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Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night
New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman delivers the definitive story of the life and artistic legacy of David Letterman, the greatest television talk show host of all time and the signature comedic voice of a generation.
In a career spanning more than thirty years, David Letterman redefined the modern talk show with an ironic comic style that transcended traditional television. While he remains one of the most famous stars in America, he is a remote, even reclusive, figure whose career is widely misunderstood. In Letterman, Jason Zinoman, the first comedy critic in the history of the New York Times, mixes groundbreaking reporting with unprecedented access and probing critical analysis to explain the unique entertainer’s titanic legacy. Moving from his early days in Indiana to his retirement, Zinoman goes behind the scenes of Letterman’s television career to illuminate the origins of his revolutionary comedy, its overlooked influences, and how his work intersects with and reveals his famously eccentric personality.
Zinoman argues that Letterman had three great artistic periods, each distinct and part of his evolution. As he examines key broadcasting moments—"Stupid Pet Tricks" and other captivating segments that defined Late Night with David Letterman—he illuminates Letterman’s relationship to his writers, and in particular, the show’s co-creator, Merrill Markoe, with whom Letterman shared a long professional and personal connection.
To understand popular culture today, it’s necessary to understand David Letterman. With this revealing biography, Zinoman offers a perceptive analysis of the man and the artist whose ironic voice and caustic meta-humor was critical to an entire generation of comedians and viewers—and whose singular style ushered in new tropes that have become clichés in comedy today.
In a career spanning more than thirty years, David Letterman redefined the modern talk show with an ironic comic style that transcended traditional television. While he remains one of the most famous stars in America, he is a remote, even reclusive, figure whose career is widely misunderstood. In Letterman, Jason Zinoman, the first comedy critic in the history of the New York Times, mixes groundbreaking reporting with unprecedented access and probing critical analysis to explain the unique entertainer’s titanic legacy. Moving from his early days in Indiana to his retirement, Zinoman goes behind the scenes of Letterman’s television career to illuminate the origins of his revolutionary comedy, its overlooked influences, and how his work intersects with and reveals his famously eccentric personality.
Zinoman argues that Letterman had three great artistic periods, each distinct and part of his evolution. As he examines key broadcasting moments—"Stupid Pet Tricks" and other captivating segments that defined Late Night with David Letterman—he illuminates Letterman’s relationship to his writers, and in particular, the show’s co-creator, Merrill Markoe, with whom Letterman shared a long professional and personal connection.
To understand popular culture today, it’s necessary to understand David Letterman. With this revealing biography, Zinoman offers a perceptive analysis of the man and the artist whose ironic voice and caustic meta-humor was critical to an entire generation of comedians and viewers—and whose singular style ushered in new tropes that have become clichés in comedy today.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2017
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January 17, 2018
Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by Jason Zinoman is a 2017 Harper publication.
It has been nearly three years since ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ went off the air. For some reason, it seems a lot longer than that.
When I saw this book, it struck me that, I really didn't know all that much about him personally, save for the big sex and blackmail scandal he admitted to on the air, and his infamous stalker.
I hoped this book would give me a little insight into Letterman’s life, but I would have been happy just to read about his upbringing, and how he climbed his way up the chain to become a major late night phenomenon, because I realized I didn't even know the basics.
I was only able to tune in to ‘The Late Show’ on occasion, not because I didn’t like the show, but because I had to be up too early in the morning. When I had a DVR, I watched it more frequently, but my kids were always wanting me to watch ‘Conan’, so I was not exactly a loyal viewer. In fact, it got to the point where I only looked up the ‘The Top Ten List’ and skipped the rest.
Still, I always found Letterman to be somewhat of an enigma. He was different, offbeat, and of course the king of irony, but he also had a few rough edges and sometimes I just wasn’t quite sure how to take him. I doubt I'm the only one who was ever taken aback by his approach to his female guests, in particular.
This book explores Letterman’s various moods, his brand of comedy, as well as giving the reader insights into his personal relationships, while taking us through his career highlights- his successes and failures, all the way up to his final show.
I’m not sure if anyone can ever truly penetrate Letterman’s veneer, but it is obvious he is complex, plagued by demons and insecurities, and could be very difficult to deal with, but, if nothing else- he is original.
I didn’t come away from reading this book feeling all that much differently about Dave, one way or another. I didn’t like him more or less, after having taken this journey, but I did feel as though I might understand him better.
What I did enjoy about this book was the history of late night talk shows, watching the way Letterman was able to carve out his own niche, and the way his show evolved over the years. There are some fond memories, some great sketches, as well as some awkward moments and of course a few controversies along the way.
It was an amazing journey and Dave is certainly an interesting person, much more intense than even appears on the surface. I did enjoy reading this book, and found that, while it stuck with a chronological format for the most part, various avenues were explored as deeply as they needed to be, even if it meant going backwards or forwards in time.
The layout is organized, is easy to read and follow, and is thankfully and refreshingly unbiased, in my opinion. The author has no problem pointing out Dave’s less than flattering moments or aspects of his personality that made him seem difficult or even vulnerable at times. I loathe biographies with too much hero worship or show signs of sycophancy. This book seems like a fair assessment of Dave’s life and career, which is something I really appreciated, along with a special attention to detail and of course the obvious amount of research he put into this book.
I have recently discovered Dave has a new show coming to Netflix. I'm not sure if I'll watch, but the guest list sounds intriguing, so I may give it a try.
Overall, this an in depth look at Letterman’s life and career, is well written, fair and very insightful.
4 stars
It has been nearly three years since ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ went off the air. For some reason, it seems a lot longer than that.
When I saw this book, it struck me that, I really didn't know all that much about him personally, save for the big sex and blackmail scandal he admitted to on the air, and his infamous stalker.
I hoped this book would give me a little insight into Letterman’s life, but I would have been happy just to read about his upbringing, and how he climbed his way up the chain to become a major late night phenomenon, because I realized I didn't even know the basics.
