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CNN Live At Daybreak
Life and Death of Johnny Carson; Digging Out
Aired January 24, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On, those words were a late night staple for millions of you.
Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, we say good-bye to Johnny Carson.
Plus, digging out -- the blizzard has blown out to sea, but, boy, has it left its mark on land.
And Super Sunday is set. The Patriots and the Eagles head for a showdown. We'll show you how they got there.
It is Monday, January 24.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Chad Myers will join us in just a bit.
Good morning to you.
Now in the news, Asa Hutchinson is expected to announce his resignation today from the Department of Homeland Security. Hutchinson, a undersecretary in the department, told an Arkansas newspaper he was disappointed that he was passed over twice as Tom Ridge's replacement.
Ten Iraqi police officers were wounded during a suicide car bomb attack in western Baghdad. The attack took place near the headquarters of Interim President Ayad Allawi's political party.
And one person is dead after a strong earthquake shook the Indonesia's Sulawesi Island. Witnesses say thousands of people in the area ran for higher ground, fearing another tsunami in the region.
And back in this country, parts of Massachusetts have been slammed with two to three feet of snow. Some schools and colleges are closed and the governor asks non-essential state workers in the eastern part of the state to stay home today. To the forecast center.
Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers.
Actually, we'll be hearing from Chad shortly.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
Hi, Carol
COSTELLO: He's in New Jersey.
MARCIANO: Is he in Jersey?
COSTELLO: He's in Jersey.
MARCIANO: Oh, he was in Philly yesterday storm chasing.
COSTELLO: Now he's in Jersey.
MARCIANO: I'm looking forward to that report.
Hey, places across the Northeast, mostly in Boston, like you said, Carol, upwards of three feet of snow. So we're compiling a list of that. And some of the numbers are impressive, most of which, though, you go east of Hartford, Connecticut. But New York, D.C., Philly about -- only about a foot. That's still a pretty good storm.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The howling Northeast blizzard is over, as Rob said. Now it's time for the cleanup. Massachusetts took the brunt of the storm. Some places reported up to three feet of snow, hurricane force winds and teeth chattering temperatures. Residents in some cities are advised to stay home today.
CNN's Chris Huntington has a wrap-up for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The storm battered the Bay State, from Cape Cod in the south to the north shore near Gloucester and, of course, downtown Boston in between. At the peak hours early Sunday morning, snow fell at more than three inches an hour, dumping close to three feet in many towns and more than two feet in Boston Common, where temperatures hovered around 10 degrees for most of the day.
But it was the hurricane force winds that caused most of the trouble, driving snow into dangerous whiteout conditions, plundering the plows' best efforts and whipping 10 to 15 foot waves on top of a storm surge along the coast. The entire island of Nantucket lost power. Across the State of Massachusetts, more than 30,000 homes went dark.
Governor Mitt Romney declared a state of emergency, putting National Guard troops on alert for evacuation and rescue operations and clearing the way for federal funding to help cover the considerable cost of snow removal.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced that he would order only essential city personnel to work on Monday and he said that Boston public schools would be closed through Tuesday. MAYOR THOMAS MENINO, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: There is a state of emergency in Massachusetts and we're asking everyone to stay home and let the public works crews do their job.
HUNTINGTON: But a few intrepid and well insulated folks couldn't resist the temptation to go out and take a look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awesome. This is my first blizzard. I moved here six years ago from Los Angeles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only cars on the road are emergency vehicles and snow plows.
HUNTINGTON (on camera): Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So everybody's listening to the advice of staying at home.
HUNTINGTON: Well, obviously not everyone. It is, after all, winter in New England.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: And kids just don't seem to feel the cold as adults do. I don't understand that, but I wish I had kept that from my childhood.
That was CNN's Chris Huntington.
And, by the way, Logan International Airport is closed right now, but it is expected to reopen at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time.
So hopefully you'll get out of there if you're camped out there this morning.
