Bill Zehme's exclusive with Johnny Carson

Carson the Magnificent. Bill Zehme, in light of Johnny Carson's death, is looking over his exclusive interviews and is working on a book.

Random House has signed a deal with noted celebrity profiler Bill Zehme, believed to be the last journalist to interview Johnny Carson, for a book celebrating the comedic talent of the man who once reigned over late-night TV.

Titled Carson the Magnificent, the book will be based in part on interviews Zehme conducted with Carson for a 2002 Esquire cover story. Zehme is also doing new research for the book, interviewing friends and associates of the comedian. The book is scheduled for November release.[...]

Carson famously refused to cooperate with biographers during his three-decade run on The Tonight Show. After he left the show in 1992, he became even more elusive. Zehme—whose previous work includes biographies of Frank Sinatra and Andy Kaufman—convinced Carson to be interviewed on the 10-year anniversary of his retirement from the show.

This book should be a best seller.