In 2009, Garden contributed the introduction to the novelty book "Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks" (October 27, 2009, ISBN 978-0061936630), a book co-authored by self-confessed domestic abuser Richard Blakeley.

After it was announced that Conan O’Brien would be taking over Jay Leno’s hosting duties on The Tonight Show, Garden launched a mock Internet campaign titled “Vote Joe Garden!” with the aim of democratizing the selection of O’Brien’s replacement for Late Night. The bid was unsuccessful as NBC announced that Jimmy Fallon would replace O’Brien in 2009.