Johnny Carson
Page 29
But perhaps not. He had too keen an appreciation for how much work and talent and discipline went into success to be flattered by praise and adulation; nobody knew better than he when he was good and when he wasn’t. Perhaps that’s why in the end he mostly gave up trying to create and sustain friendships and relationships; perhaps he concluded that he wasn’t any good at it and stopped trying. Which is too bad, because of all the things I valued about working with him, the thing I cherished most was the sense that I was helping him. He made you feel so good that you were happy to be helping him. I think the same was true of Joanna and many others as well. Had he allowed it, had he offered any encouragement, many of us would have continued to try.
I do not think he would have wanted a celebration; but I do like to think that he would have been happy with this book. I’ve tried to show him in all his complexity, in his huge talent and great vivacity, and with his tremendous appeal and charisma and sense of fun, and also with his failures and shortcomings and even cruelties. A man so suspicious of flattery and sentimentality might have appreciated my attempt to paint an accurate portrait of the most thrilling, fun, frustrating, and mysterious relationship of my life—a portrait of a man I loved.
Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who saw me through this book; to all those who provided support, talked things over, read, wrote, offered comments, allowed me to pick their brains, and helped me complete the manuscript.
Above all I want to thank Jacquelin Jordan and the rest of my family, who supported and encouraged me when I was little more than a reclusive houseguest.
My friends Fred Kayne, Michael Hattem, Bruce Singer, and Mel Markman provided great advice and friendship during the time in which I struggled to finish the work. Their insights and observations helped set the tone and pace of the book.
The initial spark to write this book was ignited by my friend Ed Hookstratten. “Hook” said to me one day in early 2008, “Why not write the book about you and Johnny? No one knew him like you did.” Hook reminded me that he worked for Johnny for more than nine years and knew very little about him personally. With any unpleasantness years behind me, I decided he was right. It was Ed who got me here.
Last and not least: I beg forgiveness of all those who have been with me over the course of the years and whose names I have failed to mention.
Index
ABC (American Broadcasting Company)
America Held Hostage, [>]
courting of Carson, [>]–[>], [>], [>]–[>]
The Dick Cavett Show, [>]
late-night news programming, [>]
ratings during the 1970s, [>]–[>]
televising of Reagan’s 1981 inaugural, [>]
Who Do You Trust?, [>], [>], [>]
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, [>]
Academy Awards
1979, [>], [>]
1980, [>]
1981, [>]–[>]
1984, [>]
advisors, poor service from, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]. See also Werblin, David “Sonny”
agents, [>]
Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, [>]–[>], [>]
alcohol consumption
by Carson, [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
by Rick Carson, [>]–[>], [>], [>]
Allen, Steve, [>], [>]
A-list parties, [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Alo, Vincent, [>]
Amen
Carson’s dislike of, [>]–[>]
Paramount financing for, [>]
popular success, [>]
Rick Carson as stage manager for, [>]–[>]
America Held Hostage, [>]
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) strike, 1967, [>]–[>]
