Johnny hosted The Tonight Show on NBC for 30 years, and his charm, wit, timing, wit, talent and wit led to him quite quickly to be dubbed “The Prince of Late Night”. As he grew into the role, however, that changed — to “The King of Late Night”.
Johnny (few ever called him “Carson”, though it was common to refer to the show by that name, and everyone knew what it meant) was followed so closely that in 1973, when he made a joke about toilet paper shortages, people took it seriously, and rushed out the next day to stock up — which created an actual toilet paper shortage. His following was so huge that for years, his show alone accounted for 20 percent of NBC’s profits, which was reflected in his salary. And he shared the wealth. “Johnny was responsible for the beginning and rise of success for more performers than anyone,” comedian Bill Cosby said in a statement. “I doubt if those numbers will ever be surpassed.” That was due in part to his remarkably in-check ego: “He wasn’t afraid to have someone on funnier than he is,” said Joan Rivers, one of Johnny’s many proteges.
He “shared the wealth” in other ways, too. The man who grew up “on the plains of Nebraska” never forgot his small town roots: when asked to make a donation toward the building of a new library in Norfolk, Neb., he sent a check for $500,000. He didn’t go in person to get fawning applause or appear for a photo op; he just sent the check.
I had the privilege of being in his studio audience once, and it was electrifying. His shows weren’t just humor and comedy sketches, they were filled with intelligent conversation. These days, “stars” drop by the talk shows to plug their latest movie …and then leave. On Johnny’s show, more was expected — much more. He would, for instance, have astronomer Carl Sagan in to talk about space exploration. And then, of course, later do a hilarious send-up of Sagan’s peculiar verbal delivery style, leading to “billions!” of laughs.
When Johnny decided to retire, on May 22, 1992, he retired fully, making few public appearances and very rarely granting interviews. In one of those rare interviews, he explained his decision not to appear in public: “I just let the work speak for itself.” Indeed, for topical comedy it stands up well. Yet when he thought of a good current events joke, he’d send it to David Letterman, who sometimes used them in his own monologue. He’d send Johnny a check for each one; they were never cashed. Upon Johnny’s retirement President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom with the citation, “With decency and style he’s made America laugh and think.” What better legacy? That’s why I call him a mentor.
Unfortunately, Johnny was a long-time smoker. Once he retired he had increasing health problems. A heart attack in 1999 led to a quadruple bypass. Later, his trademark voice failed. He died January 23 — from emphysema. He was 79.
Johnny, I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight.
Author’s Note: I also said goodbye to Johnny in my blog: Goodnight, Johnny.