Ted L. Nancy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ted L. Nancy is the author of a number of prank letters which have been published in a series of bestselling books under the titles Letters from a Nut, More Letters from a Nut and Extra Nutty!: Even More Letters from a Nut.

Although it is "widely rumored" that Nancy is an alter ego of the comedian Jerry Seinfeld^[1], this may just be a canny marketing ploy.^[2] Roger Friedman of Fox News suggested in 2002 that Barry Marder—a longtime Seinfeld collaborator and friend, and the executive producer of the ABC pilot based on the letters (which never made it to the air)—is the real source.^[3] At any rate, Seinfeld claims to have "discovered" the material and provides an introduction for each of the books.

Nancy specializes in letters to unsuspecting celebrities and organizations; these missives typically consist of off-the-wall queries and much of the entertainment derives from the replies as individuals and institutions endeavour to respond politely to the author's often absurd requests and outlandish proposals.

In 2002, a number of news sources reported that Ted L. Nancy—or rather Jerry Seinfeld, who was assumed to be behind the prank—incurred the wrath of Hunter S. Thompson by embroiling the gonzo Godfather in one such correspondence. Thompson allegedly accused Seinfeld of pitching the letters as a show idea to ABC and objected to having his name associated with what he regarded as a cheap stunt. ^[4] However, perhaps in keeping with the playful spirit of forgery and pranksterism surrounding the Nancy letters, the authenticity of Thompson's response has, subsequently, also been brought into question. ^{[5] [6]}

[edit] See also

• Henry Root
• Wanda Tinasky
• Don Novello (the "Lazlo" letters)
• Ed Broth

[edit] References

1. ^ Cling, Carol (2002-07-15). "Shooting Stars: ABC pilot attempts to answer nutty questions". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
2. ^ Marks, Don (1998-03-16). "Going Postal: A Sociological Interpretation of Ted L. Nancy’s Letters from a Nut and Other Adventures in Epistolary Mischief-Making". Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
3. ^ Friedman, Roger (2002-05-31). Gere: Up for Tibetan Help?. FOXNews.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
4. ^ Burkeman, Oliver (2002-07-03). "Is Jerry the joker?". The Guardian. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
5. ^ DeMazza, Matt (2002). 3am Interview: The Gonzo Seinfeld Connection: An Interview with Asterisk. 3 AM Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.
6. ^ Crooke, Jeff (2002-10-16). "The Asterisk/HST/Seinfeld Mystery". InfoJunkie Props. Retrieved on 2006-06-14.