot of loss, but he’s also experienced a lot of joy. He’s had an extraordinarily successful career without necessarily being everywhere all the time. I don’t know if most people think of him as a big name of comedy, but I think comedians think of him as a big name in comedy, and they would know. I also have some issues with some of his choices – especially using a fat suit as Jiminy Glick – but I do genuinely believe it does not ever come from a place of hate.
One thing I really took away from this book is the Nine Categories. It sounds like a cult, but it’s kind of amazing, and I think I’m actually going to try it. Basically, as he faced some challenging times in his career, he wanted to keep things in perspective, and make sure he was devoting time to the things in his life that matter. So, to quote him: “I decided to systematically compare my performance in that one specific category of my life – work – with my performance in the other important life categories, and to give them all equal importance.” Man, that is a refreshing outlook. It doesn’t put work at the center of everything. In case you’re interested, the categories are:
- Self
- Immediate Family
- Original Family
- Friends
- Money
- Career
- Creativity
- Discipline
- Lifestyle (this is meant to include both having fun and making a difference in the world)
I love it.
I read the book, but I believe he read the audio version, and I’m betting that would be fantastic.
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LibraryThing member tkcs
This book is about a 3.5 for me. It was interesting to learn about Martin Short's life and struggle; I admire his positive down-to-earth discussion of some of his adversity. I enjoyed the peek into his world of vacationing with people like the Steve Martins and Tom Hanks family and many others, and
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their epic Christmas parties where they performed for each other. And who knew he and Gilda Radner were a serious couple when they were both struggling to make a mark? I would have given the book a 4 except for some vulgarityl Show Less
LibraryThing member kemilyh1988
Very funny. Definitely recommend listening to this one; I think that much would be lost during the standupesque sections.
LibraryThing member MHanover10
I've never been a big fan of Martin Short. I've enjoyed his work but I wouldn't go out of my way to see him. I listened to the audiobook version with Martin reading. I'm glad I picked this up. I learned so much more about him and have a new respect for him. I enjoy comedy and it was interesting to
This is well worth the listen.
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hear about the behind the scenes of his work. Also sad when his family members passed including his wife Nan who he adored.This is well worth the listen.
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LibraryThing member James_Patrick_Joyce
This was very enjoyable.
Listen to the audiobook. I was surprised by the subtlety of some of his impressions. He would talk about one of the comedians he's known all his life and when he quotes them, it's just a tiny thing, here or there, and it sounds like Steve Martin. Impressive. Plus his
I laughed quite a few times. But most of it is delivered straight. (Well... then again, most of the jokes are, too.) A true memoir, covering childhood to the present day.
And a touching reminiscence of his romance with his late wife, the long-time love of his life.
This is a great memoir. But definitely listen to the audio.
Listen to the audiobook. I was surprised by the subtlety of some of his impressions. He would talk about one of the comedians he's known all his life and when he quotes them, it's just a tiny thing, here or there, and it sounds like Steve Martin. Impressive. Plus his
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characters. It's one thing reading the lines, quite another hearing him deliver them. I must say.I laughed quite a few times. But most of it is delivered straight. (Well... then again, most of the jokes are, too.) A true memoir, covering childhood to the present day.
And a touching reminiscence of his romance with his late wife, the long-time love of his life.
This is a great memoir. But definitely listen to the audio.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Entertaining to listen to the audio book. Very funny, but many sad parts. Enjoyable.
LibraryThing member tsmom1219
3.5 stars. Martin Short is a likeable guy who knows some very famous people. His clear love for what he does and for his family shines through. The last two chapters, where he discusses his wife's illness and death, were very moving.
Reading this book also reminded me of just how out there some of
Reading this book also reminded me of just how out there some of
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his characters were. My teenage daughter uses the phrase "I must say" with great regularity. About the time I finished the book, I really became aware of how often she says it. She'd never heard of Ed Grimley, so we looked up a YouTube video in which he was featured. Now she says it with Ed Grimley's inflection. It never fails to make me smile. Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2016)
Language
Original publication date
2014-11-04
Physical description
320 p.; 6 inches
ISBN
9780062368843