The TV Zone

Here it is, and well worth watching ... From last night:

(Getty Images Photo)

Ed McMahon, one of the great wingmen in show business history and an essential, elemental and indispensable part of Johnny Carson's act for over thirty years, died Tuesday morning. He'd been hospitalized since February for pneumonia, and had been diagnosed with systemic bone cancer. More details as they come. The news was just announced on "The Today Show," and was first reported by KNBC. He died at the UCLA Medical Center.

Tomorrow's obit...

Ed McMahon, the greatest second banana in show biz history, died Tuesday morning in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 86.
A big convivial man known for his booming laugh, a sort of yodel ("Hi-YOOO"), and the most famous two words in television history -- "Heeeeere's Johnny!" -- he spent the last months of his life a visible symbol of a collapsed economy and the housing crisis that precipitated it. After the bank foreclosed on his $4.8 million mansion in Beverly Hills, McMahon did what he always did -- he turned pitchman. Among other things, he rapped for a dot com credit service's commercial: "I had money and glory/I bought a house for 6 mill/I thought nothing could touch me/Until my credit went south, and debt started to crunch me/Next thing I know, instead of playing gin rummy, I was scrambling just to make ends meet/It wasn't funny."
Not funny at all, but this bit job at a perilous moment was also vintage McMahon. Over a long and particularly resourceful Hollywood career, there were many other commercials, sweepstakes, the host of "Star Search," small acting parts, and other gigs too numerous to mention.
They also came about because of McMahon’s ties to just one man. Johnny Carson defined Ed McMahon and returning the favor, Ed McMahon helped to define Johnny too, starting on “The Tonight Show” in 1962 and ending thirty years later. Carson’s quips always seemed brighter, lighter and sharper when accompanied to McMahon’s booming laugh. Sometimes McMahon was just the voice off-screen – friendly, without guile – who fed fat straight lines to Carson who whacked them whenever and wherever he chose.
Simply put, Carson was the greatest performer in TV history thanks in some measure to McMahon. He softened his boss's edge, adding warmth when Carson exuded cool. He wasn't (of course) a naturally funny man, but he was the perfect foil to a naturally funny man
"He was a star in his own right. Being a sidekick didn't mean he was any less," Doc Severinsen, “Tonight” band leader of the Carson years told CNNRadio. "Johnny defined what the host should be and Ed defined what the sidekick was."
In a statement, David Letterman said, "Ed McMahon's voice at 11:30 was a signal that something great was about to happen. Ed's introduction of Johnny was a classic broadcasting ritual -- reassuring and exciting.”
Carson -- who could be notoriously short with associates or colleagues whom he determined were faithless -- rewarded McMahon with his friendship until the day he died. McMahon reciprocated. He was Carson's ambassador and loudest cheerleader. What made his cheering both welcome and charming was that it was, in fact, sincere. He even wrote a book on Carson -- uncritical, with no secrets revealed -- and told Bob Costas during=2 0a CNN interview, "everywhere I go [or when] I'm signing the book, it's 'you and Johnny, Johnny and you!" People stop me in airports and it's not just the celebrity thing. They just want to tell me how much they loved Johnny Carson.”
Born Edward Peter Leo McMahon in Detroit, he was raised in Massachusetts, studied drama at Boston College and the Catholic university and -- if his next career steps were any indication -- promptly discarded all that he had learned. He was a carnival barker, and bingo caller, later flew missions -- many of them -- for the U.S. Marine Corps in World War 2 and Korea. In the late '50s, ABC dumped Edgar Bergen and dummy, Charlie McCarthy, and replaced them with Carson and McMahon. Carson made jokes. McMahon laughed at them. When Carson took over "Tonight" in 1962, McMahon tagged along. For both men, it was the longest professional -- and in some respects, longest personal -- association of their lives. A television treasure was the result. “Ed McMahon was a friend from the day I first walked on a stage on the Johnny Carson Show and sat down between Johnny and Ed,” said Don Rickles yesterday. “That kind of fun will never be repeated. Ed was the best at what he did and will never be replaced. Another giant is gone,"

Please head to the jump for more on Ed and just a very small sampling of his memorable moments on "Tonight;" I'll grab some clips as soon as I can find 'em:

Continue reading "Ed McMahon, dead at 86" »

Yes, anoche fue buena. Our man, our tall pale man, is getting into a groove.

