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The Late Shift (book)

October 26, 2023

For other uses, see The Late Shift (disambiguation).

The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for the Night is a 1994 non-fiction book written by The New York Times media reporter Bill Carter. It chronicles the early 1990s conflict surrounding the American late-night talk show The Tonight Show. The book was later made into a film of the same name by HBO.

The Late Shift
Book cover
AuthorBill Carter
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherHyperion
Publication date
1994
Pages299
ISBN978-1-56282-754-0
Followed byThe War for Late Night 

Contents edit

The book chronicles the behind-the-scenes corporate battle surrounding American late-night talk shows, leading up to, and after, Johnny Carson's 1992 retirement as host of NBC's The Tonight Show. The book primarily details the power struggle between David Letterman and Jay Leno to succeed Carson as the "King of Late Night", NBC choosing Leno over Letterman as the next Tonight Show host, and Letterman later moving to rival network CBS.

Cast of characters edit

The following is a partial list of people featured in the book:

Major principals
Others
  • Helen Kushnick: Leno's tough manager who helps him secure his spot as Carson's successor. Becomes executive producer of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, but her fierce tactics eventually force both NBC and Leno to fire her.
  • Peter Lassally: Executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and later Late Night with David Letterman. Becomes an unofficial counselor to Letterman after Leno is selected to succeed Carson.
  • Michael Ovitz: Head of the Creative Artists Agency from 1975 to 1995. Hired by Letterman to negotiate his move from NBC to another network, studio, or syndicator (eventually CBS).
  • Howard Stringer: President of CBS from 1988 to 1995. After several unsuccessful attempts to break NBC's ratings stranglehold on the late night hours, negotiates to bring Letterman to his network.
  • Brandon Tartikoff: President of NBC's entertainment division from 1981 to 1991. Instrumental in helping to build NBC's 1980s late night lineup of Carson and Letterman, as well as signing Leno to be Carson's permanent guest host in 1987.
  • Bob Wright: President of NBC from 1986 to 2007. Tries to negotiate to keep Letterman on NBC.
  • John Agoglia: NBC executive from 1980 to 1998 and supporter of Leno.[1]

Reception edit

In a review of The Late Shift for The New York Times Book Review, Jon Katz wrote, "[This] is a reporter's book, unfailingly balanced, thoroughly researched, filled with scoops and fresh details. Even though CBS's wooing and winning of Mr. Letterman was the subject of enormous publicity, Mr. Carter's book makes clear that we knew less than we thought about what was really going on." Katz criticized the book for not going into more depth about Letterman's switch to CBS, writing, "As readable as it is, 'The Late Shift' needed to take a more critical, detached look at the long-term significance of Mr. Letterman's move. A number of questions are not addressed." He concluded, "'The Late Shift' is nonetheless a powerful story, and ultimately a sad one, filled with casualties as well as winners. Mr. Leno, who has been made to seem a second choice by the very people who elevated him, has been betrayed by his employers in the most basic of ways, and he has not yet recovered."[2]

Kim Campbell reviewed the book for The Christian Science Monitor. "More than just a play-by-play account of the actions that followed Johnny Carson's 1991 retirement announcement, Carter's well-written book is a look at the history of the late-night franchise, and of the men who host the shows that we would rather watch instead of going to bed." Campbell described the book as revealing in its assessment of NBC's decision to pass over Letterman for The Tonight Show, concluding, "Carter's eye-opening book leaves the impression that NBC will be remembered more for its loss of Letterman, than for its role as creator of late-night television."[3]

Lawsuit edit

Helen Kushnick, Jay Leno's manager at the time of Carson's retirement who was pushed out following her heavy-handed tactics, filed a $30 million lawsuit against Bill Carter, claiming libel. Specifically, her case related to a claim that she planted a story about Carson's retirement in a New York City tabloid.[4] The then-pending lawsuit was noted in the closing credits of the film, as the Broadway tune "There's No Business Like Show Business" plays. The lawsuit settled out of court for an undisclosed sum; Kushnick died of cancer in August 1996.[5]

Film adaptation edit

Further information: The Late Shift (film)

A film adaption of the book was produced in 1996 by HBO, directed by Betty Thomas, and starring John Michael Higgins as Letterman and Daniel Roebuck as Leno. The film received seven Emmy Award nominations in categories including "Outstanding Made for Television Movie",[6] makeup,[7] casting,[7] writing,[8] and directing,[6] acting.[6] For her role in the film as Helen Kushnick, actress Kathy Bates won awards from the American Comedy Awards,[9] the Golden Globe Awards,[10] the Satellite Awards,[11] and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[12] The film was recognized with an award for "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials" from the Directors Guild of America Awards.[13]