Television legend Johnny Carson is dead at the age of 79. Carson died of emphysema at his Malibu home, surrounded by his family. And the family announced there will be no memorial service.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, who could forget that. That familiar refrain welcomed audiences for 30 years. Millions of Americans went to bed with him every night as he changed the face of television. With guests ranging from Frank Sinatra to Jerry Seinfeld to Tiny Tim, he exposed America to entertainment's best, brightest and most eclectic. Bill Cosby said that Johnny Carson was responsible for the rise in success of more performers than anyone. But he was so much more than that.
CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas looks back at the long career of Johnny Carson.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For three full decades, he was the reigning king of late night. His cool and understated attitude and his impeccable comic timing entertained audiences of all ages, through both the good and bad times.
Johnny Carson was a master at his craft, and he always showed a great respect for the thing that made him a household name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY CARSON: I'm sticking up for television, because I think it's a marvelous, marvelous medium, and I'm optimistic about it. Of course, as you probably know, an optimist in the entertainment business is an accordion player with a beeper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Johnny Carson was born October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He moved to Norfolk, Nebraska as a boy, where he bought his first mail-order magic set and began his career as an entertainer. He was known as "The Great Carsoni" and later performed in the Navy and after graduating from the University of Nebraska, went on to work at Omaha radio stations.
His first televised show, "Carson's Cellar," debuted in 1952 and led to a job as a staff writer on Red Skelton's variety show. In 1954, Carson got his big break, when Skelton was knocked unconscious an hour before air time and Carson was asked to step in.
His natural ease in front of the camera led to a contract with CBS. After a short stint as an emcee of "Earn Your Vacation," Carson got his own half hour comedy show, called "The Johnny Carson Show."
Carson moved to ABC for the daytime game show "Who Do You Trust?," where in '58 he was joined by his sidekick, Ed McMahon. In that same year, he was asked to sit in for Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (SINGING): I guess I'm just another fan of yours and I thought I'd write and tell you so. ED MCMAHON: I sit next to the quickest, the brightest, most well-read, most entertaining, most brilliant man. If television was ever invented for somebody, it was invented for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": I don't know of a person in comedy or television who didn't sort of grow up with Johnny Carson as a role model. And I think it's something everybody -- it's one of the reasons people leave home and come to New York or go to California to get into comedy or show business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Carson did come into the homes of his many fans throughout the years, but his constant need for privacy prevented the world from glimpsing into his home life.
He was married four times, first to Jody, then Joanne, and Joanna, and in 1987 to Alex Maas. He had three children from his first marriage -- Chris, Cory and Ricky. Ricky was tragically killed in 1991 in a car accident. Though his personal life was often rocky, his career seemed to go quickly and effortlessly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
CARSON: I could never have imagined I would walk through that curtain almost 5,000 times in 30 years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Carson may have hosted just under 5,000 episodes of "The Tonight Show," but he continued to pursue opportunities outside of late night. He founded his own production company and created shows like "TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes." He hosted the Academy Awards five times and took home four Emmy Awards. He was also the recipient of the Communications Award and the Kennedy Center honor.
Perhaps more important than anything else to Carson is that he loved entertaining, as much as we loved being entertained by him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: I am one of the lucky people in the world. I've found something I have always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we all wanted him desperately to come back to television, but he never did in his retirement. Tom Schills actually has an interesting article about Johnny Carson in the "Washington Post" this morning. And he says this, Rob, because I'm sure you remember watching Johnny Carson.
MARCIANO: What have you got?
COSTELLO: Oh, here's what Tom Schills has to say about Johnny Carson: "Johnny Carson always managed to find something to amuse us, usually something deflating to the pompous and the self-important, two faults of which he was never guilty of himself."
I mean he didn't treat stars like they treat stars now, like some godlike human beings. He treated them like people...
MARCIANO: Right.
COSTELLO: And he was truly down to earth.
MARCIANO: And he was a gentleman, too. So that's the thing I was most impressed about when I was a kid, and allowed to stay up that late, was how well he dressed, how he stood so straight up and how he could deliver a line with such ease and grace and still have it be hilarious, you know?
COSTELLO: Oh, absolutely.
He had such funny bits. You know, remember Carnac?
MARCIANO: Yes, that was the one -- that's my favorite. That was my favorite.
COSTELLO: Art Fern and his directions to the Slauson cutoff and to all the great performers, of course, he debuted. I think he debuted more comics than anyone else on the planet. Who knows?
