WaPo: Heeere's Johnny Carson in an 'American Masters' portrait of the 'Tonight Show'

[fgoodwin]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ht-show-king/2012/05/11/gIQAVBpyHU_story.html

It occurs to me that Johnny Carson's career on The Tonight Show (1962-1992) overlapped Tom Landry's career as HC of the Cowboys (1960-1988) almost perfectly.

Both were icons in their fields. The Tonight Show (and late night TV in general) hasn't been the same since Johnny retired. And except for an all-too-brief period in the first half of the 90s, the Cowboys haven't been the same either.

Anyway, not trying to start anything -- just wanted to give folks a heads-up about a two-hour special on Johnny Carson coming up Monday night (May 14) on PBS. Check your local listings.

If you are a Carson fan, this sounds like "must-see TV" so set your Tivos and DVRs!

Happy Mother's Day!

 

[burmafrd]

When Johnny retired I stopped watching late night TV all together. NEVER saw a reason to go back.

He was truly one of a kind.

 

[notherbob]

While I respect the showmanship of Johnny Carson, it has been hard for me to respect him as a person. Before he became famous he was a personality on a local TV station in Omaha and used to eat lunch every day at the downtown restaurant (then called Dixon's) where my mother worked as a waitress and every day sat in her station and she always gave him the best service yet he never once left a tip for her. I made $200 a month back then but when I ate out I always tipped the waitress. I simply could not respect a person making at least 10 or 20 times my meager money not tipping a waitress. He just wasn't my kind of people.

 

[burmafrd]

While I respect the showmanship of Johnny Carson, it has been hard for me to respect him as a person. Before he became famous he was a personality on a local TV station in Omaha and used to eat lunch every day at the downtown restaurant (then called Dixon's) where my mother worked as a waitress and every day sat in her station and she always gave him the best service yet he never once left a tip for her. I made $200 a month back then but when I ate out I always tipped the waitress. I simply could not respect a person making at least 10 or 20 times my meager money not tipping a waitress. He just wasn't my kind of people.

Johnny Carson was notorious about being tight with money. It was not anything personal. You will find many of the best comedians were borderline socially functional. Johnny Carson personally was a very strange duck. There was a book by Craig Tennis I believe that came out in the late 70's. He worked on the Tonight show for years and his insight on Johnny will explain many of his quirks.