Shales Tom - Live from New York: an uncensored history of Saturday night live

Participation is the lifeblood of an oral history; speaking with so many funny, talented, and smart people was not a chore but a delight. To all the interviewees who shared their stories, thoughts, and professional lives, no amount of gratitude is sufficient.

As he did with previous editions of this book, Lorne Michaels neither requested nor received input on its content. Amid the many tales and myths about him, one fact is inarguable: he is a man who can make things happen and prevent things from happening. Fortunately, in this case, he elected to do the former, and that is much appreciated.

Thanks are also due, once again, to those who helped on the original and paperback editions of Live from New York. More than a decade has passed, but their efforts are still remembered and much appreciated. This time out, researcher Adam Khatib joined the team and proved invaluably skillful. He, Benjamin Korman, and Reed Dunlea formed an A-Team of ace transcribers. Rya Gershcovich marched into the forest of celebrityhood and helped track down important interview subjects. To that end, much appreciation extends to their agents, managers, and publicists. Dana Edelson, Colin Graham, Heather Karpas, and Lauren Roseman simply made things better and easier.

Back at Little, Brown, special thanks goes to Reagan Arthur, Judy Clain, Heather Fain, and Evan Schnittman, all of whom brought indispensable experience to the project. Ben Allen, Peggy Anderson, Barbara Clark, Catherine Cullen, Nicole Dewey, Peggy Freudenthal, Pamela Marshall, and Allie Sommer each made a valuable contribution as well.

Although change is a major theme of Live from New York, one thing remained, comfortingly, unchanged over the past dozen years: Sloan Harris continues to be an agent without peer and a beacon of light in stormy seas. The idea for this book was first mentioned to him at lunch one day, and by close of business a few hours later, the project had been pushed to prominence at Little, Brown.

Unfortunately, change has taken place there. The departure of Geoff Shandler, one of the finest editorial guardians imaginable, represents a serious, dispiriting loss. His professionalism will be greatly missed, but thankfully our personal ties (including those with his wonderful wife and children) survive, and with it, a friendship that will withstand any and all changes that might lie ahead.