Johnny Carson

RUNNING HEAD : JOHNNY CARSON

Johnny Carson , the King of Late Night

Johnny Carson , the King of Late Night

Before the limelight

John William Carson was born in Corning , Iowa on October 23 , 1925 , but he grew up in Norfolk , Nebraska . At the age of 14 , he started performing magic tricks and used the moniker The Great Carsoni ' He graduated in 1949 at the University of Nebraska . A year after , Carson worked as a radio announcer and at a television station in Omaha . He also landed a job at The Squirrel 's

Nest , an early-morning television program . In 1950 , he worked for KNXT , a station based in Los Angeles , owned by CBS He was given a job in writing in The Red Skelton Show after he starred in Carson 's Cellar . It was a lucky break for Carson when Skelton got injured he substituted Skelton for the show . After several game and variety shows , Johnny Carson finally had the defining career of his life , being the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson became a home for Johnny Carson , his sidekick Ed McMahon , and other regulars for 30 years . He filled in after Jack Paar left The Tonight Show . As Carson was a jazz-lover and amateur drummer , he retained Paar 's band , with Doc Severinsen . Ed McMahon would start the show by his famous Heeeeeere 's Johnny ' introduction , ushering Carson out the stage followed by a short comical monologue by Carson . His opening monologue depended on the mood of the nation . His every punch line has a valuable point to it . His most important ingredient was politics , mirroring the voice of the people but also devoured on latest trends , scientific discoveries , peculiar news , and even his divorces . He presented a peek of what was happening in the nation and the world . The show then would be filled with music interviews , and comedy sketches . Carson 's illusory golf swing directed toward his band would signal the end of the show

Originally , the show was produced in New York . Also , it was not broadcasted live at first . After the Jack Paar days , it had been aired on television live and uninterrupted . The show was permanently moved to Burbank , California in 1972

After the transfer , Carson wanted to have guest hosts on Monday nights so he would only have to host for four days . Initially , The Tonight Show had various hosts , but in September 1983 , Joan Rivers became its constant guest host until 1986 (she was fired for accepting a work at a competing show without permission from Carson . After that , the show again had various guest hosts until Jay Leno became permanent in 1987

Many performers , especially comedians , considered their appearance to the show a jump start of their careers . Thus , once in the show performers would try their best to make Carson laugh , a good sign for a starting career . Jay Leno , David Letterman , and Jerry Seinfeld , popular comedians , among others , all...