In johnny carson, the latenight legends lawyer henry bushkin. Johnny carson, by henry bushkin the new york times. Johnny carson, the legendary king of late night tv who dominated the mediums nether hours for three decades, was born in corning, iowa, but moved with his family to nearby norfolk, nebraska when he was eight years old. I once asked a bright young manhattan journalist whether he could define in a single word what made television different from theatre or cinema. I remember when it was reported in the press that johnnys third wife.
Here is the famous interview featuring johnny carson and dolly parton on the tonight show from the 1980s. Johnny carsons wife alexis maas was born in 1952 and raised in the area of pittsburgh, pennsylvania, usa. Ailing 81yearold exwife of late tv legend johnny carson claims she was sweettalked into marrying a dope fiend and now hes threatened to kill her. Todays late night shows cant hold a candle to johnny carson. Alexis maas johnny carsons wife and widow newswirl. Jimmy fallon recently became the sixth host of nbcs tonight show. There was always an element of surprise to the show and while the show featured. King of late night, which airs on pbs monday may 14, explores this and other aspects of carsons life and career, and youll get a sense of his mothers. John william carson october 23, 1925 january 23, 2005 was an american television host. The tonight show starring johnny carson in the life interview, landon talks about cancer, as well as his troubled childhood, his career in hollywood and his hopes.
His addiction to smoking eventually led to his passing, after being diagnosed with respiratory. This title is a bit misleading because you might think that johnny carson is in all the episodes, he is not but that is why you need to buy the dvd from his tonight show. Carson refuses to be interviewed hes going to write his own book, so earlier efforts by paul corkery, carson. Bushkins book, notes that when carson eventually dragged himself away from. No videos are for sale, nor do they imply challenge to ownerships. John william carson october 23, 1925 january 23, 2005 was an american television host, comedian, writer, and producer. The tonight show starring johnny carson ruled latenight tv for four decades. Rodney dangerfield has carson hysterically laughing 1979. Johnny carson was a cold, empty, alienated, sometimes vindictive, and often angry man. But you must note that johnny carson is not in all of these episodes and some of these are grainy transfers but they do capture the audio of some of americas greatest comics.
Johnny carson confirmed his second wifes affair after he broke into. They enjoyed 18 years of marriage until his death in 2005. Joan rivers talks with henry bushkin, who was johnny carsons lawyer, wingman, fixer, and confidant, about their experiences working with the king of late night. His film roles included run silent, run deep 1958 with clark gable and kellys heroes 1970 with clint eastwood. Tucked inside the hunger games promotional pamphlet that was last weeks issue of entertainment weekly was a rather amazing book excerpt from henry bushkin, lawyer to the late johnny carson. In 1987, johnny carson cut all ties with friend and onetime lover, joan rivers, when she was offered her own late night talk show. The johnny carson we never knew and probably never.
The apocryphal tonight show incident with zsa zsa gabor and her cat is a wellspring for one. Joan rivers in conversation with henry bushkin about the dark. Read an exclusive excerpt from henry bushkins johnny carson. The day after he was hired by johnny carson, an obscure young lawyer named henry bushkin tagged along with him and some thugs in the night as they. Throughout his reign as the king of late night, johnny carson was thought of as americas genial latenight companion, the man whose presence was so. Johnny carsons famous interview with dolly parton 1980s. The wife of one of the omaha political figures carson spoofed owned stock in a radio station in. One of the funniest moments on the johnny carson show. Johnny carson, henry bushkins tellall the new york times. Johnny cant keep a straight face while promoting a new sponsor to the tonight show starring johnny carson. The night after his job interview, he joined a guntoting carson and. Shelly anderson men i adore tennessee williams american bandstand this is your life thanks for the memories old tv shows before us famous faces back in the day favorite tv shows. Originally aired august 1, 1979 on the tonight show.
A full ten minutes of rodney dangerfield doing standup and having some laughs with johnny carson. The second biography of the popular performer to appear this fall in the 25th anniversary year of johnny carsons hosting of the tonight show. Viewers of the tonight show during the 1970s and 80s might have assumed that bob hope was one of johnny carsons favorite guests. Johnny carsons secretly broke into his second wife joanne. Landon has limited his public statements to an april 8 press conference and an appearance on. Rivers had been a frequent guest on carsons show, and had been instrumental in raising the stakes that led to his landmark contract with nbc.
With bushkins help much of the bad deals of his past were cleared up, and others made carson wearily to the tune of hundreds of millions of. Carson was a known heavy smoker and even smoked during his years hosting the tonight show starring johnny carson, including while on air. The night after his job interview, he joined a guntoting carson and entourage as they broke into an apartment that carsons soontobeexwife, joanne copeland, kept on the sly. Henry bushkins johnny carson is that rare celebrity tellall by an author who knows whom and what hes talking aboutits easy to approach. Joan riverstalks about johnny carsons dark side the. Tcm has been running his interview segments hosted by conan obrien. This book by johnny carsons longtime lawyer and friend henry. Johnny carson 1954i used to stay up late and subsequently give my mother hell in the morning so i could stay up and watch johnny on the late show. Johnny carson, byname of john william carson, born october 23, 1925, corning, iowa, u. Johnny carson is a wonderful guy, a great guy, a funny guy, a moody guy, and a pain in the ass with three or four wiveswho gives a crap.
Donald jay rickles may 8, 1926 april 6, 2017 was an american standup comedian, actor, and author, known especially for his insult comedy. They are intended strictly for entertainment, educational, and historical purposes, and fall under the fair use. A little over eight years since his death in 2005, johnny carson appears to be. Her sense was that johnny was seriously thinking of inviting me to be on his show. Bushkins memoir is also a wellwritten corporate tale that reveals the tough business of staying americas favorite latenight host, full of stories of money, sex and skullduggery, peppered with plenty of. At the age of 12, carson found a book on magic at a friends house and. Its not just a juicy peek inside a celebritys life. Alexis maas is better known for being married to johnny carson from 1987 until his death in 2005 from emphysema in west hollywood, california. He was very much the private person off stage, verses the engaging talk. Conceived by david steven simon and paul reiser, a frequent carson guest best known for the 1990s nbc sitcom mad about you, theres.
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