We want to know what your most memorable Johnny Carson moment is this morning. That's our e-mail question for the morning. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
Much more to come on DAYBREAK this hour.
It's been a rough campaign, to say the least. But Ukraine finally has a new leader and he's already on the move.
Also, investing in your future -- are you ready to risk it all or just a little? We'll give you a pop quiz.
And later, dirt, debris and waste -- the perfect breeding ground for disease. We'll revisit the tsunami disaster. But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, January 24.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A suicide car bomb explodes this morning at a police checkpoint in Baghdad. It happened near the party offices of Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi. A dozen people were wounded, 10 of them police officers.
Johnny Lee Williams faces an extradition hearing back to Texas to face charges in the death of a 19-year-old Wal-Mart employee. Megan Leann Holden's body was found Friday, two days after she was abducted at the store in Tyler, Texas.
In money news, gas prices have gone up for the first time in three months. An average gallon of unleaded now up more than a nickel, to $1.85. A cut in oil production is being blamed for the rise.
In culture, Ice Cube arrived at the top of the weekend box office with his new movie, "Are We There Yet?" The film made $18.5 million in its first week, knocking "Coach Carter" off the top of the mountain.
And in sports, Tom Brady and the Patriots going back to the Super Bowl after beating the Steelers in the AFC championship game. The Pats will meet the Eagles, who finally won the NFC championship. After losing that game the past three seasons, the Eagles beat up on the Falcons 27-10.
To the forecast center and Rob Marciano.
MARCIANO: Hey, Carol, two dominating performances in bitterly cold air. Amazing to me how the cold didn't seem to affect any of the players.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning .
In our "Beyond the Sound Bite" segment this morning, we have excerpts from "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.
Joan Rivers says: "We all started on his show. Every solid comedian today got their break on the Johnny Carson show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW") JOAN RIVERS, COMEDIENNE: Johnny, could I have time to say...
CARSON: Yes?
RIVERS: Because I always, I always thank you in absentia because you're never there. Thank you for my first appearance on the show. Thank you for my career. Thank you for letting me guest host for you, because I would not be sitting here ever. They all thought I stank and you were the first one to say you're funny.
CARSON: Oh, thank you.
RIVERS: Thank you for that.
CARSON: Thank you.
We'll be back in a moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
CARSON: Let's get on with this. Mount Saint Helens, Three Mile Island and the Love Canal (AUDIO GAP)...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, we're having a little technical issue with our server this morning, and I know that's a technical term that you don't quite understand, though we do apologize for that because it would have been so enjoyable to see that.
Johnny Carson retired from "The Tonight Show" nearly 13 years ago. He signed off for good yesterday at his home in Malibu.
Our E-Mail Question this morning, what is your favorite Johnny Carson moment? Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
And a prime time exclusive interview tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry's guest will be Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon. That's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific time on CNN.
And just in case you missed the games, and I'm sure you did not, Philadelphia and New England heading to Jacksonville for the Super Bowl. A recap of all the field action when we return, we promise.
And when it comes to your money, how much risk are you willing to take? A few investing guidelines later on in the show.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Monday, January 24.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time to talk a little football. For one team, it has become an annual trip. For the other, it's the conclusion of a four year odyssey through near misses. But for both, it was just another game on a very important weekend of football.
CNN Sports Ray D'Alessio has more for you from Philadelphia.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In what amounted to the first all Pennsylvania championship weekend, only the Philadelphia Eagles advanced to Super Bowl 39. In doing so, they put to bed three straight years of disappointment in the NFC title game. They also led themselves back in the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1980 season.
In beating the Falcons, Philly proved they can handle the pressure of dealing with a supernatural quarterback. After his 119- yard rushing performance against the Rams, Michael Vick Sunday totaled just 26 yards.
Next up for the Eagles are the New England Patriots and their superstar quarterback, Tom Brady. After beating the Steelers in the AFC title game, New England must now prepare for their third Super Bowl trip in four years.
At 8-0, Tom Brady remains perfect in the playoffs.
As for the Patriots as a team, they're hoping to become the first back to back Super Bowl winner since the Denver Broncos in 1998 and 1999.
