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    American Masters

    Johnny Carson: King of Late Night

    • Episode aired May 14, 2012
    • Not RatedNot Rated
    • 1h 55min
    IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    648
    YOUR RATING
    S26.E5
    • S26
    • E5
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    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Johnny Carson: King of Late Night (2012)
    DocumentaryBiography

    Chronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography ... Read allChronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography defines why Carson was an enduring star (his cool, his timing, his genuine laugh, his brea... Read allChronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography defines why Carson was an enduring star (his cool, his timing, his genuine laugh, his breadth of knowledge) and pursues his motivations and inner self (a loner with a drinking prob... Read all

    IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    648
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Mark A. Catalena
      • Peter Jones
    • Writer
      • Peter Jones
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey(voice)
      • Steve Allen(archive footage)
      • Jack Bailey(archive footage)
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Mark A. Catalena
      • Peter Jones
    • Writer
      • Peter Jones
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey(voice)
      • Steve Allen(archive footage)
      • Jack Bailey(archive footage)
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos2

    American Masters (1985)
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    Top cast

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    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    Steve Allen
    Steve Allen
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Jack Bailey
    Jack Bailey
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Roseanne Barr
    Roseanne Barr
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Michael Barrie
    • Self - Tonight Show Writeras Self - Tonight Show Writer
    • (as Mike Barrie)
    Ginny Beauregard
    • Self - Personal Assistantas Self - Personal Assistant
    Richard Benjamin
    Richard Benjamin
    • Selfas Self
    Jack Benny
    Jack Benny
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Paul Block
    • Self - Talent Coordinatoras Self - Talent Coordinator
    Mel Brooks
    Mel Brooks
    • Selfas Self
    William F. Buckley
    William F. Buckley
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Vicki Budinger
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Miss Vicki)
    Truman Capote
    Truman Capote
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Drew Carey
    Drew Carey
    • Selfas Self
    Catharine Carson
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Katherine Carson)
    Cory Carson
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Dick Carson
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Homer Carson
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Directors
      • Mark A. Catalena
      • Peter Jones
    • Writer
      • Peter Jones
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    Chronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography defines why Carson was an enduring star (his cool, his timing, his genuine laugh, his breadth of knowledge) and pursues his motivations and inner self (a loner with a drinking problem, a decent Midwesterner whose mother withheld approval, a quiet person who loved to entertain). The key to understanding him, argues the biography, is his love of magic. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    drinking problemcomediandistant motherdistant fathermagician7 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Biography
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Johnny's yacht was named "Serengeti," which was prominently featured in the last fifteen minutes of the documentary, with many shots of him aboard the yacht, with the yacht name in several of the photographs.
    • Quotes

      Don Rickles: He had the kind of personality that when the light went on, he could do it all. When the light went off, a lot of times he wanted to put the covers over his head and go to bed.

    • Connections
      Features The Squirrel's Nest (1949)
    • Soundtracks
      One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
      (uncredited)

      Written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer

      Performed by Bette Midler

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    Great Look at the Late Night King
    American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night (2012)

    *** 1/2 (out of 4)

    Very good entry in the long-running series takes a look at the life and career of Johnny Carson. The two-hour documentary covers a wide range of topics including Caron's early work in magic, his Omaha, NE days, his moves to Los Angeles, a couple failed television shows, his game show and finally his thirty-year run as host of The Tonight Show. Through interviews and archival footage we're told the ups and downs of Carson's career. It's said that Carson was one of the most loved figures in television history and that certainly appears to be the case simply by how many people turned up to be interviewed for this. Jay Leno, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, Conan O'Brien, Drew Carey, Jerry Seinfield, Angie Dickinson, Joan Rivers, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Steve Martin and Dick Cavett are just a few of the familiar faces who show up to talk about what Carson meant to them. It's really amazing that it took so long for American Masters to do a documentary on the legend but they really haven't let you down as the film is certainly well produced and director Peter Jones did a fantastic job at putting it together. What I really enjoyed is how we'd get the biography of Carson's life and then while we're told the stories we'd get a cut to a Tonight Show clip where he's joking about it. As someone who didn't grow up with Carson I found the clips to be incredibly funny and I think the film really got across what made him so special with so many people.
    helpful•6
    7
    • Michael_Elliott
    • May 17, 2012

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 14, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Eagle Rock Entertainment
      • Peter Jones Productions
      • WNET Channel 13 New York
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 55min

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