You might know the comedy sketch, Who’s On First? if you’re of a certain age, like classical comedy or know baseball adjacent history. I just read an online book version of it called Who’s on First?: The Comedy Classic by Abbott and Costello. It was written by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello originally with this version having John Martz on illustrations. Is it due early February 2027 so you have some time to decide if you want this version or not.
The thing is, I almost didn’t want to read it, let alone have a copy, as it is one of my least favorite jokes. Yet, also somehow, one of the best acts if done right. How did they do that? I mean it can be really annoying. The fact that the characters’ names are Who What When and Why (was there Where and How, too? I know I should know as I just read it…..) and the fact the questions fit the names is just the start of why things are both clever and not so clever. So when one character asks the coach of the baseball team the names of the players, with “Who is on first?” The answer is “Who, is on first.” Okay, that’s funny because it goes on to others and the whole thing is frustrating for the asker, but by the third or fourth listen it is old and has no more punch. It’s kinda like the To Serve Man episode from The Twilight Zone. Sure I can watch Richard Kiel as the alien all day, but the reveal loses its bite by the fourth watch.
What I particularly enjoyed was the factual information at the end giving some background information. And the art was interesting. It is very minimalistic in color and details. You might like it or not, but that is partly why it’s interesting. They make you focus on Bud and Lou as characters, as the conduit of the humor. So, it wasn’t a total loss as one can talk about it. So, if you are not a fan of the sketch because honestly you never saw or heard it, you can now become one if you read this book. It is not unfun really. It can be humorous to the right listener/reader, but be prepared to read again (and again). And remember that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, but what won’t we do for the children in our lives to have them love reading as much as we do?
