**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker for an ARC of this book!!**

Rumack: "Can you fly this plane, and land it?"
Ted Striker: "Surely you can't be serious."
Rumack: "I am serious... and don't call me Shirley."

Whether you're a casual fan who may have heard the above exchange in passing, or a diehard who giggles nonstop when Rex Kramer launches into his rambling speech to no one at the end of the film ("Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Ted, that's a dumb question... skip that.", which coincidentally was my Twitter byline for AGES) and have seen this movie more times than you can even count, the crazy-but-true story of how the ICONIC film Airplane! was made is the behind-the-scenes deep dive you never knew you needed...until now!

Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (or Team ZAZ, as they are affectionately called) take you on a bumpy ride as twisted and unpredictable as the airplane's journey itself. From their early years in the midwest, to their Kentucky Fried Theater live show to the Kentucky Fried MOVIE...and on to the MASSIVE success of Airplane! itself, this book covers a LOT of ground--some already tread in the film's commentary track, but with in-depth perspectives and hilarious behind the scenes stories that haven't come to light until now. And most of it is fun, once you get into the rhythm of the book.

However, this takes a while...so if you're a fan of linear progression, be prepared to be patient.Whereas most memoirs etc. might take you from point A to point B in someone's life in pretty straightforward, chronological way, this book kind of turns that concept on its head. We pop from the lives of ZAZ to making of the film, then back in time 10 years, then forward 10 years to learning about Leslie Nielsen, then back to meeting Stephen Stucker and working with him in Kentucky Fried Theater, and then forward again...etc. With all of the turbulence, I was half expecting to see the Fasten Seatbelts (or Putanadaseatbeltz, if you prefer) sign to come on at any time.

The good? Even though the screen caps and film quotes (guaranteed to make you snicker, every time) are sort of just plopped intermittently throughout the book, not to mention quotes and reflections from comedy icons who have loved and been inspired by the film over the years (everyone from Weird Al to Maya Rudolph to Trey Parker and Matt Stone make an appearance), this scattershot approach didn't completely derail the reading experience for me. Once I allowed myself to go with the flow a bit, I found myself swept into nostalgia and LOVING all of the behind-the-scenes tidbits. Believe it or not, David Letterman actually screen tested for this movie...until he decided he wanted absolutely nothing to do with acting...but ZAZ might just have played that screen test on an episode of Letterman's show years later (!)

ZAZ's journey has been nothing if not unconventional, and if you didn't know this already, this film is not only a parody of airplane disaster movies in general, but is at times a DIRECT parody of the film Zero Hour!, with some of the shots matching frame for frame and even uses some of the same dialogue. The beauty of Airplane is that it is so iconic, so funny, and has the perfect blend of drama, romance, and comedy for it to work as a film even without this point of reference (but being the diehard fan I am, I feel like eventually I'll have to give the source material a watch, even just so I can say I did it).

The tale ends with ZAZ's current adventures, and to say each of them is a departure from the comedy writing and directing they embarked upon together in the 80's is a bit of an understatement...but to find out more, you'll have to make it to the end of the runway on your own!

Because after all, Rex Kramer said it best: "Flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle.

...

It's just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes."

4 stars

#SurelyYouCantBeSerious @StMartinsPress

Surely You Can't Be Serious? An entire book about the (arguably) funniest movie ever, Airplane? By its creators? Sign me up (and feel free to call me Shirley)!

There hasn’t been a book about the making of Airplane before and now there is. Yay! Admittedly, it is better to watch the movie at least once before reading it. But that is easy because it bounces around regularly among streaming services-not bad for a forty-year-old movie. However, the main fans of this book will be those who saw Airplane when it first came out (hello, Boomer). It was something completely new, and just silly, at a time when everything else was so serious. It continued the Mel Brooks movie parody tradition in a completely stupid way. I don’t think I’m explaining this well. Just watch the movie and whatever you remember in between fits of giggling will impress you too.

