southernsufi's review
5.0
Great story about the first black comedian and entertainer to break the color barrier and have his own successful show on a major TV network. Inspirational and human story.
pattieod's review
4.0
I was one of the few people of my age who didn't watch Flip Wilson while I was growing up - one of the main writers for "The Waltons" went to our church, so that's what our family watched - but my husband grew up with "The Flip Wilson Show" and he strongly recommended the book.
"Flip" is the deeply researched and well-written story of a tortured man, one that gives equal play to his strengths and his demons. It surprised me how HARD the man worked for the success he obtained; you don't often consider the hours and hours of sheer labor it takes to craft a successful comedy routine, much less a one-hour variety show that lived up to Wilson's exacting standards (X number of jokes every Y minutes). The book also highlights his intelligence and hunger for learning, his sharp business acumen, and his intense loyalty to those who helped him along the way. One wonders what his life would have been like if his nightmare childhood in foster homes hadn't left him incapable of maintaining healthy relationships with his partners and children or if he had been able to escape the paranoia induced by years of heavy cocaine use.
As the story progresses and Wilson begins to accomplish things, the author, (who wrote this with a lot of input from one of Wilson's sons), frequently steps back to put these accomplishments in the context of race relations in the US at the time; "Flip" not only tracks the journey of comedian and businessman Flip Wilson, but looks at how black people were treated in the 1950s, 60s and 70s in America.
I'd recommend this book even to those who are too young to remember Flip Wilson just because it is a fascinating, complex and well-told story.
"Flip" is the deeply researched and well-written story of a tortured man, one that gives equal play to his strengths and his demons. It surprised me how HARD the man worked for the success he obtained; you don't often consider the hours and hours of sheer labor it takes to craft a successful comedy routine, much less a one-hour variety show that lived up to Wilson's exacting standards (X number of jokes every Y minutes). The book also highlights his intelligence and hunger for learning, his sharp business acumen, and his intense loyalty to those who helped him along the way. One wonders what his life would have been like if his nightmare childhood in foster homes hadn't left him incapable of maintaining healthy relationships with his partners and children or if he had been able to escape the paranoia induced by years of heavy cocaine use.
As the story progresses and Wilson begins to accomplish things, the author, (who wrote this with a lot of input from one of Wilson's sons), frequently steps back to put these accomplishments in the context of race relations in the US at the time; "Flip" not only tracks the journey of comedian and businessman Flip Wilson, but looks at how black people were treated in the 1950s, 60s and 70s in America.
I'd recommend this book even to those who are too young to remember Flip Wilson just because it is a fascinating, complex and well-told story.
mythyagain's review against another edition
4.0
A very well researched biography, sprinkled throughout with Flip's jokes and recaps of some of the more "stand-out" episodes of the show.
voya_k's review against another edition
4.0
Nicely done bio of the first African American comedian to have his own big hit TV show. Flip Wilson's gift was to come off as a self-confident and charming guy. But he worked like mad and used a lot of drugs to maintain this persona. His life story is a classic rags-to-riches tale and instructive to any student of comedy or making it in America. Redd Foxx, George Carlin and Richard Pryor guest star.
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