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Almost Interesting
A hilarious and biting memoir from the actor, comedian and Saturday Night Live alumni David Spade.
David Spade is best known for his harsh “Hollywood” Minute Sketches on SNL, his starring roles in movies like Joe Dirt and Tommy Boy, and his seven-year stint as Dennis Finch on the series Just Shoot Me. Now, with a wit as dry as the weather in his home state of Arizona, the “comic brat extraordinaire” tells his story in Almost Interesting.
First taking fans back to his childhood as a wannabe cool younger brother and recounting his excruciating road-tour to fame—when he was regularly mistaken for a ten-year-old, Spade then dishes about his time crisscrossing the country as a comedian, for low-paying gigs and dragging along his mother’s old suitcase full of props. He also covers his years on SNL during the beloved Rock/Sandler/Farley era of the 1990s, including his close working relationship and friendship with Chris Farley and brags about the ridiculous perks that fame has brought into his life, including the constant fear of being fired, a crazy ex-assistant who attacked him while he was sleeping, a run-in with Eddie Murphy on the mean streets of Beverley Hills, and of course an endless supply of hot chicks.
Sometimes dirty, always funny, and as sharp as a tack, Almost Interesting reminds you why David Spade is one of our generation’s favorite funny guys.
David Spade is best known for his harsh “Hollywood” Minute Sketches on SNL, his starring roles in movies like Joe Dirt and Tommy Boy, and his seven-year stint as Dennis Finch on the series Just Shoot Me. Now, with a wit as dry as the weather in his home state of Arizona, the “comic brat extraordinaire” tells his story in Almost Interesting.
First taking fans back to his childhood as a wannabe cool younger brother and recounting his excruciating road-tour to fame—when he was regularly mistaken for a ten-year-old, Spade then dishes about his time crisscrossing the country as a comedian, for low-paying gigs and dragging along his mother’s old suitcase full of props. He also covers his years on SNL during the beloved Rock/Sandler/Farley era of the 1990s, including his close working relationship and friendship with Chris Farley and brags about the ridiculous perks that fame has brought into his life, including the constant fear of being fired, a crazy ex-assistant who attacked him while he was sleeping, a run-in with Eddie Murphy on the mean streets of Beverley Hills, and of course an endless supply of hot chicks.
Sometimes dirty, always funny, and as sharp as a tack, Almost Interesting reminds you why David Spade is one of our generation’s favorite funny guys.
240 pages, ebook
First published October 27, 2015
About the author
David Spade
5 books87 followersBorn in Michigan and raised in Arizona, David Spade is a stand up comedian, actor, and writer. He rose to fame in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live.
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December 21, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
4.5 Stars
Warning to all – this is probably going to be long and rambly and fangirly and a waste of your time.
Let me begin by saying I have had a lifelong love affair with Saturday Night Live. I was lucky to be raised in a good ol’ Catholic family where the motto is “don’t stop have babies until God decides.” That meant the age difference between me and my aunt and youngest uncle created more of a sibling relationship . . . .
Some of my earliest memories were sleepovers at my Grandparents’ house. Once Grandma and Grandpa hit the hay I was allowed to stay up watching the Not Ready for Prime Time Players and stuff my face with the heavenly pies, subs and Italian beef sammiches churned out by the local Pizza House.
The success of SNL ebbed and flowed during the 80s, but by the time I was old enough to actually start getting the jokes it was in a groove with cast members such as Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, Kevin Nealon, Al Franken, etc. As those actors began filtering out and into feature films (as the cycle of SNL fame tends to do), rumors once again started circulating that the show was doomed for failure – and for one season things looked particularly bleak. Those naysayers didn’t know what was about to hit them, though . . . .
and more specifically . . . .
Almost Interesting is the SNL story that I have been looking for FOREVER. While Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch’s books were all enjoyable, I wanted the inside scoop about SNL and now that I’ve read Spade’s book I’m fairly certain I needed the story surrounding this particular cast.
Every detail mystalkery curious little mind was interested in was covered – from scheduling, to working hours required to get this show to air, to payscale. We’re talking EV.ER.Y.THANG. But the best part had to be the stories behind the invention of unforgettable sketches - many featuring Farley being “amazing” (as the girls from LaLa Land would say) and Spade breaking the fourth wall by laughing his ass off . . . .
Spade also didn’t shy away from talking about one of the most controversial moments in SNL history . . .
or about the “Hollywood Minute” that created a feud between Eddie Murphy and SNL as a whole . . .
I was happy to see so much of this book serve as sort of a tribute to the legacy of who Spade nicknamed “Wisconsin Dundee.” The dynamic of their relationship was discussed in detail and stories surrounding some of Farley’s most memorable moments on film were provided . . . .
Critics might say this is Spade’s attempt to stay in the spotlight of his fallen friend, but to me it was more of a beautiful tribute to someone who was taken much too soon and cannot share these stories himself. As Spade himself says (speaking of a kinship he has with Dave Grohl):
“Both of the guys we were very close to got very famous quickly and then died, and we stuck around to field questions about them for the rest of our lives. It is an honor, but not an easy one sometimes.”
And then rain fell out of my face and I got super angry about it happening.
That’s not to say this book was only about SNL because it wasn’t. Almost Interesting was Spade’s life story from humble beginnings with a deadbeat dad, an overworked mom and his two brothers, to quite possibly the funniest losing-of-the-V-Card story I will ever read:
“She was wearing panties. Back in those days, this meant those serious mega-drawers. Like five inches of fabric on each side and about twenty in the dumper. And speaking of mega” . . . .
Yep. That happened. And when he finally hit paydirt????
“Kaboom! Feel the rain on your skin . . . song from The Hills.”
I laughed so hard I had to change my supersized underdrawers.
Bottom line is, if you’re a Spade fan, or a Farley fan, or an early 90s SNL fan, or someone who has spent so much time hanging out with Spade and Rock and Sandler and Schneider that you feel like they should send you a Christmas card, this might be the book for you. (Please note back in the 90s we weren’t politically correct and also that the author has made a habit of banging Playboy Playmates. Don’t come crying to me when Spade’s phrasing hurts your feelings.)
I know for a fact it isn’t really “5 Star” type of book, so I’m giving it 4.5 (while rounding up – Thanks Goodreads for your whole star rating system *wink*). There were a couple of chapters that seemed to be there for nothing but to bump the page count and there were LOTS of typographical/grammatical errors (and if I can spot them? They are GLARING). Those things did little to reduce my enjoyment, though, and I read this in one sitting. My friend Deanna picked up the audio version. I don’t do audiobooks and I love Spade so much I heard his voice the entire time and even managed to get his pacing down, but if you aren’t psycho like me the paper version might not go over quite as well.
(And in case you're wondering, this book made me want to have sex with him even more.)
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
SPADE WROTE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Add this to the list of "Celebrities Kelly Might Actually One Day Have Sex With Because No One Else Is Probably Interested In Them" category.)
4.5 Stars
Warning to all – this is probably going to be long and rambly and fangirly and a waste of your time.
Let me begin by saying I have had a lifelong love affair with Saturday Night Live. I was lucky to be raised in a good ol’ Catholic family where the motto is “don’t stop have babies until God decides.” That meant the age difference between me and my aunt and youngest uncle created more of a sibling relationship . . . .
Some of my earliest memories were sleepovers at my Grandparents’ house. Once Grandma and Grandpa hit the hay I was allowed to stay up watching the Not Ready for Prime Time Players and stuff my face with the heavenly pies, subs and Italian beef sammiches churned out by the local Pizza House.
