Universal says "Hey all of you chatters out there - Welcome to The Backlot Café chat show. It's Tuesday, January 13 and you are chatting live on The Real Hollywood Network. My name is Jeremy Berg and I'll be your moderator for the evening. Tonight we're extremely privileged to have Ed McMahon as our chat guest! Before we start chatting with Ed, I want to take the time to introduce The Backlot Café crew and explain to you how to participate in tonight's moderated chat."

Universal says "Joining me tonight are my partners in crime, Jennifer Koziol, Jeff Pakosta and Steve Leff. Jennifer's my trusty screener, Steve's my handy man, and Jeff is just an all around great guy. Also on hand is our typist Troy Rutter."

Universal says "OK chatters, listen up!!! Here are some instructions on asking questions during tonight's live chat: All you have to do is click on the ? that's featured on the plugin toolbar (just to the left of the scrolling marquee). Or, simply type /ask followed by your question. It will then be submitted and presented to the special guest speaker. It should look exactly like this: /ask What sign are you?"

Universal says "And for all of you Excite users out there - Thanks for joining us!! If you're using Excite's VP chat, ask a question by clicking on the "Something to Say?" button on the lower right corner of the stage."

Universal says "All right folks, let's move onto today's live celebrity chat. Today we're privileged to have Ed McMahon as a guest on The Backlot Cafe! McMahon is best known to audiences from his 30-year stint on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 1957, a young Johnny Carson was in search of a new announcer for his quiz show Who Do You Trust? He and Ed clicked immediately and after four years of polishing their interplay, the team took over The Tonight Show."

Universal says "Ed McMahon stars as Charlie Dickerson on THE TOM SHOW, a new half-hour comedy series from Universal Television. Charlie Dickerson has been the host of the local morning show, "Breakfast with Charlie" for the past 43 years. He co-stars opposite of Tom Arnold and Shannon Tweed. All right chatters, let's get to it!! Ladies and gentleman. . .it's chat time!!! Without any further ado, please welcome Mr. Ed McMahon!!!"

Universal says "We're so happy to have you here with us today. We wanted to get you a few months back, but we're happy to have you now!!"

EdMcMahon says "Thank you very much - nice to be aboard!"

Universal says "Are you currently in production?"

EdMcMahon says "I just got home a little while ago from day 2 of this weeks show. The show is about a ticket scam. The policeman, Billy - one of Tom's old old buddies... he gives him 2 tickets as a gift - but then accept $35 in exchange, so its a halfway gift. And Tom goes to his father to try to make up for lost years and tries to make it up to take him to the Bulls game with the Timberwolves and turns out they are stolen seats in the skybox!"

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "You know in TV guide they try to explain the show in few words..."

tomarnoldfan asks "Hey Ed!!! Welcome to RHN!! What are your thoughts on chatting online and the internet in general???"

EdMcMahon says "I'm very enthralled by it. I'm trying to learn the computer but it became so embarrassing that my then 11-year-old came home one day from school and I was locked in cyberspace. I had 2 images, one on top of the other and I couldn’t move either one - I WAS STUCK! I couldn't do a thing and my 11-year-old and says "Daddy.. let me have the mouse." And of course in 2 seconds she fixes everything!"

Universal says "Kids these days are like sponges! They pick up on that stuff very quickly."

EdMcMahon says "It's very embarrassing when your 11-year-old is so clued in to cyberspace and I'm trying to crawl before I can walk. I'm so in to it - I'm trying to learn, I really am!"

El Nino asks "when did you get into show business?"

EdMcMahon says "Well, I started very young. I knew I wanted to be a broadcaster and I used to hold a flashlight like a microphone and cued up records and read Time magazine aloud, ads - and even then I knew where the big money was! I read the news, sports, etc and I got my first job working in a sound truck announcing the arrival of the circus - and I got my first radio announcer job when I was 17 - that is one of the big highlights of my life and I worked my way up and I became THE nighttime man. I did everything - sports, news features - and I loved it! And that was way back in the forties."

Universal says "That's fantastic. You served in WWII as well?"

EdMcMahon says "Mm hmmm. I was a marine fighter pilot in WW II. I was called back for Korea - and even when I was in the service, I would emcee all the shows... you know, when a band came through or a show - I would volunteer to be the emcee. So I kept my hand on a microphone, and then when the Korean war ended, I took over a radio staiton on the armed forces network and ran that. I always kept doing what I loved to do!"

