Johnny Carson
 

MSNBC reporting that he passed away this morning.

RIP.

Wow. The news stories last week about him feeding jokes to Letterman periodically mentioned the emphysema, but I saw nothing suggesting he was that bad off. I wonder if Peter Lasally put that out there to let people know he was full of vigor to the very end and not have it come out after he passed away so that it sounded like pity.

A true legend that changed the pop culture. Sad loss.

Very sad... :(

AP is reporting it as well.

I only caught the tail end of his career, but I'm saddened to see him go. As kcchief said, he was a legendary figure in entertainment. With Johnny, far moreso than with subsequent late night talk show hosts, it seemed easy to develop an almost personal relationship with him. I don't think we'll see his likes again.

Yep, AP has it, I just flipped over to CNN when I saw this thread and they were doing a thing on his life.
Wow. End of an era. :(

~tk

Damn. RIP Johnny!

:(

I remember watching him as a kid....he was so good at late night talk shows that when he left, I stopped watching.

:(

very sad day. i was recently thinking about getting some of the tonight show dvds. i think this just sealed it for me.

booo

I pretty much missed his legacy (21 years old), but knew what he did for late night TV, RIP.

RIP Johnny.

Johnny Carson was born and grew up in the town I live in, Norfolk, Nebraska. He was great to the local community through out the years. He will be missed.

You youngsters out there who never got a chance to watch him
missed out on a Legend.

I was too young to follow him...never could get through the opening.

STILL didn't anyone think it was funny that CNN just had an article on how Carson helped Letterman in some writing aspects...

Still I know from what I've seen he was classy...

Of course, the Saturday Night Live skits with Dana Carvey impresonating him and Chris Farley as Dom Deluise peeing himself laughing...

Priceless

How dead was he...

That really sucks. Wasn't making fun of his passing, more of an homage to his "hot hot was it" jokes. I'm sure Johnny would laugh. :) I really liked Johnny. I remember watching him late night as a kid during the summer since I wasn't allowed up that late during the school year. I've also spent many hours laughing at the tapes released of the Tonight Show.

Maybe I'll pop one of those in when I go to bed soon.... :(

I was in the same boat. I wasn't allowed to watch him during the school year as it was on too late, but I watched him all the time during the summer. Truly a great entertainer. :(

Anyone know if the tonight's (ahem) Tonight Show will be doing anything special?

I think I will watch...

Special Tonight Show after all, if you aren't watching.

This is classic stuff, tonight.

SI

Definitely. I'm taping this one. Good show.

it comes on later on west coast


was the show just flashbacks only?

Lots of clips, but also Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, and Drew Carrey were on talking about him.

(Oh, and how far of a talent dropoff is it from those four to kd Lang. Speaking of talent gaps: the original guests were supposed to be Paris Hilton, Ian McShane, Ani DiFranco...)

SI

Not just flashbacks. Ed McMahon, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Drew Carey, and K.D. Lang are all on.

Bob Newhart has always killed me.

Yeah, KD Lang is a talent drop-off as far as I'm concerned, but I do remember reading somewhere that this was one of Carson's favorite singers.

I miss Johnny. :(

And then running straight into a Conan rerun because he never does Monday shows :(

SI

was Jay Leno very emotional?

i wonder if David Letterman show going to do something too tonight?

Well, he was his usual self on these occasions, tho slightly to a higher degree- there was a moment or two I didn't think he could go on. It's one of Leno's most endearing traits- certainly he's a tv personality but on these occasions, he seems very sincere and that came across.

EDIT: Letterman was a rerun.

SI

Letterman is a repeat.

When a famous comedian dies, all of the comedy clubs on the Sunset Strip post something on their marquee (a decent tribute in my mind). I drive by these on my way to work and had a lump in my throat this morning as I saw the signs.

Conan never does a Monday night show? He has alot of reruns lately.

Sad indeed. :(


Todd