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

Directors:

Frederick De Cordova
Bobby Quinn

Writers:

Johnny Carson (writer)
Hal Goldman (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:

Famous Opening Theme | Stand Up Comedy | Sketch Comedy | Variety

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Johnny Carson

...

Himself - Host / ... (1,969 episodes, 1962-1992)

Series Directed by
Dick Carson		(10 episodes, 1962-1964)
Bobby Quinn		(6 episodes, 1968-1992)
Robert Ostberg		(3 episodes, 1984-1991)
Frederick De Cordova		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Jim Mulholland		(1,720 episodes, 1970-1992)
Michael Barrie		(1,463 episodes, 1968-1992)
Hank Bradford		(1,127 episodes, 1969-1975)
Tom Finnigan		(594 episodes, 1980-1992)
Raymond Siller		(559 episodes, 1977-1988)
Bob Howard		(475 episodes, 1972-1973)
Hal Goodman		(454 episodes, 1979-1988)
Larry Klein		(454 episodes, 1979-1988)
Kevin Mulholland		(454 episodes, 1979-1988)
Darrell Vickers		(350 episodes, 1985-1992)
Joe Bigelow		(260 episodes, 1970-1971)
Stan Daniels		(260 episodes, 1970-1971)
Stan Dreben		(260 episodes, 1970-1971)
Ed. Weinberger		(260 episodes, 1970-1971)
Nick Arnold		(259 episodes, 1972)
Tom Moore		(256 episodes, 1972-1973)
Andrew Nicholls		(234 episodes, 1987-1992)
Tony DeSena		(213 episodes, 1988-1992)
Bob Keane		(179 episodes, 1982-1992)
Bob Smith		(176 episodes, 1979-1992)
Bob Reynolds		(166 episodes, 1969-1970)
Ralph Goodman		(159 episodes, 1969-1970)
Gary Murphy		(154 episodes, 1980-1983)
David Lloyd		(120 episodes, 1963-1970)
Greg Fields		(116 episodes, 1979-1981)
Patric Verrone		(112 episodes, 1987-1990)
Norm Liebmann		(105 episodes, 1977-1979)
Sidney Reznick		(99 episodes, 1969-1970)
Marshall Brickman		(96 episodes, 1969-1970)
Gary Belkin		(93 episodes, 1986-1987)
Pat McCormick		(58 episodes, 1980-1981)
Herbert Sargent		(41 episodes, 1962-1963)
Al Jean		(34 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mike Reiss		(34 episodes, 1987-1988)
Walter Kempley		(4 episodes, 1964-1967)
Mickey Rose		(2 episodes, 1969-1984)
Johnny Carson		(unknown episodes)
Hal Goldman		(unknown episodes)
Jay Leno		(unknown episodes)
Richard Marcus		(unknown episodes)
George Tricker		(unknown episodes)
Allyn Warner		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Frederick De Cordova	....	producer / executive producer (1,848 episodes, 1970-1992)
Peter Lassally	....	producer / co-producer / ... (653 episodes, 1979-1992)
Rudy Tellez	....	producer (442 episodes, 1968-1971)
Jeff Sotzing	....	producer / associate producer (234 episodes, 1987-1992)
Art Stark	....	producer (187 episodes, 1962-1968)
Jim McCawley	....	co-producer (119 episodes, 1990-1992)
Perry Cross	....	producer (7 episodes, 1962-1963)
Sy Kasoff	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1962-1966)
Stan Irwin	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Wendell E. Niles Jr.	....	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		(1 episode, 1969)
Dennis Craig Roof		(1 episode, 1992)

Series Makeup Department
Kim Adrissi	....	makeup artist (316 episodes, 1986-1992)
Harry Blake	....	make-up / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1969-1992)

Series Production Management
Willis Oborn	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1969)
Walter Lewis	....	production manager (1 episode, 1992)
Jim Styles	....	production manager (1 episode, 1992)
John R. Holmes	....	unit manager (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Kantrowe	....	associate director (1 episode, 1992)

Series Art Department
Irv Davis Jr.	....	head carpenter (1 episode, 1992)
Gregory Elliott	....	prop master (1 episode, 1992)

Series Sound Department
Roger Cortes	....	sound mixer: concert sound / audio (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
Bob Pattison	....	video operator (1 episode, 1969)
Carl Pitsch	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1969)
William Merrill	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1992)
Patrick S. Steele	....	head electric (1 episode, 1992)
Kort Waddell	....	camera: behind the scenes segment (1 episode, 1992)
C. Steve Goldstein	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sharon McAvoy Nichols	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1992)

Series Editorial Department
Chuck Droege	....	videotape editor (1 episode, 1992)
Steven B. Ross	....	videotape editor (1 episode, 1992)
Bob Veatch	....	videotape editor (1 episode, 1992)

