Latest news with #JohnnyCarson
The 42
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The 42
When you make it in The Garden, you've made it everywhere
FOR THE FIRST decade of its legendary 30-year run on NBC, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was recorded at the RCA Building at Rockefeller Plaza, New York. While he would later relocate to California, Carson's studio, consisting of its original parts, is currently decked out on the second floor of the Paley Museum just a couple of blocks away from where his talk show began in 1962. It's unspectacular until you clock the office chair behind his desk, which at first glance is of the bog-standard variety. But the seat of the chair slants drastically downwards towards the backrest, and only the back legs are in contact with the floor. It's like an unintentional recliner. It looks bollocksed, truth be told. It felt as though to host a rugby podcast and sit in Carson's seat would be to besmirch him in some way. It's also one of this writer's general rules to avoid falling arse-over-head in museums. That the curator was so insistent felt like a trap. But that was the point. It turns out that Carson's chair hadn't fallen out of the back of a lorry in transit but had been specifically designed by the Tonight Show presenter 63 years ago in exactly its current state. Indeed, it had cost the show a few quid to have a chair made so badly. Carson's theory was that if he allowed himself the luxury of being able to sit back, he might become too relaxed during his interviews. To have to sit forward would ensure that he would remain visibly engaged with his guests for the duration of their shared conversation. The greats always find an edge, even if we don't see it. Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano light up the Empire State Building in their national colours. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Two floors further up in the Paley Museum sits one of New York's hidden treasure troves. Decades' worth of American media archives are stored on its computers, which are accessible to the public as part of the $20 entry fee. Hours could be lost listening to the original radio broadcasts of Joe Louis' fights from the 1930s, or watching Richard Harris interviews that never made it as far as YouTube. (Incidentally, RTÉ's full TV broadcast of the 1980 All-Ireland hurling final between Limerick and Galway is also available, in case you're ever looking). There are decades-old documentaries on Civil Rights, immigration, and past wars. There are full-length broadcasts from Olympics of yore. There are Richard Pryor comedy specials, moon-landing news bulletins, and compilations of adverts from the advent of television. And then there are the Madison Square Garden archives, the wealth of which would persuade you that MSG's 'World's Most Famous Venue' moniker is not an example of American exceptionalism but flirting with the truth. Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday' serenade of US president John F. Kennedy took place at the old Garden around the corner. John Lennon performed for the final time at the existing venue. Wrestlemania was born on Pennsylvania Plaza. The first boxing broadcast from MSG that pops up in the Paley's files isn't actually an official broadcast at all, but a video of an unnamed fight recorded on a hand-held camera from ringside by Andy Warhol. It's surprisingly shite. Frank Sinatra, too, was confronted by his creative limitations he was deployed by Life Magazine as a guest photographer for the Fight of the Century between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Ol' Blue Eyes was there with his elbows on the apron, getting papped from all angles by the pros whose art form he was bastardising. Once you've made it at The Garden, you've made it everywhere. That Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have added their names to that lore is an achievement worthy of acknowledgement in its own right. 'The Mecca of Boxing' opens the doors to its main arena only for fights that elevate the venue, and tonight's protagonists nearly lifted the roof off the place when they first met in April 2022. Madison Square Garden's top brass were devastated when Taylor and Serrano's first rematch was diverted to Dallas eight months ago. They have actively courted Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing and Jake Paul's MVP Promotions for the past three years in the hope of recapturing that magic. Tonight, live on Netflix, they will get their wish. Taylor and Serrano, meanwhile, will emulate Ali and Frazier in having fought two thirds of their trilogy at MSG. Advertisement But who will find that Johnny Carson edge? Serrano, down 2-0 in the rivalry, has pulled every lever available to her, and perhaps even one too many. As the promotional A-side under MVP's banner, the naturally lighter Puerto Rican dictated that this third meeting take place at a catchweight of 136 pounds, four pounds less than the light-welterweight limit at