Take It from the Top: Stories from an Unfiltered TV Choreographer

Author/Contributor(s):	Tallaksen, Fred
Publisher:	Rare Bird Books
Date:	5/25/2027
Binding:	Hardcover
Condition:	NEW

What does choreographing Madonna, Bryan Cranston, Selena Gomez, and Bea Arthur have in common with hanging upside down by his penny loafers, tangling his sister's cornrows in a crab net, and telling the new Spock that the old Spock's head is buried in his mother's backyard? Fred Tallaksen.

In this hilarious, heartfelt, and completely unfiltered memoir, the award-winning choreographer takes readers behind the scenes of Hollywood's biggest shows, movies, music videos, and live events, revealing the chaos and comedy of showbiz one story at a time, with each production triggering an equally outrageous memory from his own life.

From teaching Mike Myers to roller skate and making meatballs with his mother armed with a rosary and wooden spoon, to choreographing Beau Bridges' overdose and watching his sister slug a bully, Fred has spent a career creating television magic. And somehow, every Hollywood adventure leads him straight back to the sitcom-worthy madness and heart of his over-the-top Italian family in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Packed with celebrity encounters, laught-out-loud misadventures, and unforgettable family stories, Take It from the Top proves that real life is often stranger, funnier, and far more unbelievable than anything in a script.

Warm, witty, and impossible to put down, this is a backstage pass to a life fueled by big dreams, bigger personalities, and the unwavering belief that every catastrophe can become a great story. Because when your life feels like a sitcom, the only thing left to do is hit your mark, face the audience, and take it from the top.