Series Music Department
Conte Candoli	....	musician: trumpet / musician: trumpet in The Band (537 episodes, 1968-1992)
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar / musician: guitar in The Band (324 episodes, 1972-1992)
Ross Tompkins	....	musician: piano / musician: piano in The Band (294 episodes, 1971-1992)
Pete Chrislieb	....	musician: Saxophone / musician: saxophone in The Band (287 episodes, 1972-1992)
Joel DiBartolo	....	musician: bass / musician: bass in The Band (287 episodes, 1972-1992)
Ernie Tack	....	musician: bass trombone / musician: bass trombone in The Band (286 episodes, 1972-1992)
Louie Bellson	....	musician: drums (260 episodes, 1972)
Clark Terry	....	musician: trumpet / musician: trumpet in The Band (90 episodes, 1967-1992)
Tommy Newsom	....	musician: saxophone / musician: saxophone in The Band (51 episodes, 1962-1992)
Ed Shaughnessy	....	musician: drums / musician: drums in The Band (36 episodes, 1967-1992)
Snooky Young	....	musician: trumpet / musician: trumpet in The Band (36 episodes, 1967-1992)
Don Ashworth	....	musician: saxophone / musician: saxophone in The Band (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Nick DiMaio	....	musician: trumpet / musician: trumpet in The Band (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Gil Falco	....	musician: trombone / musician: trombone in The Band (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Don Menza	....	musician: saxophone / musician: saxophone in The Band (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Bucky Pizzarelli	....	musician: guitar / musician: guitar in The Band (27 episodes, 1990-1992)
Doc Severinsen	....	musical conductor / musical director (2 episodes, 1969-1992)
John Bambridge	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Willis Holman	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)
Al Lapin	....	orchestra manager (unknown episodes)
Will Schaefer	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Chuck Kalish	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1969)
Karl Messerschmidt	....	technical director (1 episode, 1969)
Mike Gray	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1982-1992)
Smith Wordes	....	choreographer (1 episode, 1991)
Mike Beron	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Barbara Bowen	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Leslie Crawford	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1992)
Robert Dolce	....	talent coordinator (1 episode, 1992)
Joyce Estrig	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Ray Figelski	....	technical director (1 episode, 1992)
B.J. Freebairn-Smith	....	assistant to producers (1 episode, 1992)
Cathy Garfield	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Marla Gelman	....	assistant to producers (1 episode, 1992)
Jonathan Hogan	....	media relations: NBC (1 episode, 1992)
Michael Hubert	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Hal Ingels	....	video (1 episode, 1992)
Barbara Libis	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Kevin Robert Quinn	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1992)
Stephanie Ross	....	talent coordinator (1 episode, 1992)
Susan Rubio	....	assistant to producers (1 episode, 1992)
Helen Sanders	....	assistant: Mr. Carson (1 episode, 1992)
Leslie Schultz	....	commercial administrator (1 episode, 1992)
Denise Soulam	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Peter Steen	....	programs coordinator (1 episode, 1992)
Gina Tillman	....	production staff (1 episode, 1992)
Debbie Vickers	....	talent coordinator (1 episode, 1992)
Shelia Wenz	....	production staff (1 episode, 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:

When it was first announced that Johnny Carson was joining "The Tonight Show," he was relentlessly pursued by the press for interviews. Carson eventually provided the journalists with the following list of answers that they could use with the questions of their choosing. Yes, I did. Not a bit of truth in that rumor. Only twice in my life, both times on Saturday. I can do either, but prefer the first. NO. Kumquats. I can't answer that question. Toads and tarantulas. Turkestan, Denmark, Chile, and the Komandorskie Islands. As often as possible, but I'm not very good at it yet. I need much more practice. It happened to some old friends of mine, and it's a story I'll never forget.

Quotes:

Art Fern: Hello there, feature-film freaks! Art Fern here, with today's fabulous feature find.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman (1998) (TV)

Johnny Carson (1925-2005).A national treasure.

I write these comments just hours upon hearing the sad news of Johnny's death.To say that I will miss him is a moot point.I have missed him for the last twelve and a half years since he stepped away from his desk.I miss his unique humor and his classic reactions.I miss his ribbing of our nation's presidents both democrat and republican.I miss his banter with Ed McMahon,Doc Severinsen,and Tommy Newsom.He was a big part of my childhood.Though I was never allowed to watch on school nights,I would be sneaky and listen from my bedroom where I was supposed to be asleep.Even when the jokes fell flat,he still found a way to get a laugh.All the hilarious moments too numerous to mention,both those I witnessed when they were fresh,and those looked back on in anniversary shows that I was too young to remember,are what I miss about Johnny Carson.I was indeed sad when he stepped down,and always remained hopeful that he would come back and entertain us some more,but alas,it was not meant to be as he chose to bask in his retirement and rightfully so. I bid to Johnny Carson what he bid to us in his final words on the air, a "heart felt good night."