I admit that I was not very aware of Darrell Hammond before turning on THE ROSIE SHOW and seeing him interviewed about his Memoir. I found the interview completely compelling and immediately downloaded the book to my Kindle, got a cup of tea, and sat in the living room for the next 2 hours reading this book cover to cover.
Part of the book is an entertaining and informative inside look backstage at SNL and what a normal week is like for the Cast and Guest Host.
But the other part of the book is a harrowing look at how your destiny is chosen for you at a young age by the handling of your parents, or should I say the mishandling.
Darrell Hammond was a victim of child abuse at the hands of his mother. She did things like stick his fingers in electrical outlets, slam his hands in car doors just for fun, and hit him in the stomach with a hammer. She was an incredibly disturbed woman who created within Mr. Hammond the belief that he was not worthy of being loved or respected.
This carried into his adult life as he began a downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse which sent him in and out of rehab units for several years. He also unfortunately began cutting himself at a young age and this has continued into his adult life. In fact, he admits to cutting himself while writing the Memoir.
It is not a fun read and will definitely not be for everyone, but I found it riveting. I was unable to shake it for days after finishing the book. I also spent a few hours on YouTube watching Darrell Hammond in action on SNL, the only place that he ever has felt completely worthy.
This is the most raw book on addiction I have read. Worth your time if you can handle it.
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