The Premise:
A biography of National
Lampoon and Saturday Night Live
writer and cast member, Michael O’Donoghue.
The Good:
Mr. Perrin clearly admires the work of Mr. O’Donoghue, but
also brings a critical eye to the man himself. The author sets out to tell the
definitive history of “Mr. Mike” and does so in a fairly detailed way. From
Michael’s childhood to his formative years to his successes and failures, the
book succeeds because the subject is fascinating to an absurd degree.
Ultimately the book works because it’s a tragic peek inside the mind of a
driven, uncompromising creative force.
The Bad:
There were times where I wondered if the book was all an
elaborate hoax. Granted, I didn’t get to experience the heights of the Lampoon or the start of Saturday Night Live, but I had never
heard of “Mr. Mike” and, as you read the book, you learn why.
I’m not saying that Michael O’Donoghue wasn’t an important
influence in comedy, but even the book has a hard time reconciling what his
legacy actually is or means. Was he a savior of dark comedy? Was he a man who
got in his own way? Was he both or none? I just wonder if his story was the
best story to tell.
The Verdict:
Buy it (if you can find a copy) if you are a lover of darker
comedy, the history of more modern comedy or the eccentric creative mind.
