
Carson the Magnificent
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Narrated by:
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Johnny Heller
About this listen
A much-anticipated biography—twenty years in the making—of the entertainer who redefined late-night television and reshaped American culture.
In 2002, Bill Zehme landed one of the most coveted assignments for a magazine writer: an interview with Johnny Carson—the only one he’d granted since retiring from hosting The Tonight Show a decade earlier. Zehme was tapped for the Esquire feature story thanks to his years of legendary celebrity profiles, and the resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend. Shortly after Carson’s death in 2005 and urged on by many of those closest to Carson, Zehme signed a contract to do an expansive biography. He toiled on the book for nearly a decade—interviewing dozens of Carson’s colleagues and friends and filling up a storage locker with his voluminous research—before a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatments halted his progress. When he died in 2023 his obituaries mentioned the Carson book, with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman calling it “one of the great unfinished biographies.”
Yet the hundreds of pages Zehme managed to complete are astounding both for the caliber of their writing and how they illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history: A man who brought so much joy and laughter to so many millions but was himself exceedingly shy and private. Zehme traces Carson’s rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a Navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of The Tonight Show—which he transformed, along with the entirety of American popular culture, over the next three decades. Without Carson, there would be no late-night television as we know it. On a much more intimate level, Zehme also captures the turmoil and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages, troubles with alcohol, and the devastating loss of a child.
In one passage, Zehme notes that when asked by an interviewer in the mid-80s for the secret to his success, Carson replied simply, “Be yourself and tell the truth.” Completed with help from journalist and Zehme’s former research assistant Mike Thomas, Carson the Magnificent offers just that: an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was.
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Story
To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park, in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies—The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon—that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became legendary and changed his life forever. Not since Marlon Brando and James Dean in the late 1950s had an actor landed in the culture with such force.
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I loved this so much!!! But….
- By paintgal on 10-24-24
By: Al Pacino
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We All Shine On
- John, Yoko, and Me
- By: Elliot Mintz
- Narrated by: Elliot Mintz
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1972, Elliot Mintz installed a red light in his bedroom in Laurel Canyon. When it started flashing, it meant that either John Lennon or Yoko Ono—or sometimes both—were calling him. Which they did almost every day for nearly ten years, engaging Mintz in hours-long late-night phone conversations that all but consumed him for the better part of a decade. In We All Shine On, Mintz—a former radio and television host in Los Angeles—recounts the story of how their unlikely friendship began and where it led him over the years.
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Give it an hour and you will be hooked.
- By Christianna on 11-21-24
By: Elliot Mintz
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I Got You Babe
- A Celebration of Cher
- By: Annie Zaleski, Cyndi Lauper - foreword
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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Covering her life and sixty-year career from Sonny & Cher to show-stopping solo performer, award-winning actress, fashion icon, and beyond, this is a glorious retrospective of one of the world’s most enduring entertainers, Cher.
By: Annie Zaleski, and others
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Improv Nation
- How We Made a Great American Art
- By: Sam Wasson
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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At the height of the McCarthy era, an experimental theater troupe set up shop in a bar near the University of Chicago. Via word-of-mouth, astonished crowds packed the ad-hoc venue to see its unscripted, interactive, consciousness-raising style. From this unlikely seed grew the Second City, the massively influential comedy theater troupe, and its offshoots - the Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, SNL, and a slew of others. Sam Wasson charts the meteoric rise of improv in this richly reported, scene-driven narrative.
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Compulsively listenable historical overview
- By Keith on 03-26-18
By: Sam Wasson
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Saturday Night
- A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live
- By: Doug Hill, Jeff Weingrad
- Narrated by: Bill Hemberger
- Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Saturday Night is the intimate, original history of Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings as an outlaw program produced by an unruly band of renegades from the comedy underground to a TV institution that made stars of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy. This is the book that revealed to the world what really happened behind the scenes during the first ten years of this groundbreaking program, from the battles SNL fought with NBC to the battles fought within the show itself.
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Wonderful story, noticeable mispronunciations.
- By Fard Muhammad on 03-08-25
By: Doug Hill, and others
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Brief Encounters
- Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks
- By: Dick Cavett
- Narrated by: Dick Cavett
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Dick Cavett is back, sharing his reflections and reminiscences about Hollywood legends, American cultural icons, and the absurdities of everyday life. In Brief Encounters, the legendary talk show host Dick Cavett introduces us to the fascinating characters who have crossed his path, from James Gandolfini and John Lennon to Mel Brooks and Nora Ephron, enhancing our appreciation of their talent, their personalities, and their places in the pantheon.
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Cavett at his best
- By Harold on 12-10-14
By: Dick Cavett
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Cher: Part One
- The Memoir
- By: Cher
- Narrated by: Cher, Stephanie J. Block
- Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Cher: The Memoir, Part One promises to be an engaging and exciting audiobook experience, befitting this incredible book. Read in part by Cher herself, the book is introduced, and each chapter launched, by the author. Rounding out each chapter as she continues the narrative is celebrated stage actor Stephanie J. Block. Stephanie starred on Broadway in The Cher Show for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award.
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Cher is a great story teller and narrator.
