Monologue: What Makes America Laugh Before Bed - Hardcover

"Jon Macks is one of the funniest and most prolific comedy writers I have worked with. Like a great pitcher, he has a dazzling arsenal of fastballs and curves. Whether it's politics or pop culture, he gets it instantly. And everything he says about me in Monologue is true."-Billy Crystal
"Jon Macks is brilliant craftsman who provides a spectacular insider's view of how the writers do the work and we clowns take the credit."-Martin Short
"After more than twenty years writing for "The Tonight Show," Jon Macks knows what makes a great host and a great guest, a good joke from a bad one, and how to keep the audience at home up past bedtime. In Monologue, he tells the stories-behind-the-stories and proves that late-night TV is still the place where public opinion is formed." -James Carville
"Jon Macks is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time. Just like Billy Preston worked behind the scenes with the Beatles and the Stones, Macks has been the man behind so many great comedians it's impossible to name them all. I'm proud to say there is no comedic situation I'll ever enter without him."-Chris Rock
"After writing 500,000 jokes for Jay Leno, Jon Macks has written a funny and fascinating book about late night TV. He is the Cal Ripken of comedy, turning in an all-star quality performance for two decades. Monologue tells you how he did it, and reminds us all of why we love to laugh in bed."-Paul Begala
"More than one A-list star has dubbed Jon Macks "The Joke Machine," a nickname that's well-earned. Chances are you already know some of his most memorable lines, because he's written them for everyone, from the Beltway to Hollywood and back. If you don't believe me, just read this book. If you do believe me, read it anyway. He owes me money."-Dave Boone

"Macks, a longtime writer for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."..examines not only what makes something funny, but also how a joke can help shape public opinion and public behavior and what constitutes inappropriate material...readers looking for some behind-the-scenes intel on the big stars and the popular late-night shows won't be disappointed....Without Jon Stewart on late night, fans may need something else to do: this book should help."
"-- Booklist"
"Jon Macks is one of the funniest and most prolific comedy writers I have worked with. Like a great pitcher, he has a dazzling arsenal of fastballs and curves. Whether it's politics or pop culture, he gets it instantly. And everything he says about me in Monologue is true."-Billy Crystal
"Jon Macks is brilliant craftsman who provides a spectacular insider's view of how the writers do the work and we clowns take the credit."-Martin Short
"After more than twenty years writing for "The Tonight Show," Jon Macks knows what makes a great host and a great guest, a good joke from a bad one, and how to keep the audience at home up past bedtime. In Monologue, he tells the stories-behind-the-stories and proves that late-night TV is still the place where public opinion is formed." -James Carville
"Jon Macks is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time. Just like Billy Preston worked behind the scenes with the Beatles and the Stones, Macks has been the man behind so many great comedians it's impossible to name them all. I'm proud to say there is no comedic situation I'll ever enter without him."-Chris Rock
"After writing 500,000 jokes for Jay Leno, Jon Macks has written a funny and fascinating book about late night TV. He is the Cal Ripken of comedy, turning in an all-star quality performance for two decades. Monologue tells you how he did it, and reminds us all of why we love to laugh in bed."-Paul Begala
"More than one A-list star has dubbed Jon Macks "The Joke Machine," a nickname that's well-earned. Chances are you already know some of his most memorable lines, because he's written them for everyone, from the Beltway to Hollywood and back. If you don't believe me, just read this book. If you do believe me, read it anyway. He owes me money."-Dave Boone

Macks, a longtime writer for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" examines not only what makes something funny, but also how a joke can help shape public opinion and public behavior and what constitutes inappropriate material readers looking for some behind-the-scenes intel on the big stars and the popular late-night shows won t be disappointed .Without Jon Stewart on late night, fans may need something else to do: this book should help.
" Booklist"
"Jon Macks is one of the funniest and most prolific comedy writers I have worked with. Like a great pitcher, he has a dazzling arsenal of fastballs and curves. Whether it's politics or pop culture, he gets it instantly. And everything he says about me in Monologue is true." Billy Crystal
"Jon Macks is brilliant craftsman who provides a spectacular insider's view of how the writers do the work and we clowns take the credit." Martin Short
"After more than twenty years writing for "The Tonight Show," Jon Macks knows what makes a great host and a great guest, a good joke from a bad one, and how to keep the audience at home up past bedtime. In Monologue, he tells the stories-behind-the-stories and proves that late-night TV is still the place where public opinion is formed." James Carville
"Jon Macks is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time. Just like Billy Preston worked behind the scenes with the Beatles and the Stones, Macks has been the man behind so many great comedians it's impossible to name them all. I'm proud to say there is no comedic situation I'll ever enter without him." Chris Rock
"After writing 500,000 jokes for Jay Leno, Jon Macks has written a funny and fascinating book about late night TV. He is the Cal Ripken of comedy, turning in an all-star quality performance for two decades. Monologue tells you how he did it, and reminds us all of why we love to laugh in bed." Paul Begala
"More than one A-list star has dubbed Jon Macks "The Joke Machine," a nickname that's well-earned. Chances are you already know some of his most memorable lines, because he's written them for everyone, from the Beltway to Hollywood and back. If you don't believe me, just read this book. If you do believe me, read it anyway. He owes me money." Dave Boone"

Macks, a longtime writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno examines not only what makes something funny, but also how a joke can help shape public opinion and public behavior and what constitutes inappropriate material readers looking for some behind-the-scenes intel on the big stars and the popular late-night shows won t be disappointed .Without Jon Stewart on late night, fans may need something else to do: this book should help.
Booklist
"Jon Macks is one of the funniest and most prolific comedy writers I have worked with. Like a great pitcher, he has a dazzling arsenal of fastballs and curves. Whether it's politics or pop culture, he gets it instantly. And everything he says about me in Monologue is true." Billy Crystal
"Jon Macks is brilliant craftsman who provides a spectacular insider's view of how the writers do the work and we clowns take the credit." Martin Short
"After more than twenty years writing for "The Tonight Show," Jon Macks knows what makes a great host and a great guest, a good joke from a bad one, and how to keep the audience at home up past bedtime. In Monologue, he tells the stories-behind-the-stories and proves that late-night TV is still the place where public opinion is formed." James Carville
"Jon Macks is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time. Just like Billy Preston worked behind the scenes with the Beatles and the Stones, Macks has been the man behind so many great comedians it's impossible to name them all. I'm proud to say there is no comedic situation I'll ever enter without him." Chris Rock
"After writing 500,000 jokes for Jay Leno, Jon Macks has written a funny and fascinating book about late night TV. He is the Cal Ripken of comedy, turning in an all-star quality performance for two decades. Monologue tells you how he did it, and reminds us all of why we love to laugh in bed." Paul Begala
"More than one A-list star has dubbed Jon Macks "The Joke Machine," a nickname that's well-earned. Chances are you already know some of his most memorable lines, because he's written them for everyone, from the Beltway to Hollywood and back. If you don't believe me, just read this book. If you do believe me, read it anyway. He owes me money." Dave Boone"

"Jon Macks is one of the greatest comedy writers of all time."—Chris Rock

A hilarious, revealing look behind the history and culture of American late-night TV, by a longtime comedy writer forThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

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 forThe 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, and drawing from more than half a million of his own jokes written over the span of twenty years. 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.