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Alien Superstar (Alien Superstar)
by Henry Winkler Lin OliverA six-eyed teenage alien refugee becomes a Hollywood star in this hilarious series opener by the bestselling authors of the Hank Zipzer series.When thirteen-year-old Buddy Burger has to flee from his alien planet, he crash lands in an even wilder place: Hollywood, California. But no one is shocked to see a six-eyed alien strolling around the Universal back lot. The tourists just think he’s an actor in a supercool alien costume.And the fancy Hollywood directors take notice too. They cast Buddy in a popular TV show playing (of course) an alien. After a video of his first episode goes viral, he becomes an overnight sensation, and suddenly, his world is filled with adoring fans, rides in glamorous limos, and appearances at all-the-shrimp-you-can-eat red carpet parties!Will Buddy be able to keep his secret when all eyes are on him? Or will the glitz and glam of Hollywood prove too much for this alien superstar?“Alien Superstar has it all . . . action, suspense, and big laughs!” —Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series“Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver keep us laughing while slipping in a lesson for kids—accept everyone as they are, even if they have suction cups for feet. Alien Superstar is a super fun read for middle grades on up.” —Jennifer Garner“A funny interstellar adventure that will have readers watching the cosmos for the second book to arrive.” —SLJ Review"Winkler and Oliver bring their sharply honed sense of comedy and extensive experience in the television industry to Buddy’s antics on the set. . . . This results in an endearingly strange protagonist that will resonate with any kid who has felt like an outsider. A sense of humor and empathy are required for this zany adventure.” —Booklist
Alien-Invasion Films: Imperialism, Race and Gender in the American Security State, 1950-2020
by Mark E. WildermuthThis book studies American science fiction films depicting invasions of the USA and Earth by extra- terrestrials within the context of imperialism from 1950–2020. It shows how such films imagine America and its allies as objects of colonial control. This trope enables filmmakers to explore the ethics of American interventionism abroad either by defending the status quo or by questioning interventionism. The study shows how these films comment on American domestic hegemonic practices regarding racial or gender hierarchies, as well as hegemonic practices abroad. Beginning with the Cold War consensus in the 1950s, the study shows how hegemony at home and abroad promotes division in the culture.
Alienation Effects: Performance and Self-Management in Yugoslavia, 1945-91
by Branislav JakovljevicIn the 1970s, Yugoslavia emerged as a dynamic environment for conceptual and performance art. At the same time, it pursued its own form of political economy of socialist self-management. Alienation Effects argues that a deep relationship existed between the democratization of the arts and industrial democracy, resulting in a culture difficult to classify. The book challenges the assumption that the art emerging in Eastern Europe before 1989 was either "official" or "dissident" art; and shows thatthe break up of Yugoslavia was not a result of "ancient hatreds" among its peoples but instead came from the distortion and defeat of the idea of self-management. The case studies include mass performances organized during state holidays; proto-performance art, such as the 1954 production of Waiting for Godot in a former concentration camp in Belgrade; student demonstrations in 1968; and body art pieces by Gina Pane, Joseph Beuys, Marina Abramovic, and others. Alienation Effects sheds new light on the work of well-known artists and scholars, including early experimental poetry by Slavoj Ž iž ek, as well as performance and conceptual artists that deserve wider, international attention.
Aliens Are Coming!
by Meghan MccarthyIt was an ordinary night in October of 1938 until a news bulletin interrupted the dance music on CBS radio–aliens were invading the United States! Meghan McCarthy’s hilarious Aliens Are Coming!tells the true story of the Halloween radio prank that duped much of the country into believing that Martians had invaded. The book uses excerpts from the actual War of the Worlds radio broadcast and includes information about the importance of radios in the 1930s (before the time of televisions and computers) as well as facts about Orson Welles and H. G. Wells, author of the novel on which the broadcast was based.
