Hollywood Causes Cancer: The Tom Green Story

by Tom Green and Tom Green

Book Overview

For the first time, Tom Green-who shot to fame as host of MTV'sThe Tom Green Show; starred in a hit movie; wrote and directed his own film, which was soundly trashed by the entertainment press;... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400052777
• ISBN13: 9781400052776
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Much more than just a biography

I was never a huge Tom Green fan, as I was a few years too old to appreciate his MTV show. I was intrigued by his story, which as I'd heard was that he was a small town Canadian boy who struck it big with gross-out humor and MTV. After reading his biography, I have definitely changed any and all assumptions about him and his work. The insane rollercoaster of the best and worst luck in the world he experienced within a few years would be unbelievable were it not true. The decade of persistence that preceeded those huge years is in itself impressive. The anecdotes about giving a speech, a night with a rather wild woman, having and making use of a cell phone before cell phones were everywhere, plus so much more all adds up to one of the most interesting and captivating books I've ever read. Another point to mention is that in a world of gossip and salacious tales, Green gives more information and personal feelings than I expected, but never, not even once, uses the book to criticize anyone else or to try to make himself look like a hero. He shows a lot of appreciation and humility, and reveals an immense depth of character. I had intended to read this book over a period of time and started reading it on a four hour flight. As the plane landed I was only 30 pages away from the end. I exited the plane only to sit in the boarding gate and reopen it because I couldn't wait to finish the final little bit. It was that good. I highly recommend this book to fans, non-fans, and everyone else.

Fascinating stories

Tom Green is the funniest man on the planet. It's no shock that he has alot of stories to tell. I was shocked that I read the book so fast. It usually takes me a long time to read a book. It's not a story about cancer. That's just a minor speed bump in this crazy man's life. I'm sure there are major projects in Tom's future that will have us all laughing and laughing.

Loved it!

Well, I have always liked Tom Green, and not just because he looks just like my first boyfriend, but now I must say, I love him. I really was amazed at how freakin hysterical the book is, and how touching it ended up being. It was great to read about all the scenes that I had seen from his show and I have to say, more than once I woke up in the middle of the night and just had to read, worrying the whole time about waking other people in the house with my laughter! I read it in 2 days and was longing for more! He has worked hard to get where he got and this book is no exception. It seems like he really put a good deal of thought into it and it paid off. I love the fact that even though you don't really expect it to have a serious message, it really does have several. Getting the word out about testicular cancer and his emotions through the whole ordeal, I thought was very honest and heartfelt. But the message I liked most was that Hollywood is a dangerous place and can really screw up a perfectly happy life, when people start losing the ability to realize that they aren't the center of the universe, and maybe give a crap about what someone else is going through.. and that there are other more rewarding/productive things out there than just being rich and famous. It made me glad I am not rich or famous! Ok, maybe I would take the rich part.. but seriously, I have read a LOT of books in the last 6 months and this was definitely my favorite. Well done!

it's not the Green Tom show...

If you're anything like me, you watched the Tom Green show religiously in it's day on MTV and laughed to the point that you thought your internal organs were bleeding. We're talking about a program that single handedly expanded the borders of what a comedy show could be while putting it's own demented twist on physical comedy & practical jokes with a level of originality completely new to it's audience. The Dennis Millers and David Spades of the world may have frowned on Tom Green, but a laugh is a laugh and if you can't see the craft behind the insanity of this man than this topic isn't even worth discussing. I won't bore you with things you never knew and I'm far from Tom Greens biggest fan but I always wondered what the hell happened when the show went off the air and his website dwindled down to hardly anything (looks like it's back alive now). After his movies and shortly lived talk show, a ton of questions were left unanswered and I know I was perplexed at how such an amazing show was left in the lifeless dust of Hollywoods crack pipe. With that said, let me say that this autobiography is a Godsend if you've followed Tom Greens career and enjoyed his work. He touches on everything from life changing events to the methods of madness behind his work. No question is left unanswered and he delves into an unexpected array of stories including his own short lived marriage with Drew Barrymore and his battles with cancer. Without a doubt, this book was a delight to read and it gives the reader a chance to take a glimpse behind the scenes of Hollywood from the perspective of a guy who has no ego despite his many successes. If you're a Tom Green fan, you simply can't pass this up.

Finally, a word from Tom Green

Tom Green - whether you love him or hate him, he is undeniably a person who has influenced popular culture. He is known widely as a major player in bringing "shock" and "gross-out" comedy into a realm of prevalence with his controversial television show and equally-notorious films. But until the release of his autobiography, the majority of his stateside viewers, who had never seen his early Canadian community and cable versions of his show, were quite unaware of the person behind the megaphone and shameless violation of animal carcasses. Sure there was the occasional unauthorized biography, some anecdotes from Green himself scattered here and there, and the tabloid appeal of his personal life that was exploited by the mass media; but never before "Hollywood Causes Cancer" do we see a concise and greatly insightful glimpse into this man's stellar rise to stardom and subsequent backlash. "Hollywood" begins with Tom's adolescent years as a rap and skateboard fanatic aspiring to work in television. Growing up in a middle-class family in Canada, Tom's anecdotes are candid and amusing, reminding any reader coming from a similar background of their own experiences in bygone days. Tom comes on very straightforward in his discussion of his raucous early relationships, the struggle with moving into his parents' basement and literal battle for privacy, and coping with the malaise of waiting for his public-access show to land on a major network. After several years of cult following and relative obscurity, Tom's show is picked up by MTV, and the lanky comedian from Canada finds himself captured by a tornado of success and celebrity. He goes on to become a public icon and husband of Hollywood royalty, and enjoys every minute of it basking in his surreal life of fame. While it seems that Tom's star will continue to rise, eventually things begin to unravel as he is hit with one tragedy after another. Cancer, professional failures, media savagery, personal strife, and divorce; each of which Tom draws out on a very emotional and often touching level. When readers reach the end of the book, they will be surprised to find just how apt the title truly is for the story. This book garners five stars because it has the sheer ability to bring about a refreshing surprise to its audience. Even the most sated critics of Tom Green's material may find themselves taken aback, if only for a brief moment, when they are thrown out of any objective view they may have had before and thrust into this highly-personal, firsthand account of Tom's journey through life. Here Tom offers up his most honest, penetrating work (trumping even the awkward antics of the Cancer Special,) which is yet remarkable in its simplicity. Tom doesn't fear to discuss the most painful and hellish struggles of his life coupled with the most joyous moments. But we are relieved to witness that even as he is cut down, mercilessly and repeatedly; Tom hops back to his feet, brushes off his shoulders, and