The success of SNL ebbed and flowed during the 80s, but by the time I was old enough to actually start getting the jokes it was in a groove with cast members such as Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, Kevin Nealon, Al Franken, etc. As those actors began filtering out and into feature films (as the cycle of SNL fame tends to do), rumors once again started circulating that the show was doomed for failure – and for one season things looked particularly bleak. Those naysayers didn’t know what was about to hit them, though . . . .
and more specifically . . . .
Almost Interesting is the SNL story that I have been looking for FOREVER. While Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Rachel Dratch’s books were all enjoyable, I wanted the inside scoop about SNL and now that I’ve read Spade’s book I’m fairly certain I needed the story surrounding this particular cast.
Every detail my
Spade also didn’t shy away from talking about one of the most controversial moments in SNL history . . .
or about the “Hollywood Minute” that created a feud between Eddie Murphy and SNL as a whole . . .
I was happy to see so much of this book serve as sort of a tribute to the legacy of who Spade nicknamed “Wisconsin Dundee.” The dynamic of their relationship was discussed in detail and stories surrounding some of Farley’s most memorable moments on film were provided . . . .
Critics might say this is Spade’s attempt to stay in the spotlight of his fallen friend, but to me it was more of a beautiful tribute to someone who was taken much too soon and cannot share these stories himself. As Spade himself says (speaking of a kinship he has with Dave Grohl):
“Both of the guys we were very close to got very famous quickly and then died, and we stuck around to field questions about them for the rest of our lives. It is an honor, but not an easy one sometimes.”
And then rain fell out of my face and I got super angry about it happening.
That’s not to say this book was only about SNL because it wasn’t. Almost Interesting was Spade’s life story from humble beginnings with a deadbeat dad, an overworked mom and his two brothers, to quite possibly the funniest losing-of-the-V-Card story I will ever read:
“She was wearing panties. Back in those days, this meant those serious mega-drawers. Like five inches of fabric on each side and about twenty in the dumper. And speaking of mega” . . . .
Yep. That happened. And when he finally hit paydirt????
“Kaboom! Feel the rain on your skin . . . song from The Hills.”
I laughed so hard I had to change my supersized underdrawers.
Bottom line is, if you’re a Spade fan, or a Farley fan, or an early 90s SNL fan, or someone who has spent so much time hanging out with Spade and Rock and Sandler and Schneider that you feel like they should send you a Christmas card, this might be the book for you. (Please note back in the 90s we weren’t politically correct and also that the author has made a habit of banging Playboy Playmates. Don’t come crying to me when Spade’s phrasing hurts your feelings.)
I know for a fact it isn’t really “5 Star” type of book, so I’m giving it 4.5 (while rounding up – Thanks Goodreads for your whole star rating system *wink*). There were a couple of chapters that seemed to be there for nothing but to bump the page count and there were LOTS of typographical/grammatical errors (and if I can spot them? They are GLARING). Those things did little to reduce my enjoyment, though, and I read this in one sitting. My friend Deanna picked up the audio version. I don’t do audiobooks and I love Spade so much I heard his voice the entire time and even managed to get his pacing down, but if you aren’t psycho like me the paper version might not go over quite as well.
(And in case you're wondering, this book made me want to have sex with him even more.)
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
SPADE WROTE A BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Add this to the list of "Celebrities Kelly Might Actually One Day Have Sex With Because No One Else Is Probably Interested In Them" category.)
June 16, 2016
I didn't know that David Spade had written a book until I came across my friend, Kelly's review which you can read HERE
She read the book and her review convinced me I needed to read it as well.
I thought I would try the audio since I really do love his voice. This is my fourth or fifth audio book now. I still love to read my books but I'm finding it handy to have a few of these on hand for when I can't sleep (and don't want to read in the dark), to listen to while housecleaning, or for in the car.
However, listening to David Spade did not help with the not sleeping. But it DID distract me from caring about the fact that I wasn't able to sleep. I really enjoyed this audio-book. I would probably have enjoyed it just as much if I'd read the book too.
David Spade is one funny guy. Yep he swears a blue streak and tells a whole lot of dirty stories but I loved learning about his early years and his days on SNL with Chris Farley and the rest of the comedians I love so much.
Some things I learned about David that I wouldn't have guessed:
He's into coins collecting, chess and guns (courtesy of his step-father)
He can speak German (he took it in High School step-father convinced him)
He even made it to state finals playing chess but unfortunately got German measles (which he says almost killed him).
Read 47 books in one year (most in his class).
He was a Spelling bee champ - winning word was Apparatus (Should I be embarrassed to say that I had to double check the spelling on that word?)
He was almost cast as Uncle Joey on Full House. I think I would have LOVED that. When I first heard him say it though I thought he said Uncle Jesse, and I'm not sure how I would have felt about that.
His older brother Brian had a whole lot of reptiles. Seriously 5 rattle snakes, a boa constrictor and a python!!! (I give so much credit to mothers of boys).
There were so many times while listening that I was laughing out loud for real.
There is a chapter where he gives dating advice. He REALLY advises against tickling a girl if she has diarrhea (I'm sorry but potty humor gets me almost every time).
His description of the fancy crayola crayon box, that one of the "rich" kids had:
"it had a balcony, clear color (like coloring with a booger he says) AND a sharpener in the back"
Oh and there's a whole lot more!
In my opinion Almost Interesting is in fact pretty darn interesting ;-)
She read the book and her review convinced me I needed to read it as well.
I thought I would try the audio since I really do love his voice. This is my fourth or fifth audio book now. I still love to read my books but I'm finding it handy to have a few of these on hand for when I can't sleep (and don't want to read in the dark), to listen to while housecleaning, or for in the car.
However, listening to David Spade did not help with the not sleeping. But it DID distract me from caring about the fact that I wasn't able to sleep. I really enjoyed this audio-book. I would probably have enjoyed it just as much if I'd read the book too.
David Spade is one funny guy. Yep he swears a blue streak and tells a whole lot of dirty stories but I loved learning about his early years and his days on SNL with Chris Farley and the rest of the comedians I love so much.
Some things I learned about David that I wouldn't have guessed:
He's into coins collecting, chess and guns (courtesy of his step-father)
He can speak German (he took it in High School step-father convinced him)
He even made it to state finals playing chess but unfortunately got German measles (which he says almost killed him).
Read 47 books in one year (most in his class).
He was a Spelling bee champ - winning word was Apparatus (Should I be embarrassed to say that I had to double check the spelling on that word?)
He was almost cast as Uncle Joey on Full House. I think I would have LOVED that. When I first heard him say it though I thought he said Uncle Jesse, and I'm not sure how I would have felt about that.
His older brother Brian had a whole lot of reptiles. Seriously 5 rattle snakes, a boa constrictor and a python!!! (I give so much credit to mothers of boys).
There were so many times while listening that I was laughing out loud for real.
There is a chapter where he gives dating advice. He REALLY advises against tickling a girl if she has diarrhea (I'm sorry but potty humor gets me almost every time).
His description of the fancy crayola crayon box, that one of the "rich" kids had:
"it had a balcony, clear color (like coloring with a booger he says) AND a sharpener in the back"
Oh and there's a whole lot more!
In my opinion Almost Interesting is in fact pretty darn interesting ;-)
September 24, 2020
Finally, the tell-all we've always wanted! Leave it to Mr. Spade to give us one of the best comedic autobiographies out there. I take back what I said about Norm a month or so ago-THIS is the best bio from an SNL alumn. Unapologetic, he recounts his greatest accolades with a mixture of confidence and shame. He is the first artist to come out and say it: his pals may be more talented, so jealousy is understandable, a true human emotion. He dishes it out-- so read it! (Eddie Murphy fight, assistant attack, & Farley anecdotes to our heart's content.)
