For 30 years, Americans invited Johnny Carson into their homes as host of The Tonight Show. Many felt they knew Carson thanks to his years on TV and the countless stories that followed his career. However, co-host Ed McMahon made sure to debunk one popular rumor about Carson.
Carson could appear as a cool customer on The Tonight Show. But another side of the late-night TV legend was driven by ego and personality. This led to Carson having his favorites when it came to guests and really disliking other Tonight Show visitors.
So many perceived Carson as distant or cold. However, Ed McMahon challenged that rumor and debunked any misconceptions.
“One reason for the myth of ice water in [Carson’s] veins was that socially he seemed aloof," McMahon wrote in his book Here's Johnny. "But he wasn’t aloof; he was merely shy.”
McMahon acknowledged Carson's cross-generational appeal, but revealed that didn't always translate at public events like cocktail parties. “He was usually in a corner doing magic. And he says, “His least entertaining trick was making himself disappear," McMahon penned.
The famous sidekick continued, saying that Carson worked better with a camera in front of him than another person. McMahon considered himself one of the lucky few who got to see the real Carson, writing that the legendary Tonight Show host often performed just for him.
Perhaps that special treatment also stemmed from Carson's appreciation for what McMahon brought to the table. The host knew his sidekick had traits he didn't, telling McMahon as much.
According to McMahon, Carson once said “I wish I could be like you. You’re so hearty. Mr. Sunshine; you’re everyone’s friend. It’s really depressing.”
Carson's coldness only added to his mystique and hlped make him one of the most interesting celebrities of his era. But for those like Ed McMahon, the real Carson was much more than what appeared on The Tonight Show.