The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 

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

Stars:

Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 12 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ed McMahon	...	Self - Announcer / ... 6,397 episodes, 1962-1992
Doc Severinsen	...	Self - Bandleader / ... 5,134 episodes, 1967-1992
Johnny Carson	...	Self - Host / ... 4,947 episodes, 1962-1992

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

cigarette smoking | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Talk-Show

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Did You Know?

Trivia

There was always speculation about who would succeed Carson in the "Tonight" chair. A holding deal NBC had with David Letterman in 1980 fueled speculation that he might be in line to succeed Carson. Others presumed to be in line with Letterman at the time included such names as Richard Dawson and Burt Reynolds. But Carson himself seemed to be sending signals about what he though of Letterman. Unlike previous heirs apparent, whom Carson tended to freeze out, Letterman seemed to have ingratiated himself to Carson. And Carson even dropped Letterman's name on the show in his April 8, 1981 monologue.m

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Quotes

[from his last show - May 22, 1992]
Johnny Carson: I am taking the applause sign home, putting it in the bedroom.

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Crazy Credits

Whenever Carson added a skit to an episode, the "Mighty Carson Art Players" would be announced as guest stars.

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Alternate Versions

Select comedy sketches from the Tonight Show were taken and placed into syndication into "Carson's Comedy Classics" during the mid 1980's.

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Connections

Referenced in Iceman (1984)

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Soundtracks

Time to Shine
(uncredited)
Music by Roger Dexter
[Plays over the Carson Productions Logo]
[Antenna TV airing only]

User Reviews

Here's Johnny!!! - What did the Pearly Gatekeeper say when...

Here's Johnny!!! - What did the Pearly Gatekeeper say when...Johnny arrived there? There will never be another Johnny Carson. The entertainment he provided with the help of thousands of guests over 30 years will never be equaled by anyone. I don't even know that anyone can ever do justice to comment on one of the rare things that rates more than a 10 on a scale of 10 in our lifetimes.

Even before Johnny Carson died, a greater loss was when NBC lost most of his Tonight Shows from the 1960's. If only somebody could find these shows because these are the shows which made him number 1. They were 90 minutes each of Carson arriving at the top of his career. It has been forgotten how hard nosed an interviewer he was during that decade. Also lost are some of the most famous guests in show business during that era & the fact that he would have controversial guests on & face them on any subject during that era.

The greatest thing was Carson arrived at his peak in the 1960's & then amazingly stayed there for three decades. Thank goodness NBC didn't lose any of those other shows. How they got lost makes me wonder if they didn't want the tough hard-nosed Carson who was not afraid to face any guest remembered or if they wanted to lose some of the early images of Johnny smoking on air. I mean, NBC managed to archive all the Original LET'S MAKE A DEAL programs in the same era. Why not the Johnny Carson's?

I have the set of clips of his & every so often I turn them on. I taped his last show, & keep it in my archives. I wish somewhere, somehow, someplace those 1960's shows would show up. At least now that I've seen the best, I can only wish to see it again. We were all blessed to have had Johnny Carson.

Details

Official Sites:

Carson Productions

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 October 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Filming Locations:

Studio 6B, NBC Studios - 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carson Productions, NBC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1