Conan O'Brien: Ed McMahon Tribute (Video)

As the current host of The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien paused to pay tribute to late night TV icon Ed McMahon.

Transcript

CONAN O'BRIEN: Ladies and gentlemen, before we go any further tonight we're going to change gears here because there's something very important I do need to talk about. As you've probably all heard, Ed McMahon passed away last night, and this is obviously a very sad day.

It is impossible I think, for anyone to imagine the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson without Ed McMahon. Ed's laugh was really the soundtrack to that show.

For 30 years, Ed played his part perfectly. He played it with effortless joy; and sitting alongside Johnny, Ed was an indelible part of what I think is the most iconic two-shot in broadcasting history. There'll never be anything like that again.

Now, everybody here at the Tonight Show mourns the loss of this warm and really truly funny man. Our thoughts go out to his family and to his fans everywhere.

We thought it would be fitting and fun to take a look at just a few of Ed's great moments with Johnny on their Tonight Show all those years ago. Let's do that.

(Clips)

Ed, you will be missed.