Subdeacon Joe Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 2 years ago today, (yesterday) May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson sat in front of that colorful Tonight Show curtain and bid farewell to a show — and an entire late-night industry — that he made internationally famous. This is the way a late-night king leaves his throne: not with a fight, but just a heartfelt good night. Compared to the drama that preceded his departure, Carson's final episode was a deliberately low-key exit that allowed the host plenty of time to look back at a three-decade Tonight Show run that started in 1962 and look ahead to a well-earned retirement. "This show tonight is our farewell show — it's going to be a little bit quieter, it's not going to be a performance show," Carson said at the top of the telecast about what viewers could expect from the finale. "Now we don't want this show to be mawkish. It's a farewell show, and there's a certain sadness among the staff here. But look on the bright side: you won't have to read or see one more story about my leaving this show!" As the evening wound down, Carson moved back to the stool for his closing statements. "So it has come to this," he began. "I am one of the lucky people in the world: I found something I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it ... I can only tell you it has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you. I hope when I find something that I want to do and I think you will like and come back that you will be as gracious to invite me into your home as you have been. I bid you a very heartfelt good night." Carson never did find that career second act, preferring to live the remainder of his life off-camera. He did contribute the occasional guest spot to other shows, calling up David Letterman at his new Late Show digs and stopping by The Simpsons to offer advice to Springfield's own Krusty the Klown after his afternoon show is canceled. (He notably never revisited The Tonight Show set after it passed into Jay Leno's hands, more or less confirming where his late night loyalties lay.) Carson died in January 2005, 13 years after his widely watched farewell. Clips of his reruns that I have seen dozens of times are still funnier than most of today's late night "comics." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stump Water Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 "Late night" died when Carson stepped down. Letterman made me want to shoot the TV. Something that no one else accomplished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 No one could ever fill his shoes. I still enjoy watching a show on YouTube occasionally, especially the ones with Carnac the Magnificent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 He was the best!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantry Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 NBC was right not give Letterman the Tonight Show. Jay Leno did a nice job and definitely got better as the years went by. As much as I like Conan O'Brien, he wasn't the right person for the Tonight Show either and they haven't found a decent host since Leno retired. Craig Ferguson was very good in The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Late_Late_Show_with_Craig_Ferguson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kloehr Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 The challenge with the Tonight Show is being funny without being crass. Any comedian requiring a drunk audience to get laughs is not the right host. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 The one and only. I not only miss his show, I miss the days (nights) we could regularly stay up that late! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 Johnny and The Tonight Show were a gift. We were blessed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted May 24 Author Share Posted May 24 2 hours ago, Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 said: miss the days (nights) we could regularly stay up that late! Now "staying up late" is 10p.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 im not sure i could stay up that late anymore , but , if johnny was still on id give it a try , i didnt watch every day but i watched every day i could , to me that was "the show" i liked his predecessor steve but , johnny was the tonight show to me , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 15 hours ago, Chantry said: NBC was right not give Letterman the Tonight Show. Jay Leno did a nice job and definitely got better as the years went by. As much as I like Conan O'Brien, he wasn't the right person for the Tonight Show either and they haven't found a decent host since Leno retired. Craig Ferguson was very good in The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Late_Late_Show_with_Craig_Ferguson Yup. Agree 100%. Conan and Craig were and are good decent men and show hosts. Neither would/could hold a candle to Johnny Carson. No one ever will. Leno had class, not Carson level though, and did a decent job with the show but after Johnny nothing would be the same. I just never enjoyed the Tonight Show after Johnny, Ed and Doc. IMHO, all other late night comedians other than those listed above are not comedians, are not funny, and probably actually suck at being decent people let alone what they're paid to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokin Gator SASS #29736 Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 Especially in the earlier years when you saw a celebrity/actor that you liked on his show, it was a rare chance to see then talk and be interviewed. They weren't on tv constantly on shows like Entertainment Tonight, etc. Plus some of your bigger old time stars would come on Carson almost exclusively. New comedians were a big thing on the show. It was really enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 Anything with Rickles was hysterical! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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