April 6, 2023
3.5 stars
David Spade
I know David Spade best from his stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the 1990s. He's also a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. In this memoir Spade provides a glimpse of his childhood and the long road to success, which - though not easy - was fueled by support from family and friends.
I listened to the audiobook version of this memoir - narrated by the author - with appropriate sound effects that add to the fun.
*****
Spade was born in Michigan, but his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona when he was very young.
Young David Spade
Spade's father left soon afterwards, leaving his mother to raise her three boys - Bryan, Andy, and David - alone.....without a cent of alimony or child support. David grew up as a mama's boy, but enjoyed the rare visits from his dad - who was a fun guy with an outsize personality.
Young David Spade with his mother and brothers
When David was nine his mother married again, her new husband being a quiet doctor who was 'strange but nice.' David's stepdad gave him a shotgun on his tenth birthday, and the Spade boys regularly carried guns as they played in the deserts of Arizona.
David was a smart youngster. He made it to the chess state finals, was the reading champion in sixth grade (47 books), and won the school spelling bee. Unfortunately, David wiped out in the first round at state - on the word apparatus. (I guess you remember that kind of thing. 😊)
Spade's stepfather was a troubled man with PTSD, and he committed suicide when David was a teen - another sad event in the youth's life.
Spade's nice-looking brother Andy was well-liked in high school, and David shamelessly rode Andy's coattails.
Andy Spade
Thus David - nicknamed Mini-Spade - was a popular student, though this didn't translate to sex with girls. [FYI: Sex is one of Spade's favorite topics, and - in the course of the book - David relates anecdotes about his endless quest to get laid; losing his virginity; his first (accidental) hooker; inadvertently using his 'fame' to attract girls; and so on. For details you'll have to read the book. LOL]
In high school David was intent on being a cool funny guy, and his grades slipped. One class, though, was a blessing. From sophomore through senior year, David took 'Motivational Speaking', a course that let him show off his comedy skills - and led to sketches in the high school 'Extravaganza' show.
David Spade in high school
By the time Spade was in college, he was doing the rounds of local comedy clubs - and won the comedy contest at Arizona State University. Thus, David was on a 'slow rise to medium fame' and - after graduation - moved to Los Angeles to do spots in improv clubs. He also worked the New York comedy scene, traveling back and forth from coast to coast. During these lean years, Spade was constantly broke, often borrowed money from friends, and slept on people's couches.
David Spade doing stand-up early in his career
In 1989 Spade got a spot on HBO's 'Young Comedians Special', a huge deal that led to a job as a writer/performer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) - where he worked from 1990 to 1996. David also got to do the 'Johnny Carson Show' one time - shortly before the famous host retired.
David Spade became a regular on Saturday Night Live
David talks A LOT about his years on SNL: the friendly(ish) rivalry; how hard it was to get sketches accepted for the show; attempts to write skits featuring himself - so he'd get to perform; some memorable guest hosts (Alec Baldwin, Roseanne Barr, Patrick Swayze; Tom Hanks; Andrew Dice Clay, Candace Bergen, and others); his best friends in the cast - Chris Farley and Chris Rock; and much more. This is easily the most interesting - and funniest - part of the book.
David Spade (left) with Chris Rock (middle) and Chris Farley (right)
Spade describes some memorable SNL sketches, like the one that made Chris Farley famous. In the skit, Farley and Patrick Swayze are both auditioning for an available spot with the Chippendale dancers (male strippers). Swayze is ripped (and a professional dancer) and Farley is chubby and out of shape, but the judges are dead serious - closely watching them both. It's hilarious (and available on YouTube if you want to see).
Patrick Swayze (left) and Chris Farley 'auditioning' to be Chippendale dancers in SNL skit
In a memorable skit Spade developed for himself, he's a haughty receptionist for Dick Clark, and gives visitors a VERY hard time. For instance, when Roseanne Barr walks in, Spade acts like he doesn't know who she is - though 'Roseanne' is the #1 comedy show in the nation. Spade even tells Clark's biological mother - and Jesus - to 'take a seat.' It's very funny.
SNL skit with Roseanne Barr and David Spade
In Spade's best known role, he's the regular host of Weekend Update's 'Hollywood Minute' - where he disses celebrities.
David Spade doing the Hollywood Minute on SNL
For instance: "Michael Bolton - hey, your hair's really long in the back, but we all know what's happening on top. It's called Rogaine....look into it." Egged on by castmates, Spade riffed on anybody and everybody.....which led to the Eddie Murphy fiasco.
Eddie had been in two flop movies in a row, 'Harlem Nights' and 'Vampire in Brooklyn." So, on the 'Hollywood Minute' - with Eddie's photo in the background - Spade said: "Look kids - a falling star......make a wish." Murphy was FURIOUS. He reamed Spade out and didn't return to SNL for more than 20 years, when he made a brief appearance on the 40 year anniversary special.
Eddie Murphy fiasco on SNL
During his SNL years Spade also started to make movies, and regularly contributed ideas for the scripts and scenes. 'Tommy Boy' was probably David's most successful film, but he's also proud of his work in 'Joe Dirt', 'The Emperor's New Groove', and others. David went on to do TV sitcoms, an HBO special, etc. - and crafted a very successful career.
Spade comes across as a quirky, good-natured guy who doesn't have a bad word to say about anyone. He doesn't dish any dirt or name any names. Even when David got beaten to a pulp by his personal assistant - who was disappointed about not getting a role in 'Joe Dirt', or robbed by his cleaning ladies - who stole thousands of dollars in cash.....Spade didn't press charges.
Spade's a great story teller, and his anecdotes are amusing and - if you're a SNL fan - very informative about how the show works. I'd highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy celebrity memoirs.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
October 7, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I alreadywrote pictured up a review for the print version of this some time back, but when faced with potential solo couple hour long road-trips I decided it was high time to give the audio a checkout . . . and then immediately started listening to it because I need instant gratification at every single moment in my life. Bonus was that I listened to it with the oldest (literally a legal adult so don’t @ me about what a bad mother I am – I’m a bad mother for a whooooooooole bunch of other things worse than letting him listen to an audiobook with cuss words).
I stand by my assessment that this is one of the best of the bunch if you are a superfan of SNL and want to know the inside scoop. Despite the fact that Spade is not only absolutely adorable and someone I want to be besties with since he always makes me laugh . . . .
He was smart when it came to this release and kept the content at what the majority people want to know: his time/the inner workings on SNL and his friendship with Farley . . . .
His other successes . . . .
Are little more than mere mentions. (He doesn’t really talk about Just Shoot Me (and doesn’t mention Rules of Engagement at all), which makes me wonder if there’s a story there.) And now I know why. Because he’s savvy enough to know no one’s going to buy the cow if you give all the milk away for free and saved some stuff up for this . . . . .
Yes please. Momma need dat.
Obviously my 5 Star rating still stands. I’d give him 10 if I could and I’m so glad Lights Out with David Spade exists to satisfy my pop culture nerd and trashy reality television story cravings.
I already
I stand by my assessment that this is one of the best of the bunch if you are a superfan of SNL and want to know the inside scoop. Despite the fact that Spade is not only absolutely adorable and someone I want to be besties with since he always makes me laugh . . . .
He was smart when it came to this release and kept the content at what the majority people want to know: his time/the inner workings on SNL and his friendship with Farley . . . .
His other successes . . . .
Are little more than mere mentions. (He doesn’t really talk about Just Shoot Me (and doesn’t mention Rules of Engagement at all), which makes me wonder if there’s a story there.) And now I know why. Because he’s savvy enough to know no one’s going to buy the cow if you give all the milk away for free and saved some stuff up for this . . . . .
