When I was a kid I would sneak out of my room and hide behind the couch to watch it. I hated that my parents were watching it and I had to go to bed.
True...just recently it was leaked that Carson, who felt that Letterman should have inherited the Tonight Show chair and not Jay Leno, was contributing jokes to the Late Show.
Carnac: "Hi Didddly Do..." Ed: "Hiyoo... what's that?" (Carnac opens envelope... the trademark rip, blow, pull out card) Carnac: "How do you say good morning to a 'Diddly Do?'" I'll miss him... he really disappeared after his retirement, but it was always comforting whenever I heard news about him. Man.... growing up and getting older really starts to hurt when all this stuff starts happening (and its all inevitable).
Answer: Gatorade. Question: What does an alligator get on welfare? A: 9W. Q: "Dr. Wiener, do you spell your name with a V?" A: OJ, Dr. Ruth, Bill Gates Q: Name me a drink, a shrink, and a fink. A: Bonzo, Goodyear, and Bush Q: Name a chimp, a blimp, and a wimp. A: Piggly Wiggly Q: Describe Kermit's wedding night. A: 1941, 2001, 2010 Q: Name two movies and the next time you'll see Jim Baaker. A: Mount Baldi Q: What did Yul Brenner's wife do on their wedding night? A: Bible belt. Q: What holds up Oral Roberts' pants? A: Milk and honey. Q: What do you get from a bee that has an udder? A: Black and white and twenty feet tall. Q: Describe Sister Mary Kong. A: An unmarried woman. Q: What was Elizabeth Taylor between 3 and 5 pm on June 1, 1952? A: The Laughing Policeman. Q: What do you call a cop who frisks himself? A: Dustin Hoffman. Q: Describe someone cleaning his Hoffman. A: Until he gets caught. Q: How long does a United States Congressman serve? A: Shareholder. Q: What did Sonny Bono used to be? A: Skalliwags. Q: What does your skalli do when it's happy? A: David Frost. Q: On a cold morning what forms on your david? A: Head and shoulders. Q: What do you see if you open the trunk of the Godfather's car? A: Hickory Dickory Dock. Q: Who do you go to when you have a pain in your hickory dickory? A: "Rose Bowl." Q: What do you say when it's Rose's turn at the bowling alley? A: That darn cat. Q: Who ruined that darn rug? A: Gunga din. Q: What do you hear when you put an amplifier in your gunga? A: "Follow the yellow brick road." Q: What are good directions to a urologist's office? A: At both ends. Q: Where do New Yorkers put their dogs muzzles? A: Igloo. Q: What do you use to keep your ig from falling off? A: R-O-L-A-I-D-S. Q: How does a stupid person spell "backgammon"? A: Grape Nuts. Q: What are Ernest and Julio Gallo? A: Shake-N-Bake. Q: Describe a double feature with Earthquake and The Towering Inferno. A: Flypaper. Q: What do you use to gift wrap a zipper? A: Supervisor. Q: What does Clark Kent wear to keep the sun out of his eyes?
I remember hearing my Dad stay up late and watch him on TV but not letting me watch b/c the show aired passed my bedtime. However, on Friday nights whenever my parents threw parties, I would always get to watch the show. Though I didn't get the humor, I loved his infectious smile and laugh. When I got old enough to stay up late, unfortunately I didn't give Johnny a chance (I thought he was lame) and instead I only watched Arsenio Hall. A few years ago my Dad bought the whole DVD collection of Carson and I've been long meaning to give him a second chance by watching them. I now have the motivation to do so. R.I.P. I wish I had appreciated your greatness when you were on TV.
I just found, this is truly a sad day. Johnny was the best. I also heard about him contributing jokes to the Late Show and considered starting a thread about it. I wasn't even 10 when he retired. Of course I didn't get to watch his show with my parents except during the summer and on Fridays. Watching retrospectives and other things, I've been able to see more and more of his stuff and I see why this guy was the king. I'm glad I was able to watch his last episode, even though my memory of it is fuzzy. RIP Johnny, we were lucky to have you as a guest in our homes for so many years.
