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New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Johnny Carson asked sheriff to drive him home after drinking: book excerpt
While the world knew famed late-night host Johnny Carson as the funny man who America welcomed into their homes for 30 seasons, Howard Smith knew him as a kind, down to earth neighbor in Malibu. The pals first met when talent agent Jerry Weintraub and his wife, singer Jane Morgan, invited Smith and his wife Jane over for a star-studded dinner party. Morgan, now 101, asked the tech mogul if he could sit next to Carson — since despite him being an extrovert on air, he was more of an introvert at these functions. Advertisement 16 Johnny Carson, host of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Jonathan Sotzing 'We talked,' Smith recounted in an exclusive interview with The Post. 'He had just moved four houses down and I have a tennis court and the reason Jane put us together was because he was shy.' '[Carson's wife], Alex [Maas], was with him that night,' explained the Malibu resident. 'I had never met John before but he was my hero. And at that dinner, we started talking about different things and he had just sold his beach house to John McEnroe and he said to me that one of the things he got John McEnroe to do in the sale was play tennis at Pepperdine.' Advertisement But Smith knew that despite hitting balls with a pro, playing on the college campus wasn't necessary. 16 Johnny Carson poses with his longtime friend and neighbor Howard Smith. 16 A tabloid captured a picture of Johnny Carson and Howard Smith after a tennis patch in Malibu. 'I said, well, I've got a tennis court anytime you want to,' the author recalled. 'I gave him my number and the next morning John called. I thought it was a prank. I couldn't believe he called me and he said, 'Can I come over and play tennis with you today?'' Advertisement From there, a friendship quickly formed and they went on to play the sport together weekly. 'We only played maybe three weeks when he said to me one day after a game, 'You know, next week I'm going to be 60 years old. I'm going to have dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills. I would love to have you and Jane come.'' 16 Howard and Jane Smith with Johnny Carson and Alex Maas. 16 Johnny Carson and Howard Smith. Advertisement Despite Smith thinking he was walking into a star-studded birthday bash, Carson invited the couple to an intimate dinner with only two other guests — proving how deep their bond became. 'I was anticipating this is a big party because I only knew him three or four weeks,' Smith said. 'So I get to the restaurant and it's Henry Bushkin, Joyce Dewitt, John, Alex, myself and Jane. I pinch myself going, 'Holy cow.' We played tennis and talked a little bit, but I didn't know him very well. I was so moved by being invited to his 60th birthday and being part of that little group.' That night one thing was clear: Smith became an intricate part of Carson's inner circle. While this year marks the 20-year anniversary of Carson's death at age 79 from emphysema, the retired businessman is now publishing his book — 'My Friend Johnny.' 16 Jane Smith, Johnny Carson and Alex Maas in Aspen. 'Knowing John for 25 years, when I used to go over to his house and we'd sit around and talk about different things and life, the wonderful thing that I've found while writing this book to me is I've reminisced and gone back to these memories,' Smith told The Post. The publication explores the 'neighbor turned close companion' and highlights many behind the scenes moments with Carson. In an excerpt from the book, exclusively obtained by The Post, Smith detailed a one-of-a-kind encounter that involved some booze and the Malibu sheriff. Advertisement 16 John and Alex on a toboggan ride. One night when Smith and Carson were out to dinner at La Scala, another table asked if they could buy the comic a drink. Well, one drink turned into another and another. The two realized they weren't in any shape to drive. 'The sheriff arrived and entered the restaurant,' Smith penned in his memoir. 'He seemed startled to see Johnny Carson and another gentleman waiting for him. 'Mr. Sheriff,' I said, as clearly as possible without slurring, 'We've both had too much to drink, and it would be a terrible tragedy if one of us tried to drive home. Would you do us the favor of driving us home?'' 'The sheriff looked at us, mainly at me, and said, 'This is highly irregular. I'm not supposed to do that.' He glanced at John and then back at me. 'For anyone.'' Advertisement 16 Alex Maas and Johnny Carson on their boat. With Carson's casual charm, he persuaded the sheriff to give them both a lift — a story that ended in flashing red and blue lights, lots of laughter and one confused wife. Smith also reflected on the bittersweet moment he and Carson had to put down the rackets for good. Carson was an avid smoker, but had quit shortly after tying the knot with Maas in 1987. Still, in his later years, his smoking had caused irrevocable damage. Advertisement 16 John and Alex at home in Malibu. 