Posted on 01/24/2005 1:36:15 AM PST by kcvl
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MON APRIL 29 2002 13:08:27 ET XXXXX
JOHNNY CARSON BREAKS SILENCE: KNOCKS FOX FOR TOO MUCH PATRIOTISM AT SUPER BOWL; THINKS BUSH IN ENRON COVER-UP
**Exclusive Details**
Don't look for Johnny Carson to make an appearance during NBC's 75TH Anniversary Special -- even though NBC head Bob Wright has made a personal plea.
"That ain't gonna happen," the retired Carson tells ESQUIRE magazine. "That ain't gonna happen."
The retired funnyman throws cold water on Wright's May Sweep dreams.
"He means well. I know NBC means well. But I am retired. I ain't going back on television. There's no need for me to go back. It's gonna be one of those self-congratulatory things. Look how good we are! I'm just not going to do it!"
Reporter Bill Zehme has been courting Carson for years and the relationship has paid off in spades: On May 8th, ESQUIRE rolls out an exhaustive exclusive interview with the press-shy Carson, running 10 pages.
Carson rips FOX for its Super Bowl red-white-and-blue coverage following 9/11: "When you look at the production -- give me a break!" Carson says. "Norman Mailer said something about patriotism being a nice thing, but just ease up a bit... It's nice to live in this country, but ease up!"
Carson takes on Bush: "Can you believe this Enron mess? I love how his good friend 'Kenny Boy' suddenly turned into 'Mr. Lay'... Give me a break! It will be a long time before we ever understand what's going on behind that story."
Carson has nightmare dreams that he still is host of the TONIGHT SHOW: "It's show time and I am going on -- and I've got nothing to say! I wake up in a sweat!"
He tells Zehme that the only time he wished he was back on the air and not retired was during the Monica Lewinsky mess.
"It's John. I regret it now," Carson said to Wright in a phone call. "I haven't seen such an abundance of material in my life!"
Developing...
Rest in peace Johnny.
Anybody have that old May 10, 2002 Enquirer?
Drugdge either has bad taste of bad timing as Johnny Carson just passed away. He was a great talent, made Americans laugh for 30 years. I missed him after he retired, there's been nothing like him since. Rest in peace Mr. Carson, you helped millions of Americans feel good for a very long time, you will be sorely missed.
I'm still looking but here is an article I found interesting...
Johnny Carson Battling Emphysema
by Marcus Errico
Sep 19, 2002, 3:45 PM PT
Yes, Johnny Carson has emphysema. Yes, he is still keeping a low profile. But no, he is not on his deathbed, thank you very much.
That's the word today from the late-night talkmeister's camp as it tries to snuff an upcoming tabloid story claiming Carson is seriously ailing.
The National Enquirer will report in its next issue that Carson has "been grappling with killer emphysema for several years and wants to stay out of the public eye." Although the tab doesn't hit supermarket shelves until Friday, the gist of the story was leaked in Thursday's New York Post.
The report prompted a rare response from Carson himself, via his Carson Productions spokesman Jeff Sortzing.
"I'm dealing with it the best I can and it is not causing me any major problems," Carson said.
In the brief statement, Carson says he first learned of the story after a 45-minute stint of tennis at his Malibu cliff-side enclave.
Carson, who turns 77 in October, was frequently caught puffing away during his 1962-92 tenure manning the desk on NBC's Tonight Show, but he claims to have given up his cigarette habit. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema, an incurable degenerative lung disease that causes shortness of breath. Exercise and medication are among the treatments used to keep the condition in check.
The iconic funnyman has remained way off the show-biz radar since his retirement, rarely turning up in public and even refusing to attend NBC's 75th anniversary special earlier this year.
Carson's reclusion has led to much speculation about his health, especially since he underwent quadruple-bypass heart surgery in 1999 following a reported heart attack.
But according to an Esquire magazine profile earlier this year, Carson's doing just fine. He and fourth wife Alexis spend most of their time ensconced in their Malibu digs or cruising the world in their custom-crafted 130-foot yacht, the Serengeti. (The vessel's name reflects Carson's love of Africa. He visits Tanzania so often he's even learned to speak some Swahili.)
He also reportedly finds time for the occasional poker game with fellow funnymen Carl Reiner, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase and media mogul Barry Diller.
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,10560,00.html
What do you mean Drudge has bad taste? It is information that he reported on Carson in 2002. The man is not a saint. I liked Carson also but there is nothing wrong with the truth either. If you don't like it don't read it.
Johnny Carson was a yellow dog 'Ted the Swimmer' nutbar fanatic. Funny guy, though. FReegards....
Leno hasn't touched his Tonight Show money. With interest it should be 250,000,000 easy.
This is a reposted article. There are earlier threads.
Just goes to show where his heart and mind was in his final years.
That's a great find!
I wasn't aware he'd had the heart attack and subsequent surgery.
Have not seen a recent pic of him, have you?
I wonder if Carson ever was informed that the fatal trip to Croatia that resulted in Ron Brown's death -- however it happened -- was on behalf of Enron.
I wonder if Carson ever was informed that the fatal trip to Croatia that resulted in Ron Brown's death -- however it happened -- was on behalf of Enron.
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Survivor Johnny Carson says Survivor contestants are "silly people."
In a rare interview, Johnny Carson "disparaged" reality TV to Esquire, according to Reuters summary of the interview. He said of Survivor's cast members, "These silly people will do anything the director suggests because they want to be on television. They want to be somebody! I say, take 'em and put 'em in the Congo for four days -- see how they do over there."
This is the kind of shit here that pisses me off. The man isn't even cold in the ground, and someone has to find something to dis him over.
It is not very Christian to celebrate someones death in order to denounce their life.
However, all of these hosts-both past and present-pale in comparison to Dennis Prager.
If anyone needs a late night show, it's him.
OK, my mistake. Just the timing of this post to the one I just read about his death seemed odd.
Who's "dis"ing Johnny?
I wish Sam Kennison had been alive during the "Monica" era. What a target rich environment he would have had!
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