NPR More Funniest Driveway Moments

The sequel to NPR FUNNIEST DRIVEWAY MOMENTS starts out strong, with Joan Rivers reflecting on being a female comedian in the 1960s and using humor to get through the tough times in her life. Robert Krulwich introduces each of these NPR highlights with mock seriousness. Other highlights include Harry Shearer, the voice of the mayor in "The Simpsons," who does humorous impressions, such as that of a baseball writer describing a game months after it was played. Another high point is news anchor Brian Williams's guest spot on "Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!", who tells the audience with satisfaction that he was on vacation when the now-infamous "balloon boy" supposedly took off from his backyard. He also gets teased for his "Bri-Tunes" music blog, inspired by the 7,000 songs on his "Bri-Pod." A.B. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

October 25, 2010
Perhaps NPR should have stopped after its first collection of funniest driveway moments because this second installment—featuring such comedic heavyweights as Joan Rivers, Harry Shearer, and Carol Burnett—curiously falls flat. Culled from a variety of NPR programs, the compilation has its high points: NBC's Brian Williams has a memorable turn on Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me, Carol Burnett is charming as she looks back on her career, and Harry Shearer certainly entertains when discussing flame-retardant salmon. However, the collection has an equal number of misses—John Hodgman's fake facts prove tiring, and too many vignettes are devoted to dissecting humor rather than delivering it.

Starred review from February 1, 2011

This follow-up to NPR Funniest Driveway Moments (2008), also available from HighBridge Audio, collects some two dozen delightful short segments from the National Public Radio archives. It opens with a hilarious interview with Joan Rivers, who speaks to the benefits of getting older; the remainder has something for all ages--Seinfeld writer Peter Mehlman on Los Angeles, Carol Burnett on belting out her trademark Tarzan yell in Bloomingdale's lingerie department, Jane Lynch on her cheerleading coach character on the Emmy Award-winning show Glee, comics John Rappaport and Matty Simmons on The World's Funniest Joke, and more. Outrageously funny and a reminder that the medium of radio is alive and well. This enthusiastically recommended production will captivate commuting listeners into lingering in their driveways long after they've reached their destination.--Barbara Valle, El Paso P.L., TX

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.