{"product_id":"carson-the-magnificent-9781451645286","title":"Carson the Magnificent by Zehme, Bill","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe definitive biography of Johnny Carson, the entertainer who redefined late-night television and American culture, told through intimate insights and riveting accounts of his legendary career and complex personal life.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 2002, celebrated Esquire writer Bill Zehme landed one of journalism's most coveted assignments: the first and only major interview Johnny Carson granted after retiring from \u003ci\u003eThe Tonight Show\u003c\/i\u003e. The resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend, and after Carson's death Zehme began work on this \"immensely informative and insightful\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Minnesota Star Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e) biography. Though illness prevented him from completing the project before his death in 2023, the pages he left behind illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history, what \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ecomedy critic Jason Zinoman called \"one of the great unfinished biographies.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eZehme traces Carson's rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of \u003ci\u003eThe Tonight Show\u003c\/i\u003e. He also captures the turmoil, and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages, trouble with alcohol, and the devastating loss of a child. Completed with help from journalist and Zehme's former research assistant Mike Thomas, \u003ci\u003eCarson the Magnificent\u003c\/i\u003e is \"perceptive and beautiful\" (\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e), offering an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Bill Zehme\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/03\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.66lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.91h x 5.91w x 0.91d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781451645286\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBill Zehme was the author of the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman.\u003c\/i\u003e He coauthored memoirs by Jay Leno and Regis Philbin, served as a longtime writer at large for \u003ci\u003eEsquire\u003c\/i\u003e, and contributed to other publications including \u003ci\u003eRolling Stone\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePlayboy\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e. A native and lifelong resident of Chicago, he died in 2023. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMike Thomas is the author of two critically acclaimed books, \u003ci\u003eThe Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eYou Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman\u003c\/i\u003e. He spent more than fourteen years as an arts and entertainment features writer at the \u003ci\u003eChicago Sun-Times\u003c\/i\u003e and is a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eChicago\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. He lives in Chicago with his family.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68004949622937,"sku":"9781451645286","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/3367\/0297\/files\/9781451645286.jpg?v=1794521663","url":"https:\/\/bookmarksretail.store\/products\/carson-the-magnificent-9781451645286","provider":"Bookmarks Retail","version":"1.0","type":"link"}