Behind the Curtain

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno comes alive in this book from an insider who describes the show's inner workings from the monologue to the guest bookings and appearances. Leno was the late-night ratings leader for almost two decades, which is unprecedented in the modern era of television. He and his producers made the show number one by recasting Johnny Carson's Tonight Show into Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Behind the Curtain takes an exclusive look at how they achieved it. During The Tonight Show's Jay Leno years, there were always two shows going on: the one on stage and the one behind it, where the camera didn't roll. This narrative weaves both together, featuring Leno and his most prominent guests. It recalls the show's most memorable moments, both good and bad, skillfully recounted by one of Leno's most highly respected, long-time co-producers, Dave Berg. For eighteen years, he booked and worked with Hollywood stars, superstar athletes, presidents and other politicos, and news makers. Called "the best booker in the business" by Bill O'Reilly, Berg delivered an array of high-profile guests to the program. Along the way he experienced it all, from a harrowing adventure to Nashville to spy on Dennis Rodman to a five-year campaign to book Barack Obama, the first sitting president ever to appear on a late-night show. Berg was an eyewitness who tells what really happened during the show's most legendary moments: Arnold Schwarzenegger's surprise political announcement; Hugh Grant's mea culpa; football great Jason Sehorn's proposal to Angie Harmon; the inebriated Cheers cast's live show from Boston; Jerry Seinfeld's appearance with "surprise guest" John F. Kennedy Jr.; and Leno's 9/11 show, the finest of his career.