Ed McMahon was a carrier-qualified fighter pilot and instructor and a combat forward air controller in Korea whose job was to fly around in a small plane and get the enemy to shoot at him so that the fighters could attack the gun emplacement. He was more than just Carson’s sidekick.
Growing up I only remember Ed Mcmahon being Johnny's laughing sidekick and the Publishers Clearing House guy. Don't even remember "Star Search". As usual, Letterman coaxes sincerity and allows the real person behind the celebrity to shine through with humor. Ed seems like a very genuine and pleasantly boozy(but who wasn't from that generation?) man. Watching this now, one thing becomes clear: Ed McMahon was no dim functionary. Hell, he may have been even funnier than Johnny.
harold land I do remember Star Search, it was sort of like American Idol, but in a variety show environment. I think the most famous alum of Star Search is Sinbad.
Norm Macdonald, Sinbad, Dave Chappelle, Kevin James were all on Star search. There are probably 50-100 well-known celebrities today that were on it. Ed McMahon was unusual being the sidekick/co-host because he was genuinely funny and could take charge very easily. He's not a true sidekick by nature but he was gracious enough to be able to act as one to Johnny. Of course Johnny and he were friends, he loved to laugh and could play the 'straight guy' or foil well.
Ed was never with PCH. I remember it too, but it never happened. He worked for a competitor, American Family Publishers, and he never went to people's doors with a big check... It's a Mandela Effect. Look into it.
Sad story on how someone so talented had no clue on how to manage money. All happening behind the scenes. He should have left this earth with at least a small fraction of the millions johnny had.
Que dios los bendiga por los años q tienen cambiando la vida a millones de personas hacen un trabajoexecional felicitaciones desde el fondo de mi corazón ❤️
Well they had to have the guests more or less facing front for the audience... but another thing I've noticed is that Dave's chair is lower than the guest's, weird. Lots of times he has seemed smaller than people who were definitely not as tall as him.
Dave had praised Ed for being Johnny's sidekick for 21 years at that time little did Dave knew that he would be hosting his show for a combined 33 years surpassing Mr. Carson's 30 years as late night talk show host
I had considered editing out the Star Search footage but then checked YT to see of other Star Search clips had been uploaded. They had been, so I figured it was safe.
So good to see this old footage, thank you YET again Don! I have watched a few of the Star Search uploads (Drake was in a couple), so yes agreed, reckon this clip will not set off any alarms.
14:24 - is that a young Adam Savage? He did commercials as a kid and appeared in Billy Joel's "Only Human (second wind) video so it's entirely possible....
I've watched hours of these but that's the first time I've seen him lost for words! Not sure quite what expression at 15:10 is, but I don't think he finds it as funny as everyone else!
@@dongiller The reason he never appeared again on Letterman was that his main job was based in Los Angeles, and Letterman was in New York. Both Carson and McMahon never really wanted to go to New York, only if they had to, and so it was a rarity for them, so their appearances with Letterman were limited. Also, Letterman felt that there was not much else to talk to Ed about in the later years.
@@dongiller Ed McMahon liked David, but there was always a sense that David would joke about him too much. When David appeared with Carson, he always pretended to forget Ed was there until a few minutes into the conversation when David would turn to Ed and say "Oh hi Ed" as if he never realised he was there. Also the jokes about Eds drinking didn't go down too well with Ed, so this could have been another reason.
Ed had at least 3 shows at once and the Publisher's Clearing House.
A Marine officer decorated in combat.
The was no slack time in Ed's life.
He did loiter for long periods on Funk and Wagnall's porch.
@@mikestevenson576 since noon
Ed McMahon was a carrier-qualified fighter pilot and instructor and a combat forward air controller in Korea whose job was to fly around in a small plane and get the enemy to shoot at him so that the fighters could attack the gun emplacement. He was more than just Carson’s sidekick.
What did he fly? Corsairs?
@@sblack48He flew and was an instructor on the Corsairs in WWII. He flew an OE-1 as a spotter in Korea.
I did not know that!
Every other pilot in his squadron was killed in action.
Excellent segment with Ed here. Always interesting to hear about the NYC days of The Tonight Show.
Both are first tier entertainers!
Ed McMahon the big Marine Colonel....love his laughs..
It always cracked me up when people would take shots at Ed for doing nothing. They were mostly 1/50th the guy that Ed was.
Every man needs a homie like Ed McMahon!! Seemed like an honest to goodness decent man!
yes he was.
OMG ... the best .... the end piece is just classic
Realizing you watched the 21st anniversary of the the Tonight Show...almost 40 years ago....Damn I'm getting old :(
If you couldn't hear it, Ed says: "I think I can answer that"
Rick rick Because the upload wasnt longer
I was at this shows tapering and the night Simon and Garfunkel announced their Central Park concert reunion.... Love Letterman.
Tapering
Growing up I only remember Ed Mcmahon being Johnny's laughing sidekick and the Publishers Clearing House guy. Don't even remember "Star Search". As usual, Letterman coaxes sincerity and allows the real person behind the celebrity to shine through with humor. Ed seems like a very genuine and pleasantly boozy(but who wasn't from that generation?) man. Watching this now, one thing becomes clear: Ed McMahon was no dim functionary. Hell, he may have been even funnier than Johnny.
harold land I do remember Star Search, it was sort of like American Idol, but in a variety show environment.
