An American Icon

In 2002, Bill Zehme landed an interview with Johnny Carson—the only one granted since retiring from The Tonight Show. Zehme was tapped for the Esquire feature story thanks to his years of legendary profiles, and the resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legends.

Shortly after Carson’s death in 2005, 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 halted his progress.

Completed with help from journalist research assistant Mike Thomas, Carson the Magnificent offers an honest assessment of the beloved Johnny Carson.

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