Novella asks "How do you like doing a sitcom?"

EdMcMahon says "I love it! I love the challenge - the discipline. You go in and there are rules and regulations. You come in on a Monday and you come in with a script and supposed to know the interpretation of your lines. You sit around at a table read and read the script - and then lines are changed, added modified... etc. and you work through until Friday and then you do it before a live audience The script you do on Friday is vastly different than the one you started with on Monday. I love that! It makes the show better. I love to perform so being in front of an audience is great - I even help the warmup guy!"

Universal says "When the Tonight Show was over, did you see yourself getting involved with a sitcom?"

EdMcMahon says "I never did, actually. I had Star Search, I didnt know how long that would last... I had commercials and other things - I wouldn't NOT want to be in this business. I just wouldn't leave. I love it! I thought I would resume my acting career - and I've done some bit parts in movies."

Universal says "You were in Fun With Dick and Jane, right?"

EdMcMahon says "That was probaboly the best movie I ever did!"

Chloe25 asks "Is there any similarity between Charlie, the character you play on the Tom Show and yourself?"

EdMcMahon says "Well there is - because I'm an old televison performer and I had a breakfast show in Philly. Back in the early 50's. So there's that similarity. I am not, in my oipinion, a fuddy-duddy. He has his own little world he lives in. "Great greek gods, what is this world coming to?!" I would NEVER say that! He has alll of these locked in time sayings - and I love that! Im playing a character, not me. But there are similiarites of course!"

ExciteUser asks "(bunky4):Hello Mr McMahon......I watched you for years on the Tonite Show with Johnny Carson, do you miss that sort of environment you had on that show?"

EdMcMahon says "Very much. I miss working with him. That was a joy... knowing that before the day was out, we would be sitting at that desk. I loved everything about that show, I loved working with him! He was the best thing that ever happened to television. I loved bantering with him, ad-libbing... being the foil at times, but also being the "chronicaler" I would keep track of time - he would get a big kick out of that."

Universal says "What about the day to day grind of being on a live talk show?"

EdMcMahon says "It was tough. 30 years of that. We worked from 4 years before that - we worked ALL the time! Sometimes they kidded he worked only 3 days a week - when we started we worked 5 nights a week doing 1 1/2 hour shows!"

Universal says "Wow!"

EdMcMahon says "It was a long time before it went to an hour. You were locked to that schedule - you couldnt take time off or a trip."

Universal says "But it was very rewarding obviously"

EdMcMahon says "I loved it! I wouldnt trade it for anything thats happened in my life!" db-benny asks "who was your favorite tonight show guest? still miss you. every night"

EdMcMahon says "Thats nice, thank you! I always rate at the very top - Jimmy Stewart. We were reminded in the past year how great he was doing both serious and comedy. When he read a poem he had written about a dog.. and he wrote that he could feel the dog jump up on the bed, even after the dog had died. And he wrote that beautiful poem and we all were in tears. Another time he wrote about finding a lake. It was in Africa - he and his wife went to Lake Nikajimey... The poem went like this: After he'd found the place - it was tough to get there through the jungle... he said, "When you see Lake Nikajimey, it's surface is as smooth as glass. But getting to lake Nikajimey is a royal pain in the...""

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "And he says "a**" on TV - in the early days there were some restrictions on what you could say. But to hear JIMMY say it - there were laughs!"

Universal says "Do you remember what year that was?"

EdMcMahon says "I want to say the 70's.. could be early 80s. We embraced a lot of years. Started 62 ended 92... so theres a lot of stuff in there. I cant really pinpoint it."

Universal says "Were you always located in Burbank?"

EdMcMahon says "No no.. we started in New York. He had a game show and I got the announcer job. We were on for four years, and they lured him to the Tonight Show and insisted I come as well. NBC wanted to keep Hugh Downs, and Johnny wanted me, so it was a trade off. So he took their producer."

Universal says "How about the producer?"

EdMcMahon says "He finally DID get the show. Finally Johnny did get his own producer whom he wanted. So it worked out."

karcher asks "would you do another talk show if one comes up for you?"

