Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live

by Jay Mohr

Book Overview

When 21-year-old Jay Mohr moved from New Jersey to New York City to pursue his dream of stand-up stardom, he never thought the first real job he'd land would be on Saturday Night Live . But, surprisingly, that's just what he did. What followed were two unbelievable, grueling, and exciting years of feverishly keeping pace with his talented cohorts, out-maneuvering the notorious vices that claimed the lives of other cast members, and struggling at all...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401300065
• ISBN13: 9781401300067
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Not as funny I had hoped.

Wasn't as funny as I was hoping, but I suppose the point was really just supposed to be a look into his experience at SNL. Interesting for some insight.

A fanastic read

I'll preface my review by saying that I don't actually find Jay Mohr's stand up all that funny and that's something that was kind of nagging at me while I was reading the book. The book itself is completely enthralling and I couldn't put it down. It is very well written with a ton of great, hilarious stories and its pacing is perfect. Even people who aren't hardcore fans of the show will love it.

Great for the pop culture junkie!

My husband brought this home for me on CD when I was doing a lot of driving. I have been a fan of SNL since the early 80's and can completely recall skits from the 90's - but not so much any with Jay Mohr. I always thought he was a weird fit for the show and I truly wasn't surprised when he was dropped from the show. I have gained a whole new respect for him after listening to him read his book. I have read some of the other reviews and I really think hearing him tell his story added a new dimension to the book. I highly reccommend this to anyone interested in SNL or his comedy. I just wish I knew who wore the toupee.....

THE LAST COMIC STANDS UP FOR HIMSELF!!!

I never knew that Jay Mohr, the host of NBC's "The Last Comic Standing" was a performer on Saturday Night Live until I read this book. I had seen him play a jerk sports agent in the movie "Jerry McGuire" and I've also heard him on the Jim Rome Show, however.This is an interesting read (a good but not great book) about the challenges he faced as a struggling comedian and writer trying to make it on Saturday Night Live. What is most interesting are the inside stories about other performers like Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Chris Farley, Norm McDonald, Mike Myers, and Phil Hartman. There are also some funny things about some of the guest hosts like Marisa Tomei, Rosanne Barr, Eric Clapton, and Christopher Walken to name a few.What I never would have guessed is that Jay suffers from severe panic attacks. He has always seemed to be so totally in control of things and it makes him seem like a much more real person. To see how well he's done since the Saturday Night Live gig is a true success story.For people who enjoy "The Last Comic Standing" or are "Jungle clones" from the Jim Rome Show, I think that you'll like this book and come away with a new found respect for this brilliant and dedicated entertainer.Great job JJ!

Life as comedy

The perils of the new job. How do you get to your office if the front desk security guy doesn't recognize you? Whose jokes do you laugh at? Is there hidden meaning behind desk placement, dressing room size? What exactly do they want from me,anyway? Jay Mohr was a writer/performer on SNL from 1993 to 1995. The disorganization that produced so much brilliant comedy also reduced the comic into a panicked, self doubting mess....much like many people with their first "real" job. The difference is most jobs aren't potential broadcast material on a weeklybasis. Gasping For Airtime is not a "tell all" about the behind the scenes SNL. The stories of infighting, horrible guest hosts, and pranks are in there, wildly funny times on and off air with Chris Farley and others. It is more the story of someone trying to fit into a place where they desperstely want to belong, and never quite feelong as if they have accomplishedthat goal. Mohr has a dry ,selp deprecating way about him, writing more like a fan of the show and the guest musicians, then a castmember....oh, excuse me, bit player.

Ok! Terrific!

This is a fantastic read!Jay Mohr, as we all know, is a comedy god and this book is if anything too short. I wish (and hope) Jay writes a follow up to this book on the rest of career so far... O & A, Action, the movies he made etc.. He must have more stories.It's written in a very loose conversational style.. You feel like Jay is just sitting down talking to you and man you cannot put it down. If you are at all interested in SNL, Jay Mohr or panic disorders get this book. It's VERY funny.The thing that's so disturbing about SNL is how insane the week is before the show. They have this ridiculous self imposed BS deadlines that seem to hamper creativity and increase tension. Maybe that's the way Lorne wants it? Jay has some GREAT stories about Chris Farley.. Al Franken's temper and the other cast members at the time (like Sandler). There is this great story about him and the whole cast, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger that is all at once scary, tense and funny.Jay you are the man!.. and this book leaves me wanting more.Great read!