Johnny Carson's Last (Massive!) Generous Act

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/08/09/johnny-carsons-last-massive-generous-act/

Johnny Carson's Last (Massive!) Generous Act
By: Dan Fletcher (32 mins ago)


New documents uncovered by The Smoking Gun show the legendary Tonight Show host earmarked a whopping $156 million for philanthropy shortly before his death in 2005.

The donation made the John W. Carson Foundation the largest philanthropy in Hollywood. Carson made the donation without any public notification; The Smoking Gun only found the figure by digging into the foundation's tax return, filed in May of this year. Carson gave generously to his foundation in the years prior to his death, but in million-dollar chunks -- not the massive figure given shortly before his death.

The foundation's work benefits hospitals, children's groups and foundations in Carson's home state of Nebraska. (via The Smoking Gun)

:loveya:

This is very cool.

Carson, more than anyone else in the world, is the most responsible for my chosen field.

An original American treasure.

As a side note, up to about a year ago Costco used to sell a JC video and would have it playing on a TV. I was always amazed that someone always would be stopped watching 20 year old clips. Usually males over forty, sometimes 50+ year old females. I noticed this only after the first time, when I watched for over five minutes and then realized a few of us were blocking the aisle. After that I would just park myself down an aisle and watch the others stop, watch, and smile, sometimes laugh heartily, oblivious to their surroundings.

It is possible people with much money give most of it away, and just don't mention that, so when judging the rich, you can be in a trap of not also knowing their modesty.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I cannot imagine that man giving away anything....

n/t.

as Johnny Carson- he has done some good things, you should look things up before passing judgement.

That view was greatly enhanced in how he dealt with renowned charlatan Uri Geller. He managed (with some prep work with James Randi) to utterly discredit Geller while remaining perfectly personable and polite.

He would have been a formidable newsman on par with Murrow in a different reality.

Meanwhile making a fortune for his network.

However, he clearly made more than anyone could spend in a lifetime. I'm thrilled he decided good should be done with that, although the good any foundation does is at the mercy of its directors, and one bad apple could still waste it all, but I'd rather we had a tax structure that made individual men less rich and the country more so. That would make all of us less dependent on the charity of rich men.

If I remember correctly, during his time on TV, the top tax rate varied from as high as 70% and as low as 28%.

I don't know if that level of logical dissonance is due to that protestant attitude that the lord dotes wealth on his "preferred" customers, or vestiges from the house negro attitude that the massahs is actually doing the slaves a favor somehow...

He was actually known for his generosity in life, as well as his boundless curiosity. He wasn't your average rich cocksucker. A couple weeks ago, forty US billionaires pledged half (or more) of their wealth, upon their deaths, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Of course, they all made a big to-do about it, but I think if it encourages others to give, we can entertain their vanity.

Always enjoyed him..and now I have have even more reason to admire him.

after his retirement was on the Letterman show after he moved to CBS May 13, 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvHxH7fgrRE

first of multi-part tribute by Letterman to Carson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BiHLK5lFvQ&feature=related

That appearance on Letterman in 1994 was the last time Johnny was on TV.

Part one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gehruIvKoXs

Part two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4l9obhEBBc

:thumbsup:

Set him back at least twenty bucks.




:sarcasm:

Actually he does give to charity.

Bailey's Cafe - a cultural and educational center for children.
Keep Memory Alive - Alzheimer's
Lance Armstrong Foundation - Cancer
Neurofibromatosis, Inc.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital


Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/442-jay-leno#ixzz0wAEIe2ao


He's still a jerk.

All those years in the spotlight, and he walked away with grace and class.

No hoopla, no "Hey, look at what I'm doing", no self congratulations, just...here's some money, do some good with it and don't tell them I gave it to you.

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

He was a decent guy from the Midewest who made it big but never forgot who he was.

This is no surprise and the secrecy wasn't any form of false modesty. He just did the right thing.

Carson has also been very generous to Bugeater University. Their film department is almost entirely his doing.Altogether a talented and admirable man who never forgot where he was from.

...but never had a clue that he had the philanthropy gene.

I still think he was the best night-time talk show host ever.

And this does not surprise me, not the amount nor the silent hand that gave.

A true class act. We miss you, Johnny.

Wolf

I have loved this man for most of my life. I will miss him to my dying day.

How long has he been gone? Five years. Five years after his death, his generous spirit has again made me laugh, smile and cry a few tears.

Johnny, you were, and always will be, the best.

To you sir. :toast:

n/t.

That's how he lived his life, too. When he decided that he'd had enough of show business, the public wanted more. The mind reels at the people who have been helped by the "million-dollar chunks" and his final "massive figure," people who never knew...and may never know...that the help came from the "King of Late Night TV."

