Somebody give Ed McMahon a job, please! There are more stories emerging about the famous TV sidekick's financial woes, and it's just sad that he's in such dire straits. Granted, he's not alone in these tough times -- and, yes, he has had millions in his time -- but the revelations that the former Tonight Show star and Star Search host is in money trouble strikes me as really unfortunate. And apparently that help from Jay Leno is slow in materializing. Why isn't Publisher's Clearinghouse giving him a gig?
The latest news is that Citibank is suing McMahon for $200,000, a loan they extended to Ed. In a lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior court on June 9, the bank is seeking $179,687 in damages, plus legal fees. This is on top of the potential foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home.
So far, nobody has turned up at the door to kick Ed and his wife Pamela to the curb. The pair were on Larry King Live a couple of weeks ago to talk about their troubles, much of which is related to Ed's inability to work since breaking his neck in 2007. "If you spend more money than you make, you know what happens," McMahon told King.
That's true, no doubt, but Ed isn't senile. Why not write a book or a series of articles? You can dictate them onto a tape recorder if you can't physically work at a computer or write long-hand. Many people have expressed a lack of sympathy for McMahon's plight. I don't share their feelings, but I do think there are things he can do to help himself.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2008 @ 4:18PM
Mills said...
"Why isn't Publisher's Clearinghouse giving him a gig?"
Probably because he used to work for Pub. Clearinghouse's direct competition for years.
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6-21-2008 @ 6:12PM
MrMuggs said...
I hate seeing articles/editorial pieces like this. Why should I feel bad because Ed McMahon has an unpaid loan of $200k that he hasn't paid? If I took out a loan for $200k and didn't pay it would people feel bad?
Let's face it. Ed McMahon is a guy who sat on a couch for 30 years riding Johnny Carson's coattails. He got a ton of work from that and he should've saved his money and been smart about his finances. Instead, like most Americans he lived above his means buying more than he could afford and more than his earnings could sustain. It's a tough lesson to learn but I don't feel sorry for him.
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6-21-2008 @ 6:13PM
MrMuggs said...
I hate seeing articles/editorial pieces like this. Why should I feel bad because Ed McMahon has an unpaid loan of $200k that he hasn't paid? If I took out a loan for $200k and didn't pay it would people feel bad?
Let's face it. Ed McMahon is a guy who sat on a couch for 30 years riding Johnny Carson's coattails. He got a ton of work from that and he should've saved his money and been smart about his finances. Instead, like most Americans he lived above his means buying more than he could afford and more than his earnings could sustain. It's a tough lesson to learn but I don't feel sorry for him.
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6-24-2008 @ 4:19PM
bartee said...
yeah.. I just don't believe it.. I think he is trying to beat the debt by crying poor.. where all his friends?? yo ho ho.. hiding because they probably know this man has the cash stashed in some offshore bank account..like OJ.. yep.. do you really believe this man is broke? and his friends and all the contacts he had deserted him?? Nooo.. He has the cash and he is trying you all out,,, What.. pamela can't get her nails done again.. yo ho ho,, I think if you take a real hard look at this situation , it is my opinion only that this man had a great life and the average joe , who is struggling couldn't care less.. poor ed.. yo ho ho
6-21-2008 @ 7:20PM
StillBash said...
Stop these stories about McMahon already. Nobody here has any sympathies for him. We made that clear the last time.
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6-21-2008 @ 8:48PM
eugene said...
boohoo. Maybe he should put some kid in a coma so he can go and get the same luxury accomodations as that hogan kid.
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6-21-2008 @ 9:31PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
I'm sick and tired of hearing about poor old Ed too. I could retire on $200,000. I can't believe anybody feels sorry for an old fart that can't keep his wallet in his pants. I sympathize with his hurt neck. I've had 2 failed spinal fusion surgeries on my back. I can't remember what pain-free feels like anymore. But any work that he's been getting paid for for at least the last 10 years should just be chump change for him to be added to his fortune at the bank and not be whats keeping him from filing for welfare. For the suckers who are worried for poor old Ed, why aren't you guys starting a benefit or tele-thon or some other fund-raiser for him? You could solicit donations so you can keep poor old Ed off welfare and save his mansion, fancy cars, and yachts. We couldn't have poor old Ed living with us common folks. That would just be too demeaning for poor old Ed. Oh my God, we can't let poor old Ed do his shopping at Wal-Mart, or any shopping at all, for that matter. That job is saved for the help. You guys better hurry and send poor old Ed all your money, before he has to stop eating at 5 star restaurants and start eating fast-food.
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6-22-2008 @ 3:32AM
Will said...
I agree, I can certainly sympothize with the medical problems, I can even feel somewhat sorry for someone that, say, is a smoker & ends up with cancer (not that it's related to Ed &no, I don't smoke). But the money problems? No way! Anyone that famous & well-paid that can't manage his money deserves to lose the mansion. Besides, Hollywood probably has the largest per-capita number of millionaires in the US & Ed probably knows most of them, so why can't some friends help him out. Why doesn't Carson's widow loan him the cash, Johnny most likely would have given it to him if he were still alive. She probably makes more than a few million a year in interest alone. Are people in the entertainment industry so tight that they'll spend millions on their own house & cars, but not help out someone of McMahon's stature ? I think he's quite foolish to find himself in this situation at this stage of his life, but there are a lot of people in this world I have more sympathy for than Ed. Just look at all the farmers & people in Iowa & the mis-west right now who've lost everything they own due to floods & tornado's this spring. Those people I feel for.
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