Bruce Vilanch is an actor (occasionally an actress), writer (occasionally a rewriter), and comedian (occasionally for money, often for causes). He has coauthored 25 Academy Award spectacles, winning two writing Emmys in the process, and has been nominated for seven more. In addition to the Oscars, he has cowritten many Tonys, Emmys, Grammys, People's Choice, American Comedy Awards, TV Land Awards, SAG Awards, and a ton of other pageants, roasts, tributes, and various trumped-up reasons for people to strut a red carpet. He has coauthored dozens of variety television shows and actually put words in the mouth of Cher. He's also a lyricist, scoring gold and platinum records for disco songs he wrote for Eartha Kitt and the Village People. And musical theatre geeks will remember him as the coauthor of the Broadway misfire called Platinum, which was revived off-Broadway for reasons that continue to mystify Bruce.

"These tales are not only hilarious but often shocking that they took place at all. Bruce tells each with wild detail and an incredible amount of heart. You may come for The Star Wars Holiday Special, but you'll be thrilled you stayed for The Ice Pirates and Charo!" --ANDREW RANNELLS

"Bruce is the name, the man, the person, who steadied the Oscars for a hundred years. The go-to genius we all relied on." --STEVE MARTIN

"A well-written treat for fans of show-biz gossip." -- Kirkus Reviews

"In true Vilanch fashion, [It Seemed Like A Bad Idea at the Time] serves as a reminder that even the most outrageous misfires can become cultural touchstones, and that sometimes, the best ideas really do start as bad ones." -- The Advocate

"An entertaining, often hilarious behind-the-scenes look at working in show business." -- Library Journal

"[I]f you're a fellow pop culture dumpster diver, it won't matter whether you read or hear Bruce Vilanch's stories. You'll just be glad to have found them in the muck." -- The Washington Post

"With a conversational style, the book feels like gossipy brunch with a witty friend." -- Gay & Lesbian Review

"It's often been said you learn a lot more from failure than you ever do from success, and in master comedy writer Bruce Vilanch's hilarious new book, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, he has created a screamingly funny encyclopedia of show business failure that takes the joy of schadenfreude to new heights. A laugh-out-loud autopsy of fiascos from television to film to Broadway, all told with Bruce's impeccable wit and huge heart, from The Paul Lynde Halloween Special to The Ice Pirates, it must be read to be believed. And despite the subject matter this deeply funny debacle chronicle proves to be an unqualified hit." --NATHAN LANE

"Turns out that all those TV specials I watched as a kid--the ones that not only delighted me but made me wince, groan, and squirm with embarrassment--had Bruce Vilanch's name on them. And he lived!" --JANE LYNCH

Publisher: Chicago Review Press

Pub date: 2026-06-02

Length: 208 pages