5. When Sinatra Called in a Favor
When Ronald Reagan won the White House in 1980, he appointed Frank Sinatra to produce the Inaugural Gala. Sinatra was one of the most connected men in Hollywood at that point. He chose Carson as the host of the event, a request Carson wasn’t excited about. “Ronnie does know that I answered my country’s call once already, doesn’t he?” said Carson in a monologue. Still, Sinatra insisted, labeling the request a “personal favor.” As it turned out, it was Reagan who’d asked Sinatra to get the Tonight Show host. Carson had no choice. He hosted, but he was miserable, grinning and bearing it the whole time. In later years, Carson spoke ill of Sinatra behind his back every chance he got.