By Mike Thomas. New York: Macmillan, 2014.
They say we should never meet our heroes and we should never read about them, either.
This book is a thorough, in-depth, well-researched biography of comedian and fellow canuk Phil Hartman, taking us through Hartman's childhood, to his early career, to his time with The Groundlings and "Saturday Night Live", and trying to present a faithful, factual reconstruction of the day of Hartman's death. The book even devotes a fair amount of time to the man's legacy and those left behind.
However, this book does make one sit up and take notice of something. I was a great admirer of Phil Hartman growing up, and was really distraught that day after I'd learned of his death. Looking back, though, the book is right: Phil Hartman lacked depth. While Hartman's still funny, when you look at other comic actors and comedians, you realize they bring so much more to their roles than Hartman did, making them a lot funnier than him.
I think, due to his childhood, Hartman didn't know how to be plain old Phil. He always had to be PHIL HARTMAN and couldn't relate to people. That's why, as I think about the roles I've seen him in, I realize they were all Phil Hartman doing his thing and not creations come to life onscreen.
Purchase this book here.https://www.amazon.com/You-Might-Remember-Me-Hartman/dp/1250070309
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