RIP Ed McMahon

It sucked to hear that former Tonight Show sidekick and Star Search host Ed McMahon passed away this morning, he was 86 years old.  I watched Carson as a young boy, and there are two things I will always remember about McMahon: 1) His signature phrases, namely “Hi-Yooo” and “You are correct sir” (Phil Hartman’s impression on SNL played a big part in that, too) & 2) the interaction between Johnny, Ed, and the audience during their legendary Carnac the Magnificent bits.  The crowd often booed the intentionally lame jokes that Carson threw in; when the boos started, Carnac would unleash some weird insult like “May a diseased yak squat in your hot tub” or “May a love-starved fruit-fly molest your sisters’ nectarines”.  But whether the punchline was good or bad, you would always hear Ed McMahon’s boisterous laugh.  The Tonight Show never felt the same after Johnny & Ed left (I was never a fan of Leno), and it’s sad that both of these legends have now passed on.  My condolences go out to Mr. McMahon’s family and friends during this difficult time.