Alison, Who Went Away
by Vivian Vande VeldeFourteen-year-old Susan (or, as she prefers to be called, Sybil) has been trying to reinvent herself ever since the mysterious disappearance of her older sister, Alison. Life has been very confusing since Alison left. Susan's mother has become overly protective, fearful of losing another child. Her new school is not all bad, of course, but it is different and puzzling. Her best friend, Connie, has what could be a wonderful idea -- or maybe it has the makings of a disaster: if they sign up for the school play, they might end up with dates for the freshman dance. Readers will empathize with Susan's attempt to make sense of her confused world, the loss of her sister, a new school, turmoil at home, and the growing pains of adolescence. But Susan, despite all, remains bright, funny, and self aware with the help of a new and intelligently supportive stepfather and a lively group of school friends. The story is believable and touching and distinguished by the narrator's voice.
Alistair Cooke at the Movies
by Alistair CookeA wonderful entertainment that reflects Alistair Cooke&’s love affair with cinema, from his early days as a film critic to his iconic role as the host of Masterpiece Theatre Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, and Marilyn Monroe are just a few of the stars profiled, along with many directors, in this sparkling and comprehensive collection of reviews, interviews, and essays. Alistair Cooke&’s first radio talk at the BBC was in October 1934, and the subject was cinema. He had begun reviewing films in the 1920s as a Cambridge undergraduate. This anthology of his best film criticism and essays includes his many favorite subjects. In &“The Symbol Called Garbo,&” Cooke reveals the woman behind the enigmatic screen goddess. James Cagney is identified as &“one of the few technically perfect actors,&” while Charlie Chaplin was &“the funniest clown alive.&” Shirley Temple&’s multi-million-dollar appeal is explained, as is the subtlety underpinning the slapstick humor of the Marx Brothers. Directors such as Frank Capra, Fritz Lang, and Cecil B. DeMille meet with Cooke&’s high praise, while Alfred Hitchcock evokes a more complicated reaction. Full of glamorous stars, provocative opinions, and fond memories, Alistair Cooke at the Movies is a very personal and captivating guide to the golden age of Hollywood and beyond.
All About "All About Eve": The Complete Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Bitchiest Film Ever Made!
by Sam StaggsTo millions of fans, All About Eve represents all that's witty and wonderful in classic Hollywood movies. Its old-fashioned, larger-than-life stars--including Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, and Celeste Holm--found their best roles in Eve and its sophisticated dialogue has entered the lexicon.But there's much more to know about All About Eve. Sam Staggs has written the definitive account of the making of this fascinating movie and its enormous influence on both film and popular culture. Staggs reveals everything about the movie--from who the famous European actress Margo Channing was based on to the hot-blooded romance on-set between Bette Davis and costar Gary Merrill, from the jump-start the movie gave Marilyn Monroe's career and the capstone it put on director Joseph L. Mankeiwicz's.All About "All About Eve" is not only full of rich detail about the movie, the director, and the stars, but also about the audience who loved it when it came out and adore it to this day.
All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business
by Mel BrooksAt 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words. <P><P>“Laugh-out-loud hilarious and always fascinating, from the great Mel Brooks. What else do you expect from the man who knew Jesus and dated Joan of Arc?&”—Billy Crystal <P><P>For anyone who loves American comedy, the long wait is over. Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny. <P><P>All About Me! charts Mel Brooks’s meteoric rise from a Depression-era kid in Brooklyn to the recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Whether serving in the United States Army in World War II, or during his burgeoning career as a teenage comedian in the Catskills, Mel was always mining his experiences for material, always looking for the perfect joke. His iconic career began with Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, where he was part of the greatest writers&’ room in history, which included Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. After co-creating both the mega-hit 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums and the classic television series Get Smart, Brooks’s stellar film career took off. He would go on to write, direct, and star in The Producers, The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, as well as produce groundbreaking and eclectic films, including The Elephant Man, The Fly, and My Favorite Year. Brooks then went on to conquer Broadway with his record-breaking, Tony-winning musical, The Producers. All About Me! offers fans insight into the inspiration behind the ideas for his outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work, and offers details about the many close friendships and collaborations Brooks had, including those with Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Madeleine Kahn, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his life, Anne Bancroft. Filled with tales of struggle, achievement, and camaraderie (and dozens of photographs), readers will gain a more personal and deeper understanding of the incredible body of work behind one of the most accomplished and beloved entertainers in history. <P><P><b>A New York Times Best Seller</b>
All About the Dixie Chicks
by Ace CollinsJust two short years ago, The Dixie Chicks were practically unheard-of outside of Texas, but today, they're the hottest act in country music. The explosive popularity of their album Wide Open Spaces has rocketed the Chicks to the top of the charts, and in the last year alone, they have won three Grammys (Best Country Album, Best New Artist and Best Country performance by a duo or group with vocal), two Country Music Association awards and an American Music Award. Their new album is expected to do even better. Now, veteran country music writer Ace Collins has captured their whole inspiring story, from their early days playing to loyal fans in Dallas, right up to their current success and thrilling future!
