The Last Days of Letterman: - - Paperback

by Scott Ryan (Author)

A brilliant look behind the scenes at not only the making of a television show, but also the curtain call of one of America's greatest entertainers and the impact his impending departure will have on the many talented people who work so hard to put the show together but never -- until now -- got the credit they deserved.

On May 20, 2015, Dave said, "Thank you and goodnight." The Foo Fighters sang "Everlong," and Late Show with David Letterman ended its run. The final six weeks of the series had guests like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and the Obamas. All names you have heard many times. But it was the people behind the scenes who pulled off these twenty-eight unforgettable episodes of late-night television.

Author Scott Ryan conducted over twenty interviews with the staffers of David Letterman. Most of the participants had never given interviews before. The writers, directors, producers, and stage managers offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to work on these shows. Find out what it takes to write a Top Ten list, book a president for a guest spot, and what it was like working at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Long time Letterman writer Bill Scheft penned the foreword for the book. Included are over 100 color photos from staffers' personal collections, as well as publicity photos from the show. Get the first truly inside look at creating an episode of Late Show.

Interviews with: Barbara Gaines - Executive Producer; Sheila Rogers - Supervising Producer/ Talent Executive; Randi Grossack - Associate Director; Kathy Mavrikakis, Supervising Producer; Rick Sheckman, Associate Producer; Brian Teta - Supervising Producer/Segment Producer; Sheryl Zelikson - Music Producer; Jay Johnson - Creative Director, Digital Media; Jerry Foley - Director; Michael Barrie - Writer; Lee Ellenberg - Writer; Jim Mulholland - Writer; Joe Grossman - Writer; Jeremy Weiner - Writer; Steve Young - Writer; Vincent Favale - Executive of Late Night Programing; Eddie Valk - Stage Manager; Bill Scheft - Writer; Janice Penino - Vice President, Human Resources; Jill Goodwin - Writer; and Mike Buczkiewicz - Senior Producer/Segment Producer; Rupert Jee - Hello Deli Owner.

Author Biography

Scott Ryan is the author of The Last Days of Letterman, Always Music in the Air, Fire Walk With Me: Your Laura Disappeared, Lost Highway: The Fist of Love, Massillon Against the World, and the best seller Moonlighting: An Oral History. He is the host of the YouTube series Tiger Talk, the co-president of Fayetteville Mafia Press and Tucker DS Press, and the managing editor and creative director of The Blue Rose magazine. Yes, he does collect vinyl records, is against streaming, and thinks the internet made everything worse.