MSN "Legendary comedian Johnny Carson held political convictions like any other American. But when the "on air" light came on, he kept them off the show.His longtime neighbor and weekly tennis partner, Howard Smith, is pulling back the curtain on the "King of Late Night’s" private life to reveal a man who refused to weaponize his platform, despite his own strong views"
. . . "Kimmel faced criticism this week after a joke about first lady Melania Trump, in which he referred to her as an "expectant widow." The comment came days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner and sparked calls for his firing.
"Smith said Kimmel was once a student of the Carson era and was given a copy of his book, "My Friend Johnny." "I’m not a Jimmy Kimmel fan," Smith told Fox News Digital, recalling he was once asked to sign a copy of his book for the host, who he was told "loves John."
"Smith believes the shift toward partisanship isn't just a choice — it’s a crutch for a lack of real comedy. "The difference nowadays is that these people are not, you know, that funny," Smith said bluntly. "So they’re coming up with other things, and the politician stuff."
"Fox News Digital reached out to the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show for comment.
Smith recalled a time when Carson was asked to speak at a political event for the late President George H.W. Bush. The comedian flatly declined, telling him he didn’t "want to get involved in stuff like that."
"'They just want me there because they can get more money if I'm there, and I'm not [going to] participate in that," Smith recalled his friend saying.
COMEDIAN CRAIG FERGUSON EXPLAINS WHY HIS STAND-UP TOUR SKIPS TRUMP AND ALL POLITICS
"Smith said Carson saw the industry’s political shift coming before he retired. He added that Carson wanted David Letterman to take over his slot but had concerns about his move toward political humor. It’s a philosophy Smith said was shared by Jay Leno, who ultimately succeeded Carson, and who wrote the foreword to Smith’s book." . . .
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