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'Johnny Carson: King of Late Night' takes in-depth look [PBS "Carson's Cellar" Airs 5/14]
LATimes ^ | May 13, 2012 | Greg Braxton

Posted on 05/13/2012 5:19:39 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

A PBS 'American Masters' documentary investigates the mystique of the elusive 'Tonight Show' host, 20 years after he left TV.

Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer all made their best pitch but were turned down. Johnny Carson, the man who changed forever the world of late-night talk, wasn't talking.

The network news powerhouses had separately attempted to secure interviews with Carson to get him to speak about his life and his place as one of the most influential figures in TV history. But from his 1992 retirement after 30 years on"The Tonight Show"until his death in 2005 at age 79, Carson steadfastly refused to cooperate with almost all interviews,

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carsonscellar; johnnycarson; pbs; tonightshow
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1 posted on 05/13/2012 5:19:49 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay

Johnny was funny without being filthy; he didn’t attack or confront his guests; he didn’t take himself too seriously; and he NEVER would have supported Barack Obama.

I’ll be watching on Monday night.


2 posted on 05/13/2012 5:35:26 AM PDT by Walrus (Can a president be impeached for stupidity?)
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To: fight_truth_decay
I liked this in Johnny Carson. A Hollywood star who just had a regular, quiet life after work (at least in terms of being a major celebrity). No sanctimonious misinformed lectures on politics. No tawdry tabloid stories. No stupid boorish behavior off camera. No temper tantrums. None of that "Do you know who I am" attitude.

I remember in the mid 1980s going to a taping of the Carson show in Burbank as part of my vacation. My soon-to-be wife and I were walking across the parking lot of the studio when none other than Johnny Carson himself pulled in front of us and drove into the private entrance in a white car. Just a regular guy driving himself to work.

3 posted on 05/13/2012 5:38:57 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: fight_truth_decay

Ping for later....


4 posted on 05/13/2012 5:41:11 AM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "gun free zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: Walrus

Looking forward to this show.


5 posted on 05/13/2012 5:48:37 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: fight_truth_decay
It appears to me that Carson thought an interview was simply unnecessary. He valued a private life, and wanted to keep that seperate from his public life. His public life was on TV, and anyone who wished to get to know him publicly could turn on the TV. Why be interviewed?

How refreshing compared to today, where celebrities can't even stop themselves from tweeting the addresses of people they'd like killed.

6 posted on 05/13/2012 5:52:50 AM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: Walrus

Unlike the majority of celebrities today, Johnny Carson had class. Truly one of the greatest.


7 posted on 05/13/2012 6:00:40 AM PDT by rfreedom4u (Democracy and islam are not compatible!)
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To: rfreedom4u

Despite being private I DO remember a ‘60 Minutes’ segment on him. Mike Wallace did it.


8 posted on 05/13/2012 6:11:06 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Walrus
Johnny was funny without being filthy

There WAS one occasion, in a recorded promo that Johnny and Ed McMahon did for the Vicks sales convention in Boca Raton back in '75, this was NEVER broadcast except on closed circuit, fast forward to :18 in this YouTube clip, you might want to save it if you're so inclined because sooner or later it will probably be yanked ... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOtOsi9NcVY/
9 posted on 05/13/2012 6:16:08 AM PDT by mkjessup (Romney is to conservatism what Helen Thomas is to a high fashion model walkway.)
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To: Walrus

He let his work speak for him. Imagine that.

Today’s ‘entertainers’ spend their time spouting off in the press...their programs and films are incidental.


10 posted on 05/13/2012 6:16:38 AM PDT by relictele (We are officially OUT of other people's money!)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Had a short ride in an elevator with Johnny in Santa Monica/Venice, CA where he kept his business office after TV retirement. It was right by Arnold’s restaurant Schatzi. He was with one of his associates. Just a regular guy vibe all the way. Low key, quiet, “normal” dude.

I miss him and am grateful I grew up with his TV self in another America that I also sorely miss.