First nights are always tough. You expect miracles and get a show - just a show - instead.

[And I hope I've got my Spanish right: Anoche Fue Buena = last night was good.]

But last night, the second night of the rest of Conan O'Brien's professional life, was much better, and in one or two instances, inspired.

First off, the monologue. It clocked in at 16 minutes, including two or three pre-taped bits; that's in the range of Leno. I know Conan doesn't think the monologue's his strong suit, but he still needs big solid ones and proved (and always has) that when he has good material, they turn out just fine.

Second, those pre-taped bits. The one on Rodeo Road? Funny. A winner. The one on Twitter - "Twitter tracker?" Inspired. Ragging on idiotic tweets - and PRESUMABLY REAL ONES from celebs like Miley Cyrus, Ashton Kutcher and Dennis Haysbert? It's about time a major late night talk show host zeroed in on this target-rich environment. (Next - TV news personalities and their twitty tweets?)

This one was hilarious: Up to an including the de-feathering and then, beheading of the Twitter Bird.

Then, the guest: Tom Hanks is always a fine guest, and a good sport too. Check out his clip, too.

It's stuff like that makes you realize: Conan's gonna be just fine.

Now, on to night three!

Yes! The Big Guy himself. Although this does not technically count as a guest appearance last night.

In this amusing pre-taped bit, Brian Williams asks the Prez about the new host of "Tonight."

"If he screws it up, no bail-out money..."

(I suspect some may find objection to the fact that Williams would use his heavily promoted White House tour interview to promote the "Tonight Show" transition, but in the midst of an eighteen hour day there, I think it's harmless and shows both Williams and Obama to be good sports. No harm, no foul...)

(I also suspect that if BriWilli had done the same thing with Prez Bush, critics would have howled bloody murder and demanded the heads of both journalist and head of state. How dare they joke about bail-out money! How dare Williams use "NN" to flack an entertainment one! We'll see if there's any outcry this time.)

Big news! Sit down before you read this...though preferably not on a couch.

Jay Leno...will...not use a couch on the new "Jay Leno Show" when it premieres this fall.

No couch? What, Jay? Are guests gonna sit on a yoga mat instead?

The big news broke yesterday in Beantown, where Jay was on hand to raise $$ for a scholarship at Salem State. He was asked about that flap with the Boston station that says it might not air his show at ten (he said it'll all work out) and then, about the new show.

At that point, he stated his innate bias against couches. And desks, too.

"We will probably lose the couch and the desk and just do more things. We'll still have celebrities. There will still be a monologue, the stuff that works, headlines, and Jaywalking," he said, as reported in the Boston Globe.

I'm stunned. Couches on talk shows are as important as the hosts - but don't get paid as much. They get no respect, either, while occasionally, guests jump on them, and by so doing, put holes in them, thus making the host-owner stare in utter disbelief, while ruminating about repair costs and the sanity of guests. (Oprah...oh, Oprah...)

The couch was been part of "The Tonight Show" even before there was a "Tonight Show" host. (Of course, the new show won't be "Tonight.")

The desk, too. For God's sakes, Jay. What kind of show are you mounting? No desk? You need something to put the coffee mug on.

And now Jay's firing the poor dears.

I wonder what he'll get for them on Craig's List?

Tom demonstrates his talent for couch abuse on "TNS." (AP Photo)

You know, as we all sit around and wonder - what the heck WILL Jay Leno do when he goes to 10 p.m.? - tomorrow night may provide a tiny bit of a glimpse.

His guest: Condi Rice

Last week, the prez. Tomorrow, Condi. Does two make a trend?

I'm not sure, but as a smart friend of mine suggested, what happens on those days when a major story breaks or a major news figure wants to spin something in a less-than-threatening environment? By the way, I thought Jay did a pretty good job last week, and in some ways, his was a more informative one than Steve Kroft's interview on "60" last night - Steve, who actually seemed appalled that the president would dare smile when talking about the economy; gallows humor, Steve.

So, if you're a major news figure, why not just go on "The Tonight Show"...errrr, "The Jay Leno Show" at 10?

