David Misch Stops by 92YTRIBECA as Part of Book Tour, 2/22

TV writer, playwright, teacher, author and recovered stand-up comic, David Misch, will offer his multi media presentation THE HISTORY OF HA! and Q&A on "Funny, The Book: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Comedy" at the 92YTribeca on Friday, March 22 from noon - 1:-00. David's presentation features clips from many famous moments is film and TV comedy history such as Blazing Saddles," "Monty Python", "Mary Tyler Moore Show," and Abbott & Costello.

"FUNNY: The Book" is not just about jokes and comedy routines -- it's about the hilarious absurdity of the human condition: life, death and what's in between. Recognizing humor is easy, but explaining it without loosing the comedy, takes talent. "Funny: The Book" covers a wide-ranging look at the principles and practice of comedy, from its origins in pre-history to the worlds of movies, TV, prose, theater, stand-up, and jokes.

Misch is an established and award-winning writer that has worked on many prominent projects including "Mork and Mindy", "The Muppets Take Manhattan," and "Saturday Night Live" among others.

• The Trickster - the ancient manifestation of humor - who appears throughout recorded history: Hermes in Ancient Greece, Puck in Shakespeare, B'rer Rabbit in early America, all the way to Jim Carrey in "The Mask."
• The first recorded jokes, from 1900 BC, are all about sex and body functions.
• In the movies - from the earliest slapstick to "Bridesmaids" - bouncing boobs, jiggling genitalia, and projectile vomit have been a staple source of humor.
• Why Jews are funny
• Charlie Chaplin was the world's first superstar, so famous that even fake Japanese Chaplin movies were hits.
• What makes the Marx Brothers, Woody Allen, and Steve Martin so funny.
• How comedians judge laughs - two seconds is great, four is spectacular.

David Misch began his career in the 70's as a comic folksinger and standup comic; his song "Somerville" was released nationally by Philo Records. His first screenwriting job was "Mork and Mindy," which won the Emmy for "Best New Comedy Series." He also co-wrote "Leave It To Dave," the pilot for David Letterman's first talk show. He has since written, created and/or produced programs for NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, UPN, HBO, Showtime, PBS, ABC Family, Disney, Universal and Lifetime. Among his credits: he co-wrote and directed an episode of the syndicated series "Monsters"; Executive Producer of "Duckman" (USA), nominated for multiple Emmys, winner of the CableACE and Banff awards for "Best Animated Series"; Executive Story Editor on the legendary Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker series "Police Squad!"; co-writer and producer of "Callahan" And a guest writer on "Saturday Night Live." David was and Executive Consultant on "She Spies" (chosen as one of "5 TV Spies To Love" by Time Magazine) and wrote the TV movie "Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Mork and Mindy'" for NBC.