All Dogs Great and Small: What I’ve learned training dogs
by Graeme HallThe Sunday Times bestseller Have you ever wished you could get the dog in your life to behave better?With experience of training over 5,000 dogs of every breed, Graeme Hall has formulated the golden rules that every dog owner needs to know and he's here to share them with you.In chapters on getting a puppy, kids and dogs, separation anxiety and so much more, Graeme recounts his hard-won, often hilarious success stories and reveals a solution for every dog-related worry. His simple, tried and tested lesson will help you understand your dog and drive better behaviours.The Dogfather has seen it all and he's here to share his secrets.
All Due Respect ... The Sopranos Changes Everything
by Alan Sepinwall"The Sopranos is the one [show] that made the world realize something special was happening on television. It rewrote the rules and made TV a better, happier place for thinking viewers, even as it was telling the story of a bunch of stubborn, ignorant, miserable excuses for human beings" (From All Due Respect…The Sopranos Changes Everything). In this chapter from the critically acclaimed book The Revolution Was Televised, Alan Sepinwall explores why The Sopranos was critical to ushering in a new golden age in television. Drawing on a new interview with creator David Chase, Sepinwall weaves fascinating behind-the-scenes details about the show with his trademark incisive criticism—including his theory on the controversial series finale.
All His Jazz: The Life & Death of Bob Fosse
by Martin Gottfried"All His Jazz" practically dances off the pages. "Harper's Bazaar"
All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists
by Terry Gross"I'm Terry Gross and this is Fresh Air . . ."Now available in paperback--a selection of revealing interviews from the award-winning National Public Radio showOriginating from WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and heard on more than 450 NPR stations, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has become a daily habit with millions of listeners nationwide--a must for anyone hoping to keep up with what's happening in the arts. Over the last twenty years, Terry's guests have included our most significant writers, actors, musicians, comics, and visual artists.For her first collection, Terry has chosen more than three dozen timeless interviews that prove to be as lively on the page as they were on the radio. Her questions--probing yet sensitive--encourage revelations from figures as diverse as John Updike, Isabella Rossellini, Conan OBrien, Samuel L. Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Nicolas Cage. And in her introduction, the generally self-effacing host of Fresh Air does something she wouldnt dream of doing on the air--she reveals a thing or two about herself.
All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Marvel Comics
by Jenn FujikawaTeamwork makes the dream work. Actions always have consequences. Being a hero is about more than strength. Get inspired to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges and accomplish feats beyond this realm with 50 life lessons drawn from the world&’s most iconic superheroes and stories.The Avengers are the ultimate team, showing that the hardest tasks can be accomplished with the help of others and that working together takes setting aside otherworldly egos for the good of the common goal (looking at you, Tony Stark). In life, difficult decisions come with a price, even if you&’re Spider-Man. Peter Parker shows that, whether your choice was right or wrong, it&’s how you take responsibility that&’s important. As She-Hulk, Jennifer Walters definitely knows what it takes to win a fight. As helpful as brute strength can be, it&’s rational thinking and determination that help you triumph in the end. Whether in laughter or grieving, birth, or rebirth, we can all learn a thing or two about how to live heroically from the beloved and beleaguered heroes of Marvel Comics—no Vibranium shield or Asgardian hammer necessary. Featuring full-color art from 80 years of Marvel Comics!