16 Johnny Carson and his high school teacher at her 90th birthday party. 'During an otherwise normal conversation at John's house after our regular match, he paused. With a wistful look in his eye, he said, 'Howard, we sure have had a lot of fun on many tennis courts, haven't we?'' 'Too much fun to count,' he replied. Advertisement ''Well, I'm so sad to say this, but … I'm afraid our tennis-playing days are over,'' Smith wrote. 'I wanted to push back. I wanted to tell him that we could play slower or set up rules so we wouldn't have to run as much. In reality, my (unfounded) fear was that no tennis would mean no friendship. Thankfully, our friendship blossomed into something much more than two guys playing tennis.' 16 Alex Maas and Johnny Carson in Aspen. Over the course of their 25-year friendship, many of Smith and Carson's memories included their spouses, Jane and Alex. Carson and Alex were wildly private — despite the tabloids trying to create explosive stories about the duo. 'With John being such a big star, the gossipers had to write something, so they wrote that their marriage was unusual and often troublesome. I think their marriage upset some of the media because Alex never played their game,' Smith recalled in his book. 'On the night of what would be his last birthday, John and Alex discussed that very topic. They knew the cost associated with being a Hollywood celebrity—mainly the invasion of their personal life—so they weren't angry with a particular writer or magazine. I'd seen him rant about so-called journalists before, but he didn't that night.' 'Rather, John said, 'We never cared what people said about our marriage. They get it wrong all the time. One day, they report on two people who are madly in love, and the next week, those same people file for divorce. As long as we'—he motioned to Alex, whose hand he held—'are happy, that's all that matters.'' 16 Johnny Carson holds Howard Smith's son Scott. 16 Johnny, Alex and Howard's son Scott. And that they were, up until Carson's passing on January 23, 2005. In the book, Smith recounted what he called 'the last supper' — an outing with the star just weeks before his heartbreaking death. 'Of the many dinners we had with him over 20 years, that was the longest time we ever sat at a dinner table together,' he shared. 'His memory was pin-sharp. It was as if he didn't want us to leave without telling us stories he had probably never told anyone. Jane and I had a blast. We were the last to leave the restaurant that night!' He wrote elsewhere, 'It made sense for John to behave that way. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to make sure he gave us the best of himself before he went.' 16 Johnny Carson, Doc Severinsen and Ed McMahon during the last episode of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' on Friday, May 22, 1992. AP Photo May 22 marks the 33-year anniversary of Carson's final show, where 60 million people tuned in to watch 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Smith, of course, was in the audience. 'Jane and I were honored that he invited us to his final show, along with his wife, sons, and close family members,' Smith penned about the show, which aired from 1962 to 1992. 'He'd even ensured reserved private parking for us to make it easier. He'd decided not to bring in any guests that day. Rather, he shed the spotlight on Ed McMahon, his longtime sidekick, and his bandleader, Doc Severinsen.' 16 The finale episode of 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson' on Friday, May 22, 1992. AP Photo Afterwards, the group celebrated when Carson 'threw an exclusive party at his home for his staff of many years.' The episode included a five-minute standing ovation, but Smith noted that Carson wasn't looking for an applause. 'In the end, John didn't want recognition,' his dear friend wrote. 'He wanted to recognize those who had helped him achieve so much. In fact, he even thanked the audience with a surprise gift from Tiffany's, a perpetual calendar inside a sterling silver frame made especially for those who attended his final show. John signed off for his last time by saying, 'And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I've found something I've always wanted to do, and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.'' 16 Johnny Carson. AP Decades later, audiences are still as enamored by Carson and his late-night show. But now, Smith aims to pull back the curtain on the host's life without the cameras. 'I would say that John, looking down, would say, 'Howard, thank you buddy. I appreciate you doing this,'' Howard smiled, reflecting on how Carson may react to his book. After all, Smith simply wants the world to know his friend Johnny.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Australia's most sexually-active woman' wants to bed hundreds of American men
Australian OnlyFans star Annie Knight has revealed her desire to move stateside and continue her X-rated career. The 28-year-old first shot to fame in 2023 after boasting about bedding 300 men in a year, which earned her the nickname of 'Australia's most sexually-active woman'. Annie's currently a regular on Australia's biggest radio show and even had a major reality TV opportunity in the works at one point, but she's had trouble going mainstream given the country's more conservative media landscape. She has seen the fame and notoriety English OnlyFans stars Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips have gained in the U.S. and is keen to make her mark next. The sex worker gave the North American market a test run in February when she joined Bonnie in Cancun, Mexico, for Spring Break, where the duo slept with dozens of barely-legal partygoers. The endeavor was a huge hit, with the pair attracting plenty of attention from students who were desperate to film with them. Annie then spent a few weeks in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where she took meetings with some major porn studios and adult talent agents who are keen to make her a star in the U.S. And while in Hollywood, Annie even got engaged to longtime boyfriend Henry Brayshaw, who popped the question at Beverly Hills hotspot Spago with a three-carat diamond ring worth around $120,000. She was also spotted shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, where she went into designer stores like Gucci to spend her OnlyFans earnings. The X-rated star has also launched her own podcast called Annie Knight Unhinged, which is another part of her plan to go global. She's already appeared on Adam22's popular Plug Talk podcast, which is one of the biggest adult podcasts on the planet. Despite her engagement, Annie is still forging ahead with her plans to have sex with 1,000 men - a figure that will include 500 virgins - by the end of 2025. One major porn agent told that Annie has the potential to make it in the U.S., but she may need to find a more jaw-dropping stunt to put herself on the map. The insider said: 'She's got the right look, but it's a tough market when you've got Lily Phillips hitting up nursing homes and Bonnie sleeping with 1,000 guys in a day. 'At this point, sleeping with 500 virgins just isn't going to be enough to cut it over here.' Speaking to about her engagement, Annie said that her fiance is completely monogamous and faithful to her and is forbidden from sleeping with other women - but the same rules don't apply to her. Not only did Annie allegedly have sex with 600 men last year, she's now got her sights set on doing 1,000 guys before the end of 2025 and says that wedded bliss with her husband-to-be isn't going to change a thing. She said: 'He is super supportive, he's just the best and he understands that I'm very work oriented and that I enjoy my job. 'We have ten years of history. He knows me better than anyone, better than I even know myself, we've been through so much together and the support and the love that we have for each other is unmatched - he accepts me for who I am.' Annie's fiance is so accepting of her that he even accompanied he to Cancun for Spring Break, where she teamed up with porn star Bonnie Blue. She said: 'He would stay at the hotel during the day and just chill out, and then he'd usually come out with us later at night. During the day, Bonnie and Annie would party with all the Spring Breakers and then take some back to their hotel to film with. She explained: 'Our number one priority was to get OnlyFans content and film with all the college boys. 'And it was so easy. They'd come up begging us to film with them, they'd mob us at the pool. It was honestly so much fun,' she gushed. Once they went back to the room to film, Annie and Bonnie's assistants would have the young men sign release forms and provide ID to prove that they were legal, and then schedule them into time slots to have sex with the two blondes. Instead of being jealous, Annie said her fiance would warmly greet her at the end of the day. She said: 'He'd ask how many people I filmed with and how it all went and if I was happy with the content I got. He was there for emotional and moral support.' While Annie admits that their arrangement may seem odd to some, she said that having open communication and honesty is the key to making their unconventional relationship work. She said: 'If I was sneakily going and sleeping with these guys then he'd he jealous for sure and upset, but it's the fact that he knows that it's my job and that it's important. 'It's very separate. It's not the same filming with random guys as it is when I'm intimate with him. It's such a different experience and I've told him that so many times, so he's just very understanding.'
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Australia's most sexually-active woman' Annie Knight keen to bed hundreds of American men with move to Hollywood
Aussie OnlyFans star Annie Knight is already a big name Down Under, but now the leggy blonde is considering a move to America. The 28-year-old first shot to fame in 2023 after boasting about bedding 300 men in a year, which earned her the moniker of 'Australia's most sexually-active woman.' Annie's currently a regular on Australia's biggest radio show and even had a major reality TV opportunity in the works at one point, but she's had trouble going mainstream given the country's more conservative media landscape. She's now seen the fame and notoriety that English OnlyFans stars Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips have gained in the States and is keen to make her mark next. The stunning sex worker gave the North American market a test run in February when she joined Bonnie in Cancun, Mexico, for Spring Break, where the blonde bombshells slept with dozens of barely-legal partygoers. The endeavour was a huge hit, with the pair receiving rockstar treatment from students who were desperate to film with them. Annie then spent a few weeks in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where she took meetings with some major porn studios and adult talent agents who are keen to make her a star in the US. And while in Hollywood, Annie even got engaged to longtime boyfriend Henry Brayshaw, who popped the question at Beverly Hills hotspot Spago with a three-carat diamond ring worth around $120,000. She was also spotted shopping up a storm on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, where she went into designer stores like Gucci to spend her OnlyFans earnings. The savvy Aussie has also launched her own podcast called Annie Knight Unhinged, which is another part of her plan to go global. She's already appeared on Adam22's popular Plug Talk podcast, which is one of the biggest adult podcasts on the planet. Despite her engagement, Annie is still forging ahead with her plans to have sex with 1,000 men - a figure that will include 500 virgins - by the end of 2025. One major porn agent told that Annie has the potential to make it in America, but that she may need to find a more jaw-dropping stunt to put herself on the map. 'She's got the right look, but it's a tough market when you've got Lily Phillips hitting up nursing homes and Bonnie sleeping with 1,000 guys in a day,' the insider said. 'At this point, sleeping with 500 virgins just isn't going to be enough to cut it over here.' Speaking to about her engagement, Annie said that her fiancé is completely monogamous and faithful to her and is forbidden from sleeping with other women - but the same rules don't apply to her. Not only did Annie have sex with 600 men last year, she's now got her sights set on doing 1,000 guys before the end of 2025 and says that wedded bliss with her husband-to-be isn't going to change a thing. 'He is super supportive, he's just the best and he understands that I'm very work oriented and that I enjoy my job,' Annie explained. 'We have ten years of history. He knows me better than anyone, better than I even know myself, we've been through so much together and the support and the love that we have for each other is unmatched - he accepts me for who I am.' James is so accepting of Annie that he even accompanied the leggy blonde to Cancun for Spring Break, where she teamed up with porn star Bonnie Blue to sleep with dozens of barely-legal boys. 'He would stay at the hotel during the day and just chill out, and then he'd usually come out with us later at night,' she said. During the day, Bonnie and Annie would party with all the Spring Breakers and then take some back to their hotel to film with. 'Our number one priority was to get OnlyFans content and film with all the college boys,' she said. 'And it was so easy. They'd come up begging us to film with them, they'd mob us at the pool. It was honestly so much fun,' she gushed. Once they went back to the room to film, Annie and Bonnie's assistants would have the young men sign release forms and provide ID to prove that they were legal, and then schedule them into time slots to have sex with the two blondes. Instead of being jealous, Annie said her fiance would warmly greet her at the end of the day. 'He'd ask how many people I filmed with and how it all went and if I was happy with the content I got,' she said. 'He was there for emotional and moral support,' she added. While Annie admits that their arrangement may seem odd to some, she said that having open communication and honesty is the key to making their unconventional relationship work. 'If I was sneakily going and sleeping with these guys then he'd he jealous for sure and upset, but it's the fact that he knows that it's my job and that it's important,' she explained. 'It's very separate. It's not the same filming with random guys as it is when I'm intimate with him. It's such a different experience and I've told him that so many times, so he's just very understanding.'
Los Angeles Times
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Chef Wolfgang Puck serves signature dishes in Newport Beach
Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck spent the weekend cooking for locals at the third-annual Noble Wine & Dine Weekend at the Pendry Newport Beach. Co-hosted by Puck and Nobleman Magazine founders Doug and Lydia McLaughlin, the two-day event honored Puck as the magazine's Chef of the Year. Puck is best known for popularizing California cuisine, which focuses on seasonality and sustainability while showcasing the state's local bounty. The Austrian-born chef is also credited with creating several signature dishes that have become the inspiration for staple dish on menus all over the world, including Chinois chicken salad and smoked salmon pizza; the latter of which has been on the menu at at his Beverly Hills restaurant, Spago, since 1982. Both dishes were served at Sunday's 'Ultimate Sunday Brunch' grand tasting event. The lineup for the culinary weekend also included other renowned chefs from around Orange County, including Riley Huddleston of the Mayor's Table in Newport Beach, Michael Reed of Poppy & Seed in Anaheim, Ross Pangilinan of South Coast Plaza's Terrace by Mix Mix, Erik de Marchi of Osteria in Laguna Beach, Noah Von Blöm of Costa Mesa's Arc, Rich Mead of Newport Beach's Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens and Jessica Roy from the Sherman Library and Gardens restaurant, 608 Dahlia. Ben Martinek, culinary director of Pendry Newport Beach, as well as chef JoJo Ruiz from the hotel's SET Steak & Sushi restaurant were also on hand serving bites as well.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Outstanding in the Field Releases Lineup of Award-Winning Chefs for Coachella 2025
Outstanding in the Field, a roaming restaurant concept by land artist Jim Denevan, has reached 24 countries across the world and all 50 U.S. states, and this April, it'll be setting its communal table at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the 10th year in a row. Outstanding in the Field reinvents the classic dining experience, reconnecting diners to their food by curating a menu centered around local ingredients and farmers. At sunset every night, festival-goers worn out from a day of fun can re-energize with a four-course meal in the festival's VIP Rose Garden, where this 'restaurant without walls' will serve up full-service, family-style menu, curated by a lineup of award-winning chefs. Each chef's menu is a celebration of the cuisine and produce of Coachella Valley farms, paying respects to the local growers that make each meal possible. Here are the chefs bringing diners this unique experience. Friday, April 11th: Silvia Barban was born and raised in Northern Italy. After a childhood spent cooking alongside her beloved grandmother, she worked her way up to become executive chef at Brooklyn's Aita. After going on to compete on Top Chef Season 14, she opened the award-winning LaRina Pastificio e Vino. Just this past September, her newest eatery, Briscola Trattoria, debuted in Crown Heights, named a New York Magazine 2024 Top 10 New Restaurant. Saturday, April 12th: Diego Argoti is a James Beard Award-nominated chef and a Los Angeles local. Starting as the son of a grocery store supervisor, he rose through the ranks to become sous chef at Bavel, then opened the innovative pop-up restaurant Estrano in Downtown L.A. His iconic Poltergeist residency at the Button Mash was a smash hit that garnered him plenty more industry accolades. Throughout his culinary career, he's strived to bring some of his 'lucha libre swagger' to his dishes. Sunday, April 13th: Tara Monsod's years of experience and cultural ties to her Filipino background have been a source of inspiration for her cooking. As executive chef of ANIMAE and Le Coq, it's no surprise that her inventive, flavor-packed dishes have led to her being named San Diego's first James Beard Best Chef California finalist in 2024. Friday, April 18: Eric Greenspan trained in Paris under culinary icons like Alain Ducasse and Ferran Adrià before he went on to found The Foundry on Melrose, a James Beard Semifinalist eatery. Now a respected TV personality and cookbook author, he's also launched Virtual Dining Concepts and co-founded New School American Cheese. Saturday, April 19th: Byron Lazaroff-Puck, Los Angeles local and son of chef Wolfgang Puck, had an early start to his career in the kitchen when he began working at Spago as a 12-year-old. He returned to Spago after years of training to lead the front-of-house. Now a staunch farm-to-table advocate and champion of sustainability, he oversees Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining's global operations. Sunday, April 20th: Danielle & Alessandro Zecca both have extensive and award-winning backgrounds in the culinary field. The pair moved to Los Angeles together to launch a catering business, and eventually formed their pop-up restaurant, Amiga Amore. The standout cuisine quickly turned into a permanent spot, drawing visitors from all over and earning Alessandro a 2024 James Beard nod. Coachella festival passes and advance tickets will be required to attend the dinners provided by Outstanding in the Field and their roster of chefs. Each night is sold separately. Tickets can be purchased here for $350 and will cover not just the price of a four-course dinners, but a welcome drink and exclusive access to the VIP Rose Garden.
