THE PULSE is very sad to report on the passing of Ed McMahon. The 86 year-old lost his battle with bone cancer. Although most people will remember him as Johnny Carson's sidekick, longtime comic book fans know him as the Host of the Legends of the Superheroes two-parter that aired in the 1970s.

McMahon began working in television in the 1950s. In 1957 he began working with Johnny Carson on a television game show. Five years later, the duo were working together on The Tonight Show, a relationship they continued for 35 years, until Carson left The Tonight Show in 1992. He was a lot more than just Carson's second banana, though.

McMahon hosted his own TV and game shows for several years, as well as co-starring in films, movies and specials. Long before American Idol or America's Got Talent, McMahon gave thousands of talented people the chance to shine as the host of Star Search from 1983 to 1995.

His work roasting the superheroes isn't quoted in many of his achievement lists, but this comic fan will never forget his role in those campy specials. I think that was one of the great things about McMahon, he was willing to do anything to make people laugh. In 1998, his autobiography was published, For Laughing Out Loud: My Life and Good Times. In 2005 he wrote another book about his longtime association with Johnny Carson, Here's Johnny!: My Memories of Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show, and 46 Years of Friendship.

THE PULSE was really sad to learn of his passing and offers our deepest sympathies to his friends and family.

I grew up watching the Tonight Show so this is especially sad news to me. Someone on TV this morning pointed out that every time Jay chats with Kevin or Dave talks to Paul or Conan yuks it up with Andy they are more or less paying homage to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon. It's the end of an era and good ol' Ed will be missed.

What an incredible life! Sorry to see you go, Mr. McMahon, but you had a great run, one to be envied and admired.