I miss Sam...
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...
The thing about Johnny Carson was, you could barely tell his politics. Sure, from the sounds of it, he was left of center. But what made him so great was, you couldn't tell. His jokes and so forth didn't give off some political spin that today's comics do. And other then this interview, Carson kept to himself and stayed out of the limelight. Unlike some of today's so-called entertainers.
He may not be perfect (of course) but he was still a great man.
Whomever is "dissing" Johnny, it is certainly NOT kcvl.
She has posted two old articles that addressed his health issues.
What's your problem with THAT?
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My dad died of emphysema so I don't wish that on anyone.
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07/03/2004 Johnny Carson, The Man Who Retired From the 2002 Esquire article : "I think I left at the right time," he says now. "You've got to know when to get the hell off the stage, and the timing was right for me. The reason I really don't go back or do interviews is because I just let the work speak for itself." Inasmuch, I have come to know that he is far better than simply fine; he is supremely self-assured of his place in the firmament, secure about the lasting worth of that which he quit doing for television cameras and for his country. He is contented in a way wise humans can only aspire to be but rarely are. Always with a shrug and a whiff of final punctuation, he regularly repeats to friends and family three short words: "I did it." Nobody argues.
Looks like Johnny was an equal opportunity jokester.
I would have loved to hear him on this issue.
Hey, Johnny said something bad about Fox news!
He must be democratic!
A democratic communist!!
A democratic communist lesbian!!!
A democratic communist lesbian attorney!!!!
A democratic communist lesbian attorney Islamonazi!!!!!
This is hugh! This is series!
And it's all Bushes fault!!!!!!!!
When a person dies, it's time to respectfully (try) to remember the good things about them.
And even the mods will admit, that's above a few Freepers.
I'm not convinced he was left of center.
Merv Griffin is GOP and a close friend.
Heck, in the LKL transcript, Merv talks
about Johnny meeting President Reagan and
First Lady Nancy and being worried about
how they'd receive him because of the jokes
he told... naturally both Reagan's hugged him!
I think Carson was a class act.
His personal politics were kept to himself
as far as I can tell.
It is not very Christian to celebrate someones death in order to denounce their life.
No problem telling the truth, actually I never found him to be very funny.
During their coverage yesterday, the Fox News entertainment reporter (forgot his name, but he used to sit in the third seat on Fox & Friends Weekend before he was replaced with Julian) said that Johnny was a big fan of Fox News Channel.
I didn't see any of that in the piece.
Johnny was exercising free speech. kcvl found it on the web and posted it. What's not to like?
How is quoting the man considered "dis'ing" him? If he didn't want to be known for saying these things, then he shouldn't have said them, especially in a printed public interview!
When a person dies, it's time to respectfully (try) to remember the good things about them.
In death, as in life, a man in known by his words and his deeds.
That's entirely fine, it's your personal opinion and people will respect it.
But it seems to me there is a tendency to ry to completely demonize someone for something trivial that they said.
I watched Johnny for many years. I always found him honest and down to Earth. I would also bet my behind that he was just as appalled about some things that are going on as most Freepers are.
Talkshow legend Johnny Carson at the Malibu movie theatre to watch 'Aviator' starring Leonardo di Caprio. Mandatory Credit: Photo by 539/Most Wanted/ZUMA Press.
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Some people try to be thread Nazis. If they don't like it, we aren't suppose to post it.
I have yet to read anything that indicates Johnny was
left of center, or a democrat or a Republican. He was
a great talent and I've missed him since he left his show.
When he retired, he RETIRED.
For me it will be interesting to see what Imus has to say about Johnny's passing.
I'm certain that the world completely changed for Johnny when his son died in 91. Same as for Bill Cosby.
Bless you!
You found a recent pic.
He looked GOOD.
Good thing I scrolled down and saw your post, I was like "WTF?".
Just who do you consider funny?
Johnny Carson was a loose cannon.......
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