Thanks, Ed

Let's give a shout-out today to Ed McMahon. Ed died yesterday at the age of 86.

For years the sidekick of Johnny Carson on late-night television, McMahon defined the role which was later imitated by those who rode alongside Jay, Conan, Dave and others. McMahon's famous laugh and "hi-yo" were trademarks which became a part of popular culture, as did his introductory "Here's Johnny!"

It's a bit ironic that McMahon's death comes on the heels of the change in late-night programming and the Letterman/Palin controversy of recent weeks. McMahon and Carson starred in a time when late night really was about the conversations and less about the staged video bits. His death completes the passing of the torch from that generation to the current crop of late-night talk show hosts.

Personally, I miss the old late night...