Heeeeere's Al, Thanks to Carson

NY Times ^ | July 23, 2005 | Jacques Steinberg

[Past Your Eyes]

Heeeeere's Al, Thanks to Carson

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By JACQUES STEINBERG Published: July 25, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO, July 23 - As vice president, Al Gore learned that the most disarming way to counter his wooden image was to tell better jokes about himself than the late-night comedians did. Mr. Gore now says he received occasional tutoring on those one-liners from the master of the television monologue, Johnny Carson.

Mr. Gore said he had telephoned Mr. Carson on several occasions in the mid-1990's to seek his guidance on "timing and delivery."

"He let me call him up and bounce jokes off him and he would give me advice on the presentation of gags," said Mr. Gore, who said he had initially approached the retired "Tonight Show" host through a mutual friend. "It was such a privilege."

Mr. Gore said that Mr. Carson, who died in January, had even given him a couple of jokes. But Mr. Carson's greatest contribution, Mr. Gore said, came in 1994, when over the telephone he walked Mr. Carson through a skit he intended to do before a black-tie Washington dinner known as the Gridiron.

The idea, Mr. Gore said, was that he would be wheeled onto the dais on a hand truck, ramrod straight, and would slowly be cranked to his feet by "two guys in Acme delivery costumes."

[Past Your Eyes]

I'm so glad he got some help from Johnny. Imagine what he would have been like without it.

[RushCrush]

Well too bad Johnny Carson is dead, or I would have enjoyed putting him on my liberal list.

[New Perspective]

I don't think it helped much.

[al baby]

I thought Al Gore invented the mono"log "

[frogjerk]

Now that Johnny Carson is dead and cannot refute his claims, Gore can BS all he wants in some stupid NY Slimes puff piece intended to repair Gore's reputation as a first class NUT!

[siunevada]

Mr. Gore said...that he would be wheeled onto the dais on a hand truck, ramrod straight, and would slowly be cranked to his feet by "two guys in Acme delivery costumes."

Nix it, Mr. G. Too close to your normal entrance.

[cweese]

I've always been under the impression that the tonight show was Al's idea all along (right after he and tipsy provided the inspiration for 'Love Story').

[Past Your Eyes]

ROFL!! Great picture. May I borrow it?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Now Gore needs to be wheeled in like Hannibal Lecter!

[pollyannaish]

I think that collecting "cool people" is a hobby for liberals. But from a political perspective I'm satisfied collecting "effective and capable" people for our team.

That said, I loved Johnny. I think most of what was left of any Hollywood class went with him.

[11Bush]

Lessons from a master of timing, and what to show for it?

[frogjerk]

That said, I loved Johnny. I think most of what was left of any Hollywood class went with him.

Agreed. He was a great entertainer!

[Prince Caspian]

What a self-congratulatory, sophomoric suck-up. Everything about this guy reeks of poser.

[SuperSonic]

[Chi-townChief]

bugmenot.com doesn't seem to work for the NYT.

[workerbee]

What a self-congratulatory, sophomoric suck-up. Everything about this guy reeks of poser.

Then you'll love this.

Sez Al: "I think of myself as a recovering politician, and I'm on about Step 9," he told the New York Times in an interview.

[nickcarraway]

Sure, blame it on Carson.

[Rumplemeyer]

How is this for a frighting thought, this putz almost became POTUS.

[Past Your Eyes]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/business/media/25carson.html
Try this link.

[LYSandra]

Was this before or after he invented the internet?

[Rodney King]

Well too bad Johnny Carson is dead, or I would have enjoyed putting him on my liberal list.

You are assuming that Al Gore is telling the truth. Oh, did I ever tell you all that when I was a little kid, Bruce Lee was my mentor and that he said I am the most natural karate person that he has ever seen?

[Prime Choice]

[Muzzle_em]

Mr. Gore said he had telephoned Mr. Carson on several occasions in the mid-1990's to seek his guidance on "timing and delivery."



Looks like he failed to take ANY of the advice.

[Rodney King]

Username: freeper123
Password: freeper123

[soundandvision]

Carson was always friendly to trees..

[harbinger of doom]

Actually, he appeared on something like SNL and there was a "West Wing" spoof. He was in the oval office and had one of the actors from WW go out the door and come back in saying a line like like, "Mr. President...!" and Al was at the desk on the phone holding his hand up waving off the actor. He then had the actor leave the office and he pretended to answer the phone numerous times saying different things like, "I'm going to veto that bill if they bring it to me!". He did a great job and it was a funny skit. More of a caricature of himself, but he looked entirely comfortable and his lines were well delivered.

[Prince Caspian]

...to seek his guidance on "timing and delivery...

If you've gotta seek advice on comic timing and delivery, you're never gonna have it.

[massgopguy]

I know people with Tourette's Syndrome with better comedic timing.

[Admin Moderator]

Please include original titles.
Thanks.

[clintonh8r]

I never say "LOL" unless I actually "LOL". That picture made me LOL!

[greasepaint]

attn: Albert Arnold Gore, junior.
You have lived a privileged life.

Do everyone else a favor.
Stop the name dropping.

[clintonh8r]

Johnny must have given him the lockbox routine....

What? That wasn't a joke?

[al baby]

Mr. Gore said he had telephoned Mr. Carson on several occasions in the mid-1990's to seek his guidance on "timing and delivery."



but was there a controlling legal authority?

[Rumplemeyer]

After, can you imagine this bozo dealing with the events since 9/11?

[New Perspective]

It's all yours. Have fun.

[New Perspective]

A couple more that I did.

[Muzzle_em]

I taped the memorial service that was held shortly after 9-11. I recall so vividly the look on AG's face during that service. It was "Thank GOD I'm not the president right now!"

[Recovering_Democrat]

LOL!! Those have tears coming out of my eyes from laughter!! Someone else has a pic of him at that speech somewhere with flies of hell flying out of his mouth!! LOL!!!

[New Perspective]

HAHAHHA, I am glad you like them. They make great t-shirts.