McMahon’s Affability Demonstrated Real Virtues
by S.T. KarnickThe death of television personality Ed McMahon at the age of 86 marks the passing of a true original. McMahon was one of the very first Americans to enjoy the postmodern status of being a celebrity solely by virtue of being famous.
As announcer and second banana to host Johnny Carson during the NBC Tonight Show’s years of greatest prominence and cultural influence, McMahon exemplified what was then a relatively new phenomenon: the ability to become famous, wealthy, and admired without having any particular talent.
That’s not to say there was anything dishonorable about his career or something wrong with McMahon’s public persona. Quite the contrary. He was quite likable, pleasant, well-mannered (an underrated virtue these days), and overall a boon companion both for Carson and the audiences in the studio and at home.
However, he was liked for what he was, not what he could do. He couldn’t sing, dance, tell a joke, or even read the news. His turns as straight man to Carson’s various comical characters were most notable for their, well, charming ineptitude.
McMahon’s most memorable characteristic, in fact, was his continual failure to refrain from laughing at even the worst jokes purveyed by his boss, Carson, and even though his laughter was often obviously forced and insincere, he kept at it to fill the silences when Carson’s jokes bombed, which they often did.
Even that seeming foible, however, was quite charming, and it indicated what was best about McMahon: he was a good sport. He displayed admirable humility in always playing along and refusing to upstage Carson–and that showed good sense as well, as he surely would have been fired had he done so, for Carson was clearly a very insecure man.
McMahon demonstrated the same humility and essentially benevolent nature in his other work as well, such as his duties as host of Star Search. Those characteristics were a good lesson for his audiences, without ever becoming a boring sermon.
McMahon quite evidently enjoyed life and wanted others to do so as well. Having no great talent at anything, he employed his most appealing personal characteristic–his affability–to demonstrate some of the cardinal virtues and make the world a slightly more pleasant place than it otherwise would be.
For that accomplishment he’s is well remembered and will be missed.
—S. T. Karnick is editor of The American Culture.
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14 Comments
to quote the late great McMahon:
"You certainly are correct, Sir!"
Over at Blackfive, http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/06/col-ed-mcma... they remind us that he was a Col. in the Marine Corps. As Johnny would say "I did not know that!"
I know of a certain, current late night host who did not learn the lessons McMahon taught.
Whoops. Missed it. As anyone in comedy knows, being a good straightman is a talent, and the best straightmen were supremely talented. Lou Costello was the entertainer everyone talked about, but Bud Abbott was the glue that made their team work. He knew where the laughs were, where the timing was, and what the routine was about, every bit as much as Costello, and it was the interplay between the two comic geniuses that made it all funny. Watch the classic Who's On First and what I am saying is obvious. Bud Abbott was an artistic genius.
Ed McMahon played his part to perfection: Johnny's sidekick, second bannana, foil, etc. But he did it so well, that people like you thought he wasn't acting. That it looked so easy for him is simply the mark of what a good actor he was. How many mush-heads criticized Jimmy Stewart for just playing Jimmy Stewart? Jimmy always played his roles so effortlessly that it looked like he wasn't working at all.
The pro's know better, and the pro's know that you don't play a character for 30 years so effortlessly, as Ed McMahon did, without supreme talent behind it, especially without a script for much of that time. His job was to spot when Johnny's genius was on, and help him. That he did so, time and time again, and did so almost to perfection, marked him as an actor, a comedian, a performer and a professional who was at the top of his game … for 30 years.
Rest in peace, Ed. You were one of the great ones.
Ed's most lucrative deals were with ALPO and Bud. It's sad though that in his last years, he was more notorious for his financial calamities, and whether or not his mansion was going to be foreclosed on. Ed was always a survivor. RIP
He was as you say fro his public personality, but remenber both he and Carson, who was a Navy WWII officer, knew he was a Marine Colonel and combat pilot. He did a very, very self-modest interview discussing his Korean War flying. The truth kind of raises a question as to your image, which, I think, is exactly the image the man wanted you to have. In fact, he flew F4 Corsairs off straight deck carriers in bad weather, then into anti-aircraft fire at low level, low airspeed on close support. The pilot could not see the carrier deck, the plane was bad at low speed/altitude and the danger of hitting friendlies forced low speed flying. McMahon was a good deal more skilled than his image, and Ol' Johnny knew it.
[...] Continued here: McMahon’s Affability Demonstrated Real Virtues [...]
It’s truly sad the passing Ed McMahon. I didn’t know the man, but I thought I did, and in this was his genius. What a great job, it beats being a race car driver or a rock star, no touring and there was only one position available and that belonged to Ed, I can call him that I’ve known him all my life. His devotion to country was unassailable, Marine Fighter Pilot WWII and Korea, this familiar face was also a real stud, Semper-Fi. Gone but not forgotten, heavens got a new announcer that warms the heart of the new arrivals with that familiar refrain, “Heeeeeeeears Johnny,” ahh… heaven…
I was going to post something similar.
Ed McMahon was a professional broadcaster before he met Johnny Carson. He grew in skill and professional stature along with Johnny Carson. I doubt that either would have done as well solo.
Rest in peace, Mr. McMahon. You were a class act.
His passing brings to mind a more genteel time, although I failed to appreciate it at the time.
ReaderRedux, formerly "Reader"
This guy was an awesome legend to me. He stood up for Pastor Fred Price when he did his series on "Race, Religion, & Racism" and even did commercials for him if I recall. Just a top notch guy.
I watched some Johnny Carson DvDs tonight. That show would be number 1 today too, no question. Ed's book on Johnny – Here's Johnny – is good too – gives a glimpse into their relationship and why their partnership worked so well.
I'll back up what a couple of others said – the man was a pro. I doubt the intent was there, but this piece was in poor taste for a remembrance.
I hold in my hand the last envelope…
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