Maybe We'll Have You Back
The Life of a Perennial TV Guest Star
Published on 8. October 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-62914-567-9 (ISBN)
Description
?I don't know why Fred was never a regular on a show. Maybe because he's annoying . . . just kidding!" ?Ray Romano
Fred Stoller has played the annoying schnook in just about every sitcom you've seen on TV?Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs, Hannah Montana, My Name Is Earl?and was even a staff writer for Seinfeld, but he's never found a solid gig. When it comes to Hollywood, it's a case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride, except in his case he's always the snarky waiter, the mopey cousin, or Man #2.
This hilarious and bittersweet rags to rags story of the hardest-working guy in showbiz follows Fred, who started his career as a stand-up comic, from set to set as he tries to find a permanent home for his oddball character. With candor, Fred shares stories of his great adventures pounding the Hollywood pavement, including a humiliating encounter with Billy Crystal, a disastrous one-night stand with Kathy Griffin, and plenty of awkward run-ins at craft service tables. And he always shares his ups and downs with his skeptical, yet loving, mother waiting by the phone in Brooklyn.
Everyone can relate to searching for a dream job or waiting for the next big break, and will root for Fred as he weaves his way through the cutthroat world of Tinseltown.
Fred Stoller has played the annoying schnook in just about every sitcom you've seen on TV?Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs, Hannah Montana, My Name Is Earl?and was even a staff writer for Seinfeld, but he's never found a solid gig. When it comes to Hollywood, it's a case of always the bridesmaid and never the bride, except in his case he's always the snarky waiter, the mopey cousin, or Man #2.
This hilarious and bittersweet rags to rags story of the hardest-working guy in showbiz follows Fred, who started his career as a stand-up comic, from set to set as he tries to find a permanent home for his oddball character. With candor, Fred shares stories of his great adventures pounding the Hollywood pavement, including a humiliating encounter with Billy Crystal, a disastrous one-night stand with Kathy Griffin, and plenty of awkward run-ins at craft service tables. And he always shares his ups and downs with his skeptical, yet loving, mother waiting by the phone in Brooklyn.
Everyone can relate to searching for a dream job or waiting for the next big break, and will root for Fred as he weaves his way through the cutthroat world of Tinseltown.
Reviews / Votes
?This book is a gem. It resonates with humanity. Any actor, writer, or human being should read it!" ?Jerry Stiller?I got a big kick out of Fred's funny, personal, tale of showbiz ups and downs." ?Bob Odenkirk, star of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
?Unlike any kind of ?show biz' book you'll likely ever read. There's a level of honesty to Fred's work that makes you realize how seldom people bring you along in this way, give you such an unvarnished insider's perspective. Not only should Fred's work be required reading for anyone thinking of entering acting, or any career in the arts, but it should be read by anyone looking to be held spellbound by a gifted and funny story-teller with a big heart. Fred's a real mensch." ?Jonathan Goldstein, host of Wiretap
?Fred Stoller's painfully honest and truly funny memoir of his career as a character actor has become one of my all-time favorite reads. It's as accurate and amusing a depiction of the life of a working-class actor as you'll ever come across." ?Bill Prady, executive producer of The Big Bang Theory
?Do yourself a favor and pick up [Fred Stoller's] book. Chances are, he's made you laugh several times over the last couple decades, even if you never knew his name." ?Whitney Matheson, USA Today
?Fred is funny and unique, but still an everyman trying to get ahead we can all relate to. His outsider/insider look at showbiz makes for a fantastic funny read." ?Tom Snyder
?Fred is as good at writing jokes as anyone in the business in any era. He's also quite an underrated storyteller. He won't be after you read this book. Great writer, great comic, exceptional friend." ?Jay Mohr
?Freddie Stoller is smart and handsome. As a matter fact the handsomeness gets in the way of the smart and funny. While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of Freddie's good looks." ?Jeff Garlin
?I always liked Fred Stoller. Now I love Fred Stoller. Read this book, and call me after. I want to talk to someone about it." ?Loren Bouchard
?I've listened to Fred Stoller's stand up for years and he's always made me laugh. I just read Fred Stoller's book and I laughed even more. I eagerly await his singing debut." ?Paul Feig
?A view from the trenches of show business by a comic actor straddling the line between success and obscurity." ?Kirkus Reviews
