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In Memoriam
We’ve Lost a Best Friend
Ed McMahon, RIP.
I don’t want to pretend I knew Ed McMahon really well. I was on his Star Search a few times as a judge, and I frequently ran into him at Morton’s, Mister Chow, and other Hollywood watering holes. He always used to tell me he wished he had paid more attention to my articles about personal finance, and I guess he wasn’t kidding.
But I knew him really well the way 200 million Americans knew him — as a calming, friendly, affable pal whom we could tune into almost every night along with the world’s most likable guy, Johnny Carson.
He was from a different era, the era when Hollywood people were supposed to be likable grownups, not drug-snorting, obscene brats. He was the guy you would want as your next door neighbor, the one who would listen to you without judging you, and who would, at the end of your rant, just smile, shake your hand, say, “Pal, that’s life,” and offer you a beer. He was also the guy who was a Marine Corps pilot in World War II and in Korea, flying incredibly dangerous missions in artillery observer aircraft. Naturally, he never bragged about it. Never.
He wasn’t snarly or snarky and I don’t remember him ever saying a mean word about any guest or anyone. He was just there to be America’s best friend’s best friend.
I like many of today’s late night hosts, and Jimmy Kimmel is one of my closest friends, but he’s a kid. To me, Ed McMahon, about 25 years older than I am, was what an adult should be — confident, diffident about his fame, just a regular guy, when being a regular guy was a good thing.
Many years ago, before I came to Hollywood myself, I lived in New York in a penthouse with an astonishing view. That was before apartments in New York were prohibitive. But anyway, it was the loneliest time of my life. The only time I felt as if I had any friends at all was when I switched on The Tonight Show, and I felt as if I had a crackling fire and pals in my life, instead of no one. When the show was over, I had the distinct feeling that the fire was out, but it would be lit again the next night.
Now, both Johnny and Ed are gone, and the fire is out for good, and it’s lonely again. By the way, I don’t want to hear another word about his personal finances. He was hired by America to be our pal, not to teach home economics. And he was darned good at his job.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (48) | Leave a comment
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Tim| 6.24.09 @ 1:58PM
He was from a different era, the era when Hollywood people were supposed to be likable grownups, not drug snorting, obscene brats.
Amen.
Dave Reid| 6.24.09 @ 2:49PM
Well said Ben.
jrp61356| 6.24.09 @ 2:56PM
Hear, hear! Couldn't agree more. These late-night talk show hosts we have now are nothing more than Johnny Carson wannabes. They're silly, childish, immature, and sophomoric. I too miss the days when the Tonight Show ruled late-night TV.
Steve| 6.24.09 @ 3:18PM
Simple words always (to me) convey the strongest message. You use those simple words masterfully, Mr. Stein - thank you...
David Blackmon| 6.24.09 @ 3:18PM
Bravo! This was a truly Great American, and he will be missed.
Dustoff| 6.24.09 @ 4:08PM
We losing to many of the good ones I'm sorry to say.
Richard Baker| 6.24.09 @ 6:12PM
Rest in Peace, Marine.
Gary Rowe| 6.24.09 @ 8:24PM
The intimacy of the Carson-McMahon friendship was palpable, so much so that, of course, they would both say "Hello" to you if they stepped into an elevator you were riding. After all, you were with them every night. They must know you.
I think you have captured this dynamic in this tribute, Ben Stein, and I find it quite moving. Three years ago, at the end of a meeting off the lobby of a New York luxury hotel, a colleague said, "Look, there's Ed McMahon." Sure enough, there he was, checking in at the desk, doing something routine, like an old friend would.
Howard| 6.25.09 @ 8:14AM
Ed McMahon was Mr. Everyman. In his post Tonight Show life he was also a worthy side kick on the Labor Day telethon with Jerry Lewis. Even though he was as old as dirt, his sense of duty required him to work long and hard for that labor of love. RIP Ed.
Jeff R| 6.25.09 @ 9:24AM
Yep Hollywood is a precinct almost exclusively inhabited by uber-James Deans.
I doubt in the remainder of my lifetime we'll see anyone even remotely close to Gary Cooper or William Holden or Humphrey Bogart or Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. And I ain't that old.
Hollywood and late night TV have become the realm of kids (hoary Dave Letterman excepted).
Faffnir| 6.25.09 @ 11:56AM
I can offer no higher tribute than to quote BlackFive "Semper Fi, Col McMahon".
You will truly be missed.
ROBERTA DODEA| 6.25.09 @ 1:51PM
Ben, many of us have the same feeling of "Here's a good decent man" about you as we had for the late Mr. McMahon. Like Ed, you don't embarass yourself in public, you maintain your core values, you don't pander or suck up. We expect you to be a friend to us for decades ahead, so take good care. You're irreplacable. RS
Artemis| 6.25.09 @ 3:31PM
Ben,
Please follow him soon...
Mike Szlosek| 6.25.09 @ 8:02PM
Thank you, Ben. Well said. Ed McMahon was a good and decent man. You are a good and decent man, too.
Gerry723| 6.25.09 @ 10:45PM
"Ben, Please follow him soon... "
Artemis, after you pr*ck
Sam H| 6.26.09 @ 1:17AM
Wretched Artemis,
I am guessing you are a....progressive.
Basil Plumley| 6.26.09 @ 9:00AM
Sam H| 6.26.09 @ 1:17AM
Wretched Artemis,
I am guessing you are a....progressive.
No ..... he/she/it is an adolescent who doesn't have the decency to shut up while we honor a good man who has passed. Even in moments where honor and respect is due, there is always some crying child needing attention.
Obviously, the parents of this crying child Artemis did a lousy job of parenting.
matt jones| 6.27.09 @ 1:46AM
ah, but mister stein, mr. McMahon was an icon, as a tradition not as many celeberties now base their fame: exposure. he was not famous. he was likable, and happened to be on television. this coincidence is what we all should cherish that even in the world of multi media there are still faces that are liked because they are merely familiar and for such people, he being one of them that is enough. do not stain such a memory with grousing over hollywood celebs today. it is disrespectful.
www.onnhl.com| 6.27.09 @ 2:44AM
Very nice post,really well written. I like them as if my best love NHL jersey about Boston Bruins,Buffalo Sabres,Chicago Blackhawks,Los Angeles Kings,Montreal Canadiens,Philadelphia Flyers,Pittsburgh Penguins & Washington Capitals
Richard Baker| 6.28.09 @ 10:08AM
Basil Plumley:
A decent man passes and the vermin just have to demean themselves in public.
Richard Baker| 6.28.09 @ 10:44AM
Basil Plumley;
Artemis is the Greek goddess of the Hunt. I doubt that this one could hunt it's way out the door, if forced to. Ed knew how to be a Hunter in his Corsair. Now, as in High Flight, he has touched the hand of God.
Noe| 8.1.09 @ 5:00AM
Remember, also, that for years the Tonight Show was an hour and a half! I can't stomach ten minutes of Jimmy Fallon acting like a 7th grader on his show. Another great talk show was Merv Griffin's, where everyone sat in a circle.
Ah, those were the days.
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