King of the Night

July 6, 1989
The King of the Night--the entertainer adored by millions of devotees of The Tonight Show --is Killjoy of the Day, according to Leamer ( As Time Goes By , etc.) who in this lively unauthorized biography depicts ``the most uptight, nervous guy you'll ever want to meet.'' Almost every aspect of John William Carson's life is shown to be different from the way it publicly appears to be: ``the great host'' is a reclusive man who rarely invites anyone to his home; ``the loving husband'' seeks solace outside his marriage; ``the caring father'' lacks rapport with his three sons. He is the sun and everything rotates around him, yet when the camera is off, ``Johnny seems diminished, washed out.'' He does not praise his employees; silence is his highest accolade. To this workaholic who dreads vacations, The Tonight Show is everything. But to those whose livelihood depends on him--including three former wives--the man who has been seen ``by more people on more occasions than anyone in American history''--the man who insists on privacy for himself, and who becomes belligerent and obnoxious when he gets drunk--is cold, uncomfortable and isolated. Photos not seen by PW. BOMC featured selection.

June 15, 1989
Why yet another Carson biography? Carson refuses to be interviewed (he's going to write his own book), so earlier efforts (by Paul Corkery, Carson: The Unauthorized Biography, LJ 9/15/87; and Ronald Smith, Johnny Carson, LJ 12/87) have suffered as biographers have had to rely on published material and interviews with friends and ex-wives. However, interest in Carson remains high, and though Leamer also had to rely on interviews (over 700) with others, his book is the closest thing to "definitive" until Johnny writes his own. The private Carson who emerges, cold and retiring, doesn't much resemble the public outgoing, clownish Carson. The life is all here; wives and relationships are explored. This is neither a flattering puff piece or Carson-bashing. The exhaustive research has culminated in a revealing and entertaining account. But despite how well done this is, we'll have to wait for Carson's book for the whole story.-- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Libs., Seaside, Cal.

Copyright 1989 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.