Starring Brian Linehan A Life Behind the Scenes

Elegant talk show host Brian Linehan interviewed more than two thousand stars over three decades, Clint Eastwood and Barbra Streisand among them. One of seven children raised in a working-class neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, he transformed himself into a television star who lived the high life on film studio tabs, flying everywhere first class while hanging out with the rich and famous. The quintessential dinner guest, Linehan was witty, urbane, and well-informed - but when fortified by vodka martinis, his rapier wit became a force to be reckoned with. Deeply personal, Starring Brian Linehan is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking, as it traces Linehan's rise to fame, his troubled private life, and his untimely death. Book jacket.

George Anthony, former entertainment editor and columnist for the Toronto Sun, was one of the founding members of the “little paper that grew” after starting his career in journalism at the Toronto Telegram. Currently consulting on special projects for CBC Television’s Arts and Entertainment division, Anthony has played a key role in bringing Canadians such hit programs as Made in Canada, Royal Canadian Air Farce, and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, as well as high-rated specials showcasing Kurt Browning, Celine Dion, Karen Kain, Anne Murray, and many more. Anthony also serves as the creative point person on The Rick Mercer Report and oversees arts programming for the network. A long-time friend and confidante, George Anthony shared more than three decades of champagne and martinis with Brian Linehan. Originally from Montreal, he lives in Toronto with his wife, Gail, and their three children.


From the Hardcover edition.