Yes please. Momma need dat.
Obviously my 5 Star rating still stands. I’d give him 10 if I could and I’m so glad Lights Out with David Spade exists to satisfy my pop culture nerd and trashy reality television story cravings.
October 2, 2016
I actually have no idea why I picked this up because I'm not particularly a David Spade fan. However, I AM a huge fan of autobiographies of comedians, so I guess that's why I decided to try this one. I was really, really pleasantly surprised.
First of all, David Spade narrates this brilliantly. It feels like he is simply talking off-the-cuff, and it was addictive to listen to. Secondly, David Spade himself sets the expectations really low, which is perfect because I got waaaaay more than I was anticipating. With some other autobiographies, I was really disappointed (Yes Please, Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You), but with this one, I was expecting crap and I got something really funny.
I remember David Spade mostly from SNL and Tommy Boy, but not from much else. I'm not really a prime-time TV watcher, so I vaguely remember he was on some shows. It doesn't really matter if you remember him from SNL or some other venue or if you aren't really familiar with him at all. You don't need to know his body of work to appreciate this biography.
Warning: David Spade's humor isn't for everyone. He is sort of a gross/entertaining mix of chauvinism/womanizer, surfer/skateboarding dude, and a total nerd. He is snarky. However, I checked my "easily offended hat" at the door, and I really enjoyed this story for what it was.
This book was super easy listening, and it didn't try to be more than it was. I learned a lot about David Spade, and, most importantly, I had a really good time listening.
May 2, 2017
So as I was first listening to the initial chapters while going on a walk for lunch, people kept looking at me with weird looks on their faces as I laughingly (with tears) walked around the block. This book starts off with some big laughs based on Spade's childhood...truly hilarious. He then describes the history of his standup career and getting on Saturday Night Live which was very interesting but not quite as funny.
Some fairly crass items were laced with great life lessons, like, "Don't tickle a girl that has diarrhea" and other important tidbits.
Some fairly crass items were laced with great life lessons, like, "Don't tickle a girl that has diarrhea" and other important tidbits.
August 30, 2017
I'm a sucker for a comedian's autobiography. I figure, even if their life turns out to be uninteresting, at least there's a good chance I'll get a laugh or two out of the book. David Spade hasn't lived the most exciting life and he may not be the funniest dude in the world, but that didn't stop him from making this a fairly enjoyable book.
I read this on the tails of Tobias Wolff's excellent This Boy's Life and they're both similar in that each memoir contains estranged fathers and strange stepfather's. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. David Spade is funny, imo, but he's no writer. He lacks Wolff's eloquence, but hey, so do most people!
With that being said, I listened to him read his own book and can tell you, the man can perform. He outshined Amy Schumer's disappointing autobio, which I listened to a few months back. It wasn't so much that the content was necessarily better, rather it was the delivery. He's able to sell his stories and enliven his bits with a punch of inflection and energy in just the right place. That's important, because otherwise his snarky attitude and slacker's voice could've sunk this book.
Almost Interesting breaks no new ground in the memoir genre. It starts at the beginning. however, Spade is smart to quickly rush through his early years, picking out only the most poignant episodes of his childhood. Then he dwells on his formative adolescence for a bit longer. But this is the thing that kills me...Almost immediately he starts in about "chicks" and "getting laid". While he is quite self-aware and not a total creeper, this becomes a recurring topic from the pages regarding childhood right up to the end of the book.
I'm not surprised by the above. I happen to have first-hand knowledge of Spade's attempts with "the ladies". Late one night at a Taco Bell in Beverly Hills round about '97 or '98, my buddy and I were getting our taco fix on when in walked David Spade. He had a baseball cap pulled way down over his eyes in an attempt not to be noticed...as celebrities do, and thus get noticed. The huge bodyguard shadowing him didn't help his covert operation. I noticed him right off, but didn't bother him. In fact, nobody did even though a few were pointing and nodding, so he probably would've got in and out with no fuss like he seemed to wish to, except that decided to make a play on this gorgeous, 6 foot, all dolled up woman over at the hot sauce island. She barely looked at him before taking off. The bodyguard's demeanor never changed through out, so either he was a true professional or he'd seen this scene played out a few times already. Ah, poor David...you sinner. (Yes, that's a light Tommy Boy reference.)
Speaking of Tommy Boy. It's one of my guilty-pleasure favorites. Joe Dirt, too! Yes, they're "stupid" brain candy, but man, there some genuinely funny moments in both. So, part of my desire to read this bio was to hear a little backstory on both movies, not to mention his time on SNL. Spade delivers with some solid anecdotes here. I thought he might dwell on Chris Farley's tragic death and its affect on him, but Spade proves to be above playing for sympathy on that account. The book makes clear the deep impact Farley's friendship had on him, but he draws the line at revealing too much emotionally personal info.
If you're not a fan of Spade's personae, this won't change your opinion and you might as well steer clear. For all other's, I can recommend Almost Interesting and suggest listening to this surprisingly fun audiobook.
I read this on the tails of Tobias Wolff's excellent This Boy's Life and they're both similar in that each memoir contains estranged fathers and strange stepfather's. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. David Spade is funny, imo, but he's no writer. He lacks Wolff's eloquence, but hey, so do most people!
With that being said, I listened to him read his own book and can tell you, the man can perform. He outshined Amy Schumer's disappointing autobio, which I listened to a few months back. It wasn't so much that the content was necessarily better, rather it was the delivery. He's able to sell his stories and enliven his bits with a punch of inflection and energy in just the right place. That's important, because otherwise his snarky attitude and slacker's voice could've sunk this book.
Almost Interesting breaks no new ground in the memoir genre. It starts at the beginning. however, Spade is smart to quickly rush through his early years, picking out only the most poignant episodes of his childhood. Then he dwells on his formative adolescence for a bit longer. But this is the thing that kills me...Almost immediately he starts in about "chicks" and "getting laid". While he is quite self-aware and not a total creeper, this becomes a recurring topic from the pages regarding childhood right up to the end of the book.
I'm not surprised by the above. I happen to have first-hand knowledge of Spade's attempts with "the ladies". Late one night at a Taco Bell in Beverly Hills round about '97 or '98, my buddy and I were getting our taco fix on when in walked David Spade. He had a baseball cap pulled way down over his eyes in an attempt not to be noticed...as celebrities do, and thus get noticed. The huge bodyguard shadowing him didn't help his covert operation. I noticed him right off, but didn't bother him. In fact, nobody did even though a few were pointing and nodding, so he probably would've got in and out with no fuss like he seemed to wish to, except that decided to make a play on this gorgeous, 6 foot, all dolled up woman over at the hot sauce island. She barely looked at him before taking off. The bodyguard's demeanor never changed through out, so either he was a true professional or he'd seen this scene played out a few times already. Ah, poor David...you sinner. (Yes, that's a light Tommy Boy reference.)
Speaking of Tommy Boy. It's one of my guilty-pleasure favorites. Joe Dirt, too! Yes, they're "stupid" brain candy, but man, there some genuinely funny moments in both. So, part of my desire to read this bio was to hear a little backstory on both movies, not to mention his time on SNL. Spade delivers with some solid anecdotes here. I thought he might dwell on Chris Farley's tragic death and its affect on him, but Spade proves to be above playing for sympathy on that account. The book makes clear the deep impact Farley's friendship had on him, but he draws the line at revealing too much emotionally personal info.
If you're not a fan of Spade's personae, this won't change your opinion and you might as well steer clear. For all other's, I can recommend Almost Interesting and suggest listening to this surprisingly fun audiobook.
