Ed McMahon, best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick on NBC's Tonight show ("And now h-e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!"), died early today (Tuesday) in Los Angeles at age 86. The cause of death was not disclosed, but his publicist, Howard Bragman, said that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months." The Associated Press, quoting a source close to McMahon, said that he had been battling bone cancer and had been hospitalized for several weeks.

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Legendary late-night TV sidekick Ed McMahon has died early this morning at the age of 86. McMahon is best known for his 30-year run at Johnny Carson's side on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and became famous for his iconic introduction of the host with, "Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny."
McMahon's died early Tuesday morning at a Los Angeles-area hospital, said hospital spokesperson Howard Bragman.
"He died early this morning with his wife and loved ones by his side," Bragman said.
McMahon had been fighting pneumonia and other ailments, although Bragman would neither confirm nor deny reports that McMahon was battling bone cancer.

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When Johnny Carson said goodbye to the Tonight Show after 30 years, he said, "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. And I hope when I find something that I want to do and I think you would like and come back that you'll be as gracious in inviting me into your home as you have been. I bid you a very heartfelt good night."
Less than a month later, it was announced that Carson had made a deal to develop a new project for NBC. Unfortunately, it never came to be and the king of late night didn't return to television on a regular basis. Perhaps wisely, he felt he'd never be able to top what he'd already done.
Thankfully he did make a few brief appearances in the next couple years.
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For this evening's final episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the host has promised a special episode. James Taylor is set to be the last musical act and Leno's successor, Conan O'Brien, will be his final guest.
There will also be something that's billed as "The Extreme Tonight Show Montage." Leno teased reporters last week that, "I have something really unusual and different planned -- something really out of left field that we're going to end on."
While we wait to see the last episode, it's hard not to recall how Leno's legendary predecessor, Johnny Carson, finished his run 17 years ago this month.
Carson had been considering retirement for some time, so long in fact that, when the announcement came in 1991, viewers were stunned. The final several weeks of shows were very special as guests and old friends stopped by to say farewell and beg him not to go.
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Will Ferrell will be the first guest on the couch for the debut of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on June 1. Ferrell, who helped usher O'Brien out of New York on the final Late Night with Conan O'Brien will help welcome O'Brien to his new home in Los Angeles. In addition Pearl Jam will be the inaugural band on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Pearl Jam will perform songs from their upcoming studio album.
Conan O'Brien, the dominant late-night host at 12:35 a.m. (Et) for the past 14 seasons, will succeed Jay Leno as host of the preeminent series on late-night television, NBC's The Tonight Show on June 1, 2009.
The Tonight Show continues to be the most dominant late-night institution in television history. Since it first premiered on September 27, 1954 with Steve Allen, The Tonight Show has had just four permanent hosts, including Leno. Allen, host of the then titled "Tonight,

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Some more talented individuals left us this month. It's amazing how so many people have contributed so much to the medium of television.
Some of the losses this month include Dom DeLuise (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The New Candid Camera), Linda Dangcil (Dynasty, Quincy M.E., 3rd Rock From The Sun, and The Flying Nun), Frank Aletter (M*A*S*H, All In The Family, Dallas, Kojak, and Murder, She Wrote), Wayne Allwine (movies Splash, Three Men And A Baby, and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and as the voice of Mickey Mouse), Michael Ross (All In The Family, The Jeffersons, and Three's Company), and veteran news producer Jack Reilly (The Mike Douglas Show, David Frost Show, Good Morning America, and Entertainment Tonight).
Here are the details...
Comedic actor Dom DeLuise passed away in his sleep on May 4th in Southern California. He was 75 years old. DeLuise was
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