Rating: 
Summary: I feel as if I know Larry from reading this book
Review: An honest self apprasial of an off beat life..having been a big fan of "Dallas", I enjoyed reading about the life and times of "J.R. Ewing"..aka Larry Hagman..a must read book that would appeal to many on different levels!!
Rating:
Summary: I feel as if I know Larry from reading this book
Review: An honest self apprasial of an off beat life..having been a big fan of "Dallas", I enjoyed reading about the life and times of "J.R. Ewing"..aka Larry Hagman..a must read book that would appeal to many on different levels!!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT "Light & Easy" READ
Review: I loved this book...but I may be a little prejudiced, cuz I love Larry Hagman! I was lucky enough to have met him when he autographed my copy. I must say, he's very personable, not one bit stuck-up. He also signed my 1980's can of JR Beer and couldn't believe someone still had a full JR Beer from the 80's!!! A real genuine kind of guy...which I imagine is a little rare of such a long-time celebrity. I only regret his wife, Maj wasn't there...I'd have loved to meet her too. She must be SOME LADY to have put up with Larry all these 45+ years! If you want a good, funny, light-hearted read about some of Larry's antics thru his life, this is the book for you! My only negative about the book? I wish it had been longer...I couldn't put it down and finished it in two bedtime reads. THUMBS UP!
Rating: 
Summary: A trippy life
Review: Larry Hagman tells everything about himself . . . He runs unsparingly through a life of hedonism and pleasure, made extraordinary by the heaps of publicity he garnered by playing the Major on "I Dream of Jeannie" and JR on "Dallas," both popular TV shows. Outside of these coups, his career never amounted to much, and he gives little information on what makes an actor tick. I was surprised about just how much of a drunk and drug-abuser he was, but Hagman happily makes it all seem like fun, and he doesn't employ the moralistic tone taken by so many other reformed drunks. I enjoyed this book and yet I wound up wanting to read another book, the intertwined lives of Mary Martin, Richard Halliday and Janet Gaynor. You get just enough allusion to their troubles from this book to leave you wanting more. All in all, a fun read from a forgettable TV clown.
Rating:
Summary: A trippy life
Review: Larry Hagman tells everything about himself . . . He runs unsparingly through a life of hedonism and pleasure, made extraordinary by the heaps of publicity he garnered by playing the Major on "I Dream of Jeannie" and JR on "Dallas," both popular TV shows. Outside of these coups, his career never amounted to much, and he gives little information on what makes an actor tick. I was surprised about just how much of a drunk and drug-abuser he was, but Hagman happily makes it all seem like fun, and he doesn't employ the moralistic tone taken by so many other reformed drunks. I enjoyed this book and yet I wound up wanting to read another book, the intertwined lives of Mary Martin, Richard Halliday and Janet Gaynor. You get just enough allusion to their troubles from this book to leave you wanting more. All in all, a fun read from a forgettable TV clown.
Rating: 
Summary: And the Wall Came Tumbling Down
Review: Larry Hagman was born September 21, 1931 in Forth Worth, Texas. His 17 year old mother, Mary Martin, was a perpetual Peter Pan, who did not want to grow up. After a stint as a TV astronaut with a Jeannie in a bottle, Larry finally made it over to Dallas. Here's what he says about his autobiography: "In this book I'm going to describe how I did my best. A lot already has been said about me. I've been described as the Mad Monk of Malibu, the kooky actor in the caftan who led flag parades up and down the beach, didn't speak on Sundays, and occasionally roared up to the grocery store on a Harley while dressed in a yellow chicken suit. It's also no secret that I'm a recovering alcoholic whose life has been prolonged by a liver transplant. It's all true, but there's more to say, lots more. Some of it's funny, some of it's serious, and some contains the wisdom that comes from discovering that having it all doesn't mean you *actually* have it all. In writing this book, I decided to throw all that mumbo in the gumbo, to stir in the stories, the little-known details, and the lessons I've learned, and I wanted to do it before I couldn't remember it anymore or we destroy the planet, whichever comes first." Larry Hagman shines through and co-writer Todd Gold doesn't get in the way. "As I see it, I've spent much of my life in the business of crowd control. Each night, millions of people are at home staring at a box, and I'm inside it. If they weren't watching TV, they'd be outside rioting in the streets, breaking