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Book Cover for: Odd Woman Out: Exposure in Essays and Stories, Melanie Chartoff

Odd Woman Out: Exposure in Essays and Stories

Melanie Chartoff

Trying to crawl inside the television set to get her parents' attention, she got blocked by all the tubes and wires. So she had to go the long way around to get herself onscreen. In a series of essays and stories, Chartoff explores her ambition, artistry and love blunders in her hilarious, heartbreaking and hopeful new memoir, Odd Woman Out.


From her 1950s childhood in a suburb she describes as an "abusement park," to performing Molière on Broadway, to voicing characters on the popular "Rugrats" cartoon series, Melanie Chartoff was anxious "out of character," preferring any imaginary world to her real one. Obsessed with exploring her talent and mastering craft, fame came as a destabilizing byproduct. Suppressing a spiritual breakdown while co-starring on a late-night comedy show, Chartoff grew more estranged from whoever she was meant to be. But given a private audience with a guru, she finally heard her inner voice, played by '70s soul singer Barry White, crooning, "Get out, baby!" All the while, she's courted by men with homing pigeons and Priuses, idealized by guys who want the girl du jour from TV to be their baby rearer or kidney donor.


Go backstage on Broadway, behind the scenes on network television, and inside the complicated psyche of a talented performer struggling to play the role of a complete human. Odd Woman Out intimately exposes the nature of identity in the life of a performing artist, snapshotting the hopeful search for a self Chartoff could love, and someone else's self to love, too.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Melanie Chartoff
  • Publish Date: Feb 2nd, 2021
  • Pages: 268
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.50in - 5.50in - 0.56in - 0.69lb
  • EAN: 9781735268927
  • Categories: Entertainment & Performing ArtsJewish

About the Author

Chartoff, Melanie: - Beginning as an actor On and Off Broadway, Melanie Chartoff is best known for the characters she created on Fridays, Seinfeld, Newhart, and Rugrats. Recently published in McSweeney's, Medium, Entropy, Purple Clover, The Jewish Journal, Funny Times, Five on the Fifth, Glint, Entropy, Verdad, Bluestem, Evening Street Press, Mused, Jewlarious, Defenestration, Better after 50, Living the Second Act, and three editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Odd Woman Out: Exposure in Essays and Stories is her first book.

Praise for this book

"a celebratory memoir in which the underside of fame is addressed with humor and wisdom." -- Foreword Reviews


"It's inspiring but not schlocky. It's a killer comedy sketch production, not a sappy Hallmark channel movie. Here's hoping Chartoff plans more work in this vein, as this first gush of her reflections prove she's tapped quite a strong one." --Pop Matters


"Read this one, you won't regret it."-- Book Slut


"Melanie Chartoff's book reads like a novel. A thriller, a tragedy, a comedy and romance. The eloquence with which she presents her inner world is a service to any reader who lives a deeply examined life. I felt like I'd gotten 25 years of therapy just observing her trajectory towards serenity and the ability to say, 'f*ck you' to her personal demons. ... 'Odd Woman Out' is a highly personal thrill ride. A must." -- Laraine Newman, actor


"Melanie Chartoff's 'Odd Woman Out' is a brilliant and engaging read. Chartoff, an actress of great wit and charm, is candid about navigating both the fleshpots of Hollywood and her own inner minefield. What emerges is extremely funny, often touching, often profound. A collection of pieces that will by turns delight you, sadden you and ultimately affirm how hard and how beautiful life can be. It is a journey you will be glad you took." -- Fred Melamed, actor


"A beautiful, funny, moving rendering of a unique life in art, show business and comedy. She is a brilliant actor and a wonderful writer. Her book inspired me. Her teachings and insights changed my life." -- Betty Buckley, actor


"I've known the talented Melanie Chartoff since 1980 and was well aware of her huge talent as an actress but had no idea that she was an equally brilliant author, as well. This is an extremely touching and funny memoir that is a must read for all her friends and fans." -- Ed Begley, Jr., actor


"Melanie Chartoff is the most gorgeous writer, the most funny, poignant, sinuous teller of tales that make you gasp and sigh and cheer. Just. Wow. This book reconnects us to what it means to feel, to care, to be human, and still be able to laugh at it all. Odd Woman Out is a magnificent piece of writing about the fantastic adventure of her life and times. We can all relate, but none of us could have made it this funny, warm, honest, humane and human. Do yourself a huge favor and give yourself the gift of going along on this adventure." -- Elayne Boosler, comedian, writer and animal activist


"From one chick in the chuckle racket to another -- Bravo, Melanie! This is the book I wish I had written -- except for the dirty bits!"-- Anne Beatts, American comedy writer