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GOOD EVENING,
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I'M JOHNNY CARSON,
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AND I THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU
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THAT I'VE GIVEN A LIFETIME
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00:00:23,991 --> 00:00:26,035
TO COMEDY... AND THE, UH...
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00:00:26,059 --> 00:00:27,871
THE NEXT 90 MINUTES IS GONNA
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SEEM LIKE A LIFETIME TO YOU.
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00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:36,026
Jerry Seinfeld: I USED TO JOKE
ABOUT IT IN FRONT OF AUDIENCES
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00:00:36,136 --> 00:00:39,382
WHEN THEY WOULD ASK, "WHAT'S IT
LIKE BEING ON THE TONIGHT SHOW?"
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00:00:39,406 --> 00:00:41,684
I SAID, "IT'S LIKE THERE'S
A DOORKNOB
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00:00:41,708 --> 00:00:42,353
ON THE FRONT OF YOUR TV,
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00:00:42,377 --> 00:00:45,021
AND YOU OPEN IT
AND YOU GET INSIDE THE TV."
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00:00:45,045 --> 00:00:45,756
THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE
14
00:00:45,780 --> 00:00:48,591
WHEN YOU'RE SITTING NEXT TO
JOHNNY CARSON.
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00:00:48,615 --> 00:00:50,527
I MEAN, HE WAS A TV STAR.
16
00:00:50,551 --> 00:00:51,395
HE WAS AN AMERICAN TV STAR,
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00:00:51,419 --> 00:00:53,296
AND I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN
A BIGGER STAR.
18
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,301
BUT HE DIDN'T DO IT BY ACTING,
HE DID IT BY JUST BEING HIMSELF.
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00:00:58,325 --> 00:01:00,503
Jay Leno: IT WAS REAL,
EVERYTHING HE SAID WAS REAL...
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00:01:00,527 --> 00:01:02,438
WHETHER HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT DIVORCES
21
00:01:02,462 --> 00:01:04,674
OR DRINKING OR WHATEVER
IT MIGHT BE,
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00:01:04,698 --> 00:01:05,675
IT REALLY HAPPENED TO HIM.
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00:01:05,699 --> 00:01:07,577
AND I THOUGHT
THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
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00:01:07,601 --> 00:01:09,145
Conan O'Brien: I DON'T THINK
ANYBODY WAS WATCHING
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00:01:09,169 --> 00:01:12,882
JOHNNY CARSON TO RATE HOW HIS
MATERIAL WAS, KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
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YOU LIKED HIM.
27
00:01:14,007 --> 00:01:18,655
YOU LIKED THAT MAN SO MUCH
AND YOU WENT WITH HIM.
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00:01:18,679 --> 00:01:22,058
Ellen DeGeneres: EVERYBODY KIND
OF WATCHED THE SAME THING
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AND WE ALL SHARED
THAT SAME EXPERIENCE.
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00:01:23,650 --> 00:01:26,396
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO DIDN'T
WATCH JOHNNY CARSON.
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00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:28,464
SO WE ALL, THE NEXT DAY, HAD
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THE SAME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
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THIS IS A GUY
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WHO WAS AS FAMILIAR
AS A BEDTIME STORY.
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CERTAINLY THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE
PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES.
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00:01:41,201 --> 00:01:44,914
FOR DAY-IN, DAY-OUT,
MR. RELIABLE.
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"OH, I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR
WHAT JOHNNY'S
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GOING TO SAY
ABOUT THIS EVENT."
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Ray Romano: IT DOESN'T HURT
TO BE
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ONE OF
THE FUNNIEST GUYS AROUND
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00:01:51,178 --> 00:01:53,790
AND BE ABLE TO BE QUICK
AND IMPROV.
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HE ALWAYS MADE
THE GUESTS LOOK GOOD.
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Garry Shandling: JOHNNY BROUGHT
SOMETHING SOLIDLY,
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00:02:00,220 --> 00:02:02,699
BROADLY, HILARIOUSLY
45
00:02:02,723 --> 00:02:05,134
ACCESSIBLE THAT JUST
46
00:02:05,158 --> 00:02:07,992
NO ONE ELSE DID.
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00:02:08,629 --> 00:02:12,008
Joan Rivers: JOHNNY WAS A TOUGH,
AGGRESSIVE KILLER.
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THAT'S HOW HE GOT TO BE
JOHNNY CARSON.
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Doc Severinsen: PERSONALLY,
I WAS OFTEN
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INTIMIDATED BY JOHNNY.
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HE WAS STANDOFFISH,
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THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
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HE WAS ALOOF.
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David Steinberg: BUT HE WAS
SO BIG A STAR
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THAT HE COULDN'T SHINE HIMSELF
BRIGHTLY FOR EVERYBODY.
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00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:34,063
Richard Benjamin: I MEAN,
MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIVE
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UNDER THAT KIND OF MAGNIFYING
GLASS LIKE THAT.
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00:02:37,457 --> 00:02:40,370
Don Rickles: HE HAD THAT
KIND OF PERSONALITY
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THAT, WHEN THE LIGHT WENT ON,
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HE COULD DO IT ALL.
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00:02:43,764 --> 00:02:45,274
WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF,
A LOTTA TIMES
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HE WANTED TO PUT THE COVERS
OVER HIS HEAD AND GO TO BED.
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00:02:48,035 --> 00:02:50,513
Al Jean: TO ME HE'S
THE CITIZEN KANE OF COMEDY,
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00:02:50,537 --> 00:02:53,316
WHERE, I MET DIFFERENT WRITERS
FROM DIFFERENT ERAS,
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00:02:53,340 --> 00:02:55,151
AND WE ALL HAD THE SAME STORY,
WHICH IS,
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00:02:55,175 --> 00:02:57,353
WE KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM,
BUT NOT VERY MUCH,
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00:02:57,377 --> 00:02:59,622
AND YOU PIECE IT TOGETHER
AND TRY TO GET A PICTURE,
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00:02:59,646 --> 00:03:01,324
BUT IT'S STILL NOT
THE FULL PICTURE.
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I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS
"ROSEBUD" IS.
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00:03:03,583 --> 00:03:07,163
Bill Zehme: CARSON IS
THE GREAT AMERICAN SPHINX.
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HE WAS ON VIEW LIKE
A MONUMENT...
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DAILY, NIGHTLY,
THERE HE WAS.
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00:03:12,259 --> 00:03:13,836
CARSON, RIGHT THERE BEFORE US.
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AND WHAT DID WE
REALLY KNOW?
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00:03:18,065 --> 00:03:19,375
Narrator: FORTY-SEVEN STORIES
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BENEATH THE EARTH'S SURFACE
IN HUTCHINSON, KANSAS,
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ENCASED IN A COCOON
OF SALT 400 FEET THICK,
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00:03:25,439 --> 00:03:28,718
CAN BE FOUND THE LEGACY
OF JOHNNY CARSON.
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00:03:28,742 --> 00:03:31,854
IT IS A TIME CAPSULE OF POPULAR
AMERICAN CULTURE
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00:03:31,878 --> 00:03:34,924
IN THE LAST THIRD
OF THE 20th CENTURY.
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00:03:34,948 --> 00:03:36,926
MORE THAN 4,000 HOURS OF TAPE
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DOCUMENTING THE FRANCHISE
HE HOSTED FOR 30 YEARS,
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"THE TONIGHT SHOW."
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WHAT CARSON WAS UNABLE TO REVEAL
ABOUT HIMSELF
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IN HIS PRIVATE LIFE,
HE DISCLOSED BEFORE
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A NIGHTLY TELEVISION AUDIENCE
OF 15 MILLION PEOPLE.
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ONE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE WILL
FIND IT ON THESE TAPES.
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
HERE'S JOHNNY.
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00:04:08,482 --> 00:04:10,393
Carson:
I GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST,
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I GUESS WHAT YOU'D CALL
A NORMAL UPBRINGING,
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YOU KNOW, PART OF THE COUNTRY.
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MY FOLKS WERE SUPPORTIVE
IN WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
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Woman: DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW
WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO?
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00:04:18,091 --> 00:04:19,569
Carson: OH, YEAH. OH, SURE.
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Woman: FROM THE VERY BEGINNING?
HOW OLD?
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Carson: I MUST'VE BEEN ABOUT
12, 13 YEARS OLD
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AND I KNEW I WANTED TO
ENTERTAIN.
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YOU LIKE THE ATTENTION?
99
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,311
OH, SURE.
100
00:04:28,335 --> 00:04:32,381
BUT WHY, WHY YOU?
WHY AT AGE 12 OR 13?
101
00:04:32,405 --> 00:04:34,117
BECAUSE I WAS IN A PLAY
OR SOMETHING,
102
00:04:34,141 --> 00:04:36,686
AND I GOT UP AND I DID
SOMETHING AND PEOPLE LAUGHED,
103
00:04:36,710 --> 00:04:40,289
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SAY,
"HEY, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD."
104
00:04:40,313 --> 00:04:42,592
SO, IT MAKES YOU THE CENTER
OF ATTENTION.
105
00:04:42,616 --> 00:04:45,194
YES, BUT WHY DID YOU WANT
THE ATTENTION?
106
00:04:45,218 --> 00:04:47,597
WHY DID YOU WANTTHE ATTENTION?HMM?
107
00:04:48,222 --> 00:04:52,001
WHY DID I WANT THE ATTENTION?
BECAUSE I WAS SHY.
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00:04:52,025 --> 00:04:52,703
BECAUSE I WAS SHY.
109
00:04:52,727 --> 00:04:55,371
NOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE
AMBIVALENCE, RIGHT?
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ONSTAGE, YOU SEE, WHEN YOU'RE
IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE,
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YOU ARE KIND OF IN CONTROL.
112
00:04:59,467 --> 00:05:01,944
WHEN YOU'RE OFFSTAGE OR IN
A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE
113
00:05:01,968 --> 00:05:05,214
A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT IN
CONTROL, AND I FELT AWKWARD.
114
00:05:05,238 --> 00:05:07,183
SO, I WENT INTO
SHOW BUSINESS
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00:05:07,207 --> 00:05:09,786
THINKING I COULD
OVERCOME THAT SHYNESS.
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00:05:09,810 --> 00:05:12,622
WHERE DO YOU THINK
THE SHYNESS EMANATED FROM?
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00:05:12,646 --> 00:05:14,056
I BOUGHT IT IN CHICAGO.
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00:05:15,315 --> 00:05:19,047
I'M SUPPOSED TO TALKTO YOU!
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00:05:19,486 --> 00:05:21,798
I THINK EVERYONE GETS
A LITTLE HOMESICK,
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00:05:21,822 --> 00:05:24,066
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE
FOND MEMORIES
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00:05:24,090 --> 00:05:26,936
OF YOUR EARLY YEARS,
AND I DO.
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00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,905
YOU WANT TO VISIT
OLD, FAMILIAR PLACES
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00:05:28,929 --> 00:05:30,306
AND RETURN FOR
AT LEAST A MOMENT
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00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:34,665
TO AN ERA THAT GAVE YOU
A DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE.
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00:05:38,538 --> 00:05:40,850
IT'S LOVELY COUNTRYSIDE,
ISN'T IT?
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I THINK AUTUMN IS PROBABLY
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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SEASON
IN NEBRASKA.
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00:05:44,311 --> 00:05:47,490
MOST OF US KNOW IT
AS THE CORNHUSKER STATE.
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00:05:47,514 --> 00:05:49,779
I SIMPLY CALL IT HOME.
130
00:05:51,651 --> 00:05:55,364
Steinberg: I CERTAINLY FELT
THAT, HAVING COME FROM NEBRASKA,
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HE NEVER LOST
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THAT INNOCENCE
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THAT HE PROJECTED
TO THE AUDIENCE
134
00:06:01,261 --> 00:06:05,808
OF BEING A LOT LIKE THEM,
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THIS STAR.
135
00:06:05,832 --> 00:06:08,177
I'M A DOWN-TO-EARTH
FELLA.
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00:06:08,201 --> 00:06:09,412
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
137
00:06:09,436 --> 00:06:12,748
AS A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY,
I GOT OUT THE OLD HAMMOCK,
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00:06:12,772 --> 00:06:13,517
WENT OUT, CLIMBED IN,
139
00:06:13,541 --> 00:06:16,652
LAID THERE A COUPLE OF HOURS
SIPPING A LEMONADE.
140
00:06:16,676 --> 00:06:18,421
THEN, I WENT BACK IN...
MY TWO BUTLERS
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WERE GETTING TIRED
HOLDING UP THE HAMMOCK.
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00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:25,428
Benjamin: AND I THINK
HE HAD A CERTAIN
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00:06:25,452 --> 00:06:28,364
MORAL COMPASS, KIND OF
A MIDDLE AMERICA COMPASS,
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00:06:28,388 --> 00:06:32,969
WHICH HAD CERTAIN FAIRNESS
AND CERTAIN RULES.
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00:06:32,993 --> 00:06:36,672
ONE OF THE REASONS HE WAS
SO SUCCESSFUL FOR SO LONG
146
00:06:36,696 --> 00:06:39,208
IS THAT PEOPLE, THEY SAW THAT.
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00:06:39,232 --> 00:06:40,743
THAT'S MY MOTHER AND FATHER.
148
00:06:40,767 --> 00:06:44,013
McMahon: PLEASE, STAND UP
AND TAKE A LITTLE BOW.
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00:06:44,037 --> 00:06:45,748
Joanne:
HE WAS A GENTLE MAN.
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00:06:45,772 --> 00:06:46,683
HE WAS A VERY LOVING MAN.
151
00:06:46,707 --> 00:06:48,651
HE WAS A GREAT ROLE MODEL
FOR JOHNNY
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00:06:48,675 --> 00:06:53,823
BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF JOHNNY'S
TENDERNESS AND THOUGHTFULNESS
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00:06:53,847 --> 00:06:56,993
AND SENSITIVITY
CAME FROM HIS FATHER.
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00:06:57,017 --> 00:06:59,729
BUT RUTH HAD A WILD
SENSE OF HUMOR.
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00:06:59,753 --> 00:07:04,066
SHE HAD AN OFF-THE-WALL SENSE
OF HUMOR, AND IT WAS HER HUMOR,
156
00:07:04,090 --> 00:07:06,787
I THINK, THAT
JOHNNY PICKED UP.
157
00:07:07,727 --> 00:07:09,372
Leno:
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING ABOUT
158
00:07:09,396 --> 00:07:12,275
THE MIDWESTERN GUY,
HE LOVED HIS WIFE SO MUCH,
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00:07:12,299 --> 00:07:14,377
HE ALMOST TOLD HER,
YOU KNOW.
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00:07:14,401 --> 00:07:16,279
AND I THINK HE CAME FROM
THAT STAUNCH,
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00:07:16,303 --> 00:07:18,514
"WE LOVE YOU, SON, WE DON'T HAVE
TO TELL YOU."
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00:07:18,538 --> 00:07:21,484
THAT'S THE SENSE I GET...
I COULD BE TOTALLY OFF THE WALL,
163
00:07:21,508 --> 00:07:24,020
BUT HE NEVER LOST SIGHT
OF WHERE HE CAME FROM
164
00:07:24,044 --> 00:07:26,843
AND I THINK
THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.
