Talk Show

By: Dick Cavett

Narrated by: Dick Cavett

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

For years, Dick Cavett played host to the nation’s most famous personalities on his late-night talk show. In this humorous and evocative book, we get to hear Cavett's best tales, as he recounts great moments with the legendary entertainers who crossed his path and offers his own trenchant commentary on contemporary American culture and politics.

Pull up a chair and listen to Cavett's stories about one-upping Bette Davis, testifying on behalf of John Lennon, confronting Richard Nixon, scheming with John Updike, befriending William F. Buckley, and palling around with Groucho Marx. Sprinkled in are tales of his childhood in Nebraska in the 1940s and 1950s, where he honed his sense of comic timing and his love of magic.

Cavett is also a wry cultural observer, looking at America today and pointing out the foibles that we so often fail to notice about ourselves. And don't even get him started on politicians.

A generation of Americans ended their evenings in Dick Cavett's company. Talk Show is a way to welcome him back.

©2010 Richard A. Cavett (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Wonderful storyteller.

Calvert really knows the art of conversation, storytelling, and wit better than so many other media figures. I could listen to him talk with reverence about his childhood entertainment heroes, political figures, and colleagues all day and don't think I would get bored. We are sorely lacking a modem day equivalent o his intelligence.

Fascinating...

I used to watch Dick's talk show & liked it since he didn't just stick to film stars, but brilliant people like Bill Buckley. This is a real find-the fact that Cavett narrates the book & very well too, enhances the experience. As other reviewers have said, it is like he is in the room with you. I was enthralled through all of it. I would almost bet a fiver that you will not be bored. Bravo!

Razor sharp as always

How I miss Dick Cavett. Wonderful stories of course but it is his constant insight of people, places and history so well laced with humor and perspective that I miss most of all. Wish we had him back on TV then it would be the one thing that I would watch...now it is a wasteland.

A Fascinating Life

I've always wanted to spend time with Dick Cavett and now, with this book, I feel I have. Intimate, funny and immensely entertaining. You won't be able to put it down (figuratively, of course).

Average

I honhonestly found the book really enhancing and in depth, it was just a bizarre format.
Dick Cavett reading it was worthwhile, I love his voice!

Worst Book on My Phone

I wish I knew how to get rid of it! I loved Cavett when I was in high school. This is total, boring self- aggrandizement. I was in high school from 67 to 70. In Utah. Cavett introduced me to Truman Capote, Judy Garland, Norman Mailer and even Lester Maddox. This book is beyond disappointing.

The Title is Misleading

What would have made Talk Show better?

If it were truly about his talk show. It is a cheaply produced book because all the material in it had already appeared in Cavett's newspaper column. If he had started fresh, the book would not have been so stale.

Would you ever listen to anything by Dick Cavett again?

Perhaps, but only if he wrote it with greater care and avoided repeating the same story several times.

What didn’t you like about Dick Cavett’s performance?

I had forgotten how arrogant Cavett can be. He comes across as the undisputed defender of the English, French, German and Latin languages. A little petty criticism goes a long way. Cavett forgets that English a living language. Regionalism and even novel usages and phrasing are to be judged not by their form but by their courage to speak the truth.

What character would you cut from Talk Show?

I would cut Grocho by half, Allen by three-forth, and if I never hear another story about Norman Mailer it will be too soon. These are especially annoying when he repeats the same stories.

Any additional comments?

I wanted to like this book else I would not have purchased it. All in all, I like Dick Cavett's wit and the way he would seem to befriend his guest. I always disliked his tendency to turn conversations to his favorite subject - which is himself. I can overlook some of that, but his book is over the top.

waste of time

big disappointment; nothing but condescending grammar critiques. nothing about guests;. no interesting anecdotes
don't bother

I Truly Could Not Take This Any Longer

Would you try another book from Dick Cavett and/or Dick Cavett?

That's a good question. I really thought this would have been more about his talk show and the business of show.

Instead, it was a series of his columns, read by the author.

Now, I *do* like Dick Cavett. Except for a few really good and funny moments, this book was just boring.

The part I did like best, however, was when he was talking about his experiences with his publisher. Quite funny.

But, it wasn't enough to salvage the book. I stopped listening to it after that.

What was most disappointing about Dick Cavett’s story?

I understand he is an "intellectual". But, Dick, do you really need to sound like such a fop?

And, all the political bashing of Bush just went on and on. Just made you sound like a typical liberal intellectual pining away for the current guy's "third term". Ugh.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Pretty much. It's Dick's delivery, which is fine. I'm okay with it. But the stories about Mailer and such... sooo boring.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was very disappointed. Sorry, Dick.

Not at all what I expected.

I went into this book expecting a pleasant reminiscences of past guests on his talks shows; and behind the scenes stories.
This it is definitely not. This book is just one long anti-conservative rant. I spent my youth watching and enjoying his various TV shows. But this book is just disgraceful. If your looking for a retelling of every anti-Bush, anti-Cheney, anti-Rumsfeld, and anything conservative; this is your book. If not like me; this book will turn your stomach.
This is a recorded example of an ultra liberal doing what they do best; doing anything they can to insult people they disagree with. I have been willing to over look his politics in the past because he always had great guests that interviewed; and never attacked them for their politics.
The name of this book is very misleading. It is in fact just a way to sell more books to people like me who have enjoyed him in the past; and thought this book was about that show.