EdMcMahon says "I don't think so. I don't think I want to - that whole thing about the prize fighter and he takes one more fight and it's not so good... Sugar Ray has just cancelled another fight. It would've been better if he just said "that's it - I did it all" I wouldn't want to do that, I already did the best talk show - I wouldn't want to do a lesser one"

JelloBoy asks "If you weren't a performer and you didn't do the sweepstakes, what else would you like to do?"

EdMcMahon says "I would like to have been an architect"

Universal says "Really?!"

EdMcMahon says "Oh yeah. Ive always loved making buildings.. I've built 5 houses that I've lived in. I've had a chance to exercise a little of my feelings in that regard - but I would love that. That would be a very rewarding experience"

Universal says "Who are some of your favorite architects?"

EdMcMahon says "I love Frank Wright... a good friend of mine studied with him. He was quite a man. I can almost look at a house and I'll say its a Wright house. Just the way he built it. Very livable houses. My architecture would not be buildings or bridges - I would like to build cozy residences."

Universal says "What about contemporary architects like Richard Meyer?"

EdMcMahon says "I like him a lot, yes. I haven't seen the Getty yet - but it is magnificent!"

Universal says "That is an unbelievable structure"

EdMcMahon says "That to me is like the Parthenon of modern times."

Universal says "I don't understand what Richard is going to do next!"

EdMcMahon says "I want to go up there and see the stone work on those walls! To put that much stone on the walls! One of my great dreams was to see the Parthenon... I told my daughter I might not make it but you better. And finally I got there. But when you look at the Parthenon... that's incredible! So I cant wait to see the Getty - I'm going to spend as much time looking at the building as the art!"

Universal says "I actually went on a tour there 2 years back when it wasn't complete yet and it was enormous!"

EdMcMahon says "Mmm hmmm. I can't drive by... last night even...I couldn't wait to get to the point coming home last night to look up at the building."

XgoombaX asks "how do you unwind at thhe end of a hard day?"

EdMcMahon says "Well its easy for me. I have a wife I'm happy to see, a daughter. There are family things I have to do."

Universal hears dogs barking

Universal says "There's a dog!"

EdMcMahon says "I've got dogs here! Yeah, you can hear that."

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "Anyway, I get into the family life of my evening and of course I like to have a couple of glasses of good red wine."

Universal says "Who doesn't!!"

EdMcMahon says "My daughter ordered something this morning "We haven't had chicken and rice tonight" so she asked me and I said I love that! So she was home and we have a nice evening. Maybe watch some TV and check some homework."

Universal says "That's great"

EdMcMahon says "Rewinding for me is taking care of the family life."

donutgirl asks "What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

EdMcMahon says "Coffee."

Chloe25 asks "Do you actually go to give the Publisher's Clearing House $11 million the check personally?"

EdMcMahon says "Yes. There's 2 companies.. Publisher's Clearinghouse - we're American Family. Dick Clark and I did start to give the prize out in person for American Family. If you are expecting the prize, at least wear a towel of suitable size!!!"

EdMcMahon says "When you see me with balloons and champagne - start dancing!"

Universal says "Has there been any kind of lurid occasions when you opened the door and caught someone in an embarrasing situation?"

EdMcMahon says "Not really. It's always worked for us. Our problem is that they arent as enthusiastic because they are in shock!"

Universal says "That's a tough situation. I'd be so happy I'd be stunned!!"

EdMcMahon says "There's a great wave of disbelief."

Kryton asks "What is it like to work with Dick Clark?"

EdMcMahon says "It's great. We are old old friends - we were next door neighbors! I moved into an apartment after the Korean war, and he had "saved" an apartment for me. I was gone for 18 months and he kept his promise - a 3 bedroom apartment, like a duplex. I wondered who my neighbor was - and it was Dick Clark! When I left he was a disc jockey - I was TV, he was radio. Of course Bandstand became American Bandstand and we've been friends ever since! He's very professional, he's on time - he has the right suit. And we get things done in a very quick way because it's both of our styles."

ExciteUser asks "(devvy):and do you fill out the sweepstake forms when they come to your house?"

EdMcMahon says "As I'm talking to you - I can see 3 of them that say I'm the winner!"

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "My wife says "sure, I marry YOU, but now I cant enter!" No, I don't fill them out of course."

Mala asks "who is your current favorite entertainer?"

EdMcMahon says "Wow. No one will ever touch Frank Sinatra. Currently... as an entertainer... I guess Tony Bennett."

Universal says "What are your thoughts on Jay Leno?"