165
00:07:27,814 --> 00:07:31,527
Narrator: JOHN WILLIAM CARSON
WAS BORN IN CORNING, IOWA,
166
00:07:31,551 --> 00:07:33,829
ON OCTOBER 23, 1925.
167
00:07:33,853 --> 00:07:36,832
WHEN HE WAS 8,
THE FAMILY MOVED HERE,
168
00:07:36,856 --> 00:07:37,534
TO NORFOLK, NEBRASKA,
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00:07:37,558 --> 00:07:41,270
WHERE FATHER KIT CARSON WORKED
FOR THE LOCAL POWER COMPANY.
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00:07:41,294 --> 00:07:43,839
JOHNNY HAD A YOUNGER BROTHER,
DICK,
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00:07:43,863 --> 00:07:45,508
AND AN OLDER SISTER, CATHERINE,
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00:07:45,532 --> 00:07:48,177
WHO WAS THE FAVORITE OF MOTHER
RUTH CARSON.
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00:07:48,201 --> 00:07:52,381
MRS. CARSON LATER SAID
THAT SHE DIDN'T LIKE BOYS...
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00:07:52,405 --> 00:07:55,151
THEY WERE DIRTY AND NASTY
AND NOT PLEASANT.
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00:07:55,175 --> 00:07:58,154
AS THE MIDDLE CHILD,
YOUNG JOHN FELT LACKING
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00:07:58,178 --> 00:08:01,157
OF THE AFFECTION RECEIVED
BY HIS SIBLINGS,
177
00:08:01,181 --> 00:08:03,125
ESPECIALLY SISTER CATHERINE.
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00:08:03,149 --> 00:08:03,727
IN LATER YEARS,
179
00:08:03,751 --> 00:08:07,563
HE WOULD JOKE ABOUT THE LENGTHS
TO WHICH HE'D GO TO GET
180
00:08:07,587 --> 00:08:08,998
HIS MOTHER'S ATTENTION.
181
00:08:09,022 --> 00:08:10,166
Carson: HI, HOW YA DOING?
182
00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:13,602
YOU'RE WAYNE, RIGHT?
I MET YOU BEFORE.
183
00:08:13,626 --> 00:08:14,371
HASN'T CHANGED TOO MUCH,
184
00:08:14,395 --> 00:08:15,771
OUTSIDE OF THE INTERIOR
DECORATION.
185
00:08:15,795 --> 00:08:18,741
Wayne: I'VE HEARD YOUR DAD
PUT IN THAT FIREPLACE, RIGHT?
186
00:08:18,765 --> 00:08:20,509
Carson: MY DAD PUT THAT
FIREPLACE IN.
187
00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:23,679
AND I USED TO SIT WITH A DECK
OF CARDS.
188
00:08:23,703 --> 00:08:24,914
I DID MAGIC WHEN I WAS ABOUT
YOUR AGE.
189
00:08:24,938 --> 00:08:27,450
EVERY PLACE IN THE HOUSE, I HAD
A DECK OF CARDS IN MY HANDS.
190
00:08:27,474 --> 00:08:28,584
DROVE MY MOTHER CRAZY...
MY MOTHER WOULD
191
00:08:28,608 --> 00:08:30,886
BE UPSTAIRS IN THE BATHROOM
AND YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS,
192
00:08:30,910 --> 00:08:33,689
BUT I WOULD GO INTO THE
BATHROOM AND SAY "TAKE A CARD."
193
00:08:37,450 --> 00:08:39,762
Johnny Leamer: JOHNNY LIKED
TO BE IN CONTROL.
194
00:08:39,786 --> 00:08:41,831
BEING A PERFORMER ALLOWED HIM
TO DO THAT.
195
00:08:41,855 --> 00:08:44,133
AND THAT WAS WHAT HE DID...
AS A KID, HE WOULD
196
00:08:44,157 --> 00:08:46,268
DRIVE PEOPLE CRAZY WITH HIS
ENDLESS JOKES,
197
00:08:46,292 --> 00:08:48,304
JUST GOING ON AND ON,
ALWAYS PERFORMING,
198
00:08:48,328 --> 00:08:51,007
ALWAYS LEARNING, ALWAYS
DEVELOPING HIS CHARACTER,
199
00:08:51,031 --> 00:08:54,143
WHICH WAS ANYBODY
BUT JOHNNY CARSON.
200
00:08:54,167 --> 00:08:56,912
I TOOK UP MAGIC WHEN I WAS
YOUNG
201
00:08:56,936 --> 00:08:58,180
BECAUSE I WAS SOMEWHAT SHY
202
00:08:58,204 --> 00:09:00,716
AND WITHIN MYSELF AND I THOUGHT
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY
203
00:09:00,740 --> 00:09:02,551
TO GO TO PARTIES...
I READ THOSE ADS...
204
00:09:02,575 --> 00:09:04,086
"BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
AND GET GIRLS."
205
00:09:04,110 --> 00:09:08,491
MAINLY I DID IT TO GET GIRLS.
AND NEITHER ONE WORKED WELL.
206
00:09:08,515 --> 00:09:11,227
BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE
TO GET UP AND PERFORM.
207
00:09:11,251 --> 00:09:13,529
YOU CAN BE THE CENTER OF
ATTENTION
208
00:09:13,553 --> 00:09:15,818
WITHOUT BEING YOURSELF AS SUCH.
209
00:09:19,492 --> 00:09:23,205
Narrator: AT AGE 13, JOHNNY SENT
AWAY FOR A BOOK OF MAGIC
210
00:09:23,229 --> 00:09:25,708
BY PROFESSOR LOUIS HOFFMANN.
211
00:09:25,732 --> 00:09:30,813
IT QUICKLY BECAME HIS
ALL-CONSUMING INTEREST.
212
00:09:30,837 --> 00:09:36,152
I THINK MAGIC PROBABLY SAVED
JOHNNY'S EMOTIONAL LIFE AS A KID
213
00:09:36,176 --> 00:09:39,221
BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT
THE WARMEST
214
00:09:39,245 --> 00:09:41,976
OF COMMUNICATIVE FAMILIES.
215
00:09:46,019 --> 00:09:50,232
Narrator: HE CALLED HIMSELF
"THE GREAT CARSONI."
216
00:09:50,256 --> 00:09:51,233
AT HIS FIRST
PAID ENGAGEMENT,
217
00:09:51,257 --> 00:09:55,592
HE EARNED $3.00 PERFORMING AT
THE LOCAL ROTARY CLUB.
218
00:09:57,197 --> 00:09:59,375
Zehme: EVEN TOWARDS THE END OF
HIS LIFE,
219
00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:00,110
JOHNNY WOULD ALWAYS SAY
220
00:10:00,134 --> 00:10:04,080
HIS FAVORITE BIRTHDAY GIFT THAT
HE'D EVER RECEIVED WAS WHEN
221
00:10:04,104 --> 00:10:07,683
HIS MOTHER SURPRISED HIM
WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL CLOTH
222
00:10:07,707 --> 00:10:09,218
THAT COVERED THE TABLE
223
00:10:09,242 --> 00:10:12,555
THAT HE STOOD BEHIND WHEN
HE PERFORMED MAGIC.
224
00:10:12,579 --> 00:10:15,057
HE LEARNED THE CRAFT OF
ILLUSION,
225
00:10:15,081 --> 00:10:19,328
OF BECOMING BIGGER,
OF PROJECTING AND MISDIRECTING
226
00:10:19,352 --> 00:10:21,130
AND GIVING YOU A GREATER SENSE
227
00:10:21,154 --> 00:10:25,134
OF SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WASN'T
ENTIRELY ALWAYS HIM.
228
00:10:25,158 --> 00:10:30,840
HIS TRUE CONFIDENCE WAS BORN
WITH MAGIC.
229
00:10:30,864 --> 00:10:31,808
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
230
00:10:31,832 --> 00:10:36,011
HE WAS THE MOST CONFIDENT GUY
ON TELEVISION YOU EVER SAW.
231
00:10:36,035 --> 00:10:37,046
DO YOU LIKE COINS?
232
00:10:37,070 --> 00:10:40,616
OKAY, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE
A COIN DISAPPEAR, ALL RIGHT?
233
00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,885
SEE THIS, IT'S A QUARTER,
RIGHT?
234
00:10:42,909 --> 00:10:46,822
NOW, IF I TAKE IT AND HOLD IT
AND I GIVE IT TO YOU,
235
00:10:46,846 --> 00:10:48,224
WILL YOU HOLD IT FOR ME?
236
00:10:48,248 --> 00:10:50,192
OKAY, WATCH VERY CAREFULLY.
237
00:10:50,216 --> 00:10:51,327
OKAY, HERE IT IS
238
00:10:51,351 --> 00:10:52,862
YOU HOLD IT.
239
00:10:52,886 --> 00:10:54,530
Carson: YEAH.
240
00:10:54,554 --> 00:10:57,967
IT'S RIGHT OVER HERE
IN YOUR EAR.
241
00:10:59,692 --> 00:11:00,932
Narrator: IN ADDITION TO MAGIC,
242
00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:05,541
JOHNNY HAD ANOTHER LIFE-SHAPING
INFLUENCE GROWING UP.
243
00:11:05,565 --> 00:11:09,011
IT HAPPENED EVERY SUNDAY
NIGHT AT 7:00.
244
00:11:09,035 --> 00:11:10,579
AND YOU USED TO LOOK AT
THE RADIO.
245
00:11:10,603 --> 00:11:14,183
YOU JUST DIDN'T LISTEN, YOU USED
TO LOOK AT THE RADIO AND LISTEN.
246
00:11:14,207 --> 00:11:17,019
I WAS DOING THAT IN LOWELL,
MASSACHUSETTS,
247
00:11:17,043 --> 00:11:20,489
AND WE WERE BOTH LISTENING
AND NOT EVEN KNOWING IT
248
00:11:20,513 --> 00:11:24,560
BY, YOU KNOW, BY OSMOSIS,
WE WERE STUDYING JACK BENNY.
249
00:11:24,584 --> 00:11:28,030
FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS,
250
00:11:28,054 --> 00:11:30,766
I'VE BEEN JOHNNY CARSON'S IDOL.
251
00:11:30,790 --> 00:11:34,370
NOW, YOU'VE SAID IT,HAVEN'T YOU?MANY TIMES.IT'S TRUE.
252
00:11:34,394 --> 00:11:37,940
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHOLE
THING SWITCHED,
253
00:11:37,964 --> 00:11:41,510
AND JOHNNY CARSONBECAME MY IDOL.
254
00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:42,845
YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING?
255
00:11:42,869 --> 00:11:47,082
IT'S NOT NEARLY AS MUCH FUN
THIS WAY.
256
00:11:48,708 --> 00:11:51,854
Steve Lawrence: BENNY WAS
HIS IDOL, JACK BENNY WAS.
257
00:11:51,878 --> 00:11:53,489
AND HE WASN'T AFRAID OF SILENCE,
258
00:11:53,513 --> 00:11:56,725
AND I THINK HE LEARNED THAT
FROM JACK BENNY.
259
00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:57,427
YOU KNOW, LET TIME GO BY,
260
00:11:57,451 --> 00:12:01,063
LET THE AUDIENCE SEE HOW YOU'RE
TAKING IN WHAT'S HAPPENING,
261
00:12:01,087 --> 00:12:02,898
WHICH IS WHAT HE DID
BEAUTIFULLY.
262
00:12:02,922 --> 00:12:05,868
NOW YOU MAY
NOT REALIZE THIS,
263
00:12:05,892 --> 00:12:08,037
BUT EVERY
MOVE YOU MAKE,
264
00:12:08,061 --> 00:12:11,307
YOUR DELIVERY, EVERY
LITTLE INFLECTION
265
00:12:11,331 --> 00:12:14,376
THAT YOU HAVE, IS EXACTLY
THE WAY I WORK
266
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,079
AND I DON'T THINK
IT'S FAIR.
267
00:12:19,072 --> 00:12:23,085
Romano: I LOVE THE PAUSES
AND MILKING EVERY MOMENT,
268
00:12:23,109 --> 00:12:26,121
AND THERE WAS NOBODY BETTER THAN
JOHNNY WITH THAT.
269
00:12:26,145 --> 00:12:27,590
WITH JUST A LOOK AND A FACE...
270
00:12:27,614 --> 00:12:32,661
AND NOT DOING ANYTHING
BUT DOING A LOT, YOU KNOW?
271
00:12:32,685 --> 00:12:34,863
THEY MAKE JOKES
ABOUT YOU DRINKING,
272
00:12:34,887 --> 00:12:36,932
LIKE I MAKE JOKES
ABOUT ED.
273
00:12:36,956 --> 00:12:38,067
CAN I?
274
00:12:38,091 --> 00:12:39,535
THAT'S "MAY I?"
275
00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:40,603
EXCUSE ME.
276
00:12:44,931 --> 00:12:48,410
YOU WERE DANGLING
A PARTICIPLE AND I JUST...
277
00:12:48,434 --> 00:12:53,099
WELL, I'LL WEAR A LONG COAT,
AND NOBODY WILL NOTICE IT.
278
00:12:58,544 --> 00:12:59,521
Narrator: IN 1946,
279
00:12:59,545 --> 00:13:01,924
AFTER A STINT IN THE NAVY,
JOHNNY ENTERED
280
00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:05,427
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
AND USED HIS COLLEGE YEARS
281
00:13:05,451 --> 00:13:07,863
TO FURTHER DEVELOP
AS AN ENTERTAINER.
282
00:13:07,887 --> 00:13:09,832
FOR SPENDING MONEY,
HE PARKED HIS CAR
283
00:13:09,856 --> 00:13:12,167
IN FRONT OF HIS PHI GAMMA DELTA
FRATERNITY
284
00:13:12,191 --> 00:13:16,905
AND CHARGED THE BROTHERS
25 CENTS AN HOUR TO USE IT
285
00:13:16,929 --> 00:13:18,007
AS A NECKING PARLOR.
286
00:13:18,031 --> 00:13:21,543
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH
HIS MAGIC SHOW ASSISTANT.
287
00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,078
JODY WOLCOTT WAS TINY, ACROBATIC
288
00:13:23,102 --> 00:13:27,616
AND COULD SQUEEZE INTO THE BLACK
BOX WHEN HE SAWED HER IN TWO.
289
00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,320
SHE BECAME THE FIRST
MRS. CARSON.
290
00:13:31,344 --> 00:13:34,590
REMINDS ME OF MY OLD GIRLFRIEND
BACK IN NEBRASKA...
291
00:13:34,614 --> 00:13:36,825
GINA STATUTORY.
292
00:13:38,918 --> 00:13:43,732
HER NAME WAS GINA STATUTORY
AND SHE WENT TO LINCOLN HIGH.
293
00:13:43,756 --> 00:13:45,534
AND SHE WAS VOTED MISS LINCOLN
294
00:13:45,558 --> 00:13:46,869
BECAUSE EVERY GUY IN SCHOOL
295
00:13:46,893 --> 00:13:49,338
TOOK A SHOT AT HER
IN THE BALCONY.
296
00:13:52,365 --> 00:13:55,311
Narrator: UPON GRADUATION,
HE WENT TO WORK
297
00:13:55,335 --> 00:13:58,947
AT NEBRASKA'S MOST POWERFUL
RADIO STATION, WOW.