For existing fans, this book is a backstage look at how the Zuckers took serious actors down a completely different comedy road—preferably with a straight face. And how they fought the moviemaking establishment to bring their boyish idea of comedy to the screen.

Whether you are a new or existing fan, Surely You Can't Be Serious is a perfect after party (where everyone rehashes everything that happened at last night’s party even though the night is only hazily remembered). It’s a twister! It’s a twister! 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

This book would be a fun gift for any Airplane! fanatics - I must admit that even though I do work in the aviation industry, I’m not the hugest fan of this movie of its comedy style. I still enjoyed this book, though, especially all the photos and quotes that had me giggling.
BUT a lot of this book is about the movie creators and their comedy acts before the movie was made. It’s super interesting to read about people creating their own success “back in the day.” I feel like stories like theirs just wouldn’t happen now. And if you’re looking for an oral history of the start and success of Zucker, Abrahams, & Zucker, this is the book for you, but strictly an Airplane! fanatic book this is not.
I liked all the quotes from other comedians strewn throughout. And, again, this book would make a great gift. My husband (who also works in the aviation industry IS what I’d call an Airplane! fanatic) so I mostly read this for him and now we’re watching the movie.
One star removed because *most* of this book isn’t about Airplane!

Do you like gladiator movies? Ever feel like you picked the wrong day to quit smoking? Then this may be the book for you... I'm completely serious (and don't call me Shirley).

Funny and informative. These guys are just naturally funny and it shows all through this book. It covers the early beginnings of Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker from their days as founders of The Kentucky Fried Theater group right up to the making of Airplane! It even gives a brief summation of what they've been up to since then and where they are now.

Great interviews, past and present, from almost everyone involved as well as comments from some of the filmmakers and comedians who have been inspired by Airplane! I literally laughed out loud while reading this book. The funniest memoir I've read since Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother.

Highly recommended.

This book will make a great gift for every dad. I love the movie Airplane! and really enjoyed reading this oral history a la Live! From New York! It was wonderful to "hear" ZAZ talk about working with Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Peter Graves, and Lloyd Bridges.

As a fan of Naked Gun and Police Squad I enjoyed reading the backstory of ZAZ and how they took their vision from Wisconsin to LA. So much of how things played out for them would not be possible today. It's a fantastic memoir on ZAZ, inspirational for anyone who needs a little kick towards creativity, and who maintains a love in their heart for one of the most absurd comedies ever made.

Surely You Can't Be Serious by David Zucker; Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker is hands down one of the funniest books I've ever read.
A cool and funny nostalgic title to be enjoyed more as we age.
This trio left me laughing, smiling and wanting to hunt this movie down to watch it.
It was an amazing and very amusing time. I loved every second of it.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I have watched the movie Airplane! hundreds of times over the years. When I was first living on my own after college, my dad would just show up sometimes on my porch with a DVD of Airplane! and dinner. We'd hang out and just laugh our butts off, even though we had seen the movie so many times. It didn't matter.....the jokes were always funny.

I was hunting for a totally different book to review when I came across the listing for this one -- I can't even remember the book I was actually looking for. My brain latched onto this one - oh, hell yeah I'm reading this book! And when I'm done.....I'm watching the movie again and wishing my dad were still here to enjoy it with me. His favorite line? The one I used to purposely feed to him so that he could use it on me? The dialogue would go something like this: Me: Surely you aren't serious that you don't plan to watch the Chiefs play on Sunday! Him: Yes I'm serious.....and don't call me Shirley.

This book discusses the directors' careers in theater before the movie, how they cast so many famous actors in a project that was so wonderfully silly, and just how the entire project came about. I loved every word!! There are also lots of photos, quotes, anecdotes and other types of wonderful information!

My favorite scene? Oh easily any of the bits with Stephen Stucker as Johnny. So funny! If you don't know who I'm talking about -- watch the movie! :)

I looked through all of my streaming services to see where I could watch the movie....even restored my STARZ subscription because a site told me it was there.....nope. None of them. Unless I want to buy it again. Which I'm not going to do. Rats!

......Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

Reading this book is a great substitute for attending a comedy club.

Interesting story with plenty of humor. Makes one want to watch Airplane again. It really was a unique movie.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very interesting history of this iconic comedy movie. Fascinating how these three guys changed how we thought about movie comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and the three different points of view was engaging.

Sure You Can't Be Serious is a great insightful read for both casual and dedicated fans of Airplane. It collects both the history of the movie but also the history of the movie creators. It really lets you see how the comedy of Airplane evolved from their earlier works.

It's fun to revisit some of the great jokes and quotes from the film and the book is funny in general. If you are interested in parody, comedy and movie production, you can still enjoy this one even if Airplane wasn't your favorite.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC.

If you are a fan of the Zucker brothers you'll love this book. Fans of film making and humor in general will also find a lot to enjoy in this fun book about a seminal comedy film

“Surely a book about the making of Airplane! can’t be that interesting!” “Yes, it can—and don’t call me Shirley.”

Surely You Can’t Be Serious is an absolute delight of a book. It’s a must-read for any fan of this movie. Aside from being chock-full of delightful insights, I found myself laughing out loud reading it, just as I did when I watched this iconic 1980 film.

But more than a history of the movie, this delicious book gives you the history of Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker from their formative days in Milwaukee through making their first movie, Kentucky Fried Chicken, so that you can understand where the roots of Airplane! came from. It also has fascinating information about Zero Hour!, the film Airplane! relentlessly parodies (down to that exclamation point!), as well as why all the primary actors were cast (let’s just say ZAZ’s favorite childhood TV shows and movies were a huge factor).

Add to this quotes from an absolute murderer’s row of comedians and other celebrities on how Airplane! influenced them, and you’ve got a book that will warm your heart, make you laugh, and make you long to watch Airplane! again with a big group of friends.

More than 40 years after this film released, ZAZ have given us all a bonbon of a book; a perfect holiday gift for any fans of parody, movie history, movie production, puns, and dad jokes. I am perfectly serious when I say you should read Surely You Can’t Be Serious—and you know what you shouldn’t call me, either!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review.

Loved the movie Airplane back in the day and still can quote lines and giggle when I think of it. "don't call me Shirley". This is a fun behind the scene's look at an iconic movie.

If you've ever watched "Airplane!" and found yourself uncontrollably laughing until tears streamed down your face, then "Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!" by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker is your golden ticket to a rollicking, behind-the-scenes journey through one of the funniest films of all time. This book is not just a memoir; it's a laugh-out-loud comedy masterpiece.

"Surely You Can't Be Serious" is an uproarious exploration of how a trio of comedy geniuses turned a straightforward disaster movie into a slapstick sensation that has stood the test of time. The authors pull back the curtain on the creative chaos that fueled the making of "Airplane!" and, in the process, they serve up a heaping plate of hilarity that will leave readers in stitches.

This book contains unfiltered humor that permeates every page. David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker have not lost their comedic touch, and their writing is as sharp and irreverent as ever. Their playful banter, self-deprecating humor, and witty anecdotes keep the laughter coming from start to finish.

The book is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes stories and absurd mishaps that occurred during the making of "Airplane!" From the casting of Leslie Nielsen as a deadpan doctor to the challenges of filming in a cramped cockpit, the authors share hilarious tales of the unexpected moments that added to the film's comedic genius.

"Surely You Can't Be Serious" also offers a glimpse into the Hollywood of the late '70s and early '80s, a time when comedy was undergoing a revolution. The authors' experiences and interactions with iconic figures like Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, and Peter Graves provide a unique perspective on the era.

The book pays homage to the classic humor that inspired "Airplane!" The authors share their love for the absurdity of slapstick, puns, and wordplay, and how they ingeniously wove these elements into the film's script. Their deep appreciation for comedy as an art form shines through.