EdMcMahon says "I think Jay is wonderful! He's hard working, very good comic - hosting a show. He does a different show than Johnny. Johnny was more introspective - Leno is more joke joke joke. Interviews, trying to make as many jokes as he can. He doesnt do a lot of the things Johnny does. Johnny would have a 100 year old waiter on. It would be comical but also warm and fuzzy. He loves kids, he loved old people - the "nut lady" - she made sculptures oput of walnuts! He had so much fun with her without demeaning her. He might joke WITH her - but Leno has more comic standup, comedic spin. It's entertaining and fun - he's a hard worker."

Nobb asks "Do you have a funny story about how you coined the phrase, "HEEEEERRRRREEEE'S Johnny!""

EdMcMahon says "It's not funny - it's a story of desperation!"

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "I was thinking of what to say come showtime... and I wanted to say something that would be different when I used to host "monitor" on NBC - we would go over the world and there was a correspondent in London and for some reason, i introduced him as "heeeeeeeeeere's Robert" and I remembered that - and that's what I'm going to do. And that's what I ended up doing. And now everybody is doing something like that. I guess I hit it, because the next morning, everybody was saying "heeeeeeeeres Johnny!" So I hit on something! It gave me something distinctive for me."

ExciteUser asks "(boutime):being a famous person, do you ever miss not being able to go into public and just be your self?"

EdMcMahon says "Not really - that never bothered me. I've always made that distinction that there's a public me and a private me. When I go out im the public me - I sign autographs - thats what people want and I want to entertain. There's a private me that sits at home in my office - and that's the private me. I just have to differentiate between the two. It does not bother me. When im in a restaurant and someone interrupts me - I give them the autograph."

Universal says "If you start shunning them away, you start annoying people"

EdMcMahon says "Absolutely. I read a quote today that someone was annoyed when people asked for his autograph - and that's so dumb! You have to expect it. The fans are like flowers in a garden - you have to tend to them. You have to take care of them."

ExciteUser asks "( mansonsangel):how do you think tv shows have changed over the years?"

EdMcMahon says "Well, a lot of different ways. The storylines have changed a great deal. You can talk about a lot of things now that you couldn't back then. The graphics have changed - the look of the show - the way it happens. Everything about the show itself. A lot of the sitcoms look like movies. NYPD's 100th episode is tonight - that's one of my favorite shows. They do the show in 8 days of production - its like a movie though."

Universal says "That I don't understand!! It's amazing."

EdMcMahon says "All of that - the care and concern of telling the story - has improved tremendously. The sets, being on the street live. The early days of television - EVERYTHING was in the studio. If they wanted a set to look like a bank - it was a set. Nowadays they go to a real bank! The stories are more reflective on our life and times."

Universal says "What other shows are some of your favorites?"

EdMcMahon says "I love Law & Order.. my new favorite is The Practice. My favorite of favorites is Homicide: Life on the Streets"

Universal says "It doesn't sound like you'd be an X-Files fan."

EdMcMahon says "I'm not. I'm not into that. I just dont like weird! There's a new show called Prey - I can't see that! Blood turns me off. But drama.... when it has to do with life's problems and situations, that pleases me. The X-Files just doesn't work for me. "Of course we'll see more and more of that now. There's something about the conclusion of the century. You'll start to see more and more... "Men In Black - all of these shows and movies... showing people preying on other beings.. there will be more and more of that."

ExciteUser asks "(Beachflea):Is there any chance of a reunion show with Johnny?"

EdMcMahon says "Never. Unfortunately, I wish there were. He is just... "I did it.. and it's over""

karcher asks "what show do you miss doing more, the tonight show, star serach, or bloopers?"

EdMcMahon says "Oh boy. . . I guess The Tonight Show."

EdMcMahon says "I have to really put some emphasis on Star Search. When we see everyone we have discovered: Rosie, Sinbad, Le Ann Rimes... Drew Carey, Jenny Jones.. the list goes on and on - Dennis Miller.. it never stops. I mentioned The Practice.. the the DA on that was a veteran of Star Search."

Universal says "Oh, I didn't know that."

EdMcMahon says "Lara Flyn Boyle"

ExciteUser asks "(Roosker): What breed of dogs do you have Ed?"

EdMcMahon says "Well, I have English setters.. I have a bassett hound and I have precious mixtures- not mutts!"