298
00:13:58,971 --> 00:14:01,050
HE PLAYED RECORDS,
READ THE NEWS,
299
00:14:01,074 --> 00:14:02,151
WEATHER AND SPORTS
300
00:14:02,175 --> 00:14:04,953
AND FILLED THE REST OF THE TIME
WITH HIS PATTER.
301
00:14:04,977 --> 00:14:06,922
FOR EXTRA CASH,
HE PERFORMED MAGIC
302
00:14:06,946 --> 00:14:10,125
AS "THE GREAT CARSONI"
AND ALSO DID VENTRILOQUISM.
303
00:14:10,149 --> 00:14:13,095
McMahon: THE WHOLE WORLD
SHOULD SEE THIS.
304
00:14:13,119 --> 00:14:14,963
WE ALL HAVE TO BEGIN SOMEWHERE.
305
00:14:14,987 --> 00:14:16,799
THIS IS MR. CARSON AT A VERY
EARLY AGE
306
00:14:16,823 --> 00:14:18,867
IN SHOW BUSINESS,
WITH HIS LITTLE DUMMY.
307
00:14:18,891 --> 00:14:20,269
WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS
NAME WAS?
308
00:14:20,293 --> 00:14:22,738
YOU WON'T GUESS.EDDIE.EDDIE!
309
00:14:23,731 --> 00:14:26,675
SO NOTHING HAS
REALLY CHANGED.
310
00:14:26,699 --> 00:14:28,811
NOTHING'S CHANGED.
311
00:14:28,835 --> 00:14:31,046
Announcer: THIS IS WOW-TV,
312
00:14:31,070 --> 00:14:33,882
CHANNEL SIX,
OMAHA, NEBRASKA.
313
00:14:33,906 --> 00:14:38,754
Narrator: JOHNNY CARSON WAS
PRESENT IN AUGUST OF 1949
314
00:14:38,778 --> 00:14:41,657
WHEN THE FIRST TELEVISION
STATION IN A FIVE-STATE AREA
315
00:14:41,681 --> 00:14:42,858
WENT ON THE AIR.
316
00:14:42,882 --> 00:14:47,196
THOSE 1,500 PEOPLE IN OMAHA
WHO HAD TELEVISIONS
317
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:50,466
INVITED THEIR FRIENDS OVER
TO WATCH A TEST PATTERN,
318
00:14:50,490 --> 00:14:55,087
BROADCAST FOUR HOURS EVERY DAY.
319
00:14:56,028 --> 00:14:57,906
WE WERE ALL DOING RADIO
AT THE TIME, OF COURSE.
320
00:14:57,930 --> 00:15:00,709
AND THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT
PUT UP... "BEGINNING MONDAY,
321
00:15:00,733 --> 00:15:04,279
JOHN CARSON WILL DO A ONE HOUR
TELEVISION SHOW."
322
00:15:04,303 --> 00:15:05,014
THAT WAS MY NOTICE.
323
00:15:05,038 --> 00:15:08,083
SO, WE WENT UP AND TRIED
TO PULL SOMETHING TOGETHER.
324
00:15:08,107 --> 00:15:09,418
WE HAD
A LITTLE SET IN THE CORNER.
325
00:15:09,442 --> 00:15:12,588
AND WE WENT ON THE AIR,
MONDAY AT 4:00.
326
00:15:12,612 --> 00:15:15,758
Carson: WE HOPE A GOOD MANY
OF YOU ARE ENJOYING CHRISTMAS
327
00:15:15,782 --> 00:15:16,925
WITH YOUR FAMILIES TODAY.
328
00:15:16,949 --> 00:15:19,128
AND YOU'VE EXCHANGED
PRESENTS ALREADY,
329
00:15:19,152 --> 00:15:21,497
PROBABLY HAD A VERY NICE
CHRISTMAS DINNER.
330
00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:24,366
AND THAT YOU'LL SIT DOWN
AND ENJOY CHRISTMAS
331
00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:26,635
WITH THE GANG HERE
AT WOW-TV.
332
00:15:26,659 --> 00:15:27,803
MY NAME'S JOHNNY CARSON.
333
00:15:27,827 --> 00:15:30,372
THERE WAS NO MONEY IN
TELEVISION, BUT NOBODY CARED
334
00:15:30,396 --> 00:15:34,000
BECAUSE YOU WERE LEARNING
WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
335
00:15:36,002 --> 00:15:39,114
Narrator: AFTER LESS THAN
TWO YEARS IN OMAHA,
336
00:15:39,138 --> 00:15:42,284
JOHNNY FELT READY TO MOVE UP
IN THE WORLD.
337
00:15:42,308 --> 00:15:45,788
BY NOW, HE ALSO HAD THREE YOUNG
BOYS TO SUPPORT.
338
00:15:45,812 --> 00:15:49,525
THROUGH A COLLEGE FRIEND,
HE SECURED AN ANNOUNCING JOB
339
00:15:49,549 --> 00:15:52,594
AT THE CBS AFFILIATE
IN LOS ANGELES, KNXT.
340
00:15:52,618 --> 00:15:55,097
HE HAD HIS FIRST
NATIONWIDE EXPOSURE WHEN
341
00:15:55,121 --> 00:15:59,668
HE UTTERED THE WORDS, "THIS IS
THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK."
342
00:15:59,692 --> 00:16:04,206
HE SET THE GOAL TO HAVE A SHOW
OF HIS OWN WITHIN A YEAR.
343
00:16:04,230 --> 00:16:06,508
Announcer:
"CARSON'S CELLAR!"
344
00:16:06,532 --> 00:16:09,178
Dan Gingold: HE WAS NOT
A COMFORTABLE GUY
345
00:16:09,202 --> 00:16:09,746
IN THE BEGINNING.
346
00:16:09,770 --> 00:16:12,748
HE WAS WHAT I WOULD CALL
"STIFF-NECKED."
347
00:16:12,772 --> 00:16:18,821
HE WAS VERY THIN AND HE HAD THIS
KIND OF POSTURE
348
00:16:18,845 --> 00:16:22,124
THAT WAS ALMOST A LITTLE LIKE
A BIRD.
349
00:16:22,148 --> 00:16:26,962
HE JUST SEEMED NOT TO BE ABLE
TO RELAX EASILY.
350
00:16:26,986 --> 00:16:29,364
AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE,
MR. BAILEY?
351
00:16:29,388 --> 00:16:30,799
I'M A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN.
352
00:16:30,823 --> 00:16:32,067
A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN.
353
00:16:32,091 --> 00:16:33,002
WELL, THAT MEANS
354
00:16:33,026 --> 00:16:34,336
YOU MUST HAVE LIVED HERE
355
00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,206
FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS,
THEN, HUH?
356
00:16:37,230 --> 00:16:38,907
Cavett: HE WAS A MAN WHO,
357
00:16:38,931 --> 00:16:41,910
WHEN PEOPLE MET HIM EARLY
IN HIS CAREER, SAID,
358
00:16:41,934 --> 00:16:46,531
"THAT GUY IS LIKE
A PIANO WIRE ABOUT TO SNAP."
359
00:16:48,207 --> 00:16:51,019
Gingold: JOHNNY WAS HARD TO GET
CLOSE TO,
360
00:16:51,043 --> 00:16:52,421
SO IF YOU COULD TALK TO HIM
361
00:16:52,445 --> 00:16:55,724
ABOUT THE SHOW
AND CREATIVE IDEAS,
362
00:16:55,748 --> 00:16:57,226
IT WAS GREAT.
363
00:16:57,250 --> 00:16:59,127
HE WAS LOOSE AND FUNNY.
364
00:16:59,151 --> 00:17:04,132
BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE WAS
NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.
365
00:17:04,156 --> 00:17:06,068
Narrator: A FAN OF
"CARSON'S CELLAR"
366
00:17:06,092 --> 00:17:10,005
INCLUDED COMEDIAN RED SKELTON,
WHO LATER HIRED CARSON
367
00:17:10,029 --> 00:17:12,374
AS A WRITER
ON HIS TELEVISION SHOW.
368
00:17:12,398 --> 00:17:16,945
JOHNNY'S BIG BREAK OCCURRED
ON AUGUST 18th, 1954,
369
00:17:16,969 --> 00:17:19,081
WHEN HE STOOD IN FOR RED.
370
00:17:19,105 --> 00:17:21,650
Announcer: "THE RED SKELTON
REVUE!"
371
00:17:25,411 --> 00:17:26,655
MY NAME IS JOHNNY CARSON.
372
00:17:26,679 --> 00:17:28,857
THIS AFTERNOON AT DRESS
REHEARSAL,
373
00:17:28,881 --> 00:17:30,659
JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AND
A HALF AGO,
374
00:17:30,683 --> 00:17:34,596
RED SLIPPED DURING ONE OF THE
SKETCHES AND INJURED HIMSELF.
375
00:17:34,620 --> 00:17:37,399
THE INJURY IS
REALLY NOT TOO SERIOUS,
376
00:17:37,423 --> 00:17:38,734
BUT RED'S DOCTOR ADVISED HIM
377
00:17:38,758 --> 00:17:41,537
THAT IT WOULDN'T BE BEST TO DO
THE SHOW TODAY.
378
00:17:41,561 --> 00:17:46,808
PERSONALLY, I THINK RED'S
DOCTOR SHOULD DO THE SHOW.
379
00:17:46,832 --> 00:17:49,311
YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT.
I STOLE A LOT FROM YOU.
380
00:17:49,335 --> 00:17:52,047
NO, NO YOU DIDN'T.
IT'S LIKE THE STUDENTS.
381
00:17:52,071 --> 00:17:54,583
THEY SAY, "WHEN JOHNNY WAS
WITH YOU, YOU HELPED HIM."
382
00:17:54,607 --> 00:17:56,451
I SAY, "NO. NOBODY HELPS YOU
GET STARTED.
383
00:17:56,475 --> 00:17:57,986
IF YOU'VE GOT TALENT,
THEY CAN PUT YOU
384
00:17:58,010 --> 00:18:00,355
BEHIND A BRICK WALL, YOU'LL
COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW?"
385
00:18:00,379 --> 00:18:03,125
SO SO THAT'S WHATYOU HAVE.THAT'S NICE.
386
00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:07,596
Narrator: WEEKS AFTER CARSON
HOSTED FOR RED SKELTON,
387
00:18:07,620 --> 00:18:12,401
THE NBC NETWORK PREMIERED
"TONIGHT" STARRING STEVE ALLEN.
388
00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:13,402
IT WOULD MARK THE BEGINNING
389
00:18:13,426 --> 00:18:17,205
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISE
IN TELEVISION HISTORY.
390
00:18:17,229 --> 00:18:17,740
Man: AND I THINK
391
00:18:17,764 --> 00:18:20,876
IT REALLY BECAME ONE OF
THE GREAT AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS
392
00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:23,045
OF TELEVISION THAT HAS BEEN
VERY HARD
393
00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:24,279
FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO IMITATE.
394
00:18:24,303 --> 00:18:27,983
WHATEVER IT IS ABOUT
THE AMERICAN PERFORMER,
395
00:18:28,007 --> 00:18:31,587
IT SEEMS TO BE WE LIKE
TO INVENT OURSELVES.
396
00:18:31,611 --> 00:18:34,089
AND THESE GUYS ARE SELF-INVENTED
CHARACTERS,
397
00:18:34,113 --> 00:18:36,525
AND THEY STAND OUT
IN THAT WAY.
398
00:18:36,549 --> 00:18:40,429
Announcer:
"THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW,"
399
00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:44,299
STARRING JOHNNY CARSON.
400
00:18:47,426 --> 00:18:49,838
Narrator: IN JUNE OF 1955,
401
00:18:49,862 --> 00:18:52,941
CBS PREMIERED
"THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW."
402
00:18:52,965 --> 00:18:53,942
THE NETWORK BELIEVED
403
00:18:53,966 --> 00:18:56,645
IT POSSESSED A TALENT
THAT HAD GROWN UP
404
00:18:56,669 --> 00:18:57,913
IN THE NEW MEDIUM OF TELEVISION.
405
00:18:57,937 --> 00:19:01,249
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD
EVENING, I'M JOHNNY CARSON.
406
00:19:01,273 --> 00:19:04,086
NOW, THE REASON I SAY THAT
EACH WEEK IS BECAUSE MY KIDS
407
00:19:04,110 --> 00:19:05,821
LOVE TO STAY UP AND WATCH
TELEVISION.
408
00:19:05,845 --> 00:19:08,190
SO EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT MY WIFE
TURNS ON THE SET.
409
00:19:08,214 --> 00:19:10,192
I COME OUT, I SAY,
"HELLO, I'M JOHNNY CARSON,"
410
00:19:10,216 --> 00:19:13,295
AND THE KIDS SAY, "AAH, IT'S
ONLY DADDY, LET'S GO TO BED."
411
00:19:13,319 --> 00:19:16,431
Narrator: IN PRAISING CARSON,
ONE CRITIC SAID,
412
00:19:16,455 --> 00:19:18,767
"HE HAD A SINGULAR
YOUTHFUL CHARM
413
00:19:18,791 --> 00:19:20,836
AND AN IMPISH TWINKLE
IN THE EYE."
414
00:19:20,860 --> 00:19:26,458
CBS PUBLICITY PORTRAYED JOHNNY
AS THE PERFECT FAMILY MAN.
415
00:19:28,401 --> 00:19:32,147
Zehme: THEY REALIZED THEY HAD
A GREAT LOVE FOR EACH OTHER,
416
00:19:32,171 --> 00:19:34,249
BUT MAYBE THEY WERE OUTGROWING
EACH OTHER.
417
00:19:34,273 --> 00:19:38,787
AND SHE PROBABLY FELT THE NEED
TO BECOME A HOLLYWOOD WIFE
418
00:19:38,811 --> 00:19:40,322
OF SOME SORT,
WHATEVER THAT MEANT, YOU KNOW?
419
00:19:40,346 --> 00:19:43,191
EVEN THOUGH HE WASN'T
LIKE A SUPERSTAR, BY ANY MEANS,
420
00:19:43,215 --> 00:19:49,177
THEY HAD TO LEARN HOW TO BE
NOT NEBRASKAN ANYMORE.
421
00:19:49,755 --> 00:19:52,467
Joanne: HE WAS UNDER STRESS,
AND THE ONLY WAY
422
00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:55,737
HE COULD GET OUT FROM STRESS WAS
TO HAVE A DRINK,
423
00:19:55,761 --> 00:19:57,172
AND JOHNNY WAS A CHEAP DRUNK.
424
00:19:57,196 --> 00:20:00,909
YOU'D GIVE HIM A DRINK
AND A HALF, AND HE'S GONE.
425
00:20:00,933 --> 00:20:04,913
Zehme: HE WAS A VODKA GUY
BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS
426
00:20:04,937 --> 00:20:07,716
AND HE COULD KNOCK 'EM BACK,
AND HE AND HIS WIFE,
427
00:20:07,740 --> 00:20:10,852
I MEAN, THEY FAMOUSLY FOUGHT.
428
00:20:10,876 --> 00:20:15,023
JODY AND JOHNNY WERE
"THE BATTLING CARSONS."
429
00:20:15,047 --> 00:20:17,059
ANOTHER THING I WANT
TO POINT OUT,
430
00:20:17,083 --> 00:20:19,995
THAT I'M GOING TO CALL
MY REAL WIFE JODY.
431
00:20:20,019 --> 00:20:21,096
WE LIVE OUT IN ENCINO.
