The great clowns of American television /

Adir nobly seeks to reintroduce the neglected domain of early television comics to a new, uninformed generation. Her readable collection presents 18 profiles of such familiar funny people as Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke and forgotten geniuses of hilarity like Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Milton Berle, in what must be considered an introduction to the field. Descriptive snapshots of biographical data and comic routines form a respectable and instructive text for the beginning student of television comedy. Many famous jokes, gags, and comic moments (such as the unsurpassed "Vitameatavegamin" episode of I Love Lucy) add spice to this popular celebration of television clowns. Adir's work is not academic, possessing a remarkably brief bibliography, little critical analysis, and only one chapter (on Coca) informed by a personal interview. It is also overshadowed by Steve Allen's classic works Funny People (1981) and More Funny People (1982), which capture the comic spirit and communicate the laughter of their subjects. Yet The Great Clowns does revive and showcase overlooked treasures of American comedy. Recommended for general readers. -T. Lindvall, CBN University