MetaFilter posts tagged with tonightshow

The original late night duo is reunited.

cavalier — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:26:07 -0800

Everyman's announcer: Ed McMahon enjoyed a remarkable entertainment career. From pitching vegetable slicers to passerbyers on the Atlantic City boardwalk to delivering the original king of late night to a national audience every night for thirty years; Ed McMahon's voice is part of the American fabric. Sadly, Ed McMahon has passed away. Born in 1923 to a father who himself was a part-time entertainer and show promoter, Ed McMahon's first gigs all called on his voice: calling bingo games, working as a carnival barker, hawking wares on the Atlantic City boardwalk. As he reached adulthood, with World War II approaching the horizon, Ed decided to become a Marine fighter pilot. After training and significant effort he recieved his commision and wings, and after finishing the Corsair Operational Training Unit in Green Cove Springs, Florida, he was asked to remain as an instructor in the same unit. After his work with training was finished, World War II ended and McMahon returned to civilian life while still part of the reserves. His first broadcasting gig was for a minor role at WLLH-AM in Massachusets, however his real broadcast career took off at WCAU in Philadelphia. Starting in 1949 for $75 a week, he announced programs for WCAU's radio and TV programs, as well as performing as the clown that opened the CBS show "Big Top" which was shot at WCAU-TV. The Korean War came calling and Ed McMahon served honorably, flying more than 80 artillery spotting missions before returning home. I told you all this so that you can mentally picture a young Ed Mcmahon going "HIYOOOOOOO!" while diving his plane towards an enemy target. Returning from the war, Ed McMahon returned to work for WCAU in Philadelphia. After several successful programs including a morning show called "Get Happy" and a local late night show "McMahon and Company", Ed travelled to New York to begin work on a new ABC-TV program called "Who Do You Trust?" a daytime quiz program hosted by a young Johnny Carson. When Johnny Carson succeeded Jack Parr on NBC's "The Tonight Show", he took Ed McMahon with him. Together, the team produced 6,583 programs over thirty years. Ed McMahon delivered Johnny nearly every night, and the two together were never without laughs. Hyperlinks! HIYOOOOOOOO! Tonight Show: Ed had a few too many drinks. ;) Tonight Show: A classic Ed and Carnac sketch. Star Search Intro Sequence Publisher's Clearing House Commercial After Johnny retired from "The Tonight Show", Ed McMahon continued on announcing, taking on the role of MC on the talent show "Star Search", which lasted well into 1995. He also was the spokesman for the Publisher's Clearing House, whose promises of fortune further cemented himself in the minds of television viewers throughout that time. Ed McMahon died peacefully in his sleep this morning at the UCLA Medical Center. Johnny Carson finally has someone to riff with at his desk upstairs.

Uri Geller on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show

The Deej — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:03:01 -0800

Nostalgia and skepticism collide in this short video of Uri Geller's legendary failure on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, introduced by frequent MeFi subject James Randi. More context and nostalgia in this longer version, which features Geller with a young Barbara Walters, and on The Mike Douglas Show, along with Randi's expose of "healing evangelist" Peter Popoff. If you want to waste even more time, just start clicking on these YouTube search results.

Ross The Intern Vblogger!

ericb — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:18:29 -0800

Heeeeere's ... to 50 years!

WolfDaddy — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:17:32 -0800

The Tonight Show celebrates its 50th anniversary of national broadcast, it was a local New York show staring in 1953 tonight. Steve Allen was its first host, blazing the trail for all late nights to come (did you know his announcer was Gene Rayburn?). Then came Jack Parr. The world was a better place with Johnny Carson making us laugh nearly every night for thirty years. Jay Leno's rise to host was certainly not easy. And, it seems, on the show's 55th anniversary, it'll be Conan inheriting the throne! Happy anniversary to one of the most entertaining, groundbreaking American institutions ever.

jonmc — Sun, 03 Mar 2002 20:37:29 -0800

Everyone's favorite foul-mouthed, philosophical shopclerks are back. For those of you who missed it's premiere on the Tonight Show a coupla days ago, the inimitable Kevin Smith has new short up on his site(Quicktime and RealMedia). Dante and Randal are back talking all about mad German Scientists, The Jetsons and the decline of American ingenuity. Terrific, as always, Kev.