Clearly, NBC/Leno have no intention of turning the 10 p.m. show into a news/interview program, but there could certainly be instances when a newsmaker could come on?

Here's the press release line: "Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to stop by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday, March 24 to iscuss her years of high-profile public service, and her new areas of focus following the Presidency of George W. Bush."
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Perfect score. (AP)

Is there any politician in the solar system as skillful or as talented on TV as Barack Obama? We've already cleared up the answer to that question here on earth - there isn't - but maybe somewhere out there, on one of the moons of Saturn, perhaps. But I wonder - could even that guy go on the most famous talk show of them all and still come off as effortlessly nonchalant, bemused, smart, engaged, and funny - genuinely funny - as our president did last night?

Forget about the content of the answers - sounded like the usual old political bullspin to me. But never has bullspin sounded so mellifluous or benign. Watch Obama on "Tonight" and you are left with the impression that this crisis - oops, CRISES - isn't so bad after all, but one of those bumps in the road that we will get over or around.

Honestly, it was an amazing performance. I noticed today that there was some press over some politically impolitic comment about the Special Olympics - that the president had proudly bowled a score of 129, and after Leno's eyebrows sort of arched, he joked about it being like the Special Olympics.

Why, if George Bush had said the same thing it'd be above the fold in the NYT, with a second story reporting that a Senate impeachment panel had been convened. With Obama - just a minor blip, almost instantly forgotten (as well it should be.)

What a near-perfect score for the prez otherwise. The best way to watch last night was "live," so to speak, when your senses were slightly dulled after a long day, and the brain had begun its slide towards somnolence. That's how late night TV - particularly Leno's "Tonight" - is supposed to be watched. The prez walks in, glides in actually, gives Kevin Eubanks a brief hug, like they're old friends, and Jay gets a nice, warm perfunctory one as well.

Just like this historic guest was just another movie star, selling another movie, and getting another pleasant non-confrontational sit-down with the guy who confronts NO ONE.

Not that the right-coast populist talk show hosts, Dave Letterman and Jon Stewart, would have been any tougher: They would have demanded a longer hug, if anything.

No reason to go over everything here - you saw it too - but the "American Idol" joke merits re-telling:

"Well, look, we are going through a difficult time. I welcome the challenge. You know, I ran for President because I thought we needed big changes. I do think in Washington it's a little bit like 'American Idol,' except everybody is Simon Cowell."

Imagine - taking an economic crisis and linking it to "American Idol."

And it worked.

Or this effortless pop culture linkage: How cool, Jay wondered, is it to fly on Air Force One?

"Now let me tell you, I personally think it's pretty cool - especially 'cause they give you the jacket with the seal on it..." But Malia and Sasha are "just not as impressed".

"The first time we went on Marine One, we were passing over the Washington Monument, circling around. Sasha looks over and she says: 'Are those Starbursts?'" because she thought she saw a box them over near dad.

Starbursts: The best touch of the night. If he had said "Gummy Sour Worms," most people woulda scratched their heads. If he'd said "M&Ms;," it woulda sounded like a product placement mention. If he had said "Mars bars," it woulda seemed like he was talking about a candy popular during the Second World War.

But Starbursts - a candy brand that kids (and parents) know as intimately as "SpongeBob Squarepants."

"They've got a whole other level of cool," Obama said of his kids.

And so do you, Mr. Prez. So do you.

Here they are, friends...Highlights from "The Tonight Show." Just in case you missed...

I was intrigued by this Lee Cowan story on this morning's edition of "The Today Show."

It's about "The Tonight Show."

This is a good piece, but it understandably avoids the elephant in the room. Prez Obama is going on "Tonight," but not going on "Meet the Press," whose very host intro'd this story. Obama's return tonight isn't in itself terribly interesting at all- he's been on a couple times, and I think just about every candidate, from dog catcher to potential president, has turned up too. What's unique is that this is the FIRST SITTING POTUS to go on "Tonight." That's fascinating and I've yet to see a precise answer anywhere explaining why.

But it is interesting that he's doing this in lieu of "MTP," which has been one of the first stops for just about any president who has a hugely important message to convey. Why, why, why? I address this subject in today's Newsday.

