Overview

"Named one of the best comedies of all times by Bravo, Time Out, and Empire, and one of the most quotable films of all time by Esquire, Hollywood.com, and Yardbarker, Anchorman is arguably the most popular comedy of the last twenty years. In Kind of a Big Deal- How Anchorman Became the Best-Loved Comedy of the 21st Century, author and comedy historian Saul Austerlitz explores the making of the movie, its status as a legendary comedy. Kind of a Big Deal will be both a narrative history of how Anchorman was developed, written, and cast, and how it launched the careers of future superstars like Will Ferrell, Steve Carrell, and Paul Rudd, also setting the stage for a whole decade of comedy to come and influencing films like The Forty-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Knocked Up, Superbad, and so many more. It's also a cultural analysis of the film's significance as a sly commentary on feminism, the media, fragile masculinity, 1970s nostalgia, and more. Featuring brand-new interviews with stars such as Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay, the book will feature both the insider commentary and updated, intelligent commentary that pop culture readers love. And it will also be published just in time for the film's 20th anniversary, a date that will definitely resonate with both publicity outlets and readers. *Vulture's Best Comedy Book of 2023* From the author of Generation Friends, featuring brand-new interviews with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, a surprising, incisive, and often hilarious book about the film that changed comedy, Anchorman. It's been nearly twenty years since Ron Burgundy burst into movie fans' lives, reminding San Diego to ""stay classy"" while lampooning a time gone by-although maybe not as far gone as we might think? In Kind of a Big Deal, comedy historian Saul Austerlitz tells the history of how Anchorman was developed, written, and cast, and how it launched the careers of future superstars like Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd, also setting the stage for a whole decade of comedy to come and influencing films like The40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Knocked Up, Superbad, and so many more. But Kind of a Big Deal isn't only a celebration of Anchorman-it's also a cultural analysis of the film's significance as a sly commentary on feminism, the media, fragile masculinity, 1970s nostalgia, and more. Featuring brand-new interviews with stars such as Will Ferrell, director Adam McKay, and other key players, the book includes insider commentary alongside updated pop-culture analysis. And it also shares surprising stories and facts- from the film's original conception as a plane crash/cannibal comedy mashup to the surprising, real-life newscaster who inspired the character of Veronica. Overall, this is a celebration of a movie that millions love-but it's also an unsparing look back at what has and hasn't changed, since the 1970s and since 2004. Perfect for fans of the film and anyone who cares about comedy today, Kind of a Big Deal proves that the movie was, and is, exactly that."

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Reviews

Kind of a Big Deal is a hysterical, revelatory look at the creation of one of the funniest, most renowned comedies of the 21st century, as well as its massive cultural footprint. Even if you've seen Anchorman 1,000 times, you'll learn something new on every page. -Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: An Oral History

Kind of a Big Deal is a hysterical, revelatory look at the creation of one of the funniest, most renowned comedies of the 21st century, as well as its massive cultural footprint. Even if you've seen Anchorman 1,000 times, you'll learn something new on every page. -Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: An Oral History Kind of a Big Deal is a stark reminder that enduring success often rises from the ashes of failure. This is not just a book about Anchorman, but a chronicle of the lo-fi comedy scenes from which Will Ferrell and Adam McKay emerged. -Kliph Nesteroff, author of The Comedians and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem An entertaining, informative take on an influential comedy classic, a book that also somehow manages to touch on broader cultural issues and not in an academic way. A must for any comedy geek. -Mike Sacks, author of Poking a Dead Frog, And Here's the Kicker, and Stinker Lets Loose