which she lost to Taylor in Dallas by the slimmest of margins. This was no skin off Taylor's nose: the Irishwoman has campaigned for the majority of her career, professional and amateur, at lightweight, and she came in three ounces under the ceiling during the official, behind-the-scenes weigh-in at the Kimpton Eventi Hotel yesterday morning. Serrano, meanwhile, was AWOL, leading to some consternation among her promoters. Suspecting mind-games, Taylor and the bulk of her team hit the road, with only trainer Ross Enamait staying behind to witness The Real Deal's registration on the scale as is mandated by the New York State Athletic Commission. While Taylor rehydrated and prepared to tuck into some pasta back at her hotel, Enamait was more than happy to report to HQ that Serrano had made weight but only barely: that she stepped on at exactly 136 pounds following a lengthy delay suggested that Serrano had woken up with work left to do on her weight cut, and a quick treadmill session or a trip to the sauna is far from optimal for a boxer who is already famished and minimising their water intake. It may be nothing. But it might be something. At the press conference a day earlier, when the topic of the catchweight was raised with Taylor, she sounded off on Serrano for trying to dictate too many terms from the position of challenger. She described MVP as being against her, which she added was 'okay'. Taylor, whose relationship with her rival's promotional outfit has become increasingly cordial, retracted that comment when speaking privately with MVP's joint-boss Nakisa Bidarian soon afterwards. But there was a point during last night's ceremonial weigh-in at which she might have wished she hadn't. With hundreds of Irish and Puerto Rican fans stirring up a colourful ruckus in MSG's downstairs Theater arena, Taylor was called first to the stage despite being the champion in this equation — another of Serrano's contractual demands. With her confirmed weight from earlier in the day flashing beneath her on a digitalised platform, Taylor heartily saluted her supporters before setting up for her final staredown with Serrano. Katie Taylor responds to a rapturous reception from the Irish fans at Thursday's weigh-in. Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO Then came her opponent, whipping her fans into a frenzy before stepping onto the same stage extension. At which point, MVP decided to give Serrano a lift — quite literally. The platform on which Taylor had stood moments earlier began to rise, elevating the ebullient Serrano towards the ceiling. The Puerto Ricans went wild. It was an unapologetic effort by the event's promoters to distinguish their contracted fighter as the real star of the show, a sentiment into which they have leaned heavily since the build-up towards the second fight in Dallas. Taylor knew full well that this would be the case when she signed each of those contracts: as Serrano reached the end of her ascent, the Bray woman 30 feet beneath her was seen sharing a joke with Nakisa Bidarian, presumably along the lines of, 'I knew you were against me.' After a staredown for staredowns' sake — Taylor and Serrano have shared too much in the ring, not to mind at similar promotional events, to glean anything from such formalities at this stage — a chorus of 'Olé Olé' broke out from the Irish fans, ensuring Taylor received at least a figurative lift. Both boxers appeared genuinely moved by the atmosphere, so much so that Serrano caught Taylor off-guard with a hug before they exited stage left. Her trainer-manager, Jordan Maldonado, offered his own smiley embrace, albeit he's unlikely to remain so convivial if the boxers' heads collide tonight as they did in Dallas last November. There truly is little point in predicting the outcome of Taylor-Serrano 3. Even the fighters themselves were coy when asked directly by MC Ariel Helwani as to who is going to win and why. The broader boxing industry will feel as though Serrano is owed one at this stage. If that perception seeps into the judges' respective subconsciouses, Penn Plaza won't be long turning into a Puerto Rican party. But Taylor has been the picture of confidence all week, and why wouldn't she be? When push has come to shove in this rivalry, she has found the additional gear to kick for home. At 0-2 against her career nemesis, the pressure is on Serrano to convert her promotional advantages into victory. Taylor, 2-0 to the good, is effectively playing with house money even if she would baulk at the notion. A defeat won't even leave a scratch on her legacy. But be it in The Garden or on our couches at home, we'll all be sitting forward.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
When Massachusetts battled the scourge of measles — and won
