H eadlines
Original ‘SNL’ Writer Explores Comedy in Memoir
L OCA L
SOPHIE PANZER | JE STAFF
“COMEDY WRITERS learn
early on that we have a high
degree of anonymity,” Alan
Zweibel writes in the begin-
ning of his new memoir,
“Laugh Lines: My Life Helping
Funny People Be Funnier.”
Although Zweibel’s name
may not ring a bell outside
the comedy writing world,
many of his projects need no
introduction. In addition to being one
of the original writers for
“Saturday Night Live,” Zweibel,
70, co-created “It’s Garry
Shandling’s Show,” consulted
on Larry David’s “Curb Your
Enthusiasm,” and helped his old
friend Billy Crystal develop his
Broadway show “700 Sundays.”
Zweibel appeared at Temple
Sholom in Broomall on Dec. 9
to talk about his book. The event
NG !
NO W
LE A
SI S
EL OD
M EN
OP Name: Residences at The Promenade
Width: 5.5 in
Depth: 7.38 in
Color: Black plus one
Comment: JE-ROP
Ad Number: 00092686
was part of the synagogue’s
author series, which was created
in partnership with the Jewish
Book Council.

“Laugh Lines,” which came
out in April, chronicles Zweibel’s
path to the world of comedy
and his adventures working for
celebrities who now regard him
as a professional peer. He got his
start at 24, when he didn’t get
into law school and worked in
a deli while selling jokes to the
last of the Catskill comedians
UPPE R DU BLI N
Alan Zweibel
Courtesy of Alan Zweibel
“Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny
People Be Funnier,” by Alan Zweibel
Courtesy of Abrams Press
UPSCALE LIVING
STEPS ABOVE IT ALL!
Designed with luxury in mind, The Residences at the Promenade
off er lavish apartments situated above a beautiful town center.

• Park Trails
• Dog Parks & Washrooms
• Bocce Court
• Pool with Sundeck
• Fitness Center • Media & Game Rooms
Amenities too many to mention!
• Clean Juice
• Sprouts Farmers Market
• lululemon
• Fine Wine and Good Spirits coming soon!
And Other Fine Stores & Restaurants
Welsh & Dreshertown Roads • Dresher, PA
833-238-1100 ResidencesUD.com
A Bruce E. Toll Community
6 DECEMBER 10, 2020
JEWISH EXPONENT
who entertained Jewish families
at summer resorts (his first
contact was provided by his
mother). He started doing stand-up
and was discovered by “SNL”
creator Lorne
Michaels after bombing onstage one
night. Zweibel wasn’t a great
performer, but Michaels liked
his material. He went on to
join the team that would
forever change the landscape
of American comedy, creating
iconic sketches and charac-
ters for performers like John
Belushi and Gilda Radner.

The memoir serves as both
the story of Zweibel’s career
and a tome of cultural history
that shepherds readers from the
sun setting on the Borscht Belt
to the rise of the latest genera-
tion of “SNL” performers.

Writing and stand-up are
often portrayed as lonely
endeavors, with the creator
alone with the thoughts in
their head or in front of an
audience. Many of Zweibel’s
book projects, such as his
memoir about his friendship
with Radner and his novel “The
Other Shulman,” were deeply
personal and solitary affairs,
but he also writes about the
pleasures of working with a
team on projects like “SNL.”
“I had no idea when I first
started what it was like, but
when I got to ‘SNL’ it was a
group, you helped each other,
you’re there to give each other
better jokes and make the jokes
as good as possible,” he said in
a separate interview.

Zweibel said he has enjoyed
See Zweibel, Page 9
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM