Joan Rivers: Johnny Carson Was A "Bastard" And A "Nasty Man" (VIDEO)

MSNBC interviewed Joan Rivers about the sad passing of legendary entertainment figure Ed McMahon. Rivers had nothing but praise for McMahon, however when anchor Contessa Brewer brought up Rivers' falling out with McMahon compatriot Johnny Carson, Rivers tone changed dramatically as she berated Carson, calling him a "bastard" and a "nasty man."

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Comments

[slobone]

I don't think there's any reason to believe they had anything but a mutually beneficial business relationship. He undoubtedly needed her as much as she needed him. There was many a night when Johnny's show would have been totally lifeless without an appearance by Joan.

Still, de mortuis nil nisi bonum. She should only hope she doesn't get dumped on after her death by all the people she's been nasty to over the years...

[LiberalForever]

I thought she died in 97. Go figure.

[cfreedom]

Johnny was the greatest of them all, bar none, never to be touched. but he was nasty to Ms. Rivers. Any of us, in her situation, would likely feel the same.

[RODERICK098]

Joan Rivers is nasty to everyone except Prince Charles and Camilla. and her talentless daughter.Talk about obsequious social climber.

[Grulg]

*Carson WAS not that great a guy off-camera. Hard to know is how he was described.

*He DID treat Rivers badly after she went and got her own show.

*She's prob. being petty but still.

*McMahon seemed like a good egg over-all, he had a good life.

[ttyy]

Johnny's job was to entertain on The Tonight Show, not be Joan River's BFF.

If she can't handle that she can take a flying leap.

[Atra]

I'm constantly amazed at how many people could refute claims about how unpopular someone is/was, especially big name entertainers like Carson. What temperamen­t/behavior do you think is going to flourish in an environment when often these people are never told "NO" to their inept ideas and schemes.

Hollywood salaries and pampering never breed a well adjusted, emotionally balanced star.

[hippylawyer]

Joan, you are a classy lady, you have rised above the glass celing.
Ed, May you rest in peace. You did many good things for this country.

RIP Semper Fi

[shirleyfeeney]

Bitter, party of one....

[IndependenceDame]

It's a shame that during the interview about Mr. McMahon's death the interviewer asked Ms. Rivers' about Johnny Carson particularly since Joan has never been quiet about her dislike of the man, whether deserved or not.

RIP, Mr. McMahon and thanks for laughs. You were great. Semper fi.

[traveler501]

there have been clues over the years that he was pretty outrageously vindicative and controlling going back to Regis Philbin's problems early on...very little ever came out, but each one was quite telling...and the way it was handled was always indicative of a mean and determined hand relentlessly controlling the message.

[Insightful]

Actually, i had heard a long time ago from a relative of one of his wives that Johnny was not a nice guy.

Joan probably has good cause for her statement and I enjoyed them both.

[nik101]

Joan Rivers bit the hand that fed her, then was shocked when she fell out of Mr. Carson's good graces.

[traveler501]

actually, I think the point is the manner in which the good graces were recalled if you think about it a minute.

[SILVANUS]

Joan is a mix of good and bad, but I can live without her, frankly.

[dav ram58]

I think Wayne Newton agrees with Joan Rivers on this. Wayne was going to punch his lights out once.

[RODERICK098]

A friend of mine's brother is a famous comedian. He said of his brother most people laugh at his jokes but what they do not get is that what he is saying he actually believes. I often think of that when I hear Joan's routine. She has a large gay following but she puts down gay people throughout her performances. She is a die in the wool Rethug after all. People are laughing at someone who actually hates them . Weird.