Write to us at . To subscribe, . TODAY'S STARTING POINT The US has officially recorded more measles cases this year than in any since Johnny Carson left 'The Tonight Show.' Newly released CDC data shows Advertisement US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The outbreaks are a consequence of growing public skepticism of vaccines. The shot against measles, called the MMR vaccine, is safe and highly effective. But fewer US children have been getting it recently, helping revive a virus that the US declared eliminated here in 2000. Measles has killed three Americans so far this year, all of them unvaccinated. But there was a time when the public, doctors, and public officials in Massachusetts and around the country worked together to guard against measles — despite resistance that foreshadowed the antivaccine sentiment behind today's outbreaks. Today we're taking a look back at that time, courtesy of the Globe's archives. Double elimination The eradication of measles, which European colonists brought to what would become the United States, didn't happen by accident. It was the result of innovation, education, and cooperation among local, state, and federal governments. Advertisement The measles vaccine Yet even as early vaccines became more available, uptake languished. Getting people to take it required changing minds. In 1965, medical writer Lawrence Galton lamented in the Globe that millions of children remained vulnerable because of parental apathy ('Most of them still believe the myth of the harmlessness of measles') and cost (shots could range as high as $15 each, more than $150 today). It's true that most measles cases are mild. But as Galton put it, 'a disease popularly supposed to be only a trifle' can in rare cases cause pneumonia or brain damage. To overcome indifference and cost barriers, Massachusetts public health officials launched a statewide campaign. Woburn, aiming to become the country's first measles-free city, gave out the vaccine for cheap or for free. On one Sunday in March 1965, it inoculated nearly 1,000 kids. ('Measles Shots Popular With Woburn Toddler Set,' The effort paid off. In one year, the state cut measles cases by 95 percent. 'Epidemic diseases that used to kill thousands of children in Massachusetts every year are unknown to today's parents, thanks to one of the brightest chapters in American medicine,' marveled Herbert Black, the Globe's medical editor, citing progress against measles, polio, and other diseases. Advertisement The country followed. In late 1966, federal health officials announced a nationwide vaccination drive, setting a goal of eradicating measles by the following year. It ultimately took longer — and the fight may not be over. If vaccination rates keep falling and outbreaks like this year's become the norm, measles Seeds of backlash As successful as Massachusetts' anti-measles crusade was, it also previewed some of the antivaccine sentiments fueling today's outbreaks. While most localities held clinics, some small towns refused. Stow, which then had a population of around 3,200, was one. By May 1966, it had recorded 80 measles cases — three times more than Boston, with a population of nearly 750,000. Then as now, even some in positions of authority tried to dissuade vaccination. Braintree's health agent told the Globe that the town was 'not interested' in a clinic, citing the shot's side effects. Dr. Nicholas Fiumara, who led the state's division of communicable diseases, accused him of 'spreading false fears about a rare and mild response.' Those impulses persist today. Measles began spreading among conservative Mennonites, who are often suspicious of vaccines, in West Texas earlier this year. Even as cases mounted, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — President Trump's health secretary, whose vaccine falsehoods found greater purchase during the COVID pandemic — was slow to full-throatedly endorse the vaccine. The CDC, which Kennedy oversees, yesterday Advertisement Even New England isn't immune from the trend. The region's overall childhood vaccination rate remains high, but some states Yet for all that has changed, the words of Fiumara, the official who led Massachusetts' charge against measles in the 1960s, remain true. 'This is a needless disease,' he told the Globe back then. 'No one has to have it.' For more: If you're curious about whether you or a loved one should get vaccinated or boosted against measles, check out 🧩 1 Across: 73° POINTS OF INTEREST The remains of an apartment building known as the Heartbreak Hotel in Plainfield, Vt., still loom over the Great Brook a year after flooding pulled much of it downstream, displacing 12 tenants. Paul Heintz for The Boston Globe Moving up: A year after floods ravaged a small Vermont community, residents are trying to Local impact: About 300,000 Massachusetts residents who qualify for Medicaid are at risk of losing coverage because of Trump's tax law. The state is preparing an outreach effort ICE raids: A Massachusetts state representative introduced legislation to bar federal immigration agents from wearing masks Tariffs: Trump threatened Brazil with a 50 percent import duty over its effort to prosecute Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right