All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir
by Kathy Valentine&“Recounts in vivid detail the gloriously debauched path of the Go-Gos through early rock success . . . and the darkness that such freedom can breed.&” —Los Angeles Times Runner-up, Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Non-Fiction At twenty-one, Kathy Valentine was at the Whisky in Los Angeles when she met a guitarist from a fledgling band called the Go-Go&’s and the band needed a bassist. The Go-Go&’s became the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play instruments themselves, write their own songs, and have a number one album. Their debut, Beauty and the Beat, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and featured the hit songs &“We Got the Beat&” and &“Our Lips Are Sealed.&” The record&’s success brought the pressures of a relentless workload and schedule culminating in a wild, hazy, substance-fueled tour that took the band from the club circuit to arenas, where fans, promoters, and crew were more than ready to keep the party going. All I Ever Wanted traces the path that took Valentine from her childhood in Texas—where she all but raised herself—to the height of rock n&’ roll stardom, devastation after the collapse of the band that had come to define her, and the quest to regain her sense of self after its end. Valentine also speaks candidly about the lasting effects of parental betrayal, abortion, rape, and her struggles with drugs and alcohol—and the music that saved her every step of the way. &“An epic tour of honest storytelling. All I Ever Wanted is a raw look at the highs and lows of being high and low. Long live the Go-Gos!&” —Amy Poehler
All I Ever Wanted: A Rock 'n' Roll Memoir
by Kathy Valentine&“Recounts in vivid detail the gloriously debauched path of the Go-Gos through early rock success . . . and the darkness that such freedom can breed.&” —Los Angeles Times Runner-up, Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Non-Fiction At twenty-one, Kathy Valentine was at the Whisky in Los Angeles when she met a guitarist from a fledgling band called the Go-Go&’s and the band needed a bassist. The Go-Go&’s became the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play instruments themselves, write their own songs, and have a number one album. Their debut, Beauty and the Beat, spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and featured the hit songs &“We Got the Beat&” and &“Our Lips Are Sealed.&” The record&’s success brought the pressures of a relentless workload and schedule culminating in a wild, hazy, substance-fueled tour that took the band from the club circuit to arenas, where fans, promoters, and crew were more than ready to keep the party going. All I Ever Wanted traces the path that took Valentine from her childhood in Texas—where she all but raised herself—to the height of rock n&’ roll stardom, devastation after the collapse of the band that had come to define her, and the quest to regain her sense of self after its end. Valentine also speaks candidly about the lasting effects of parental betrayal, abortion, rape, and her struggles with drugs and alcohol—and the music that saved her every step of the way. &“An epic tour of honest storytelling. All I Ever Wanted is a raw look at the highs and lows of being high and low. Long live the Go-Gos!&” —Amy Poehler
All I Ever Wrote: The Complete Works
by Ronnie BarkerRonnie Barker has long been known as one of Britain’s greatest comedy performers. But he was also responsible for writing much of the material he performed, often hiding the fact from the public by using a number of pen names. Showcasing the complete work of a true comic icon, All I Ever Wrote is a laugh-out-loud collection of sketches, monologues, songs, poems and scripts from every strand of Ronnie’s long and brilliant career. With gems like ‘Fork Handle’s,’ Three Classes’ and ‘Pismonouncers Unanimous', Ronnie’s clever writing, double entendres and spoonerisms will bring a smile to your face, as you rediscover some of the twentieth century’s finest comedy moments.
