"A Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend. The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television. This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country. This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.
A Hard Act to Follow
"MY REVIEW"
My Take:
5-Stars!
Johnny Carson. You know! Back then from NBC's "The Tonight Show"! We ALL remember hearing these words: "Heeeeeeeeeer'es Johhhnnnnnnnyyy"! Ed McMahon would introduce him as every night. (This is mentioned in the book, too!) Every 4x a week!
I watched the last half of his career (about 10 years) of The Late Show, too! My Grandfather even bought my Grandmother a special TV with a timer on it (LOL!) for their bedroom where she would not go to sleep until she got to watch the show every night! 1-1/2 hours 4x a week! (I wonder what she watched that one night he wasn't on? She was a TV fanatic!)
For those of us who are older and remember him from him in full-swing, more than twenty years ago, back in '92, Carson decided to retire. Jay Leno took over the show, it still goes on today! Interesting thing here, if anyone can recall this, (and I can't remember if this is in the book or not, as I remember so much from real-life, myself too, and then all the things in this book that some of these things kind of have blurred together), but I remember Carson wanting Letterman to take over his show, or at least that was what was expected from all of us viewers back then, too, it was sort of expected, but instead (people called him Lantern-Jaw) Leno who happened to be the one who ended up with the show and NOT Letterman! There was a LOT of commotion over that move. Oh, I remember that like it was yesterday! Leno is still Hosting the show today!
Johnny Carson is the ICON of ALL Late Night Talk Show Hosts, and the author of this book, Harry Bushkin, has stories to tell you that you will die over at times! You'll be flipping the pages of this book more than rapidly! He really keeps your attention riveted to the page for sure! I came across so many quotes in this book, there is no way I could include them all in a review! They were great!
Bushkin would have been Carson's personal/business attorney for almost his entire career and beyond. He has stories that will blow you away about Carson, speaks of stars from the day, the past and the present, and a lot about Carson's personal life as well. You'll LOVE his writing style, at least I did! Never a dull moment, never! He tells these stories like they were just yesterday. This is one entertaining real-life tale that he actually lived through! Wow, I say! Not what a career, but what a life! Ups and downs and all around's! I'll tell you one thing, Bushkin is as sharp as a whip with his memory! He has not forgotten a thing!
If you remember Johnny Carson, watched his show, or know of him or his show, or know someone who watched him, you'll find this book is incredibly entertaining, sad, vivid with stories, funny, shocking, amazing, and an incredible life journey this celebrity lived through, along with this author, Henry Bushkin, his attorney, who lived right alongside Johnny Carson! All kinds of emotions both these men went through together, along with everyone else who was ever just involved in any manner the this man as well. Johnny Carson was quite a guy, as is Harry Bushkin, this author!
This book is an amazing journey! I would not hesitate for a second to HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who knows of Johnny Carson. I more than HIGHLY recommend it, I think it's required reading material!
Author Henry Bushkin
Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.
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