former president who allegedly attempted a coup. ( Advertisement Transgender rights: The Trump administration sued California for letting trans athletes compete in girls sports. ( Political violence: Federal agents arrested a Providence man Joe Biden: The former president's doctor refused to testify to House Republicans about Biden's mental fitness in office, citing physician-patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment. ( Ex-CEO: Linda Yaccarino stepped down from X, Elon Musk's social media company, after its built-in AI chatbot posted antisemitic comments. ( South Korea: Yoon Suk Yeol, the country's former president who was removed from office for declaring martial law, is back in custody after prosecutors argued he might destroy evidence. ( Asked and answered: Globe reporter Andrew Brinker will be BESIDE THE POINT By Teresa Hanafin 📖 Hot takes: Summer and paperbacks just seem to go together: Light and relaxed. Here are ⏰ New TikTok: If you want to keep using the popular app after its possible forced sale, you may have to download a version that TikTok is building just for US users. ( 💔 'Grief has no time frame': After her husband died, she couldn't bear to put his car in her name. But Advertisement 🐦⬛ Bird detectives: If you see a bird flying by sporting a backpack, it's not carrying gym clothes. UNH researchers have placed tiny, solar-powered tags on salt marsh sparrows to provide data about marsh restoration. ( 👢 Boot up: Stars from Beyoncé to Lady Gaga have sported his fancy footwear, 🥘 Does a host do the most? The letter writer in this classic Miss Conduct column isn't sure 🚴♂️ Free rides: Given various T closures this summer, Bluebikes Boston is giving out a $20 credit that can be used any time until the end of the year. Use code BLUECROSSMAMBTA2 in the app. ( Thanks for reading Starting Point. This newsletter was edited by ❓ Have a question for the team? Email us at ✍🏼 If someone sent you this newsletter, you can 📬 Delivered Monday through Friday. Ian Prasad Philbrick can be reached at
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Johnny Carson's eldest son Christopher dead at 74
Johnny Carson's eldest son, Christopher Carson, has died at 74. The King of Late Night TV's close friend, Howard Smith, confirmed that Chris died earlier this year, during his appearance on Joe Sibilia's 'Nostalgia Tonight' podcast on Monday. He shared that Johnny's nephew, Jeff Sotzing, informed him of Chris' death two months prior. Smith did not reveal Chris' cause of death. Chris was living in Florida when he died. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson host — who passed away in 2005 — shared three sons with his first wife, Joan Morrill Wolcott. They welcomed Chris in 1950, followed by his brothers Rick the next year and Cory in 1953. The pair divorced in 1963. 'When John died, I tried to keep in communication with Chris,' Smith explained. 'I moved and bought a house outside of Fort Lauderdale. And at this golf club that I joined, I said to the guys, "You guys know Chris Carson?" The guy said, "Oh yeah, he's a member here." And I go, "Oh God." I said, "Well, I'm trying, you know, I'm a friend of his dad and all that. And I've been trying to get a hold of Chris, and Chris never got back with me."' 'When I went to this show that Jeff put on about John, and it was a fantastic, two-hour show that he did for about 100 people, and I said, "So Jeff, what's happening with Chris?" And he looks at me, goes, "Howard, Chris just died last week."' '"Really?" I go, "Oh no."' Smith shared that his bond with Chris grew strong during Johnny's golf trips when he was younger. 'Chris was an avid golfer, and so when he used to come, he lived in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, when he used to come to visit his dad, he would bring his clubs, because I would take them,' he said. 'We would play golf together, and John wouldn't play golf. John did play golf at one time, but he would just ride along with us.' In the 1980s, Chris made headlines following the birth of his daughter, Christal Love Carson, with long-term girlfriend Tanena Love Green. Their split resulted in a highly publicized child support court case. During the trial, it was revealed that Chris worked as a golf instructor, but his main financial backing was from his father, who supplied him with cars, a house, and $35,000 each year. Chris' brother Rick died at the age of 39 in a car accident on June 21, 1991. Smith shared that 'Cory is still alive,' adding, 'But I don't know. They don't see anybody that much.' Chris and Cory both remained out of the public eye. Following Johnny's death in 2005, his loved ones emphasized his wish for his family to live privately. Johnny hosted the final Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episode on May 22, 1992. Carson's audience, which was more than triple the size of all three current network late-night shows combined, made him incredibly affluential across the '60s, '70s, and '80s. He died in January 2005 at age 79.
