Bill Weir Gives Thanks to TV Legend

Nov. 30, 2008 — -- Some nations demand military service from their young citizens. Others expect their 20-somethings to care for their elders. While all of this is perfectly noble, I'd argue that every young American should be conscripted to wait tables at least once in their lives. Hindus believe that the more you serve others in this life, the better off you'll be in the next, but karma aside, you learn a lot about human nature from the business end of a wine opener.

When we decided to take turns giving thanks this holiday week, a flood of possibilities came to mind: Friends and family, teachers and mentors, unknown soldiers, cops and the stranger who provided roadside triage on my old Jeep, noticed my college-aged desperation and refused payment.

But for some reason, one familiar face emerged.

Ed McMahon.

You remember his deep laugh from 30 years on the Tonight Show couch or his giant Publisher's Clearing House checks. But I remember him as the kindest regular I ever served.

It was the late 1980's, and I was punk student schlepping trays of blackened salmon at the Polo Room inside the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Since most horse-loving celebrities used their stables and the weekend polo matches were a place to "see-and-be-seen," I got to wait on a cavalcade of bold-faced names. When you're 19 and Dan Ackroyd comes to brunch wearing shorts and brown wing-tips, you remember. I remember when Mr. T ordered every cold bottle of Dom Perignon in the house, when Billy Idol signed his American Express slip as "William Broad" and when one TV megastar yelled at me for not bringing his hot tea fast enough.

It was no surprise that some of these larger-than-life characters were a bit hard on the help. But Ed McMahon was different. He always remembered my name and seemed genuinely interested in my studies and aspirations. They were passing moments for him, I'm sure, but the sort that leaves a deep impression on a kid obsessed with late-night television. When I heard about his recent financial and health struggles, I considered sending a note of thanks and encouragement but the impulse ended up on the pile of good intentions never fulfilled. Weekend Good Morning America gave me another shot.