SICKER IN THE HEAD

Apatow continues his long-running media project with more interviews with comedy’s brightest talents past to present.

In this follow-up to Sick in the Head, the humorist presents interviews with another wide-ranging set of performers who have made laughter their life’s work. Initially, Apatow took a leisurely approach to these new interviews, but once the pandemic hit, he found his subjects easier to access since “it’s hard to say no to an interview when it is clear you are available.” Apatow admits that because of the vulnerable, raw space the pandemic created, the conversations became more personal and honest. This impression conveys across a variety of interviews in which the humor is plentiful and supplemented with intimate anecdotes that provide rare glimpses into the comedians’ lives and work. Readers will learn countless intriguing details about each individual, including Bowen Yang, who reflects on his experience as an openly gay Chinese American comic writing and performing on Saturday Night Live; and David Letterman and Gary Gulman, who chat about their depression and how discussing the condition became natural for comedians. Among the many hilarious career reflections are entertaining stories from Kevin Hart, Margaret Cho, Sacha Baron Cohen, Will Ferrell, and Whoopi Goldberg. Posthumous nods can be found in a conversation with John Candy, recorded in 1984, in which he applauds the coveted “killer instinct” of stand-up comics. As in his first volume, Apatow interviews a variety of stars—not just on the comedy circuit, but in other areas of the arts and media. For example, TV personality Gayle King, while not particularly known for her sense of humor, contributes keen insight on her life and the world today. Most of the pieces are enlivened by Apatow’s solidarity with his subjects. Other interviewees include John Cleese, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mindy Kaling, Samantha Bee, and Tig Notaro.

More hilarity and heart courtesy of a distinguished collection of seasoned performers.