432
00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:23,598
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK I'M
JUST CALLING SOME GIRL
433
00:20:23,622 --> 00:20:25,000
WHO WE PAID TO ACT
LIKE MY WIFE.
434
00:20:25,024 --> 00:20:27,669
I WOULDN'T PAY ANYONE TO
ACT LIKE MY WIFE.
435
00:20:27,693 --> 00:20:31,606
Narrator: THE NETWORK COULD
NEVER SETTLE ON AN IDENTITY
436
00:20:31,630 --> 00:20:33,008
FOR "THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW."
437
00:20:33,032 --> 00:20:36,378
SEVEN DIRECTORS
AND EIGHT WRITERS CAME AND WENT.
438
00:20:36,402 --> 00:20:40,749
CBS CANCELED THE PROGRAM
AFTER 39 WEEKS.
439
00:20:40,773 --> 00:20:44,252
SAID JOHNNY, "I FOUND MYSELF
AND MY MATERIAL
440
00:20:44,276 --> 00:20:47,456
SUBJECTED TO
THE OPINION OF BUSINESSMEN."
441
00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,826
CARSON WOULD NEVER FORGIVE
OR FORGET.
442
00:20:50,850 --> 00:20:54,162
Joanne: HE REALLY FELT HE HAD
COME TO THE END OF HIS CAREER
443
00:20:54,186 --> 00:20:56,765
BECAUSE HE FELT HE WAS ON
A DOWNHILL SLIDE.
444
00:20:56,789 --> 00:20:57,500
NOBODY WAS BOOKING HIM,
445
00:20:57,524 --> 00:21:03,572
NOBODY WAS ASKING HIM TO COME
ANYWHERE OR PERFORM ANYWHERE,
446
00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:07,676
AND HE WAS A LITTLE BIT
ON THE DEPRESSED SIDE.
447
00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:09,478
WELL, EVERYTHING WAS
GOING WRONG.
448
00:21:09,502 --> 00:21:11,446
HIS PERSONAL LIFE WAS
A DISASTER,
449
00:21:11,470 --> 00:21:12,547
THE MARRIAGE WAS FALLING APART,
450
00:21:12,571 --> 00:21:15,751
HE HAD A WIFE AND THREE KIDS
HE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF.
451
00:21:15,775 --> 00:21:19,121
HE LOST HIS "JOHNNY CARSON
SHOW," THAT HAD FAILED.
452
00:21:19,145 --> 00:21:22,157
HE TRIED A NIGHTCLUB ACT IN
BAKERSFIELD, THAT FAILED.
453
00:21:22,181 --> 00:21:25,794
OUT OF WORK, NO MONEY,
BAD MARRIAGE.
454
00:21:25,818 --> 00:21:27,098
Narrator: AT THE END
OF HIS ROPE,
455
00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:31,566
CARSON HIRED NEW MANAGERS
WHO GOT HIM AN AUDITION
456
00:21:31,590 --> 00:21:36,505
IN NEW YORK FOR A GAME SHOW ON
THE THIRD-RANKED NETWORK, ABC.
457
00:21:36,529 --> 00:21:38,740
Announcer: "WHO DO YOU TRUST?"
458
00:21:38,764 --> 00:21:44,613
HERE'S THE STAR OF OUR SHOW,
JOHNNY CARSON.
459
00:21:44,637 --> 00:21:46,648
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
460
00:21:46,672 --> 00:21:47,816
WELCOME TO "WHO DO YOU TRUST?"
461
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,018
WE HAVE ANOTHER TIE TO BREAK
ON THE SHOW.
462
00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:52,754
IT WAS A GAME SHOW, BUT IT WAS
REALLY JUST AN EXCUSE,
463
00:21:52,778 --> 00:21:54,656
LIKE GROUCHO'S
"YOU BET YOUR LIFE,"
464
00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:55,957
TO INTERACT WITH
THE CONTESTANTS.
465
00:21:55,981 --> 00:21:59,628
AND HE HAD AN ABILITY
TO GET LAUGHS OUT OF THEM
466
00:21:59,652 --> 00:22:00,496
WITHOUT BELITTLING THEM
467
00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,466
IN ANY WAY, YOU KNOW,
OR CONDESCENDING TO THEM.
468
00:22:04,490 --> 00:22:05,201
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
469
00:22:05,225 --> 00:22:07,435
I MET HIM ON A BOAT TRIP
IN THE PARIS SEWERS.
470
00:22:07,459 --> 00:22:10,405
Carson: YOU MET HIM
ON A BOAT TRIP
471
00:22:10,429 --> 00:22:11,506
THROUGH THE PARIS SEWERS?
472
00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:13,441
IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE TUNNEL
OF LOVE, THOUGH?
473
00:22:13,465 --> 00:22:15,644
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
WHAT KIND OF BOAT WAS IT?
474
00:22:15,668 --> 00:22:17,813
IS IT A MOTORBOAT
OR WHAT?
475
00:22:17,837 --> 00:22:19,447
NO, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THEY ROWED IT.
476
00:22:19,471 --> 00:22:21,316
PROBABLY ONE OF THE RULES
DOWN THERE,
477
00:22:21,340 --> 00:22:23,518
"DON'T MAKE ANY WAVES,"
HUH?
478
00:22:24,277 --> 00:22:28,190
ANY GIRL THAT BRINGS HOME
A HUSBAND FROM THE SEWERS
479
00:22:28,214 --> 00:22:29,825
CAN'T BE ALL THAT BAD, HUH?
480
00:22:29,849 --> 00:22:32,327
ED, WHO'S FIRST
TO LEAD OFF?
481
00:22:32,351 --> 00:22:33,262
WE HAVE LOLA MASON...
482
00:22:33,286 --> 00:22:35,230
Woman: FOR "WHO DO YOU TRUST?"
483
00:22:35,254 --> 00:22:37,699
JOHNNY CALLED DAD IN FOR
THE INTERVIEW,
484
00:22:37,723 --> 00:22:38,967
THEY TALKED FOR FIVE MINUTES,
485
00:22:38,991 --> 00:22:41,536
JOHNNY WAS LOOKING OUT
THE WINDOW, NOTHING LIKE,
486
00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:45,974
"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER?" OR,
YOU KNOW, "HOW WOULD THIS WORK?"
487
00:22:45,998 --> 00:22:48,210
DAD LEFT, HE NEVER IN A MILLION
YEARS THOUGHT
488
00:22:48,234 --> 00:22:50,979
HE WAS GONNA GET THE JOB,
AND A COUPLE DAYS LATER
489
00:22:51,003 --> 00:22:52,681
HE GOT THE CALL,
"YOU'RE IT."
490
00:22:52,705 --> 00:22:56,284
AND I WAS SELLING VEGETABLE
GADGETS ON A CORNER
491
00:22:56,308 --> 00:23:00,222
AND JOHNNY CAME BY
AND HE SAW ME IN PAIN.
492
00:23:00,246 --> 00:23:06,161
A TERRIBLE THORN WAS LODGED IN
MY FOOT,
493
00:23:06,185 --> 00:23:07,429
AND JOHNNY PULLED THE THORN OUT,
494
00:23:07,453 --> 00:23:10,582
I LICKED HIS FACE AND WE'VE BEEN
TOGETHER EVER SINCE.
495
00:23:13,125 --> 00:23:15,670
Narrator: DAYS AFTER JOHNNY
BECAME THE HOST
496
00:23:15,694 --> 00:23:16,405
OF "WHO DO YOU TRUST?",
497
00:23:16,429 --> 00:23:19,708
JACK PAAR REPLACED STEVE ALLEN
AS THE PERMANENT HOST
498
00:23:19,732 --> 00:23:22,477
OF "THE TONIGHT SHOW,"
A JOB HE WOULD KEEP
499
00:23:22,501 --> 00:23:25,547
FOR FIVE YEARS
BEFORE CALLING IT QUITS.
500
00:23:25,571 --> 00:23:28,083
WHEN CRITICS SAY, "PAAR DOESN'T
DO ANYTHING.
501
00:23:28,107 --> 00:23:31,253
HE DOESN'T SING, HE DOESN'T
DANCE, WHAT DOES HE DO?"
502
00:23:31,277 --> 00:23:33,154
I THINK THAT THEY'RE BEING
A LITTLE UNKIND.
503
00:23:33,178 --> 00:23:36,725
YOU COULD MENTION, IF YOU'RE
FAIR, THAT I'M ALWAYS ON TIME.
504
00:23:36,749 --> 00:23:38,159
Cavett: AND THE KEY TO JACK,
505
00:23:38,183 --> 00:23:40,729
TO ME, ON TELEVISION WAS DANGER.
506
00:23:40,753 --> 00:23:43,832
HE WAS LIKE A GRENADE WAITING
TO GO OFF.
507
00:23:43,856 --> 00:23:46,534
BUT I THINK PAAR WAS EXTREMELY
WELL-RESPECTED AT THE TIME.
508
00:23:46,558 --> 00:23:48,737
I MEAN HE REALLY TOOK
THE SHOW TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
509
00:23:48,761 --> 00:23:50,906
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WATCHED
THE SHOW THEN,
510
00:23:50,930 --> 00:23:52,374
IT BECAME LIKE A CULT UNDER HIM.
511
00:23:52,398 --> 00:23:55,043
YOU HAD TO WATCH JACK PAAR
TO SEE WHAT HE WAS GONNA SAY.
512
00:23:55,067 --> 00:23:57,746
IT WAS PROVOCATIVE,
AND HE'S TAKING ON
513
00:23:57,770 --> 00:24:00,882
POLITICAL CHARACTERS
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
514
00:24:00,906 --> 00:24:03,485
MAKING JOKES ABOUT POLITICIANS.
515
00:24:03,509 --> 00:24:05,053
HE SET IT TO A NEW LEVEL.
516
00:24:05,077 --> 00:24:06,454
WHY'D YOU GIVE UP
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"?
517
00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:10,292
YOU WERE A DYNAMITE HIT.
YOU COULD HAVE STAYED ON.
518
00:24:10,316 --> 00:24:12,227
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN
SITTING HERE TODAY.
519
00:24:12,251 --> 00:24:14,596
WELL, YOU NEEDED THE WORK.
520
00:24:16,989 --> 00:24:20,402
Leamer: I MEAN, JODY LOVED
JOHNNY,
521
00:24:20,426 --> 00:24:22,671
AND WAS TOTALLY DEVOTED TO HIM,
522
00:24:22,695 --> 00:24:25,907
BUT THIS MAN WAS INCAPABLE OF
THAT KIND OF INTIMACY
523
00:24:25,931 --> 00:24:29,678
AND THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP,
IT JUST WAS NOT GOING TO WORK.
524
00:24:29,702 --> 00:24:30,946
HIS MARRIAGE WAS TO HIS CAREER.
525
00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:34,616
THE MARRIAGE BROKE UP BECAUSE
SHE GOT JEALOUS
526
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,118
AND THOUGHT HE WAS SEEING
OTHER WOMEN,
527
00:24:37,142 --> 00:24:40,221
AND HE WASN'T HOME A LOT,
AND AFTER THE SHOW,
528
00:24:40,245 --> 00:24:43,658
WHY DIDN'T HE COME BACK
TO BE WITH HER
529
00:24:43,682 --> 00:24:45,093
AND THE BOYS?
530
00:24:45,117 --> 00:24:47,896
AND THERE WAS ALL THIS TENSION.
531
00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,199
Narrator: JOHNNY'S FRIENDS
DISMISSED JODY
532
00:24:51,223 --> 00:24:52,734
BY SAYING HE'D OUTGROWN HER
533
00:24:52,758 --> 00:24:56,104
BUT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO SOUGHT
THE DIVORCE.
534
00:24:56,128 --> 00:24:59,107
HE BEGAN TO DATE
JOANNE COPELAND,
535
00:24:59,131 --> 00:25:01,810
WHO HAD A BUDDING CAREER
OF HER OWN IN TELEVISION.
536
00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:05,914
SHE HAD AMBITIONS FOR JOHNNY
HE DIDN'T HAVE FOR HIMSELF.
537
00:25:05,938 --> 00:25:09,951
IT WAS JOANNE WHO DIRECTED
NBC EXECUTIVES TO CARSON
538
00:25:09,975 --> 00:25:12,487
AS A REPLACEMENT FOR
THE DEPARTING JACK PAAR.
539
00:25:12,511 --> 00:25:15,256
BUT WHEN THEY OFFERED HIM
THE JOB,
540
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:16,758
JOHNNY TURNED THEM DOWN.
541
00:25:16,782 --> 00:25:22,630
Man: JOANNE WAS VERY POWERFUL
BEHIND THE THRONE...
542
00:25:22,654 --> 00:25:26,835
AND I DON'T KNOW IF JOHNNY WAS
TOTALLY UNAWARE
543
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:29,371
OF HER POWER
AND MANIPULATION,
544
00:25:29,395 --> 00:25:34,409
BUT SHE WAS VERY ACTIVE
IN CONTROLLING THE SHOW,
545
00:25:34,433 --> 00:25:36,478
MORE THAN I THINK HE KNEW.
546
00:25:36,502 --> 00:25:40,148
HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
GOADED INTO DOING IT
547
00:25:40,172 --> 00:25:44,542
HAD SHE NOT PUSHED HIM
AS HARD AS SHE DID.
548
00:25:44,943 --> 00:25:48,323
Joanne: AND HE SAID, "JO,
TWO REASONS I TURNED IT DOWN:
549
00:25:48,347 --> 00:25:51,826
ONE, I DON'T THINK I CAN FILL
THOSE SHOES...
550
00:25:51,850 --> 00:25:55,563
JACK PAAR, STEVE ALLEN,
THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL...
551
00:25:55,587 --> 00:25:58,333
AND I'M ALSO AFRAID
OF LOSING YOU,
552
00:25:58,357 --> 00:26:02,704
BECAUSE I KNOW THESE SHOWS,
THEY ARE ALL-CONSUMING."
553
00:26:02,728 --> 00:26:05,407
AND I SAID TO HIM,
"YOU CAN'T LOSE ME.
554
00:26:05,431 --> 00:26:09,711
AS LONG AS WE WORK AS A TEAM
AND WE DO THIS TOGETHER,
555
00:26:09,735 --> 00:26:11,533
I WON'T FEEL LEFT BEHIND."
556
00:26:11,637 --> 00:26:12,448
IT IS NO GREAT SECRET,
557
00:26:12,472 --> 00:26:15,483
AND I'M SURE ABC WON'T MIND
IF I MENTION THIS.
558
00:26:15,507 --> 00:26:19,788
WHAT CAN THEY DO TO ME IF I DO?
FIRE ME TODAY?
559
00:26:19,812 --> 00:26:24,325
I GO ONTO "THE TONIGHT SHOW"
ON NBC STARTING OCTOBER 1ST,
560
00:26:24,349 --> 00:26:25,227
AS THE HOST OF THAT SHOW,
561
00:26:25,251 --> 00:26:28,963
AND ED GOES WITH ME
AS THE ANNOUNCER ON THE SHOW.
562
00:26:37,963 --> 00:26:41,543
Man: WE ALL WENT TO
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA,
563
00:26:41,567 --> 00:26:43,711
AND STAYED IN A BIG HOTEL
ON THE BEACH...
564
00:26:43,735 --> 00:26:45,680
ED McMAHON, JOHNNY AND MYSELF.
