Here's Johnny!: My Memories of Johnny Carson, the Tonight Show, and 46 Years of Friendship

by Ed McMahon

Book Overview

Here's Johnny is like sitting with Ed and Johnny over lunch: The last time I saw Johnny, about a year before he died, we had chicken, a couple of glasses of red wine, and then we just sat there and reminisced, going back and forth the way we did on the show. We talked about our kids, and our careers and the state of America, just two lucky guys who loved each other and the good luck of our careers. Ed McMahon is the only person who was with Johnny Carson, even before The Tonight Show , when they both first appeared on Who Do You Trust . Now, with Johnny's blessing before he died, McMahon can finally share all the stories that only he knows. From the sofa at Johnny's right, to backstage, to their personal relationship - McMahon will provide a real view of the man who was so careful to only show one side of himself to the public. Brilliant in front of the camera, but shy in person, Carson seldom gave interviews. Only McMahon can tell the stories and provide the insights into the personality that made Johnny Carson more of a friend we invited into our home than a television star. This entertaining tribute will feature over 200 pictures, many never before published, from both McMahon's and Carson's private archives.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401602363
• ISBN13: 9781401602369
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Rutledge Hill Press
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Too much McMahon

This book was more about McMahon than Carson. Not a very good author.

Here's Johnny!: My Memories of Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show, and 46 Years of Friendship

Great book, wished I hadn't lent it out to someone because I don't think I am going to see it again. It is great having Ed write this book, good background info on both of them.

Here's Johnny

An easy read. Enlighting dialog and pictures help bring Ed's lifestory into the readers life. Would prefer a little more info on Ed McMahon's personal life, but this is the personal memories of years with Johhny, from the Big Apple to California. A Wonderful Book!

Johnny's Summertime

Ed McMahon has compiled some wonderful anecdotes in his book, 'Here's Johnny!' Just about every page gave me a laugh. It is well written and warmly sympathetic to Carson. There is, however, one story McMahon regrets leaving out. Ed and I recently had lunch together at the Mansion, and during dessert, he said to me, "Schwarz, I should have put this one in but it completely slipped my mind. I must be getting old and tired." A minute passed before I lifted his face out of the Devil's Food cake and gently shook him awake. "What was I saying?" he mumbled as he cleaned his glasses with his tie. Pushing the cake plate to a safe area two feet away, I reminded him about the story he'd forgotten to include. "Ah, yes," he said, wiping his tie with his shirt-tail. "It goes like this. After he left the show, Johnny wanted to get into musical productions. So we both chipped in a million bucks to do a remake of Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess'. We signed Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump for the two leads but the morning rehearsals started they both walked out." Leaning in to wipe Ed's shirt with my cashmere sweater, I said, "They realized they couldn't sing?" Ed licked the chocolate off my sweater and replied, "No, they could sing okay. It was the remake's title Johnny had come up with. To me, it was perfect but for some strange reason, Oprah and Donald thought 'Porky and Boss' was not quite right. Go figure." 'Here's Johnny!' is a sincere account of a unique show business relationship.

Johnny!

I enjoyed the book. There may or may not be any new material, but Ed McMahon has written a narrative that covers the 30 years and is a smooth flow of conversation with the reader.and at the end I felt I had a better understanding of Johnny. I must confess a broad perspective - I actually was an audience member of a Jack Phar tonight show., and have watched all of the players from Steve Allen to Johnny. It is difficult to recognize how special something/someone is until it is no longer there. I watch Johnny's successors, and they serve only to remind me how special Johnny was. I do think Ed has done complete justice to his subject, and has gained my admiration for his approach.

This one's for you Johnny!

Only Ed McMahon could write a book like this and do it justice. I wasn't around for most of the Tonight Show, and now I know I missed out on a great thing. At least there will always be the DVDs. This book will make you laugh, definitly. There are some sad parts though. This is an amazing book, and if you want to learn about the real Johnny, buy it. We'll miss you Johnny. As Ed says in the book, it was too soon.