Anderson, Loni, [>]
anger, irritability, [>], [>]–[>], [>]–[>], [>]–[>], [>]–[>]. See also Carson, Ruth
angioplasty, [>]
Anka, Paul, [>], [>]
Annenberg, Lenore, [>]
Annenberg, Walter, [>], [>]
apartment, New York City, [>]
appearance, attention to, [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]. See also clothing line
Arledge, Roone, [>], [>]
assaults, violence, [>]–[>]
Aston Martin automobile, [>]–[>]
Baghdad Theater, Las Vegas, [>]
Barkin, Ellen, [>]
Barrie, Mike, [>], [>]
Barthel, Joan, [>]
Bass, Morton, [>]–[>]
the Beatles, [>]
Beck, Max, [>], [>]
Beck, Ruth, [>]
Becker, Carrie, [>], [>]–[>]
Beene, Geoffrey, [>]
Bel Air, Carsons’ home in, [>]–[>]
Beldock, Howard, [>], [>], [>]
Beldock and Kushnick law firm, [>]–[>], [>]–[>], [>]
Bellevue Hospital, New York City, [>]–[>]
Bennett, Tony, [>]
Benny, Jack
miserliness, [>]
at [>] Club when Carson met Joanna, [>]
unhappiness, [>]
Benny, Mary Livingstone, [>], [>]–[>]
Berle, Milton, [>]–[>]
The Betty White Show, [>]
Beverly Comstock Hotel, Los Angeles, [>]
Beverly Hills Gun Club, [>]
Beverly Hills Hotel, [>], [>], [>], [>]
Beverly Hills Tennis Club, [>], [>]
The Big Chill, [>]–[>]
Bishop, Joey
late-night talk show, [>]
reaction to Carson’s comedy, [>]
as Tonight Show guest host, [>]
The Black Hole, [>]
Black Monday stock market crash (1987), [>]
Blackmore, Bob, [>]–[>]
Bluhdorn, Charles, [>]
Bochco, Steven, [>]
“Bombastic Bushkin,” [>]–[>]
Bono, Cher, [>]
Bono, Sonny, [>]
Boomtown party (SHARE fundraiser), [>]–[>], [>]
Boone, Debby, [>]
Borg, Björn, [>]
Borscht Belt, [>]
Brasselle, Keefe, [>]–[>]
break-in to Joanne Carson apartment, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
Brooks, Mel, [>]
Brooks, Richard, [>]
Brown, Jim, [>], [>]
Bruno, Al, [>]–[>]
Bruno and Shields, [>]
Bush, George W., [>]
Bushkin, Al, [>], [>]–[>]
Bushkin, Dana, [>], [>]
Bushkin, Judy Beck
anger at husband’s attention to Carson, [>]–[>], [>]
anniversary dinner, [>]
on Carson’s difficult circumstances, [>]–[>]
at celebration following Emmy award, [>]–[>]
at dinner with Sonny and Leah Werblin, [>]
divorce, [>], [>]–[>], [>]
Henry Bushkin’s regrets about, [>]
as hostess, [>]–[>]
marriage, [>]
move to Los Angeles, [>], [>]–[>]
at Reagan’s 1981 inauguration, [>]
relationship with Carson, [>], [>]–[>]
relationship with Joanna Carson, [>], [>]–[>]
separation, [>]–[>], [>]
Bushkin, Mary, [>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
Bushkin, Scott, [>], [>]
business, dislike for, [>]
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, [>]
CAA (Creative Artists Agency), [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Caesar, Sid, [>]–[>]
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, [>], [>]–[>]
Cahn, Sammy, [>]
Caine, Michael, [>]–[>], [>]
California Labor Code of 1937, Section 2855, [>]–[>]
Capote, Truman, [>], [>]
Carlin, George, [>]
Carnac the Magnificent routines, [>]–[>], [>]
Carson, Alexis Maas “Alex”
honeymoon, [>]
relationship with Carson, [>], [>]
separation, [>]
wedding, [>]
Carson, Chris, [>], [>]
Carson, Cory, [>], [>]
Carson, Dick, [>], [>]–[>]
Carson, Homer “Kit”
accommodations for, in Carson home, [>]
during Carson’s childhood, [>]
Carson’s reminiscences about, [>]
first visit to Carsons’ Bel Air home, [>]
funeral, [>]
response to round-the-world trip gift, [>]–[>]
Carson, Joanna Holland
and Boomtown party fundraisers, [>]–[>], [>]
business interests, [>], [>]
Carson’s gifts to, [>]–[>], [>], [>]
Carson’s protection of, [>]
at celebration following Emmy award, [>]–[>]
divorce, [>], [>], [>]–[>]
during Hasty Pudding award ceremonies, [>]–[>]