- By Alli S. on 11-29-24
By: Cher
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Life in the Fast Lane
- The Eagles’ Reckless Ride Down the Rock & Roll Highway
- By: Mick Wall
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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"Surely make you lose your mind . . ." So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
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Welcome Overview
- By Stephen on 11-09-23
By: Mick Wall
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Letterman
- The Last Giant of Late Night
- By: Jason Zinoman
- Narrated by: Michael Goldstrom
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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In a career spanning more than 30 years, David Letterman redefined the modern talk show with an ironic comic style that transcended traditional television. While he remains one of the most famous stars in America, he is a remote, even reclusive figure whose career is widely misunderstood. In Letterman, Jason Zinoman, the first comedy critic in the history of the New York Times, mixes groundbreaking reporting with unprecedented access and probing critical analysis to explain the unique entertainer's titanic legacy.
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Great cover photo. Book a total waste of my time.
- By SCOTT on 05-03-17
By: Jason Zinoman
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The Fixer
- Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars, and Marilyn
- By: Josh Young, Manfred Westphal
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays, Manfred Westphal
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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During the height of Hollywood’s golden age, one man lorded over the city’s lurid underbelly of forbidden sin and celebrity scandal like no other: Fred Otash. An ex-Marine turned L.A.P.D. vice cop, Otash became the most sought-after private detective and fixer to the stars by specializing in the dark arts that would soon dominate the entertainment industry. The Fixer delves into the extraordinary life of Hollywood’s most infamous private detective and “fixer” to the stars, revealing newly discovered shocking revelations from his never-before-seen investigative files.
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For Hollywood gossip lovers!
- By Janna Wong Healy on 06-01-24
By: Josh Young, and others
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Harpo Speaks
- By: Harpo Marx
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 14 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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First published in 1961, this is the autobiography of Harpo Marx, the silent comedian of The Marx Brothers fame. Always silent on the stage and screen, Harpo speaks for the first time and shares the story of his remarkable life with humor, intelligence, and love. A truly gifted musician, brilliant comic, and wonderful person, Harpo comes alive in Harpo Speaks.
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What a life.
- By whyNOTme on 01-18-25
By: Harpo Marx
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My Happy Days in Hollywood
- A Memoir
- By: Garry Marshall
- Narrated by: Garry Marshall
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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With the television hits The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy, and movies like The Flamingo Kid, Beaches, Pretty Woman, and The Princess Diaries under his belt, Garry Marshall was among the most successful writers, directors, and producers in America for more than five decades. His work on the small and big screen delighted audiences for decades and has withstood the test of time.
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Outstanding: Best Book I've Ever Bought!
- By Eddie on 01-11-17
By: Garry Marshall
What listeners say about Carson the Magnificent
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-18-25
Good story and great material.
Good story and the material was overall excellent. However, the narrator chosen could have been better chosen to bring out a more lively narration.
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- When Your Life Is Like A Circus
- 11-18-24
the completeness
Loved the frankness and honesty. Details of why there will never be another Kohnny Carson
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2 people found this helpful
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- Susan
- 11-24-24
Magnificent
I love Johnny Carson! I grew up with him. This book lets me know him better. Thanks.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Charles
- 12-30-24
A new Johnny Carson is possible
Young people have no idea of the staggering talent of Johnny Carson.
What I miss the most is Johnny Carson‘s ability to interview a young child. And his opening monologue.
The Gutfeld show has opened the door for a possible new Johnny Carson show on network TV. He has two of the things I like the most about Johnny Carson show. Sometimes all the people on the couch on the Johnny Carson show would join in and it would be a comedy riff of jokes. Johnny Carson was not afraid to be politically incorrect. The current nighttime comedy shows have to compromise and hire someone who is less talented and woke.
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- Dr Joseph Borreggine
- 12-02-24
Nothing new regarding “Here’s Johnny”!
Really nothing new under the sun when it comes to this book. There’s been multiple books written about the life of Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show. This book in particular provide a lot of insight to many of the periodical and newspaper articles filled with factoids about Johnny and the Tonight Show. Henry Bushkin book was probably better than this one. That was the last one that I read and probably will stick to that book as the main stay of anything about Johnny. This was a very fair book and nothing more than that. Nothing new to define “Here’s Johnny”
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-11-24
An inside look at a man we all thought we knew
For those of us who grew up with The Johnny Carson Show (we NEVER called it the Tonight Show) this is a great look at the man we thought we knew. But, Johnny made everyone feel like they knew him—that was a special talent.
When this is in its 100th printing decades from now, there still won’t have been another like him.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-10-25
details
very well written and read. gives the listener a glimpse into carson's private personality. great book
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- Flo
- 01-22-25
Waivering
Never got to the heart of the life of Johnny Carson and didn’t capture anything much that felt new.
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- Frank Celletti
- 01-25-25
The details of Carson’s life in front of and behind the camera
Too much of a total schmooze book. Zehme can’t go one page without saying the Carson was a god. It’s like he took a college paper and stretched it to a full book.
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- Pklinkne
- 11-08-24
Meh
Basically an extended Vanity Fair piece. Interesting but superficial. Little help in what made Carson tick, his approach to comedy, or why he was such an important cultural figure.
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4 people found this helpful