New York Post
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Johnny Carson's son, Chris Carson, dead at 74
Johnny Carson's eldest son, Christopher Carson, has died at age 74. His death was confirmed by his father's longtime friend, Howard Smith, who revealed that Chris had died earlier this year, though did not reveal his cause of death. Speaking on Joe Sibilia's 'Nostalgia Tonight' podcast Monday, Smith said he learned of Chris' death two months ago from the late television host's nephew, Jeff Sotzing. Advertisement 4 Johnny Carson's eldest son, Christopher Carson, has died at age 74. Alamy Stock Photo 'When John died, I tried to keep in communication with Chris,' Smith said. 'I moved and bought a house outside of Fort Lauderdale.' 'And at this golf club that I joined, I said to the guys, 'You guys know Chris Carson?' The guy said, 'Oh yeah, he's a member here.' And I go, 'Oh God.' I said, 'Well, I'm trying, you know, I'm a friend of his dad and all that. And I've been trying to get a hold of Chris, and Chris never got back with me,'' he went on. Advertisement 'When I went to this show that Jeff put on about John, and it was a fantastic, two-hour show that he did for about 100 people, and I said, 'So Jeff, what's happening with Chris?' And he looks at me, goes, 'Howard, Chris just died last week.' 'Really?' I go, 'Oh no.' ' The 'Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' host had shared three sons with his first wife, Joan Morrill Wolcott. The pair had welcomed Chris in 1960, son Rick the following year, and Cory in 1953. However, Rick had died in a car accident in 1991 at age 39. 4 The legendary TV host died in January 2005 at age 79. ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement 4 The 'Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' host had shared three sons with his first wife, Joan Morrill Wolcott. Getty Images 'Cory is still alive,' Smith said. 'But I don't know. They don't see anybody that much.' Smith recalled how Cory would tag along to his famous father's golf trips when he was a youngster. 'Chris was an avid golfer, and so when he used to come, he lived in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, when he used to come to visit his dad, he would bring his clubs, because I would take them,' he said. Advertisement 'We would play golf together, and John wouldn't play golf. John did play golf at one time, but he would just ride along with us.' While Chris had largely kept out of the public eye throughout his life, he made headlines in the 1980s after becoming embroiled in a bitter custody battle with his ex Tanena Love Green over their daughter, Christal Love Carson. 4 The pair had welcomed Chris in 1960, son Rick the following year, and Cory in 1953. Getty Images Throughout the trial, it was revealed that Chris had been making a living as a golf instructor — though his main source of income were handouts from his famous father. His dad, who hosted the final 'Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' episode on May 22, 1992, died in January 2005 at age 79.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Johnny Carson asked sheriff to drive him home after drinking: book excerpt
While the world knew famed late-night host Johnny Carson as the funny man who America welcomed into their homes for 30 seasons, Howard Smith knew him as a kind, down to earth neighbor in Malibu. The pals first met when talent agent Jerry Weintraub and his wife, singer Jane Morgan, invited Smith and his wife Jane over for a star-studded dinner party. Morgan, now 101, asked the tech mogul if he could sit next to Carson — since despite him being an extrovert on air, he was more of an introvert at these functions. Advertisement 16 Johnny Carson, host of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Jonathan Sotzing 'We talked,' Smith recounted in an exclusive interview with The Post. 'He had just moved four houses down and I have a tennis court and the reason Jane put us together was because he was shy.' '[Carson's wife], Alex [Maas], was with him that night,' explained the Malibu resident. 