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

Directors:

Frederick De Cordova
Bobby Quinn

Writers:

Johnny Carson (writer)
Hal Goldman (writer)

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)

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:

From at least the early 1980s onward, rather than bleeping offensive language, gibberish words were usually overdubbed instead. For example, one night when a Carnack the Magnificent sketch bombed, Carson was seen to exclaim "Holy sh*t!" Viewers heard him proclaim "Holy palooga!"

Quotes:

[from his last show - May 22, 1992]
[referring to remarks made that week by Vice President Dan Quayle, about single mothers and the TV show "Murphy Brown"]
Johnny Carson: I really want to thank him for making my final week so fruitful.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (#11.3)" (1999)

A Living Legend

As great as Steve Allen and Jack Paar were, Carson took the ball, reshaped it, and sent it in for a shot heard round the world. There is a reason he hosted the show for 30 years, 4 times longer than his 2 predacessors behind him. He was brilliant at making anyone seem interesting. Steve could do it, and so could Jack (though not as well from what I've seen), but Johnny really had a grasp of finding the way to question people to fit their response style. He really was the first true King of Late Night. If others say it's Paar or Allen, then I say Carson became Emporer!

The skits were done cheaply, but they were so much fun, you laughed with them, not at them.

Originally, the Carson's show was 90 minutes, and it was trimmed to 60 in the early 80's since he felt he could not keep the level up like he had in the past, which made the way for David Letterman. Thank You Johnny!