"LOS ANGELES - Johnny Carson (news), the "Tonight Show" TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79. "Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning," his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. "He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service." "
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I was too young to ever hear the words "Heeere's Johnny" live. But my dad got my mom a Johnny Carson box set for Christmas several years back, and it became one of my absolute favorite videos to watch. I mourn his loss. Posts: 786 | Registered: Jun 2003
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My dad worked nights from the time I was born till kindergarten. When he would get home, he would watch Johnny Carson, and I'd wake back up to watch it too, because I'd not seen daddy all day. I don't remember anything he said, but i rember the comforting grandpa feeling. If i weren't already in tears from reading something else today, this would do it.
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This is one of the few times I could say I really cared about a celebrity dying. I loved Carson... Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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This is very sad. I grew up with Johnny, and some of my best memories of my teenage years were watching his show. A true class act.
At the same time, I'm very happy for him. He's one of the only celebrities that got a real retirement. He did what he loved for 30 years, then quit while he was still on top and had 12 years of rest before he died. I kept hoping to see him come out of retirement and do something, but I was always kind of glad that he didn't. He actually managed to keep out of the spotlight and live his last years in peace, which is very rare. And if anyone deserved it, he did.
He's on my short list of celebrities, along with people like Mister Rogers, whom I genuinely respect for both their talent and their personal characteristics. I've missed him since '92, and I guess I always will. No one will ever replace him.
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My favorite bits from his tenure on the Tonight show were karnak and the tea time movie. I think that's what it was called.
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NOTE: just a week ago I read an article about how Johnny Carson, who kept a really, really low profile after retiring, continued to submit jokes to David Letterman for his monologue, and Letterman would use them.
Johnny was a cool guy.
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Did anyone see The Tonight Show last night? Very moving. I used to hate Jay Leno when he first took over, but he's really stepped up his game in the last 10 years. He'll never replace Johnny (who could?) but I gained a whole new level of respect for him after last night's show.
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I, too, saw the tribute last night on "The Tonight Show". It was a classy send-off for a classy man. I grew up watching Johnny Carson on that show, and in my opinion he was one of the two or three funniest people who ever lived. And the thing was, he could say more with a look than most people can say with thousands of words.
But, the thing I most respect about him is that when he retired, he stayed retired and got on with his life, thus proving that there are people out there who aren't just all about the adulation.
I have to say, it doesn't usually affect me when a celebrity dies. The only other time I ever shed tears at the death of a celebrity was when John Lennon was murdered. Last night, as I watched the tribute, in between all the laughter I shed a considerable number of tears.
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"he could say more with a look than most people can say with thousands of words."
This is so true. He did not feel the need to put people down, either. He did not have that bitter tone I have come to hate about Letterman.
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