This is amazing news - the prez will actually go on "The Tonight Show" to sell his economic upper-pill plan.

Next stop..."The Daily Show?" "Oprah?" "Doc Phil?" "Martha?" Who knows anymore...

Bloomberg's Roger Runningen had this earlier...The full story:

"President Barack Obama will take his campaign promoting his economic strategy to late-night television with an appearance March 19 on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” a White House official said.

"Obama’s stop on the comedy and talk show coincides with a planned trip to California, where the president has scheduled appearances in Santa Ana and Los Angeles before he returns to Washington late Thursday, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the event hadn’t been announced publicly. CNBC reported the appearance earlier."

And NBC's press release:

President Barack Obama will be making his first sit-down talk show appearance in studio in front of a live audience since becoming elected on Thursday, March 19 on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" This marks the first appearance of a sitting President on a late night talk show.

"Among other topics, President Obama will be sitting down to talk about his economic plan. President Obama made his first "Tonight Show" appearance on December 1, 2006.

>> Photos: President Obama: He's just like us!

>> Photos: Obama's first 100 days in office.

(Pix: Paul Drinkwater, NBC)

"ET" is reporting that Ed McMahon has been hospitalized with pneumonia, and this does not look good at all.

Here's the "ET" brief:

"A family member tells ET that the 85-year-old has been at a Los Angeles area hospital for nearly one month, and is being treated for pneumonia. ET can confirm that McMahon has been in the intensive care unit and was recently diagnosed with systemic bone cancer. His wife Pam has been by his side, and a source tells ET that his wife's "deep faith is helping her through this difficult time."

(Pix: AP)

OK, so I know what everyone is thinking: Poor Ed McMahon! Can't pay the mortgage on his five million dollar mansion!? "Well Ed, just drop the price and SELL it..." But that's easier said than done, and the guy is clearly in great pain, both physically and (undoubtedly) emotionally.

So I for one think pity and compassion are warranted. I've known McMahon - slightly, and professionally - over the years, and can attest to this fact: He's one of most decent and honorable guys in this business. He's one of the few stars - actually the only one I can think of - who used to answer his phone or return calls, without the intercession of an army of millionaire publicists or managers or agents. He was - and I'm sure, still is - unfailingly polite and pleasant.

And consider this: Ed was trusted by Johnny Carson. The best I can tell, Carson trusted him COMPLETELY. Very few people earned a Carson seal-of-approval, including his former wives. Besides his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, and longtime friend, producer, confidante, Peter Lassally, Ed is the only person who comes immediately to mind who, in fact, did.

Now, what did this mean? After a lifetime in the business, Carson knew - intuitively and through practical experience (Joan Rivers!!) - that most of the people who were nice to him were BS-artists who trafficked in the fluff and ephemera of show-biz. They were NICE but only superficially "nice." Ed was the real deal.

Evidence? He could have sold a Carson memoir for millions - you know, one of those hideous tomes about the "real" Johnny Carson that would have forced you to take a shower after/ or while reading... And don't think that for someone who lost hundreds of millions, as Ed did over the last few years, that that wouldn't have been a temptation.

For almost half a century, Ed was the consummate loyalist: He never said a cross word about JC, and never told tales out of school. He was - in other words - a genuine friend, in a place (Hollywood) where genuine friends are as common as polar bears.

So here's to Ed, lying in bed with a broken neck and wondering when the repo man will come knocking. He's a good man and a loyal friend. Nothing wrong with that.

As the strike heads to its second week, the big guys - Dave and Jay - are maintaining support for their colleagues, which means no shows for the foreseeable future.

But Broadcasting & Cable magazine recently posted this interesting item: What about guest hosts? The mag quotes Leno show chief, Debbie Vickers, saying "all sorts of things are being discussed, including guest hosts [but] our preference is that we return to production." Apparently that's HER preference, however, because Leno's top writer, Joe Medeiros, told B&C; that "I talk to Jay every day, and he will not be the first [late-night host] to cross the picket line. So they are looking at guest hosts as one possibility so all those people don’t have to lose their jobs.”

"Those people" - by the way - are the many of the non-union "Tonight Show" employees who have reportedly been told by NBC that they will be laid off by the end of next week.

Won't cross picketlines.