11 posted on 05/13/2012 6:16:38 AM PDT by RacerX1128 (Cornered in CA)
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To: RacerX1128

“I miss him and am grateful I grew up with his TV self in another America that I also sorely miss.”

Amen.


12 posted on 05/13/2012 6:26:45 AM PDT by John W (Viva Cristo Rey!)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Too bad he isn't around today with this fool in the White House.

Ed McMahon: "Black and white and is always on a vacation"

Carnac the Magnificent: "Black and white and is always on a vacation"...pause..."What is Barack Obama"

Audience: "boooo"

Carnac the Magnificent: "May your favorite daughter be featured in NFL Films Sack of the Week."


13 posted on 05/13/2012 6:33:44 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Some day our schools will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
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To: fight_truth_decay

Hubby and I saw Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme in Vegas a few years ago.

The theme of their show was “We’re Still Here” and it opened with a video montage of all the people they’d worked with over the years who were sadly now “not here”.

When Johnny Carson appeared the audience all sighed and applauded. He was the only star who elicited this reaction. That man is sincerely missed by many people who only knew him from TV.

He was one of a kind, and he was always so polite to any guest he had on, that is key.

For years the only news I got was from watching his monologue, but I never felt ill-informed.

Watch Leno nowadays, I think his writers come in on Monday and write a bunch of jokes which are then re-cycled with very slight changes throughout the week.


14 posted on 05/13/2012 6:37:21 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: fight_truth_decay

Miss him still.
The other late nighters are un-watchable.
Craig Furgusen (sp?) is funny but on way too late here.

I have Johnny’s VHS collection and it’s wonderful to go back and see what great late night TV was all about.


15 posted on 05/13/2012 6:41:58 AM PDT by TheConservativeParty ("War." Andrew Breitbart)
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To: John W

I spent way too many late nights watching his show and often whatever followed. Tomorrow, Letterman, Costas. I am actually thankful that there is nothing worth staying up late for these days.


16 posted on 05/13/2012 6:46:38 AM PDT by xp38
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To: fight_truth_decay

Carson was the leftist. But for a couple of decades he simply the guy in my living room, telling good and awful jokes, hosting a wide variety of interesting guests, and keeping my company in late night.

I made it a point to watch his two farewell episodes. The last one was amazing as he just sat alone on stage.


17 posted on 05/13/2012 6:53:59 AM PDT by jimfree (In Nov 2012 my 11 y/o granddaughter will have more relevant executive experience than Barack Obama)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Johnny was good.


18 posted on 05/13/2012 6:58:35 AM PDT by Lazamataz (To the wall, street occupiers!!!!!)
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To: jocon307

In November 1987 I finally visited LA and got to see the show live. Showed up around 5 and put in the standby line. Got in but practically the worst seat in the house almost the last upper row. Still nothing like seeing it done live. Doc and Ed were there so it was the main cast intact and as an added bonus the big guest that night was Jimmy Stewart. In some ways it was like watching a fine tuned machine work. The show with Carson was in the 25th year at that point.


19 posted on 05/13/2012 7:14:20 AM PDT by xp38
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To: fight_truth_decay; Walrus

I know Johnny was a liberal Democrat...he reportedly even sent jokes to Al Gore for use on the campaign trail.

He hardly EVER allowed this leftwingnutism come through on his show...sure, he skewered conservatives in his monologue—but I recall him ALSO doing it to liberals like Jimmy Carter (Carter was the last Demonrat to be President during Johnny’s career).

From what I understand, he always said he just wanted the “work to speak for itself”, meaning his work on TV—which was spectacular.

During his career, he DID do some rare interviews. I think he did one on 60 Minutes. And I recall him teaming up with Dick Clark and Ed McMahon on their “TV’s Bloopers and Practical Jokes” to pull a prank on Joan Rivers.

I am glad Carson’s company is still going—making his show available for those of us who miss his show.

Thanks for posting this—I will record and watch it.


20 posted on 05/13/2012 8:10:50 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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