CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT

Not much one can add...







...to the many great obits one finds today on the web except perhaps for a few personal recollections of the many years spent with him in our living- and, of course, bed-rooms....



It began for me in 1971 at Alice Lloyd Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor -- the nightly routine was Walter at 1830 and Johnny at 2330. We studied or partied before, between or after, but rarely during.



It ended in San Diego in 1992 -- long-time sailing friend, Peter Huston, wrote today saying, "Had a flashback to '92 yesterday when the news came that Johnny Carson had passed away...remembered being at your house in Pt. Loma and watching his last show...." That was in May, of 1992 and Leslie was well along in her pregnancy with Meg who was born in September.



Along with many Americans, we watched Carson "through our toes" from 2330 to 0100 (in the later years, just til 0030 when he shortened his "working day" to an hour, three days a week -- nice work if you can get it!). And if not through our toes, then in one or more of the "phases" Kinsey described (have you seen the movie? my father, Tom Sr., says it is not to be missed).



And that was only 20 years of Johnny Carson's unmatched 30-year stint.



I also fondly recall mimicking Carson by doing many, many "Carnac" routines at parties in the 70's and 80's -- putting on a turban, holding an envelope to one's head and "divining" a seemingly innocent "answer" to the question contained in the envelope which, when opened and read to those assembled, made the innocent answer a punchline to a (hopefully) hilarious joke.



But we could never top Johnny Carson and sidekick Ed McMahon's well-worn routine. For example:



* Carson holds an envelope to his turban-clad head and says, "Shoo-be-doo-be-doo."

* McMahon repeats, "Shoo-be-doo-be-doo."

* Carson rolls his eyes at the predictably and overly obsequious McMahon.

* Carson tears off the end of the envelope, blows it open and pulls out the card containing the "question" and reads it....

* Carson: "What do you look for when tracking a Shoo-be-doo-be?"

* McMahon guffaws then laughs his hiney off, regardless if the joke is good or bombs.



Just now Nathalie "Natasha" King IM'd me from Newport saying, "We have two feet of snow -- it's wonderful! But if someone plows it into my driveway I will kill!" Told her I was blogging Carson. Always the contrarian and perhaps made a bit grumpier than usual by the snow and cold she said, "Carson was great but Jack Paar was far better and Steve Allen was my favorite. Age shows...."



Well, without taking issue with Nat, at least of the "moderns" there can be no doubt Carson was in a league of his own, and he bowed out on top.



Good night, Johnny.