I was only able to tune in to ‘The Late Show’ on occasion, not because I didn’t like the show, but because I had to be up too early in the morning. When I had a DVR, I watched it more frequently, but my kids were always wanting me to watch ‘Conan’, so I was not exactly a loyal viewer. In fact, it got to the point where I only looked up the ‘The Top Ten List’ and skipped the rest.
Still, I always found Letterman to be somewhat of an enigma. He was different, offbeat, and of course the king of irony, but he also had a few rough edges and sometimes I just wasn’t quite sure how to take him. I doubt I'm the only one who was ever taken aback by his approach to his female guests, in particular.
This book explores Letterman’s various moods, his brand of comedy, as well as giving the reader insights into his personal relationships, while taking us through his career highlights- his successes and failures, all the way up to his final show.
I’m not sure if anyone can ever truly penetrate Letterman’s veneer, but it is obvious he is complex, plagued by demons and insecurities, and could be very difficult to deal with, but, if nothing else- he is original.
I didn’t come away from reading this book feeling all that much differently about Dave, one way or another. I didn’t like him more or less, after having taken this journey, but I did feel as though I might understand him better.
What I did enjoy about this book was the history of late night talk shows, watching the way Letterman was able to carve out his own niche, and the way his show evolved over the years. There are some fond memories, some great sketches, as well as some awkward moments and of course a few controversies along the way.
It was an amazing journey and Dave is certainly an interesting person, much more intense than even appears on the surface. I did enjoy reading this book, and found that, while it stuck with a chronological format for the most part, various avenues were explored as deeply as they needed to be, even if it meant going backwards or forwards in time.
The layout is organized, is easy to read and follow, and is thankfully and refreshingly unbiased, in my opinion. The author has no problem pointing out Dave’s less than flattering moments or aspects of his personality that made him seem difficult or even vulnerable at times. I loathe biographies with too much hero worship or show signs of sycophancy. This book seems like a fair assessment of Dave’s life and career, which is something I really appreciated, along with a special attention to detail and of course the obvious amount of research he put into this book.
I have recently discovered Dave has a new show coming to Netflix. I'm not sure if I'll watch, but the guest list sounds intriguing, so I may give it a try.
Overall, this an in depth look at Letterman’s life and career, is well written, fair and very insightful.
4 stars
September 7, 2021
David Letterman
In this overview of Letterman's professional tenure, the author - Jason Zinoman - covers Letterman's entire career, starting when Letterman was a DJ on a college radio station, through his morning TV show, to his late night shows.
David Letterman early in his career
Letterman was always plagued with insecurities, which were instrumental in shaping his comedy. Letterman incorporated his discomfort with people into his skits and guest interviews, and was sometimes impatient or dismissive (or even hostile) to celebrities if they weren't good guests...especially if they were awkward, or shy, or didn't have good stories to tell.
Alec Baldwin and Drew Barrymore were good guests
[image error]
Rubert Gee
Letterman did numerous skits with Rubert Gee, owner of the Hello Deli
Zinoman gives a comprehensive account of all the people (writers, producers, assistants, cameramen, etc.) who worked behind the scenes on Letterman's shows, as well as Letterman's agents, managers, and publicists. Letterman apparently grew more and more distant towards these ancillary folks as he got older (and crankier). Zinoman emphasizes the huge impact Letterman's one-time girlfriend, Merrill Markoe (who was his head writer for a while) had on his comedy - especially scripted sketches filmed outside the studio, which she wrote and produced.
David Letterman and Merrill Markoe
[image error]
Merrill Markoe
There's a little bit about Letterman's personal life, including the attempted blackmail that induced the talk show host to confess to cheating on his wife 'on-air'.....and how this affected him.
David Letterman with Robert “Joe” Halderman, who tried to blackmail him
Zinoman writes a great deal about Letterman's comedy and how it evolved over the years....and he describes lots of sketches and jokes. The author watched a few thousand Letterman shows and interviewed lots of people, and it's clear he's extremely knowledgeable about Letterman and his career. The writer also discusses how Letterman affected subsequent late night hosts, and describes the 'comedy giant's' lasting imprint on entertainment.
If you're a Letterman fan, you'd love this book.
(I didn't write a comprehensive review of the book as there are plenty of great ones available.)
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
June 6, 2017
David Letterman has always been my favorite talk show host. I loved his originality and his snarkiness. It was always obvious he did not suffer fools gladly. I've read some other books about him and his TV shows, but I have to say that this one, hands down, is the best so far. It takes the reader through a brief history of his life and career before he became mega famous as a talk show host and then concentrates elaborately on each of the shows he helmed. There's never been another one like him. I now watch Conan (cannot stand the smarminess of Fallon or the self righteous Colbert) and as much as I enjoy moments of his brand of comedy (Andy Richter has actually got the quicker wit), it's no where near as entertaining as Letterman. Above all, I believe that, unfortunately, some of the biggest talents in any of the arts are often tortured souls and David Letterman appears to be one of them. It makes me feel badly that so many of the great artists of all genres suffered so much while giving us so much joy.
October 28, 2017
I'm not really a fan of any celebrity or entertainer, but I love David Letterman.
This book provides a balanced and honest look at his Midwestern beginnings, his polarizing comedic genius, his emotional obstacles, his personal failings, and his steady disinterest in hosting a talk show...so Letterman would probably hate every page of it. But as a fan, I found it fascinating and now I understand the person nearly as much as I adore the television legend.
This book provides a balanced and honest look at his Midwestern beginnings, his polarizing comedic genius, his emotional obstacles, his personal failings, and his steady disinterest in hosting a talk show...so Letterman would probably hate every page of it. But as a fan, I found it fascinating and now I understand the person nearly as much as I adore the television legend.
