Ed McMahon turns gangsta rapper
September 25, 2008
Written by The Genius
The 85-year-old former “Tonight Show” sidekick will star in two viral rap videos for FreeCreditReport.com, a financial Web site owned by credit bureau Experian.
The videos feature McMahon wearing a tracksuit, being chauffeured around Los Angeles in a Cadillac Escalade golf cart and waxing lyrical about his very public financial troubles.
“I knew I could sing the blues, but I didnt know I could rap,” McMahon said Wednesday.
The videos will appear online in October.
Charles Harris, FreeCreditReport.coms vice president of strategic marketing, said the company sought out McMahon to star in the humorous spots after seeing him openly discuss his finances on “Larry King Live.” Harris said McMahon represents “a man who is taking charge.”
In the first video, McMahon — who once pitched the American Family Publishing sweepstakes — and a bodyguard are cruising through a neighborhood looking for sweepstakes winners to ask for some money back, but McMahon doesnt actually go through with it. In the second spot, McMahon dons a new suit after undergoing a financial and emotional makeover.
“When I retired, I was famous,” McMahon raps in the video. “I had money and glory/I bought a house for 6 mill/I thought nothing could touch me/Until my credit went south, and debt started to crunch me/Next thing I know, instead of playing gin rummy, I was scrambling just to make ends meet/It wasnt funny.”
After being joined by two scantily clad women, McMahon continues: “Got a bump from the media chumps, but that was temporary/Wife with bad credit was scary, so I got wise/I may have fallen, but I got back up/Now Im back on the attack, like a ninja swinging nunchucks/I told the haters, Go on, take a hike/Its my show now, and I can do what I like.”
McMahon said he spent one day in the studio recording the rap. He said he hopes his participation will inspire viewers to learn from his mistakes and become more aware about their finances.
When asked if he would consider releasing a full-length rap album, McMahon said: “Not immediately.”
“That’s MC Mahon to you.”