Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!!!!

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.

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

Author Don Sweeney was with The Tonight Show for nearly twenty years until Jay Leno took over in 1992, so he's in the perfect position to provide the celebrity vignettes and anecdotes which follow its peak years in BACKSTAGE AT THE TONGITH SHOW FROM JOHNNY CARSON TO JAY LENO. More than two dozen celebrities are profiled here form Bill Cosby and Frank Sinatra to Letterman and Stevie Wonder, with descriptions bringing the show experience to life. A recommended pick for not only The Tonight Show viewers past and present, but for any who enjoy celebrity exposes.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book is the biography of Don Sweeney. who is Don Sweeney? Exactly. Not that exciting. Tonight show tidbits surprisingly boring from an insider's viewpoint. Obviously, the author holds back the "good stuff", so why bother?

As a life-long fan of the Tonight Show, from Jack Paar to the present Conan/Leno debacle, I found Don Sweeneys book "Backstage At The Tonight Show" a fascinating and very entertaining read. From the forward by Ed McMahon to the hilarious ending mispronounciations of Al Lapin, each page was an entertaining and sometimes, touching insight to the everyday goings-on backstage at Americas greatest talk show. I read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. "Bravo" Don Sweeney!!! I hope you have some more for us.

Don nails the behind the scenes drama of his 20 years working on the most successful talk show in history. Remember that in the 70's and 80's there were only three major TV stations, so the power of Johnny Carson in those days was enormous compared to the diluted ratings of today's unlimited channels.
Being a musician and communications major myself, I found Don's insight to be hilarious and informative. Things I never knew about Johnny Carson, Buddy Rich, and Frank Sinatra. If you want an honest portrait of the backstage aspect of the most successful tv show in history from a true insider's point of view, this book is it.
Highly recommended!

This book holds my interest. I cannot put it down because I loved the TONIGHT SHOW.
Don Sweeney comes across as one of us. He is a fan, just as I was. So I put myself in his shoes and love reading about what I would have seen as a Tonight Show member. If you loved Johnny, Ed or Doc or the band, you will enjoy this book!!!! My 83 year old aunt refuses to give the book back to me. She also cannot put it down. What a great tribute to a great TV show. Thank you Don Sweeney for sharing your story. You gave your readers a special gift.

After the mandatory and obligatory chapetr of Don's childhood, the story is filled with interesting and education tips for all types of performers. I had no trouble finishing the reading and it held my attention through out.The business lesson that I came away with is have a system that includes a process and consistency which will aid in being successful.

This book would more aptly be titled: "Don Sweeney's Autobiography- My life working on the tonight show". The book is a decent read, but not at all what I was expecting. This is really the story of Mr. Sweeney and his life working in and around the Tonight Show. He has a whole section dedicated to working with Ray Charles at a charitable event (the event had nothing to do with the tonight show). It is a fun story, but just one of the examples of how this book does not talk about the backstage workings of the tonight show.
Mr. Sweeney talks all about his own accomplishments and his career endeavors and his side trips with the band. I was disappointed that the book dealt more with his life than with the show and the inner workings of the production process. At times, I honestly felt that the book was written to glorify his career and help promote his name, not the tonight show.