during meeting aboard Cartigrey, [>]
home with Carson in Bel Air, [>]–[>]
indiscretion regarding the Aladdin plan, [>]
at Mancinis’ party, [>]
marriage, [>]–[>]
modeling career, [>]
at 1981 Academy Awards, [>]–[>]
at 1981 Inaugural Gala, [>], [>]–[>]
prenuptial agreement, [>]–[>]
relationship with Carson, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>]
relationship with Henry Bushkin, [>]
relationship with Judy Bushkin, [>], [>]
separation, [>]–[>], [>]
Tynan’s description of, [>], [>]
Carson, Joanne Copeland
alleged affairs, [>]–[>], [>]
break-in at apartment of, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
divorce, [>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
friendship with Jeannie Tellez, [>]–[>]
marriage, [>]–[>]
relationship with Carson, [>], [>]
response to apparent infidelity of, [>], [>], [>]–[>]
Carson, Jody
background, [>]
divorce, [>], [>]
marriage, [>]
relationship with son, Rick, [>]
as single mother, [>]
Carson, Rick
as Amen stage manager, [>]–[>]
birth, [>]
death, [>], [>]
Kassel’s bumping of, on flight to LA, [>]
mental illness, [>]–[>]
at 1987 Tonight Show anniversary party, [>]–[>]
relationship with father, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>]
Tonight Show tribute to, [>]–[>]
Carson, Ruth
Capote’s recollections of, [>]
Carson’s anger toward, [>], [>], [>]–[>]
Carson’s emotional legacy from, [>], [>], [>]
Carson’s reminiscences about, [>], [>]
death, [>]
as emotionally abusive, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
strictness, [>]
visits from, [>]–[>]
Carson Foundation, [>]
Carson/Paramount Productions, [>]–[>]
Carson Productions
Amen, [>]
The Big Chill, [>]–[>]
Bushkin’s role at, [>]–[>], [>]
Carson’s Comedy Classics, [>]
Carson’s role at, [>]–[>]
Cassie & Company, [>]
Coca-Cola Company acquisition discussions, [>]–[>]
decision to shut down film division, [>]
Desert Bloom, [>]
efforts to salvage, [>]
firing of McMahon, [>]–[>]
hiring of Haber to serve, [>]
hiring of J. J. McMahon, [>]
hiring of Weinberger, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
Lewis & Clark, [>]–[>]
Mr. President, [>]
ownership of 12:30–31:30 a.m. time slot, [>]
ownership of Tonight Show, [>]
production failures, [>]–[>]
selling of, [>]–[>]
shutting down of, [>]–[>]
The Star Maker, [>]
start-up period, [>]
Teachers Only, [>]
transfer of assets to Carson Foundation, [>]
TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes, [>]
valuation, [>]–[>]
Carson’s Comedy Classics, [>], [>]
Carson: The Unauthorized Biography (Corkery), [>]
Cartigrey yacht, trip aboard, [>]
Cason, Buzz, [>]
Cassie & Company, [>]
Catskills comedians, [>]
CBS (Columbia Broadcasting Company), [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, [>]–[>], [>]
Certo, Barry “Dino,” [>]
Chapman, Mark David, [>]
Chasen’s restaurant, Los Angeles, [>], [>]–[>], [>]
childhood, [>], [>]–[>]. See also Carson, Ruth
The China Syndrome, [>]
Christy, George, [>]
cigarette smoking, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Clark, Dick, [>], [>]
Clinco, Mario, [>], [>]
Close, Glenn, [>]
clothing line, [>], [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>]
clubbing with Carson, [>]
Coca-Cola Company, [>]–[>]
Colombo, Joseph, [>]
Columbia Television, [>]. See also CBS (Columbia Broadcasting Company)
Commercial Bank of California, [>]
compensation/salary
Bushkin’s, at Beldock and Kushick, [>]
Bushkin’s severance package, [>], [>]
as Carson’s manager, [>]–[>], [>], [>]–[>]
deferred compensation, [>]–[>], [>], [>]
for hosting Academy Awards, [>]
for Las Vegas performances, [>], [>], [>]