April 10, 2017
Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by Jason Zinoman is a highly recommended biography for anyone who was a fan of Letterman. Zinoman looks at the legacy left by Letterman's career which spanned more than thirty years, beginning with his college broadcasting career, to Late Night with David Letterman, the Late Show with David Letterman, and up to his retirement in 2015. Rather than focusing extensively on his personal life, which is mentioned as it relates to his career, this account concentrates on his career and how he redefined talk shows.
It has never been in doubt that Letterman shaped the humor and the format of current talk shows. Although much has been said or speculated about Letterman's personal life and reclusive nature, Letterman is the quintessential originator of the current talk show model. Pulling no punches, Zinoman covers the difficulties between Letterman and the show's employees and writers, especially Merrill Markoe, who shared a long professional and personal connection with Letterman. He mentions the recurring characters written into (especially) the early shows. Letterman also does not shy away from noting the personal toll fame extracted on the iconic talk show host.
During the beginning of his national broadcasting career I was in college and a perfect audience for his irreverent, mocking, sarcastic humor. After watching some of his morning show in 1980, I started watching Late Night with David Letterman (1982-92) almost nightly during the beginning of his career and through his switch in 1993 from NBC to CBS, although my viewing began to taper off toward the later years. I vividly remember many of the early shows or stunts shared in Letterman, and how I laughed uncontrollably over a stunt or sarcastic comment/joke, which was the talk of all the (dare I say) hip, young crowd the next day. In fact, David Letterman is an integral part of popular culture over several generations.
Zinoman did plenty of research and interviews for the book and has notes for each chapter. He includes quotes in the text from many inside sources and personalities associated with Letterman's career.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/0...
It has never been in doubt that Letterman shaped the humor and the format of current talk shows. Although much has been said or speculated about Letterman's personal life and reclusive nature, Letterman is the quintessential originator of the current talk show model. Pulling no punches, Zinoman covers the difficulties between Letterman and the show's employees and writers, especially Merrill Markoe, who shared a long professional and personal connection with Letterman. He mentions the recurring characters written into (especially) the early shows. Letterman also does not shy away from noting the personal toll fame extracted on the iconic talk show host.
During the beginning of his national broadcasting career I was in college and a perfect audience for his irreverent, mocking, sarcastic humor. After watching some of his morning show in 1980, I started watching Late Night with David Letterman (1982-92) almost nightly during the beginning of his career and through his switch in 1993 from NBC to CBS, although my viewing began to taper off toward the later years. I vividly remember many of the early shows or stunts shared in Letterman, and how I laughed uncontrollably over a stunt or sarcastic comment/joke, which was the talk of all the (dare I say) hip, young crowd the next day. In fact, David Letterman is an integral part of popular culture over several generations.
Zinoman did plenty of research and interviews for the book and has notes for each chapter. He includes quotes in the text from many inside sources and personalities associated with Letterman's career.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/0...
November 18, 2017
One of the best celebrity biographies ever. More of an autopsy of a talk show.
I can't review this right now.
This is as perfect as it gets as far as show-biz bios go.
I'll try to write more later.
Jason Zinoman is brilliant.
That simple.
July 9, 2019
Not so much a biography of Letterman the man as it is an exploration of Letterman the comedian. Zinoman is interested in the nuts and bolts of comedy; he examines why Late Night was so ground-breaking and magical and why the Late Show relatively lackluster. Zinoman is no propagandist, painting Dave as a prickly, somewhat miserable man, and yet as I read the book, my love for Dave only grew, and I found myself hating Jay Leno all over again.
April 6, 2017
New York Times comedy critic Zinoman (Shock Value) dissects comedian David Letterman and his legendary television run, taking readers from Letterman's Muncie, IN, college radio days through his seminal work at NBC to his star-studded retirement show decades later on CBS. Here Letterman is presented as an iconoclast who grew from mocking talk show clichés to representing the format as an elder statesman. Along the way we meet the writers and cast members who shaped the show, explore the origins of signature Letterman segments (the Top Ten List, Stupid Pet Tricks, etc.), and meet the man behind it all. While recognizing Letterman's groundbreaking work, Zinoman avoids hero worship. Letterman is on full display, directly quoted, flaws and all. Scholars of TV history will also appreciate how Letterman drew from predecessors such as Jack Paar and Steven Allen, and later influenced Jon Stewart and others. Behind-the-scenes drama provides an additional draw for those who remember the jockeying between Letterman and Jay Leno for Tonight Show host Johnny Carson's seat. VERDICT: Top-notch research bolstered by one-on-one interviews make this a must-read for Letterman fans. [Library Journal
04/01/2017]
04/01/2017]
May 29, 2017
A great dive into the history of David Letterman, Zinoman has done some above-and-beyond research and interviewing to really get to arc of Letterman's career.
The highlight for me was the way in which Zinoman dissects the comedy bits. I especially loved the section devoted to Hal Gurnee's innovative camera work as another way into a joke. Absolutely wonderful...and speaks to the trust needed to on all levels for a production to improvise and grow.
Trust is a word not used that often in the book though. Like the book on THE DAILY SHOW, you can't help but feel down about the unnecessary drama that goes with these productions. Yes, you get that the people that helm the ship feel the need to be amazing. Yes, it's OK that they are mercurial and pointed in the creative process. But at the same time, a really good chunk of Letterman's show was his dismissiveness of the writers and crew. He seemed bothered by them. He put them in a writing cycle that was unnecessarily stressful. Jon Stewart worked and reworked and reworked jokes...and it left the writers feeling like they weren't really contributing...but Letterman seemed to completely throw out writer contributions...but would make them go through all the process. It's no wonder that the two head writers that concluded Letterman's tenure chose not to attend the big wrap party...nor did his original head writer, Merrill Markoe. Letterman was a terrible boss.
At the same time, the book shines a light on the writing. Letterman is Letterman...and that carries the show...but the writers pushed him into remote shoots, character interactions, themed shows...and it is this unwilling willingness...this grumpy participation...that we loved so much. It's sad that Letterman abandoned so much of that later in the show's arc.
All in all, a great read!