Sequel edit

A sequel to The Late Shift called The War for Late Night, based on the controversy involving Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show and NBC was released on November 4, 2010.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ Lowry, Brian (2014-03-25). "John Agoglia, Top NBC Exec in 'Must-See TV' Era, Dies at 76". Variety. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  2. ^ Katz, Jon (February 20, 1994). "Star Wars". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Campbell, Kim (March 11, 1994). "The Late Shift". The Christian Science Monitor (Eastern Edition): 17. ISSN 0882-7729.
  4. ^ Fleming, Michael. "Dish: Fox backing off the gay buss", Variety, 21 April 1994.
  5. ^ Shales, Tom (January 19, 2010). "Tom Shales on the villains in the Leno-O'Brien fiasco at NBC". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
  6. ^ a b c "Emmy Nominations". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. September 9, 1996. p. A4.
  7. ^ a b Elber, Lynn (Associated Press) (July 19, 1996). "'ER' leads the way with 17 nominations for Emmy Awards". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Publishing Company. p. C5.
  8. ^ Lorando, Mark (July 22, 1996). "Emmy aberration". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Times-Picayune Publishing Corporation. p. C1.
  9. ^ Sun-Sentinel wire services (February 19, 1997). "Disney cuts a deal on new series". Sun-Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel Company. p. 5E.
  10. ^ From Beacon Journal wire services (January 21, 1997). "Golden Globe Winners List". Akron Beacon Journal. Ohio. p. C9.
  11. ^ City News Service (January 17, 1997). "Golden (not Globe) Awards recognize finest in Hollywood". Daily News of Los Angeles. p. L10.
  12. ^ Associated Press (February 25, 1997). "'Seinfeld,' 'ER' win Screen Guild Awards". Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. p. A11.
  13. ^ "People". Contra Costa Times. Walnut Creek, California. March 11, 1997. p. A02.
  14. ^ "New York Times' Bill Carter at Work on a Late Shift Sequel". Gawker. 2010-02-11.

Further reading edit

  • Carter, Bill (January 30, 1994). "Behind the Headlines in the Leno-Letterman War". New York Times. p. 628.
  • Carter, Bill (2007). Desperate Networks. Broadway. pp. 333–340. ISBN 978-0-7679-1974-6.
Lawsuit
Book reviews

External links edit

  • "Look Who's Talking: A Media Critic Dishes the Dirt on Leno and Letterman". Entertainment Weekly. February 11, 1994. Retrieved 2010-01-22.

