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JOHNNY CARSON BREAKS SILENCE: KNOCKS FOX FOR TOO MUCH PATRIOTISM

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...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: johnnycarson
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To: leadpenny

Please post a synopsis of Imus's remarks.
I am without cable here or I'd be waiting for Imus's program too.


41 posted on 01/24/2005 2:35:30 AM PST by onyx
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To: onyx
He looked GOOD.

He looked good for someone dying of emphysema, that's for sure. How long ago was the movie Aviator in the theater?

42 posted on 01/24/2005 2:36:28 AM PST by kcvl
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To: weegee
Leno hasn't touched his Tonight Show money.

You have GOT to be kidding. Jay has numerous garages full of six figure priced automobiles and five figured vintage and custom built bikes. Millions and millions worth.

Why don't you go on a "Freep" and photograph his home pre-Tonight show and his home(s) today.

Being one of Jay Leno's vendors is the sweetest gig on Earth.

43 posted on 01/24/2005 2:36:43 AM PST by Barlowmaker
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To: leadpenny
I'm certain that the world completely changed for Johnny when his son died in 91.

I'm sure it did too. Someone said yesterday that his son died in a car crash while taking pictures. I didn't understand that.

44 posted on 01/24/2005 2:37:43 AM PST by kcvl
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To: Route101
Johnny Carson was a loose cannon.......

A rabble rousing malcontent. I never trusted him, I'm glad you didn't either.

45 posted on 01/24/2005 2:38:16 AM PST by Barlowmaker
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To: kcvl; onyx
The Aviator came out in 2004.
46 posted on 01/24/2005 2:38:44 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
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To: SpyGuy

Why did I get pinged?


47 posted on 01/24/2005 2:38:54 AM PST by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save bucks and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
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To: kcvl


Right.
Granita is the restaurant.
Much talked about on LKL,
but the transcript reads "Grenada" lol.


48 posted on 01/24/2005 2:39:42 AM PST by onyx
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To: Barlowmaker

Jay makes real good money off of his standup gigs. He still makes appearances.


49 posted on 01/24/2005 2:40:47 AM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)
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To: kcvl


Aviator is currently playing in several theaters.


50 posted on 01/24/2005 2:40:47 AM PST by onyx
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To: BigSkyFreeper


Darn right, and let that be a lesson for you:
ALWAYS read my erudite comments BEFORE posting
your own! :)


51 posted on 01/24/2005 2:41:56 AM PST by onyx
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To: onyx

I've heard Rush Limbaugh say it's a really good movie, all about Howard Hughes, which is DiCaprio's character. I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD.


52 posted on 01/24/2005 2:42:16 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
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To: onyx

I've got to get ready for work and will catch him on the radio. There are some web links you can listen too. WTNT for one. I'm sure he'll still be talking about his trip to DC and his interview with the Veep also. Gotta go.


53 posted on 01/24/2005 2:43:08 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: onyx

You help me form my sharp opinions. LOL :) *bows in your presence*


54 posted on 01/24/2005 2:43:09 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
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To: BigSkyFreeper

Carson never forgot hometown
By Jenny Welp Journal staff writer



Though Johnny Carson was known for slipping into his hometown of Norfolk, Neb., and leaving before many knew he was there, one does not have to look far to find proof of his generosity.

"Everything from art to education to health - every aspect I think he's touched tremendously," said Don Wisnieski, city council member. "It's not one thing. He's touched every aspect. Everybody in Norfolk has benefited from him in one way, shape or form."

The former host of "The Tonight Show" lived in Norfolk from age 8 until he graduated from high school. However, his connection to the community continued for a lifetime.
American Family Inn

Denny Reeves remembers Carson interviewing celebrities and then relating their comments back to his positive memories growing up in Norfolk. Carson came back to the community for several weeks in the early 1980s for the television special "Johnny Goes Home" about growing up in small-town America -- about Norfolk and the values he learned there.

