For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times

by Ed McMahon, David Fisher

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Editorial Reviews

Ed McMahon--who reads the abridgment of the autobiography he cowrote with David Fisher--is first and foremost an entertainer, and as such, he peppers his life story with jokes. Since he lacks a live audience here, he also supplies the appropriate laughs. Always upbeat, McMahon skirts much of his personal life, which includes two divorces, and concentrates on his professional life, from his early days as Philadelphia's "Mr. Television" through his 30 years as Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show. Those hoping for inside dirt on Johnny will have to listen elsewhere; these anecdotes are strictly flattering. But in his celebrated, booming voice, McMahon gladly shares the stories behind the creation of his trademark calls: "Heeeerrreee's Johnny" and "Hi-yoooo!" (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

A Remarkable Life, 2007-11-22
by Ellie---Penny Dreadful---Reasoner (Galway & Home Again!)

This book's major flaw is it was a bit too long and covered the same material too many times, but it was also a great backstage pass to thirty years of the Tonight Show, and an education in how talented and impressive a resume Ed McMahon has. Filled with anecdotes and stories from the early days of television, up through the close of the 1990's, For Laughing Out Loud tells the life and times of an entertainment icon, and does it in a good old fashioned way, without bad language, lurid anecdotes, or off color remarks. Ed McMahon is quite a guy!

For Laughing Out Loud, 2000-04-03
by John Donovan (UK)

Entertaining in parts. Unfortunately somewhat disjointed and becomes rather boring towards the end. Does provide an insight into The Tonight Show and Johnny Carson. Most of the references to incidents on the show seem to come from the Video tape set- The Johnny Carson Collection" (which I highly recommend). Have also read "I'll Be Right Back" - by Mike Douglas. A much more entertaining and informative book about talk shows. I don't suppose that there is much chance of Johnny Carson writing a biography because he likes to keep his privacy. It would undoubtedly be a best seller.

all i can say is wow!, 1999-09-16

to enjoy this book, you will need soft light, smoking jacket, cohiba, and a stiff glass of bourbon. to delve into the topic of ed mcmahon it takes that kind of mindset. johnny carson's riveting forward captures the whole essence of the "hiyo," years. ed then takes us on a whirlwind tour of late nights of enebriation and carousing. shows spent drunk with johnny, burt reynolds and dom deluise are also brought to life so vividly by mcmahon you swear you could smell the vermouth and brut 33. ed also triumphantly portrays what it was like for him at the culmination of his life's work when timothy blakesley became the first winner of the american family sweepstakes. the question of whom did he prefer: johnny or dick is explored in an honest disection by the author. by this point your not quite sure of anything because you will be on your sixth bourbon and the cigar you were smoking has caught your smoking jacket on fire. i give four stars just on entertainment value alone. HIYO!!!