Ed McMahon and the Phenomenon of the Hype Man


Today I want to discuss and define an entertainment phenomenon. The hype man. The origins of the hype man are a lost mystery. Perhaps an ancient entertainer discovered that without anyone else on stage, the audience became tired of watching and listening to the same person throughout the show. Perhaps this entertainer discovered that another face and voice to support his own kept his audience more interested. Thus, the invention of the hype man. I also think it important to note that the primary entertainer isnt trying to share the spotlight with his partner, only add to his shows' glory.
So, I'm sure by the title you can see where I am going with this. Let's open our minds real wide and ponder this thought: Ed McMahon of Tonight Show fame cast the mold for the modern hip-hop hype man.

Flavor Flav, Bushwick Bill, P Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nate Dogg, and Mr. Dalvin all assert themselves as hip hop hype men. All can see seen or heard in popular rap groups. For example, Mr. Dalvin flaunts his pretty boy image in Jodeci. Bushwick Bill brought power and a "little" (haha) attitude to the Geto Boys. Flavor Flav added street credibility to Public Enemy. Can you imagine 911 is a joke without Flav? Some of the names listed are producers of the music which they hype. P Diddy and Jermaine Dupri are good examples of hype men who produce with the option of a solo album. But I digress, know that we know some hype men, you should have a better frame of consciousness for my contentions.

Ed McMahon appeared on the Tonight Show from 1962-1992. Ed was a presence on the show before Carson, while Steve Allen was the host. He operated in essentially a hype man role. He announced the host's name (in his most famous "Heeeeerrre's Johnny) , then laughed at the hosts' or guests' jokes and stood or sit at the proper time. While Ed was most certainly a part of the show, Johhny Carson was the primary entertainer. Even when Ed would crack a funny like a well timed "Hey-OOOOO!" or "That is correct." and the crowd would laugh, it seemed to be that the crowd was laughing with Johnny at Ed instead of laughing at Ed's joke. In his other career endeavors, Ed usually evoked a Tonight Show memory for at least for me no matter in what role he was cast. His persona takes from the Tonight Show even to this very day. Ed also mastered and possibly created the fake laugh. Now would Flavor Flav find false enthusiasm useful to his cause?

Consider what Ed McMahon and hype men have in common. Both gained their fame through somone else either on a tv show or a rap group. Both introduce the show or song. Both exude reverence toward their source of fame. Ed laughed the hardest at Carson's jokes. Diddy gave strategery "Un-Huh"'s and "That's right" during Biggy's hits. Both have some success in solo projects merely because of their previous associations.

So considering at what point in time McMahon started his career as a hype man, and at what point rap hype men begin to surface, who is imitating who?