Bruce Vilanch’s It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time is a rollicking, unfiltered journey through a career spent in the chaotic, glittering world of Hollywood comedy writing. For decades, Vilanch has been the go-to scribe for award shows, variety specials, sitcoms, and some of the most notorious trainwrecks in television history. His book serves as both a confession and a celebration of the risks taken in the name of entertainment, and for those who have ever wondered, “How did this ever get made?” Vilanch provides the long-awaited answers—with a hefty dose of self-deprecating wit and behind-the-scenes gossip. From the outset, Vilanch embraces his reputation as both a comedy genius and an inadvertent architect of legendary television disasters. His career spans a surreal spectrum, from writing for Bette Midler and Billy Crystal to crafting infamous cultural relics like The Star Wars Holiday Special and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. He owns up to these projects with a mix of nostalgia, ...