The highlight for me was the way in which Zinoman dissects the comedy bits. I especially loved the section devoted to Hal Gurnee's innovative camera work as another way into a joke. Absolutely wonderful...and speaks to the trust needed to on all levels for a production to improvise and grow.
Trust is a word not used that often in the book though. Like the book on THE DAILY SHOW, you can't help but feel down about the unnecessary drama that goes with these productions. Yes, you get that the people that helm the ship feel the need to be amazing. Yes, it's OK that they are mercurial and pointed in the creative process. But at the same time, a really good chunk of Letterman's show was his dismissiveness of the writers and crew. He seemed bothered by them. He put them in a writing cycle that was unnecessarily stressful. Jon Stewart worked and reworked and reworked jokes...and it left the writers feeling like they weren't really contributing...but Letterman seemed to completely throw out writer contributions...but would make them go through all the process. It's no wonder that the two head writers that concluded Letterman's tenure chose not to attend the big wrap party...nor did his original head writer, Merrill Markoe. Letterman was a terrible boss.
At the same time, the book shines a light on the writing. Letterman is Letterman...and that carries the show...but the writers pushed him into remote shoots, character interactions, themed shows...and it is this unwilling willingness...this grumpy participation...that we loved so much. It's sad that Letterman abandoned so much of that later in the show's arc.
All in all, a great read!
April 26, 2017
I have loved Letterman for decades and have watched every show he did (including the innovative but ill-conceived morning show in 1980). Zinoman is also clearly a fan and the result is a curious book. Zinoman, wisely, stays away from Letterman's personal life for the most part. There are the scandals and stories we all know about - the cheating on his wife, the brief and rarely discussed first marriage, his heart attack etc - but the focus here is squarely on Letterman the broadcaster.
Zinoman's affection for his subject is what saves this book. He has decent access to the major players and he is quick to share the praise and accolades with those who earned them, most notably Merril Markoe, Letterman's one-time girlfriend and the head writer for his early show. There are no surprises or revelations here - I didn't learn anything I did not already know - but Zinoman does a good job of reminding us why Letterman was so influential.
The writing is not great. Zinoman's sentence structures are strange and often very repetitive. A few sentences are clearly detritus from a hasty copyedit. There's nothing profound here but it is an interesting and fast paced look at a very complicated and talented man.
Zinoman's affection for his subject is what saves this book. He has decent access to the major players and he is quick to share the praise and accolades with those who earned them, most notably Merril Markoe, Letterman's one-time girlfriend and the head writer for his early show. There are no surprises or revelations here - I didn't learn anything I did not already know - but Zinoman does a good job of reminding us why Letterman was so influential.
The writing is not great. Zinoman's sentence structures are strange and often very repetitive. A few sentences are clearly detritus from a hasty copyedit. There's nothing profound here but it is an interesting and fast paced look at a very complicated and talented man.
July 13, 2017
I read this book upon recommendation and because I grew up an enormous Letterman fan. Not only was it boring as sin, it was painful to experience all the disillusionment that comes when you realize your "favorite" is a creep.
May 4, 2017
I occasionally watched David Letterman’s show when I started my study in Canada back in mid 90’s. He was the first English language talk show host I’ve ever watched back then and I could barely understand thirty percent of what he was talking about. Naturally he left me an unforgettable memory.
This book is an unbelievably candid one, if compared to other biographies. David is a reclusive, eccentric and serious person, which surprised me to say the least. How can an introvert person have created a saga in a career requiring fearless interactions with people? What a bizarre to think people view David as a bad, if not the worst, interviewer. His interview with Jennifer proved this view. I watched the episode where David interviewed Jennifer Aniston. David complimented on Jennifer’s tremendous legs (leg complimentary is almost David's cliche), but the mutual dislike of David and Jennifer is not bearable.
One very nice aspect of this book is its delicate balance of academic research and the gossipy talks. It focused on the early development of David’s career with NBC as that was when he formed his unique style, blunt and smart, and established his reputation. I like the way the author Jason Zinoman focused on the details that helped to explain how David formed his style. The gossipy part of David’s temperament and his mean character revealed the human side of the talk show saga.
Finishing reading this book, I mulled over the interesting aspects of being a public figure such as a talk show star host. The immediate analogy popped into my mind was a surgical doctor who opens his own heart and operates on himself while being surrounded and observed by hordes of people. It’s probably the relentless self-deprecation and self-exposure that differ a great talk show host from the mediocre.
This book is an unbelievably candid one, if compared to other biographies. David is a reclusive, eccentric and serious person, which surprised me to say the least. How can an introvert person have created a saga in a career requiring fearless interactions with people? What a bizarre to think people view David as a bad, if not the worst, interviewer. His interview with Jennifer proved this view. I watched the episode where David interviewed Jennifer Aniston. David complimented on Jennifer’s tremendous legs (leg complimentary is almost David's cliche), but the mutual dislike of David and Jennifer is not bearable.
One very nice aspect of this book is its delicate balance of academic research and the gossipy talks. It focused on the early development of David’s career with NBC as that was when he formed his unique style, blunt and smart, and established his reputation. I like the way the author Jason Zinoman focused on the details that helped to explain how David formed his style. The gossipy part of David’s temperament and his mean character revealed the human side of the talk show saga.
Finishing reading this book, I mulled over the interesting aspects of being a public figure such as a talk show star host. The immediate analogy popped into my mind was a surgical doctor who opens his own heart and operates on himself while being surrounded and observed by hordes of people. It’s probably the relentless self-deprecation and self-exposure that differ a great talk show host from the mediocre.
April 21, 2017
I've been a fan of David Letterman since the beginning. I liked his snarky irreverence to the world, his sarcasm, his deadpan delivery. Jumping into vats of jello, wearing a Velcro suit and throwing himself against the Velcro wall. All the stupid pet tricks, watermelons thrown off the roof, every silly trick to fill time. It was a little more difficult to love him in the early 90's but a fan is a fan. This book is a great read if you are one. Only distraction is all the crap going on backstage, in the offices during the day. I really don't want to know all that detail.
