Books

Poking a Dead Frog

Conversations with Today’s Top Comedy Writers

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR

Amy Poehler, Mel Brooks, Adam McKay, George Saunders, Bill Hader, Patton Oswalt, and many more take us deep inside the mysterious world of comedy in this fascinating, laugh-out-loud-funny book. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories–from a day in the writers’ room at The Onion to why a sketch does or doesn’t make it onto Saturday Night Live to how the BBC nearly erased the entire first season of Monty Python’s Flying Circus–Poking a Dead Frog is a must-read for comedy buffs, writers and pop culture junkies alike.

Praise for Poking a Dead Frog

“No one generates more interesting, revealing, entertaining interviews than Mike Sacks. His love and knowledge of comedy are apparent, and, as a result, the fascinating and sometimes tight-lipped comedy greats open up to him in ways they rarely do. Poking a Dead Frog goes right onto my classics shelf.”

Bob Odenkirk
co-creator of Mr. Show and former writer, Saturday Night Live

“I wish I'd had a book like this when I was trying to break in. Also, a book on personal hygiene.”

Jack Handey
author of Deep Thoughts and The Stench of Honolulu

“There are few better interviewers than Mike Sacks. Poking a Dead Frog is a must-read for any comedy nerd or fan of pop culture history.”

Dana Brown
Vanity Fair