In Philadelphia, I'm Ray D'Alessio, CNN Sports.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Coming up next hour, we'll talk with sports writer Paul Atner of "The Sporting News." He'll have a closer look at the championships and a look forward to the Super Bowl. And you'll also get to hear from Donovan McNabb.
The Patriots are heavy favorites, though, to win their third Super Bowl title in the past four years. Las Vegas odds makers have Tom Brady and the Patriots favored by as many as six points. But do not expect the Eagles to roll over and give up. After all, it was just three seasons ago the Patriots themselves came into the Super Bowl as big underdogs before beating the Rams. That was a long time ago, though.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Call it the frozen apple. Alina Cho finds city workers in emergency mode, plowing more than a foot of snow off of New York's streets just in time for the morning rush.
Plus, playing the stock market can be like a roller coaster ride. Ali Velshi has a test to help you decide how much risk you're willing to take.
And a reminder for you, our E-mail Question of the Morning, what is your favorite Johnny Carson moment? We want to know. E-mail us daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, Asa Hutchinson is expected to announce his resignation today from the Department of Homeland Security. Hutchinson, an undersecretary in the department, told an Arkansas newspaper he was disappointed that he was passed over twice as Tom Ridge's replacement.
Ten Iraqi police officers were wounded during a suicide car bomb attack in a western Baghdad neighborhood. The attack took place near the headquarters of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's political party.
It'll be the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 39 on February 6 in Jacksonville. The Patriots won the AFC championship by beating Pittsburgh 41-24. The Eagles took the NFC title with a 27-10 win over Atlanta.
And it's dig out day in the Northeast. Buried over the weekend by a blizzard that howled out of the upper Midwest. At least 44 deaths blamed on the storm.
To the forecast center now.
Rob Marciano in for Chad.
But we're going to hear from him soon.
MARCIANO: Yes, we will. You know, he went out in the storm yesterday. He did a great job reporting live from Philadelphia, where they had upwards of about a foot of snow.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 24, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On, those words were a late night staple for millions of you.
Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, we say good-bye to Johnny Carson.
Plus, digging out -- the blizzard has blown out to sea, but, boy, has it left its mark on land.
And Super Sunday is set. The Patriots and the Eagles head for a showdown. We'll show you how they got there.
It is Monday, January 24.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Chad Myers will join us in just a bit.
Good morning to you.
Now in the news, Asa Hutchinson is expected to announce his resignation today from the Department of Homeland Security. Hutchinson, a undersecretary in the department, told an Arkansas newspaper he was disappointed that he was passed over twice as Tom Ridge's replacement.
Ten Iraqi police officers were wounded during a suicide car bomb attack in western Baghdad. The attack took place near the headquarters of Interim President Ayad Allawi's political party.
And one person is dead after a strong earthquake shook the Indonesia's Sulawesi Island. Witnesses say thousands of people in the area ran for higher ground, fearing another tsunami in the region.
And back in this country, parts of Massachusetts have been slammed with two to three feet of snow. Some schools and colleges are closed and the governor asks non-essential state workers in the eastern part of the state to stay home today. To the forecast center.
Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers.
Actually, we'll be hearing from Chad shortly.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
Hi, Carol
COSTELLO: He's in New Jersey.
MARCIANO: Is he in Jersey?
COSTELLO: He's in Jersey.
MARCIANO: Oh, he was in Philly yesterday storm chasing.
COSTELLO: Now he's in Jersey.
MARCIANO: I'm looking forward to that report.
Hey, places across the Northeast, mostly in Boston, like you said, Carol, upwards of three feet of snow. So we're compiling a list of that. And some of the numbers are impressive, most of which, though, you go east of Hartford, Connecticut. But New York, D.C., Philly about -- only about a foot. That's still a pretty good storm.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The howling Northeast blizzard is over, as Rob said. Now it's time for the cleanup. Massachusetts took the brunt of the storm. Some places reported up to three feet of snow, hurricane force winds and teeth chattering temperatures. Residents in some cities are advised to stay home today.
