Book Review: "Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend" by Mark Malkoff with David Ritz

 

 I have read many books about Johnny Carson. Three Carson books have been released lately, not far apart. The last two that came out were disappointing. They did not have as much information as was expected. I wanted something that took a deep dive into the life of Johnny Carson, the king of late night. I had high hopes for this latest book since it was written by Mark Malkoff, who was the host of my favorite podcast of all time, "The Carson Podcast." I listen to lots of podcasts, such as "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend," "Fly on the Wall," "The Letterman Podcast," "Late Night Playset" and others. Mark's podcast had interviews with big stars such as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Carol Burnett and many others. Often times, the best guests were the behind-the-scenes people such as writers, segment producers and technical crew members. The research for the podcast was impressive and extensive, so I knew it would be the same case with the book. The book is broken up into three sections: 1962-1972, (the first decade of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, based in New York City) 1972-1982 (the first decade with the show based in Burbank, California) and 1982-1992 (the final decade of Johnny's show, which wrapped up on May 22, 1992). The final section also covered Johnny's retirement years, in which he traveled to exotic locales like Russia and Africa and spent time on his 130 foot yacht, The Serengeti. This book is great since it has many anecdotes from the show, offering behind-the-scenes insights. This book reveals a lot of facts you never knew about Johnny and his landmark show. The quality of Johnny's show was impeccable, and the show ran like a well-oiled machine. Everyone on the staff was the best at their craft. There are many myths or urban legends about Johnny's show. This book tells if they are true or false. You can read about David Letterman, Freddie Prinze, Byron Allen, Joan Rivers, David Brenner, Ellen DeGeneres, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rodney Dangerfield and so many other stars. The sensitivity of Johnny is discussed, as well as his feuds, his shortcomings and his generosity. He demanded loyalty and if he was double crossed, he would hold a grudge. He was competitive, and he wanted to be #1, which he was for his 30-year run. Johnny was something special, and part of his success with the show was his breadth of knowledge in many different topics. He had a thirst for knowledge. He loved animals, travel, drumming, jazz music, astronomy, studying languages, comedy, magic and tennis. Producer Peter Lassally called Johnny the most well read person he ever met. Johnny was not a flawless person, but no one is. The book looks at the fact that Johnny was not a perfect father or husband, and he had challenges with alcohol. At the same time, this book presented an optimistic picture of television's premier entertainer. Johnny was a different person off the air as opposed to when he was on the air, and this book takes a deep dive into the complexities of his personality. This book presents an in-depth look into the iconic Johnny Carson, and it's highly recommended for any fan of Johnny, late night TV, or entertainment in general. 

“Sunday Best” on Netflix Tells the Fascinating Story of Ed Sullivan

 

Recently I watched one of the best documentaries I have seen in years. I knew very little about Ed Sullivan and his show, since he went off the air 2 years after I was born. When I think of his show, I think of the iconic appearances by The Beatles in the 1960s and Elvis in the 1950s. I have seen clips of The Doors and The Rolling Stones appearing on his show as well. Censorship played a role on this show. Elvis was to be shot only from the waist up, due to his gyrating hips. The Doors were instructed to change the lyric “Girl we couldn’t get much higher” to “Girl, we couldn’t get much better.” Jim Morrison originally said he would do this, but on the show he sang the original lyric, which was viewed as a drug reference. The Doors were banned from doing the show again. The Rolling Stones were told not to sing “Let’s spend the night together” and change it to “Let’s spend some time together.” Mich Jagger gave in, but he rolled his eyes as he sang the sanitized lyrics.  For 23 years, from 1948 to 1971, The Ed Sullivan Show yielded high ratings for CBS, every Sunday night.

Sullivan was born in Harlem New York in 1901. At that point, the neighborhood was largely Jewish and Irish, with Sullivan being the latter. These groups faced discrimination, and Sullivan was one who wanted to stick up for the underdog during his lifetime.

He worked as a newspaper columnist and a radio host before getting into television. His delivery on television was awkward, but he gained a following as someone who provided a forum for all people via his variety show. Many comedians did impressions of his unique posture and peculiar way of talking, including John Byner, Rich Little, Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers.

