john debellis

Standup Guys is not only a comedy writer’s memoir, but also a family tree of friendships that were formed among forty comedians who emerged from the Improvisation, Catch a Rising Star, and Comic Strip clubs in New York City during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Through author John DeBellis’ eyes, nervous system, and rapid heart rate, the reader gets to feel what it is like to go on stage for the first time, get a first laugh, and bomb over and over again, only to be consoled by his comic friends, eating diner food that even sulfuric acid could not break down.

Awaken at noon and spend the day with comedians who were responsible for only three things--one another, comedy, and baseball. It was group self indulgency that allowed the stand-ups to give to one another the only love they could accept or even understand--the love of working together on their own separate missions to be the funniest they could be. Misery was their new happiness because they laughed at both the worst times and the best times—which mostly happened at the same time.

Big time comedians like Richard Lewis, Elayne Boosler, Richard Belzer, Robert Klein, and David Brenner unselfishly share their knowledge and help the young comics, showing them how to get better spots working themselves up the comedy night club ladder. You’ll watch Rodney Dangerfield put together his Tonight Show TV spots with a work ethic that Egyptians who built the pyramids might find obsessive. You’ll wait at the edge of the showroom to go on stage to a full house for the first time, only to be bumped at the last second by Robin Williams or Richard Pryor. You’ll perform your first set, MC the shows, put on some crazy acts, and rally audience members on stage behind Joe Piscopo.

You’ll be with the author when he becomes a comedy club heavy weight and starts bumping nervous new acts. You’ll be trapped in the writer’s wing of the Tonight Show with a vindictive head writer. You’ll be in the hall when Billy Crystal forms his patented Fernando Lama. You’ll witness the single minded determination of Rita Rudner and how she willed herself to be a great comedian with her own distinctive style. You’ll go to LA Improv and watch Richard Lewis find his patented neurotic character. You’ll realize that the only difference between Larry David then and his character on Curb Your Enthusiasm now is the upscale neighborhood.

You’ll meet some of the strangest and funniest people you never heard of and may never forget. Standup Guys is the camaraderie and the laughs of a generation of comedians and characters who will always be laughing together.

Follow John DeBellis’ blog, named after his favorite “9:20 Spot” on stage, and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and GoodReads.