windows, and overturning police cars. I help keep them sedated, and at the same time I help sell cars, aspirin, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. So far I've been pretty good at it. ... I even take a little credit for helping bring down the Eastern bloc." That's not all faux bravado. As an amateur philosopher/sociologist, the "man in the hat" does a pretty fair job that'd make Marshall McLuhan proud.. While filming episodes of *Dallas* on-location in Moscow, Larry, a/k/a J. R. Ewing, "Walked around the city unrecognized. It felt great to be anonymous again. I walked leisurely through museums and churches without being stopped once for an autograph. All of us actors remarked on a similar experience. But then we ran into a group of East German tourists who picked up television signals from West Germany and they were fanatical *Dallas* fans. Our guide, a pretty little girl, had no idea why four hundred people suddenly went nuts seeing us. ... `That's J.R.!' they screamed. `J.R., we love you!' Our guide didn't understand and called for security. `But you're just an actor.' She kept saying . ... Nine months later, I watched CNN's coverage of the Berlin Wall being torn down and realized that *Dallas* had impacted that side of the world. Pop music also had an effect, but ideas combined with pictures were even more powerful. Every time people in Hungary, Poland, and East Germany watched *Dallas*, they saw what they didn't have - the beautiful clothes, the big homes, the abundant food, and the lifestyle. Eventually, enough people began to say, `Wait a minute, I want that stuff too! And why don't we have it?' ... When the people from the Eastern bloc countries saw what they were missing, they realized what a farce communism was." How much did the Ewing family mean to Larry Hagman? Remember the oil painting of Jock Ewing (Jim Davis) that hung over the mantle at Southfork? It's the first thing one sees when entering Hagman's house. This is an entertaining celebrity bio that gets its points across - the good, the bad, the happy and the sad.
Rating:
Summary: And the Wall Came Tumbling Down
Review: Larry Hagman was born September 21, 1931 in Forth Worth, Texas. His 17 year old mother, Mary Martin, was a perpetual Peter Pan, who did not want to grow up. After a stint as a TV astronaut with a Jeannie in a bottle, Larry finally made it over to Dallas. Here's what he says about his autobiography: "In this book I'm going to describe how I did my best. A lot already has been said about me. I've been described as the Mad Monk of Malibu, the kooky actor in the caftan who led flag parades up and down the beach, didn't speak on Sundays, and occasionally roared up to the grocery store on a Harley while dressed in a yellow chicken suit. It's also no secret that I'm a recovering alcoholic whose life has been prolonged by a liver transplant. It's all true, but there's more to say, lots more. Some of it's funny, some of it's serious, and some contains the wisdom that comes from discovering that having it all doesn't mean you *actually* have it all. In writing this book, I decided to throw all that mumbo in the gumbo, to stir in the stories, the little-known details, and the lessons I've learned, and I wanted to do it before I couldn't remember it anymore or we destroy the planet, whichever comes first." Larry Hagman shines through and co-writer Todd Gold doesn't get in the way. "As I see it, I've spent much of my life in the business of crowd control. Each night, millions of people are at home staring at a box, and I'm inside it. If they weren't watching TV, they'd be outside rioting in the streets, breaking windows, and overturning police cars. I help keep them sedated, and at the same time I help sell cars, aspirin, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. So far I've been pretty good at it. ... I even take a little credit for helping bring down the Eastern bloc." That's not all faux bravado. As an amateur philosopher/sociologist, the "man in the hat" does a pretty fair job that'd make Marshall McLuhan proud.. While filming episodes of *Dallas* on-location in Moscow, Larry, a/k/a J. R. Ewing, "Walked around the city unrecognized. It felt great to be anonymous again. I walked leisurely through museums and churches without being stopped once for an autograph. All of us actors remarked on a similar experience. But then we ran into a group of East German tourists who picked up television signals from West Germany and they were fanatical *Dallas* fans. Our guide, a pretty little girl, had no idea why four hundred people suddenly went nuts seeing us. ... 'That's J.R.!' they screamed. 'J.R., we love you!' Our guide didn't understand and called for security. 