Alan Katz: Forty Years of Getting Paid to Be Funny

Alan Katz has written more than 50 books and spent five years writing for The Rosie O'Donnell Show. He grew up in a family of shoe-store owners and teachers and announced early that he'd be a writer — his father's response was that as a writer, you are your own merchandise. We talk about what that life has cost, the bullies who taught him to write on deadline, and why he tells kids a joke at someone else's expense is never worth it.Key topics"You are your own merchandise": the cost of a career where next year is never guaranteedComedy writing in advertising — Pepsi, McDonald's, and a musical about Sperry computers starring Kirk DouglasWriting song parodies on the 5am train for a show that aired at 10How his daughter's dinner-table question became Take Me Out of the BathtubWriting jokes for Henny Youngman at $7 apiece, in high schoolThe agent who said write only for television, and why he refusedWhat happened to the sitcomKids who say they don't read for pleasureTimestamps01:25 A family of retail and teachers, and a kid who wanted to write02:12 The costs: a best seller one year, no idea the next03:17 How the Rosie O'Donnell Show job happened04:19 Broadway, comedy, sitcoms — why their sensibilities lined up05:15 Comedy writing in advertising, and a musical about computers06:22 The Scholastic joke books07:01 Writing parodies on the 5:30am train08:03 Simone's question at dinner08:26 Simon & Schuster was across the street09:28 What he'd be doing if none of it had worked10:40 Got Your Nose, and the packages kids send him11:30 Two Sides to Everything, with his wife Rose13:12 A typical Tuesday, and Jerry the ventriloquist dummy13:50 "Turn the Tub Around," and what his kids are proudest of14:52 What people get wrong about a comedy writer's life16:00 The text chain with Dan Gutman and Peter Lerangis16:51 Whether his kids thought he was funny18:02 Keeping a notebook — writers observe19:15 Awesome Achievers, and never joking at anyone's expense20:56 A funny kid, and the bullies who demanded jokes22:04 Writing for Henny Youngman at $7 a joke22:38 How live TV taught him to write under pressure24:24 What he wouldn't tell his younger self25:26 Mildred Feinsilver, and three years chasing a sitcom in LA26:56 Is he a good boss to himself?27:53 Soupy Sales, and why jealousy isn't the word28:48 The part luck played, and the advice he gives his son30:00 The most unglamorous thing he did this week31:29 Advice for someone starting out — and stay away from AI33:31 What happened to the sitcom35:15 Lie-ographies: laughing your way into the facts38:17 Two stories about his name41:56 What's next, and 27 ways to tell a Barbie story45:07 Has it been worth it?46:29 Kids who don't read for pleasure49:14 Keep reading, keep writing, keep being kindBOOKS: 9780689829031, 9780063025042, 9780762463381, 9780762463367