What I hear in the press is bad enough, don't tarnish my image of my star too much.. we know he's real, depressed, not social; so what! Leave alone. Great tributes though. Love ya Dave.
recommend the book too.
What I hear in the press is bad enough, don't tarnish my image of my star too much.. we know he's real, depressed, not social; so what! Leave alone. Great tributes though. Love ya Dave.
recommend the book too.
May 27, 2017
Letterman had a late night talk show for more than thirty years, during which time the medium changed and expanded significantly with the advent of cable. Zinoman's book portrays Letterman as a brooding, self-doubting, insecure person. It seems dubious that someone of that ilk could perform at the level Letterman has for as long as he did. Secondly, while Letterman's humor is definitely in a class of its own, I do not think his influence on those who followed is as powerful as Zinoman posits. If you look at both network and cable programs in that time slot today, Carson seems the more influential. Also, after a few chapters, I found the writing repetitious and dull.
June 5, 2017
Vague, incomplete, and wholly underwhelming.
Parts of the book are well-done, but it largely ignores or only briefly stops upon areas of great significance (Dave's role overall and his relationship with Leno at The Comedy Store, and Harry's birth, to name a couple.) The repeated attempted analysis of Dave's psyche and personality is just a deluge of meaningless, strung-together adjectives that provide very little in the way of insight.
Given the little that's been written about Dave, this was disappointing.
Parts of the book are well-done, but it largely ignores or only briefly stops upon areas of great significance (Dave's role overall and his relationship with Leno at The Comedy Store, and Harry's birth, to name a couple.) The repeated attempted analysis of Dave's psyche and personality is just a deluge of meaningless, strung-together adjectives that provide very little in the way of insight.
Given the little that's been written about Dave, this was disappointing.
October 3, 2018
This book's big strength is breaking down Letterman's career in distinct periods. It is also strong in analyzing Letterman's personality, something Letterman tried to hide until this century. And its honest assessment of Letterman's sexism and poor workplace behavior was welcome. The only criticism I had, and this should be taken as very mild, is Zinoman doesn't capture the hilarity of the show. It was like Bob Woodward writing about Belushi-- sure, it was accurate but it didn't capture the joyousness of some of it.
(Writing this out caused me to raise it a star)
(Writing this out caused me to raise it a star)
February 15, 2017
My wife got an Advanced Reading Copy of this book at ALA in Atlanta.
I highly recommend this book for a detailed look at David Letterman's career. It covers him from the beginning up to his retirement - with a focus mainly on the comedy and tone of the show and how it changed over the years. The focus is more the comedy aspect and the interviews. If you are looking for information on other topics, for example the many talented singers and musicians that have appeared on the show over the years, this book does not really cover that topic. Nor does it dwell on Dave's personal live except as it pertains to the show. While it does not ignore his adultery incident, neither does it dwell on it or any other aspects that hit upon his private life - which he works hard to keep private. But it is a nice addition to the list of books about TV and TV personalities that cover the history of the medium and those who were influential.
I highly recommend this book for a detailed look at David Letterman's career. It covers him from the beginning up to his retirement - with a focus mainly on the comedy and tone of the show and how it changed over the years. The focus is more the comedy aspect and the interviews. If you are looking for information on other topics, for example the many talented singers and musicians that have appeared on the show over the years, this book does not really cover that topic. Nor does it dwell on Dave's personal live except as it pertains to the show. While it does not ignore his adultery incident, neither does it dwell on it or any other aspects that hit upon his private life - which he works hard to keep private. But it is a nice addition to the list of books about TV and TV personalities that cover the history of the medium and those who were influential.
October 2, 2017
Letterman was always a love/hate proposition. You 'got' him, or you didn't. For me he was the best, from the earliest days of the morning show, to the end in 2015 (eagerly awaiting the Netflix project recently announced). Unfortunately,Jason Zinoman manages to make this a boring read. This book doesn't strike a a nerve or a chord the way that groundbreaking show did. With the access given by Letterman and his staff, this should have been much better.
June 29, 2018
A look at a life is difficult without feeling bogged down, but this one succeeds (it also avoids rehashing areas that The Late Shift covered in-depth). The author admires Letterman's comedy without letting him off the hook for his faults, including misogynistic behavior. But why did he say that Stephanie the Intern's nickname was Smitty? I believe she went by several names, but Monty was the most common.
June 17, 2017
As a long time Letterman fan - I really enjoyed this book and traveling down memory lane and remembering old episodes and characters. What wasn't as enjoyable was reading about the neurotic and insecure side of Dave. I knew or suspected a lot of it - but it was more sad than I anticipated to learn more of the details.
September 3, 2017
I never get tired of reading about the late night talk show wars of the Letterman/Leno era, and this take chronicles Dave Letterman’s career. I was a big fan of his last two shows, at least until the last few years before he retired. This was a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of his eccentric personality and the folks who made those shows great.
October 28, 2017
I was a Letterman fan from the era of velcro suits, stupid pet tricks, and canned hams. I saw him through the late night wars, bi-pass surgery and infidelity. Sometimes I thought he was cruel, sometimes brilliant. This bio gives me insight into all aspects of Letterman’s personality that produced the humor, sarcasm, and spot on observations.
September 13, 2017
I’ve always been a big David Letterman fan. I was a bit too young to watch Late Night with David Letterman in its hey day but I used to enjoy his CBS show a lot and sat in the audience twice. Like a lot of people, I thought his “ironic detachment” and quick wit made him an appealing late night host.
He was not everyone’s cup of tea however. By the same token I could never understand how anyone found Jay Leno funny on The Tonight Show. I always found him completely bland. Leno’s headline bits? Yawn.