Even when it was controversial in the 1950s, especially in the Southern states, Sullivan welcomed many black performers to his stage. Over the years, his show featured Bo Diddley, Fats Domino, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey and Motown artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and The Supremes. Sullivan said he despised intolerance since as an Irish Catholic he had faced that in his life. So, Sullivan was an important figure in the civil rights movement.

Sullivan’s show went off the air in 1971 and he died in 1974. His venue was named the Ed Sullivan Theater and was the home of David Letterman and Stephen Colbert’s late-night programs.

 

 

 

 

Danny McBride is Building an Empire

 

Danny McBride is the writer, creator, actor and producer of the following three MAX shows.

Eastbound and Down, 2009-2013, where he played a major league/minor league baseball player and also worked as a commentator on a sports TV show. Will Ferrell appeared in this show as a car dealership owner patterned after wrestler Ric Flair.

Vice Principals, 2016-2017, where he played a high school vice principal. He directed 2 episodes of this show. He said that this show was an homage to the high school teen comedies of the 1980s, like the Molly Ringwald films. Instead of it looking at the challenges and anxiety of being a high school student, it looked at how the high school teachers have many of the same issues. There was an episode where people were climbing through heating vents to get to the other side of the school in order to evade the principal. That was a shout out to a similar scene in The Breakfast Club. 

The Righteous Gemstones, 2019-2023, (on March 9, 2025, the final season kicked off on MAX). He plays a minister in a family of wealthy ministers that runs a mega church. These "religious" people need to practice what they preach. John Goodman plays his father in this show, and the head minister. Adam Devine plays his brother, and Edi Patterson is his sister. McBride directed 4 episodes of this show.

In each show he plays a vulgar, drug abusing buffoon with a distinctive haircut. His characters lack a moral compass.

Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones both co-starred Walton Goggins and Edi Patterson.

McBride’s shows stand out since they have talented, funny actors, character development and creative writers that come up with excellent storylines that hold your attention.

Here are some movies that McBride has appeared in…

Hot Rod, Superbad, Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, Sausage Party, Up in the Air, The Angry Birds Movie. He’s appeared in movies since 2003.

He did a voice in the video game Grand Theft Auto V.

Here are some quotes from McBride…

          

In my school, people liked the gym teachers because they were the football or soccer coaches. But look, if they're cool, they get respect.

I've always had the hair of Lionel Ritchie since I was a boy, but the mullet sadly is a hairpiece. My wife won't let me rock that hairstyle.

I'll still try to nail acting jobs, but with 'Eastbound,' creating it is what gives me the ultimate pleasure at the end of the day.

I usually choose movies that I would want to see. I appreciate drama and if the right script came across my desk, drama you will see.

I made movies all the time when I was a kid.

I had a classic gym teacher in junior high who wore a weightlifter's belt all the time.

        

Information from imdb.com.

  

Worldwide Pants

 

For David Letterman’s morning show (1980), that was produced by a company called Space Age Meats. (Letterman always seemed to have a meat obsession). On his CBS Late Show he did a segment called “Know Your Cuts of Meat.” Space Age Meats is also credited with producing Letterman’s NBC show Late Night with David Letterman from 1982-1990. This was produced in partnership with NBC and Carson Productions. Founded in 1991, Worldwide Pants was responsible for co-producing the final two years of Letterman’s Late-Night show (1991-1993) along with NBC and Carson Productions.
Letterman’s 1993 contract had some things in common with Johnny Carson’s 1980 contract. Carson Productions gave Johnny ownership of his show and projects made by the company (Amen and The Big Chill being two examples). With ownership of his Late Show and other programs, Letterman had many projects to contribute to building his wealth. Other than Late Show with David Letterman, the most successful Worldwide Pants show was Everybody Loves Raymond, starring Ray Romano (1996-2005). Letterman had Romano on his Late Show and wanted to base a sitcom around his life. This was co-produced with HBO Independent Productions and creator/executive producer Phil Rosenthal’s company, Where’s Lunch. The company tried to produce two programs with Bonnie Hunt, The Building (1993) and Bonnie (2015). Both were short lived. Worldwide Pants produced The Late Late Show which had different hosts, including Tom Snyder (1995-1999), Craig Kilborn (1999-2004) and Craig Ferguson (2005-2014). The program Ed was produced from 2000-2004 and aired on NBC. HBO shows produced by Letterman’s company include The High Life (1996) and Foo Fighters Sonic Highways (2014). Netflix shows include The Fundamentals of Caring (2016), My Next Guest Needs No Introduction (2018-present) and That’s My Time with David Letterman (2022). That’s my Time was a great showcase for young up-and-coming comics. Three shows were produced for PBS in conjunction with Sesame Workshop. The Knights of Prosperity was produced for ABC in 2007. In 2024, TBS aired a Worldwide Pants show called Stupid Pet Tricks, a program that was based on a Letterman staple from his Late Night and Late Show. It was hosted by Sarah Silverman.
Other crazy names for Letterman production companies over the years included: Cardboard Shoe Productions, United States Chemical Cheese Productions and Recreational Poultry Productions.