CNN's Chris Huntington has a wrap-up for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The storm battered the Bay State, from Cape Cod in the south to the north shore near Gloucester and, of course, downtown Boston in between. At the peak hours early Sunday morning, snow fell at more than three inches an hour, dumping close to three feet in many towns and more than two feet in Boston Common, where temperatures hovered around 10 degrees for most of the day.
But it was the hurricane force winds that caused most of the trouble, driving snow into dangerous whiteout conditions, plundering the plows' best efforts and whipping 10 to 15 foot waves on top of a storm surge along the coast. The entire island of Nantucket lost power. Across the State of Massachusetts, more than 30,000 homes went dark.
Governor Mitt Romney declared a state of emergency, putting National Guard troops on alert for evacuation and rescue operations and clearing the way for federal funding to help cover the considerable cost of snow removal.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced that he would order only essential city personnel to work on Monday and he said that Boston public schools would be closed through Tuesday. MAYOR THOMAS MENINO, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: There is a state of emergency in Massachusetts and we're asking everyone to stay home and let the public works crews do their job.
HUNTINGTON: But a few intrepid and well insulated folks couldn't resist the temptation to go out and take a look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Awesome. This is my first blizzard. I moved here six years ago from Los Angeles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only cars on the road are emergency vehicles and snow plows.
HUNTINGTON (on camera): Right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So everybody's listening to the advice of staying at home.
HUNTINGTON: Well, obviously not everyone. It is, after all, winter in New England.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: And kids just don't seem to feel the cold as adults do. I don't understand that, but I wish I had kept that from my childhood.
That was CNN's Chris Huntington.
And, by the way, Logan International Airport is closed right now, but it is expected to reopen at 6:00 a.m. Eastern time.
So hopefully you'll get out of there if you're camped out there this morning.
Television legend Johnny Carson is dead at the age of 79. Carson died of emphysema at his Malibu home, surrounded by his family. And the family announced there will be no memorial service.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, who could forget that. That familiar refrain welcomed audiences for 30 years. Millions of Americans went to bed with him every night as he changed the face of television. With guests ranging from Frank Sinatra to Jerry Seinfeld to Tiny Tim, he exposed America to entertainment's best, brightest and most eclectic. Bill Cosby said that Johnny Carson was responsible for the rise in success of more performers than anyone. But he was so much more than that.
CNN entertainment correspondent Sibila Vargas looks back at the long career of Johnny Carson.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For three full decades, he was the reigning king of late night. His cool and understated attitude and his impeccable comic timing entertained audiences of all ages, through both the good and bad times.
Johnny Carson was a master at his craft, and he always showed a great respect for the thing that made him a household name.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNY CARSON: I'm sticking up for television, because I think it's a marvelous, marvelous medium, and I'm optimistic about it. Of course, as you probably know, an optimist in the entertainment business is an accordion player with a beeper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Johnny Carson was born October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He moved to Norfolk, Nebraska as a boy, where he bought his first mail-order magic set and began his career as an entertainer. He was known as "The Great Carsoni" and later performed in the Navy and after graduating from the University of Nebraska, went on to work at Omaha radio stations.
His first televised show, "Carson's Cellar," debuted in 1952 and led to a job as a staff writer on Red Skelton's variety show. In 1954, Carson got his big break, when Skelton was knocked unconscious an hour before air time and Carson was asked to step in.
His natural ease in front of the camera led to a contract with CBS. After a short stint as an emcee of "Earn Your Vacation," Carson got his own half hour comedy show, called "The Johnny Carson Show."
Carson moved to ABC for the daytime game show "Who Do You Trust?," where in '58 he was joined by his sidekick, Ed McMahon. In that same year, he was asked to sit in for Jack Paar on "The Tonight Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (SINGING): I guess I'm just another fan of yours and I thought I'd write and tell you so. ED MCMAHON: I sit next to the quickest, the brightest, most well-read, most entertaining, most brilliant man. If television was ever invented for somebody, it was invented for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": I don't know of a person in comedy or television who didn't sort of grow up with Johnny Carson as a role model. And I think it's something everybody -- it's one of the reasons people leave home and come to New York or go to California to get into comedy or show business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Carson did come into the homes of his many fans throughout the years, but his constant need for privacy prevented the world from glimpsing into his home life.
