For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times [Mass Market Paperback]

Ed McMahon (Author), David Fisher (Author), Johnny Carson (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999

From bingo caller to fighter pilot, ditch digger to sweepstakes winner announcer, he's done it all. His familiar robust laugh filled America's living rooms every weeknight for 30 years when he was Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show; he's jump-started the careers of Rosie O'Donnell, Dennis Miller, LeAnn Rimes, and many more as the host of Ed McMahon's Star Search. Now, take a behind-the-scenes look at a career that spans the lifetime of television in this warm, humorous, anecdote-filled memoir of a man who has become one of the most popular personalities in television history.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ed McMahon--who reads the abridgment of the autobiography he cowrote with David Fisher--is first and foremost an entertainer, and as such, he peppers his life story with jokes. Since he lacks a live audience here, he also supplies the appropriate laughs. Always upbeat, McMahon skirts much of his personal life, which includes two divorces, and concentrates on his professional life, from his early days as Philadelphia's "Mr. Television" through his 30 years as Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show. Those hoping for inside dirt on Johnny will have to listen elsewhere; these anecdotes are strictly flattering. But in his celebrated, booming voice, McMahon gladly shares the stories behind the creation of his trademark calls: "Heeeerrreee's Johnny" and "Hi-yoooo!" (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Kimberly Heinrichs --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

McMahon is known to the televiewing public for having excelled in two roles: as second banana to Carson on the Tonight Show for three decades and as the pitchman par excellence for dozens of products, especially magazines for American Family Publishers. Indeed, he has been so visible on TV for 50 years, i.e., from the very start of the medium, that it has been difficult to avoid him. In his time he has hosted Snap Judgment and Star Search, been the permanent spokesman for Budweiser Beer, worked with Jerry Lewis on the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for 30 years and sold everything from kitchen appliances to Jenny Craig diet programs. There is no doubt he was a born salesman: on his first day peddling magazine subscriptions as a kid he sold three, and he financed his college career by selling, with a little help from the G.I. Bill, since he was a Marine Corps aviator in both WWII and the Korean War. In between pitches and punch lines (many cribbed from on-the-air performances), we see him give time and money to various charities, get married three times and raise five kids. The relentlessly upbeat tone falters only in discussions of his two divorces ("Imagine, me, hiring a private investigator to follow my wife" ). While it is difficult to imagine a true fan of McMahon, readers with a high tolerance for the ever-unctuous announcer will find this memoir every bit as lively as its subject. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446607428
• ISBN-13: 978-0446607421
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,708,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Laughing Out Loud, April 2, 2000

By 

John Donovan (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times (Hardcover)

Entertaining in parts. Unfortunately somewhat disjointed and becomes rather boring towards the end. Does provide an insight into The Tonight Show and Johnny Carson. Most of the references to incidents on the show seem to come from the Video tape set- The Johnny Carson Collection" (which I highly recommend). Have also read "I'll Be Right Back" - by Mike Douglas. A much more entertaining and informative book about talk shows. I don't suppose that there is much chance of Johnny Carson writing a biography because he likes to keep his privacy. It would undoubtedly be a best seller.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars all i can say is wow!, September 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times (Hardcover)

to enjoy this book, you will need soft light, smoking jacket, cohiba, and a stiff glass of bourbon. to delve into the topic of ed mcmahon it takes that kind of mindset. johnny carson's riveting forward captures the whole essence of the "hiyo," years. ed then takes us on a whirlwind tour of late nights of enebriation and carousing. shows spent drunk with johnny, burt reynolds and dom deluise are also brought to life so vividly by mcmahon you swear you could smell the vermouth and brut 33. ed also triumphantly portrays what it was like for him at the culmination of his life's work when timothy blakesley became the first winner of the american family sweepstakes. the question of whom did he prefer: johnny or dick is explored in an honest disection by the author. by this point your not quite sure of anything because you will be on your sixth bourbon and the cigar you were smoking has caught your smoking jacket on fire. i give four stars just on entertainment value alone. HIYO!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Autobiography, five stars without the slightest hesitation, October 27, 2011

By 

No exCUSE not to read - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times (Hardcover)

This is an excellent autobiography. Ed McMahon had an extraordinarily dynamic background and was keenly reflective and sentimental about his past in this book. If you are seeking a book that reveals dirt on Carson or other persons in the business, this is definitely not the book to read. If you want rather a meaningful autobiography written by an exceptional American as he reflects on the lessons gleaned from an outstanding career and life, then this is a book you will want to read and subsequently keep secure on your bookshelf.