---
product_id: 1652771
title: "Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show"
brand: "dave bergjay leno"
price: "€ 28.74"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/1652771-behind-the-curtain-an-insiders-view-of-jay-lenos-tonight
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

**Brand:** dave bergjay leno
**Price:** € 28.74
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show by dave bergjay leno
- **How much does it cost?** € 28.74 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/1652771-behind-the-curtain-an-insiders-view-of-jay-lenos-tonight)

## Best For

- dave bergjay leno enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted dave bergjay leno brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show

## Images

![Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5127XAXjujL.jpg)
![Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31PiXoKcCjL.jpg)
![Behind the Curtain: An Insider's View of Jay Leno's Tonight Show - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/313e0FJw7FL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Come out from behind the curtain, Jay--We need you.
  

*by N***N on Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2014*

Think about it:  My review of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" co-producer Dave Berg's book about the inner workings of the broadcast is the 52nd for a book that has been available through Amazon for less than a week.  This speaks to Jay's popularity among a certain "baby boom" demo that doesn't quite know where to go at late night anymore to get their needed jolt of humor.Berg--for the most part--provides the reader with a substantial amount of the "behind-the-curtain" drama that went on behind Jay's NBC career.  What was particularly interesting was Berg indicating that the producers had access to the television ratings at 15-minute intervals and they could tell who their nightly audience liked--and didn't like--as the show continued to 12:36.  Those who caused a ratings decline would often find themselves locked out.Berg--as expected--lasers off all or any of Jay Leno's warts as either a performer or person and gives him a near-perfect portrayal.  Since the book provides many otherwise hard-to-get show biz snippets and inside takes, I found this transgression to not really get in the way of Berg's story especially since there is indeed lots to like about Jay.Apparently, there is absolutely no room for error in the late night talk show game.  A large part of the book describes the daily war that goes on among all of the shows for guest bookings. There was a constant concern that one bad show would cause the show to lose momentum and give its competitors a real boost.  By the same token, it was important to sometimes be lucky (think Hugh Grant) which Berg, like many others, cites as the immediate reason why David Letterman lost his two-year reign as late night champ after only two years in 1995.What I found most interesting in a book in which Jay wrote the Foreward (but indicated he hadn't read the book at that point) is Berg's and the show's obsession and resentment with David Letterman and his show.  Frankly, I had thought that any animosity between the Leno and Letterman shows could be sourced at the Letterman camp but this book is evidence that this is not the case.  For example, Leno would have worked every day of the year but was forced to take six weeks off;  Letterman takes twelve weeks off.  Leno taped every weekday while Letterman tapes five shows in four days because Jay thought it was important for the monologue to be fresh.  There is a separate chapter called "The Audience" where Berg, based on his own research, claims that the Letterman people almost has contempt for its audience members while the Leno show treated audience members as if they were "customers."  This summary is only a sample of what the reader will find on the Leno vs. Letterman front.Jay's successor, Jimmy Fallon also gets a few digs.  Berg claims that while Jimmy "excels at comedy sketches and musical numbers", he needs to work on his "interviewing skills."  He indicates that Jimmy's "monologue was also a little weak at first, but it has improved."  (Well, as a side note, it is my view that the monologue has not really improved;  this is why so many of us don't know where to go for our late night comedy fix;  David Letterman might as well phone in his monologue these days.)Berg predicts that Leno will still show up somewhere on the dial, perhaps at CNN.  I had thought that Jay would make an appearance or two on Letterman as Dave winds things up over the next year or so, but after reading this book, I really wonder if that is going to happen.  I also wonder whether Jay will be a welcome guest on Fallon.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Honest view from behind the scenes
  

*by G***S on Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2023*

Really enjoyed Dave’s recounting of the events and characters that I watched through the years from my side of the television.  An entertaining read.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    A lot of fun with some heft to it --sort of like dark chocolate.
  

*by J***R on Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2014*

Most of the rave reviews emphasize how fun this book is to read. There is no denying that. However this book is a bit heavier than one might be lead to believe. Berg does a nice job at portraying the non-stop pressure there was on everybody to put on "The Tonight with Jay Leno" just about every night (because Jay is adverse to vacations). He doesn't shy away from ripping critics of the show, detailing much of the tension between Jay & Dave & he doesn't soft pedal Helen Kushnick's  reign of terror during the show's early years. Granted some of this was covered in Bill Carter's excellent "The Late Shift", but Berg brings another point of view to the "battle for Carson's seat".There is a very poignant chapter on JFK Jr. that is almost worth the entire price of the book. He also shares some very entertaining takes on other celebs from the many fields that the show included. This is not a "tell all". Jay is portrayed as a workaholic that just anybody would love to work for. (I met him & spoke to him for about 20 minutes a few months before he just the permanent & tell you that Jay is a great guy.)Until Jay one day decides not to be such a nice guy (which will happen when the Cubs win the World Series) & write a memoir about the show & about what how he really felt about the unfair raps on him & the show & the guests ("friends of the show" & others) & the corporate politics that helped save the show while almost trying to sink at the same time we have this really fine book written by one of his top people.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ie/products/1652771-behind-the-curtain-an-insiders-view-of-jay-lenos-tonight](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/1652771-behind-the-curtain-an-insiders-view-of-jay-lenos-tonight)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*