Johnny Carson Essay, Research Paper

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He was raised in

Norfolk, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska. The actor/comedian was the

host of NBC’s Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 and, though he inherited the hosting

duties of the program from Jack Parr, defined the show and became the icon for late night

television. For those thirty years, Johnny Carson was arguably the most popular

entertainer in the country and America’s most identifiable celebrity on television. Carson

served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 and moved to California in 1950 where he began

working in television and radio.

The first show he hosted was called “Carson’s Cellar” and aired in 1951. He also

wrote and performed on The Red Skeleton Show in 1954. In 1956 Carson moved to New

York City and he hosted the television game show Who Do You Trust? from 1958 to

1963. During that show’s successful run as ABC’s top daytime program, Carson was

invited to appear on The Tonight Show. His first guest appearance was in 1958 and in

1962 Johnny began a thirty year job as the show’s front man. Interestingly, he co.-wrote

the famous “Johnny’s Theme” that opened each show with Paul Anka in 1962 and receives

residuals from each daily performance to this day. The first guest of the Carson era was

Groucho Marx who introduced Johnny to his new audience. Johnny Carson became

known for his relaxed manner, witty commentary, and impersonations.

His opening monologue became a national institution and Carson was trusted to

such a degree that when he jokingly announced a shortage on toilet paper in 1973 it truly

became the “Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 1973.” Reports of hoarding and buying

extreme quantities were off-kilter proof of his societal impact. Critics sung the praises of

his monologues, describing its import in glowing terms: “a magnifying glass on American

culture,” and “a national institution.” Johnny Carson was the most valuable asset in

television, making The Tonight Show NBC’s biggest money maker and its most

consistently high rated program. Johnny Carson was the last person millions of Americans

saw before going to sleep every night and The Tonight Show became a cultural tradition

that spanned generations and races. Known for a combination of Midwestern charm and

cosmopolitan wit, Johnny created the standard for late night television as well as some of

TV’s most enduring characters. A typical show would include Ed McMahon’s

introduction, “Heeere’s Johnny!”, a topical monologue, that famous golf swing followed

by interviews with celebrities and common people, and of course, Doc Severinsen’s music.

Carson’s most famous characters included the Mighty Carson Art Players, Art Fern

and Carnac the Magnificent, the psychic whose daft predictions poked fun at politicians

and current events. The Tonight Show was also the most prominent launching pad for

comedy careers and Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jay

Leno all appeared with Johnny before becoming famous. When Carson threatened to quit

The Tonight Show in 1979, NBC gave him a new contract, shortened the show from an

hour and a half to just an hour, increased his salary, and gave him more vacation time as

well as an ownership stake in the program.

His reward was fair, considering that by 1979, The Tonight Show had an audience

of more than 17 million viewers and generated a mind boggling seventeen percent of the

NBC’s profits. Carson Productions, founded in 1980, made Johnny very wealthy as

producer of other shows and current caretaker of The Tonight Show video empire.

Considered one of the most influential television performers, Johnny Carson’s legacy

skyrocketed when, unexpectedly, he announced his retirement in 1991. The final guests on

the next-to-last show on May 22 were Robin Williams and Bette Midler who sang a

tearful good-bye to the legend.

The final show was a paired down night of archival clips and remembrances with

McMahon and Severinsen. An estimated fifty-million watched his departure from the

national spotlight. Johnny Carson was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1987.

Along the way he won no less than five Emmy awards, an American Comedy Lifetime

Achievement Award, an American Guild of Variety Artists Entertainer of the Year Award,

the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992), a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime

Achievement Award (1993) and the affection of millions. The Tonight Show also won a

Peabody award which is awarded annually to the best in broadcast media. Reflecting upon

Carson’s legacy, writer Kenneth Tynan noted that “the way he uses the camera as a silent

conspirator is probably his most original contribution to TV technique.” The final Tonight

Show with Johnny Carson was treated like a major news event and received front page

coverage in most major news papers.

The Washington Post defended the attention, “after all, Carson was late night TV,

and with decency and style he made America laugh and think.” Since 1992 Johnny Carson

has stayed out of the public eye, save a recent humorous piece in the New Yorker poking

fun at comedian Dennis Miller. On March 19, 1999, Johnny Carson had quadruple bypass

surgery in Santa Monica. Carson’s notable TV guest appearances include Night Court, Get

Smart, Here’s Lucy, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Newhart, Cheers, the Positively True

Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, the Newton Boys, and the

Simpsons. Once asked what he would like his epitaph to read, Johnny responded, “I’ll be

right back

THere was many things that i didn?t know about Johnny Carson. I knew that he was from

Iowa and that he hosted The Tonight Show but that is about all I knew about Johnny

Carson, Some things I learned were that he went to the University of Nebraska. And that

his brother was the co.-finder of the Wheel of Fourtion

Work Sites

Enclypida Encarta

www.johnnycarson.com

Johnny Carson

Josh Gates

History of Iowa

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He was raised in

Norfolk, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska. The actor/comedian was the

host of NBC’s Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 and, though he inherited the hosting

duties of the program from Jack Parr, defined the show and became the icon for late night

television. For those thirty years, Johnny Carson was arguably the most popular

entertainer in the country and America’s most identifiable celebrity on television. Carson

served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 and moved to California in 1950 where he began

working in television and radio.