May 23, 2016
If you enjoy Spade's snarky sense of humor, you'll probably enjoy this autobiography.
Spade did not have an easy life and I enjoyed learning about his childhood and family. For me, though, the best parts of this autobiography were easily the parts about when he got to Saturday Night Live.
All the behind the scenes info on how SNL works, how the skits are pitched, written and rehearsed-it's all here. I was hoping for a lot of this info when I listened to both Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's autobiographies, but in both of them, SNL only played a small part. Here it plays a big part, as does, of course, Chris Farley. The Farley parts are both poignant and hilarious. I felt my heart crack a little bit when Spade mentioned talking to Dan Ackroyd about how it was to lose such a close friend/partner to drugs.
There were a few irritating things involving the writing and narration-the need to abbreviate a lot of things into annoying little words-using sitch for situation, for example. I didn't like that and it got on my nerves. Luckily, Spade was entertaining enough that I could overlook it most of the time.
I'm surprising myself by giving this audio 5 stars. I thought Spade's snarky sense of humor would bother me, but it made me laugh more than ever. He's funny, seemingly honest and as the title suggests-Almost Interesting.
My highest recommendation to fans of Spade's humor and for fans of SNL.
Spade did not have an easy life and I enjoyed learning about his childhood and family. For me, though, the best parts of this autobiography were easily the parts about when he got to Saturday Night Live.
All the behind the scenes info on how SNL works, how the skits are pitched, written and rehearsed-it's all here. I was hoping for a lot of this info when I listened to both Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's autobiographies, but in both of them, SNL only played a small part. Here it plays a big part, as does, of course, Chris Farley. The Farley parts are both poignant and hilarious. I felt my heart crack a little bit when Spade mentioned talking to Dan Ackroyd about how it was to lose such a close friend/partner to drugs.
There were a few irritating things involving the writing and narration-the need to abbreviate a lot of things into annoying little words-using sitch for situation, for example. I didn't like that and it got on my nerves. Luckily, Spade was entertaining enough that I could overlook it most of the time.
I'm surprising myself by giving this audio 5 stars. I thought Spade's snarky sense of humor would bother me, but it made me laugh more than ever. He's funny, seemingly honest and as the title suggests-Almost Interesting.
My highest recommendation to fans of Spade's humor and for fans of SNL.
December 31, 2015
Almost interesting? Barely interesting. unfortch.
April 6, 2016
It's a testament to David Spade's engaging story-telling style that his memoirs Almost Interesting takes 9 chapters before even getting into the SNL stuff and I did not want to skim a word of it.
I really didn't expect to read an account of Spade's childhood that chilled me to the bone and had my eyes brimming with tears. It's a vivid illustration of that old adage about comics getting their oh so funny material from a very dark and tortured place. And all in his detached, aloof, snarky recounting, (it really was a bonus listening to his own voice given I got the audio book) which actually packs more of an emotional punch than if he had brought out the violins.
If you decide to read this book, my advice to you is not to skip this part. A lot of people write amusing but disconnected anecdotes about their family and background but here, it is crucial to get an understanding of all the elements that came together to make Spade into the persona we love today.
The SNL stuff is insightful, no holds barred, humorous as well as poignant. What surprised me the most is what a class act Spade is when talking about his own as well as other celebrities'sometimes less than stellar behavior. You tend to forget he is not that snarky, mean Hollywood minute guy or the haughty, arrogant flight attendant from Bastard Airlines. Sure, some aspects of those characters are definitely within him but the real guy, or at least the guy he chose to reveal in his memoirs, is a lot more sensitive, insecure and just plain nice.
The stuff towards the end of the book, where he talks about facebook, twitter, and his advice to guys and girls on dating, was the weakest part of the book, because it was the most impersonal. Felt like the blueprint of a lame stand-up act.
Overall though, you will not be disappointed in this book if you want to get a real, authentic, warts and all look at behind the scenes of showbiz and one of the most demanding, pressure-filled, exhilarating television shows that we have all grown up with, whether live on TV or through endless reruns and of course, reincarnated in YouTube clips, this is the good stuff.
I really didn't expect to read an account of Spade's childhood that chilled me to the bone and had my eyes brimming with tears. It's a vivid illustration of that old adage about comics getting their oh so funny material from a very dark and tortured place. And all in his detached, aloof, snarky recounting, (it really was a bonus listening to his own voice given I got the audio book) which actually packs more of an emotional punch than if he had brought out the violins.
If you decide to read this book, my advice to you is not to skip this part. A lot of people write amusing but disconnected anecdotes about their family and background but here, it is crucial to get an understanding of all the elements that came together to make Spade into the persona we love today.
The SNL stuff is insightful, no holds barred, humorous as well as poignant. What surprised me the most is what a class act Spade is when talking about his own as well as other celebrities'sometimes less than stellar behavior. You tend to forget he is not that snarky, mean Hollywood minute guy or the haughty, arrogant flight attendant from Bastard Airlines. Sure, some aspects of those characters are definitely within him but the real guy, or at least the guy he chose to reveal in his memoirs, is a lot more sensitive, insecure and just plain nice.
The stuff towards the end of the book, where he talks about facebook, twitter, and his advice to guys and girls on dating, was the weakest part of the book, because it was the most impersonal. Felt like the blueprint of a lame stand-up act.
Overall though, you will not be disappointed in this book if you want to get a real, authentic, warts and all look at behind the scenes of showbiz and one of the most demanding, pressure-filled, exhilarating television shows that we have all grown up with, whether live on TV or through endless reruns and of course, reincarnated in YouTube clips, this is the good stuff.
November 6, 2016
I listened to this in one night. I blame insomnia for being a bitch, and David Spade for being a bitch. I'm a child of early 90s SNL, Spade is not my favorite from the era, and this was still close to five stars for entertainment value.
Mr Spade, I'm sorry your assassination attempt entertained me but it was well told and I was previously unaware of it. Five stars for that story alone but the rest was still fantastic. I think I mentioned something about listening to it in one night. Not cool, but it happened.
Dude tried to kill you? That's some James Patterson (probably) shit right there and I can't believe it really happened. If it didn't, it was a great lie but I'm assuming it did.
Check this out even if you don't care. Great memoir. Some crazy unexpected stuff. 4.5 or so....
Mr Spade, I'm sorry your assassination attempt entertained me but it was well told and I was previously unaware of it. Five stars for that story alone but the rest was still fantastic. I think I mentioned something about listening to it in one night. Not cool, but it happened.
Dude tried to kill you? That's some James Patterson (probably) shit right there and I can't believe it really happened. If it didn't, it was a great lie but I'm assuming it did.
Check this out even if you don't care. Great memoir. Some crazy unexpected stuff. 4.5 or so....
September 24, 2015
I got an advance reading copy of this book, started skimming it, and then couldn't put it down for the first hundred pages. Mr. Spade does a wonderful job breezing through his childhood, high school, college experiences, start on stage, and SNL years. He has an energetic, self-effacing voice and a meandering style that are fun to read and hard to put down. He has paragraph-long asides about the Kardashians and loaning people money. He jumps tenses. It's incredibly entertaining. And he kind of treats his own story as if he was a bit character in a bigger story you probably want to know about, but here is is anyway. He really opens himself up and explains a lot of his thoughts, and ALL of his most famous moments (how he came up with the SNL skits buh-bye and 'And you are?', filming Tommy Boy, etc.).
This book shows much energy and effort it takes to get to live a dream like being a professional comedian, how much stress it creates, all of the shitty ways the world and your own neuroses can get in your way, and how the fear of being terrible never really goes away for a kid from Scottsdale. (So many Scottsdale references).
