Saturday, November 24, 2012
THE MAN
Today's film was a PBS documentary, American Master Series, about Johnny Carson.
It is very good.
I would give it a five but I don't want to see it again.
That is how ambiguous I am about Carson.
I liked him then I didn't.
But his early life is fascinating. I mean until he is about 50. That is an early life from my viewpoint these days.
As most of these guys are, he was complex. An unrecovered alcoholic. A serial womanizer.
Why do I mention these things? Because it shows that great contributions can be made regardless.
Think of this. He left the largest charitable foundation of any entertainment figure, anytime, anywhere. And he was a serial giver to people and groups who had it hard. He did this all his life. He gave and gave and gave.
His friends, while few, show up in this very funny and sad documentary and I am grateful for the experience to relive the best of Carson and to see his friends mourn him. And appreciate his life with them. He sent Dave Letterman jokes to use on his show until his last days with emphysema.