All Joking Aside: American Humor and Its Discontents
by Rebecca KreftingA professor of American Studies—and stand-up comic—examines sharply focused comedy and its cultural utility in contemporary society.Outstanding Academic Title, ChoiceIn this examination of stand-up comedy, Rebecca Krefting establishes a new genre of comedic production, "charged humor," and charts its pathways from production to consumption. Some jokes are tears in the fabric of our beliefs—they challenge myths about how fair and democratic our society is and the behaviors and practices we enact to maintain those fictions. Jokes loaded with vitriol and delivered with verve, charged humor compels audiences to action, artfully summoning political critique. Since the institutionalization of stand-up comedy as a distinct cultural form, stand-up comics have leveraged charged humor to reveal social, political, and economic stratifications. All Joking Aside offers a history of charged comedy from the mid-twentieth century to the early aughts, highlighting dozens of talented comics from Dick Gregory and Robin Tyler to Micia Mosely and Hari Kondabolu. The popularity of charged humor has waxed and waned over the past sixty years. Indeed, the history of charged humor is a tale of intrigue and subversion featuring dive bars, public remonstrations, fickle audiences, movie stars turned politicians, commercial airlines, emergent technologies, neoliberal mind-sets, and a cavalcade of comic misfits with an ax to grind. Along the way, Krefting explores the fault lines in the modern economy of humor, why men are perceived to be funnier than women, the perplexing popularity of modern-day minstrelsy, and the way identities are packaged and sold in the marketplace.Appealing to anyone interested in the politics of humor and generating implications for the study of any form of popular entertainment, this history reflects on why we make the choices we do and the collective power of our consumptive practices. Readers will be delighted by the broad array of comic talent spotlighted in this book, and for those interested in comedy with substance, it will offer an alternative punchline.
All My Best Friends
by David Fisher George BurnsThe author recalls how he and his young friends broke into vaudeville and made it to stardom on radio, in films and on TV. He laces his story with anecdotes about his fellow performers.
All My Life: A Memoir
by Susan LucciForty years ago, when Susan Lucci first joined the cast of one of America's best loved soaps, All My Children, she had only expected to appear on the show every other Tuesday. But she quickly endeared herself to America playing the beautiful, mercurial, and often controversial character of Erica Kane. All this time, Lucci has held viewers' rapt attention as Erica underwent the first daytime television abortion, married and divorced more times than Elizabeth Taylor, became one of daytime's first working mothers, dealt with her AMC daughter's coming out and survived many of life's greatest tragedies as well as conducted many of TV's most fun-to-watch escapades. The secret to Erica's appeal is undoubtedly her ability to live life and reinvent herself in ways that the audience wishes they could too. Now in her long-awaited autobiography, Susan Lucci not only shares some of her favorite behind-the scenes moments on the show, she shares stories about her own personal metamorphosis off-camera, from an aspiring actress to a superstar. For the first time ever, she candidly opens up about the devastating car accident that could have cost her career And The heartache she endured after her miscarriage. She reveals the life lessons longtime friends taught her on her rise to fame, The secret to remaining youthful and what she has learned about love, romance, and partnership through a marriage that has spanned four decades. She also recalls the great joy that came with finally winning an Emmy in 1999 after eighteen previous nominations as well as the pressure and angst she felt before her epic win, The pleasure of taking Broadway by storm in Annie Get Your Gun And The test of her stamina and endurance that came with cha-cha-ing on prime time in Dancing with the Stars. Susan will also share how she has successfully balanced the needs of her family with the grueling demands of her career. Nicknamed "LaLucci" by her nightclub co-star Regis Philbin and named one of Barbara Walters's "Ten Most Fascinating People," Susan Lucci gives readers a rare and intimate look into life as a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, singer, entrepreneur, seductive sensation, and iconic actress in what is destined to be the most uplifting memoir of year!
