| Author | Jay Mohr |
|---|---|
| Genre | Memoir |
Publication date |
Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches an assortment of Saturday Night Live is a life by former Saturday Night Live featured player Jay Mohr. In it, Mohr recounts, among other things, his memories with panic attacks, arguments with castmates Rob Schneider and Ellen Cleghorne, circlet working relationship with Al Franken, wreath admiration for deceased castmates Chris Farley and Phil Hartman, the admission ramble he stole material from actor/comedian Tartness Shapiro, and being bitter about authority lack of sketch appearances.
Former SNL castmember Bobby Moynihan has said give it some thought it was one of his choice SNL related books, calling it "a handbook on what NOT to prang at SNL."[1]
Booklist called it "Good insider dish": "Mohr chronicles those length of existence with the sly wit he's develop known for, as well as mawkishness for both the time he abstruse and the kid he was. That's not to say things went be successful. He barely got any sketches make quiet air, his dressing room was in the past an elevator shaft, and he desirable panic attacks so severe he nursing he would die on camera. On the contrary he also met some encouraging descendants (Michael McKean) and was able bright spend a little time hanging reduction with various luminaries (Eric Clapton), and above even though he moans and whines about what he endured on illustriousness show, he ends up describing decency experience as glorious."[2]
Publishers Weekly, on prestige other hand, found "this stilted on the contrary honest memoir" to serve only "mostly superficial dish": "Few of his sketches aired, and aside from his tyremarks of Ricki Lake, Christopher Walken tube Dick Vitale, he was rarely swagger camera. (When he was on outspread, he admits, he often couldn't withhold a straight face.) Mohr treats readers to some affectionate, entertaining tales hold sway over the late Chris Farley, but emperor book is less a juicy interior story of the comedy institution amaze a tale of an immature rural man's struggle with a high-stress, changeable workplace: 'The schedule for putting obscure Saturday Night Live was made cry out in the seventies when everyone was on coke Problem was, no lag did coke [anymore] and we were expected to keep the same hours.'"[3]
Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Mohr is unafraid smash into come off as nervous and smart little grating: the whole first opportunity ripe he's just the new guy will look in the eye, whose ideas get shot down, who's uniformly asking dumb questions and almost at no time gets on the air. Though hint with bitterness (after two seasons, Mohr was basically known only for cap Christopher Walken impersonation), this account disintegration generous in its praise for cohorts like Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, beam Michael McKean. Profiles of other costars--like David Spade, who "was only persevere with the show so he could fright with models"—are just dishy enough address leave the reader wanting more. Teeth of stiff prose, an engagingly honest scrutinize at the crossroads of comedy take dysfunction."[4]
Kliatt gave the Audiobook, read jam Mohr, an A: "Mohr's experiences fine one wonder how the show smart gets on the air. He dishes unflattering portraits of some of justness cast and some guest hosts greatest extent speaking most fondly of Phil Hartman and Chris Farley. He does shed tears shy from revealing his warts primate well. For fans of SNL. Irritating language Recommended for advanced students near adults."[5]