Helen Kushnick

Helen Gorman's first job in Los Angeles was with the talent agency ICM in the early 1970s where she met her future husband Jerrold Kushnick, then manager of Jimmie Walker ("Good Times") and Ben Vereen, among others. Helen left ICM to join Jerrold in forming General Management Corporation. Under their management, they guided the career of Jay Leno (a struggling stand-up comic in the beginning), and numerous other producers, comics, writers, and comic-writers: (April Kelly, George Geiger, Wayne Kline, Gene Wojohowski, Jim Belushi). While Jerry guided Jimmie Walker's career, it was Jay to whom Helen was most devoted, booking him in every college tour, stand-up club, and Vegas opening that would have him. In 1979 Jay had his first national TV show with HBO, following that, in 1985, his first NBC special: "Jay Leno and the American Dream". She was instrumental in forming the now-famous "who-will-replace-Carson" feud, pitting Leno vs Letterman for the coveted spot. Not an easy person to work with, she often came to blows with agents, networks, and local haunchos (i.e. Mitzi Shore of the Comedy Store) reinforcing her reputation as the show-biz version of Leona Helmsley. Her clients however, caught in middle of countless useless pissing contests, began to jump ship, Leno being the last to leave. Gorman-Kushnick passed away in August, 1996 of breast cancer, leaving a daughter Sarah, who was twin of Samuel who died of AIDS as a toddler due to a blood transfusion in 1983. Helen and Jerry were one of the first to force legislation to require blood-testing to isolate the AIDS virus within the national blood banks.