Bette Midler says she's "one of the funniest people I know." Garry Shandling told her, "You write like a guy." Her words have come out of the mouths of President Barack Obama, David Letterman, Homer Simpson, Sheryl Sandberg, and Kermit the Frog.
You've almost certainly laughed at Nell Scovell's jokes-you just didn't know it until now.
For over thirty years, writer, producer and director Nell Scovell has worked behind the scenes on some of TV's most iconic shows, including The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, Murphy Brown, Monk, NCIS and The Muppets. She was the creator and showrunner of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and later teamed up with Sheryl Sandberg on her blockbuster book Lean In, which resulted in a worldwide movement.
In JUST THE FUNNY PARTS: . And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys' Club (March 20, 2018; Dey Street Books), Scovell dives deep into her favorite things-comedy, writing and equality-in a timely and relevant book. Readers will find lots of insider information about the making of pop culture and working with celebrities such as Mark Harmon, Alyssa Milano, The Smothers Brothers, Bob Newhart, and Conan O'Brien, among many others.
Scovell started her career as a sports writer at the Boston Globe and later became the first staff writer hired at SPY magazine which ushered in the "snark ages." She also knows how to tell a good story. Through her eyes, you'll experience an awkward encounter with Larry David at a book party. a sweet romance with Mystery Science Theater 3000's Joel Hodgson that doesn't turn out quite as planned. writing jokes for President Obama.arranging playdates with Albert Brooks.pinning a tail on Miss Piggy.and a Stephen King-like encounter with Stephen King.
For three decades, Scovell happily worked behind-the-scenes, keeping a low profile, while advocating for change. Then in 2009, the David Letterman sex scandal broke. Having been the second female writer ever to work on the show, Scovell felt compelled to address Late Night's sexual favoritism and hostile environment toward women in a widely-read piece for Vanity Fair. The article called out all the late-night shows for the lack of diversity in their writers' rooms. Since then, Scovell has continued to be a loud and public voice, advocating for women and minorities in op-eds for the New York Times and the Washington Post.
JUST THE FUNNY PARTS offers a candid look at a male-dominated and highly-competitive entertainment industry. As Sheryl Sandberg writes in her foreword, "Her story is inspiring, not because she was unstoppable, but because when she did get stopped, she found ways to keep writing, continue being creative, and always but always, laugh."
Now Scovell speaks out for the first time to discuss the aftermath of the Letterman scandal and to share her own #metoo story. But mostly, she shares hilarious observations, sharp insights, personal photos, memorabilia, and hard-earned wisdom. JUST THE FUNNY PARTS is a fast-paced account of a bookish girl from New England who grew up loving science fiction, sports and Monty Python and fought her way to the top of the entertainment field. Or as she puts it, "It's like Unbroken . . . but funnier and with slightly less torture."