There's a great line, "I can't pinpoint the one break that made the most change for me. I'm sure most people would say Saturday Night Live. That's obvious. But I wouldn't have gotten to SNL without a lot of smaller things going right for me along the way. So, each of those mini breaks was very important at the time. And at the time of each one it was the greatest thing ever to happen to me in my life. So they all seemed huge."
Spade is respectful of every step and every person he met along the way. He talks about being poor, lucky, the embarrassment of borrowing money, and how he pushed himself without ever becoming preachy.
He also has a great attitude about name-dropping, which happens fairly frequently to my delight, but never comes across as annoying because it's always hilariously honest. "I knew Dana Carvey from staying on his couch while I was coming up."
His relationship with his cast mates form SNL, his thoughts about Chris Farley, and the way that he believes he will always and mostly be a guy who once knew someone great and is okay with that, are touching and sweet and then just the right kind of surprising. I enjoyed everything through his last year on SNL, even if I sometimes got lost following his stream of conscious.
But then.
Then the book spirals out of control. All of the sudden it's no longer a narrative of his life, but a series of vignettes that have little-to-no connection. An assistant arrested. A trip to Vegas. Two weird ending chapters that seem to have the sole purpose of making him seem like a dick who hates the internet and tries to explain why he's not married. All after the first half made me like him so much without trying... It's so odd. And such a lackluster ending to a fun book. It never touches on his seven years on a sitcom. It ends with maids stealing from him and the way instagram caught him cheating. I wish that his editor had cut all of that because it ended with a bad note.
TLDR: If you know and like Spade, you will like this book. If you want a peak into the world of comedy and the biggest names of his generation, you will like this book. But if you want a narrative and want to like the guy, stop after the chapter about Eddie Murphy.
This book shows much energy and effort it takes to get to live a dream like being a professional comedian, how much stress it creates, all of the shitty ways the world and your own neuroses can get in your way, and how the fear of being terrible never really goes away for a kid from Scottsdale. (So many Scottsdale references).
There's a great line, "I can't pinpoint the one break that made the most change for me. I'm sure most people would say Saturday Night Live. That's obvious. But I wouldn't have gotten to SNL without a lot of smaller things going right for me along the way. So, each of those mini breaks was very important at the time. And at the time of each one it was the greatest thing ever to happen to me in my life. So they all seemed huge."
Spade is respectful of every step and every person he met along the way. He talks about being poor, lucky, the embarrassment of borrowing money, and how he pushed himself without ever becoming preachy.
He also has a great attitude about name-dropping, which happens fairly frequently to my delight, but never comes across as annoying because it's always hilariously honest. "I knew Dana Carvey from staying on his couch while I was coming up."
His relationship with his cast mates form SNL, his thoughts about Chris Farley, and the way that he believes he will always and mostly be a guy who once knew someone great and is okay with that, are touching and sweet and then just the right kind of surprising. I enjoyed everything through his last year on SNL, even if I sometimes got lost following his stream of conscious.
But then.
Then the book spirals out of control. All of the sudden it's no longer a narrative of his life, but a series of vignettes that have little-to-no connection. An assistant arrested. A trip to Vegas. Two weird ending chapters that seem to have the sole purpose of making him seem like a dick who hates the internet and tries to explain why he's not married. All after the first half made me like him so much without trying... It's so odd. And such a lackluster ending to a fun book. It never touches on his seven years on a sitcom. It ends with maids stealing from him and the way instagram caught him cheating. I wish that his editor had cut all of that because it ended with a bad note.
TLDR: If you know and like Spade, you will like this book. If you want a peak into the world of comedy and the biggest names of his generation, you will like this book. But if you want a narrative and want to like the guy, stop after the chapter about Eddie Murphy.
March 11, 2016
David Spade wrote and narrated this audiobook.
He did an excellent job! I really couldn't tell that he was actually reading it; it seemed more impromptu. I loved the way he would laugh while telling his stories.
Fun book!
He did an excellent job! I really couldn't tell that he was actually reading it; it seemed more impromptu. I loved the way he would laugh while telling his stories.
Fun book!
March 3, 2017
This book was funny. I've always loved David Spade's snarky humor and I saw this audiobook at my library and thought why not? I absolutely love David Spade in Emperor's New Groove, Bench warmers, and Rules of Engagement. And for the most part I really did enjoy this book. There were a few times I was actually laughing so hard I couldn't breathe (like some of the stories form his childhood involving a crayon box and a t-shirt with his own picture on it.)
I really enjoyed his hysterical childhood stories and what it was like growing up in Arizona with two older brothers. A majority of this book discusses his experience on SNL and he goes into great detail about how he struggled in comedy in the beginning and made a lot of bad decisions career-wise that actually turned out to be not so bad decisions because that's how he ended up where he is today. As much as I appreciated hearing all of the hardships and crazy shit that happened to him, I was sort of losing interest in the memoir as a whole and it seemed to get less funny as the story went on, which was kind of a bummer. After the SNL stuff he mostly just talks about a shit ton of bad mistakes he's made over the years which was funny but kind of repetitive.
But overall, I thought this book was funny and I would recommend it to fans of David Spade. Listen to the audiobook if you get the chance because just hearing him talk makes it even funnier when he delivers his lines. I guess Almost Interesting is an appropriate title for this book.
I really enjoyed his hysterical childhood stories and what it was like growing up in Arizona with two older brothers. A majority of this book discusses his experience on SNL and he goes into great detail about how he struggled in comedy in the beginning and made a lot of bad decisions career-wise that actually turned out to be not so bad decisions because that's how he ended up where he is today. As much as I appreciated hearing all of the hardships and crazy shit that happened to him, I was sort of losing interest in the memoir as a whole and it seemed to get less funny as the story went on, which was kind of a bummer. After the SNL stuff he mostly just talks about a shit ton of bad mistakes he's made over the years which was funny but kind of repetitive.
But overall, I thought this book was funny and I would recommend it to fans of David Spade. Listen to the audiobook if you get the chance because just hearing him talk makes it even funnier when he delivers his lines. I guess Almost Interesting is an appropriate title for this book.
October 13, 2015
4 stars for first half, 2 for second half.
So this wasn't always interesting but his stint on Saturday Night Live and his friendship with Chris Farley were intriguing. His writing style is very much like he just sat down at a computer and wrote from his snarky brain, which can be hilarious and annoying ("sitch" for situation and other word shortcuts), but he is also honest and at times extremely crude.
Read if you are a fan of SNL alumni memoirs but it won't top Tina Fey's BOSSYPANTS and Martin Short's I MUST SAY. I also believe this would be best "read" in audio format if narrated by Spade.
So this wasn't always interesting but his stint on Saturday Night Live and his friendship with Chris Farley were intriguing. His writing style is very much like he just sat down at a computer and wrote from his snarky brain, which can be hilarious and annoying ("sitch" for situation and other word shortcuts), but he is also honest and at times extremely crude.
Read if you are a fan of SNL alumni memoirs but it won't top Tina Fey's BOSSYPANTS and Martin Short's I MUST SAY. I also believe this would be best "read" in audio format if narrated by Spade.
August 12, 2020
This is a pretty good autobiography about actor/comedian David Spade and how he talks about his days at Saturday Night Live and more. If you are a fan of David Spade, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.
April 24, 2022
When I saw this one on sale I had to grab it. David Spade is so funny, and I was hoping the book would be too!
It was, and it wasn't. I hate to admit, I liked him more before I read his book.
He's funny, sure, but most of this book was him telling stories about his life. The ones he chose to tell have my eyebrows raised, I mean, maybe he really isn't that interesting after all, but especially with Chris Farley, I was disappointed in what he revealed to us. They really were not the most flattering things, for a guy who says he loved him. You'd figure the tales he told would be more endearing, not embarrassing.