?Comedic actor Stoller might not be a household name, but he's been working in Hollywood for 25 years, making a living by scoring guest stints on sitcoms like Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Seinfeld. After getting his start doing stand-up in New York, Stoller made his way to Los Angeles hoping to land the holy grail of acting jobs: a regular role on a television show. The quest proved harder than he'd imagined, but the numerous guest roles he booked involved playing characters that ran the gamut from scrawny construction worker to pesky suitor to goofy waiter. Stoller gets an unexpected break when Larry David offers him a job writing on Seinfeld, but the gig only lasts a season and serves to reinforce Stoller's passion for acting. He finally lands a regular role on an animated show called Handy Manny playing a talking tool. Stoller's stories about his experiences on the various studio sets, as well as his brushes with fame, make his memoir an enlightening and entertaining look into the life of a working actor." ?Kristine Huntley, Booklist ?This book is a gem. It resonates with humanity. Any actor, writer, or human being should read it!" ?Jerry Stiller
?I got a big kick out of Fred's funny, personal, tale of showbiz ups and downs." ?Bob Odenkirk, star of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
?Unlike any kind of ?show biz' book you'll likely ever read. There's a level of honesty to Fred's work that makes you realize how seldom people bring you along in this way, give you such an unvarnished insider's perspective. Not only should Fred's work be required reading for anyone thinking of entering acting, or any career in the arts, but it should be read by anyone looking to be held spellbound by a gifted and funny story-teller with a big heart. Fred's a real mensch." ?Jonathan Goldstein, host of Wiretap
?Fred Stoller's painfully honest and truly funny memoir of his career as a character actor has become one of my all-time favorite reads. It's as accurate and amusing a depiction of the life of a working-class actor as you'll ever come across." ?Bill Prady, executive producer of The Big Bang Theory
?Do yourself a favor and pick up [Fred Stoller's] book. Chances are, he's made you laugh several times over the last couple decades, even if you never knew his name." ?Whitney Matheson, USA Today
?Fred is funny and unique, but still an everyman trying to get ahead we can all relate to. His outsider/insider look at showbiz makes for a fantastic funny read." ?Tom Snyder
?Fred is as good at writing jokes as anyone in the business in any era. He's also quite an underrated storyteller. He won't be after you read this book. Great writer, great comic, exceptional friend." ?Jay Mohr
?Freddie Stoller is smart and handsome. As a matter fact the handsomeness gets in the way of the smart and funny. While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of Freddie's good looks." ?Jeff Garlin
?I always liked Fred Stoller. Now I love Fred Stoller. Read this book, and call me after. I want to talk to someone about it." ?Loren Bouchard
?I've listened to Fred Stoller's stand up for years and he's always made me laugh. I just read Fred Stoller's book and I laughed even more. I eagerly await his singing debut." ?Paul Feig
?A view from the trenches of show business by a comic actor straddling the line between success and obscurity." ?Kirkus Reviews
?Comedic actor Stoller might not be a household name, but he's been working in Hollywood for 25 years, making a living by scoring guest stints on sitcoms like Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Seinfeld. After getting his start doing stand-up in New York, Stoller made his way to Los Angeles hoping to land the holy grail of acting jobs: a regular role on a television show. The quest proved harder than he'd imagined, but the numerous guest roles he booked involved playing characters that ran the gamut from scrawny construction worker to pesky suitor to goofy waiter. Stoller gets an unexpected break when Larry David offers him a job writing on Seinfeld, but the gig only lasts a season and serves to reinforce Stoller's passion for acting. He finally lands a regular role on an animated show called Handy Manny playing a talking tool. Stoller's stories about his experiences on the various studio sets, as well as his brushes with fame, make his memoir an enlightening and entertaining look into the life of a working actor." ?Kristine Huntley, Booklist
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York, NY
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
16 color photos
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
363 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-62914-567-9 (9781629145679)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2015
Skyhorse Publishing
€12.85
Available for download
Persons
Fred Stoller was raised in Brooklyn and started out as a stand-up comedian, known for his dating woes and his thrill-seeker persona (I drank milk that expired yesterday!). He appeared on many late night shows and has guest-starred in more than seventy TV shows and films such as Dumb and Dumber. Fred & Vinnie, the indie feature he wrote and starred in, won the Audience award at the Austin Film Festival. He chronicled his experience writing for Seinfeld in the bestselling Amazon Kindle Single My Seinfeld Year.