In her novel The Last Hollywood Romance television comedy writing veteran Beverly Bloomberg writes an entertaining tale about life behind the scenes at a mediocre sitcom. It's witty and funny and something of a must-read, if, like me, you've ever pictured yourself writing for television. The reason I mention it on Disability Nation is the character of CP wunderkind producer Mike Lanetti, who uses his spastic appearance to keep the writing staff on "Life With Lucky" completely off-balance. They worry about crossing him because he's had to "overcome so much" in his path through the ranks of television comedy to getting pictures and phone calls from Madonna. When Lucky isn't happy and walks off the set, the writing team, especially Emmeline and Bud, the lovers in the "Hollywood Romance" learn just how much like the other moguls Mike really is, underneath his funny walk and speech that's hard to understand.

Bloomberg worked on many successful comedies during the seventies, and so I get the feeling she knows the world she writes about. It made me wonder if there was a real producer with some kind of obvious impairment she disguised in some way to create Mike's character. The story is funny, and touching in places, although at times, though one of the lead writers is 28 and the other is 48, they tend to sound like each other too often, and I have to look at the chapter heading to see who is speaking. But when it's this hot and most of TV has gone to reruns, I don't feel like quibbling. Overall, it's a good bit of fun, even if you won't remember it forever

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--Erika Jahneke