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PEOPLE / ARTS Thursday 23 November 2017
Paul Reiser's new comedy recalls the world of Johnny Carson

By FRAZIER MOORE is also a veteran standup eyed Andy (Ian Nelson)
AP Television Writer comic who appeared works closely with a fellow
NEW YORK (AP) — Her-r-r-r- many times on Carson's staffer, jaded Hollywood
rre's Paul Reiser! "Tonight Show" during its child Joy (Jane Levy), who
You can find him on the heyday. His experience on treats Andy's naivete with
Amazon comedy "Red Johnny's couch, coupled exasperation and wonder-
Oaks," whose third and fi- with his earlier memories of ment. All of the characters
nal season was recently staying up late on school are fictional, other than
released with Reiser as the nights to catch Johnny's Freddy de Cordova, Car-
power-packing president monologue and the co- son's longtime executive
of a New Jersey country medians whose careers producer and ring-a-ding-
club in the 1980s. he launched with a sanc- ding consigliere, who is
You can also find him on tifying thumbs-up, spurred played with gusto by Tony
the just-posted second Reiser to develop "There's . Danza.
season of Netflix's "Stranger Johnny!" with partner Da- Reiser recalls that it was
Things" as a government vid Steven Simon. de Cordova who served
scientist who may not be That took more than a de- as Carson's liaison with
quite what he seems. cade, much of it spent se- the staff and, until they
And though you won't curing the support of the stepped onstage, with
see him on Hulu's "There's Carson estate, which has Johnny's guests, too. This Nov. 16, 2017 photo shows actor-producer Paul Reiser in
. Johnny!," Reiser is very furnished clips from vintage "I did the show a lot and, New York. Reiser stars in the Netflix series, "Stranger Things,"
and produced, co-created and wrote a 7-episode Hulu series,
much part of this comedic 1972 shows that are insert- other than sitting there “There’s … Johnny!,” a comedic peek behind the scenes of
peek behind the scenes of ed into the comedic narra- next to Johnny on cam- “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” circa 1972.
"The Tonight Show Starring tive. It is through these snip- era, I never hung out with Associated Press
Johnny Carson" circa 1972. pets that Carson resides in him, never SAW him," Reiser
All seven episodes, with "There's . Johnny!" No actor says. "He was this looming think any television show or after he had brought "To-
Reiser as co-creator and plays him. presence in the building performer can be today. night" from New York to Bur-
-writer, are now available This contrasts with Show- — it was all Johnny's world You couldn't record the bank, California.
for viewing. time's contemporaneous — but even when he was show, so you had to stay up There, Carson truly blos-
"The fact that I suddenly dramedy "I'm Dying Up going from his office to until 11:30 to watch, or you somed as an arbiter of Hol-
have three different shows Here," set at a 1970s Sunset makeup or the stage, all I missed out. lywood hipness, which he
on three different stream- Strip comedy club whose saw was an elbow round- "There are people 40 and skillfully played against his
ing platforms suggests that up-and-coming comics ing a corner or the back of up who remember Johnny boyish, middle-American
I'm clever and I planned dream of a career-making his head. That was the feel and still miss him. But you appeal.
this. I planned nothing," shot on "The Tonight Show." that I wanted to put in the don't need any prior ex- Meanwhile, the world out-
says Reiser before joking Carson is portrayed by show: You know he's there, perience or knowledge of side Carson's studio was
that his goal now is to be Dylan Baker. it's all about him, but it's only Johnny Carson to enjoy our in turmoil with Watergate,
on EVERY platform and While paying no less rev- on the air where you see show. It's not ABOUT him. the Vietnam war and so-
every device, "even when erence to Carson's lofty him." It was on the air that He's the background. And I cial upheaval. No wonder
you shut it off." stature, "There's ... Johnny!" Carson took form for the like to think that it will make viewers flocked to "The To-
The 60-year-old Reiser, is instead a TV workplace nation as an intimately felt people not familiar with night Show" to share some
whose acting career be- comedy. Its action cen- companion whose impact him happy that they now reassuring laughs with
gan with a bang in the ters on 19-year-old Carson- and reach is almost impos- know about him." Johnny before bedtime.
films "Diner," ''Beverly Hills idolizing Andy Klavin, who sible to fathom today. "There's . Johnny!" takes Now "There's . Johnny!" de-
Cop" and "Aliens," and who stumbles into a job as gofer "He was the GUY," says Rei- place a decade into Car- lights in showing what was
starred in NBC's 1990s sit- on the "Tonight Show" staff. ser. "Johnny was a part of son's 30-year reign as "King going on, out of sight and
com hit "Mad About You," Fresh from Nebraska, wide- our lives in a way I don't of Late Night," just months off the air.q

Christopher Plummer has this to

say about retirement _ never

By JOHN CARUCCI I'll never retire. mas cheer," Plummer said.
Associated Press I hope to drop dead on- Plummer also has begun
NEW YORK (AP) — stage. That's what I really shooting scenes for the up-
At 87, Christopher Plum- want to do." coming Ridley Scott film "All
mer isn't just working — he's Plummer, who plays Eb- the Money in the World,"
busy. enezer Scrooge in the film, replacing Kevin Spacey
He has five movies sched- recently toured a Charles as billionaire J. Paul Getty.
uled for release, including Dickens exhibit at the Pier- Spacey was ousted from
"A Christmas Carol" origin pont Morgan Library in the movie in the wake of a
story called "The Man Who New York. Plummer admits series of sexual misconduct
Invented Christmas." And that Dickens, especially "A allegations.
he plans to work until the Christmas Carol," was a big The actor credits his wife
very end, literally. part of his upbringing. for maintaining his stamina.
"I love my work. I love what "All my family had grown "I have a very good chef
I do. And I'm so sorry for a up on Scrooge, and some as a wife. She knows how
majority of people who of them had actually seen to cook wonderfully bal-
do not like their jobs, and Dickens lecture and tell sto- anced food. She's a real In this July 25, 2013, file photo, Christopher Plummer poses for a
can't wait to retire, which ries. So you took it for grant- artist at it, and that's one portrait at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
of course, is death. ed that it was part of Christ- good reason."q Associated Press