Die Laughing

About the Book

"Hollywood comedy writer Springer McKay is summoned to serve as jokewriter for the President of the United States, he’s President King Morgan’s “Secretary of Schtick.” When someone slips strychnine in Vice President Dakin Hinch’s drink everyone in the White House is suspect—all had motive and opportunity, but who was unhinged enough to commit murder? Springer investigates while fingers of guilt point at President Morgan due to his sudden erratic behavior. At the annual Gridiron Dinner the President goes totally haywire and, doing a dead-on impression of Groucho Marx, hurls insults at the “whistle-asses” in Congress and the media. The FBI concludes the President went mad and is responsible for the murder—case closed. Springer’s not so sure. Jokes and intrigue follow in this hilarious tale of Murder, Washington-Style."

About the Author

JERRY RANNOW began his career as an actor with guest appearances on The Beverly Hillbillies, Love, American Style, My Three Sons, The Red Skelton Hour, The Jonathan Winters Show and The Carol Burnett Show. He later made the transition to writer-producer on Welcome Back, Kotter, Happy Days, Love, American Style, Room 222, Love Boat, All in the Family, Eight Is Enough and Head of the Class—a total of over 200 produced teleplays. Jerry has won development contracts with ABC, Columbia Pictures and Twentieth Century-Fox. His books, Writing Television Comedy and Surviving Hollywood (Allworth Press) are in bookstores and at amazon.com.