NEW YORK Helen Gorman Kushnick, who managed Jay Leno's rise fromsmall-time comic to host of "The Tonight Show" but was fired asexecutive producer four months after Leno replaced Johnny Carson, hasdied.
Ms. Kushnick, 51, who had battled cancer for several years, diedWednesday at her home in Manhattan, said Jane Rosenthal, a closefriend.
In the weeks after Leno took over as full-time host of "TheTonight Show" in May, 1992, the show sustained an avalanche ofcriticism as ratings dipped deeper than expected.
Ms. Kushnick was fired after she was accused of demanding thatguests booked by "Tonight" not appear on rival talk shows. Herdisappointment over the dismissal lasted for years, said her longtimeLos Angeles attorney, Barry Langberg.
"She was hurt by it, and she didn't ever stop being hurt by it,including Leno's treatment of her," Langberg said.
Leno did not wish to comment on her death, a spokeswoman for"The Tonight Show" said.
"She had a tough side to her. She was a negotiator, she waspersistent, but she also was a very generous, loyal person," Langbergsaid.
Survivors include a daughter, Sara Rose, and a brother, JosephGorman.
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