Grateful Ed

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 4:23 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

December 4 - 5, 2004

What: Ed McMahon's Sunday Celebrity Brunch.

When: 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Where: Plaza's Center Stage restaurant/lounge.

Tickets: $19.99 for brunch.

Information: 386-2110.

H-e-e-e-ere's Ed, the super salesman who for more than 65 years has sold everything from vegetable slicers to dog food.

Today, from about 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Ed McMahon will be at the Plaza's Center Stage hosting a bloody Mary/screwdriver brunch and pitching a brand of liquor that now bears his name -- McMahon's Perfect Vodka.

Vodka represents a change in taste for the 81-year-old barker -- he spent more than 30 years as a spokesman for Anheuser-Busch and its Budweiser beer.

McMahon's name is forever linked to Johnny Carson. Together on NBC's "The Tonight Show," they ruled late-night television from 1962 until Carson relinquished his throne in 1992.

Carson stepped out of the limelight, but McMahon didn't miss a day's work. He has continued to do what he has done since age 15 -- sell.

And he has hosted and co-hosted a number of television series and specials, including "Television's Greatest Commercials," "Ed McMahon's Star Search" and (along with Dick Clark) "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes."

During a recent telephone interview with the Las Vegas Sun from his home in Los Angeles, McMahon talked about his vodka, a new slot machine that sports his name and a variety of other topics.

Las Vegas Sun: How was your Thanksgiving?

Ed McMahon: Very quiet, which was unusual. It was just me and my wife, Pam. She cooked the complete dinner.

My wife has a habit of picking up stray dogs and people. One year we had 40 kids here for Christmas. But this year Thanksgiving was just the two of us.

Sun: How's Johnny Carson these days?

EM: As far as I know he's doing well. He sounds great. I think his main health issue (emphysema) was caused by all the smoking. He was a heavy, heavy smoker for years. I was lucky, I never did smoke.

I hear he's going to be on "Entertainment Tonight." Apparently he did a live piece, but I don't know if it was an old interview. I'm not sure when it will air.

Johnny is under the bleachers. He wants to do it his way. Doc (Severinsen) and I are on the streets.

Sun: How is he?

EM: Haven't seen him lately. He's like me, always on the go.

I have a big charity coming up in Washington, D.C. (in February) -- the annual awards ceremony and dinner for the Horatio Alger Association. I'm the producer and host. I wanted Doc to play with the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, but he's too busy. I hope to get him in 2006.

It's amazing how close we were. When we do see each other, we just pick up where we left off. I call him "Tiffany Lips" and he calls me "Golden Throat."

Sun: I understand you are starting a new line of vodka and you will be serving bloody marys and screwdrivers at the Plaza. How did that come about?

EM: Somebody came to me who is very knowledgeable about vodka and presented the idea to me.

In Russia a special vodka has been made in the czarina's distillery since 1753 -- so they must know what they're doing. The vodka was made only for the czarina's officers. It's a high-end vodka, filtered multiple times. It has a perfect taste.

The bottles are made in Poland, and they are beautiful -- blue with white dots that represent stars so it is like nighttime. The bottles are designed to look like a man -- a soldier.

We have linked up with Southern Wine and Spirits (of Nevada) and we're planing a major launch here.

Sun: You seem to be spending more time in Vegas these days.

EM: Barrick Gaming bought all those hotels downtown (Plaza, Las Vegas Club, Western, Gold Spike, Nevada Hotel, Queen of Hearts) and I'm a spokesman -- part of the renaissance.

I host some slot tournaments for the company, so we're there at least once a month. The last one was at the Plaza. The next one probably will be at the Nevada Club.

Sun: What do you think of Vegas?

EM: I love Las Vegas. Since the early '70s I've worked every major hotel in town. For many years I was host of the fundraiser for St. Jude's Ranch. I've co-hosted Jerry Lewis' telethon for 38 years -- the first 20 or so were in Vegas.

Sun: And now a slot machine with your image on it is being produced?

EM: It'll come out after the first of the year. Interactive Games is the producer. Through the machine, I talk to the player about how you are a star -- it's based on "Star Search." Then I morph into a still picture of me on a million-dollar bill.

Sun: Where do you get your energy?

EM: I go to a nutritionist, but I've always had multiple jobs, even as a kid. I always did a lot of things. When "The Tonight Show" ended I had two other shows on the air -- "Bloopers" and "Star Search." I didn't retire, I just left that one show. I have no intention of retiring.

Sun: Are you involved in other projects?

EM: I just did "The $25 Million Hoax," a limited-run reality show on NBC. The girl fools her family into thinking that she's won all this money.

And I'm now on TVLand with Alf in "Alf's Hit Talk Show." I'm his sidekick.

Sun: Anything else?

EM: I'm going to be doing a lot of promoting. If nothing else, I know how to promote.