I heard a short entertainment brief just the other day about how David Letterman was being sent the occassional joke by late-night legend Johnny Carson. It was one of those odd non-news vignettes that reminds you how long the subject has been out of the public eye, and it struck me that his folks most likely sent out this press release to soften the coming blow. And so it is. Johnny Carson has died at the age of 79.
Anyone too young to remember the elegantly simple charm of Jay Leno's predecessor missed a true master of the art.
The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.
His wealth, the adoration of his guests — particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched — the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson's air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.
"Heeeeere's Johnny!" was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as "Carnac the Magnificent."
But America never tired of him; Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992.
I recalled him saying he'd rather have people ask why he's retiring than why he's not retiring. And that impressive degree of humility and self-awareness explains perhaps why once he retired, he turned down all but a few of the never-ending requests to make public appearances:
Carson choose to let "Tonight" stand as his career zenith and his finale, withdrawing into a quiet retirement that suited his private nature and refusing involvement in other show business projects.
In 1993, he explained his absence from the limelight.
"I have an ego like anybody else," Carson told The Washington Post, "but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time."
Carson spent his retirement years sailing, traveling and socializing with a few close friends including media mogul Barry Diller and NBC executive Bob Wright. He simply refused to be wooed back on stage.
"I just let the work speak for itself," he told Esquire magazine in 2002.
Although I appreciate his desire for privacy, I must say, the fact that there will be no memorial service makes me sad. He was so admired and so many of today's great comedians owe their start to Carson, who gave them their first break on national television, I can only imagine it would be an all-star assembly and could be warm and witty.
There were so many classic Carson moments and priceless jokes over the 30 years he hosted the Tonight Show, it's pointless to choose one as my favorite. So I'll choose one of the ones I vividly recall every now and then, causing me to chuckle each time I'm cooking one of my favorite dishes. This joke actually got a rousing groan from the audience I recall. He was offering a list of domestic tips for saving money and suggested that viewers shake the crumbs from their bedspreads into their meatloaf.
Rest in Peace Mr. Carson. You were in a class by yourself.
This news is so bad.
I have arrived at the Slawson (sp?) cutoff and now I'm really going to cut off my slawson.
May his camel be forever humped at the eternal oasis.
Or something. This just about totals the week.
Posted by: John Thullen | January 23, 2005 at 07:09 PM
Feeling kinda young right now.
Posted by: rilkefan | January 23, 2005 at 07:49 PM
I'm feeling kind of culturally alienated. I have never seen the Johnny Carson Show. But Edward's memorial is very sweet.
Nixon's secretary just died. I remember her.
Posted by: lily | January 23, 2005 at 08:21 PM
Johnny had a classy show (you really understand this once you subject yourself to Leno), and I really appreciated the fact that once he was done, he went private. It seemed to me that it meant that he was comfortable with himself, with what he'd accomplished, and he could just spend time with family and friends without the need for further adulation. I wish so many others would have followed that dignified example.
Edward remembers the meat loaf crumbs. I remember the Karnak joke. Holding up the sealed envelope to his forehead, Johnny/Karnak intoned, "Philip the III." Then he ripped the short side of the envelope off, blew it open, pulled out the card (this routine was sacred, and said, "What do you tell the bartender who gives you three shot glasses but only pours into two?"
Posted by: Opus | January 23, 2005 at 09:15 PM
My favourite Carnak bit (stripped of the sacred routine):
"Sis Boom Bah"
"What do you call an exploding sheep?"
Posted by: Mary | January 23, 2005 at 09:19 PM
Yes, a class act in that he was never mean-spirited.
But he did do off-color bits. There's the time one of the Gabor sisters was on his show, and had a cat in her lap, and asked him "Vould joo like to pet my poosy?" And Johnny said, "Sure, just get rid of that damned cat."
I watched Leno a couple of times: once out of curiosity, the second time to confirm the negative first impression. Feh. Oily and smug.
Posted by: CaseyL | January 23, 2005 at 10:10 PM
I am so old I remember the game show. (But, barely).
Ya know, the guy defined or illustrated the perfect television personality. From the midwest (non)-accent to the self-deprecating humour to the pleasant looking non-sexual not-quite handsomeness. Being ordinary can make you rich and famous if you can project it extraordinarily well.
Never was a fan, still don't watch such stuff, but the man was umm, just fine folks. An ok guy. A good dude. And I am sincere, not sarcastic.
Posted by: bob mcmanus | January 23, 2005 at 10:16 PM
Karnak to Ed: May the fleas from a thousand camels infest your armpits.
Karnak answer: Peter Pan
Envelope Question: What do you use to fry Peter?
My absolute favorite, though, was when he'd use pictures of people in the audience as characters in some fictitious soap opera introduction. I just have an image of some middle-aged woman in the audience who, among other things "...would like to hose down the toolbox of..." the next guy in the lineup. Those always had me in stitches.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | January 24, 2005 at 08:52 AM
Karnak to Ed: May the fleas from a thousand camels infest your armpits.
That seems much more vivid to me now than the first time I heard it...having seen a camel up close. Blech!
Carson was only borderline harmless...CaseyL's anecdote explaining why not totally. Still he wasn't as overtly threatening as Letterman or as (to borrow the perfect description from CaseyL) oily as Leno.
The magic of his show was the classy intimacy he developed with the viewers at bed time. There was something ever so slightly sexual (in a middle class pajamas and nightcap foreplay between definitely married couples sort of way) about the show's format (and the off-color jokes were a part of that). Safe, accessible, good-natured...again, a real prince.
Posted by: Edward | January 24, 2005 at 09:45 AM
May the sewers of Rangoon back up into your breakfast.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | January 24, 2005 at 10:13 AM
Karnak answer: Peter Pan
Envelope Question: What do you use to fry Peter?
OK everyone, Carnac starts and ends with a c. Your attention to this is greatly appreciated.
Posted by: liberal japonicus | January 24, 2005 at 11:04 AM
Carson was only borderline harmless...CaseyL's anecdote explaining why not totally.
Which is why it's such a shame that it's not true.
Posted by: Josh | January 24, 2005 at 11:43 AM
you left out what a wonderful father and husband he was. you are wrong divorce-breath.
Posted by: the drunken cheerleader | January 24, 2005 at 12:18 PM
Which is why it's such a shame that it's not true.
that is a shame...funny how if you hear a story enough times you will swear you saw it happen...
you left out what a wonderful father and husband he was
never having been part of his private life, I wouldn't pass judgment on this.
Posted by: Edward | January 24, 2005 at 12:23 PM
One would have to wonder then if also apocryphal is the following (and oft repeated) Johnny Carson / Arnold Palmer anecdote:
Carson: Does your wife do anything special for you the night before tournaments?
Palmer: Well, yes she does. She kisses each of my balls.
Carson: I bet that makes your putter stand on end!
If it's not true... it should be. Bye, Johnny.
You were SO cool.
Posted by: xanax | January 24, 2005 at 03:21 PM