'But you're just an actor.' She kept saying . ... Nine months later, I watched CNN's coverage of the Berlin Wall being torn down and realized that *Dallas* had impacted that side of the world. Pop music also had an effect, but ideas combined with pictures were even more powerful. Every time people in Hungary, Poland, and East Germany watched *Dallas*, they saw what they didn't have - the beautiful clothes, the big homes, the abundant food, and the lifestyle. Eventually, enough people began to say, 'Wait a minute, I want that stuff too! And why don't we have it?' ... When the people from the Eastern bloc countries saw what they were missing, they realized what a farce communism was." How much did the Ewing family mean to Larry Hagman? Remember the oil painting of Jock Ewing (Jim Davis) that hung over the mantle at Southfork? It's the first thing one sees when entering Hagman's house. This is an entertaining celebrity bio that gets its points across - the good, the bad, the happy and the sad.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Larry Hagman you'll love this book
Review: Larry Hagman's Autobiography, "Hello Darlin'" is not one of those bios of boring facts. It's an entertaining, hysterical at times, intelligent, and honest account of the guy we know as Major Nelson and/or J.R. It's really incredible all the experiences described here which are pretty much at the center of the acting world. Larry's mother was Mary Martin (Peter Pan, Sound of Music, etc.) and we get good anecdotes about her and the hundred plus other stars Hagman lived his life with. From his early Broadway work with George C. Scott, his "Jeannie" years in which he did LSD with the likes of Peter Fonda to his experiences with neighbor Burgess Meredith and his trips to Eastern Europe where "Dallas" was a force that helped end communism. Also covered is his drinking, his health problems, and his bouts of pre- and post- fame poverty, all delivered with good humor and a healthy outlook on life. And why not? He had a great one. I do wish though the "Jeannie" years were covered more indepth as that was one of my favorite shows and really part of my consciousness. You'll finish the book feeling like you know Larry personally, and know he's someone of a lot more depth than his TV and movie characters.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT "Light & Easy" READ
Review: Larry Hagman's Autobiography, "Hello Darlin'" is not one of those bios of boring facts. It's an entertaining, hysterical at times, intelligent, and honest account of the guy we know as Major Nelson and/or J.R. It's really incredible all the experiences described here which are pretty much at the center of the acting world. Larry's mother was Mary Martin (Peter Pan, Sound of Music, etc.) and we get good anecdotes about her and the hundred plus other stars Hagman lived his life with. From his early Broadway work with George C. Scott, his "Jeannie" years in which he did LSD with the likes of Peter Fonda to his experiences with neighbor Burgess Meredith and his trips to Eastern Europe where "Dallas" was a force that helped end communism. Also covered is his drinking, his health problems, and his bouts of pre- and post- fame poverty, all delivered with good humor and a healthy outlook on life. And why not? He had a great one. I do wish though the "Jeannie" years were covered more indepth as that was one of my favorite shows and really part of my consciousness. You'll finish the book feeling like you know Larry personally, and know he's someone of a lot more depth than his TV and movie characters.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Larry Hagman you'll love this book
Review: Larry Hagman's Autobiography, "Hello Darlin'" is not one of those bios of boring facts. It's an entertaining, hysterical at times, intelligent, and honest account of the guy we know as Major Nelson and/or J.R. It's really incredible all the experiences described here which are pretty much at the center of the acting world. Larry's mother was Mary Martin (Peter Pan, Sound of Music, etc.) and we get good anecdotes about her and the hundred plus other stars Hagman lived his life with. From his early Broadway work with George C. Scott, his "Jeannie" years in which he did LSD with the likes of Peter Fonda to his experiences with neighbor Burgess Meredith and his trips to Eastern Europe where "Dallas" was a force that helped end communism. Also covered is his drinking, his health problems, and his bouts of pre- and post- fame poverty, all delivered with good humor and a healthy outlook on life. And why not? He had a great one. I do wish though the "Jeannie" years were covered more indepth as that was one of my favorite shows and really part of my consciousness. You'll finish the book feeling like you know Larry personally, and know he's someone of a lot more depth than his TV and movie characters.
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