Or, rather, the guests who didn't do it, did it.
In his first at-length interview since The Magic Hour was axed August 6, the ex-hoops great tells Electronic Urban Report (www.eurweb.com) that big-name black celebrities let him down by spurning bookings.
"We all have to support each other, and we don't do that," Johnson says, in the interview. "Black stars think that if they're not on Leno or Letterman then they're not making it...Their managers and agents keep them off of the black shows."
As for the suggestion that maybe it was Magic who just didn't have the, well, magic to cut it in the late-night wars?
Johnson, while conceding that "maybe I wasn't the right person," says that experienced pros like Keenen Ivory Wayans and Sinbad couldn't cut it, either. So there.
In keeping with Johnson's admirable sense of self, the erstwhile host says he thinks he pulled off his show's controversial, but high-rated Howard Stern outing with rare aplomb.
"I thought I handled it how I should've--I laughed him off," Johnson tells the news Website.
All in all, Magic says he's a better person for his much-maligned TV gig and he just might try it again.
Consider yourself warned.