So I feel like I wasted a couple bucks here, but that's ok. Not everyone that you admire will be so admirable in the end.
It was, and it wasn't. I hate to admit, I liked him more before I read his book.
He's funny, sure, but most of this book was him telling stories about his life. The ones he chose to tell have my eyebrows raised, I mean, maybe he really isn't that interesting after all, but especially with Chris Farley, I was disappointed in what he revealed to us. They really were not the most flattering things, for a guy who says he loved him. You'd figure the tales he told would be more endearing, not embarrassing.
So I feel like I wasted a couple bucks here, but that's ok. Not everyone that you admire will be so admirable in the end.
July 5, 2023
This was ... nearly almost interesting.
December 5, 2015
A lot of comedians, including Mr. Spade, choose to write their biographies like an extended stand-up special, which works for approximately three quarters of the material.
Spade's gone through some shit. Poverty, personal loss, professional setbacks. His step-father, a vet with PTSD, killed himself during a police man hunt. His best friend OD'd at the height of his fame, leave Spade to tell his story forever more. His assistant tried to kill him. The levity and deadpan sarcasm keep the book from sinking into a pity party, but I don't feel Spade let genuine emotions come out and connect to the audience.
There are two sections, both about Chris Farley's death, that did resonate and made me wish there was a little more authenticity to the book. The first is when he admits to feeling a kinship with Dave Grohl, "because both of the guys we were very close to got very famous quickly and then died, and we stuck around to field question about them for the rest of our lives. It is an honor, but not an easy one sometimes." The second is a very simple, "I miss him," in the middle of a larger story about Farley wanking it to Spade's girlfriend.
Unfortunately, instead of exploring any of those feelings or even discussing his more recent projects, the book trickles off after Chris' death. We close with a love advice section that goes for the cheap, "women, am I right?!" laugh, without ever acknowledging that while Spade never married, he does have a daughter. She hasn't effected his life in any way?
This was my second biography that looked at the LA comedy scene and I did find it interesting to hear from a relatively successful comedian who didn't make it at The Comedy Store. I also liked the look into the difference of New York comedy and SNL, though I'd have liked a bit more on the actual work that went on there.
In all, Spade's biography could have been more. I can only recommend it to Tommy Boy fans. If you like Spade on sitcoms or animated movies, or even in Dickie Roberts and Grown Ups, you're probably not the right audience.
Spade's gone through some shit. Poverty, personal loss, professional setbacks. His step-father, a vet with PTSD, killed himself during a police man hunt. His best friend OD'd at the height of his fame, leave Spade to tell his story forever more. His assistant tried to kill him. The levity and deadpan sarcasm keep the book from sinking into a pity party, but I don't feel Spade let genuine emotions come out and connect to the audience.
There are two sections, both about Chris Farley's death, that did resonate and made me wish there was a little more authenticity to the book. The first is when he admits to feeling a kinship with Dave Grohl, "because both of the guys we were very close to got very famous quickly and then died, and we stuck around to field question about them for the rest of our lives. It is an honor, but not an easy one sometimes." The second is a very simple, "I miss him," in the middle of a larger story about Farley wanking it to Spade's girlfriend.
Unfortunately, instead of exploring any of those feelings or even discussing his more recent projects, the book trickles off after Chris' death. We close with a love advice section that goes for the cheap, "women, am I right?!" laugh, without ever acknowledging that while Spade never married, he does have a daughter. She hasn't effected his life in any way?
This was my second biography that looked at the LA comedy scene and I did find it interesting to hear from a relatively successful comedian who didn't make it at The Comedy Store. I also liked the look into the difference of New York comedy and SNL, though I'd have liked a bit more on the actual work that went on there.
In all, Spade's biography could have been more. I can only recommend it to Tommy Boy fans. If you like Spade on sitcoms or animated movies, or even in Dickie Roberts and Grown Ups, you're probably not the right audience.
March 3, 2016
Almost Interesting
This narrative of David Spade’s life is not only actually interesting but freaking hilarious. I love David’s dry wit and listening to him tell the story was even better. I feel like I got bonus material with his tone and asides that I would not have gotten had I read the book. It was beautiful to hear him reminisce about Chris Farley. I too lost a very dear friend in my 20s and his recollections made me cry but gave me comfort. The rest of his story, while not “important” or revealing of huge revelations is good entertainment. If you want to hear about a life and laugh while you do it this is the book to listen to.
The Random Thoughts:
4 Stars
This narrative of David Spade’s life is not only actually interesting but freaking hilarious. I love David’s dry wit and listening to him tell the story was even better. I feel like I got bonus material with his tone and asides that I would not have gotten had I read the book. It was beautiful to hear him reminisce about Chris Farley. I too lost a very dear friend in my 20s and his recollections made me cry but gave me comfort. The rest of his story, while not “important” or revealing of huge revelations is good entertainment. If you want to hear about a life and laugh while you do it this is the book to listen to.
The Random Thoughts:
4 Stars
October 8, 2015
David Spade is one of those comedians who build their humor on the simple observations about the world he lives in. This memoir is filled with these observations that's very entertaining. Being mistaken for a 10 year old when he's 18? Check. Leave for the big city using his mother's old suitcase? Check. Spade makes readers laugh as he just doesn't take himself too seriously. Check.
November 8, 2018
Listened to the audiobook and Spade crushed it. I laughed out loud throughout. The hooker scene was especially hilarious.
November 29, 2015
I'm a fan of David Spade's and this book is definitely not a letdown. There are some "gems" as he refers to many of his stories in this book, and many stories that are not so interesting plus his many anecdotes and tangents that could be hit-or-miss. After reading this book, many of his works (i.e. Joe Dirt, Tommy Boy, and many of his SNL skits) began to make more sense. In terms of what I feel were letdowns of the book was that the ending wasn't exactly my cup of tea, and I wish he would've talked more about shooting Emperor's New Groove, Just Shoot Me, and his most recent show Rules of Engagement. Overall, I really enjoyed learning about how he came to be, how SNL used to be, and even connecting dots on celebrities and writers that I recognize today. I had a lot of fun reading this book.
January 13, 2016
The beginning was funny, but the rest was just a bunch of narcissistic whining about not getting laid and about not getting enough SNL sketches. For a guy who idolizes and respects his mother for working hard to raise him and his brothers after his dad cheated and ran out on the family, he sure seems to be an apple in close proximity to the tree. Call me crazy, but I have a hard time mustering any sympathy for a guy who has such little respect for women.
December 4, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
I’ll start with a disclaimer that probably shouldn’t need to be said but I’ll say it anyway: if you’re not a fan of David Spade, you will hate this. I've always been a big fan and even I was annoyed during certain parts of it. At every job I've ever had I've always been .5 seconds away from turning into the sarcastic personas he created on SNL. (Specifically, the gatekeeping receptionist and the flight attendant that says, "Buh bye!" after roasting every passenger.) Oddly, the book also feels a bit incomplete, (he mentions “Just Shoot Me" in passing but doesn’t talk about it AT ALL), but he also makes it pretty clear that this read isn’t meant to be taken seriously and it shows. This was written out exactly like Spade himself was sitting next to you telling the stories. There's nothing literary about it. Instead, most of it feels like extended notes for a comedy bit. I have no doubt that the audiobook sounds like a standup record. It works, though. A lot of memoirs that I read by personalities that are supposed to be funny end up coming across as boring and disappointing, and this was the first one I've encountered that sounded, on the page, like the author's actual voice.
Related: This contained huge paragraphs of unbroken text, typos throughout, etc. You can tell it wasn’t thoroughly edited. I’m convinced this wasn’t ghostwritten.
