There are so many people to thank for a book like this. An oral history doesn’t work unless strangers are willing to share their thoughts with another stranger. When they do, an amazing thing happens. It creates a bond that spawns friendships. I like to aspire to the idea that all of life could be that way too. So here are my thanks to the many people who helped this book to happen.

First and foremost, thanks to David Letterman, for entertaining me for so many years and teaching me comedy, interviewing, and the art of knowing when it’s the right time to be funny (although my wife doesn’t think I learned the last one). It was an honor to watch the classy way you left late night. I hope this book is a reminder to people of what you gave all of us for so many years. Also, I really hope you or your corporate goons don’t sue me.

If there is a reason this book happened, it is Barbara Gaines. I hope she is happy about that. I pursued her for an interview for over two years on Twitter before she relented. (See, Twitter hasn’t caused only bad things to happen to our country.) Barbara so generously vouched for me with other, more reluctant participants. She also fact-checked the book for me, but mostly she loves Sondheim and Buffy—that is cool enough for me. She had an amazing career, and topped it off with an amazing montage. 

I somehow got Bill Scheft, who has made me laugh for twenty-five years, to write the foreword to my book. I will never get over that. When I read it, I thought, “Oh, man, do I have a book that lives up to this foreword?” I am sure the internet will answer that for me. He also gave me permission to use quotes from the blog he wrote during the final six weeks. Bill wins for longest interview. We talked so long his phone battery died and he had to switch phones. He was honest, open, and hilarious. A highlight for me was that I made him laugh once. I wish I had a Bill Scheft to stand off to the side of my desk and make me laugh all day. Wonder if he is looking for a new job?

If you want to know something about the Late Show, Randi Grossack is your go-to person. She was always so giving of her time. We ended up emailing quite a bit (even from Iceland). She sent me the list of everything that was in the final montage, but it would have made the book even longer, so it got cut. 

Jay Johnson is such a kind person. He was very helpful in connecting me with other Late Show staffers. He did so much for me and this book. But not everything that he could have. He knows Amber Ruffin, and hasn’t introduced me yet.

Are you in the mood for a great story? Then Jerry Foley is your man. I have been lucky to interview many people over the years. There is just something different when you talk to someone who is a master at their craft. Jerry has that quality. I had to beg him to accept my compliments over his directing of John Mayer’s “American Pie.” Watch the clip again and pay attention to the shots. There is much to learn from him.

I would thank Mike Buczkiewicz, but what’s the point? I’d probably just delete it anyway. 

Rick Scheckman is a super-nice guy. He read the book early and saved my bacon a few times. He gave me great feedback and really was a major key to this book. If only he talked a little bit faster. Wow, was transcribing his interview a final exam.

Sheila Rogers was my second interview and gave me the best quote right at the top. “I am regretting this already.” I like to think I won her over in the interview. It was hard not to ask her for other email addresses for stars I want to interview. Do you know how many books I could write if Sheila Rogers would be my best friend? So Sheila, if you ever need a ride to the airport or help moving a couch, let me know.

Joe Grossman was someone I was nervous about interviewing. I had seen him so many times on the show. He ended up being just like his “character” and nothing like him at all. He was actually more sentimental than he wanted to let on. He also sent me a ton of great photos for the book. 

Steve Young is as smart as you would expect him to be. We ended up talking about all kinds of other things on the phone. He was the only person who, as far as I know, recorded the call on his end too. Now if only Mike Buczkiewicz would have done that as well.

Brian Teta’s life story really stuck with me. His journey through the Letterman years reminded me of mine. Of course, I spent it watching it on TV and he spent it actually working with Dave, but is it really that different? I liked the fact that he had to get up and close his office door while we talked on the phone for two hours. Yes, Whoopi and Joy had to wait while I got my time with Brian.

In doing research, I realized I had to get to Sheryl Zelikson because I didn’t have anyone talking about the music. Then I found out she was picked as one of Billboard’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Music. Well, heck, one of the perks of being that is not having to talk to people like me. She not only talked to me, she was very responsive to email follow-ups. She has introduced me to a lot of great music through the years. I am very thankful for that. She also sent me a wonderful present which I truly love, thanks.

Janice Penino took a chance with me on her first-ever interview. She asked, “You want to talk to me? I was just in HR.” It was always surprising to me how none of these people understood what they were a part of. I wish I would have been able to interview for her years ago. I wonder if she would have picked me to intern at my dream job?

