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

Love it!

I just love this audiobook. I always enjoyed Dick Cavett.....it's refreshing to listen to someone so intelligent and articulate. I've missed his TV show and was thrilled when I learned of this book. He kept me company on a long car trip. It felt like he was in the passenger seat telling me stories. Since I've returned home, I've played several for my husband and some friends, and I enjoy them the second time through just as much as the first. He's brilliant!

WISH HE WROTE MORE BOOKS!

What did you love best about Talk Show?

Everything, He has a way of telling stories that makes them so interested and in some cases, hysterical

What did you like best about this story?

Dick Cavett's approach

What does Dick Cavett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His personality, and the sound of his voice

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

laugh

Any additional comments?

get it and enjoy.

Pretend he's not being pretentious, & you'll enjoy

I rarely watched Cavett's show (he always seemed TOO full of himself), and yet I've seen brief clips of many of the shows I missed and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Maybe that's the answer...Cavett in small doses is manageable. At least I found MOST of these columns to be either interesting, humorous (the ones about Richard Nixon, George Bush) or downright poignant (the one about Paul Newman brought tears). I DID NOT enjoy learning he was not only friends with - but GOOD FRIENDS with - the irksome William F. Buckley. And Cavett seems to get far too much enjoyment remembering tales of his childhood/teen vandalism, minor though it may have been.

His writing skills are exceptional, and he's a pleasant narrator

Cavett

Loved it! Smart witty a pleasure!
Go ahead down load it and begin the fun only problem is it's too short

GREAT listening! Quite a bit is “dated” however.

If there ever was a book that needed to be HEARD, rather than read, this is it! When you listen, you’d swear that Cavett does not have a printed page in front of him. Having only heard the audio – via the Audible version – and not seen the book, I can’t tell if he is adding some asides or not. Hey, I don’t care. This is “user friendly” Dick, who is among one of the top people I’d love to have a long conversation with. He is witty and funny and SMART! I was a big fan of all his TV shows and loved his first book, Cavett, which he wrote 30 years ago.That said, in all honesty, I have a problem giving the book 5 stars and I’ll explain why in a minute. As you may – or may not – know, this is a collection of essays that Cavett wrote for the New York Times in 2008 and 2009. They are read in chronological order. Cavett covers a large variety of subjects (just like his TV talk show; hence the book’s title) from celebrities he’s known (especially Groucho Marx) to the misuse of the English language. He tells about his high school reunion and going to magic conventions. These are all great! But then he discusses politics. I’m very much on Cavett’s side of issues and, if they were current, this would be great to read (and hear). But most of the columns were originally written during 2008 before the Presidential election and so Cavett spends a lot of time talking about John McCain, George W. Bush and Sarah Palin, among others. Barack Obama is hardly mentioned until after the election and, even then, he was newly in office. The Iraq War is covered but in a “time capsule” of what was happening then.
Even though this is only 2 ½ years after the columns were printed, the political columns are stale. The book was published in late 2010 and, in my opinion, should have been edited to reduce the number of “dated” columns. Not every column need to be included. even though I listened to the whole book all the way through, I feel I need to deduct one star because of the old material.

Name dropping and bragging rights

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you are interested in stories about famous and infamous people of years gone by, then this book tells a few tails by a person who was there. Dick Cavett and his newspaper column gives interesting reading. Dick narrates this audiobook which I feel gives his written words the feeling he wants to portray.

What did you like best about this story?

He has an interesting career which allowed him to interview interesting people. Back in the 70's and later, he had the opportunity to meet people who are legends of music and movies, stars who now have passed on. He share some of there stories amongst other interesting observations. It keeps you wanting more.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Dick Cavett performance is what you would expect from Dick Cavett. He was not disappointing. You even get some English lessons.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Name dropping and bragging rights.

Lucid!

I could listen to Dick Cavett unendingly. He is literate, entertaining and uplifting. The boy from Lincoln, Nebraska has done good!

Exceeded My Expectations - Considerably

Would you consider the audio edition of Talk Show to be better than the print version?

Yes. I have a preference for books read by the author.

What other book might you compare Talk Show to and why?

Since this is one of the very few memoirs I've read, it's hard to compare, although I did listen to Michael Caines most recent and Cavett's compared more than favorably.

What does Dick Cavett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Obviously, his voice (tone, modulation, inflection, etc.)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The John Wayne segments. A pair that is hard to imagine

Any additional comments?

I bought the audio thinking it would be a straight forward memoir. At first I was disappointed at it being a reading of his blogs. However, after I got into the pattern, I was very pleased. As to Mr Cavett himself, I found him to be more agreeable and empathic than I thought. That said is absolute intolerance of folks addicted to food and alcohol was a bit disconcerting.

Illustrious - smart, absolutely enthralling listen

"Talk Show" is everything it purports to be, and so much more. I have to visual settings I might relay - to witch my mind's eye placed me in while I was listening to this captivating effort; "Talk Show" One, a warm medium lit home study lined with numerous shelved volumes... with oversized comfy lounge recliners. Wherein, this sorely underrated American treasure Dick Cavett is one on one with You; recounting these amazing memories, stories down through the years.

Second possible imagined location as you listen: You walk into a cozy local watering hole. unbeknownst to you; a master storyteller Mr. Cavett is holding both court and people spellbound regaling all with tales which range from Groucho Marx to his political antidotes - to literary figures, his friendships with now comic legends Paar, Carson, and yes even Eddie Murphy. and, lastly his adoration and is obvious enduring wish that he Cavett would have had more time within is friendship with "The Duke" John Wayne! There's Not one boring story in this collection of Mr. Cavett's New York times column.

You, the listener undoubtedly; will simultaneously be entertained and learn something in the process. Additionally, "Talk Show" is stitched and woven throughout with tender emotion, fortified by a complex honesty.

Good stories

All in all a good listen. Most stories keep ya interested. Some are so-so
You won't be dissapointed
But not enough Groucho