'I had never met John before but he was my hero. And at that dinner, we started talking about different things and he had just sold his beach house to John McEnroe and he said to me that one of the things he got John McEnroe to do in the sale was play tennis at Pepperdine.' Advertisement But Smith knew that despite hitting balls with a pro, playing on the college campus wasn't necessary. 16 Johnny Carson poses with his longtime friend and neighbor Howard Smith. 16 A tabloid captured a picture of Johnny Carson and Howard Smith after a tennis patch in Malibu. 'I said, well, I've got a tennis court anytime you want to,' the author recalled. 'I gave him my number and the next morning John called. I thought it was a prank. I couldn't believe he called me and he said, 'Can I come over and play tennis with you today?'' Advertisement From there, a friendship quickly formed and they went on to play the sport together weekly. 'We only played maybe three weeks when he said to me one day after a game, 'You know, next week I'm going to be 60 years old. I'm going to have dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills. I would love to have you and Jane come.'' 16 Howard and Jane Smith with Johnny Carson and Alex Maas. 16 Johnny Carson and Howard Smith. Advertisement Despite Smith thinking he was walking into a star-studded birthday bash, Carson invited the couple to an intimate dinner with only two other guests — proving how deep their bond became. 'I was anticipating this is a big party because I only knew him three or four weeks,' Smith said. 'So I get to the restaurant and it's Henry Bushkin, Joyce Dewitt, John, Alex, myself and Jane. I pinch myself going, 'Holy cow.' We played tennis and talked a little bit, but I didn't know him very well. I was so moved by being invited to his 60th birthday and being part of that little group.' That night one thing was clear: Smith became an intricate part of Carson's inner circle. While this year marks the 20-year anniversary of Carson's death at age 79 from emphysema, the retired businessman is now publishing his book — 'My Friend Johnny.' 16 Jane Smith, Johnny Carson and Alex Maas in Aspen. 'Knowing John for 25 years, when I used to go over to his house and we'd sit around and talk about different things and life, the wonderful thing that I've found while writing this book to me is I've reminisced and gone back to these memories,' Smith told The Post. The publication explores the 'neighbor turned close companion' and highlights many behind the scenes moments with Carson. In an excerpt from the book, exclusively obtained by The Post, Smith detailed a one-of-a-kind encounter that involved some booze and the Malibu sheriff. Advertisement 16 John and Alex on a toboggan ride. One night when Smith and Carson were out to dinner at La Scala, another table asked if they could buy the comic a drink. Well, one drink turned into another and another. The two realized they weren't in any shape to drive. 'The sheriff arrived and entered the restaurant,' Smith penned in his memoir. 'He seemed startled to see Johnny Carson and another gentleman waiting for him. 'Mr. Sheriff,' I said, as clearly as possible without slurring, 'We've both had too much to drink, and it would be a terrible tragedy if one of us tried to drive home. Would you do us the favor of driving us home?'' 'The sheriff looked at us, mainly at me, and said, 'This is highly irregular. I'm not supposed to do that.' He glanced at John and then back at me. 'For anyone.'' Advertisement 16 Alex Maas and Johnny Carson on their boat. With Carson's casual charm, he persuaded the sheriff to give them both a lift — a story that ended in flashing red and blue lights, lots of laughter and one confused wife. Smith also reflected on the bittersweet moment he and Carson had to put down the rackets for good. Carson was an avid smoker, but had quit shortly after tying the knot with Maas in 1987. Still, in his later years, his smoking had caused irrevocable damage. Advertisement 16 John and Alex at home in Malibu. 16 Johnny Carson and his high school teacher at her 90th birthday party. 'During an otherwise normal conversation at John's house after our regular match, he paused. With a wistful look in his eye, he said, 'Howard, we sure have had a lot of fun on many tennis courts, haven't we?'' 'Too much fun to count,' he replied. Advertisement ''Well, I'm so sad to say this, but … I'm afraid our tennis-playing days are over,'' Smith wrote. 