*Some information from Wikipedia and latenighter.com. 

Ordinary People (1980)

 

This year marks the 45^th anniversary of an outstanding film, Ordinary People.

Directed by Robert Redford (A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, The Horse Whisperer and The Legend of Bagger Vance). Ordinary People was his feature filmmaking directing debut.

It’s based on a 1976 novel by Judith Guest.

This film starred: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton (his film debut at age 20).

At the 1981 Oscars, this film won four awards. They won for best picture, best supporting actor (Timothy Hutton), best director (Robert Redford) and best writing, screenplay based on material from another medium (Alvin Sargent). Ordinary People had an uphill battle that year, going head-to-head against Martin Scorsese’s brilliant boxing film, starring Robert DeNiro, Raging Bull.

Overall, this film had 21 wins and 14 nominations.

It won five Golden Globes, including one for best picture (drama) and one for Mary Tyler Moore for best actress (drama).

The budget was $6 million, and the worldwide gross was $90 million.

The Jarrett family lives in an affluent Chicago suburban neighborhood. From the outside, they probably appear to be a family who has it all, but there is turmoil behind closed doors.

Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore played Calvin and Beth Jarrett, who are parents to Conrad Jarrett, played brilliantly by Timothy Hutton. The other son, Buck Jarrett, was killed in a tragic boating accident. Conrad feels responsible for his death and is haunted by images of the event. His grief and guilt are overwhelming. His feelings led to a suicide attempt. Conrad felt that his mother preferred Buck over himself. Conrad is closer to his father than his mother. The interactions between mother and son are awkward.

Mary Tyler Moore did not play her normal bubbly, positive character like she did when she played Mary Richards and Laura Petrie. Beth was cold and distant. This role showed the impressive range of Moore. She was shocked when Robert Redford said that he wanted her for the role. He had her in mind from the first time he read the novel. Her character was not always likeable. During the filming, Moore was aloof toward Timothy Hutton to get into character. Mary Tyler Moore called this film "The Holy Grail of my Career".

 The parents decide that Conrad needs to see a therapist to deal with his guilt and depression tied to what happened with his brother. Judd Hirsch played Dr. Tyrone Berger, the therapist who tries to help Conrad. Redford chose Hirsch for the role after seeing his character in the TV show Taxi. Some of the scenes between Conrad and Dr. Berger are intense and gripping. This film delves deep into the dynamics of human relations and the challenging feelings that accompany them. The film is largely about forgiveness…forgiving others and ourselves. The main theme for the soundtrack was Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, which set the perfect mood for this emotional film.

Gene Hackman was considered for the role of Calvin. Michael J. Fox auditioned for the role of Conrad, but Redford wanted to go with Hutton. Natalie Wood was considered for the role of Beth, which went to Mary Tyler Moore.

The film received high praise from critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Siskel called it the 2^nd best film of 1980 and Ebert said it was the 5^th best film of the year.

The intense writing, acting and insights into stressful family dynamics make this an outstanding film.

 

*Some information from imdb.com and Wikipedia.