Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

by Dave Berg
Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

by Dave Berg

eBook

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Overview

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno comes alive in this book from an insider who describes the show's inner workings from the monologue to the guest bookings and appearances. Leno was the late-night ratings leader for almost two decades, which is unprecedented in the modern era of television. He and his producers made the show number one by recasting Johnny Carson's Tonight Show into Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Behind the Curtain takes an exclusive look at how they achieved it.

During The Tonight Show's Jay Leno years, there were always two shows going on: the one on stage and the one behind it, where the camera didn't roll. This narrative weaves both together, featuring Leno and his most prominent guests. It recalls the show's most memorable moments, both good and bad, skillfully recounted by one of Leno's most highly respected, long-time co-producers, Dave Berg. For eighteen years, he booked and worked with Hollywood stars, superstar athletes, presidents and other politicos, and news makers.

Called "the best booker in the business" by Bill O'Reilly, Berg delivered an array of high-profile guests to the program. Along the way he experienced it all, from a harrowing adventure to Nashville to spy on Dennis Rodman to a five-year campaign to book Barack Obama, the first sitting president ever to appear on a late-night show.

Berg was an eyewitness who tells what really happened during the show's most legendary moments: Arnold Schwarzenegger's surprise political announcement; Hugh Grant's mea culpa; football great Jason Sehorn's proposal to Angie Harmon; the inebriated Cheers cast's live show from Boston; Jerry Seinfeld's appearance with "surprise guest" John F. Kennedy Jr.; and Leno's 9/11 show, the finest of his career.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781455619979
Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date: 06/15/2014
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 272
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Dave Berg was co-producer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Jay Leno Show for eighteen years. In addition, he was a producer for The O'Reilly Factor, a writer for NBC News, and the Los Angeles bureau chief for CNBC. Throughout his career, he has worked as a reporter, anchor, executive producer, and bureau chief for local and network television organizations. A sought-after keynote speaker and panelist, Berg has a BA in political science from Northwestern University and an MS in journalism from Kansas State University. He has given presentations to entertainment, political, business, religious, and educational organizations. Berg has written for publications such as USA Today, Reader's Digest, National Review, Huffington Post, Christianity Today, Washington Times, Daily Caller, and Crisis Magazine and writes jokes and speeches for politicians and other public figures. He served as a consultant to the late Frank Pastore and was a regular guest on his radio show in Los Angeles. Berg is a member of Newhall Church. He and his wife, Mary, live in Valencia, California, and have two grown children, Melissa and David.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Chapter 1 James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno 13

Chapter 2 Funny Is Funny 27

Chapter 3 The Dangerous Art of Booking Guests 35

Chapter 4 Guests 49

Chapter 5 The Real Reality Show 71

Chapter 6 Gets I Didn't Get 91

Chapter 7 Spying on Dennis Rodman in Nashville 109

Chapter 8 John F. Kennedy Jr., the Favorite Guest 129

Chapter 9 Mr. Sitting President 137

Chapter 10 Political Moments 149

Chapter 11 News People 173

Chapter 12 Sports Greats 191

Chapter 13 The Audience 217

Chapter 14 Jay Leno's Garage 225

Chapter 15 Trying Times 233

Chapter 16 The Future 259

Acknowledgments 265

Index 267

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