"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962) TV series 1962-1992

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Directors:

Dick Carson
Frederick De Cordova
(more)

Writers:

Hank Bradford (head writer) (1969-1975)
Johnny Carson (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

1 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Talk-Show

Plot:

Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.

Plot Keywords:

Sketch Comedy | Famous Opening Theme | Variety | Stand Up Comedy | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Johnny Carson

...

Himself - Host / ... (1,922 episodes, 1962-1992)

(more)

Series Directed by
Bobby Quinn		(4 episodes, 1968-1992)
Robert Ostberg		(3 episodes, 1984-1991)
Dick Carson		(unknown episodes)
Frederick De Cordova		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Jim Mulholland		(1,720 episodes, 1970-1992)
Michael Barrie		(1,463 episodes, 1968-1992)
Bob Howard		(475 episodes, 1972-1973)
Nick Arnold		(259 episodes, 1972)
Tony DeSena		(203 episodes, 1988-1992)
Bob Reynolds		(165 episodes, 1970)
David Lloyd		(118 episodes, 1963-1970)
Sidney Reznick		(100 episodes, 1969-1970)
Marshall Brickman		(96 episodes, 1969-1970)
Gary Belkin		(93 episodes, 1986-1987)
Ralph Goodman		(65 episodes, 1970)
Norm Liebmann		(46 episodes, 1978)
Darrell Vickers		(3 episodes, 1962-1992)
Bob Keane		(2 episodes, 1982-1992)
Andrew Nicholls		(2 episodes, 1988-1992)
Bob Smith		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Hank Bradford		(1 episode, 1969-1975)
Raymond Siller		(1 episode, 1977-1988)
Tom Finnigan		(1 episode, 1991-1992)
Patric Verrone		(unknown episodes, 1987-1990)
Johnny Carson		(unknown episodes)
Greg Fields		(unknown episodes)
Hal Goldman		(unknown episodes)
Larry Klein		(unknown episodes)
Jay Leno		(unknown episodes)
Richard Marcus		(unknown episodes)
Pat McCormick		(unknown episodes)
Gary Murphy		(unknown episodes)
George Tricker		(unknown episodes)
Allyn Warner		(unknown episodes)
Ed. Weinberger		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Frederick De Cordova	....	producer / executive producer (4 episodes, 1970-1979)
Sy Kasoff	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1962-1966)
Perry Cross	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Stan Irwin	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Peter Lassally	....	co-producer / executive producer / ... (unknown episodes)
Wendell E. Niles Jr.	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Jeff Sotzing	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Art Stark	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Rudy Tellez	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Will Schaefer		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Terry M. Pickford		(unknown episodes, 1985)
Steven B. Ross		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John Schrum		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
John R. Holmes	....	unit manager (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Sound Department
Roger Cortes	....	sound mixer: concert sound (564 episodes, 1962-1992)
Ross Martindale	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Max Russell	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
C. Steve Goldstein	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Conte Candoli	....	musician: trumpet (537 episodes, 1968-1992)
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (324 episodes, 1972-1992)
Ross Tompkins	....	musician: piano (294 episodes, 1971-1992)
Pete Chrislieb	....	musician: Saxophone (287 episodes, 1972-1992)
Joel DiBartolo	....	musician: bass (287 episodes, 1972-1992)
Ernie Tack	....	musician: bass trombone (286 episodes, 1972-1992)
Louie Bellson	....	musician: drums (260 episodes, 1972)
Clark Terry	....	musician: trumpet (90 episodes, 1967-1992)
Tommy Newsom	....	musician: saxophone (51 episodes, 1962-1992)
Ed Shaughnessy	....	musician: drums (36 episodes, 1967-1992)
Snooky Young	....	musician: trumpet (36 episodes, 1967-1992)
Don Ashworth	....	musician: saxophone (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Nick DiMaio	....	musician: trumpet (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Gil Falco	....	musician: trombone (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Don Menza	....	musician: saxophone (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Bucky Pizzarelli	....	musician: guitar (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
John Bambridge	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Shelly Cohen	....	orchestra librarian (unknown episodes)
Willis Holman	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Al Lapin	....	orchestra manager (unknown episodes)
Will Schaefer	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Smith Wordes	....	choreographer (1 episode, 1991)
Mike Gray	....	dga stage manager (unknown episodes, 1982-1992)
Bonnie Weis	....	accountant (unknown episodes, 1985-1987)
Paul Block	....	talent coordinator (unknown episodes)
Sy Kasoff	....	talent coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jim McCawley	....	talent coordinator (unknown episodes)
Don Sweeney	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Carson Productions (1980-1992)
• NBC Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1962-1992) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• NBC Studios, Burbank  taping location
• NBC Studios, New York  taping location
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Also Known As:

"The Best of Carson" (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

105 min (1962-1966) | 60 min (1980-1992) | USA:90 min (1967-1980)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (1962-1984) | Stereo (1984-1992)

Filming Locations:

NBC Studios - 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Carson Productions

Trivia:

One of the few occasions in which the program did not feature an opening monologue happened in January 1986 when guest-host Joan Rivers chose not to deliver one out of respect for the victims of the Challenger disaster, which had occurred that morning.

Quotes:

Art Fern: Now back to our feature film! Woody Harrelson, Woody Allen, Woody Woodpecker, Woody Herman, Herman Munster, and Dumpo the Wonder Pigeon, in "Heidi Suffers an Estrogen Avalanche."

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Woody Harrelson/Vanessa Williams (#17.20)" (1992)

a university of comedy and entertainment

Carson and company helped lay the foundation for contemporary topical humor in the US. From '62 to '92, the most significant pitches for movies, books and live appearances on the part of actors, authors, politicians and every other kind of luminary came before America and the world at Carson's desk. This show probably experienced an unrepeatable level of success.