Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Monologue by Jon Macks - Available

Monologue

What Makes America Laugh Before Bed

by Jon Macks
Johnny Heller
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
Ever since Johnny Carson first popularized the late-night talk show in 1962 with The Tonight Show, the eleven p.m. to two a.m. comedy time slot on network television has remained an indelible part of our national culture. More than six popular late-night shows air every night of the week, and with recent major shake-ups in the industry, late-night television has never been more relevant to our public consciousness than it is today. Jon Macks, a veteran writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, takes us behind the scenes of this world for an in-depth, colorful look at what really makes these hosts the arbiters of public opinion.

From the opening monologue—what's funny, what's dangerous, what's untouchable—to the best vs. worst guests, Macks covers the landscape of late-night comedy and punctuates the narrative with hysterical personal anecdotes, shining the spotlight on some of the very best late-night jokes. With an insider's expertise and a laugh-out-loud voice, Macks explains how late-night TV redefines the news and events of any given day, reshapes public opinion, and even creates our national zeitgeist.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 21, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781494528744
      • File size: 128497 KB
      • Duration: 04:27:42

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Johnny Heller tells the story of the man who writes the jokes that make the whole world laugh. Jon Macks wrote literally hundreds of thousands of jokes for Jay Leno in the decades he worked for him, and each joke has a story. Heller confidently tells the story of Macks and his life in the late-night bubble with the skill of a comedian. The jokes are funny enough, but Heller makes them sound even better. His behind-the-scenes accounts are priceless. Macks doesn't talk exclusively about himself and Leno--he also compares and contrasts all the late-night impresarios from Steve Allen to Seth Meyers and has a ton of fascinating anecdotes. This is an audiobook you can't stop listening to. M.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 27, 2015
      Macks, a veteran writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, explores the history of late-night comedy shows in America and the different styles of hosts and jokes that continue to draw audiences. He argues that late-night comedy provides a way to make sense of the ever-increasing news-media overload. He devotes most of the coverage to his former employer Jay Leno, but manages to draw out interesting views on many of the most popular hosts, including Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Jimmy Fallon. Reader Heller rises to the task of narrating a book that is about comedy and contains its fair share of jokes, derived from Mack and the various hosts. When it’s clear who is telling the joke, Heller provides a hint of impersonation, just to give the listener the flavor of the speaker. In general, Heller has the comic timing down, which improves the laughs in this book, but he still must deal with a good deal of jokes, often one-liners, that themselves feel a bit flat. A Penguin/Blue Rider hardcover.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading