Drew Carey and Angie Dickinison/photo by PBS
LOS ANGELES - I haven't seen the full documentary on Johnny Carson for PBS's "American Masters," but based on the clips I've seen here in Los Angeles, it appears it'll focus a lot on his "mommy issues."
Producer Peter Jones says Carson's mother never gave him much praise as a child - and he may have spent the rest of his career trying to impress women while still maintaining a certain distance.Jones referred to a 1965 Time profile that opens up with his mother watching Carson do his monologue, standing up and saying, "Not funny."
Angie Dickinson and Drew Carey also shared their recollections. Carey said being called over to the couch after his first appearance was like "being saved by God."
Jones did 48 camera interviews with significant names like David Letterman, Joan Rivers and Jay Leno. Only two big names turned him down: Woody Allen and Bill Cosby.
The episode airs sometime this summer. Other "American Masters" subjects coming up: Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell and Phil Ochs.
