Johnny Carson news stories on Newser

Lennon's Killer Almost Picked Johnny Carson, Liz Taylor

Rob Quinn — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:01:00 CDT

Mark David Chapman considered killing Liz Taylor or Johnny Carson, he told a parole hearing earlier this month. There were other names on his hit list but he can no longer remember them, Chapman revealed. "I lose memory of perhaps the other two," he said, according to a transcript released...

Johnny Carson Estate Gives $156M to Charity

John Johnson — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:23:37 CDT

Johnny Carson has rewritten the book on celebrity philanthropy. The late entertainer's charitable foundation has received $156 million from a trust that Carson set up years before his death in 2005, reports the Smoking Gun . The bequest means that Carson's foundation is now by far the biggest of Hollywood charities.

Impressionist Travalena Dead at 66

Harry Kimball — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:58:27 CDT

Fred Travalena, a master impressionist whose catalog of voices ranged from US presidents to Frank Sinatra doing Boy George, has died at 66 of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the Los Angeles Times reports. The actor-singer-mimic, known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces," opened for the likes of Shirley Maclaine and Wayne...

Iconic Sidekick Ed McMahon Dead at 86

Matt Cantor — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:11:33 CDT

Ed McMahon died last night in Los Angeles. The former Johnny Carson sidekick, 86, had long fought cancer and was recently admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, WAPT reports. Besides his Tonight Show role, McMahon was known for hosting Star Search and appearing on commercials handing giant checks to American...

Heeeere's Miserable Johnny!

Mary Papenfuss — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 06:48:20 CST

Funnyman Johnny Carson was a miserable serial wife cheater who was tormented by a mother who never gave him a compliment. That's the word from his one-time lawyer and manager, who's shopping around a tell-all tome about his late boss. "He was a great star, but not a great man,...

D-Lister? Host a Game Show!

Peter Fearon — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:40:00 CDT

With game shows making a dramatic comeback, agents and their star clients looking to revive flagging careers are angling to get in on the action, reports the New York Times. Executives at cable's Game Show Network are being peppered with resumes, tapes, and pitches. The latest crop of new hosts...

Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's a Lawsuit!

Harry Kimball — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:45:37 CDT

Citibank has filed suit against former Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon to recover $200,000 it loaned to the struggling actor, the AP reports. McMahon, 85, who has not worked since falling 18 months ago, also faces foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home. “If you spend more money than you...

Carson Sidekick Faces Home Foreclosure

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:03:50 CDT

Former Johnny Carson sidekick Ed McMahon, 85 and out of work following a fall, is in negotiations with lenders to save his Beverly Hills home from foreclosure, the Wall Street Journal . He owed $644,000 on a $4.8 million loan as of February, plus $300,000 on a line...

Johnny (Sorry, Jay) Top TV Icon

Sophie Goldstein — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:49:00 CST

Letterman and Stewart made the cut, but Leno got stiffed when Entertainment Weekly and TV Land did their list of the top 50 TV icons. Leading the list, of course, the guy who started it all: Johnny Carson Lucille Ball Oprah Winfrey