Publishers Weekly
★ 04/19/2021
Comedian Nesteroff (The Comedians) delivers a veritable who’s who of Native American comedy from “the rez” to New York City in this sometimes disturbing yet beautiful history. Starting with the contemporary Ojibwe comic Jonny Roberts—who, like many of his contemporaries, must drive hours to get to an open mic—and jumping back to the racist history of nearly forced Native participation in P.T. Barnum’s and Buffalo Bill shows, Nesteroff’s narrative returns often to the story of Oneida comic Charlie Hill. Hill’s ability to weave Native politics artfully into his work made him a superstar in the ’70 after he starred on Letterman, and he later used his success to jump-start the careers of other Native comics. Nesteroff also covers the 1491s—a Native sketch group—and the latest crew of Native comedic stars, among them Adrianne Chalepa, and TV writers Lucas Brown Eyes and Sierra Ornelas, who continue to work to put Indigenous actors on the big screen. This sharp collection addresses the politics, history, and merits of Native comedy in a way that’s never been done before. Agent: Daniel Greenberg. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
[Nesteroff] has carved out a niche as the premier popular historian of comedy because of his knack for unearthing such forgotten stories...[We Had a Little Real Estate Problem] provides context for an argument about the importance of representation.”—Jason Zinoman, The New York Times
“[A]n illuminating and stereotype-busting history of Native Americans and comedy.” –The Washington Post
“[A] thoughtful, passionate, and extremely well-researched look at the rarely examined history of indigenous American comedy...Nesteroff provides a history of one part of American life that also tells the story of something much more vast."—Brian Boone, New York Magazine (“The Best Comedy Books of 2021, So Far”)
“Kliph Nesteroff explores an overlooked side of comedy in We Had a Little Real Estate Problem. From its account of Native American marginalization to the Cherokee roots of Will Rogers, from the inspiring story of Charlie Hill to the new wave of young, hilarious, Indigenous comedians, this book is a game changer."—Judd Apatow
“Stuck with living out contradictions between what America says and what it does, Native people transformed a hard world of irony into one of wry and satirical humor. Kliph Nesteroff takes readers on a journey through this uncharted Indian comic world—its pasts and presents, legendary heroes and rising stars, insider jokes and desperate performances. The result is a fascinating and rich picture of the life-affirming, revolutionary practices of Native comedy.”—Philip J. Deloria, Harvard University
“My uncle used to tell this one joke, it went — no, no, just read this instead. It’s got the jokes and the jokesters, five hundred-plus years and counting.”—Stephen Graham Jones, bestselling author of The Only Good Indians
“A remarkable book that takes the history of Native American comedy and turns it into a page-turner. It seems like there’s a revelation in every one of its tight chapters. Applause for the book and the exciting artists who populate it.”—Steve Martin
"No one knows the inside story of comedy, and the trials and tribulations of the people who can't stop themselves from making it, like Kliph Nesteroff. It is so cool to observe how comedy lets people tell the truth - and Native Peoples certainly have alot to release through making fun. If you love the story of comedy, this is an untold side (til now)."—Bob Odenkirk
“Nesteroff has written a gem. We Had a Little Real Estate Problem tells the untold story of Native American comedy through contemporary interviews and historical analysis. He chips away at the myths of the stoic or long-suffering fate of ‘The Indian.’ In its place, he creates a vibrant counter-narrative that exposes the hilarious, irreverent, ambitious heart of modern Native America.”—David Treuer, author of Rez Life and The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present
"A welcome introduction to an aspect of Native American life that merits broader exposure." —Kirkus Reviews
“Richly researched and told through the vibrant voices of the comics themselves...Kliph Nesteroff’s extraordinary We Had a Little Real Estate Problem chronicles a legacy deserving of inclusion in the history of comedy in the U.S.” —BookPage (starred review)
Library Journal
12/01/2020
With a title inspired by one of Oneida Nation actor and comedian Charlie Hill's famous lines ("My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem"), this latest work by comedy historian Nesteroff (The Comedians) focuses on an often-overlooked history. From Natives forced to become sideshow attractions in Wild West routines to white actors making a living playing Native characters in vaudeville and silent films, Nesteroff recalls an ongoing legacy of assimilation practices, stereotypes, and discrimination. The strongest parts of the book center on biographical sketches of Cherokee actor Will Rogers and how his grandfather signing the Treaty of New Echota, which led to the Trail of Tears, continued to haunt the family. Other insightful chapters recount the influence of Hill and his groundbreaking debut on The Richard Pryor Show in 1977. Hill, who became a regular at the Comedy Store and ended up writing for Roseanne, inspired several Native comedians, whom Nesteroff interviews throughout. While only a handful of women are featured, insight from Cayuse/Nez Perce actress Elaine Miles and Kiowa/Apache comedian Adrianne Chalepah is welcome. VERDICT With no real comparison book, this well-documented history, though uneven at times, should spark interest and future research.—Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal