8.4/10
2,486
14 user 9 critic

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 

Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.
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1,961 ( 242)

Episodes

Years



1992   1991   1990   1989   1988   1987   … See all »
Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 12 wins & 37 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

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Storyline

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Talk-Show

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Details

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Release Date:

1 October 1962 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Carson  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

(1962-1966) | (1980-1992) | (1967-1980)

Sound Mix:

(1962-1984)| (1984-1992)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In September 1983 Joan Rivers was officially designated Carson's permanent guest host, a role she had been filling for more than a year. In 1986 she abruptly left for her own show, The Late Show (1986), on the then-new Fox Network. Carson first learned of the show when he saw her press conference on TV. When Rivers called Carson after the announcement, he was so furious at Rivers for failing to tell him personally before the press conference that he refused to take the call. He banned Rivers from his show, canceling her three remaining weeks as guest host. Carson never forgave her for leaving and never spoke to her again. When Rivers sent Carson flowers and a note after his son Ricky died in an accident, Carson sent them back. Rivers later said that she didn't want to tell Carson before the press conference because she was afraid FOX would cancel the deal if word leaked out. Carson said he felt betrayed, not because Rivers dared to compete with him, but because she wasn't honest with him about her intentions and didn't ask for advice and his blessing. See more »

Quotes

[Ed Ames has thrown a tomahawk across the stage, hitting a painting of a cowboy straight in the "crotch". The entire studio erupts in hysterical laughter]
Johnny Carson: I didn't even know you were Jewish!
[uproarious laughter continues]
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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. See more »


Soundtracks

Johnny's Theme
Composed by Paul Anka
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User Reviews

 
Here's Johnny!!! - What did the Pearly Gatekeeper say when...
23 October 2005 | by – See all my reviews

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.


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