Carson the Magnificent

De: Bill Zehme, Mike Thomas

Narrado por: Johnny Heller

The definitive biography of Johnny Carson, the entertainer who redefined late-night television and American culture, told through intimate insights and riveting accounts of his legendary career and complex personal life.

In 2002, celebrated Esquire writer Bill Zehme landed one of journalism’s most coveted assignments: the first and only major interview Johnny Carson granted after retiring from The Tonight Show. The resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend, and after Carson’s death Zehme began work on this “immensely informative and insightful” (The Minnesota Star Tribune) biography. Though illness prevented him from completing the project before his death in 2023, the pages he left behind illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history, what New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman called “one of the great unfinished biographies.”

Zehme traces Carson’s rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of The Tonight Show. He also captures the turmoil, and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages, trouble with alcohol, and the devastating loss of a child. Completed with help from journalist and Zehme’s former research assistant Mike Thomas, Carson the Magnificent is “perceptive and beautiful” (Library Journal), offering an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Johnny Heller delivers a consistently solid, dry, yet folksy newscaster performance of the audiobook."

Good story and great material.

Good story and the material was overall excellent. However, the narrator chosen could have been better chosen to bring out a more lively narration.

Overall Good Listen

Enjoyable overall. Many of the Carson stories I'd heard already but this book added to the background and follow up. Performance by reader was at times clipped and corny but not too bad.

Last part was more organized

Most of the book seemed disorganized with random thoughts coming and going. Finally settled in during the last section. if I could return it, I would.

Magnificent

I love Johnny Carson! I grew up with him. This book lets me know him better. Thanks.

A new Johnny Carson is possible

Young people have no idea of the staggering talent of Johnny Carson.
What I miss the most is Johnny Carson‘s ability to interview a young child. And his opening monologue.
The Gutfeld show has opened the door for a possible new Johnny Carson show on network TV. He has two of the things I like the most about Johnny Carson show. Sometimes all the people on the couch on the Johnny Carson show would join in and it would be a comedy riff of jokes. Johnny Carson was not afraid to be politically incorrect. The current nighttime comedy shows have to compromise and hire someone who is less talented and woke.