Billy Van Zandt Releases New Book,
Chronicling Years of Sitcom Writing
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16 JUNE 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY LORI DRAZ
B
connect him to his boyhood Middletown home. He established an enviable
and enduring career as a comedy writer for network television,
He is also the author of the new book, “Get in the Car, Jane! Adventures
in the TV Wasteland,” released this month. This rollicking read is the behind
the-scenes memoir of this Emmy-nominated writer/producer’s years
making America’s favorite (and not so favorite) sitcoms. It’s page after page
Brooke Shields, Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles, Martin Lawrence, Andrew Dice
Clay, Richard Lewis, Bob Newhart, Jamie Lee Curtis, the Wayans brothers,
Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, Rosie O’Donnell, Oscar-winner Olympia
Dukakis, Penny Marshall and Matthew Perry. It’s part gossip and part an
insightful guide to writing and producing sitcoms.
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ner Jane Milmore, of Rumson, right by his side.
most often-produced playwrights in the world. Their partnership began
at a high school drama competition at the old Barn Theater in Rumson.
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His advice on creating a great
-
one who is good at the things
you’re not good at and, most
who makes you laugh – a lot.
Those are the stories
you’ll read in “Get in the Car,
Jane!” The team has produced
more than 300 hours of comedy,
including “Newhart;”
“Martin,” which won them a
People’s Choice Award and two
NAACP Image Awards; “The
Hughleys;” “Suddenly Susan”
with Brooke Shields; “The Wayans
Billy Van Zandt
Bros.;” and “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show” which won them an
Emmy nomination, just to name a few.
-
duced and chose the stories that got the biggest laughs at dinner parties
for this book.
He grew up loving Lucy and the Marx Brothers.
“As I got older, I discovered Buster Keaton,” he said. “Throw in Chaplin,
Laurel and Hardy, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and a little
Jerry Lewis, and you’ll get a fuller picture of where I came from.”
He and Milmore began their television careers without a clue or a
connection.
“But Jane and I always fearlessly jumped into new things,” he said.
-
headed to think we’d ever fail.”
just fun. And I haven’t a clue what I’d do if I ever stopped.”
He added, “Soon as I’m able to travel, I’ll be back to Monmouth
County to see my sister, and my old friends (including about a dozen
I’ve known since kindergarten) and visit some of my favorite haunts
like Tim McLoone’s Supper Club, The Pour House, and Ryan’s Homemade
Ice Cream. Their lemon ice cream is my favorite!”
Jennifer, for a memorial service for his beloved partner.
“It’s very surreal to be without her,” he said. “I never thought we’d
cancer. Reading these stories brings back the wonderful memories and
the laughter, which was the biggest part of our relationship. I’m sure
that you will laugh too.”
“Get in the Car, Jane! Adventures in the TV Wasteland” is available
on Amazon and in a few local area booksellers. Circumstances permit-
New Jersey, so visit VanZandtMilmore.com to keep in the loop.
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