Kathy Mavrikakis made the elevators run at the building. She kept the money flowing and kept everyone on schedule. She also was very kind in getting back to me with all the little details I needed. Her extra detail on remembering that “Happy” was playing when she heard that Dave was retiring is such a perfect detail for a book. Of course now when I hear the song, I think of the end of the Late Show too. Nice job. Although if I’m in a situation where I am hearing that song, something has gone terribly wrong. I also thank her for giving me the last line for the book. When she first said, it, I knew it was my ending.

I am pretty sure that Vincent Favale was the only person who outright laughed at my concept. He said, “You don’t want to put anything snarky in your book? Who does that?” Well, my “kindness-first” motto must have worked, because he generously tapped me as the host for an upcoming The Art of Letterman podcast. artofletterman.com

Whenever I wondered if I was getting too deep into the weeds I thought about hearing Jeremy Weiner talk about Calvert DeForest reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. I figured if someone who worked there for so long could still be tickled by a small moment like that, I was on the right path.

Jill Goodwin was such a fun interview. I could feel how much she loved working there. She also mentioned having a lot of extra Late Show jackets. I’m just saying. I get cold sometimes too. One day out of nowhere she sent me thirty-three backstage photos. I love emails like that. Her path to becoming a comedy writer is so inspiring. To start out answering phones, move on to being an assistant, and end up being a comedy writer for David Letterman is mind blowing. 

Rupert Jee was nice to me fifteen years ago when I first went into the Hello Deli and asked him for a picture. He was the same kind person when I went in to interview him in 2018. He answered my questions, waited on customers, and treated everyone the same. He also agreed to sell the book there, so I hope you bought it there.

I wish I could have used more of Eddie Valk’s comments about being there for Dave. He was the stage manager who stood off camera for Dave. The way he took care of Dave was impressive and moving. One thing I truly learned is that Dave inspired loyalty in an amazing way. He said, “It didn’t matter to me who was on the show. It was, ‘How was Dave that day and what can I do to help him?’” I like that.

Somehow I talked to Jim Mulholland and Michael Barrie. They freaking wrote for Johnny Carson. I didn’t have the heart to tell them, when told me they started working for Johnny in the spring of 1970, “Hey, that is when I was born.” They also very generously sent me the retirement jokes that they wrote for Dave over the last six weeks. That was really classy. My favorite one?  “I’m ready for retirement. I’ve got my engineer’s cap and electric train set.”

Usually when I begin an interview, I try to create a bridge between the person and myself. Lee Ellenberg started by saying he knew about my last book, thirtysomething at thirty. Heck, that is all I wanted to talk about. Where? Did he read it? What did he think? But we had to talk about Letterman again. It’s always about Dave. Lee wrote some of the best comedy bits over the years. It was truly an honor to talk to him. He was the Toby to Dave’s Bartlet.

Did I forget anyone? Oh, I guess Mike Buczkiewicz does deserve two thanks. He did have to do two interviews. After nine years of doing this, I mistakenly deleted his first interview. I felt so bad. I told Mike to just look at it like it was a pre-interview. He is so busy out there getting former presidents to do cold opens. Even so, he made time to talk with me again. Thanks.

Thanks to my editor, David Bushman.

Thanks to Mark Karis, for jumping in at the last moment and saving the design of this book.

Thanks to Mo Smith for transcribing an interview for me.

Thanks to Wayne Barnes for the wonderful drawing of John Mayer.

Thanks to CBS, @Letterman, and Worldwide Pants for all the photos you tweeted and Facebooked out as publicity stills. I tried to credit all the photos to the person who gave them to me. If I made a mistake, no slight was intended. Everyone was so giving in their photos. Thanks to everyone who supplied pictures for the book.

Thanks to Warren Zevon for all the titles and all the music.

Thanks to Don Giller for sharing a few of the episodes with me that I needed. Also a shout-out to the folks at AFL.

Thanks to my friends: Special Treatment Lisa, Holly Brothers, Tiffany Fluharty, Huppie, Jami Huppert, Lisa Mercado Fernandez, Courtenay Stallings, Bob Canode, Brad Dukes, John Thorne, Janet Jarnagin, Melanie Mullen, Mya McBriar, and Amanda Beatty.

Thanks to my family: Thanks Mom for always supporting your artist son. Joyce Ryan, Michael Ryan, Sherry Ryan, Alex Ryan, Rebecca Ryan, Reagan Surber, Gillian Surber, Steve Clark, Mary Caye Clark, Josh Minton, Rachel Minton, and Kaylee Landis. 

A special thanks to my loving wife, Jennifer Ryan. She supports me in every project. I never take what she has given me for granted. She goes to work every day so that I can write and create. I am lucky. Wherever is her heart, I call home.