Gasping for Airtime (Abridged): Two Years in the Trenches at Saturday Night Live Audiobook

" This book should be called "Jay Mohr is a crybaby." I like SNL a lot and enjoyed learning some behind the scenes information and gossip, but overall, this book is a joke. Mohr devotes entire chapters to his whiny complaints - my dressing room is too small, the host didn't like my sketch, a group of tourists didn't recognize me in the hallway, they give Chris Farley all the good sketches (gee, wonder why, Jay!). Overall the book came off as bitter and ungrateful. "

" Jay Mohr is so personable on his podcast "Mohr Stories" that I couldn't wait to read the book about his years on Saturday Night Live. It was written eight years ago, so all I can hope is that Mohr was still bitter when he wrote the book, or needed money, or something. It reads like it's supposed to be one of those gossip-y books giving the dirt on a beloved institution, but it fell flat even in that regard. Mohr disses all his fellow cast members and writers in the first half of the book, but later waves that away and says he loved them all. He never disses Lorne Michaels, however, and kind of kisses his butt a bit. It's not surprising to see him bend over backwards for the one with the most power, but it was so over-the-top that it didn't seem like Mohr at all. The book was a little imbalanced - 5 pages were dedicated to a wrestling match with Chris Farley, but other major experiences were glossed over. I was expecting him to be brutally honest - on his podcast, he admits that he used to be an asshole, and 'fesses up to his substance abuse. In the book, it's all played down. Mohr gets frustrated when his sketches are never chosen for the show, or he's never cast in any, which I understand - why hire someone you don't plan to use? Yet he starts begging out of sketches that don't give him any lines, then complains that no one ever saw him on TV. Overall, it came off as bitter and whiny. Stick to the podcast. "

" Overall, this book was a lot of fun. For anyone curious about Saturday Night Live or the television comedy business, this book won't disappoint. It also helps if you peaked as a SNL viewer right around Mohr's time on the show, because the book is full of great stories about fellow cast members like Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. I could have done without the very neurotic thread about Mohr's own showbiz arc, though. "

" Great read for any SNL fans. It was especially good in audiobook format because Mohr would impersonate the speakers when he quoted them. Although, I could've done without the Rob Schneider sushi part! "

" I know who Jay Mohr is as an actor, but I didn't know he was ever on Saturday Night Live. So when I saw this book it interested me. It's an entertaining read. I like the stories of his interactions with other SNL cast members, celebrities, and musicians. The book also gives insight to what it's like to work on SNL and how much time goes into making each show. After reading the book, I understand why I never saw Jay Mohr in any of the SNL skits. Great stories of Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Phil Hartman, etc. I enjoyed the book. "

" Books about SNL are very interesting to me. It's amazing what all needs to come together in one week. I think you'd need to be a very tough person to survive it. I liked the backstage anecdotes. "

" Mostly whiny, but had some good behind the scene filler. "

" Lots of great stories about SNL from an insider, but Mohr's sense of entitlement and bitterness throughout the book gets tiring. "

" Interesting behind the scenes look at SNL. It was a little whiny in spots but overall I enjoyed it a lot. "

" This book made me laugh and cry. It was funny and sensitive at the same time and his chapter where he discusses the last moments of Phil Hartman and Chris Farley on stage were very touching! "

" Jay Mohr seems like kind of a dick who can't help but get in his own way. However, as I recall there are bits where he seems at least a little human. "

" Interesting look behind the scenes of SNL and Hollywood in general. "

" Useful read for those working with writers or in any competitive work environment, to understand how to manage anxiety among the workforce; and for anyone working in a competitive or hotile work environment, for sympathy. Also, some cool SNL stories. "

" Fascinating, no holds barred look at SNL. Mohr's ability to be just as critical about himself as he is to show keeps it from being the usual sleazy tell all. "

" An honest recount of his SNL experience; not very amusing. He did trash a few celebrities which is always interesting. "

" I don't think he had any idea how poorly he painted himself in this book. This was the epitome of the unreliable narrator (who thinks himself the story's hero). "

" Mohr on his time at SNL. Interesting enough, but nothing much to say about it past that. "

" This is not the greatest book in the world or anything, but it gets extra cool points because Jay Mohr is actually funny. This is the best book I have read about what it's really like to work at SNL. "

" Funny! And very interesting behind the scenes info on his SNL career. An easy read. "

" Less of a recounting of what went on at SNL during these years, and more of a spilling of his guts on what a head case he was during that time. "

" Jay Mohr spends two years at SNL, figures out he suffers from panic attacks and tells generic although funny stories about his fellow cast and hosts. An interesting behind-the-scenes look at SNL. "

" Love him or hate him, the book is interesting and well written. "

" an intruiging look inside the workings of snl and jay mohr's experience on the show. "

" jay mohr is the ultimate performer. much respect for dealing with the panic attacks. much love for the hilarious work he continues to put out there. LOOK AT THE GAME TAPE! "

" An honest recount of his SNL experience; not very amusing. He did trash a few celebrities which is always interesting. "

" Jay Mohr is a good writer "

" Great vingettes from behind the scenes of SNL. "

" Mohr on his time at SNL. Interesting enough, but nothing much to say about it past that. "

" I like Jay Mohr and I really like reading about standup comedians. I do have an issue with the way the book jumps narrative a lot. "

" This book made me laugh and cry. It was funny and sensitive at the same time and his chapter where he discusses the last moments of Phil Hartman and Chris Farley on stage were very touching! "

" Funny! And very interesting behind the scenes info on his SNL career. An easy read. "

" Great read for any SNL fans. It was especially good in audiobook format because Mohr would impersonate the speakers when he quoted them. Although, I could've done without the Rob Schneider sushi part! "

" Very fast solid read. Anyone who wants a detailed look of what might go on backstage of SNL will be satisfied. Jay Mohr can tell a good story. Not a big fan of his, but is book is worth a read! "

" somewhat interesting, good look behind the scenes of SNL, wasn't too interested in Jay's personal struggles, but interesting nonetheless "

" I liked his straightforward voice. It could have used some more editing - there were a couple of redundant passages. I couldn't believe some of the things to which he confessed. It's a nice companion piece to Tom Shales' "Live From New York." "