Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno [Paperback]

Don Sweeney (Author), Ed McMahon (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2006

Don Sweeney was with the Tonight Show for nearly twenty years, and was one of the few staff members asked to remain when Jay Leno took over in 1992. This book is a collection of celebrity vignettes and anecdotes from the peak years of the Tonight Show, and includes behind-the-scenes looks at more than two dozen celebrities, including Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, David Letterman, Regis Philbin, Ray Charles, Tony Randall, Buddy Rich, Don Rickles, Stevie Wonder, Ed McMahon, and Johnny Carson himself. With an eye for the eccentric, amusing, or downright bizarre, Sweeney's brief portraits offer a glimpse at celebrity from the other side of the curtain.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A recommended pick for not only The Tonight Show viewers past and present, but for any who enjoy celebrity exposes. (Donovan, Diane C. The Midwest Book Review )

From the Publisher

This book is a collection of celebrity vignettes and anecdotes from the peak years of the Tonight Show, and includes behind-the-scenes looks at more than two dozen celebrities, including Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, David Letterman, Regis Philbin, Ray Charles, Tony Randall, Buddy Rich, Don Rickles, Stevie Wonder, Ed McMahon, and Johnny Carson himself. With an eye for the eccentric, amusing, or downright bizarre, Sweeney's brief portraits offer a glimpse at celebrity from the other side of the curtain.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1st Taylor Trade Pub. Ed edition (April 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158979303X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589793033
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Real account of backstage goings on there, August 13, 2006

By 

P. Greenfield "Albnoflash" (South Bay, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno (Paperback)

Great Great backstage quips, quotes and extended anecdotes about Mr. Sweeney and his 20 years of bumping into all the major show business people that graced the tonight show to visit with Johnny and Ed. Tremendous insight for those curious about what some of the stars are "really" like and how ordinary yet extraordinary they actually were. From Ray Charles, to Tony Bennett, to Don Rickles, to Joey Bishop and many many more. Not a "tell-all" book at all it's just a real working mans account of what it takes to put on such a high profile show with the pressure of keeping the level of excellence Johnny expected. Don builds a wonderful story of how his early childhood dream of being involved in show business and network TV from his start on the Howdy Doody show at 5 to drumming with Ray Charles and Ed Shaughnessy as an adult. His daily chronology of rubbing elbows day after day with stars you all know and love as he went about his tasks gives us all hope of meeting the idols in our lives who gave us inspiration and touched our lives with their talents!!! Can't wait for more great stories in the sequel!!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Backstage at the Tonight Show ---Review, July 22, 2006

By 

Maryanne Dwyer (CT.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno (Paperback)

For anyone who was a fan of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson , or a casual viewer, or for anyone who just likes reading about the action behind the TV talk shows scene , this book will be a delight. If you ever wondered, as many of us have, what it was like to sit in the much talked about "greenroom" night after night and meet and converse with the many well known personalities who appeared on the show, this book will make you feel as though you were there..
The writing style is easy and flowing. The interesting antidotes revealing some interesting unknown facts about many of the personalities who appeared on the show, makes the book a quick entertaining read right through to the last page. Once you start reading it you will not want to put it down. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don Sweeney's recollections of the Tonight Show, July 30, 2006

By 

Anthony Christlieb (Sherman Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno (Paperback)

Don Sweeney gives the reader a behind-the-scene, candid. personal view of the awesome challenge of making the Johnny Carson Tonight Show the best late night entertainment in television for nearly two decades. I could not put the book down. If you're into show biz history you have to read this book!

Tony Christlieb