Banging My Head Against the Wall

A Comedy Writer's Guide to Seeing Stars

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Pub Date 28 Jun 2018 | Archive Date 30 Jul 2018

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Description

“The Opposite” wasn’t just the classic Seinfeld episode in which George Costanza followed the opposite of his instincts to land success. The method behind the madness has been championed in industries worldwide and even likened to the rise of Trump. The award-winning writer who helped Costanza win, and first pondered “the opposite” in his own life, identifies traces of it in the legends he mined for anecdotes before the cameras rolled at his first high-profile Hollywood job on which he also became a recurring performer, and in numerous stops along his unique road of comedy writing and performing twists and turns, as the only scribe associated with Cheers, Seinfeld and 3rd Rock From the Sun. (Multiple episodes and staff)

For a Tinseltown backstage pass, lessons from film and television icons, in-the-trenches comedy writing and performing strategies, Seinfeld episodes that could have been, talk show, sitcom and single panel cartoon development, and pitching the decision makers (or doing the opposite of playing their game) you’ll want to keep…Banging My Head Against the Wall !

“The Opposite” wasn’t just the classic Seinfeld episode in which George Costanza followed the opposite of his instincts to land success. The method behind the madness has been championed in...


Advance Praise

“Andy Cowan lives the life we generally leave unexamined. He examines. Then he re-examines. Then he postulates, examines again and finally writes about it. The result is insanely wise, madly funny and completely endearing. Read this book. Laugh, enjoy and discuss.” – Jason Alexander

 

“Wonderfully written, Banging My Head is a creative tour de force and personal journey of admirable determination that shines a light on what it takes to keep going in Hollywood even when you feel like doing “the opposite.”  After absorbing the wealth of funny, smart and painstakingly rendered projects Andy has generated over the years, you’ll understand how the arbiters of what gets on the air don’t always represent a meritocracy.” – Dan Piraro, Creator, award-winning King Features panel, Bizarro

 

 

“After reading this lovingly executed groundswell of creativity, you too will know Andy remains one of the industry’s sharpest comedy minds. This is the first book I’ve ever recommended that doesn’t have recipes in it.” – Louie Anderson

 

 

“Andy Cowan's career is a ballad of talent and tenacity in equal measure. Banging My Head Banging My Head offers an unflinching and entertaining account of the show business roller coaster, which for Andy always seems to flicker between sky-scraping exhilaration and deep nausea.” – Rob Burnett, Executive Producer/Head Writer, Late Show with David Letterman

 

 

“Andy Cowan’s time has finally come.” – David Steinberg

 

 

“Andy Cowan lives in a different universe than we do. Fortunately, it's a much funnier and more entertaining place and this book is our ticket in.” – Bart Tessler, EVP News and Talk Programming, Westwood One

 

 

“Boomers will get a bang out of classic Hollywood and Seinfeld fans of all ages will savor a season’s worth of inspired new episodes that never were. I thoroughly enjoyed this front row seat to Andy Cowan’s life story. Can’t wait for the sequel.” – Hank Rosenfeld, co-author of The Wicked Wit of the West, with Marx Brothers screenwriter, Irving Brecher

 


Crafting a blurb for a gifted writer like Andy Cowan is intimidating stuff – kinda like being asked to take batting practice for Pete Rose or to tap out a few keys in front of Billy Joel. Banging My Head clearly displays Andy’s gifts.” – Michael Smerconish, SiriusXM, CNN 

 

 

“Andy Cowan’s unique mind operates at the turbulent intersection between the generations, the centuries, the down-to-earth, and the absurd. He is a largely unsung genius and potential cultural hero to the gigantic but quietly suffering population of neurotics that drag their sorry asses amongst the rest of us who are perfect.” – Michael Harrison, Publisher, Talkers Magazine

 

 

"A must-read for students of comedy and anyone thinking of pursuing this crazy business!" –  Morgan Langley, Executive Producer, Cops

 

 

"For a great inside look at show business, you’ll get the most bang for your buck with Banging My Head Banging My Head.” – Ken Levine, Emmy-winning writer/producer/director, M*A*S*H, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons

“Andy Cowan lives the life we generally leave unexamined. He examines. Then he re-examines. Then he postulates, examines again and finally writes about it. The result is insanely wise, madly funny...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781684330133
PRICE $6.99 (USD)

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