Johnny Carson (on CD)

Johnny Carson
by Henry Bushkin [Compact Disc Biography Carson]

I've always been a fan of Johnny Carson, not only for his success and fame as the preeminent late night TV talk show host of the past 50+ years, but also for the fact that we can call him a Nebraska boy -- though born in Iowa, he grew up in Norfolk NE. Henry Bushkin was Carson's personal attorney for almost two decades, during the very height of Johnny's success. This biography is Bushkin's look back at Johnny's (and Bushkin's own) life during that time period. In many ways, this biography takes a great deal of the luster off of Carson. Bushkin takes a "no holds barred" approach to telling stories, and Johnny comes off as a egocentric martinent. But there were reasons for Johnny's keeping everyone at a distance and being something of a control freak. Bushkin's storytelling style is very natural, and this book moves smoothly from one engaging story to another. I enjoyed this one as a Book-on-CD, narrated by actor Dick Hill -- he provides Bushkin with a colorful, eccentric voice. In the end, I'm left with the feeling that Johnny Carson was somebody to admire from afar, but that getting too close to him could reveal an unseemly side. I will still fondly remember all the years spent watching him on The Tonight Show and admiring his talent. But I'm now rather disappointed in him as a human being. Well written and narrated -- I recommend this to anyone who's interested in Carson as a real person, rather than as the sanitized TV persona. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Here's Johnny, a much more "friendly" look at Carson's life, by his TV sidekick Ed McMahon.]
[Also available in regular print and Large Print formats.]

[ Carson 360 web site ] | [ official Henry Bushkin web site ]

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