Backstage at the Dean Martin Show Hardcover – April 1, 2000

I don’t dislike anything about this book because I’ve been a Dean Martin fan since I was 16 years old. I love it.

Where's Dean? That seems to be the main question asked by everyone who ever appeared on the Dean Martin Show. Lee Hale gives us a behind the scenes look, hence the title, at the inner workings of a show that had phenomenal run for a period of 10 years. Mr. Hale shows us how hard everyone around Dean had to work so that Dean looked like he didn't have to work. Although much is said about the fact that Dean never rehearsed prior to taping the show, it was for the very same reason that the show was a success. The main theme of the show; let Dean do what he did best: Be Dean Martin. As the show's producer, Greg Garrison, would say when it was time for Dean's appearance on the show; "Bring in the Italian". And sliding down his fireman's pole would come Dean right into our living rooms and our hearts. Not only does the book take a look at the success that was the Dean Martin Show, but looks at the long gone genre of the "variety show". I can remember watching Dean, the Carol Burnett Show and Red Skelton. That was some great T.V. Overall, the book is a good read and it is full of photos that remind us how much fun it was to have Dean around.

This is a must read for any admirer of all those great television variety shows, as well as the many fans of Rat Packer Dean Martin. The ONLY book written by anyone who EVEN MET Dean Martin, author Lee Hale spent nearly two decades with him as musical director and later his producer. Aptly titled, "Backstage at the Dean Martin Show" is an exciting and loving inside look behind the scenes documenting this great top ten show and its star, with fascinating anecdotes of the biggest names in the business. I caught myself laughing out loud, then I would turn a page and be totally blown away by something that I didn't expect.Mr. Hale divides his book into one chapter for each TV season, with extra ones going beyond to 'The Golddiggers', 'The Roasts' and 'The Specials', with over 200 color and b&w photos of great stars, most never before seen. The index itself lists hundreds of celebrities from Hank Aaron to Ed Wynn.As chairman of the current 'Dean Martin Fan Center', and someone who was actually there at NBC during those golden years, I was lucky to have a firsthand look at the Dean Martin Show phenomenon, but Lee Hale uses a magnifying lens... and no one can get closer than this! It is truly a wonderful story from the bizaare beginnings to the touching end. I can't say [email protected]

Very interesting look into what it takes to produce a hit TV show, all the fun and all the not so fun things that go along with dealing with Hollywood egos. Also a tribute to the talent of Dean Martin and his ability to do his show with little or no rehearsal and make it look easy.

Lee Hale, who staged most of the musical portions of Dean Martin's TV variety shows, takes pains to explain that the show's relaxed, effortless charm was really the result of shrewd pre-planning by the production team, so the star seldom had to worry about anything. Hale takes us through these intricate logistics and the miraculous results, telling us which celebrity guests were solid professionals, and which were less so. There are a few surprises here -- one seemingly sweet and humble comedian appears to have been a Class-A jerk offstage. Hale also touches on the Dean Martin summer-replacement shows (not enough information about these, unfortunately, but the author is principally concerned with the "regular-season" show) and the Dean Martin celebrity roasts (which ultimately eclipsed the variety series).The text is at its best when the author describes "The Dean Martin Show" at its height; Hale's enthusiasm soars and anecdotes flow when the show is going like gangbusters. The later chapters are more distant, reflecting the author's disappointment when Martin went into decline personally and professionally, and the author's memory is hazy at least once (second-banana Lou Jacobi is misidentified as Abe Vigoda).Readers expecting a no-holds-barred expose will be disappointed that Hale seldom shoots from the hip; his overall tone is affectionate and restrained. Fans who recall "The Dean Martin Show" will like this book most, but there are enough show-biz tidbits and photos to intrigue the casual reader. All in all, a very enjoyable book.

This book is very detailed and it goes behind the scenes to tell you really what happened on this great old Thursday night program. Dean worked very hard....LY!Nevertheless, it's a magical ride thru great television lore.Dean Martin was one of the greatest entertainers ever placed in Hollywood. He will long be remembered for these shows as well as the Roasts ( that gets reviewed as well in the book).PERFECT BOOK FOR THE MARTIN FAN!

I had no idea this book existed! What a fantastic inside peek at this groundbreaking series!

It seems more based on a book with others want us to believe than completely how it really was.

If you're a Dean Martin fan this book is essential reading. Lot of facts,lot of gossip, lot of details that you didn't know about the crooner. Wonderful summery of variety show T.V. from the sixties to the eighties. If you're a showbiz addict it's the sort of book you can't put down.

Obwohl in diesem Buch kaum auf Dean Martin eingegangen wird,ist diese Biograhie ein MUSS für Fans!Denn hier tauchen alle Gaststars seiner Shows auf bis hin zum Ende und den Anfängen seiner legendären "ROAST"Shows.Wer also eine Biographie über Dean Martin sucht,liegt hier falsch.Aber der beinharte Fan braucht dieses Werk,da kaum so detailliert sein Wirken im TV anderweitig beschrieben wird!