From Heaven...It's The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson!

I'm not so sure there is a heaven, let alone a Tonight Show in heaven, but if there is (and I'm hoping) what a great lineup they're going to have this week. In fact, I'm thinking they'll probably even have to get a bigger couch.

Already I can hear Ed McMahon's baritone voice on the open: "From Heaven...It's the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson... with Johnny's Guests: Michael Jackson, Karl Malden, Farah Fawcett, Gayle Storm, David Carradine, Mollie Sudgen, Fred Travalena, plus the inventor of the "Magic Fingers" bed John Houghtailing, along with Tommy Newsom and the HNBC Orchestra, and me, I'm Ed McMahon."

Man, prime time TV never had it this good.

I'm assuming, of course, that everyone made the "A" list and is, indeed waiting in the upper green room as opposed to appearing at the seedier "Damnation Lounge" across the nebula in the sub-basement of the Bates Hotel. (The lounge does have a great restaurant though I'm told-called "Hell's Kitchen"-what else?)

June, usually the month reserved for young brides, has been eclipsed by death this year. Death-or rather the sheer volume of it involving notable celebrities recently-allowed me to recall just how much each of these people contributed to entertaining the rest of us through the years and how much we may have forgotten about the entire scope of these entertainer's lives. Not to mention how much they're going to be missed.

Michael Jackson, despite his tumultuous personal life, was talented far, far beyond just being a singer. To write, choreograph, then perform the routines as he did was light years ahead of most entertainers' ability encompassing the last 50 years. Many don't recall videos like Jackson's "Childhood" which now seems eerily introspective and entirely different from his onstage "thriller" persona. As part of the "Jackson 5" he performed in local clubs around Gary, Indiana and had a hit song in an unlikely movie about a rat named "Ben" in the early seventies--before the most famous part of his career which came later.

Karl Malden of Serbian descent born in Chicago, Illinois and largely unknown to people under 35, had a riveting and sometimes controversial film and stage career before becoming Lt. Mike Stone on the Streets of San Francisco and, later as the stern-faced, fedora-wearing TV pitchman for American Express. Another icon of the '70's, Farah Fawcett, is remembered mainly as the sexy female detective on the crime thriller "Charlie's Angels," but was also was a serious and skilled theatre actor as well as a smart business person and courageously independent throughout her entire life.

While perhaps not as well known in this country, actress Mollie Sugden had a fantastic run on the British sitcom Are You Being Served?--a genuine delight and staple of British Television for more than a decade-and a favorite of anyone who has ever done a stint in retail. Gayle Storm was best known for her appearances in the 1950's television show My Little Margie but also appeared in leading roles in over 30 films and was an accomplished recording artist, ice skater, and stage performer.

Carradine earned his own niche in entertainment history (although I never learned to tie those kind of knots in Boy Scouts) as did impersonator and funny guy Fred Travalena. But my favorite sidekick of all time has to be Ed McMahon.

Of all the recently departed, I miss McMahon most. Perhaps it's because we're similar in appearance, maybe it's because he spurred my own interest in a radio and TV career, or maybe it's because he seemed like an average, workaday Joe just trying to make it in the world-like the rest of us. Whatever the connection, McMahon's long life was anything but ordinary.

During the entire 30-year run of The Tonight Show Ed was always there playing the straight man to Johnny Carson. Seldom the brightest star but notably the most consistent in reflecting the glow of the moment back to Carson. Before Tonight Show fame McMahon was a Marine fighter pilot and instructor who earned six medals flying over 80 spotting missions in unarmed OE-1 "Bird Dog" aircraft. After being honorably discharged from active duty in 1946, McMahon pursued many entertainment venues including that of a carnival barker in Maine and, later, put himself through college by working as a pitchman for vegetable slicers on the Atlantic City boardwalk. McMahon remained in the Air Force Reserve and retired at the rank of Colonel in 1966. Later he was commissioned a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard-all while working his 'day job' with Carson.

McMahon met Carson while announcing the game show "Who Do You Trust?" which ran from 1957 until 1962. Far from ever being contented with just one occupation, McMahon later hosted or co-hosted several top-rated programs such as Star Search, TV's Bloopersand Practical Jokes, and The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He also emceed the game shows Missing Links, Snap Judgment, Concentration, and Whodunnit! and captured the surprise of many on TV by handing out million-dollar checks to winners of the American Family Publisher's Sweepstakes. In recent years McMahon remained active by doing spots for 'Neighborhood Watch' organizations, various public service announcements, as well as commercials for electric wheelchairs and other items.

In my fantasy Johnny, already waiting for Ed at the pearly gates, bellowed out a big "Heeeeeerrrrrrreeeee's Ed" to appropriately pay tribute and welcome McMahon to the great beyond.

Certainly these past few weeks haven't been easy. Still, savoring the accomplishments of these great entertainers adds perspective to our own lives, and serves as a tribute to their great talent.

Well, that may be the show, for now, but before you snap off the tube [flat screen?] and go to bed, I'd urge you to dig a little deeper into the lives of these people. Even if you're not of the typical age group, do a little exploring anyway--I think you'll be pleasantly surprised--especially if you like music and/or just good plain entertainment.

Buy a Michael Jackson album. Download or rent some Carson shows. Lookup "My Little Margie" on YouTube and see what fledgling comedy looked like on a brand new medium (TV) in the fifties. Flip on a local PBS station and watch some episodes of Are You Being Served? (Yes, after 30 years they're still running in many places.) Mentally reminisce about that Farah Fawcett poster you had in high school or dig out a few of those forgotten albums and give them a listen once again. Finally, put a quarter in the coinbox of your memory, relax, and let those "magic fingers" soothe your psyche.

Heaven knows, I'd think you'd enjoy it!