Universal laughs

EdMcMahon says "The one you heard was Muffin - my wife's dog who just worship's me. She is English sheepdog and parts unknown."

Universal says "What are the names of the other dogs?"

EdMcMahon says "There's also Millie, Honey and Katie"

tomarnoldfan asks "Have you seen any good movies lately?"

EdMcMahon says "I saw an incredibly wonderful movie "As Good As It Gets" - one of the best films of the last 10 years!"

Universal says "Wow. That's a bold statement!!"

EdMcMahon says "It's so entertaining ... I'm anxious to see Wag The Dog..."

Universal says "Titanic? Did you see that?"

EdMcMahon says "Ive seen Titanic and I loved it."

EdMcMahon says "I want to see Good Will Hunting."

Universal says "Excellent movie!!"

EdMcMahon says "These are great questions!"

ExciteUser asks "(Roosker): Who is the most exciting person you have ever met?"

EdMcMahon says "Wow. Thats a GOOD question. I was fortunate enough to be in the company of President Johnson - in Austin Texas."

EdMcMahon says "We got into his Lincoln and drove over his property - over tree stumps - he was just fascinating."

Universal says "Well not many people can say that!"

EdMcMahon says "I think that was pretty exciting, yeah! I was lucky enough to be a friend of Frank Sinatra... I did a lot of benefits with him... living his life with him was very exciting."

Universal says "So you've sat down at a meal with just you and Frank!?"

EdMcMahon says "Oh yeah. And I met John Wayne!"

Universal says "That's pretty exciting right there!"

EdMcMahon says "Ive been in John Wayne's home in Newport and had a beer with him - thats pretty nice."

Universal says "You've met so many people!!"

tomarnoldfan asks "Who are your heroes?"

EdMcMahon says "Winston Churchill is an incredible figure in history whom I really admire. What he had to do in coventry when the english broke the German code with a typewriter... they could actually type the code and translate it... they learned about the bombing. He could have evacuated but then the Germans would know they broke the code. What a decision to make. It's like Truman with the bomb - do you drop it? But it did end the war. If we had to invade Japan, how many lives would have been lost? So those 2 decisions are interesting to me. I love Churchill's style. Some of the things he said were wonderful. Winston had a dinner guest and they were going down the stairs at a state reception..."

Universal says "Lady Ashter"

EdMcMahon says "I'm paraphrasing... As they are coming into the dinner and he stumbles.. and she says "Sir Winston - you are drunk." And he says "Yes Lady Ashter... and YOU are an unattractive woman." However I'll be sober in the morning!" He had the style of WC Fields - a man I greatly admire."

karcher asks "what kinds of books do you enjoy reading?"

EdMcMahon says "Well I love books of the war, history - Robert Ludlum.. all of his books I love. Tom Clancy - I'm getting more and more into history now. And I like good stories. If its a good tale."

ExciteUser asks "(jadava):what are your plans for the future?"

EdMcMahon says "To keep on doing what I'm doing - keep on rolling! Getting the job done - hopefully The Tom Show.. 7:30 on Sunday nights on the WB.. 6:30 central I'm doing a tour for them to promote the show and the network - I hope to keep doing that and commercials.. maybe a good movie - like the one in Dick and Jane. I love being a heavy. It's a great role for me - and I'm just going to keep on going. I don't plan to ever stop as long as someone wants me."

Universal says "That's fantastic! I'm sure people will definietly want you around!"

Universal says "That's going to wrap it up for another episode of The Backlot Cafe. Our thanks go out to Ed McMahon for taking the time to chat with us tonight!"

Universal says "Thanks again chatters. And remember, the best chats can be found only on The Real Hollywood Network!!! Stay tuned for Robert Forster of the new hit film Jackie Brown, who'll be chatting live in just about 15 minutes. And, check out who's in store later this week on The Real Hollywood Network!!! Wednesday - Alexandra Wentworth at 7 PM PST, Thursday - John Landis at 6 PM PST and Kevin Bacon at 7 PM PST, Friday - Andy Dick at 7 PM PST. If you're at Excite you can view the full schedule by clicking on the Upcoming Events link on the stage!!"

Universal says "This has been a production of the The Real Hollywood Network and Universal Studios On-line, Inc.. TM & Copyright Universal Studios On-Line, Inc."

Universal says "Good night everybody!!!!"

EdMcMahon says "Good night!"