It's funny, this reminds me of a conversation I had just a few days with one of my clients, who is reasonably affluent. I mentioned that in the church, there is always constant pressure to tithe...to give 10% of what you earn, regardless of your circumstances. He replied "I know a LOT of guys who are RICH and don't give ANYTHING...EVER...and they also never go to church."

So Johnny gave freely, and regularly, and in virtual anonymity. If he were alive today, he probably wouldn't want the recognition any more than when he was making those regular million dollar donations. There's a lesson for us in all of this about Johnny Carson, the man. There's also a lesson we can learn and apply in our own lives, if we're paying attention.

:cry: :cry:

and are responsible for all the country's problems.

:sarcasm:

I could still watch him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNR0V8qjhIY

I still laugh my ass off. Burt Reynolds, Dom Delouise and a can of whipped cream.

SNORT!

had the "Copper Clappers" skit with Johnny and Jack Webb.

I know I couldn't have gotten through it without cracking up.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpVjW30I-YU

I laughed so hard.

Jimmy Kimmel?

Sure, he can be funny. But think even Kimmel would agree that he's not Carson.

And, no disrespect intended to Johnny Carson, but...


http://www.blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/5811/2009-06-28.html <- Funny you never hear about THIS from the lame$tream media, eh? They like to NOT mention it much in favor of talking about lies. Too bad people are so ignorant thanks to them. And not just about politics.

in her will.

She earmarked about two billion dollars for various charities and non-profit organizations.

It's always a good thing when those like Johnny Carson and Joan Kroc leave sizable amounts of their remaining estates to charities and non-profits.

Way to go, Johnny.

The longest audience laugh in TV history at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD0DV2vPNEQ

My Father would watch Jonny every night and even thou I was suppose to be in bed I use to sit at the top of the stairs which you could the TV from and watch the tonight show.He was and most likley will be the best host ever for a show like the tonight show.Even when his jokes where bombing out he had a way to make it all to funny. I wish they would show reruns of the great Jonny Carson !!!
NikRik

his comedy genius was his self efacement and making others look good.
Many of the greatest comedians were like that - Benny, Burns etc.

This revelation makes him even more of one.

In the history of television's Mount Rushmore his should be the first face.

he was a good soul.

I bet he gave to overseas charities too but it was so nice to see someone make their home State a better place and I admire him for that! There are so many Millionaires and Billionaires that seem to forget our poor in the US - I wish they would give half of what they do here!

"I hold in my hand the last envelope.... The answer is, $156 million dollars."

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/08/09/johnny-carsons-last-massive-generous-act



See also:

Nice try, Novak. Johnny was NOT a Republican. Check the facts.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1524834

A good Friend has left us: A tribute to Johnny Carson by James Randi
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2495717

Johnny Carson on Democracy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2999667

The Inevitable Johnny Carson Post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2998666

Johnny Carson Esquire Interview – The Man Who Retired (2002)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x100617

Most memorable Johnny Carson moments.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2496558

Johnny Carson was the best nighttime host in my lifetime. I'm glad to hear that he was also a generous person. May he always be remembered for his charitable spirit, not just for his TV fame.

;)

My parents only relented during the summer when there was no school. When I became and adult, and could watch at will, I really cherished his work.

:thumbsup:

which is the main ingredient in a class act; And that inherent, non judgmental, goodness was why he was so loved. I miss him lulling me to sleep, trying to hold my eyes open, to hear one more hilarity; falling asleep with a smile on my face for a wonderful nights sleep.

Nothing else could even come close to that, till the Golden girls took over late night television and like many Carson junkies, switched to The Golden Girls that will run into eternity; God bless Johnny and The Golden Girls; Good folks all and and ALL class acts; And now, thanx to the gods, the followup class act; Will and Grace, to grace that, oh so important, late night spot with the funniest snark and comedy, following in their gentile acceptance of all, footsteps; All putting a genuine loving smile on our faces; And all flaming liberals. So name me one who wasn't and still was beloved; Except, maybe somewhat, for Frazier who's entire being is an ambivalent oddity, who's following comes from playing a, all be it, curmudgeonly, flaming liberal.

There is a profound message in there, someplace.

"...He has the check in his hand ladies and gentleman..."

knowing Ken Lay.

"Give me a break Of course George Bush didn't know Ken Lay. They wrote 350 letters to each other. I haven't written 350 letters in my life!"

Who wouldn't love Mr. Carson?

Funny, generous,intelligent, he was something special.

:applause:

He was one of those cold, unfeeling, amoral skeptics we keep hearing about.