Ed McMahon's Legacy Lives On

Lindsay Live | Jun 23, 2009 | there are 3 comments 3

Watching "Star Search" was a family event in my household. My mom hurried to finish cooking dinner, then we'd all sit down at the table and turn on the television. We were glued, even my dad who often slept through my dance recitals. I was particularly fond of 4 Boys & A Babe, a group of spunky young dancers who charmed audiences with their MC Hammer pants and double cartwheels. I can still remember the way Ed McMahon introduced them. I was about 8 years old and to me the whole thing was epic. He was the original Ryan Seacrest on the original "American Idol."

McMahon, with his endearing smile and distinguishable voice, was a true broadcasting icon. He got his start on  "The Tonight Show" alongside Johnny Carson, a job he held for 30 years. He coined the famous catch phase, "Heeeeere's Johnny!" In addition to appearing in commercials, television and movies, McMahon wrote books and dabbled in business.

The last years of his life were plagued with financial burdens, including the foreclosure of his $4.8 million mansion in Beverly Hills. Health problems followed in 2007 when McMahon suffered a fall and broke his neck.

According to Howard Bragman, McMahon's publicist, he died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center early this morning. The cause of death has not been announced. He was 86.

"Star Search" ran from 1983, the year I was born, until 1995 - basically my entire childhood. It's hard to imagine a world without this charismatic television personality cracking jokes or delivering his classic one-liners. But his legacy lives on through all the young performers who got their start on the show.

For old time's sake, here's Ed McMahon introducing 4 Boys & A Babe to the "Star Search" stage in 1991! (Note the Hammer pants and double cartwheels!)

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tags Enthusiast, Star Search (all tags)


Ed McMahon's Legacy Lives On | 3 Comments | Post a Comment
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The end of an era

A talk show era ends with his death. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=1911

user icon carlyt | Jun 23, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

Publishing Clearing House by Ed

Good riddance, one less crook in this world. Ed and Dick had cheated millions of older Americans millions dollars of their life time savings with Publishing Clearing House (led by a British crook). One group who were children of victims had wished Ed and Dick be judged by
God many years ago because our judicial systems did not. Now this painful sentence is handed to Ed!

user icon musician88888 | Jun 23, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

a genuine guy

I had the pleasure of meeting the late Ed McMahon when I was 18 as a part of a scholarship program I won. He was a soft spoken man in person, and he only talked to one person at a time and really listened to what people said. He was bright and articulate, and he really loved broadcasting and helping young people. I dont think theres really any need to speak ill of the dead, especially someone that was very old and had alot of financial and physical problems at the end.

user icon Lizzie Miller | Jun 30, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

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