photo: Sebastian Lowell, American Magazine
"In this laugh-out-loud memoir, a Seinfeld writer shares his own Hollywood story as well as clever insights for anyone who dreams of life in showbiz!"
– BookBub
The award-winning comedy writer (and performer) behind George Costanza’s “opposite” winning strategy -- analyzed to this day in art, economics, and politics -- and the only writer associated with Seinfeld, Cheers and 3rd Rock from the Sun, unleashes decades of creativity and a front-row seat to his high profile first Hollywood job on which he also became a recurring performer… insights from Hollywood film and television legends… Seinfeld episodes that might have been… in-the-trenches comedy creation and performing strategies, talk show, sitcom and single panel cartoon development, how to pitch the decision-makers, and the tenacity it takes to do “the opposite” of give up and still creatively flourish after forty years of wandering the Southern California desert’s peaks and valleys. With these over 400-page “commandments,” he reaches and imparts his own “promised land” of redemption.
Banging My Headlines . . .
“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
“Andy Cowan's career is a ballad of talent and tenacity in equal measure. Banging My Head Against the Wall 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
“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 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
“It’s my job to know Funny, so I know Funny. Andy Cowan is Funny.”
– Amy Lago, Comics Editor, Washington Post Writers Group
"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 Against the Wall.”
– Ken Levine, Emmy-winning writer/producer/director, M*A*S*H, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons
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