565
00:26:45,704 --> 00:26:49,384
WE WENT TO A POLYNESIAN
RESTAURANT ONE NIGHT
566
00:26:49,408 --> 00:26:52,487
AND ALL OF US HAD ABOUT THREE
OR FOUR MAI-TAIS
567
00:26:52,511 --> 00:26:56,691
AND THEN GOT UP ON THE STAGE
AND, UH, PUT ON HULA SKIRTS,
568
00:26:56,715 --> 00:26:58,626
WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE,
JOHNNY ON THE LEFT
569
00:26:58,650 --> 00:27:01,796
AND ED McMAHON ON THE RIGHT,
AND DID A HULA LESSON,
570
00:27:01,820 --> 00:27:02,498
IN FRONT OF THE PATRONS,
571
00:27:02,522 --> 00:27:05,821
WHO PROBABLY WONDERED
WHO THE HELL WE WERE.
572
00:27:07,759 --> 00:27:12,240
Narrator: IN ONLY TWO WEEKS,
THEY HAMMERED OUT THE FORMAT
573
00:27:12,264 --> 00:27:15,210
THAT WOULD ENDURE
FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS.
574
00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:18,847
FROM STUDIO 6B AT
ROCKEFELLER CENTER,
575
00:27:18,871 --> 00:27:22,550
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
WITH ITS NEW HOST
576
00:27:22,574 --> 00:27:24,519
PREMIERED OCTOBER 1, 1962.
577
00:27:24,543 --> 00:27:27,856
McMahon: SO AS WE'RE WALKING
DOWN I SAID,
578
00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,225
"HOW DO YOU SEE MY ROLE
DOWN HERE TONIGHT?"
579
00:27:30,249 --> 00:27:33,995
AND HE SAID, "ED, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW HOW I SEE MY OWN ROLE.
580
00:27:34,019 --> 00:27:37,132
LET'S JUST GO DOWN AND ENTERTAIN
THE HELL OUT OF THEM."
581
00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:43,905
Announcer: FROM NEW YORK,
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
582
00:27:43,929 --> 00:27:45,273
STARRING JOHNNY CARSON.
583
00:27:45,297 --> 00:27:46,142
RIGHT NOW, LET'S WELCOME
584
00:27:46,166 --> 00:27:50,745
THE FELLOW YOU WAITED
SIX MONTHS TO SEE.
585
00:27:55,474 --> 00:27:57,752
THIS IS A KIND OF AN EMOTIONAL
THING FOR ME
586
00:27:57,776 --> 00:28:00,889
BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN ABOUT
THIS SHOW FOR A LONG TIME.
587
00:28:00,913 --> 00:28:02,824
AND THE NEWSPAPERS,
THE MAGAZINES...
588
00:28:02,848 --> 00:28:04,926
I'VE PROBABLY BEEN INTERVIEWED
150 TIMES
589
00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:07,962
IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS
SINCE I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS,
590
00:28:07,986 --> 00:28:09,797
AND YOU GET KIND OF
CHARGED UP.
591
00:28:09,821 --> 00:28:11,633
I DON'T MEAN TO BE MAUDLIN
ABOUT IT,
592
00:28:11,657 --> 00:28:15,403
BUT I KNOW THAT TONIGHT A LOT
OF MY FRIENDS ARE WATCHING
593
00:28:15,427 --> 00:28:16,172
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
594
00:28:16,196 --> 00:28:18,806
AND I ONLY HAVE ONE FEELING
AS I STAND HERE
595
00:28:18,830 --> 00:28:22,143
KNOWING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING...
596
00:28:22,167 --> 00:28:23,444
I WANT MY NANA.
597
00:28:24,937 --> 00:28:27,582
Man: THERE WAS A MIXED FEELING
ABOUT CARSON,
598
00:28:27,606 --> 00:28:29,017
BECAUSE CARSON DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
599
00:28:29,041 --> 00:28:32,587
THE INTELLECTUAL HEFT
OF A PAAR.
600
00:28:32,611 --> 00:28:33,621
AND WHEN HE WENT ON THE AIR,
601
00:28:33,645 --> 00:28:36,758
THERE WAS GREAT EXPECTATIONS
THAT HE WOULD DISAPPOINT.
602
00:28:36,782 --> 00:28:39,627
THEY'RE REFERRING TO ME
AS THE NEW KING
603
00:28:39,651 --> 00:28:43,097
OF NIGHT-TIME TELEVISION
AND I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE,
604
00:28:43,121 --> 00:28:44,632
REALLY, TOO MUCH.
605
00:28:44,656 --> 00:28:45,733
PRINCE, YES.
606
00:28:47,426 --> 00:28:49,571
McMahon: WE WERE DOING
NINE HOURS
607
00:28:49,595 --> 00:28:50,272
OF TELEVISION A WEEK.
608
00:28:50,296 --> 00:28:54,409
AN HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES
A NIGHT, FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK.
609
00:28:54,433 --> 00:28:55,410
LIVE.
610
00:28:55,434 --> 00:28:57,078
THAT IS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN.
611
00:28:57,102 --> 00:29:01,783
JOHNNY DID NOT CLICK IMMEDIATELY
ON THE TONIGHT SHOW.
612
00:29:01,807 --> 00:29:03,451
IT'S AN INTERESTING
HISTORIC FACT
613
00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:04,886
THAT ALMOST SEEMS
UNBELIEVABLE NOW.
614
00:29:04,910 --> 00:29:08,990
AND IT TOOK JOHNNY SEVERAL WEEKS
TO LOOSEN UP.
615
00:29:09,014 --> 00:29:09,925
AND I REMEMBER
BACKSTAGE,
616
00:29:09,949 --> 00:29:11,492
PEOPLE SAYING,
"THIS GUY ISN'T MAKING IT,"
617
00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:16,231
AND IT WAS CHILLING AND STRANGE
TO HEAR THIS AND SEE THIS.
618
00:29:16,255 --> 00:29:18,866
HE KNEW HE COULD DO A MONOLOGUE
WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE,
619
00:29:18,890 --> 00:29:21,936
BUT I KNOW HE FEARED
SITTING DOWN BECAUSE OF
620
00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,407
THAT OFF-CAMERA PROBLEM
WITH TALKING TO PEOPLE
621
00:29:26,431 --> 00:29:28,142
IN AN EASY WAY.
622
00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:32,547
THERE WERE UNSEEN CHORDS
OF INHIBITION IN JOHNNY
623
00:29:32,571 --> 00:29:37,285
THAT WERE MAKING IT
ROUGH FOR HIM IN REAL LIFE.
624
00:29:37,309 --> 00:29:39,320
EVERYBODY'S A COMIC AT
A PARTY.
625
00:29:39,344 --> 00:29:41,022
THIS GUY LAST YEAR
I REMEMBER,
626
00:29:41,046 --> 00:29:44,392
FIRST HE PUT HIS WIFE'S HAT ON
AND HE GOT A FEW LAUGHS.
627
00:29:44,416 --> 00:29:46,461
THEN, HE WENT OVER AND PUT
THE HIGH HEELS ON,
628
00:29:46,485 --> 00:29:49,731
AND PRETTY SOON HE WAS WALKING
AROUND WITH HER PURSE,
629
00:29:49,755 --> 00:29:50,466
AND HE GOT SCREAMS.
630
00:29:50,490 --> 00:29:53,534
THE ONLY TROUBLE WAS HE LEFT
THE PARTY EARLY LIKE THAT
631
00:29:53,558 --> 00:29:56,804
AND HIS WIFE HASN'T
HEARD FROM HIM SINCE.
632
00:29:56,828 --> 00:29:59,841
Narrator: RUTH CARSON
CALLED HERSELF
633
00:29:59,865 --> 00:30:01,276
JOHNNY'S TOUGHEST CRITIC.
634
00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:04,112
SHE GAVE HER SON
ONLY A PASSING GRADE.
635
00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:07,582
"I WASN'T SURE THAT JOHN WAS
THE TYPE FOR IT,"
636
00:30:07,606 --> 00:30:08,350
SHE TOLD AN INTERVIEWER.
637
00:30:08,374 --> 00:30:12,754
"WHEN JACK PAAR HAD THE SHOW,
THERE WAS SO MUCH CONTROVERSY.
638
00:30:12,778 --> 00:30:14,422
JOHN IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL."
639
00:30:14,446 --> 00:30:18,660
Zehme: SHE WOULD ALWAYS FIND
A WAY TO DEFLATE THE HELIUM
640
00:30:18,684 --> 00:30:22,063
FROM ANY HIGH MOMENT
IN HIS SOARING CAREER.
641
00:30:22,087 --> 00:30:28,469
Reiner: NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHY THE GUY BECOMES A COMEDIAN.
642
00:30:28,493 --> 00:30:30,805
COULDN'T GET A COMPLIMENT
OUT OF HIS MOTHER.
643
00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:33,074
AND I, ON THE OTHER HAND,
MY MOTHER THOUGHT
644
00:30:33,098 --> 00:30:34,976
I WAS THE BEST ONE
NO MATTER WHAT I DID.
645
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,213
MAYBE THAT'S WHY I'M NOT AS GOOD
A COMEDIAN AS I'D LIKE TO BE.
646
00:30:39,237 --> 00:30:42,183
Newhart: I THINK THERE'S
SOME TRAUMA PROBABLY
647
00:30:42,207 --> 00:30:44,886
IN A COMEDIAN'S BACKGROUND
OR UPBRINGING
648
00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:50,124
THAT, THIS IS THE WAY WE
COMPENSATE FOR IT.
649
00:30:50,148 --> 00:30:54,462
Shandling: I DON'T DOUBT
THAT WITHIN
650
00:30:54,486 --> 00:30:55,863
EVERY SINGLE PERFORMER,
651
00:30:55,887 --> 00:30:59,901
THERE'S SOME PART
THAT IS HOPING TO GET
652
00:30:59,925 --> 00:31:02,670
THE APPROVAL
THAT THEY DIDN'T GET
653
00:31:02,694 --> 00:31:04,238
SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THEIR LIFE.
654
00:31:04,262 --> 00:31:08,810
MINE SPECIFICALLY... AND IT'S
AWKWARD... IS FROM MY DOG.
655
00:31:08,834 --> 00:31:12,847
THE JACK PAAR PROGRAM WAS QUITE
CONTROVERSIAL.
656
00:31:12,871 --> 00:31:14,649
WHY DID YOU CHANGE THE FORMAT?
657
00:31:14,673 --> 00:31:18,119
I THINK SHOWS THAT HAVE
GONE IN JUST FOR CONTROVERSY...
658
00:31:18,143 --> 00:31:20,855
TO BRING ON TWO PEOPLE OF
OPPOSING VIEWS...
659
00:31:20,879 --> 00:31:22,290
IS VERY EASY
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.
660
00:31:22,314 --> 00:31:27,116
IT'S EASIER TO DO THAT KIND OF
SHOW THAN IT IS TO GET LAUGHS.
661
00:31:49,741 --> 00:31:53,087
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
YOU WERE JEWISH.
662
00:31:54,546 --> 00:31:56,924
Cavett: ONCE HE CLICKED ONTO
THE SHOW,
663
00:31:56,948 --> 00:31:57,925
GOT THOSE FIRST LAUGHS,
664
00:31:57,949 --> 00:32:00,695
REALIZED HE COULD AD-LIB
AS WELL AS ANY OF THE GUESTS,
665
00:32:00,719 --> 00:32:04,532
IT WAS SMOOTH SAILING
FROM THAT POINT ON.
666
00:32:04,556 --> 00:32:06,768
♪ IT'S VERY CLEAR ♪
667
00:32:06,792 --> 00:32:09,170
♪ YES, IT'S CLEAR ♪
668
00:32:09,194 --> 00:32:11,539
♪ OUR LOVE IS HERE
TO STAY ♪
669
00:32:11,563 --> 00:32:15,710
♪ WHY IS OUR LOVE HERE?
WHY IS IT HERE? ♪
670
00:32:15,734 --> 00:32:20,248
♪ NOT FOR A YEAR ♪
671
00:32:20,272 --> 00:32:25,319
♪ BUT FOREVER AND A DAY ♪
GOD!
672
00:32:25,343 --> 00:32:30,024
Zehme:
CARSON WAS A COOL CUSTOMER.
673
00:32:30,048 --> 00:32:33,594
HE WAS MARSHALL McLUHAN'S
PROTOTYPE.
674
00:32:33,618 --> 00:32:35,163
THE COOL MEDIUM...
675
00:32:35,187 --> 00:32:37,331
THIS WAS THE COOLEST PERFORMER
676
00:32:37,355 --> 00:32:40,802
THAT MEDIUM WOULD EVER KNOW,
AND THUS WOULD LAST LONGER
677
00:32:40,826 --> 00:32:42,804
BECAUSE HE BURNED COOL.
678
00:32:42,828 --> 00:32:46,374
Jean: TELEVISION IS SOMETHING
WHERE YOU WANT TO UNWIND,
679
00:32:46,398 --> 00:32:49,010
YOU WANT TO FEEL ALMOST LIKE
IT'S A NARCOTIC,
680
00:32:49,034 --> 00:32:52,180
AND THE PERFORMERS THAT
STIMULATE THAT EFFECT THE MOST
681
00:32:52,204 --> 00:32:52,948
ARE THE ONES THAT SUCCEED.
682
00:32:52,972 --> 00:32:56,417
Steinberg: AND EXACTLY WHAT
JOHNNY WAS DOING WAS SAYING,
683
00:32:56,441 --> 00:32:58,953
"I'M NOT GONNA BE HOT
ON A COOL MEDIUM."
684
00:32:58,977 --> 00:33:01,022
AND IT WAS AN AMAZING
OBSERVATION
685
00:33:01,046 --> 00:33:05,293
TO MAKE ON YOURSELF
THAT EARLY ON.
686
00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:07,462
♪ BUT OUR ♪
687
00:33:07,486 --> 00:33:11,466
♪ love is here ♪
688
00:33:11,490 --> 00:33:14,368
♪ HE SAID OUR LOVE ♪
689
00:33:14,392 --> 00:33:16,804
♪ IS HERE ♪
690
00:33:16,828 --> 00:33:19,006
I JUST SAID...
691
00:33:19,030 --> 00:33:22,043
♪ OUR LOVE IS HERE ♪
692
00:33:22,067 --> 00:33:25,613
♪ REPETEZ, S'IL VOUS PLAIT ♪
THAT'S FRENCH.
693
00:33:25,637 --> 00:33:27,782
♪ OUR LOVE IS HERE ♪
694
00:33:27,806 --> 00:33:29,717
♪ TO ♪
♪ OUR... ♪
695
00:33:29,741 --> 00:33:30,552
WHAT?
696
00:33:30,576 --> 00:33:37,758
♪ STAY! ♪
♪ STAY! ♪
697
00:33:38,984 --> 00:33:40,928
I HAVE MY DOG MUFFIN HERE,
698
00:33:40,952 --> 00:33:43,664
IT'S A LITTLE YORKSHIRE TERRIER
AND SHE'S SEATED
699
00:33:43,688 --> 00:33:46,534
IN THE LAP OF MY WIFE JOANNE.
700
00:33:46,558 --> 00:33:48,069
Narrator: JOHNNY AND JOANNE
701
00:33:48,093 --> 00:33:52,807
INTENDED TO KEEP THEIR 1963
MARRIAGE A PRIVATE AFFAIR.