this is one of my favorite sketches, it was recorded 2/19/1968 with Jack Webb(Friday from Dragnet) Carson was on the brink of laughing the entire sketch, it is pure comic brilliance... Webb: "This is the City. Los Angeles, California. Some people rob for pleasure. Some rob because it's there. You never know. My name's Friday, I'm a cop. I was working the day watch out of Robbery when I got a call from the Acme School Bell Company. There'd been a robbery." Carson: "There's been a robbery." Webb: "Yes sir, what was it?" Carson: "My clappers!" Webb: "Your clappers?" Carson: "Yeah, you know, those things inside a bell that makes them clang?" Webb: "The clangers?" Carson: "That's right, we call them clappers in the business." Webb: "A clapper caper." Carson: "What's that?" Webb: "Nothing sir. Now, can I have the facts? What kind of clappers were stolen on this caper?" Carson: "They were copper clappers." Webb: "And where were they kept?" Carson: "In the closet." Webb: "Uh huh. You have any ideas who might have taken the copper clappers from the closet?" Carson: "Well, just one. I fired a man. He swore he'd get even." Webb: "What was his name?" Carson: "Claude Cooper" Webb: "You think he'd..." Carson: "That's right. I think Claude Cooper copped my copper clappers. Kept in the closet." Webb: "You know where this Claude Cooper is from?" Carson: "Yuh. Cleveland" Webb: "That figures. That figures." Carson: "What makes it worse, they were clean." Webb: "Clean copper clappers." Carson: "That's right." Webb: "Why do you think Cleveland's Claude Cooper would cop your clean copper clappers kept in your closet?" Carson: "Only one reason." Webb: "What's that?" Carson: "He's a kleptomaniac." Webb: "Who first discovered the copper clappers were copped?" Carson: "My cleaning woman, Clara Clifford." Webb: "That figures. Now let me see if I got the facts straight here. Cleaning woman Clara Clifford discovered your clean copper clappers kept in a closet were copped by Claude Cooper the kleptomaniac from Cleveland. Now, is that about it?" Carson: "One other thing." Webb: "What's that?" Carson: "If I ever catch kleptomaniac Claude Cooper from Cleveland who copped my clean copper clappers kept in the closet..." Webb: "Yes?" Carson: "I'll clobber him!"
Letterman is dark this week. I'm sure there will be some mention when he is back. I think Leno is doing new shows, and it is almost certain the Tonight Show will have some sort of memorial. Two things: (1) It is a real shame so much of Carson's prime simply doesn't exist any more. (2) I hope not to see Ed Ames and the tomahawk more than a couple times. A great bit, a perfect response, but Johnny was so much more than that.
I'm watching Larry King and Don Rickles & Carl Reiner are sharing stories and showing clips. Also, people in the biz who knew him are calling in.
RIP Johnny... I made a tape of his last show on The Tonight Show. I'll have to watch it soon. He was such a generous man they say. He helped so many people get their careers off the ground. I said hello to him in France in 1978. He was in some shop buying glassware when a bunch of American college kids came in. He got the heck out of that shop!
I always begged my Grandmother to let me stay up and watch Carson. If it means anything I saw the Tonight Show maybe 500 times, compared to 15 of the Leno version and maybe 30 Letterman's. Part of it is I am not quite as facinated with celebrities, but part of it is Johnny was so funny and sincere...and Dave (while funny) seems like he is always straining to be "edgy"...Leno IMHO tries to channel Carson but does it badly. Don't think there will ever be another one quite like Johnny. RIP
I think this is the first celebrity that has died who has really affected me. I grew up in the early eighties watching the show with my mom, brother or my Aunt & Uncle. I don't think I understood all of his jokes but I remember everyone laughing and so me not wanting to go to bed would start laughing with everyone. I guess I was trying to fit in. Well I came home today and my girlfriend told me that Johnny died and I started to cry. I didn't expect that. I have his last show on tape, the Animal Hi Jinks volume 1 and the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (can't find it right now ) and I plan on watching them tonight. +
I'm watching Adult Swim and before Family Guy started, they payed their respects to Carson. At the first commercial break, they ran a bumper that said "We're sure the tonight show will pay tribute to Johnny Carson tonight; but the Tonight Show hasn't been the Tonight Show since Johnny left. The real Tonight Show is the Late Show, hosted by a fellow named David Letterman." Part of me is thinking that it's kind of mean, but I agree with them. Dave was the guy Carson wanted to replace him and Dave seems much closer to Carson.
Johnny was just one of those guys who could make you laugh without saying a thing. His facial expressions were priceless. I think I laughed more at how he reacted than his jokes, which is taking nothing away from his jokes. He truly changed the landscape of late night TV. RIP Johnny you were the best.
I never watch Leno, but I did last night and he did a very nice tribute to Carson. I was hoping Letterman would do something but it was a repeat. Don Rickles and Bob Newhart are classic Old School comics