I always thought Letterman was smart and funny. I’ve heard comparisons between Leno and Letterman often, and one I like but I don’t remember who said it (I think it was Julia Roberts perhaps) goes something along the lines of: “Leno is nice and funny. Letterman is smart and funny. There’s a big difference.”
Zinoman does a good job breaking down Letterman’s comedy and comedic instincts. He also does a good job establishing Letterman’s place in the cultural landscape and why he would mean so much to people as a simple talk show host. It’s worth reminding, and Zinoman does, that Carson was a gigantic presence on The Tonight Show, especially when you only had three channels and no YouTube to watch the clip on your own time the next morning. I didn’t know both that Carson took off something like 16 weeks a year and often only hosted three shows a night. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
Even though I’ve heard some of the stories before, it was amazing to read about how eccentric Letterman was and is. As one example, they didn’t have a rehearsal for his CBS show and they had to scramble to change jokes at the last minute every night as a result. That must have been exhausting. The former writers at both shows also do not paint a pretty picture depicting Letterman’s favorites on the staff, his inclination to kill 90% of their jokes and bit ideas and his willingness to distance himself from jokes that bombed.
I found that part fascinating since I thought one of Letterman’s funniest qualities as a host was his ability to make an audience laugh at his reaction to a joke bombing. He’d say something funny or witty in response to the joke bombing which I always loved. I also loved how he’d often act around a big celebrity like he didn’t give a crap about them. I know that turned some off some of his guests (like Cher somewhat famously) but I thought it made for great entertainment. Who wants to just sit through some slurp-fest where the host fawns all over his guest all night and just tells him or her how great he/she is? Oh right, you can do that now in the current incarnation of The Tonight Show.
But the fact that Letterman barely spoke or interacted with anyone on his staff as he got older, and got more and more isolated is just odd. It just goes to show though that just because you’re good at your job it does not make you necessarily a good manager.
Zinoman covers the big headline events in Letterman’s tenure as a talk show host if you were paying attention. He describes in interesting detail, while giving due credit to and acknowledgement of The Late Shift by Bill Carter, the whole Late Night war over who would succeed Carson at The Tonight Show. The fact that Carson wanted Letterman and the NBC brass wanted and got Leno I think tells you all you need to know about whose comedic voice should have been followed.
Zinoman also covers other events like Letterman’s sex scandal. I remembered the headlines when it happened but learned new details like how Letterman kept his staff in the office late at night to hang out after the show was over because Letterman didn’t want to go home. They wouldn’t even work on the next night’s show. That seemed crazy to me.
I also learned some things about Letterman I didn’t know before. I knew about his mother from seeing her on his show but I didn’t know what kind of woman she was behind the scenes. I didn’t know that Letterman’s father passed away relatively young and had a difficult relationship with his mother that ended in divorce. I had never heard of Merrill Markoe and how much that relationship impacted Letterman personally and professionally.
Overall a very enjoyable book and a quick read for anyone who was a fan of Letterman like I was.
He was not everyone’s cup of tea however. By the same token I could never understand how anyone found Jay Leno funny on The Tonight Show. I always found him completely bland. Leno’s headline bits? Yawn.
I always thought Letterman was smart and funny. I’ve heard comparisons between Leno and Letterman often, and one I like but I don’t remember who said it (I think it was Julia Roberts perhaps) goes something along the lines of: “Leno is nice and funny. Letterman is smart and funny. There’s a big difference.”
Zinoman does a good job breaking down Letterman’s comedy and comedic instincts. He also does a good job establishing Letterman’s place in the cultural landscape and why he would mean so much to people as a simple talk show host. It’s worth reminding, and Zinoman does, that Carson was a gigantic presence on The Tonight Show, especially when you only had three channels and no YouTube to watch the clip on your own time the next morning. I didn’t know both that Carson took off something like 16 weeks a year and often only hosted three shows a night. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
Even though I’ve heard some of the stories before, it was amazing to read about how eccentric Letterman was and is. As one example, they didn’t have a rehearsal for his CBS show and they had to scramble to change jokes at the last minute every night as a result. That must have been exhausting. The former writers at both shows also do not paint a pretty picture depicting Letterman’s favorites on the staff, his inclination to kill 90% of their jokes and bit ideas and his willingness to distance himself from jokes that bombed.
I found that part fascinating since I thought one of Letterman’s funniest qualities as a host was his ability to make an audience laugh at his reaction to a joke bombing. He’d say something funny or witty in response to the joke bombing which I always loved. I also loved how he’d often act around a big celebrity like he didn’t give a crap about them. I know that turned some off some of his guests (like Cher somewhat famously) but I thought it made for great entertainment. Who wants to just sit through some slurp-fest where the host fawns all over his guest all night and just tells him or her how great he/she is? Oh right, you can do that now in the current incarnation of The Tonight Show.
But the fact that Letterman barely spoke or interacted with anyone on his staff as he got older, and got more and more isolated is just odd. It just goes to show though that just because you’re good at your job it does not make you necessarily a good manager.
Zinoman covers the big headline events in Letterman’s tenure as a talk show host if you were paying attention. He describes in interesting detail, while giving due credit to and acknowledgement of The Late Shift by Bill Carter, the whole Late Night war over who would succeed Carson at The Tonight Show. The fact that Carson wanted Letterman and the NBC brass wanted and got Leno I think tells you all you need to know about whose comedic voice should have been followed.
Zinoman also covers other events like Letterman’s sex scandal. I remembered the headlines when it happened but learned new details like how Letterman kept his staff in the office late at night to hang out after the show was over because Letterman didn’t want to go home. They wouldn’t even work on the next night’s show. That seemed crazy to me.
I also learned some things about Letterman I didn’t know before. I knew about his mother from seeing her on his show but I didn’t know what kind of woman she was behind the scenes. I didn’t know that Letterman’s father passed away relatively young and had a difficult relationship with his mother that ended in divorce. I had never heard of Merrill Markoe and how much that relationship impacted Letterman personally and professionally.
