In the spring of 1987, over sixty million viewers tuned in to watch Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and David Addison (Bruce Willis) “get together” in one of the most famously controversial scenes in television history on Moonlighting, ABC’s groundbreaking series about an epically mismatched pair of private detectives . Two years later, the show was canceled due to low ratings. What happened? In Moonlighting: An Oral History, author Scott Ryan (The Last Days of Letterman) interviews over twenty members of the cast and creative team to get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery, uncovering hilarious, provocative, poignant, and sometimes flat-out crazy never-before-told stories about what went on behind the scenes during production of this unforgettable series. Cybill Shepherd, Allyce Beasley, Curtis Armstrong, creator Glenn Gordon Caron, producer Jay Daniel, writers, directors, editors, and more—they’re all here, piecing together the incredible story of late scripts, backstage fights, pregnancies, and broken bones, all told for the first time. Enjoy the cases, the chases, and all the conversations in Moonlighting: An Oral History.

The real story of this pioneering television series and the extraordinary behind-the-scenes challenges, battles, and rewards has never been told  — until now. Author Scott Ryan (The Last Days of Letterman, thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Blue Rose, Scott Luck Stories) interviews over twenty people, including the actors, writers, directors, and producers who made Moonlighting such a dynamic, unforgettable show, delving deep into their thoughts and feelings as they relive this magical moment in pop culture history in this full color oral history.  

Order the Kindle version of Moonlighting here.

On May 20, 2015, Dave said, “Thank you and goodnight.” The Foo Fighters sang “Everlong,” and Late Show with David Letterman ended its run. The final six weeks of the series had guests like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and the Obamas. All names you have heard many times. But it was the people behind the scenes who pulled off these twenty-eight unforgettable episodes of late-night television.

Author Scott Ryan conducted over twenty interviews with the staffers of David Letterman. Most of the participants had never given interviews before. The writers, directors, producers, and stage managers offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to work on these shows. Find out what it takes to write a Top Ten list, book a president for a guest spot, and what it was like working at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Long time Letterman writer Bill Scheft penned the foreword for the book. Included are over 100 color photos from staffers’ personal collections, as well as publicity photos from the show. Get the first truly inside look at creating an episode of Late Show.

Interviews with:

Barbara Gaines – Executive Producer; Sheila Rogers – Supervising Producer/ Talent Executive; Randi Grossack – Associate Director; Kathy Mavrikakis, Supervising Producer; Rick Sheckman, Associate Producer; Brian Teta – Supervising Producer/Segment Producer; Sheryl Zelikson – Music Producer; Jay Johnson – Creative Director, Digital Media; Jerry Foley – Director; Michael Barrie – Writer; Lee Ellenberg – Writer; Jim Mulholland – Writer; Joe Grossman – Writer; Jeremy Weiner – Writer; Steve Young – Writer; Vincent Favale – Executive of Late Night Programing; Eddie Valk – Stage Manager; Bill Scheft – Writer; Janice Penino – Vice President, Human Resources; Jill Goodwin – Writer; and Mike Buczkiewicz – Senior Producer/Segment Producer; Rupert Jee – Hello Deli Owner.

ISBN:978-1-949024-00-5

Author Scott Ryan (thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Blue Rose, Scott Luck Stories) weaves together memories from the staff with moments from the show in this new book recounting the final six weeks of Letterman’s historic thirty-three-year reign as late-night talk show host.

Order the Kindle eBook here.