He was married four times, first to Jody, then Joanne, and Joanna, and in 1987 to Alex Maas. He had three children from his first marriage -- Chris, Cory and Ricky. Ricky was tragically killed in 1991 in a car accident. Though his personal life was often rocky, his career seemed to go quickly and effortlessly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
CARSON: I could never have imagined I would walk through that curtain almost 5,000 times in 30 years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And now, ladies and gentlemen, here's Johnny!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VARGAS: Carson may have hosted just under 5,000 episodes of "The Tonight Show," but he continued to pursue opportunities outside of late night. He founded his own production company and created shows like "TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes." He hosted the Academy Awards five times and took home four Emmy Awards. He was also the recipient of the Communications Award and the Kennedy Center honor.
Perhaps more important than anything else to Carson is that he loved entertaining, as much as we loved being entertained by him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: I am one of the lucky people in the world. I've found something I have always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we all wanted him desperately to come back to television, but he never did in his retirement. Tom Schills actually has an interesting article about Johnny Carson in the "Washington Post" this morning. And he says this, Rob, because I'm sure you remember watching Johnny Carson.
MARCIANO: What have you got?
COSTELLO: Oh, here's what Tom Schills has to say about Johnny Carson: "Johnny Carson always managed to find something to amuse us, usually something deflating to the pompous and the self-important, two faults of which he was never guilty of himself."
I mean he didn't treat stars like they treat stars now, like some godlike human beings. He treated them like people...
MARCIANO: Right.
COSTELLO: And he was truly down to earth.
MARCIANO: And he was a gentleman, too. So that's the thing I was most impressed about when I was a kid, and allowed to stay up that late, was how well he dressed, how he stood so straight up and how he could deliver a line with such ease and grace and still have it be hilarious, you know?
COSTELLO: Oh, absolutely.
He had such funny bits. You know, remember Carnac?
MARCIANO: Yes, that was the one -- that's my favorite. That was my favorite.
COSTELLO: Art Fern and his directions to the Slauson cutoff and to all the great performers, of course, he debuted. I think he debuted more comics than anyone else on the planet. Who knows?
We want to know what your most memorable Johnny Carson moment is this morning. That's our e-mail question for the morning. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
Much more to come on DAYBREAK this hour.
It's been a rough campaign, to say the least. But Ukraine finally has a new leader and he's already on the move.
Also, investing in your future -- are you ready to risk it all or just a little? We'll give you a pop quiz.
And later, dirt, debris and waste -- the perfect breeding ground for disease. We'll revisit the tsunami disaster. But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, January 24.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A suicide car bomb explodes this morning at a police checkpoint in Baghdad. It happened near the party offices of Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi. A dozen people were wounded, 10 of them police officers.
Johnny Lee Williams faces an extradition hearing back to Texas to face charges in the death of a 19-year-old Wal-Mart employee. Megan Leann Holden's body was found Friday, two days after she was abducted at the store in Tyler, Texas.
In money news, gas prices have gone up for the first time in three months. An average gallon of unleaded now up more than a nickel, to $1.85. A cut in oil production is being blamed for the rise.
In culture, Ice Cube arrived at the top of the weekend box office with his new movie, "Are We There Yet?" The film made $18.5 million in its first week, knocking "Coach Carter" off the top of the mountain.
And in sports, Tom Brady and the Patriots going back to the Super Bowl after beating the Steelers in the AFC championship game. The Pats will meet the Eagles, who finally won the NFC championship. After losing that game the past three seasons, the Eagles beat up on the Falcons 27-10.
To the forecast center and Rob Marciano.
MARCIANO: Hey, Carol, two dominating performances in bitterly cold air. Amazing to me how the cold didn't seem to affect any of the players.
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COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning .
In our "Beyond the Sound Bite" segment this morning, we have excerpts from "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.
Joan Rivers says: "We all started on his show. Every solid comedian today got their break on the Johnny Carson show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW") JOAN RIVERS, COMEDIENNE: Johnny, could I have time to say...
CARSON: Yes?
