Letterman Wit: His Life and Humor [Paperback]

Bill Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995

A humorous look at the life of the popular talk-show host follows the ups and downs of Letterman's show business career, combining personal anecdotes, the revelations of friends and colleagues, and Letterman's own humorous observations. 50,000 first printing.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ratings show that Letterman is the most watched talk-show host on late-night television; here Adler ( The Kennedy Wit ) chronicles his rise to the top, from an Indianapolis boyhood to inheriting the mantle, if not the show, of his hero Johnny Carson. Apparently, Letterman's self-deprecating, ironic, sometimes caustic wit was slow to develop: as a youth he played "pranks"--a less sympathetic observer might call them humorless practical jokes--and had a fondness for the zany, as in his later "Stupid Pet Tricks." He began to work in radio during college, appeared on various stations in the Midwest, went to New York City and then to L.A., where he learned that he had no great future as a stand-up comic. He returned to New York City and his first big show premiered in 1982, scoring high. It was galling to Letterman when Carson retired and he was not offered the Tonight Show . As a result, he broke with NBC and signed with CBS. While shedding little light on its subject, the book will attract readers with its humor.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

David Letterman gets the star-bio treatment. Though not a Late Night fans' coffee-table book, it contains plenty of anecdotes and highlights, including excerpts from Letterman's favorite top 10 lists and the real reason behind his switch to wearing suits "like a grown-up" on his new CBS show. As for press accounts in the recent past of Letterman's feuds with Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, and Bryant Gumbel, there are fleeting but revealing passages about each. Letterman's problems with Margaret Ray, the woman who has repeatedly gained access to his house and persists in portraying herself as Dave's wife, are given fuller treatment--a whole chapter, in fact. Mainly, though, this is a biography of Letterman the person. Neither deep nor superficial, it's an interesting, pleasant read about a notable entertainer and his climb to stardom. Mike Tribby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786702109
• ISBN-13: 978-0786702107
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,990,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for the newer fan, January 1, 2000

By 

Jennifer J. Sikes (Pensacola, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letterman Wit: His Life and Humor (Paperback)

If you have just discovered the world of TV-Boy, grab a canned ham and a lovely beverage, and settle in for an enjoyable light read. Bill Adler has done a good job outlining the highlights of David Letterman's radio and television career. The uninitiated will also learn about Dave's personal life, including his first marraige, his relationship with co-creator of 'Late Night', Merrill Markoe, and the stalker who once camped out by his pool.

One particularly entertaining chapter is entitled, 'Dave on Dave', which contains snippets of print and television interviews spanning the course of Letterman's career.

For the seasoned fan, however, there is nothing new to be found in 'The Letterman Wit'. I would suggest you read Bill Carter's 'The Late Shift' if you are looking for information on the late night wars, 'Late Night: The Book' edited by Merrill Markoe, if you want a quirky look at the making of the show, and 'The David Letterman Story' by Caroline Latham, if you want a more indepth peak into Dave's personal life.