By far, all the stuff about SNL was the most interesting part. Many of us would love an honest peek behind the scenes, and Spade doesn't sugarcoat anything about how the writers' room operated. (I had heard bits and pieces for years, but it really sounds like an anxiety-inducing nightmare.) Part of me is glad that I gave up on my dream of working for the show years ago. I wouldn't have been cut out for that life. He also talks about how his characters came to be, how he struggled to even get his work onto the show, etc. And he calls people out for both commendable and shitty behavior. I appreciated that.
I also was fascinated by the frightening tale of Spade’s friend and personal assistant that attacked him in his home in the middle of the night. I had never heard about that, somehow.
The not-so-great stuff: He can get pretty sexist with his humor. None of it was QUITE offensive enough to upset me on a personal level, except maybe for all the stuff that his college frat said/did when he was pledging. Gross. There’s also a dumb joke about Sandra Bullock that he told in the 90s. Stuff like that. There was also a disgusting story about a prank Chris Farley played on him back in the day. I hate to say it, but it made me like Farley a lot less. I’m sure that was not Spade’s intention but oh, well! (Your mileage with all of these things may vary, of course.)
Personally, I would have left out the chapter about how social media made it harder for him to cheat on his girlfriends, but hey, I’m not a successful actor/comedian so what do I know. Also could’ve done without all the “advice” for “chicks” at the end of the book. (There’s also advice for dudes, but it’s less insulting.) All of this stuff reads like rejected standup bits and general book filler with a decent joke here and there, but I mostly was not impressed. Though I did get the term “Blab-a-lanche” out of it, for when someone is talking and will not shut up. I love it.
Even after all this, I still think that Spade presented himself as a fairly humble and likable guy. (Believe it or not.) I’m not defending any of the more offensive stuff in the book, but nothing had me clutching at my pearls, either. I'd say read it if you already think David Spade is funny and you'd like some more insight into how the GAP Girls came to be or what the behind-the-scenes of "Tommy Boy" looked like, but if you don't have a lot of patience for that male comedian of the 90s mentality, ("Let me tell it to you straight, LADIES!") this might make your skin crawl a little bit.
I’ll start with a disclaimer that probably shouldn’t need to be said but I’ll say it anyway: if you’re not a fan of David Spade, you will hate this. I've always been a big fan and even I was annoyed during certain parts of it. At every job I've ever had I've always been .5 seconds away from turning into the sarcastic personas he created on SNL. (Specifically, the gatekeeping receptionist and the flight attendant that says, "Buh bye!" after roasting every passenger.) Oddly, the book also feels a bit incomplete, (he mentions “Just Shoot Me" in passing but doesn’t talk about it AT ALL), but he also makes it pretty clear that this read isn’t meant to be taken seriously and it shows. This was written out exactly like Spade himself was sitting next to you telling the stories. There's nothing literary about it. Instead, most of it feels like extended notes for a comedy bit. I have no doubt that the audiobook sounds like a standup record. It works, though. A lot of memoirs that I read by personalities that are supposed to be funny end up coming across as boring and disappointing, and this was the first one I've encountered that sounded, on the page, like the author's actual voice.
Related: This contained huge paragraphs of unbroken text, typos throughout, etc. You can tell it wasn’t thoroughly edited. I’m convinced this wasn’t ghostwritten.
By far, all the stuff about SNL was the most interesting part. Many of us would love an honest peek behind the scenes, and Spade doesn't sugarcoat anything about how the writers' room operated. (I had heard bits and pieces for years, but it really sounds like an anxiety-inducing nightmare.) Part of me is glad that I gave up on my dream of working for the show years ago. I wouldn't have been cut out for that life. He also talks about how his characters came to be, how he struggled to even get his work onto the show, etc. And he calls people out for both commendable and shitty behavior. I appreciated that.
I also was fascinated by the frightening tale of Spade’s friend and personal assistant that attacked him in his home in the middle of the night. I had never heard about that, somehow.
The not-so-great stuff: He can get pretty sexist with his humor. None of it was QUITE offensive enough to upset me on a personal level, except maybe for all the stuff that his college frat said/did when he was pledging. Gross. There’s also a dumb joke about Sandra Bullock that he told in the 90s. Stuff like that. There was also a disgusting story about a prank Chris Farley played on him back in the day. I hate to say it, but it made me like Farley a lot less. I’m sure that was not Spade’s intention but oh, well! (Your mileage with all of these things may vary, of course.)
Personally, I would have left out the chapter about how social media made it harder for him to cheat on his girlfriends, but hey, I’m not a successful actor/comedian so what do I know. Also could’ve done without all the “advice” for “chicks” at the end of the book. (There’s also advice for dudes, but it’s less insulting.) All of this stuff reads like rejected standup bits and general book filler with a decent joke here and there, but I mostly was not impressed. Though I did get the term “Blab-a-lanche” out of it, for when someone is talking and will not shut up. I love it.
Even after all this, I still think that Spade presented himself as a fairly humble and likable guy. (Believe it or not.) I’m not defending any of the more offensive stuff in the book, but nothing had me clutching at my pearls, either. I'd say read it if you already think David Spade is funny and you'd like some more insight into how the GAP Girls came to be or what the behind-the-scenes of "Tommy Boy" looked like, but if you don't have a lot of patience for that male comedian of the 90s mentality, ("Let me tell it to you straight, LADIES!") this might make your skin crawl a little bit.
August 4, 2016
I like David Spade. I like him as a comedian and a comic actor. I like his brand of snarkiness. I've always had the gut feeling that behind that rapier tongue and wicked wit, lies a heart of pure gold. He has had several long term friendships with people who on the surface would seem to be out of his league. Heather Locklear comes to mind. I suspect the real David Spade likes women, is loyal and obviously is fun to be around. I like his personal and professional relationship with Chris Farley. This books reads like his voice so I'm pretty sure it is authentic, in that, he actually wrote it. He talks about his early days, SNL, a few of his movies and, of course, Chris Farley. I was surprised that he doesn't even mention that popular sitcoms he was on. What I did not know and surprised me is that his older brother, Andy, along with his wife are the founders of Kate Spade New York and other clothing brands. I've never heard him mention that in an interview even though it is obvious he likes and loves his brothers. What a class act to not trade on his famous older brother's name.
November 6, 2015
Really interesting to hear the origin story & SNL downs and ups of Spade. Always a favorite of mine, I found it an easy read (listen). He spends a lot of time where you'd expect him to: growing up, SNL, Time with Farley. Other periods get a cursory mention: one line about Just Shoot Me; references to Joe Dirt peppered throughout, but not much about the making of it. Where as some biographies focus on craft & struggle - this one is mostly about the struggle & insecurities along Spade's path. The first half is much stronger than the second, but with the timeline of his 'heat' - the book also tends to climax with Farley. I would have been interested to hear more about the projects & work after that, coming back to standup in recent years - but its not in this one. If you like Spade's snarky style of humor, though, you'll enjoy this book a lot. He's self-depreciating through his mocking puffery. Lots of good laughs. Check out the audiobook read by Spade - he nails the delivery. Really enjoyed it.
September 26, 2016
I have been a fan of David Spade for many years and this book did not disappoint. I listened to the audio which was read by David and was an extra treat. This book brought back many memories and made me watch Tommy Boy to see how it has held up after all these years (it held up very well by the way). I found his memoir very entertaining and much more than just "almost interesting."
December 15, 2015
I highly recommend the audio, but the little I read of the book, I felt like he writes the way he talks. Either way, an interesting and funny read. The parts about SNL were eye opening about what cast members go through to be on the show.
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