This was a fascinating account, about the “King of Late Night”, Johnny Carson. I’m still a huge Johnny Carson fan, and watches reruns and syndication every evening, and just marvel at the way that he still is one of the best TV talkshow host, over 20 years since he retired from his own show. He had such a way with his guests, with the live studio audience, with his sidekicks, Ed McMahon and Doc Severinsen, and also the home of course, those who tuned in every evening after the 11 PM news to be entertained by the one and only, Johnny Carson.
But, this book sheds a light on the side of Johnny Carson that no one ever saw, by his trusted and longtime advisor and confident, Henry Bushkin. Bushkin tells the stories about the 18 years he and Johnny Carson spent together, that absolutely no one else would have privy to. He saw him through his three marriages and divorces, (he did get married fourth and final time towards the end), saw him through the death of his son, through his many business dealings in which he had almost as many enemies as he had friends, and also, as he tells in the book, helping to break into one of his former wives apartments, to gather incriminating evidence about her infidelity, with football great, Frank Gifford.
Such amazing stories, but it just goes to show, all of us are human, and have plenty of fragilities that we all have to deal with throughout our lives.
One of the amazing and sad facts towards the end of Johnny’s life, after marrying a fourth time to a much younger woman, is that he essentially died alone in his hospital bed (from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses due to him being a four pack a day smoker for most of his life), and he was also very detached from his sons, and had a very distant and dysfunctional relationship with his own mother (who he once crowed, “the old witch is dead”, when she died).
So, this handsome, debonair, funny and apparently “clean-cut All-American” gentlemen who used to make us laugh every evening, had another side to him, in which he was short tempered, and sometimes could be cruel and mean.
I don’t think Henry Bushkin had an “ax to grind” by any means, matter of fact, Johnny Carson once called him, “the best friend of ever had”, I think that he just felt sorry and sad for Johnny towards the end of their own friendship which endured through so many tremendous highs and tremendous lows.
A great book, and if you like entertainers from back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, this would be a great book for you.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
