Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Finished (E-Reader) - "Johnny Carson" - Henry Bushkin



I really liked Johnny Carson, the man and the book.  I had read about Carson before, so was not particularly surprised that he had a difficult side (4 marriages might give you the same inkling).
I liked Henry Bushkin's book - it showed both sides of the man (Carson) from someone who worked, developed and buddied around with Carson for 20 years or so.

I was surprised how quickly and completely Carson could turn - complete trust to complete non-personhood.  I guess it is one of the unseen advantages to wealth and celebrity - lots of folks standing in line for social or business reasons - nobody would ever really be in an irreplacable position.

Carson does come off as an honest man - he is very clear that he has his agenda and you can work with it or find someplace else.  He had flashes of temper but didn't seem to really hold a grudge, and was reasonably willing to pay off those he wanted to disappear quite generously.

Bushkin rides the rollercoaseter, very high and very low, sees Carson being a very generous person, and sees him being quite a prick - basically seeing him as a real person.  Even though Bushkin ends up as an "outsider", you get the feeling that he would like it to have turned out otherwise, though not in any sycophantic manner.  Carson made Bushkin rich and successful, and Bushkin remains grateful, even though he was treated rather shabbily at times, particularly toward the end of their relationship.

It's nice to see "behind the scenes" at the Oscars or Vegas, though oddly not much on the actual Tonight Show, and to vacation with Carson.

I think both Bushkin and Carson come out of this book likable, and there is an honest recounting of their faults to see them as 3-D, not paper cut-outs.

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