All My Life: A Memoir (Promo E-bks.)
by Laura Morton Susan LucciThe Daytime Emmy–winning television superstar recounts her life and her four decades as Erica Kane on the soap opera All My Children.When Susan Lucci and All My Children were introduced to the world in 1970, American television changed forever. Susan’s character, the beautiful, spirited, and mercurial Erica Kane, was an original—the first vixen viewers loved to hate. But while millions have enjoyed getting to know Erica’s many sides, the woman who played her has remained a mystery.In her long-awaited memoir, this very private actress, wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, friend, and entrepreneur pulls back the curtain to reveal her story. As charming, down-to-earth, and compelling as the woman whose story it tells, All My Life shines a spotlight on one of our most popular stars and reminds us of the power dreams and how we can find the courage and tenacity to make them come true.
All Over the Map: Rambles and Ruminations from the Canadian Road
by Ron JamesCanada's most verbally virtuosic comic makes his literary debut—and he's just as richly, gloriously funny on the page as on stage.His legion of fans—the ones who ensure his every show the length and breadth of Canada is sold out—recognize Ron James as one of the great stand-ups of his generation. His seemingly improvisational flights of fancy—no two shows are ever the same—are crammed with inventive phrase-making, feature a voluminous vocabulary, and put every word into the service of uproarious comedy. He sounds like a man born to write a great book—and now at last he has. But this is a book he has been writing for most of his life, in his head, in his car, while driving from gig to gig.In All Over the Map, Ron has brilliantly captured the voice that has enthralled millions on stage and screen. He also lets up a little on the usually relentless laughs (though there are still plenty of those) to reveal a new dimension to his beloved showbiz character. His hilarious reminscences of growing up in Nova Scotia and his early struggles as an aspiring comic, his reveries on such topics as family, country, celebrity and lessons learned from myriad chance encounters will deepen our appreciation for this great comic and win him many new fans in his new role as author.
All Play and No Work: American Work Ideals and the Comic Plays of the Federal Theatre Project
by Paul GagliardiMany of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) plays Paul Gagliardi analyzes in All Play and No Work feature complex portrayals of labor and work relief at a time when access to work was difficult. Gagliardi asks, what does it mean that many plays produced by the FTP celebrated forms of labor like speculation and swindling? All Play and No Work directly contradicts the promoted ideals of work found in American society, culture, and within the broader New Deal itself. Gagliardi shows how comedies of the Great Depression engaged questions of labor, labor history, and labor ethics. He considers the breadth of the FTP’s production history, staging plays including Ah, Wilderness!, Help Yourself, and Mississippi Rainbow. Gagliardi examines backstage comedies, middle-class comedies, comedies of chance, and con-artist comedies that employed diverse casts and crew and contained radical economic and labor ideas. He contextualizes these plays within the ideologically complicated New Deal, showing how programs like the Social Security Act straddled progressive ideals and conservative, capitalist norms. Addressing topics including the politicization of theatrical labor and the real dangers of unchecked economic con artists, the comic plays of the FTP reveal acts of political resistance and inequality that reflected the concerns of their audiences.
All Shook Up: The Life and Death of Elvis Presley
by Barry DenenbergBorn on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Aaron Presley was destined to rewrite the history of music almost from the moment he picked up a guitar.
All Souls' Day
by Cees Nooteboom"An outstanding addition to an impressive oeuvre" Times Literary SupplementArthur Daane, a documentary film-maker and inveterate globetrotter, wanders the streets of Berlin, a city whose recent past provides the perfect backdrop for his reflections on life and the universe as he collects images for his latest project - a film that will show the world through his eyes.With his circle of friends - a philosopher, a sculptor and a physicist - Daane discusses everything from history to metaphysics and the meaning of our contemporary existence, often over a hearty meal. Then, one cold winter's day, Daane meets the history student Elik Oranje and his world is turned upside down. And when she unexpectedly leaves the city for Spain, Daane is compelled to follow.All Souls' Day is an elegiac love story, a poignant and affecting tale in which the city of Berlin plays a prominent role, by one of Europe's major contemporary writers.Translated from the Dutch by Susan Massotty"Displays with admirable lucidity the workings of a humane, civilized, and consistently interesting mind" Kirkus Reviews"One of the most remarkable writers of our time" ALBERTO MANGUEL