On June 22, 2009, Ed McMahon died shortly after midnight at the age of 86. McMahon had been hospitalized in February of 2009 with pneumonia.http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/23/obit.mcmahon/index.html

In September 2008, media sources reported that McMahon was being sued by The Griffin Group Inc., owned by Merv Griffin, over a $100,000 loan the company claimed had gone unpaid.Celebitchy: Merv Griffin’s company suing Ed McMahon (September 30, 2008)

Fox News reported on June 23, 2008, that McMahon was being sued by Citibank after he reportedly defaulted on a $200,000 loan. The bank was seeking $179,687 in damages and attorney's fees.FOX News: Citibank Sues McMahon to Recoup Nearly $200,000 (June 23, 2008) TMZ.com reported on January 15, 2009, that Citibank won the default judgment against McMahon. He was ordered to pay $179,687.08 plus costs.TMZ: Citi to McMahon -- Now Pay-OOOOOh (January 15, 2009)

The format of a host and sidekick ushered in other talk show sidekicks, most notably Andy Richter, who did essentially the same job for the first several seasons on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Jeffrey Tambor even played a character much like McMahon on HBO's The Larry Sanders Show, quipping occasionally at the hosts jokes like McMahon did.