New York Times Bestseller: A "gripping" true story of late-night comedy and behind-the-scenes drama ( Los Angeles Times ).
When beloved host Johnny Carson announced his retirement after thirty years on The Tonight Show , millions of Americans mourned. But inside the television industry, the news ignited a battle between two amazing talents--Jay Leno and David Letterman--who both yearned to occupy the departing legend's chair. For NBC, it would be a decision with millions of dollars at stake. Soon these two comedians with strikingly different styles, who had once shared a friendship as they worked the clubs together, would be engaged in a fierce competition for the prize.
Based on in-depth reporting and interviews with those involved, and updated with a new introduction by the author, The Late Shift is a "vivid, behind-the-scenes, blow-by-blow account" of the fight that ensued, as stars, agents, and executives maneuvered for control of the most profitable program in TV history ( Chicago Tribune ).
"Remarkably gripping . . . Takes us deep into the bizarre high-stakes world of broadcasting . . . A powerful story, and ultimately a sad one, filled with casualties as well as winners." -- The New York Times Book Review
"Solid reporting, based on extensive interviews with the principals, lifts The Late Shift into a class of its own. . . . The insights into the people involved are what make [the book] a page-turner." -- Orange Country Register
Description:
New York Times Bestseller: A "gripping" true story of late-night comedy and behind-the-scenes drama ( Los Angeles Times ).
When beloved host Johnny Carson announced his retirement after thirty years on The Tonight Show , millions of Americans mourned. But inside the television industry, the news ignited a battle between two amazing talents--Jay Leno and David Letterman--who both yearned to occupy the departing legend's chair. For NBC, it would be a decision with millions of dollars at stake. Soon these two comedians with strikingly different styles, who had once shared a friendship as they worked the clubs together, would be engaged in a fierce competition for the prize.
Based on in-depth reporting and interviews with those involved, and updated with a new introduction by the author, The Late Shift is a "vivid, behind-the-scenes, blow-by-blow account" of the fight that ensued, as stars, agents, and executives maneuvered for control of the most profitable program in TV history ( Chicago Tribune ).
"Remarkably gripping . . . Takes us deep into the bizarre high-stakes world of broadcasting . . . A powerful story, and ultimately a sad one, filled with casualties as well as winners." -- The New York Times Book Review
"Solid reporting, based on extensive interviews with the principals, lifts The Late Shift into a class of its own. . . . The insights into the people involved are what make [the book] a page-turner." -- Orange Country Register