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Johnny (few ever called him "Carson") was followed so closely that in 1973, when he made a joke about toilet paper shortages, people took it seriously, and rushed out the next day to stock up -- which created an actual toilet paper shortage. His following was so huge that for years, his show alone accounted for 20 percent of NBC's profits. And he shared that wealth. "Johnny was responsible for the beginning and rise of success for more performers than anyone," comedian Bill Cosby said in a statement. "I doubt if those numbers will ever be surpassed." That was due in part to his remarkably in-check ego: "He wasn't afraid to have someone on funnier than he is," said Joan Rivers, one of Johnny's many proteges. He "shared the wealth" in other ways, too. The man who grew up "on the plains of Nebraska" never forgot his small town roots: when asked to make a donation toward the building of a new library in Norfolk, Neb., he sent a check for $500,000. He didn't go in person to get fawning applause or appear for a photo op; he just sent the check. I had the privilege of being in his studio audience once, and it was electrifying. His shows weren't just humor and comedy sketches, they were filled with intelligent conversation. These days, "stars" drop by the talk shows to plug their latest movie ...and then leave. On Johnny's show, more was expected -- much more. He would, for instance, have astronomer Carl Sagan in to talk about space exploration. And then, of course, later do a hilarious send-up of Sagan's peculiar verbal delivery style, leading to "billions!" of laughs. When Johnny decided to retire in 1992, he retired fully, making few public appearances and very rarely granting interviews. In one of those rare interviews, he explained his decision not to appear in public: "I just let the work speak for itself." Indeed, for topical comedy it stands up well. Yet when he thought of a good current events joke, he'd send it to David Letterman, who sometimes used them in his own monologue. He'd send Johnny a check for each one; they were never cashed. Upon Johnny's retirement President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with the citation, "With decency and style he's made America laugh and think." What better legacy? That's why I call him a mentor. Unfortunately, Johnny was a long-time smoker. Once he retired he had increasing health problems. A heart attack in 1999 led to a quadruple bypass. Later, his trademark voice failed. He died January 23 -- from emphysema. He was 79. Johnny, I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight. From This is True for 24 January 2005 Suggestions for further reading:
 By: Ed McMahon List Price: $24.99 Amazon Price: $9.99 Editorial Review: For 30 years, Johnny Carson entertained millions of The Tonight Show viewers, creating a landmark of television. Now, Carson's irreplaceable partner and straight man Ed McMahon tells the touching, turbulent, and laugh-out-loud funny story of his personal, professional, and public relationship with one of the most beloved icons in entertainment history.  By: Stephen Cox List Price: $18.95 Amazon Price: $18.95 Editorial Review: On May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson emerged from his rainbow-hued curtain, mimed the famous golf swing for the last time, and said good-night to a nation that had stayed up with him for the previous three decades. Long acknowledged as the king of late-night television, he was stepping down from his throne on The Tonight Show and back into private life. Based on interviews with Carson?the only one he?s ever granted for a book?and more than fifty major celebrities, including David Letterman, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, Jonathan Winters, Betty White, Jack Paar, Phyllis Diller, and Louie Anderson, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the longest-running late-night television show of all time and at the man who made it all happen. It is a revision and expansion of a 1992 book that celebrated Carson?s years on the show. More than 200 photographs, most previously unpublished, commemorate the most popular features and most memorable moments from The Tonight Show in the Carson era. Included are The Mighty Carson Art Players, Carnac the Magnificent, Stump the Band, Tiny Tim?s wedding, the infamous interview with Arnold Palmer?s wife, Ed Ames?s notorious tomahawk throw, and much more. Chapters cover the history and evolution of The Tonight Show. In addition, featured sidebars on celebrities and common folk who appeared on the show, on Carson?s infamous feud with Joan Rivers, on Doc Severinsen (including a selected discography), and the many ?Public Service Announcements? are among the many elements that complement the lively text. MORE THAN 150 B&W ILLUSTRATIONS 16-PAGE COLOR INSERT 8? X 10?, 224 PAGES PAPERBACK  By: Don Sweeney List Price: $16.95 Amazon Price: $11.53 Editorial Review: This book is a collection of celebrity vignettes and anecdotes from the peak years of the Tonight Show, and includes behind-the-scenes looks at more than two dozen celebrities, including Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Randall, Don Rickles, Stevie Wonder, Martin Short, Liza Minnelli, Ed McMahon, and Johnny Carson himself. With an eye for the eccentric, amusing, or downright bizarre, Sweeney's brief portraits offer a glimpse at celebrity from the other side of the curtain.  By: Tim O'Leary List Price: $10.99 Amazon Price: $10.99 Editorial Review: In the world of business and life, there are only four kinds of people in any organization: ? Warriors, who confront change, see possibilities, innovate and manage to win! ? Workers, who deal with the ups, downs and challenges of everyday corporate life dependably, and who can reliably implement the change and direction established by the Warriors. ? Whiners, who get through life by complaining about everything they do, who profess negativism and dissatisfaction wherever they go, and blaming others for their own shortcomings. ? Weasels, who lurk everywhere and threaten your career and life-goals through their own deception and insecurity and who spread these feelings quickly throughout the organization. Warriors, Workers, Whiners & Weasels illuminates these four personality types and shows you how to recognize the characteristics of each and use them to your advantage to empower the Warriors and Workers to boost your organization to success. * A new and novel way to look at the management structure of your company and life * Written by the founder of Respond2, one of Inc. Magazine's "26 Entrepreneurs We Love" "A fascinating analysis of four personality traits that characterize the new global economy. O?Leary wisely shows how taking initiative and responsibility enables even the whiners and weasels to become warriors and productive workers. This affirmation of our power of choice inspires us to become the creative force of our own life." - Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit "This is a fast moving, insightful book with practical ideas you can use immediately to be more effective with everyone in your business life." - Brian Tracy, author of Goals! and The Psychology of Selling "Tim O?Leary?s observations on the four personality types in life is a great guide to survival in the world of business. Warriors, Workers, Whiners & Weasels is an informative and humorous read that is a must have for today?s road warriors" - Jeff Sotzing, President, Johnny Carson Entertainment Carson, Johnny (1925): An entry from SJP's St. James Encyclopedia of Popular ... By: Thurston Domina List Price: $3.90 Amazon Price: $3.90 Editorial Review: This digital document is an article from St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, brought to you by GaleŽ, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. The length of the article is 853 words. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference. Entries include subject-specific bibliographies and textual cross-references to related essays. |
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