How I Slept My Way to the Middle: Secrets And Stories From Stage, Screen, And Interwebs - Softcover

Pollak, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0762782331 ISBN 13: 9780762782338

Publisher: Lyons Press, 2013

Synopsis

How I Slept My Way to the Middle winningly combines never-before-heard stories featuring A-list entertainers with fan favorites and Kevin’s own thoughts about how he made it. He turned down his first invitation to do stand-up on The Tonight Show because he knew that he’d make a bigger impact if he sat on the couch next to Johnny. That huge risk—which paid off in spades—was just the beginning. Find out how he brought John Belushi to his knees, tortured Paul Reiser (twice), bamboozled Larry King, stole Alan Arkin’s soul, almost killed Warren Beatty, and sucked face with Robert DeNiro’s girlfriend. Now a new media entrepreneur, he’s laughing proof that if you follow your gut and believe in yourself, you can do anything you want—except have a rational conversation with Rip Torn, who’s an evil, paranoid $#!%.

About this title

About the Author:

Kevin Pollak has appeared in over seventy films, including A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects, Casino, and the Grumpy Old Men franchise, in addition to numerous TV shows. Named one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time, he lives a short bike ride from Venice Beach in Southern California.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Johnny did his monologue, kibitzed with Ed, then spoke with his first guest. After a commercial break, it was time. Doc Severinsen cut off his orchestra at the perfect moment, and Johnny said, in that unmistakable Iowa/Nebraska accent, “Ladies and gentlemen, making his first appearance on the show, a young comedian who’s in a new movie directed by Ron Howard called Willow. Please welcome, Kevin Pollak.”

            The audience let out a collective cry of, Who the hell is Kevin Pollak?—or at least that’s what I imagined—then applauded. I walked out from behind the curtain (which I’d rehearsed 5,000 times in my bedroom mirror, no exaggeration), waved to the audience (also rehearsed), and unbuttoned my jacket (rehearsed).

Oddly, I wasn’t nervous, but rather excited, as excited as a kid making his first trip to Disneyworld, or a kid trying to fall sleep on Christmas Eve, or just about any guy who’s about to lose his virginity.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0762782331
• ISBN 13: 9780762782338
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272