WGN Morning News Blog

When he walked down the long hallway, there was an aura around this legend of show business. Holy crap! He's the guy that sat next to Johnny for 30 years!! Hi-ooooooo!

I'm not often star struck but I have to admit it was pretty cool to meet him and have the chance to talk with Ed McMahon. I mentioned to him just before we taped our "web only" interview that there is a certain level of professionalism that he brought with him that we don't see in some of the up and comers (again, hello Mario Lopez.) He was happy to sign autographs, to take pictures with anyone who asked and mostly was a consummate professional at everything that we threw at him. He was terrific in the on-air interview, it was just like the old days during the "Konrac the Magnificent" segment in which we paid homage to Johnny and Ed's old "Carnac" routine with a Morning News twist. He didn't bat an eyelash when we asked him to introduce rockers, The Smithereens, "Johnny-style."

Now 84 years old, Ed is a little more frail than the last time that we've seen him. He had an assistant with him every step of the way; holding his arm, keeping him steady, helping him in and out of chairs and up and down the steps that are on our news set. He seemed frail but was as sharp as a tack and completely with it during our interview and especially during our "after the show-web only" interview where we had some time to dig a little deeper than we ever seem to have time to do during the show. He reflected on his appearance on our show, the good old days, behind the scenes with Johnny Carson and his legacy.
Enjoy, Dean