702
00:33:52,831 --> 00:33:56,377
BUT THE EVENT BECAME A NATIONAL
NEWS STORY.
703
00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:59,080
THOUGH HOST OF
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
704
00:33:59,104 --> 00:34:01,415
FOR LESS THAN A YEAR,
HE HAD BECOME
705
00:34:01,439 --> 00:34:04,952
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PEOPLE
IN AMERICA.
706
00:34:04,976 --> 00:34:09,190
Man: YOU REALLY DO LOSE A LOT
OF YOUR PERSONAL FREEDOM
707
00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:11,158
IN A POSITION LIKE YOU HAVE.
708
00:34:11,182 --> 00:34:13,327
I THINK YOU HAVE TO GIVE
UP A CERTAIN AMOUNT
709
00:34:13,351 --> 00:34:15,696
OF YOUR FREEDOM AND PRIVACY
IN THIS BUSINESS.
710
00:34:15,720 --> 00:34:17,298
IT'S A FUNNY THING.
IT'S A PARADOX.
711
00:34:17,322 --> 00:34:19,734
WHEN YOU'RE FIRST STARTING,
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
712
00:34:19,758 --> 00:34:22,169
YOU WANT TO BE WELL KNOWN.
YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
713
00:34:22,193 --> 00:34:24,972
PART OF BEING SUCCESSFUL
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS
714
00:34:24,996 --> 00:34:27,708
IS BEING RECOGNIZED AND PEOPLE
COMING UP TO YOU.
715
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:29,377
THEN, AFTER A WHILE,
YOU REALIZE
716
00:34:29,401 --> 00:34:31,145
THAT YOU PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT
FOR THAT.
717
00:34:31,169 --> 00:34:33,481
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS
AND GO SOMEPLACE.
718
00:34:33,505 --> 00:34:35,349
I REMEMBER ONCE WE WENT ICE
SKATING
719
00:34:35,373 --> 00:34:38,486
AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER, AND I
THOUGHT, "THAT WOULD BE FUN."
720
00:34:38,510 --> 00:34:40,121
IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WASN'T
FUN AT ALL.
721
00:34:40,145 --> 00:34:42,890
Joanne: JOHNNY WANTED THEM TO BE
KEPT AWAY FROM THE LIMELIGHT.
722
00:34:42,914 --> 00:34:46,527
CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED
ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW."
723
00:34:46,551 --> 00:34:48,796
I MEAN, HE GOT VERY,
VERY VISUAL.
724
00:34:48,820 --> 00:34:51,732
WE COULD NO LONGER TAKE THE KIDS
TO A MOVIE.
725
00:34:51,756 --> 00:34:54,569
WE COULD NO LONGER DO ANYTHING
PUBLIC.
726
00:34:54,593 --> 00:34:56,337
EVERYTHING HAD TO BE PRIVATE.
727
00:34:56,361 --> 00:34:58,241
JOHNNY WAS THE BEST READ PERSON
I'VE EVER KNOWN.
728
00:35:02,267 --> 00:35:04,779
YOU COULD NOT BRING UP
AN ARTICLE,
729
00:35:04,803 --> 00:35:06,347
AND CERTAINLY NOT A BOOK,
730
00:35:06,371 --> 00:35:08,115
THAT HE HADN'T READ.
731
00:35:08,139 --> 00:35:13,454
HE HAD AN ENORMOUS DESIRE TO BE
UP ON EVERYTHING.
732
00:35:13,478 --> 00:35:16,290
WOULD YOU WELCOME PLEASE
TO CARSON'S FIRING LINE,
733
00:35:16,314 --> 00:35:17,192
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY.
734
00:35:17,216 --> 00:35:20,595
THE UNMELLOWED AND UNBOWED...
GORE VIDAL.
735
00:35:20,619 --> 00:35:21,296
MR. NORMAN MAILER.
736
00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:22,797
WOULD YOU WELCOME, PLEASE,
DR. CARL SAGAN.
737
00:35:22,821 --> 00:35:24,799
WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME
THE APOLLO 13 TEAM,
738
00:35:24,823 --> 00:35:28,302
JAMES LOVELL, FRED HAISE
AND JACK SWIGERT.
739
00:35:28,326 --> 00:35:31,973
Steinberg: HE HAD THE ENTIRE
CULTURE AT HIS DOORSTEP.
740
00:35:31,997 --> 00:35:33,207
WHATEVER WAS GOING ON...
741
00:35:33,231 --> 00:35:37,244
NOT IN THE WORLD, BUT IN
AMERICA... EVENTUALLY SHOWED UP
742
00:35:37,268 --> 00:35:40,636
SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM
AT THE DESK.
743
00:35:49,414 --> 00:35:52,159
DID I EVER TELL YOU...
MAYBE I TOLD YOU THIS...
744
00:35:52,183 --> 00:35:53,260
I USED TO FIGHT IN THE NAVY?
745
00:35:53,284 --> 00:35:55,062
I HAD ABOUT NINE FIGHTS
IN THE NAVY.
746
00:35:55,086 --> 00:35:56,497
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN
PRETTY GOOD,
747
00:35:56,521 --> 00:35:58,065
'CAUSE I DON'T SEE
NO MARKS ON YOU.
748
00:35:58,089 --> 00:36:00,835
I DON'T SEE ANY MARKS ON
YOU EITHER.
749
00:36:00,859 --> 00:36:02,770
WELL, I AM PRETTY GOOD.
750
00:36:02,794 --> 00:36:05,906
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,
JOHNNY CARSON
751
00:36:05,930 --> 00:36:09,377
AND "THE TONIGHT SHOW" CAPTURED
THE NATIONAL ZEITGEIST.
752
00:36:09,401 --> 00:36:14,982
1969 ENDED WITH THE MARRIAGE
OF NOVELTY SINGER TINY TIM
753
00:36:15,006 --> 00:36:16,217
TIM TO MISS VICKI.
754
00:36:16,241 --> 00:36:18,853
45 MILLION AMERICANS TUNED IN.
755
00:36:18,877 --> 00:36:21,689
85% OF ALL TELEVISION VIEWERS.
756
00:36:21,713 --> 00:36:26,060
IT REMAINS THE HIGHEST-RATED
PROGRAM IN LATE-NIGHT HISTORY.
757
00:36:26,084 --> 00:36:27,628
I CAN'T THINK
OF ANY BETTER TOAST
758
00:36:27,652 --> 00:36:29,363
THAN A VERY SIMPLE ONE
TO WISH YOU BOTH
759
00:36:29,387 --> 00:36:31,365
HEALTH AND GREAT HAPPINESS
IN YOUR MARRIAGE.
760
00:36:31,389 --> 00:36:34,769
Leno: TINY TIM GETTING MARRIED
ON THE SHOW, THAT WAS HUGE.
761
00:36:34,793 --> 00:36:36,637
I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL
AT THE TIME,
762
00:36:36,661 --> 00:36:39,140
AND IT WAS
THE CLASSIC THING OF,
763
00:36:39,164 --> 00:36:42,309
WHAT HAPPENED
ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW,"
764
00:36:42,333 --> 00:36:43,511
EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT.
765
00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:45,613
HI, I'M DICK CAVETT,
AND MY GUESTS TONIGHT
766
00:36:45,637 --> 00:36:46,448
ARE JACK BENNY, BILL COSBY
767
00:36:46,472 --> 00:36:48,816
AND FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
OF THE WORLD,
768
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:50,351
THE REMARKABLE JOE FRAZIER.
769
00:36:50,375 --> 00:36:51,153
JOIN US.
770
00:36:51,177 --> 00:36:53,454
Leno: WHEN A NEW SHOW
CAME ON,
771
00:36:53,478 --> 00:36:55,923
"IS THIS THE SHOW THAT'S GONNA
DETHRONE JOHNNY CARSON?"
772
00:36:55,947 --> 00:36:57,224
AND THEY WOULD GET TONS OF
PUBLICITY,
773
00:36:57,248 --> 00:37:00,428
AND PEOPLE WOULD WATCH
FOR A FEW WEEKS, AND EVENTUALLY
774
00:37:00,452 --> 00:37:02,163
THE PACE OR TRYING TO PUT
A MONOLOGUE TOGETHER
775
00:37:02,187 --> 00:37:04,432
WOULD GET TO THEM AND
IT WOULD FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
776
00:37:04,456 --> 00:37:07,001
Cavett: WHENEVER A CAVETT SHOW
WAS CANCELLED...
777
00:37:07,025 --> 00:37:09,870
WHICH GAVE HIM SEVERAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THIS...
778
00:37:09,894 --> 00:37:11,906
HE WOULD HAVE ME ON
THE NEXT MONDAY,
779
00:37:11,930 --> 00:37:15,109
AND HE WOULD SAY, "WE'RE HOPING
THE NEXT ONE WORKS,
780
00:37:15,133 --> 00:37:18,245
OR IT'S GONNA BE ARMED
FORCES RADIO FOR RICHARD."
781
00:37:18,269 --> 00:37:20,648
Zehme: IN THE END, HE PUT OUT
A BETTER PRODUCT
782
00:37:20,672 --> 00:37:22,183
ACROSS THE BOARD
AND IT WAS BECAUSE
783
00:37:22,207 --> 00:37:25,186
HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW
TO GIVE ROOM
784
00:37:25,210 --> 00:37:30,124
TO FUNNY PEOPLE OR ENGAGING
PEOPLE AND LET THEM SHINE.
785
00:37:30,148 --> 00:37:34,895
I REALLY THINK, JOHNNY, THAT
YOU HOSTING THE SHOW TONIGHT,
786
00:37:34,919 --> 00:37:36,931
REALLY, IS KINDA DULL.
787
00:37:36,955 --> 00:37:38,499
UH...
788
00:37:38,523 --> 00:37:40,534
YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS
YOUR GUESTS.
789
00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:44,338
Hall: HE HAD THE PERFECT
BAROMETER IN HIS HEAD
790
00:37:44,362 --> 00:37:46,774
OF WHEN TO GO AND WHEN
TO STAY OUT.
791
00:37:46,798 --> 00:37:49,577
HE COULD SAVE YOU
IF THE SHOW NEEDED IT,
792
00:37:49,601 --> 00:37:51,178
OR HE COULD LET YOU DO
YOUR THING.
793
00:37:51,202 --> 00:37:52,980
HIS EGO COULD
LET YOU DO YOUR THING.
794
00:37:53,004 --> 00:37:54,982
DID YOU
HEAR THE ONE ABOUT
795
00:37:55,006 --> 00:37:57,184
THE WOMAN WHO GOES
TO THE DENTIST?
796
00:37:57,208 --> 00:37:58,185
TO HAVE THE TOOTH OUT?
797
00:37:58,209 --> 00:38:00,621
YEAH. AND HE LOOKS
IN HER MOUTH AND SAYS,
798
00:38:00,645 --> 00:38:02,223
"THAT TOOTH WILL
HAVE TO COME OUT."
799
00:38:02,247 --> 00:38:03,390
SHE SAYS, "I'D RATHER
HAVE A BABY."
800
00:38:03,414 --> 00:38:06,260
HE SAYS, "MAKE UP YOUR MIND,
I GOTTA ADJUST THE CHAIR."
801
00:38:06,284 --> 00:38:07,261
DID YOU EVER HEAR THAT ONE?
802
00:38:07,285 --> 00:38:11,031
Benjamin: HE MADE YOU THE STAR
OF YOUR SEGMENT.
803
00:38:11,055 --> 00:38:14,935
AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO JUST
USE IT
804
00:38:14,959 --> 00:38:18,172
TO JUST DRAW THE ATTENTION
TO THEMSELVES.
805
00:38:18,196 --> 00:38:20,441
HE HAD THE CONFIDENCE
AND THE SKILL,
806
00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:21,542
HE DIDN'T NEED TO DO IT.
807
00:38:21,566 --> 00:38:23,944
DO YOU USE COUPONS
AND LOOK FOR SPECIALS?
808
00:38:23,968 --> 00:38:25,546
I DO USE SOME COUPONS, YES.
809
00:38:25,570 --> 00:38:30,518
I HAVE A SANKA COUPON RIGHT NOW
THAT WORTH 40 CENTS.
810
00:38:31,510 --> 00:38:35,790
Rivers: JOHNNY CARSON WAS
THE BEST STRAIGHT MAN,
811
00:38:35,814 --> 00:38:36,758
EVER.
812
00:38:36,782 --> 00:38:38,826
HE KNEW WHERE YOU WERE GOING.
813
00:38:38,850 --> 00:38:42,797
HE KNEW WHEN TO COME IN AND SAY,
"HOW FAT WAS SHE?"
814
00:38:42,821 --> 00:38:44,498
HE KNEW WHEN NOT TO SAY IT.
815
00:38:44,522 --> 00:38:47,535
WELL, MY WEDDING NIGHT
WAS A DISASTER, YOU KNOW THAT.
816
00:38:47,559 --> 00:38:52,506
A LOT OF MEN SMOKE AFTER THEY
MAKE LOVE, EDGAR SMOKED DURING.
817
00:38:52,530 --> 00:38:55,910
ASKED ME FOR A LIGHT...
YOU THINK THAT'S NICE?
818
00:38:56,535 --> 00:39:02,064
I SAID, "GET IT YOURSELF
FROM THE DASHBOARD."
819
00:39:03,575 --> 00:39:06,954
Rivers: IT WAS THAT IMMEDIATE
CONNECTION.
820
00:39:06,978 --> 00:39:09,523
YOU KNEW YOU WERE BRINGING
YOUR LITTLE GIFT TO HIM
821
00:39:09,547 --> 00:39:12,760
OF A JOKE, AND YOU KNEW HE WAS
GONNA OPEN IT AND LOVE IT.
822
00:39:12,784 --> 00:39:15,462
WHAT DO THE REST
OF YOUR FAMILY DO?
823
00:39:15,486 --> 00:39:17,331
THEY ARE ALL CHEMISTS.
824
00:39:18,523 --> 00:39:20,601
Brooks: YOU COULD SEE HIS JOY
825
00:39:20,625 --> 00:39:24,805
AND HIS LOVE OF YOUR COMEDY,
IF HE THOUGHT YOU WERE GOOD.
826
00:39:24,829 --> 00:39:27,675
HE WOULD BE LIKE A LITTLE KID
JUST WAITING
827
00:39:27,699 --> 00:39:31,245
FOR THE NEXT LITTLE CANDY CANE
YOU'D THROW AT HIM.
828
00:39:31,269 --> 00:39:34,215
HE'S A SILLY KID, JUST
REALLY A SILLY KID.
829
00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:36,283
I REALLY LOVE YA,
I REALLY LOVE YA,
830
00:39:36,307 --> 00:39:39,186
I MEAN, I REALLY LOVE YOU,
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
831
00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:39,788
OH, REALLY?
832
00:39:39,812 --> 00:39:42,923
AND I DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH
GUYS, YOU KNOW,
833
00:39:42,947 --> 00:39:43,658
I'M PRETTY TOUGH MYSELF.
834
00:39:43,682 --> 00:39:46,994
BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
A BEAUTY COMES ALONG...
835
00:39:47,018 --> 00:39:48,896
Brooks: HE WAS THE BEST PURVEYOR
836
00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:53,167
OF SPONTANEOUS COMEDY MATERIAL
THAN ANYBODY IN THE WORLD.