offered by ABC, [>]
offered Weinberger, [>]–[>]
Scott’s for Mr. President, [>]
for Tonight Show, [>]–[>], [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
for Tonight Show writers, [>]
Concord Hotel (Catskills), [>]
Confidential libel trial, [>]–[>]
Connery, Sean, [>]
contracts with Hollywood studios, laws governing, [>]–[>]. See also NBC (National Broadcasting Company)
Corkery, Paul, [>]
Cosby, Bill, [>], [>]
The Cosby Show, [>]
Crawford, Joan, [>]
Creative Artists Agency. See CAA (Creative Artists Agency)
Cronkite, Walter, [>]
Crosby, Bing, [>]
Crowley, Arthur
fees, [>]–[>]
representation of Joanna Carson, [>], [>]–[>]
representation of Judy Bushkin, [>]
track record and reputation, [>]–[>]
Culkin, Richard and Linda, [>]–[>]
Curtis, Tony, [>], [>]
Daimler automobile, [>]–[>]
Dangerfield, Rodney (Jack Roy), [>]–[>]
Daniels, Stan, [>]
Danny’s Hideaway, New York City, [>]
Davis, Al, [>]
Davis, Clifton, [>]
Davis, Edward “Mike,” [>], [>], [>]
Davis, Sammy, Jr., [>], [>]
Dean, Jimmy, [>]
death, [>]
de Cordova, Fred “Freddy”
Carson’s response to death of, [>]–[>]
on Carson’s tennis games, [>]
and Carson’s Tonight Show tribute to son Rick, [>]–[>]
at dinner party after Inaugural Gala, [>]
Presley’s comments about, [>]
relationship with Carson, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>]
role at Tonight Show, [>]–[>], [>]
on Tebet, [>]
at Tonight Show poker game, [>]
de Cordova, Janet, [>]–[>], [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
The Deer Hunter, [>]
deferred compensation, [>]–[>], [>], [>]
de Gaulle, Charles, [>]
de Havilland, Olivia, and de Havilland Law, [>]
DeLorean factory, Ireland, [>]
Desert Bloo
m, [>]
DeWitt, Joyce, [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>]–[>]
The Dick Cavett Show, [>]
Dick Clark Productions, [>]
Dickinson, Angie, [>]–[>], [>]
Diller, Barry
agreement to cancel Mr. President, [>]–[>]
as head of Paramount, [>]
hiring of Rivers, [>]–[>]
relationship with Carson, [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
discretion, importance of to Carson, [>], [>], [>], [>]
divorces
the Bushkins, [>]–[>]
from Joanna, [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>]–[>]
from Joanne, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]–[>]
from Jody, [>], [>]
typical process, [>]–[>]
Dorchester Hotel, London, [>]
Douglas, Anne, [>]
Douglas, Kirk, [>]
Douglas, Mike, [>], [>]
droit du seigneur, [>]
drumming, [>]–[>], [>]
DUI arrest, [>]–[>]
Dukakis, Michael, [>]
Dziabacinski, Richard, [>]
Eber, José, [>]
Eglash, Jack, [>], [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Embassy Television, [>]
Emmy awards, [>]
emphysema, death from, [>]
Enberg, Dick, [>]–[>]
Entertainer of the Year, Friars Club, [>]–[>]
entertainment law, [>]
Enter Talking (Rivers), [>]
Entourage, [>]
epitaph, [>]
Ernst & Young, [>]
Evans, Robert, [>]
Evert, Chris, [>]
extortion attempt, [>]–[>]
extramarital affairs. See infidelity and specific individuals
Fairchild, Morgan, [>]
fairness, fair play, [>]–[>], [>]
Felder, Raoul, [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Field, Sally, [>]
Fields, Totie, [>]
final years, [>]
Fitzgerald, F. Scott, [>]
Flaherty, Paul, [>]
flattery, compliments, distrust of, [>], [>], [>]–[>], [>]
Fonda, Henry, [>]–[>]
Fonda, Jane, [>], [>]–[>]
Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, [>]–[>]
Foran, Robert “Bud,” [>]
Ford, Betty, [>]
Ford, Gerald, [>]
Fox network, [>]–[>], [>], [>], [>]
Frankel, Andrew, [>]
Frankie and Johnny, [>]
Franks, Gloria, [>]
free agency, [>], [>]–[>]
Friars Club
honoring of Carson, [>