Product Description

Hired by fallen television star Lyle Hudnut, whose career was shattered by scandal, writer Stewart Hoag reluctantly begins penning the actor's memoirs and learns a deadly truth about a network's secret practices. Reprint.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1241201 in Books
• Published on: 1995-12-01
• Released on: 1995-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback

From Publishers Weekly
Great fun from Handler in his sixth Stewart Hoag adventure (The Boy Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald won an Edgar in 1991), despite its overwrought climax and a villain whom psychologically hip readers will spot before the actual unmasking. Former literary boy-wonder Hoagy has sunk to ghosting the showbiz autobio of children's TV star Lyle ("Uncle Chubby") Hudnut, who's attempting a comeback after an arrest for indecent exposure in a Times Square porn theater. Lyle, a 300-pound bundle of crazed energy, ego and cruelty, is sure that someone-or the world-is out to get him and believes the book will generate sympathy. There are personal complications: Lyle's co-star is his ex-wife; the network's executive producer is an ex-girlfriend; his current fiancee is the show's producer, a spot coveted by an assistant producer; and the show's writers are angling for control. A fire on the set, food poisoning and the bizarre murder of the newest cast member wreak havoc. A subplot involves Hoagy's celebrity ex-wife, who's pregnant and won't identify the father, but the best part of the book is Hoagy's gimlet-eyed observations of the fierce, delicious and dizzy infighting in Sitcom Land.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Handler (The Boy Who Never Grew Up, LJ 9/1/92) presents celebrity ghostwriter Steward Hoag who, on hand to author a book about television comic Lyle Hudnut, finds himself in the midst of mayhem and murder after Lyle's arrest in a porno movie theater. Stewart's dog, Lulu, and his ex-wife, actress Merilee, complicate matters.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The Uncle Chubby Show is the TV sitcom sensation of the '90s, boosting its formerly third-place network into the ratings lead and making fortunes for everyone involved with the program. But all is not well in Chubbyland: the series' star, the tyrannical and possibly psychotic Lyle Hudnut, has been arrested for public indecency in a Times Square porn theater. Hudnut hires ghostwriter-to-the-stars Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag to draft a damage-controlling memoir and to serve as "feelings adviser" to his writers. Hoagy's investigation leads to a bombing on the set, a nonlethal poisoning of the show's cast and crew, and murder. Meanwhile, Hoagy has problems of his own: his ex-wife, a prominent actress, is pregnant and won't reveal the name of the baby's father to a breathless nation (or to Hoagy). Handler, an experienced television writer, has produced a thoroughly satisfying mystery that offers a cynical look at the economics, politics, and sociology of a TV sitcom. He also creates some of the best character names in the business, including guru Noble Gesture and fading TV star Chad Roe. Highly recommended. George Needham

Customer Reviews

Intelligent page-turner
An intriguing twist on standard whodunits with a rich stew of Holywood-in-Manhattan characters. The whole thing is a little gaudier than reality, but intelligent and well-written enough to enjoy it. The main character, Uncle Chubby, is from the first page intriguing; the first-person author, a literate foil to the television excesses. The characters are thoroughly interesting, and the writing is sharp and full of the right kind of detail. And the whole thing moves along. Great entertainment, while occasionally provoking a thought.

Intelligent page-turner
An intriguing twist on standard whodunits with a rich stew of Holywood-in-Manhattan characters. The whole thing is a little gaudier than reality, but intelligent and well-written enough to enjoy it. The main character, Uncle Chubby, is from the first page intriguing; the first-person author, a literate foil to the television excesses. The characters are thoroughly interesting, and the writing is sharp and full of the right kind of detail. And the whole thing moves along. Great entertainment, while occasionally provoking a thought.

Above average mystery, but getting old
I would recommend this book to first time Handler readers and followers of the series. But a note to those reading the novels in order: while the stock phrases and jokes that crop up in not only every book and but then in every other chapter are endearing, they are losing their appeal.
The set-up is very much like the previous books, (Hoagy's ghosting for a nut that only Hoagy can control, beautiful women throw themselves at Hoagy, Hoagy and Merilee fuss over Lulu, Hoagy eats and dresses well) and your anticipation may be more about the latest in the Hoagy/Merilee relationship than the murderer's identity.
There are 2 more in this series after this one. Handler isn't updating this series anymore, and that's okay. I love Hoagy, but I also love the new team, Mitry and Berger. Handler was right to begin a new series; it's fresh, and so are the jokes!