For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times

by Ed McMahon, David Fisher

Johnny Carson's well-known sidekick on The Tonight Show presents a humorous, anedoctal, in-the-know look at his career, from the beginning of television to today, and pays tribute to some of the medium's greatest stars. 200,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography

355 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Colonel (retired) Edward "Ed" Peter Leo McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer on Who Do You Trust? from 1957 to 1962 and on the Tonight Show, from 1962 to 1992, and as the host of the talent show Star Search, from 1983 to 1995. He later also became well-known as the presenter of American Family Publishing sweepstakes (not to be confused with Publishers Clearing House) who arrives unannounced at the homes of winners. He subsequently made a series of Neighborhood Watch Public Service Announcements reprising that role in parody.

He also cohosted the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, and has performed in numerous television commercials, most notably for Budweiser.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he anchored the team of NBC personalities conducting the network's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Reviews

[Scott]

I had this dream: Ed McMahon is eating Alpo from a crytal dog dish...

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

No person that lived in the sixties to the very early nineties is unaware of the McMahon signature phrase, “Heeere’s Johnny.” Yet, as amazing as it sounds, his activities on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was only a small part of what he accomplished. Therefore, this autobiographical work reads like the works of several lives.
First off, he was an aviator in the Marine Corps, flying 85 combat missions during the Korean War. After that war was over, he remained in the Marine reserves, retiring as a Colonel in 1966. Secondly, he was one of many that literally created commercial television in his early years working in Philadelphia. At the time, the medium was new, so almost everything they did was a first. While it is common knowledge that McMahon did some acting, his singing and nightclub exploits would be the answer to many trivia questions.
Finally, McMahon started earning money early in life, he worked for some time as a salesman, which is where he honed his skills that made him such a success in doing commercials. In his last years of activity, he (co)hosted very popular shows.
McMahon led an incredible life, until you read this book, it is unlikely that you will truly know how much he accomplished.

[Nancy Noffke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not that well written. I was expecting more of Tonight
Show anecdotes

[Jo-Ann Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

He is a salesman. I felt like he was selling me something all through the book. It is rather superficial and I found it bothersome the way sometimes Johnny Carson was referred to as Johnny and sometimes Mr. Carson and sometimes Carson. He said they developed a great friendship but the changing tenses made me wonder what kind of friendship they actaully had. It seemd more a chronicle of events rather than reading of any substance.

[MagicDave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One ... Only Ed McMahon

I watched "The Tonight Show" for years, but never knew how much Ed had accomplished in his life, other than being Johnny Carson's second banana. If I can believe only half of what he wrote, I am very impressed with his work ethic. And I am sure there was some exaggeration, but still, the definitely impressed me.
Sadly, I had to discover this gentleman's life after he had passed.

[Jonathan Beech · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book in a dollar store for $.75 (go figure) in 2002 while visiting my friend at his Ivy League school. Needless to say, stories about a drunken Ed McMahon from the foggy mind of a drunken Ed McMahon were the best part of that entire weekend, making this book a veritable cult classic amongst my friends. Read it immediately if you are stuck doing something lame for a weekend!!!

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ho-ho-ho...yes!" Hell yeah.

[Charley Duschen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out there is a lot more to Ed than just a second banana