October 26, 2023
late, shift, book, other, uses, late, shift, disambiguation, late, shift, letterman, leno, network, battle, night, 1994, fiction, book, written, york, times, media, reporter, bill, carter, chronicles, early, 1990s, conflict, surrounding, american, late, night,. For other uses see The Late Shift disambiguation The Late Shift Letterman Leno and the Network Battle for the Night is a 1994 non fiction book written by The New York Times media reporter Bill Carter It chronicles the early 1990s conflict surrounding the American late night talk show The Tonight Show The book was later made into a film of the same name by HBO The Late ShiftBook coverAuthorBill CarterCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishPublisherHyperionPublication date1994Pages299ISBN978 1 56282 754 0Followed byThe War for Late Night Contents 1 Contents 2 Cast of characters 3 Reception 4 Lawsuit 5 Film adaptation 6 Sequel 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksContents editThe book chronicles the behind the scenes corporate battle surrounding American late night talk shows leading up to and after Johnny Carson s 1992 retirement as host of NBC s The Tonight Show The book primarily details the power struggle between David Letterman and Jay Leno to succeed Carson as the King of Late Night NBC choosing Leno over Letterman as the next Tonight Show host and Letterman later moving to rival network CBS Cast of characters editThe following is a partial list of people featured in the book Major principalsJohnny Carson Host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 Jay Leno Permanent guest host of The Tonight Show since 1987 Chosen by NBC to succeed Carson as host David Letterman Host of NBC s 12 30am show Late Night with David Letterman since 1982 After being bypassed as Carson s successor in favor of Leno moves to rival network CBS in 1993 OthersHelen Kushnick Leno s tough manager who helps him secure his spot as Carson s successor Becomes executive producer of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno but her fierce tactics eventually force both NBC and Leno to fire her Peter Lassally Executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and later Late Night with David Letterman Becomes an unofficial counselor to Letterman after Leno is selected to succeed Carson Michael Ovitz Head of the Creative Artists Agency from 1975 to 1995 Hired by Letterman to negotiate his move from NBC to another network studio or syndicator eventually CBS Howard Stringer President of CBS from 1988 to 1995 After several unsuccessful attempts to break NBC s ratings stranglehold on the late night hours negotiates to bring Letterman to his network Brandon Tartikoff President of NBC s entertainment division from 1981 to 1991 Instrumental in helping to build NBC s 1980s late night lineup of Carson and Letterman as well as signing Leno to be Carson s permanent guest host in 1987 Bob Wright President of NBC from 1986 to 2007 Tries to negotiate to keep Letterman on NBC John Agoglia NBC executive from 1980 to 1998 and supporter of Leno 1 Reception editIn a review of The Late Shift for The New York Times Book Review Jon Katz wrote This is a reporter s book unfailingly balanced thoroughly researched filled with scoops and fresh details Even though CBS s wooing and winning of Mr Letterman was the subject of enormous publicity Mr Carter s book makes clear that we knew less than we thought about what was really going on Katz criticized the book for not going into more depth about Letterman s switch to CBS writing As readable as it is The Late Shift needed to take a more critical detached look at the long term significance of Mr Letterman s move A number of questions are not addressed He concluded The Late Shift is nonetheless a powerful story and ultimately a sad one filled with casualties as well as winners Mr Leno who has been made to seem a second choice by the very people who elevated him has been betrayed by his employers in the most basic of ways and he has not yet recovered 2 Kim Campbell reviewed the book for The Christian Science Monitor More than just a play by play account of the actions that followed Johnny Carson s 1991 retirement announcement Carter s well written book is a look at the history of the late night franchise and of the men who host the shows that we would rather watch instead of going to bed Campbell described the book as revealing in its assessment of NBC s decision to pass over Letterman for The Tonight Show concluding Carter s eye opening book leaves the impression that NBC will be remembered more for its loss of Letterman than for its role as creator of late night television 3 Lawsuit editHelen Kushnick Jay Leno s manager at the time of Carson s retirement who was pushed out following her heavy handed tactics filed a 30 million lawsuit against Bill Carter claiming libel Specifically her case related to a claim that she planted a story about Carson s retirement in a New York City tabloid 4 The then pending lawsuit was noted in the closing credits of the film as the Broadway tune There s No Business Like Show Business plays The lawsuit settled out of court for an undisclosed sum Kushnick died of cancer in August 1996 5 Film adaptation editFurther information The Late Shift film A film adaption of the book was produced in 1996 by HBO directed by Betty Thomas and starring John Michael Higgins as Letterman and Daniel Roebuck as Leno The film received seven Emmy Award nominations in categories including Outstanding Made for Television Movie 6 makeup 7 casting 7 writing 8 and directing 6 acting 6 For her role in the film as Helen Kushnick actress Kathy Bates won awards from the American Comedy Awards 9 the Golden Globe Awards 10 the Satellite Awards 11 and the Screen Actors Guild Awards 12 The film was recognized with an award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials from the Directors Guild of America Awards 13 Sequel editA sequel to The Late Shift called The War for Late Night based on the controversy involving Jay Leno Conan O Brien The Tonight Show and NBC was released on November 4 2010 14 References edit Lowry Brian 2014 03 25 John Agoglia Top NBC Exec in Must See TV Era Dies at 76 Variety Retrieved 2014 04 13 Katz Jon February 20 1994 Star Wars The New York Times Retrieved March 20 2021 Campbell Kim March 11 1994 The Late Shift The Christian Science Monitor Eastern Edition 17 ISSN 0882 7729 Fleming Michael Dish Fox backing off the gay buss Variety 21 April 1994 Shales Tom January 19 2010 Tom Shales on the villains in the Leno O Brien fiasco at NBC The Washington Post Retrieved 2010 01 23 a b c Emmy Nominations The Orlando Sentinel Sentinel Communications Co September 9 1996 p A4 a b Elber Lynn Associated Press July 19 1996 ER leads the way with 17 nominations for Emmy Awards The Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah Deseret News Publishing Company p C5 Lorando Mark July 22 1996 Emmy aberration The Times Picayune New Orleans Louisiana The Times Picayune Publishing Corporation p C1 Sun Sentinel wire services February 19 1997 Disney cuts a deal on new series Sun Sentinel Sun Sentinel Company p 5E From Beacon Journal wire services January 21 1997 Golden Globe Winners List Akron Beacon Journal Ohio p C9 City News Service January 17 1997 Golden not Globe Awards recognize finest in Hollywood Daily News of Los Angeles p L10 Associated Press February 25 1997 Seinfeld ER win Screen Guild Awards Telegraph Herald Dubuque Iowa p A11 People Contra Costa Times Walnut Creek California March 11 1997 p A02 New York Times Bill Carter at Work on a Late Shift Sequel Gawker 2010 02 11 Further reading editCarter Bill January 30 1994 Behind the Headlines in the Leno Letterman War New York Times p 628 Carter Bill 2007 Desperate Networks Broadway pp 333 340 ISBN 978 0 7679 1974 6 LawsuitHelen Gorman Kushnick v Disney Book Publishing Inc et al 1994 Los Angeles Superior CourtBook reviews The Late Shift Barron s Chicopee Massachusetts 66 March 7 1994 ISSN 1077 8039 Rosen Jay February 22 1994 The Late Shift The New York Times Late New York Edition The New York Times Company C20 ISSN 0362 4331 Waters Harry F February 21 1994 The Late Shift Newsweek 123 62 ISSN 0028 9604 External links edit Look Who s Talking A Media Critic Dishes the Dirt on Leno and Letterman Entertainment Weekly February 11 1994 Retrieved 2010 01 22 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Late Shift book amp oldid 1153690510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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