RIVERS: Because I always, I always thank you in absentia because you're never there. Thank you for my first appearance on the show. Thank you for my career. Thank you for letting me guest host for you, because I would not be sitting here ever. They all thought I stank and you were the first one to say you're funny.
CARSON: Oh, thank you.
RIVERS: Thank you for that.
CARSON: Thank you.
We'll be back in a moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW")
CARSON: Let's get on with this. Mount Saint Helens, Three Mile Island and the Love Canal (AUDIO GAP)...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, we're having a little technical issue with our server this morning, and I know that's a technical term that you don't quite understand, though we do apologize for that because it would have been so enjoyable to see that.
Johnny Carson retired from "The Tonight Show" nearly 13 years ago. He signed off for good yesterday at his home in Malibu.
Our E-Mail Question this morning, what is your favorite Johnny Carson moment? Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
And a prime time exclusive interview tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry's guest will be Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon. That's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific time on CNN.
And just in case you missed the games, and I'm sure you did not, Philadelphia and New England heading to Jacksonville for the Super Bowl. A recap of all the field action when we return, we promise.
And when it comes to your money, how much risk are you willing to take? A few investing guidelines later on in the show.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Monday, January 24.
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COSTELLO: Time to talk a little football. For one team, it has become an annual trip. For the other, it's the conclusion of a four year odyssey through near misses. But for both, it was just another game on a very important weekend of football.
CNN Sports Ray D'Alessio has more for you from Philadelphia.
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RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In what amounted to the first all Pennsylvania championship weekend, only the Philadelphia Eagles advanced to Super Bowl 39. In doing so, they put to bed three straight years of disappointment in the NFC title game. They also led themselves back in the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1980 season.
In beating the Falcons, Philly proved they can handle the pressure of dealing with a supernatural quarterback. After his 119- yard rushing performance against the Rams, Michael Vick Sunday totaled just 26 yards.
Next up for the Eagles are the New England Patriots and their superstar quarterback, Tom Brady. After beating the Steelers in the AFC title game, New England must now prepare for their third Super Bowl trip in four years.
At 8-0, Tom Brady remains perfect in the playoffs.
As for the Patriots as a team, they're hoping to become the first back to back Super Bowl winner since the Denver Broncos in 1998 and 1999.
In Philadelphia, I'm Ray D'Alessio, CNN Sports.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Coming up next hour, we'll talk with sports writer Paul Atner of "The Sporting News." He'll have a closer look at the championships and a look forward to the Super Bowl. And you'll also get to hear from Donovan McNabb.
The Patriots are heavy favorites, though, to win their third Super Bowl title in the past four years. Las Vegas odds makers have Tom Brady and the Patriots favored by as many as six points. But do not expect the Eagles to roll over and give up. After all, it was just three seasons ago the Patriots themselves came into the Super Bowl as big underdogs before beating the Rams. That was a long time ago, though.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Call it the frozen apple. Alina Cho finds city workers in emergency mode, plowing more than a foot of snow off of New York's streets just in time for the morning rush.
Plus, playing the stock market can be like a roller coaster ride. Ali Velshi has a test to help you decide how much risk you're willing to take.
And a reminder for you, our E-mail Question of the Morning, what is your favorite Johnny Carson moment? We want to know. E-mail us daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Now in the news, Asa Hutchinson is expected to announce his resignation today from the Department of Homeland Security. Hutchinson, an undersecretary in the department, told an Arkansas newspaper he was disappointed that he was passed over twice as Tom Ridge's replacement.
Ten Iraqi police officers were wounded during a suicide car bomb attack in a western Baghdad neighborhood. The attack took place near the headquarters of interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's political party.
It'll be the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 39 on February 6 in Jacksonville. The Patriots won the AFC championship by beating Pittsburgh 41-24. The Eagles took the NFC title with a 27-10 win over Atlanta.
And it's dig out day in the Northeast. Buried over the weekend by a blizzard that howled out of the upper Midwest. At least 44 deaths blamed on the storm.
To the forecast center now.
Rob Marciano in for Chad.
But we're going to hear from him soon.
MARCIANO: Yes, we will. You know, he went out in the storm yesterday. He did a great job reporting live from Philadelphia, where they had upwards of about a foot of snow.
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