This memoir is not just for fans of "Airplane!"; it's for anyone who appreciates the healing power of laughter and the magic of comedy. It's a reminder that even in the most challenging times, humor can be a lifeline, and laughter is the universal language of joy.

In "Surely You Can't Be Serious," David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker have delivered a side-splitting, laugh-till-your-ribs-hurt masterpiece that pays homage to the enduring legacy of "Airplane!" It's a book that will make you chuckle, guffaw, and appreciate the timeless brilliance of comedic filmmaking.

This book will elicit bellyaches of laughter and a nostalgic trip back to the heyday of comedy. Prepare to board a rollercoaster of hilarity, where no joke is too absurd and no punchline is off-limits. In the words of Leslie Nielsen, "Don't call me Shirley," but do pick up this book and get ready for a comedic adventure like no other.

This is a book that will leave you seriously entertained and wanting to rewatch "Airplane!" for the umpteenth time. "Surely", you can't resist.

If you are a fan of the comedy classic Airplane, then definitely check this book out Full of behind the scenes and funny anecdotes. Great for movie buffs.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

If you love the movie Airplane!, read this book. It's a hoot. I knew absolutely nothing about the story behind the movie or about the three main creators, Jewish boys from Wisconsin. I hadn't heard of Kentucky Fried Theater or even the Kentucky Fried Movie. Even so, the story kept me engaged from page one. It doesn't follow a typical narrative nonfiction format with blocks of information. Instead, it flows in the form of an interview, with Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker, and many other essential people throughout the process chiming in with their experiences. There are also many notes from other major comedians of recent decades who were influenced by Airplane!

One thing that threw me off at first was the absence of a chronological flow. The book jumps back and forth through time from the making of Airplane, to the formation of the core group, then back to Airplane, and so on. I can see why they did it that way--most everyone is reading to find out about Airplane, not what happened in Madison in the early 1970s--and overall I feel it worked, because I kept reading. It was odd, though--which I suppose should be expected in consideration of the wits involved.

Some of my favorite bits were about how the actors were cast, how the Jive dialogue developed and how the famed "Mrs. Cleaver" learned her lines, and how many of the jokes evolved. Nothing was actually ad-libbed. It mostly stayed on script, though there were a few strokes of brilliance on filming day.

I love the-making-of type of books and I loved the movie “Airplane", so it should come as no surprise that I loved this book. I found it very funny (again, not a surprise) and I loved the banter between the authors. The biographical information and photos are excellent. The interviews with Katzenberg and Eisner are wonderful. The whole inside story is amazingly informative. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy.

I think "Airplane!" is a hoot and have seen it many times so I thought it would be fun to get the scoop about it. There was a lot of interesting info about how they found the perfect actors for the parts (some they had to convince and some played against their usual personas), how they had to convince someone to actually let them make the movie and more.

I'm not a fan of interview-style books (like you're reading what the authors are saying) and didn't know that would be the format. I liked that there were excerpts from people other than the authors giving their thoughts about the movie, whether they were actors in the movie or people the movie influenced (like Weird Al Yankovic, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, etc.).

There was a lot of time devoted to the Kentucky Fried Theatre and the movie, "Kentucky Fried" (I've never heard of it). I know it was there to provide background about the authors but it was like too much. It seemed like the book was more about the authors than "Airplane!".

Surely You Can't Be Serious The True Story of Airplane! by David Zucker; Jim Abrahams; Jerry Zucker is an amazing read for those of us who loved the movie when it first came out! Yes, I admit I may have seen it more than once in the theater back when movies cost less the $4.00 a show! The book is just as hilarious as you would expect,, with background stories, behind the scenes accounts and just everything you would ever want to know about Airplane! A don't miss for fans! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I always love to learn about the history of films and how crazy the filmmaking process is. This book scratches that itch to learn about film history and it makes me want to watch the movie on whatever streaming device has it.