Romantic Comedy

This is my first [a:Curtis Sittenfeld 6429 Curtis Sittenfeld https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1675721083p2/6429.jpg] book, but it won't be my last. It starts in the backstage chaos of a Saturday Night Live-like show in NYC and ends in Kansas City, MO of all places. What happens in between is the kind of magic we all wonder about.It's all reflected in a comedy sketch that never happened called “The Danny Horst Rule.” It was named after one of the male writers on the comedy show who was average-looking but dating a knockout of a female celebrity. The rule presents the idea that lots of good-looking female celebrities date average (or below-average) looking guys, but rarely does the reverse (good-looking male celebrity with an average-looking woman) happen.Unlike a real romantic comedy—if there is such a thing—Sally, the main character, is a comedy sketch writer who is only average-looking. So, of course, she's attracted to the absolute HUNK of musical host (Noah) for one week's Saturday night show. At times, she even believes he might be interested in her, but she constantly brushes the idea aside because, well, the Danny Horst Rule. Years pass. Just when this reader began to wonder what the almost connection between Sally and Noah was or wasn't, the COVID pandemic intervenes and everyone's life is interrupted in odd ways (as it was in real life.)What happens next occurs through a quick flurry of emails. Without giving away the ending, let's just say Sally and Noah test the Danny Horst rule. Overall, it's a delightful story that presents both the reality of late night, live TV and fame. The realism in the story is quite a departure from most romantic comedies.