'I wanted to push back. I wanted to tell him that we could play slower or set up rules so we wouldn't have to run as much. In reality, my (unfounded) fear was that no tennis would mean no friendship. Thankfully, our friendship blossomed into something much more than two guys playing tennis.' 16 Alex Maas and Johnny Carson in Aspen. Over the course of their 25-year friendship, many of Smith and Carson's memories included their spouses, Jane and Alex. Carson and Alex were wildly private — despite the tabloids trying to create explosive stories about the duo. 'With John being such a big star, the gossipers had to write something, so they wrote that their marriage was unusual and often troublesome. I think their marriage upset some of the media because Alex never played their game,' Smith recalled in his book. 'On the night of what would be his last birthday, John and Alex discussed that very topic. They knew the cost associated with being a Hollywood celebrity—mainly the invasion of their personal life—so they weren't angry with a particular writer or magazine. I'd seen him rant about so-called journalists before, but he didn't that night.' 'Rather, John said, 'We never cared what people said about our marriage. They get it wrong all the time. One day, they report on two people who are madly in love, and the next week, those same people file for divorce. As long as we'—he motioned to Alex, whose hand he held—'are happy, that's all that matters.'' 16 Johnny Carson holds Howard Smith's son Scott. 16 Johnny, Alex and Howard's son Scott. And that they were, up until Carson's passing on January 23, 2005. In the book, Smith recounted what he called 'the last supper' — an outing with the star just weeks before his heartbreaking death. 'Of the many dinners we had with him over 20 years, that was the longest time we ever sat at a dinner table together,' he shared. 'His memory was pin-sharp. It was as if he didn't want us to leave without telling us stories he had probably never told anyone. Jane and I had a blast. We were the last to leave the restaurant that night!' He wrote elsewhere, 'It made sense for John to behave that way. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to make sure he gave us the best of himself before he went.' 16 Johnny Carson, Doc Severinsen and Ed McMahon during the last episode of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' on Friday, May 22, 1992. AP Photo May 22 marks the 33-year anniversary of Carson's final show, where 60 million people tuned in to watch 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Smith, of course, was in the audience. 'Jane and I were honored that he invited us to his final show, along with his wife, sons, and close family members,' Smith penned about the show, which aired from 1962 to 1992. 'He'd even ensured reserved private parking for us to make it easier. He'd decided not to bring in any guests that day. Rather, he shed the spotlight on Ed McMahon, his longtime sidekick, and his bandleader, Doc Severinsen.' 16 The finale episode of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' on Friday, May 22, 1992. AP Photo Afterwards, the group celebrated when Carson 'threw an exclusive party at his home for his staff of many years.' The episode included a five-minute standing ovation, but Smith noted that Carson wasn't looking for an applause. 'In the end, John didn't want recognition,' his dear friend wrote. 'He wanted to recognize those who had helped him achieve so much. In fact, he even thanked the audience with a surprise gift from Tiffany's, a perpetual calendar inside a sterling silver frame made especially for those who attended his final show. John signed off for his last time by saying, 'And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I've found something I've always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.'' 16 Johnny Carson. AP Decades later, audiences are still as enamored by Carson and his late-night show. But now, Smith aims to pull back the curtain on the host's life without the cameras. 'I would say that John, looking down, would say, 'Howard, thank you buddy. I appreciate you doing this,'' Howard smiled, reflecting on how Carson may react to his book. After all, Smith simply wants the world to know his friend Johnny.