Overall a very enjoyable book and a quick read for anyone who was a fan of Letterman like I was.
May 13, 2017
The title of the book is "Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night," but the overall emphasis is on his showbiz career; Letterman the person remains an enigma. He hosted two national nightly shows over the course of 33 years, but I had a tough time understanding what makes Dave tick. Author Jason Zinoman says in the Acknowledgments page that he watched between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of Letterman's shows, plus much of his early radio and television work in Indiana and Los Angeles. If he watched 3,000 hours that would mean about 75 weeks of watching shows (allotting an average of 40 hours a week for viewing). The book does benefit from his research.
The book has quite a bit of detail about his shows over the years, and his comic sensibilities starting from his college days through his two nightly shows. Though Zinoman speeds through the last 15-20 years of the CBS show. Zinoman takes you behind the scenes in the creation of his first show, Late Night with David Letterman, as David's then girlfriend Merrill Markoe helped write the very witty on-the-street comedy bits that Dave did for many years, and helped brainstorm acts that began on his first show such as Stupid Pet Tricks. I found it interesting that she really had a crucial role in forming the basic comedic elements of his shows, but she faded into the woodwork and left the show after a while. Letterman does acknowledge her significant role later in the book.
Throughout the book, Letterman remains a mysterious presence who is never happy about the quality of the broadcasts, is a hypochondriac and is a very hard-to-please boss who would reject quite a bit of the material written by his writers. To top it all off, he cheated on his wife with a woman in his employ.
I found it amazing that Dave lasted 33 years hosting the show and handling the pressures of a daily national show with the behavior that Zinoman describes in the book--it's amazing that he didn't have a nervous breakdown (he does seem to be happier now in retirement according to media reports). Zinoman had access to Letterman, but I think the book could use more commentary from Dave about his behavior over the years. Zinoman did not try to provide a psychological diagnosis of Dave's behavior by talking to doctors, but he does mention that Letterman's father died when he was young and that may have had a large impact on his behavior.
Overall, I found it a quick read and it provided quite a bit of information about Letterman's shows and career, but I would have liked more comments from Dave.
The book has quite a bit of detail about his shows over the years, and his comic sensibilities starting from his college days through his two nightly shows. Though Zinoman speeds through the last 15-20 years of the CBS show. Zinoman takes you behind the scenes in the creation of his first show, Late Night with David Letterman, as David's then girlfriend Merrill Markoe helped write the very witty on-the-street comedy bits that Dave did for many years, and helped brainstorm acts that began on his first show such as Stupid Pet Tricks. I found it interesting that she really had a crucial role in forming the basic comedic elements of his shows, but she faded into the woodwork and left the show after a while. Letterman does acknowledge her significant role later in the book.
Throughout the book, Letterman remains a mysterious presence who is never happy about the quality of the broadcasts, is a hypochondriac and is a very hard-to-please boss who would reject quite a bit of the material written by his writers. To top it all off, he cheated on his wife with a woman in his employ.
I found it amazing that Dave lasted 33 years hosting the show and handling the pressures of a daily national show with the behavior that Zinoman describes in the book--it's amazing that he didn't have a nervous breakdown (he does seem to be happier now in retirement according to media reports). Zinoman had access to Letterman, but I think the book could use more commentary from Dave about his behavior over the years. Zinoman did not try to provide a psychological diagnosis of Dave's behavior by talking to doctors, but he does mention that Letterman's father died when he was young and that may have had a large impact on his behavior.
Overall, I found it a quick read and it provided quite a bit of information about Letterman's shows and career, but I would have liked more comments from Dave.
July 31, 2017
This is an excellent, swiftly paced book that succeeds because its author made a wise thematic decision: it is less a biography of David Letterman than it is a persuasive essay about the importance of Letterman's talk shows (specifically Late Night) and their continuing effect on a generation's worth of comedy, presented in the guise of a standard biography.
None of Zinoman's interviews are with family or friends; he talked only with Letterman's writers and producers, as well as the subject himself. What information we do get about Letterman's personal life -- such as the embarrassing incident where he was being blackmailed by his mistress's boyfriend -- is always offered within the prism of the show, leading to a book that's entertaining, laser-focused, and free of gossipy baggage.
The unsung hero of the Letterman story is Merrill Markoe, his girlfriend during the formative years of the NBC show. It is abundantly clear that the things that made that show so revolutionary -- an "anti-talk show," so to speak -- derived from her sensibilities, not Dave's. Zinoman's book then is also a worthy tribute to her.
Here are four clips from the anarchic early years of Late Night that were revelatory for someone like me, who really only saw Dave in the CBS years. All of these clips hold up 30-plus years later and would kill if anyone aired them today.
The opening of the show aired from the host's perspective -- this is from the ninth episode it ever aired:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_-EU...
"They Took My Show Away," a fake after-school special about a young boy's favorite TV show being cancelled:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfW24...
Larry "Bud" Melman greets passengers at the Port Authority. Truly one of the funniest things I've ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Fee...
A montage of clips over the course of a year featuring Dave helping a young girl named Susie who is 5 in the first clip and a middle-aged woman getting married in the last:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g33J4...
None of Zinoman's interviews are with family or friends; he talked only with Letterman's writers and producers, as well as the subject himself. What information we do get about Letterman's personal life -- such as the embarrassing incident where he was being blackmailed by his mistress's boyfriend -- is always offered within the prism of the show, leading to a book that's entertaining, laser-focused, and free of gossipy baggage.
The unsung hero of the Letterman story is Merrill Markoe, his girlfriend during the formative years of the NBC show. It is abundantly clear that the things that made that show so revolutionary -- an "anti-talk show," so to speak -- derived from her sensibilities, not Dave's. Zinoman's book then is also a worthy tribute to her.
Here are four clips from the anarchic early years of Late Night that were revelatory for someone like me, who really only saw Dave in the CBS years. All of these clips hold up 30-plus years later and would kill if anyone aired them today.