837
00:39:53,191 --> 00:39:56,770
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A PURVEYOR
OF HERRING.
838
00:39:56,794 --> 00:39:58,973
IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED
ON COMING UP WITH
839
00:39:58,997 --> 00:40:02,443
THE GERMAN WORD FOR
EXHAUST PIPE, COULD YOU DO IT?
840
00:40:02,467 --> 00:40:04,812
UN SCHTINKEN MUFFLER?
841
00:40:04,836 --> 00:40:05,580
I DON'T KNOW.
842
00:40:05,604 --> 00:40:09,617
BUT THE BIGGEST ACCOLADE
YOU COULD HEAP UPON YOURSELF
843
00:40:09,641 --> 00:40:13,287
WAS TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW
AND BREAK JOHNNY UP.
844
00:40:13,311 --> 00:40:15,923
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SAT IN THIS CHAIR AND SAID,
845
00:40:15,947 --> 00:40:18,492
"I ONLY DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS
IMPORTANT TO THE SCRIPT.
846
00:40:18,516 --> 00:40:20,661
I NEVER WOULD HAVE SHED
MY CLOTHES OTHERWISE
847
00:40:20,685 --> 00:40:23,731
FOR 14 DAYS IN FRONT
OF THE CREW
848
00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:26,901
AND THEY ONLY SHOT FOR 10,
BUT, UH..."
849
00:40:26,925 --> 00:40:28,769
Steve Martin:
HE GENUINELY LAUGHED.
850
00:40:28,793 --> 00:40:33,073
HE WOULD DOUBLE OVER
AND LAUGH AT A PERFORMER.
851
00:40:33,097 --> 00:40:33,975
YOU LIKE THIS?
852
00:40:33,999 --> 00:40:36,777
YEAH, I LIKE PART
OF IT.
853
00:40:36,801 --> 00:40:38,746
Martin: YOU KNOW,
IF YOU SAID SOMETHING
854
00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:41,649
THAT WAS NON-SEQUITUR,
HE'D LET IT LAY THERE
855
00:40:41,673 --> 00:40:43,517
UNTIL THE AUDIENCE WOULD GET IT.
856
00:40:43,541 --> 00:40:45,686
HE HAD MASTER TIMING.
857
00:40:45,710 --> 00:40:48,956
WITH THE REGULAR AUDIENCE
AND I SAT IN THE BACK
858
00:40:48,980 --> 00:40:50,824
AND I WAS REAL HAPPY
BECAUSE...
859
00:40:50,848 --> 00:40:54,828
I TOLD YOU TO GET DOWN OFF
THAT BED!
860
00:40:54,852 --> 00:40:56,330
'CAUSE I SAW A PLAY...
861
00:40:56,956 --> 00:40:58,732
O'Brien:
IT'S LIKE A CHEMICAL REACTION,
862
00:40:58,756 --> 00:41:00,834
IT GENERATED THIS WARMTH
AND EXCITEMENT
863
00:41:00,858 --> 00:41:02,603
THAT CAME RIGHT
THROUGH THE SCREEN.
864
00:41:02,627 --> 00:41:06,173
JUST SEEING THOSE PEOPLE BE
FUNNY ON THEIR OWN,
865
00:41:06,197 --> 00:41:07,408
TELLING THE EXACT SAME STORY,
866
00:41:07,432 --> 00:41:10,144
WOULD NOT BE NEARLY AS
ENTERTAINING AS SEEING
867
00:41:10,168 --> 00:41:13,914
JOHNNY ENTERTAINED
BY THOSE PEOPLE.
868
00:41:13,938 --> 00:41:15,716
SO THAT'S MAGIC.
869
00:41:15,740 --> 00:41:17,340
Narrator: ON THE JOB FOR NEARLY
A DECADE,
870
00:41:19,143 --> 00:41:22,556
JOHNNY CARSON'S POPULARITY
CONTINUED TO SOAR.
871
00:41:22,580 --> 00:41:24,058
BUT HIS TOUGHEST JUDGE
872
00:41:24,082 --> 00:41:24,726
REMAINED SKEPTICAL.
873
00:41:24,750 --> 00:41:29,997
IN A TIME MAGAZINE COVER STORY,
A REPORTER SAT WITH RUTH CARSON
874
00:41:30,021 --> 00:41:32,399
AS SHE WATCHED HER
SON'S MONOLOGUE.
875
00:41:32,423 --> 00:41:35,869
WHEN HE HAD FINISHED, SHE SAID,
"THAT WASN'T FUNNY,"
876
00:41:35,893 --> 00:41:38,105
THEN GOT UP AND LEFT THE ROOM.
877
00:41:38,129 --> 00:41:41,575
Joanne: "PUBLICLY, TO DO THAT
TO YOUR SON?
878
00:41:41,599 --> 00:41:44,745
UNFORTUNATELY, IT SAYS A LOT
ABOUT RUTH CARSON.
879
00:41:44,769 --> 00:41:48,649
IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO ME...
IT WAS TO JOHNNY,
880
00:41:48,673 --> 00:41:51,118
BECAUSE TO BE ON TOP
OF THE HEAP,
881
00:41:51,142 --> 00:41:54,254
TO BE THE HOST OF
SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS SHOW
882
00:41:54,278 --> 00:41:55,422
LIKE "THE TONIGHT SHOW,"
883
00:41:55,446 --> 00:41:57,758
HE THOUGHT SHE'D BE
PROUD OF HIM.
884
00:41:57,782 --> 00:42:00,961
I REMEMBER THEM FROM
GUAM.
885
00:42:03,054 --> 00:42:05,733
YOU GIRLS GO RIGHT AHEAD,
DON'T MIND HIM.
886
00:42:05,757 --> 00:42:07,735
CAN I DO IT A COUPLE OF
MINUTES?
887
00:42:07,759 --> 00:42:09,470
NO!
NO!
888
00:42:09,494 --> 00:42:13,397
GIMME A BREAK,
I'M SO LONELY.
889
00:42:14,665 --> 00:42:17,311
Rickles:
HE WAS ALWAYS ON THE HUNT.
890
00:42:17,335 --> 00:42:18,113
I USED TO TELL HIM,
891
00:42:18,137 --> 00:42:21,015
"GET ONE OF THOSE PITH HELMETS
AND A RIFLE,
892
00:42:21,039 --> 00:42:21,883
GO LOOKING FOR WOMEN."
893
00:42:21,907 --> 00:42:24,018
HE WAS ALWAYS, HE WAS ALWAYS
SEARCHING,
894
00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:27,171
AND SCORED PRETTY GOOD,
IF I MAY SAY SO.
895
00:42:33,618 --> 00:42:36,730
I'M SURE THERE WERE FEMALES.
896
00:42:36,754 --> 00:42:38,732
UH...
897
00:42:38,756 --> 00:42:42,302
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT 'EM.
I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT 'EM.
898
00:42:42,326 --> 00:42:45,406
JOHNNY HAD A RIGHT TO LIVE
HIS LIFE
899
00:42:45,430 --> 00:42:47,908
THE WAY THAT WAS BEST
FOR HIM,
900
00:42:47,932 --> 00:42:50,844
AND I KNEW HE WOULD NEVER
EMBARRASS ME.
901
00:42:50,868 --> 00:42:52,146
IT'S NOT BEING MAGNANIMOUS.
902
00:42:52,170 --> 00:42:56,850
IT IS BEING REALISTIC IN WHAT
I WAS DEALING WITH,
903
00:42:56,874 --> 00:43:00,054
AND I UNDERSTOOD IT VERY
CLEARLY.
904
00:43:00,078 --> 00:43:02,823
HOW DID HE HAPPEN
TO HIRE YOU?
905
00:43:02,847 --> 00:43:04,525
UM... BY...
906
00:43:04,549 --> 00:43:08,028
JUST THE REGULAR WAY.
907
00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:14,715
YOU MEAN HIS
REGULAR WAY?
908
00:43:16,594 --> 00:43:19,706
Woman: I DON'T THINK I EVER
CALLED HIM "JOHNNY."
909
00:43:19,730 --> 00:43:21,308
I ALWAYS CALLED HIM "BOSS."
910
00:43:21,332 --> 00:43:26,480
AND IT JUST SEEMED MORE
COMFORTABLE THAT WAY.
911
00:43:26,504 --> 00:43:28,849
HE CALLED ME "LEGS."
912
00:43:32,176 --> 00:43:36,223
I THINK THERE WAS A MUTUAL TRUST
AND A MUTUAL RESPECT,
913
00:43:36,247 --> 00:43:37,291
AND I THINK HE FELT I WAS
914
00:43:37,315 --> 00:43:40,794
KINDA NORMAL, THAT I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY HIDDEN AGENDAS,
915
00:43:40,818 --> 00:43:44,565
THAT I WAS HONEST...
WHAT HE SAW IS WHAT HE GOT.
916
00:43:44,589 --> 00:43:47,320
AND I TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS.
917
00:43:49,527 --> 00:43:52,639
Zehme:
HE'D HAD AFFAIRS.
918
00:43:52,663 --> 00:43:54,708
AND JOANNE WAS APPARENTLY
AWARE OF IT.
919
00:43:54,732 --> 00:43:57,311
I DON'T THINK EVER
AT PEACE WITH IT.
920
00:43:57,335 --> 00:43:57,946
I THINK
921
00:43:57,970 --> 00:44:02,116
TO SOME DEGREE IT BECAME
TIT-FOR-TAT TOWARDS THE END,
922
00:44:02,140 --> 00:44:07,078
AND I THINK THAT'S KINDA HOW IT
ALL CAME APART.
923
00:44:07,812 --> 00:44:10,724
Narrator: IN 1970, JOANNE
CHARGED JOHNNY
924
00:44:10,748 --> 00:44:13,460
WITH CRUEL AND INHUMAN
TREATMENT,
925
00:44:13,484 --> 00:44:14,495
ABANDONMENT AND ADULTERY.
926
00:44:14,519 --> 00:44:18,265
IN HER DIVORCE SETTLEMENT,
SHE RECEIVED A ONE-TIME PAYMENT
927
00:44:18,289 --> 00:44:22,069
OF $260,000 AND $75,000 A YEAR
FROM THEN ON.
928
00:44:22,093 --> 00:44:24,238
Carson: IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME,
929
00:44:24,262 --> 00:44:25,339
A CRAZY THOUGHT
THIS AFTERNOON...
930
00:44:25,363 --> 00:44:28,642
WHEN YOU'RE IN A ROMANTIC MOOD
AND YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE OUT,
931
00:44:28,666 --> 00:44:30,144
WHOSE RECORDS DO YOU PUT ON?
932
00:44:36,274 --> 00:44:41,054
Brooks: I THINK JOHNNY PROBABLY
COULD'VE MADE A LIVING,
933
00:44:41,078 --> 00:44:43,157
ABSOLUTELY COULD'VE MADE
A LIVING AS A DRUMMER.
934
00:44:43,181 --> 00:44:47,194
I MEAN IT'S AMAZING,
THAT'S HOW GOOD HE WAS.
935
00:44:47,218 --> 00:44:51,598
Man: HE TOLD ME LATER THAT WAS
THE BEST WAY TO RELAX.
936
00:44:51,622 --> 00:44:53,867
PUT ON THE EARPHONES AND PLAY.
937
00:44:53,891 --> 00:44:56,537
HE COULD DO THINGS WITH
A DRUMSTICK WITH HIS LEFT HAND
938
00:44:56,561 --> 00:44:58,805
THAT I CAN'T DO, OR ANYBODY,
AND HE SAID,
939
00:44:58,829 --> 00:45:00,908
"DON'T YOU
KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM?"
940
00:45:00,932 --> 00:45:04,678
HE SAID, "FROM YEARS OF COIN
MANIPULATIONS
941
00:45:04,702 --> 00:45:07,228
WHEN I DID MY MAGIC ACT."
942
00:45:11,909 --> 00:45:15,722
Man: JOHNNY WAS ABLE TO BE
BY HIMSELF
943
00:45:15,746 --> 00:45:19,493
AND ENJOY HIS OWN PARTICULAR
COMPANY.
944
00:45:19,517 --> 00:45:22,996
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE
AN ENTOURAGE
945
00:45:23,020 --> 00:45:24,998
LIKE FRANK SINATRA HAD.
946
00:45:25,022 --> 00:45:27,401
JOHNNY WAS NEVER LONESOME.
947
00:45:27,425 --> 00:45:29,836
HE WAS A LONER.
948
00:45:29,860 --> 00:45:30,772
IN OTHER WORDS,
949
00:45:30,796 --> 00:45:33,941
HE COULD SPEND TIME WITH
HIMSELF,
950
00:45:33,965 --> 00:45:38,926
WHETHER DRIVING OR FLYING
OR JUST READING.
951
00:45:40,871 --> 00:45:42,583
Leamer: YOU THINK HE'S
A LOVING FATHER?
952
00:45:42,607 --> 00:45:45,252
I INTERVIEWED HIS KIDS, AND THEY
SAID WHAT IT WAS LIKE.
953
00:45:45,276 --> 00:45:48,422
PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "OH,
JOHNNY CARSON'S YOUR FATHER,
954
00:45:48,446 --> 00:45:49,057
ISN'T THAT GREAT?"
955
00:45:49,081 --> 00:45:51,959
BUT JOHNNY WOULD JUST COME HOME
AND GO IN HIS ROOM
956
00:45:51,983 --> 00:45:53,126
AND PLAY THE DRUMS OR SOLITAIRE
957
00:45:53,150 --> 00:45:55,395
AND HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH
HIS CHILDREN.
958
00:45:55,419 --> 00:45:57,898
Zehme: IT'S SAD TO ME THAT HE
NOT ONLY WAS
959
00:45:57,922 --> 00:46:03,770
AWARE THAT HIS BOYS THOUGHT HIM
SO LACKING AS A LOVING FATHER,
960
00:46:03,794 --> 00:46:07,674
BUT THAT I THINK SOME PART OF
HIMSELF BELIEVED IT
961
00:46:07,698 --> 00:46:10,877
AND FELT AS THOUGH
HE'D LET THEM DOWN.
962
00:46:10,901 --> 00:46:15,682
Severinsen: RICKY WAS PART OF
MY LITTLE GROUP.
963
00:46:15,706 --> 00:46:18,719
AND HE SAID,
964
00:46:18,743 --> 00:46:23,156
"GOSH, DOC, I WISH I COULD GET
ALONG WITH MY DAD
965
00:46:23,180 --> 00:46:26,193
AS WELL AS I GET ALONG
WITH YOU..."
966
00:46:26,217 --> 00:46:31,164
IN THAT INSTANT, IT REVEALED
TO ME THAT MAYBE THEY HAD
967
00:46:31,188 --> 00:46:34,234
A SORT OF, NOT
AN EASY RELATIONSHIP.
968
00:46:34,258 --> 00:46:36,258
Man: THE FIRST DAY OF MAY,
1972, BE HEREBY DECLARED
969
00:46:37,995 --> 00:46:42,175
"JOHNNY CARSON DAY"
IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
970
00:46:42,199 --> 00:46:43,777
GOOD HEAVENS!
971
00:46:43,801 --> 00:46:47,247
I THANK YOU FOR
THAT NICE WARM HAND...
972
00:46:47,271 --> 00:46:49,916
AS BURT REYNOLDS
RECENTLY SAID.