I think the most famous alum of Star Search is Sinbad.
Zach Horan Add Britney Spears to that list too!
Norm Macdonald, Sinbad, Dave Chappelle, Kevin James were all on Star search. There are probably 50-100 well-known celebrities today that were on it.
Ed McMahon was unusual being the sidekick/co-host because he was genuinely funny and could take charge very easily. He's not a true sidekick by nature but he was gracious enough to be able to act as one to Johnny. Of course Johnny and he were friends, he loved to laugh and could play the 'straight guy' or foil well.
it was the days of 3 martini lunches
Ed was never with PCH. I remember it too, but it never happened. He worked for a competitor, American Family Publishers, and he never went to people's doors with a big check... It's a Mandela Effect. Look into it.
Dave:;;"you guys have been on the air 21 years, no one will beat that"
Ed:;."i dont think so"
Dave does 33 years
...and Counting, if you count No Intro Needed
@@369frequencyandvibration i wouldn’t count it. it’s not television (broadcast or cable)
RIP, Ed! Hayooohhh!
10:05 Allison Grisso went on to do news at WTNH, New Haven, Conn., in the early 1990s.
Sad story on how someone so talented had no clue on how to manage money. All happening behind the scenes. He should have left this earth with at least a small fraction of the millions johnny had.
9/27/1983 - The day I was born.
Que dios los bendiga por los años q tienen cambiando la vida a millones de personas hacen un trabajoexecional felicitaciones desde el fondo de mi corazón ❤️
Weird that the guest chair is at such a bad angle to Dave's desk.
Well they had to have the guests more or less facing front for the audience... but another thing I've noticed is that Dave's chair is lower than the guest's, weird. Lots of times he has seemed smaller than people who were definitely not as tall as him.
Letterman was at the top of his game with Merrill Markoe.
I wonder if she was angry that Ed stepped on her bit.
Love Big Ed
Dave had praised Ed for being Johnny's sidekick for 21 years at that time little did Dave knew that he would be hosting his show for a combined 33 years surpassing Mr. Carson's 30 years as late night talk show host
If Dave would´ve only been as talented as Johnny. He wasn´t.Far from it.
@mellocello187 I think he was more talented than Johnny, but not built for a long run. Burned hotter than Johnny.
Odd that Dave never mentioned The Tonight Show when introducing Ed.
Might have Ed's "gardening" comments, coming on stage with gloves and a trowel, have led to Kenny The Gardener?
Jeff was a cutie!
Most I ever heard Ed talk
jr* T Ed couldnt obviously do that on The Tonight Show
I search Dave and I find Don. Cheers!
What's the song at 13:30 Don? I know you will know! Thanks again for all these :)
Eddie Kendrick’s - “Keep on Truckin’” (1973)
th-cam.com/video/aElKjhSwjBc/w-d-xo.html
Dom Irrera in the Star Search promo clip! 10:21
I had considered editing out the Star Search footage but then checked YT to see of other Star Search clips had been uploaded. They had been, so I figured it was safe.
So good to see this old footage, thank you YET again Don!
I have watched a few of the Star Search uploads (Drake was in a couple), so yes agreed, reckon this clip will not set off any alarms.
@@rickrick5041 Sam Harris. He famously does “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Mr. Publisher's Clearinghouse.
I looked to see if Jeff was the son who passed away from cancer. It was his other son Michael.
He looks uncomfortable in that chair
14:24 - is that a young Adam Savage? He did commercials as a kid and appeared in Billy Joel's "Only Human (second wind) video so it's entirely possible....
The First of all Second Bananas
Joan Rivers was brilliant. 🤓
A true gentleman, made from that old metal that does not exist anymore.
$100,000.00 for the contestant but Ed gets $400,000.00. Or maybe not this is my guess!
Ed totally slammed Wayne Newton.
I was never a fan of Star Search. It was like the Gong Show without the gong.
McMahon Hall!
"Best liked people in America?"
Wtf does that even mean?????????
América is big
I've watched hours of these but that's the first time I've seen him lost for words! Not sure quite what expression at 15:10 is, but I don't think he finds it as funny as everyone else!
Is this the only time he has on letterman?
It was.
Don Giller why??? Did they not get along? I trust David’s judgement of character if so
No idea.
@@dongiller The reason he never appeared again on Letterman was that his main job was based in Los Angeles, and Letterman was in New York. Both Carson and McMahon never really wanted to go to New York, only if they had to, and so it was a rarity for them, so their appearances with Letterman were limited. Also, Letterman felt that there was not much else to talk to Ed about in the later years.
@@dongiller Ed McMahon liked David, but there was always a sense that David would joke about him too much. When David appeared with Carson, he always pretended to forget Ed was there until a few minutes into the conversation when David would turn to Ed and say "Oh hi Ed" as if he never realised he was there. Also the jokes about Eds drinking didn't go down too well with Ed, so this could have been another reason.
💚😄
The comedian looks familiar... name escaping me...
That's Dom Irrera.
Thanks!
funky 8:03
wear a mask dont kill a granny
Do you still feel this way, about the mask?
Ed died broke didn't he? It's a shame.
Rick rick They sell reruns, they being the Carson company. Had Ed been alive he would not profit from it anyway.Sad but true.
this is what freemasons look like .
Ed was the best! Was this his only visit with Dave?
It was.