"It was the best public relations anybody could get," Reeves said.

But Carson gave more to Norfolk than publicity. City Administrator Michael Nolan said it was conservative to estimate that the celebrity donated well over $5 million in the community over the years.

Since a merger in 1996 formed Faith Regional Health Services hospital, Carson donated about $1.5 million -- mostly to the cancer center in honor of his parents. Without that generosity, northeast Nebraska residents would have to drive two additional hours for radiation and medical oncology services, reported Bob Driewer, CEO of the hospital.

Carson also topped off a 1996 campaign for a business and industry training facility by donating $1 million to Northeast Community College. With a gift of that size, the first question is usually how big the donor wants the letters of his or her name on the building, said Dr. Bill Path, community college president. But Path said Carson declined the offer to name the Lifelong Learning Center in his honor.

"He said, 'What you can do is you can name one of the rooms inside the building after my favorite high school teacher," Path said. A room was named after Fay Gordon, the teacher who Carson took the time to visit on her 100th birthday, city residents said.

Carson's generosity touched the community for high profile projects like the high school theater and lesser known ones like repairing the senior center. Nolan said the senior center struggled for years because its roof design and duct work meant the water pipes froze every time there was severely cold weather. But then someone asked Carson to help, and he provided the money to take care of the problem.

"That's just the way he was," Nolan said. "I don't know of any occasion when anyone asked him to help out on a project that he didn't. He was generous to a fault."

For the Elkhorn Valley Museum and Research Center, Carson cleaned out his office and donated almost all of his memorabilia, said Betty Bohac, museum director. She said the exhibit features everything from awards to framed magazine covers to photos of him with celebrities.

Carson did not ask for recognition for his charity, but community members wanted to honor him in some way. The city changed the name of the road where his old house still stands to Johnny Carson Boulevard, and billboards at the main entrances to town say "H-e-e-e-r-e's Norfolk! Proud Hometown of Johnny Carson."

"Everything that he has done for this community has just been overwhelming," said Sue Kaspar-Beckman, city council member. "There is no way we could say thank you enough."


http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2005/01/24/news/local/7a0ae9acb479746886256f930019b375.txt


55 posted on 01/24/2005 2:45:09 AM PST by kcvl
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To: RandallFlagg

I wasn't replying specifically to you. Just posting back to all the people in the thread for their comments.


56 posted on 01/24/2005 2:46:31 AM PST by SpyGuy (Liberalism is slow societal suicide. And screw political correctness: Islam is the Religion of Death)
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To: kcvl

There is a very rare, as far as I know unavailable in video, of Carson's guest interview with JFK assassination researcher Jim Garrison. An audio file of parts of it is somewhere available on the net ( sniff around JFK Lancer)

A very solemn, strange episode. I need to dig up the excerpts and listen to it again.


57 posted on 01/24/2005 2:47:28 AM PST by wolficatZ (Never forget the grim battles our brave US soldiers and Allies fought in 1945 - 60 years ago)
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To: Barlowmaker
BFD that you didn't trust him.
Since when is "trust" a prerequisite for comedians?

IIRC, Johnny once hosted a show called
"Who Do You Trust?"
58 posted on 01/24/2005 2:48:03 AM PST by onyx
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To: BigSkyFreeper

The Aviator is playing in theaters now, too.


59 posted on 01/24/2005 2:49:09 AM PST by ValerieUSA
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To: All
****** My dad died of emphysema so I don't wish that on anyone. ****** ____________________________________________________

When I was 16, I watched my moms mom die a slow, agonizing death due to emphysema.....Damn sad part is.....I just watched my mom die the same sad death.......

Something is gonna kill ya....if you smoke....for you and your familys' sake.......I hope a bus hits you.....

defend your right to smoke all you want......it's a bitch when you want to breathe

and can't....

gasp

60 posted on 01/24/2005 2:49:49 AM PST by bobbyd (Damn, I've been tagged.....)
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