The first show he hosted was called “Carson’s Cellar” and aired in 1951. He also

wrote and performed on The Red Skeleton Show in 1954. In 1956 Carson moved to New

York City and he hosted the television game show Who Do You Trust? from 1958 to

1963. During that show’s successful run as ABC’s top daytime program, Carson was

invited to appear on The Tonight Show. His first guest appearance was in 1958 and in

1962 Johnny began a thirty year job as the show’s front man. Interestingly, he co.-wrote

the famous “Johnny’s Theme” that opened each show with Paul Anka in 1962 and receives

residuals from each daily performance to this day. The first guest of the Carson era was

Groucho Marx who introduced Johnny to his new audience. Johnny Carson became

known for his relaxed manner, witty commentary, and impersonations.

His opening monologue became a national institution and Carson was trusted to

such a degree that when he jokingly announced a shortage on toilet paper in 1973 it truly

became the “Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 1973.” Reports of hoarding and buying

extreme quantities were off-kilter proof of his societal impact. Critics sung the praises of

his monologues, describing its import in glowing terms: “a magnifying glass on American

culture,” and “a national institution.” Johnny Carson was the most valuable asset in

television, making The Tonight Show NBC’s biggest money maker and its most

consistently high rated program. Johnny Carson was the last person millions of Americans

saw before going to sleep every night and The Tonight Show became a cultural tradition

that spanned generations and races. Known for a combination of Midwestern charm and

cosmopolitan wit, Johnny created the standard for late night television as well as some of

TV’s most enduring characters. A typical show would include Ed McMahon’s

introduction, “Heeere’s Johnny!”, a topical monologue, that famous golf swing followed

by interviews with celebrities and common people, and of course, Doc Severinsen’s music.

Carson’s most famous characters included the Mighty Carson Art Players, Art Fern

and Carnac the Magnificent, the psychic whose daft predictions poked fun at politicians

and current events. The Tonight Show was also the most prominent launching pad for

comedy careers and Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jay

Leno all appeared with Johnny before becoming famous. When Carson threatened to quit

The Tonight Show in 1979, NBC gave him a new contract, shortened the show from an

hour and a half to just an hour, increased his salary, and gave him more vacation time as

well as an ownership stake in the program.

His reward was fair, considering that by 1979, The Tonight Show had an audience

of more than 17 million viewers and generated a mind boggling seventeen percent of the

NBC’s profits. Carson Productions, founded in 1980, made Johnny very wealthy as

producer of other shows and current caretaker of The Tonight Show video empire.

Considered one of the most influential television performers, Johnny Carson’s legacy

skyrocketed when, unexpectedly, he announced his retirement in 1991. The final guests on

the next-to-last show on May 22 were Robin Williams and Bette Midler who sang a

tearful good-bye to the legend.

The final show was a paired down night of archival clips and remembrances with

McMahon and Severinsen. An estimated fifty-million watched his departure from the

national spotlight. Johnny Carson was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1987.

Along the way he won no less than five Emmy awards, an American Comedy Lifetime

Achievement Award, an American Guild of Variety Artists Entertainer of the Year Award,

the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992), a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime

Achievement Award (1993) and the affection of millions. The Tonight Show also won a

Peabody award which is awarded annually to the best in broadcast media. Reflecting upon

Carson’s legacy, writer Kenneth Tynan noted that “the way he uses the camera as a silent

conspirator is probably his most original contribution to TV technique.” The final Tonight

Show with Johnny Carson was treated like a major news event and received front page

coverage in most major news papers.

The Washington Post defended the attention, “after all, Carson was late night TV,

and with decency and style he made America laugh and think.” Since 1992 Johnny Carson

has stayed out of the public eye, save a recent humorous piece in the New Yorker poking

fun at comedian Dennis Miller. On March 19, 1999, Johnny Carson had quadruple bypass

surgery in Santa Monica. Carson’s notable TV guest appearances include Night Court, Get

Smart, Here’s Lucy, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Newhart, Cheers, the Positively True

Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, the Newton Boys, and the

Simpsons. Once asked what he would like his epitaph to read, Johnny responded, “I’ll be

right back

THere was many things that i didn?t know about Johnny Carson. I knew that he was from

Iowa and that he hosted The Tonight Show but that is about all I knew about Johnny

Carson, Some things I learned were that he went to the University of Nebraska. And that

his brother was the co.-finder of the Wheel of Fourtion

Work Sites

Enclypida Encarta

www.johnnycarson.com

Johnny Carson

Josh Gates

History of Iowa

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He was raised in

Norfolk, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska. The actor/comedian was the

host of NBC’s Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 and, though he inherited the hosting

duties of the program from Jack Parr, defined the show and became the icon for late night

television. For those thirty years, Johnny Carson was arguably the most popular

entertainer in the country and America’s most identifiable celebrity on television. Carson

served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 and moved to California in 1950 where he began

working in television and radio.

The first show he hosted was called “Carson’s Cellar” and aired in 1951. He also

wrote and performed on The Red Skeleton Show in 1954. In 1956 Carson moved to New

York City and he hosted the television game show Who Do You Trust? from 1958 to

1963. During that show’s successful run as ABC’s top daytime program, Carson was

invited to appear on The Tonight Show. His first guest appearance was in 1958 and in

1962 Johnny began a thirty year job as the show’s front man. Interestingly, he co.-wrote

the famous “Johnny’s Theme” that opened each show with Paul Anka in 1962 and receives

residuals from each daily performance to this day. The first guest of the Carson era was

Groucho Marx who introduced Johnny to his new audience. Johnny Carson became

known for his relaxed manner, witty commentary, and impersonations.

His opening monologue became a national institution and Carson was trusted to

such a degree that when he jokingly announced a shortage on toilet paper in 1973 it truly

became the “Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 1973.” Reports of hoarding and buying

extreme quantities were off-kilter proof of his societal impact. Critics sung the praises of

his monologues, describing its import in glowing terms: “a magnifying glass on American

culture,” and “a national institution.” Johnny Carson was the most valuable asset in

television, making The Tonight Show NBC’s biggest money maker and its most

consistently high rated program. Johnny Carson was the last person millions of Americans

saw before going to sleep every night and The Tonight Show became a cultural tradition

that spanned generations and races. Known for a combination of Midwestern charm and

cosmopolitan wit, Johnny created the standard for late night television as well as some of

TV’s most enduring characters. A typical show would include Ed McMahon’s

introduction, “Heeere’s Johnny!”, a topical monologue, that famous golf swing followed

by interviews with celebrities and common people, and of course, Doc Severinsen’s music.

Carson’s most famous characters included the Mighty Carson Art Players, Art Fern

and Carnac the Magnificent, the psychic whose daft predictions poked fun at politicians

and current events. The Tonight Show was also the most prominent launching pad for

comedy careers and Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jay

Leno all appeared with Johnny before becoming famous. When Carson threatened to quit

The Tonight Show in 1979, NBC gave him a new contract, shortened the show from an

hour and a half to just an hour, increased his salary, and gave him more vacation time as

well as an ownership stake in the program.

His reward was fair, considering that by 1979, The Tonight Show had an audience

of more than 17 million viewers and generated a mind boggling seventeen percent of the

NBC’s profits. Carson Productions, founded in 1980, made Johnny very wealthy as

producer of other shows and current caretaker of The Tonight Show video empire.

Considered one of the most influential television performers, Johnny Carson’s legacy

skyrocketed when, unexpectedly, he announced his retirement in 1991. The final guests on

the next-to-last show on May 22 were Robin Williams and Bette Midler who sang a

tearful good-bye to the legend.

The final show was a paired down night of archival clips and remembrances with

McMahon and Severinsen. An estimated fifty-million watched his departure from the

national spotlight. Johnny Carson was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1987.

Along the way he won no less than five Emmy awards, an American Comedy Lifetime

Achievement Award, an American Guild of Variety Artists Entertainer of the Year Award,

the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992), a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime

Achievement Award (1993) and the affection of millions. The Tonight Show also won a

Peabody award which is awarded annually to the best in broadcast media. Reflecting upon

Carson’s legacy, writer Kenneth Tynan noted that “the way he uses the camera as a silent

conspirator is probably his most original contribution to TV technique.” The final Tonight

Show with Johnny Carson was treated like a major news event and received front page

coverage in most major news papers.

The Washington Post defended the attention, “after all, Carson was late night TV,

and with decency and style he made America laugh and think.” Since 1992 Johnny Carson

has stayed out of the public eye, save a recent humorous piece in the New Yorker poking

fun at comedian Dennis Miller. On March 19, 1999, Johnny Carson had quadruple bypass

surgery in Santa Monica. Carson’s notable TV guest appearances include Night Court, Get

Smart, Here’s Lucy, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Newhart, Cheers, the Positively True

Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, the Newton Boys, and the

Simpsons. Once asked what he would like his epitaph to read, Johnny responded, “I’ll be

right back

THere was many things that i didn?t know about Johnny Carson. I knew that he was from

Iowa and that he hosted The Tonight Show but that is about all I knew about Johnny

Carson, Some things I learned were that he went to the University of Nebraska. And that

his brother was the co.-finder of the Wheel of Fourtion

Work Sites

Enclypida Encarta

www.johnnycarson.com

Johnny Carson

Josh Gates

History of Iowa