TV Guide's tribute to Johnny

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on February 25th, 2005

While we’re not a huge fan of TV critic Matt Roush’s prose, the tribute that TV Guide ran in their Feb. 13-19 issue was spectacular just for the illustrations. Johnny (and his wives) graced the cover of the tiny weekly many times over the years and the Phillippe Halsman portrait of him on the front cover from 1966 is practically suitable for framing. One sad thing, perhaps the saddest thing we’ve heard out of all the sentiments we’ve heard since his death was in the sidebar to the tribute, “Don Rickles Remembers Johnny.”

After he retired, you didn’t see him around much. The sad part is I just moved near him and from my house, you can look over to his tennis court. I planned to put him on and say, “Do you want to come over and see a big mansion?” I never got that chance.

Is there anything sadder than a comic who had a gag all prepared for the next time he might see his friend… and he never gets to deliver it?

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