The Last Days Of Letterman

My Letterman fandom goes back his 1980 morning show that hardly anyone remembers. Growing up, I'd tape Carson and Letterman every night to watch (and often re-watch) the following day. Late Night shaped my taste in humor and music, introducing me to comics and bands that I still love. And Dave created a show unlike anything that had ever been seen: something original, inventive, offbeat, and perfect for impressionable young malcontents like I was. Scott Ryan's book recaps the show's final weeks and, through interviews with the writing and production staff, gives even longtime fans a whole new layer to appreciate: the behind-the-scenes story of the family of folks who put the show together every night, and what it took for them to create an epic sendoff for a TV icon.

A real treat for David Letterman fans, this book tells the story of the last six weeks of his "Late Show." If you pick this book up looking for any juicy backstage gossip you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, there is nary a critical word of the former late-night talk show host here. Ryan offers (too brief for me) thumbnail sketches of these episodes interspersed with quotes from the many show staffers he interviewed. Since neither Letterman nor Paul Shaffer are among them the book may seem to offer a shallow, incomplete look at the end of the show. That may be enough for Letterman fans like me but not for someone looking for a little more depth.Other elements make this book a great read. Having heard many of the names of these staffers on the show (or having seen them in sketches), I appreciated the chance to learn a little about them and their work, how they started with "Late Show" (or "Late Night" at NBC). The most entertaining part of the book comes from their own views on their boss and show. It is clear that many of them chose to stay with Letterman even when the end was obviously near. For each of them, the awareness that this was the greatest job they would ever have, the one they would miss forever, outweighed the need to look for a new one. That realization makes for a unique tale, especially for those of us who still believe the show to be not just great but irreplaceable. The perfect read for everyone who still misses Dave.

I've been a huge Letterman fan since his first talk show started in daytime in 1980. I even attended a live taping with my cousin Jon in Summer of that year. It didn't last much longer. Guests were John Sebastian and...Benji. This book fast-forwards to the final six weeks of The Late Show, and gives great insights into the vibes the production staff felt and how they took care of David's every need, right up until air time. Thus you get a true inside look at how a massive production comes together night after night. The ending, as expected, is full of pathos as staff work their butts off until the final, tearful moments. Dave is surprisingly warm and generous, though removed from the production staff. A real eye-opener is how he chose musical guests (and even their material) to express his own feelings at the end, something he was notoriously reluctant to do. A really fine read for Letterman lovers and more.

Essential for the real letterman fan. A very quick read, but contains much information. Nice photos, also. You will learn a lot about all the people behind the show.

A great, quick read for Letterman fans. Lots of nice insight into the approach and execution of the final six weeks, from those who were critical to the show's success. I enjoyed hearing the viewpoints of many producers and writers on some of the great closing moments, like Norm McDonald, Jack Hanna, the final Top Ten List and the Foo Fighters closing video montage. For fans of Letterman and the best late night talk show in history, you'll love the book.

The book is a little sad. All of these people who worked for David Letterman throughout the many years, were about to be unemployed. That undercurrent runs all the way through the narrative. Everybody loved Dave, and wanted to see it to the end. But I kept thinking about those staffers who wanted it to continue, and were about to be out on their cans. Letterman seemed above it all, and everyone else had find something else. The inside info about the last show, was almost worth the price alone.

Good look behind the scenes. A little too much about staff and too little about Dave but overall interesting read

I was always a fan of Letterman and remember his first show at CBS...I was a freshman in college and never stopped watching him. This book was a fascinating look at the people that made the show for decades and a glimpse at who Letterman really was. It was a quick and enjoyable read.

....read this book. A great account of the final 6 weeks of the show. It took a great team to create and sustain an excellent show and this book documents the final weeks of The Late Show with David Letterman.

If you are a Letterman fan, you need this book. There’s tons of great insight, and inside information.

This is all you could expect from a book about David Letterman. If you like Dave, you'll like it.