Johnny’s brave battle with emphysema
Johnny Carson is suffering from “deadly” emphysema – and has become a virtual recluse aboard his luxury yacht.
The National Enquirer is reporting that Carson has “been grappling with killer emphysema for several years and wants to stay out of the public eye.”
Carson, 76, smoked heavily for years and underwent quadruple-bypass heart surgery three years ago – almost ending up on an oxygen tank when his emphysema hampered his recovery.
“Johnny’s more than aware that emphysema could eventually kill him,” a friend tells The Enquirer. “But he’s battling the disease the best he can.”
Friends describe Carson as hermit-like, cruising aboard his 130-foot yacht, the Serengeti, with wife Alex and a crew of nine.
Johnny usually remains below deck, watching satellite TV and shunning contact with the public.
“Johnny is almost as reclusive as Howard Hughes was,” says a friend. “As far as Johnny’s concerned, sailing is the best thing he can do for his emphysema. The healthy sea air gives Johnny renewed energy and vitality, and he’s looking much better than the pasty gray he was earlier this year.”
Carson has been largely invisible since retiring from “The Tonight Show” in May 1992 after hosting the show for 29 years.
The National Enquirer’s story on Carson hits newsstands tomorrow.
Johnson to the 4; 11 goes to SAP
Ch. 4 has named Barbara Johnson as news director, ending a search that began over the summer when Dianne Doctor followed Dennis Swanson to Ch. 2.
Johnson, an 11-year veteran of Ch. 7, was brought aboard by Dan Forman, who worked with Johnson at Ch. 7 (he’s back at Ch. 4 as senior VP of news/station manager).
Johnson, who will begin her new job Sept. 23, was executive producer of Ch. 7’s 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts and had executive-produced the 11 p.m. newscast. Before that, she had served stints in Washington, Oklahoma City, Columbus, Ohio and Little Rock.
In other local station news, Ch. 11 will air 4½ hours of programming via the SAP (Second Audio Program) channel and will air a Spanish-language version of the new fall series “Greetings From Tucson,” which premieres tomorrow (9:30 p.m.). Beginning Monday, the daytime shows airing via SAP will be “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” (5 p.m.) “Dharma & Greg” (6 p.m.), “Will & Grace” (6:30), “Friends” (7) and “Everybody Loves Raymond” (7:30). From 11 p.m.-midnight the shows are “Friends,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Will & Grace,” with “Suddenly Susan” airing via SAP at 2 a.m.
This just in . . .
Last Thursday’s “Forensic Files” (9:30 p.m.) was Court TV’s most-watched show ever, averaging 1.8 million viewers.
“Ed” star Julie Bowen, partying at downtown club Society 5 the other night, was asked by “ET” what to expect from her character this season. Said Julie: “All I can tell you is that Carol might be trying on something white.” Read into that what you may.
Leeza Gibbons has some words of advice for little Stevie Walsh, the 5-year-old who’s covering Sunday’s Emmys for “The Wayne Brady Show” in Los Angeles. ” When you first get there, I want you to immediately plow down Joan Rivers . . . ’cause she’s your competition,” Gibbons tells Stevie on today’s “Wayne Brady Show” (10 a.m./Ch. 7). “Then you head for Mary Hart, Pat O’Brien.”
John Walsh dons his “America’s Most Wanted” hat today (9 a.m.) at Toys R Us in Times Square to announce a new digital identification program to help track children.
Randy Douthit has been named director of “Judge Judy” and will continue to serve as executive producer of the court show.