Posted on 06/23/2009 7:33:29 AM PDT by xtinct
Lowell native Ed McMahon, the legendary "H-e-e-e-e-re’s Johnny" pitchman, has died following a long battle with cancer.
McMahon, 86, died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, his publicist, Howard Bragman, told the Associated Press today.
McMahon became a star on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson where the duo had a historic run from 1962 to 1992. He played Carson’s foil for decades, setting up jokes and skits and suppressing his trademark laughter through it all.
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
oh, how sad... he also was a spokesman for Publisher’s Clearing House and the host of Star Search... remember that show?
He was also a WW2 Fighter Pilot.
RIP Ed.
“Star Search” - the predecessor to American Idol and all of it’s clones.
RIP Ed.
He was proudest of being a Marine aviator (Colonel).
St. Peter, Heeeeeerrrreee’s Ed!
RIP
Ed and Johnny remain the class of late night TV. If I were a bit older, I might add Jack Paar to the group.
ibtgmtc (in before this gets moved to chat).
Here’s Johnny! (Weird Al Yankovic)
There he goes, he drives me crazy
When he says...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
That’s his job, it’s so amazing
All he says is...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
I never miss a moment when he’s on the tube
His being there has made my life worth living
The chills run down my spine
Each time he says that line
“Here’s Johnny!” He says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and “second fiddle” is his game
Ed McMahon’s his name...all right
Dressed so fine, he’s such a cool dude
Hear him say...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
Watch him selling beer and dog food
Hear him say...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
I got a letter from him just the other day
He said, “You may already be a winner!”
A trooper to the end
A Clydesdale’s best friend
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and that’s the way he gets his pay
What a living
Oh...(Here’s Johnny! Here’s Johnny!) Wo-o-o, no
(Here’s Johnny! Here’s Johnny!) No no no no no no, I don’t believe it
(Here’s Johnny!) he says, and everytime it’s just the same
Ed McMahon’s his name
A very special guy...all right
He’s on every night
Can’t change the channel
When he’s sitting on the panel
(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
There he goes, he gives me goose bumps
When he says...(Hey-O-Hey-Hey-O!)
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, that seems to be his claim to fame
Ed McMahon’s his name
Weird Al was a fan, with his parody of “who is Johnny?”
There he goes, he drives me crazy
When he says...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
That’s his job, it’s so amazing
All he says is...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
I never miss a moment when he’s on the tube
His being there has made my life worth living
The chills run down my spine
Each time he says that line
“Here’s Johnny!” He says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and “second fiddle” is his game
Ed McMahon’s his name...all right
Dressed so fine, he’s such a cool dude
Hear him say...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
Watch him selling beer and dog food
Hear him say...(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
I got a letter from him just the other day
He said, “You may already be a winner!”
A trooper to the end
A Clydesdale’s best friend
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and that’s the way he gets his pay
What a living
Oh...(Here’s Johnny! Here’s Johnny!) Wo-o-o, no
(Here’s Johnny! Here’s Johnny!) No no no no no no, I don’t believe it
(Here’s Johnny!) he says, and everytime it’s just the same
Ed McMahon’s his name
A very special guy...all right
He’s on every night
Can’t change the channel
When he’s sitting on the panel
(Hee-eere’s Johnny!)
There he goes, he gives me goose bumps
When he says...(Hey-O-Hey-Hey-O!)
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, and laughs in his special way
“...Johnny!” he says, you know I love him
“Here’s Johnny!” he says, that seems to be his claim to fame
Ed McMahon’s his name!
Missed it by that much!
Miss you Ed. Prayers go out to his family and friends.
I remember one Tonight show where Johnny informed Ed that he just got a letter from his co host. It was a Publisher’s Clearing House entry form. Johnny asked Ed that if he ever won there would there be country on earth where he could hide out.
Thank for the memories to both. Now heaven has a good late night show, something we don’t.
Not sure if he was the source you refer to, but Donald Trump bailed him out of his house situation by buying it and letting him live there.
Thank you for your service, Mr. McMahon...
I always liked him....RIP Ed...you were the greatest straight man ever on TV
And not some random millionair either.
A “friend” (billionaire Robert Day).
Or, whatever that means in Hollywood.
Thanks, Ed!
RIP
One classic bit:
Karnac: “Karnac asks for complete silence as he contemplates”
Moments later he opens an envelope and the joke is a dud.
Ed: “There is that complete silence that you requested”
Brought down the house!
ping
R.I.P., Ed.....thanks for all the laughs and the good times, especially on The Tonight Show.....
One of the last survivors from the days when decent people worked on TV comedy shows.
I think he was a spokesman for American Family Publishers, not Publishers Clearing House.
I'm imagining God letting Johnny and Ed have a heavenly Tonight show for His saints right now. Guests are Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, John Wayne.
The Dog Whisperer did an episode with him and his wife and their “house boy.” It was pretty weird. For some reason it made me sad.
“Karnac often gets that.”
It must be friendship, because why else would a publicist be invited to witness a death?
He shouldnt have had to deal with the money crap at the end, it’s not like this guy wasnt constantly working into his elderly years.
Hope the wife had one of those magical cha-cha’s, know what I’m saying? ‘Cause it sounds like he spent large for it.
started out as a pitchman in carnivals and at the seashore boardwalks. A legend in the biz
I didn’t know that. Interesting...
Sympathy to his family, friends, former co-workers and yes, to his many fans who still remember the best night talk show ever.
Leni
Good post in his memory. Thanks!
RIP Ed McMahon
and RIP to late night television and a time when late night comedians were funny, not out to destroy a family.
If I may
He was a WWII MARINE fighter pilot.... He was also a test pilot and stayed in the Reserves after the war.
He server in Korea as a FAC flying the 0-1 Bird Dog (the man has a pair made of BRASS) for 80+ some odd missions. He retired as a full bird Col. and was a BG in the CA Air Guard.
SOme would honor Ed for his charity work, his performance on the late nite TV.
I prefer to remember him for his service to our country and Nation.
Thanks.
Semper Fi Ed.
"ho, ho, ho, those are MiGs, Johnny!"
McMahon was a Corsair pilot during WWII. He started pilot training in 1943. His unit would have been sent to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan but their orders were changed when atomic bombs were dropped.
Well, I guess that makes it OK, then.
Ed McMahon was in the Marines and Johnny Carson served in the Navy.
Great picture. RIP Mr. McMahon
(picture of my father on my profile, same pose!)
Rest in peace Ed. I hope you and Johnny are together again. Maybe Jack Paar is getting ready to retire to greater challenges in Heaven?
My mistake on Carson: I'm not showing that he had any service.
All info is from James WIse and Anne Rehill, "Stars in the Corps" (Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1999).
Yeah, see post just below. That’s what happens when you do stuff from memory.
nevermind, I don’t have it on my profile, duh.
Ed McMahon was also a national Vice-President for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). He co-anchored the MDA telethon with Jerry Lewis since 1968. Thank you Ed for you many years of hard work and devotion from the rest of us MDA volunteers.
Do you have specifics on Carson? I looked in “Stars in Blue” and there was no entry for him in the index, so I assumed he didn’t serve.
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