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[T_Bone]

Johnny Carson died sunday at age 79 :-(

[CU_AMiGA]

bbbbbbyyyyyyyyeeeeeee Johnny! :-(

[whabang]

Whozzat?

[x56h34]

When ever T_Bone starts a new thread, you immediately know that someone died. ;-)

[cecilia]

whabang wrote:
Whozzat?

johnny carson. host of The Tonight Show for some 30 years on american TV.

Jack Paar started this "institution" and in my view was probably funnier ("I kid you not!"), but he got fed up with the game after a short time and johnny took over the spot.

It did launch the careers of a great many people. If you got a "spot" on the tonite show, you were seen by a sh*tload of people and, well, you were almost set.

[zudobug]

If you got a "spot" on the tonite show, you were seen by a sh*tload of people and, well, you were almost set.

I only know of Carson through reading "Confessions of a late night talk show host" the "autobiography" of fictional talk show host Larry Sanders. Johnny, according to the book, gave Larry his break and inpired him to get into the talk show business. iirc, this is partly based on the reality that Garry Shandling had his break on The Tonight Show (possibly also guest host, I'm not sure.) There is an obvious affection for Johnny in the book and, even though it is a story, I have a feeling it is heart felt by the writers.

There are probably other comedians and actors I admire who hit the big time after being introduced on the Tonight Show, but that's the one I know about.

-zudo

[Tigger]

cecilia wrote:

Jack Paar started this "institution" and in my view was probably funnier ("I kid you not!"), but he got fed up with the game after a short time and johnny took over the spot.

No, actually Steve Allen is regarded as the starter of the institution, he was replaced by Ernie Kovacs who was replaced by Jack Paar in 1957, in 1962, Carson took over and hosted the show until being replaced by Leno in 1992. Conan O'Brien will take over the show in 2009. I cant imagine you saw alot of Jack Paars shows cecilia, you arent that old, and comparing his five year run to Carsons 30 year run is really apples and oranges.
-Tig

[T_Bone]

x56h34 wrote:
When ever T_Bone starts a new thread, you immediately know that someone died. ;-)

[cecilia]

naturally I know about Steve Allen. Often people say that letterman has recycled his old bits.
He certainly had a huge influence. His "man on the street" stuff is classic and reading the newspaper in THAt way was brilliant.

Ernie Kovacs is in a class by himself. An innovator that has not been equaled. he literally put the Tv on it's head.