The opening of the show aired from the host's perspective -- this is from the ninth episode it ever aired:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_-EU...
"They Took My Show Away," a fake after-school special about a young boy's favorite TV show being cancelled:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfW24...
Larry "Bud" Melman greets passengers at the Port Authority. Truly one of the funniest things I've ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Fee...
A montage of clips over the course of a year featuring Dave helping a young girl named Susie who is 5 in the first clip and a middle-aged woman getting married in the last:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g33J4...
January 18, 2018
Everything I hoped it would be, Jason Zinoman has written a clever, insightful, in-depth biography of one of my comedy heroes. From his modest raising in Indiana through his rise to the king of late night, this was a learning experience about a man I felt I knew, but didn't really know. Letterman was a true innovative force in TV who mocked the medium and himself. Profoundly shy, disarmingly charming, and sarcastic, Dave is an enigma. Letterman:The Last Giant of Late Night digs deep into the workings of his shows and his personality. He often appeared disinteresting in what he was doing, yet was, with the help of many talented people, a comic genius who left a huge footprint when he signed off Late Night for the last time. Zinoman takes us on a journey from Letterman's days tweaking the conventions of college radio (and getting fired for it) to his stint as a local weatherman, his move to LA and finally, his rise to perhaps the most respected and revered talk show host of his day. He was difficult and unconventional, but in spite of (or perhaps because of) these traits, he hosted a late night television show longer than anyone ever, including the great Johnny Carson. As the author said, "The real importance of David Lettermna is not only to be found in the way his shows have been copied or whom they have inspired. Some of his best work was funny and exciting precisely because it was too odd to imitate." I won't deny much of my sense of humor is influenced by many hours being up late, watching Dave.
Over 30 odd years of late night, if you paid attention (and I did) Dave allowed us to see a bit who he really is while keeping us just at arm's length, and we ate it up. Letterman was and is an odd fella who endeared himself to a generation. Jason Zinoman does an excellent job chronicaling the trip. And what along strange trip it was.
Over 30 odd years of late night, if you paid attention (and I did) Dave allowed us to see a bit who he really is while keeping us just at arm's length, and we ate it up. Letterman was and is an odd fella who endeared himself to a generation. Jason Zinoman does an excellent job chronicaling the trip. And what along strange trip it was.
Read
August 29, 2017Well written, insightful, entertaining
Very well written book about Letterman and the Letterman mystique, particularly for someone like me who was never cowed by the Letterman mystique. It was entertaining and enlightning to learn about the dynamics behind Letterman's ascendancy to talk show prominence and dominance. Reading Zinoman's book helped me to understand why Letterman never really appealed to me and why I nevertheless had a grating appreciation for him whenever I would watch. "His attitude was that of an irreverent kid who refused to take anything seriously." "His smirking tone was so consistently knowing that he seemed as if he must know something." Such apt descriptions of David Letterman's personality and presence throughout the book make the case for the cult of personality he engendered and his influence on the world of comedy.
One of my most memorable experiences was seeing comedian David Letterman at the Ice House Comedy Club in the summer of 1979 before his move to television. His performance was electric that night. His presence filled the room and we all knew we were witness and party to a special personality whose career was in ascendance.
Very well written book about Letterman and the Letterman mystique, particularly for someone like me who was never cowed by the Letterman mystique. It was entertaining and enlightning to learn about the dynamics behind Letterman's ascendancy to talk show prominence and dominance. Reading Zinoman's book helped me to understand why Letterman never really appealed to me and why I nevertheless had a grating appreciation for him whenever I would watch. "His attitude was that of an irreverent kid who refused to take anything seriously." "His smirking tone was so consistently knowing that he seemed as if he must know something." Such apt descriptions of David Letterman's personality and presence throughout the book make the case for the cult of personality he engendered and his influence on the world of comedy.
One of my most memorable experiences was seeing comedian David Letterman at the Ice House Comedy Club in the summer of 1979 before his move to television. His performance was electric that night. His presence filled the room and we all knew we were witness and party to a special personality whose career was in ascendance.
May 15, 2017
solidly written and researched, w/ some great coverage of the show's 80s NBC material, plus decent quotes from DL himself. letterman's late-career sexual misadventures are dealt with relatively thoroughly, though without any kind of heavy-handed authorial judgment being passed, and then book ends abruptly. also, zinoman muffs dave's final joke, heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3FK... (go to :40). zinoman writes that letterman said "we did 6000 shows and half of them sucked," which isn't that funny, but the actual joke was "we did 6000 shows and I was here for most of them--and I can tell you, a pretty high percentage of those shows just absolutely sucked." it's all that extra self-deprecating banter that makes it a letterman joke, and by not transcribing it properly, zinoman (who understands better than anyone how a letterman gag works) fails to do justice to his final moment.
May 26, 2017
Very well done. The transformations of Dave, comedy and TV through the years are well-researched and well-described. While his relationship with Paul Shaffer through the years recurred in the book, I missed a real discussion of Dave's impact on pop music. He booked and broke artists other TV shows hadn't gotten to yet or had forgotten. His Christmas tradition with Darlene Love, his relationship with Pearl Jam, Warren Zevon and so many others .. I would have liked to have seen them woven into the story as comics and actors were.
May 24, 2017
I had expectations for this book because I love Letterman and this was a NYT reporter, but it was the usual creepy look at a creepy guy.
Except.
The book referred to the epic battle between a humidifier and a dehumidifier, and it made me laugh again. Whenever the book talked about his bits, I laughed. It made me want to kill lots of time on YouTube and revisit his genius. The book was clear about his abundant issues, but all it made me want to hear Letterman and laugh again.
Except.
The book referred to the epic battle between a humidifier and a dehumidifier, and it made me laugh again. Whenever the book talked about his bits, I laughed. It made me want to kill lots of time on YouTube and revisit his genius. The book was clear about his abundant issues, but all it made me want to hear Letterman and laugh again.
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