Kind of a Big Deal is a hysterical, revelatory look at the creation of one of the funniest, most renowned comedies of the 21st century, as well as its massive cultural footprint. Even if you've seen Anchorman 1,000 times, you'll learn something new on every page. -Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: An Oral History Kind of a Big Deal is a stark reminder that enduring success often rises from the ashes of failure. This is not just a book about Anchorman, but a chronicle of the lo-fi comedy scenes from which Will Ferrell and Adam McKay emerged. -Kliph Nesteroff, author of The Comedians and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem An entertaining, informative take on an influential comedy classic, a book that also somehow manages to touch on broader cultural issues and not in an academic way. A must for any comedy geek. -Mike Sacks, author of Poking a Dead Frog, And Here's the Kicker, and Stinker Lets Loose Saul Austerlitz's deeply reported, funny, smart writing takes you right off the page and deep inside the making of an iconic film that, it turns out, we all sorely underestimated. Kind Of a Big Deal not only weaves together countless delicious behind-the-scenes stories but offers a fascinating study of comedy and lively portraits of some of the greats -- from Carell to Ferrell. You won't watch Anchorman the same way again. -Thea Glassman, author of Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek In Kind Of a Big Deal, Saul Austerlitz goes beyond behind-the-scenes, showing us that, as silly as Anchorman seems on first glance, its impact and legacy matter deeply in the realms of comedy, gender relations, and even politics. It's a riveting read that will make you rethink its place in film history and recognize Ron Burgundy as the massive star he always knew he was. -Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia and Sex and the City and Us In his deep dive into the legend of Anchorman, Saul Austerlitz brings us on an insightful, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud ride through Ron Burgundy's zany world. Fans of the beloved film will devour the delicious behind-the-scenes stories and gain new appreciation for the improv-comedy titans who created Burgundy from scratch. Anchorman and its descendants, Austerlitz persuades, remain sources of light and community, and a balm for an imperfect society. -Erin Carlson, author of I'll Have What She's Having and Queen Meryl

Kind of a Big Deal is a hysterical, revelatory look at the creation of one of the funniest, most renowned comedies of the 21st century, as well as its massive cultural footprint. Even if you've seen Anchorman 1,000 times, you'll learn something new on every page. -Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: An Oral History Kind of a Big Deal is a stark reminder that enduring success often rises from the ashes of failure. This is not just a book about Anchorman, but a chronicle of the lo-fi comedy scenes from which Will Ferrell and Adam McKay emerged. -Kliph Nesteroff, author of The Comedians and We Had a Little Real Estate Problem An entertaining, informative take on an influential comedy classic, a book that also somehow manages to touch on broader cultural issues and not in an academic way. A must for any comedy geek. -Mike Sacks, author of Poking a Dead Frog, And Here's the Kicker, and Stinker Lets Loose Saul Austerlitz's deeply reported, funny, smart writing takes you right off the page and deep inside the making of an iconic film that, it turns out, we all sorely underestimated. Kind Of a Big Deal not only weaves together countless delicious behind-the-scenes stories but offers a fascinating study of comedy and lively portraits of some of the greats -- from Carell to Ferrell. You won't watch Anchorman the same way again. -Thea Glassman, author of Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek In Kind Of a Big Deal, Saul Austerlitz goes beyond behind-the-scenes, showing us that, as silly as Anchorman seems on first glance, its impact and legacy matter deeply in the realms of comedy, gender relations, and even politics. It's a riveting read that will make you rethink its place in film history and recognize Ron Burgundy as the massive star he always knew he was. -Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia and Sex and the City and Us In his deep dive into the legend of Anchorman, Saul Austerlitz brings us on an insightful, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud ride through Ron Burgundy's zany world. Fans of the beloved film will devour the delicious behind-the-scenes stories and gain new appreciation for the improv-comedy titans who created Burgundy from scratch. Anchorman and its descendants, Austerlitz persuades, remain sources of light and community, and a balm for an imperfect society. -Erin Carlson, author of I'll Have What She's Having and Queen Meryl Saul Austerlitz's Kind of a Big Deal is in-depth scholarship with an approachable smile: genial and easy to like, but the product of tireless, unrepeatable research. Austerlitz digs revealingly into every aspect of the making of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and the reasons why the film is a veritable switch box, wired into contemporary American culture. How big a deal is it? Considerable. -Stuart Klawans, author of Crooked, but Never Common: The Films of Preston Sturges

Author Information

"Saul Austerlitz is an adjunct professor of writing and comedy history at New York University, as well as the author of Generation Friends, named by Vulture as one of the ""15 Best Books About TV Comedies""; and Just a Shot Away, which The New York Times Book Review called ""the most blisteringly impassioned music book of the season."" He is a graduate of Yale University and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts."

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