973
00:46:49,940 --> 00:46:52,853
Narrator: JOHNNY BEGAN
A NEW CHAPTER
974
00:46:52,877 --> 00:46:55,789
WHEN HE MOVED "THE TONIGHT SHOW"
TO LOS ANGELES.
975
00:46:55,813 --> 00:46:58,292
THE FILM AND TELEVISION CAPITAL
OFFERED
976
00:46:58,316 --> 00:47:00,927
A BIGGER POOL
OF CELEBRITY GUESTS.
977
00:47:00,951 --> 00:47:03,797
Zehme: HE WAS OF LOS ANGELES.
978
00:47:03,821 --> 00:47:05,465
HE WAS A STAR OF THAT MAGNITUDE,
979
00:47:05,489 --> 00:47:08,268
A TELEVISION STAR
THAT EQUALED THE MAGNITUDE
980
00:47:08,292 --> 00:47:09,569
OF MOVIE STARS.
981
00:47:09,593 --> 00:47:13,040
ONCE JOHNNY MOVED
"THE TONIGHT SHOW" TO BURBANK,
982
00:47:13,064 --> 00:47:15,575
HE WAS NO LONGER THE PRINCE,
HE WAS THE KING.
983
00:47:15,599 --> 00:47:19,179
THAT'S TEN YEARS ON THE JOB,
BUT THERE WAS POWER.
984
00:47:19,203 --> 00:47:20,380
HE FELT IT.
985
00:47:21,539 --> 00:47:24,151
THANK YOU, YOU REALLY SHOULD
STOP APPLAUDING
986
00:47:24,175 --> 00:47:26,253
BECAUSE YOU'LL GIVE ME
A BIG HEAD.
987
00:47:26,277 --> 00:47:30,271
NO, THEN MY CROWN WON'T FIT
ANYMORE.
988
00:47:30,815 --> 00:47:33,760
Narrator: A CREATURE OF HABIT,
JOHNNY ADHERED
989
00:47:33,784 --> 00:47:37,864
TO A STRICT DAILY ROUTINE
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
990
00:47:37,888 --> 00:47:40,400
Man: EXACTLY AT 10:00 EVERY DAY
991
00:47:40,424 --> 00:47:41,435
THE PHONE WOULD RING.
992
00:47:41,459 --> 00:47:45,038
HE WOULD ASK ME FOR THE FIGURES
ON THE RATINGS OF THE SHOW.
993
00:47:45,062 --> 00:47:47,341
WHAT DID I THINK OF THE SHOW
LAST NIGHT?
994
00:47:47,365 --> 00:47:50,610
"NOW, LET ME CHECK WHO'S ON
TONIGHT, FRED.
995
00:47:50,634 --> 00:47:52,546
WHAT TIME DO YOU WANT ME
FOR REHEARSAL?
996
00:47:52,570 --> 00:47:54,181
TELL THE WRITERS THAT
I READ SOMETHING
997
00:47:54,205 --> 00:47:57,017
IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING
ABOUT SO-AND-SO IN POLITICS.
998
00:47:57,041 --> 00:47:59,553
THEY OUGHT TO WORK ON THAT."
999
00:47:59,577 --> 00:48:02,489
Beauregard: ALSO, I THINK
HE LIKED THE FACT
1000
00:48:02,513 --> 00:48:03,623
THAT HE COULD DRIVE A CAR
1001
00:48:03,647 --> 00:48:05,192
ANYWHERE HE WANTED
AND NOBODY KNEW
1002
00:48:05,216 --> 00:48:07,127
THAT THIS WAS JOHNNY CARSON
DRIVING AROUND.
1003
00:48:07,151 --> 00:48:11,264
AND SO HE WAS ABLE TO KIND
OF SOAK UP A LOT OF THINGS
1004
00:48:11,288 --> 00:48:12,599
AND HAVE A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM
1005
00:48:12,623 --> 00:48:14,735
THAT HE DID NOT HAVE
IN NEW YORK.
1006
00:48:14,759 --> 00:48:15,403
I REMEMBER ONE TIME,
1007
00:48:15,427 --> 00:48:17,938
WHEN JOHNNY CAME IN
IN THE MORNING, I SAID,
1008
00:48:17,962 --> 00:48:21,074
"DO YOU REMEMBER WHO WAS
ON THE SHOW LAST NIGHT?"
1009
00:48:21,098 --> 00:48:22,009
HE SAID, "UH-UH."
1010
00:48:22,033 --> 00:48:25,679
'CAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS WORKING
TOWARDS THE NEXT ONE.
1011
00:48:25,703 --> 00:48:28,515
I MEAN, YOU DID NOT HAVE
A CHANCE TO BREATHE.
1012
00:48:30,674 --> 00:48:32,319
"THE TONIGHT SHOW."
1013
00:48:32,343 --> 00:48:35,055
HE STARTED OUT AS A WRITER,
HE WAS A WRITER FOR RED SKELTON.
1014
00:48:35,079 --> 00:48:38,125
HE WAS PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF
WRITING FOR HIMSELF, ALTHOUGH,
1015
00:48:38,149 --> 00:48:39,893
WHEN YOU'RE DOING
A SHOW DAY AFTER DAY,
1016
00:48:39,917 --> 00:48:41,561
YOU DON'T
WANT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
1017
00:48:41,585 --> 00:48:43,363
Man: THAT'S IT.
IT'S A MONOLOGUE.
1018
00:48:43,387 --> 00:48:44,965
IT'S OFFICIALLY MONOLOGUE.
1019
00:48:44,989 --> 00:48:46,032
LET'S GET IT TO
JOHNNY.
1020
00:48:46,056 --> 00:48:47,334
Woman: BUT THERE WAS A TIME
1021
00:48:47,358 --> 00:48:49,035
WHEN THERE WAS A WRITERS' STRIKE
IN THE '80s,
1022
00:48:49,059 --> 00:48:53,573
WHERE HE WROTE THE WHOLE SHOW
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
1023
00:48:53,597 --> 00:48:55,142
JUST BY READING THE PAPERS.
1024
00:48:55,166 --> 00:48:57,778
HE CAME UP WITH IT ALL
ON HIS OWN.
1025
00:48:57,802 --> 00:49:00,414
SO, HE WAS QUITE BRILLIANT.
1026
00:49:00,438 --> 00:49:03,884
HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ACTUAL DESK.
HE WORKED OFF A COFFEE TABLE.
1027
00:49:03,908 --> 00:49:07,721
SO, I'D LAY OUT ALL THE WRITERS'
MATERIAL ON THE COUCH
1028
00:49:07,745 --> 00:49:09,689
AND HE WOULD GO THROUGH IT
SO QUICKLY.
1029
00:49:09,713 --> 00:49:12,225
HE WOULD JUST CHECK OFF, YES,
YES, NO, NO,
1030
00:49:12,249 --> 00:49:14,775
AND JUST
MARK THE ONES HE WANTED.
1031
00:49:16,420 --> 00:49:18,498
Cavett: THE PHONE RANG.
1032
00:49:18,522 --> 00:49:20,500
"UH, RICHARD,
I THINK YOU'RE CAPABLE
1033
00:49:20,524 --> 00:49:22,536
OF A LITTLE BETTER MONOLOGUE
THAN THIS."
1034
00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:27,541
I NEVER DID THAT AGAIN.
BUT, BOY, DID HE SPOT IT FAST.
1035
00:49:27,565 --> 00:49:30,399
GOOD JUDGE OF MATERIAL.
1036
00:49:33,804 --> 00:49:35,248
30 SECONDS, STAND BY PLAYBACK.
1037
00:49:35,272 --> 00:49:38,318
Man: HE SAID WHEN HE WENT
THROUGH THE CURTAIN,
1038
00:49:38,342 --> 00:49:39,386
IT WAS A PERFORMANCE.
1039
00:49:39,410 --> 00:49:42,589
I WOULD BE BACKSTAGE WITH HIM,
AND HE'D BE NERVOUS AS A CAT.
1040
00:49:42,613 --> 00:49:44,991
FOR EVERY SHOW HE'D BE PACING
BACK AND FORTH,
1041
00:49:45,015 --> 00:49:47,894
SMOKING AN UNFILTERED PALL MALL,
CHECKING HIMSELF,
1042
00:49:47,918 --> 00:49:50,464
DOING ALL HIS NORMAL FIDGETS
1043
00:49:50,488 --> 00:49:52,566
WITH THE KNOT IN THE TIE.
1044
00:49:52,590 --> 00:49:54,134
BUT HE'D COME THROUGH
THE CURTAIN
1045
00:49:54,158 --> 00:49:55,769
AND HE WAS SUDDENLY
JOHNNY CARSON
1046
00:49:55,793 --> 00:49:57,704
BEFORE 20 MILLION PEOPLE
IN BEDROOMS
1047
00:49:57,728 --> 00:49:59,606
AND 500 PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.
1048
00:49:59,630 --> 00:50:00,374
THREE...
1049
00:50:00,398 --> 00:50:03,477
TWO, ONE...
MUSIC, TAPE.
1050
00:50:07,738 --> 00:50:11,117
Severinsen: THE CURTAINS
DON'T JUST PART,
1051
00:50:11,141 --> 00:50:12,586
THEY KIND OF FLY OPEN.
1052
00:50:12,610 --> 00:50:16,122
AND OUT COMES JOHNNY...
YOU KNOW,
1053
00:50:16,146 --> 00:50:17,958
WITH THAT ATTITUDE,
1054
00:50:17,982 --> 00:50:23,114
WITH A GLINT IN HIS EYE,
BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF.
1055
00:50:26,590 --> 00:50:31,071
Man: AND IT WAS
THE CORONATION OF THE KING
1056
00:50:31,095 --> 00:50:31,739
OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
1057
00:50:31,763 --> 00:50:34,274
IT WAS LIKE
A SHOW BUSINESS CATHEDRAL,
1058
00:50:34,298 --> 00:50:36,710
AND JOHNNY WAS THE KING,
AND HE ENTERED
1059
00:50:36,734 --> 00:50:41,448
AND HE GOT
HIS ROYAL GREETING EVERY TIME.
1060
00:50:41,472 --> 00:50:43,450
LOOK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STOP.
1061
00:50:43,474 --> 00:50:48,321
THIS IS AMERICA...
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP.
1062
00:50:48,345 --> 00:50:49,589
I GUESS JOHNNY WAS TO COMEDY
1063
00:50:49,613 --> 00:50:51,124
WHAT WALTER CRONKITE
WAS TO NEWS.
1064
00:50:51,148 --> 00:50:54,194
PROBABLY AS TRUSTED BY
AMERICA AS WALTER CRONKITE WAS.
1065
00:50:54,218 --> 00:50:57,330
O'Brien: MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS
SAY THE SAME THING.
1066
00:50:57,354 --> 00:50:58,498
"LET'S JUST WATCH THE MONOLOGUE.
1067
00:50:58,522 --> 00:51:00,634
WE'LL WATCH A LITTLE BIT
OF THE MONOLOGUE."
1068
00:51:00,658 --> 00:51:02,903
I'M LAUGHING AND MY FATHER'S
LAUGHING
1069
00:51:02,927 --> 00:51:05,405
AND HOW OFTEN CAN YOU WATCH
SOMETHING
1070
00:51:05,429 --> 00:51:06,940
WITH YOUR FATHER, YOU KNOW?
1071
00:51:06,964 --> 00:51:08,608
HE CROSSED GENERATIONS I THINK.
1072
00:51:08,632 --> 00:51:11,311
THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY
WAS 105.
1073
00:51:11,335 --> 00:51:14,681
IT'S COOLED OFF,
IT WAS 103 TODAY.
1074
00:51:14,705 --> 00:51:16,249
AND IT WAS HOT TODAY.
1075
00:51:16,273 --> 00:51:19,152
Audience:
HOW HOT WAS IT?
1076
00:51:19,176 --> 00:51:20,487
VERY NICE.
1077
00:51:20,511 --> 00:51:22,756
IT WAS SO HOT TODAY,
1078
00:51:22,780 --> 00:51:25,458
I SAW A SPARROW PICK UP
HIS WORM WITH A POT HOLDER.
1079
00:51:25,482 --> 00:51:28,061
Leno: I LEARNED FROM JOHNNY
JUST FROM WATCHING HIM
1080
00:51:28,085 --> 00:51:30,730
THAT PUTTING A MONOLOGUE
TOGETHER IS A BIT LIKE
1081
00:51:30,754 --> 00:51:31,865
PUTTING A NEWSPAPER TOGETHER.
1082
00:51:31,889 --> 00:51:34,334
YOU OPEN WITH THE BIG STORY
OF THE DAY.
1083
00:51:34,358 --> 00:51:35,702
EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT "X,"
1084
00:51:35,726 --> 00:51:37,504
SO YOUR OPENING JOKE
IS ABOUT "X."
1085
00:51:37,528 --> 00:51:40,740
AND THEN AS YOU MOVE THROUGH
THE NEWSPAPER,
1086
00:51:40,764 --> 00:51:43,443
YOU GET INTO POLITICS, SPORTS,
WEATHER.
1087
00:51:43,467 --> 00:51:45,946
I MEAN I THINK EVERYBODY FROM
JON STEWART
1088
00:51:45,970 --> 00:51:49,149
TO EVERYBODY THAT DOES
A FUNNY VERSION OF THE NEWS
1089
00:51:49,173 --> 00:51:52,319
REALLY IS DOING A VERSION
OF JOHNNY'S MONOLOGUE.
1090
00:51:52,343 --> 00:51:55,722
DO YOU KNOW THE PRICE OF MEAT
IS SO HIGH...
1091
00:51:58,082 --> 00:52:02,228
THAT OSCAR MAYER
JUST HAD HIS WEINER APPRAISED?
1092
00:52:02,252 --> 00:52:06,399
Man: JOHNNY CARSON HAS GREAT
RHYTHM, GREAT TIMING.
1093
00:52:06,423 --> 00:52:09,469
MONOLOGUES TODAY, WHEN YOU WRITE
A JOKE AND IT SOUNDS
1094
00:52:09,493 --> 00:52:10,371
LIKE A JOHNNY CARSON JOKE,
1095
00:52:10,395 --> 00:52:12,806
YOU HAVE TO DO AN IMPRESSION
OF JOHNNY CARSON
1096
00:52:12,830 --> 00:52:13,907
OR SOMEONE WILL BUST YOU ON IT,
1097
00:52:13,931 --> 00:52:16,476
LIKE, "THAT'S SO CARSON
WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE."
1098
00:52:16,500 --> 00:52:18,812
YOU KNOW, I THINK HE
SET THE BAR.
1099
00:52:18,836 --> 00:52:19,647
PEOPLE GET THAT MIXED UP.
1100
00:52:19,671 --> 00:52:22,949
THERE IS, OF COURSE, SADDAM
HUSSEIN, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT
1101
00:52:22,973 --> 00:52:26,086
AND LEADER OF IRAQ, AND THERE
IS KING HUSSEIN,
1102
00:52:26,110 --> 00:52:27,287
THE KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN.
1103
00:52:27,311 --> 00:52:28,855
NOW, MAYBE WE COULD JUST
PUT THEM ALL
1104
00:52:28,879 --> 00:52:30,790
IN A HUSSEIN ASYLUM,
AND THAT WAY...
1105
00:52:35,252 --> 00:52:36,229
Man: JUST AS MARK TWAIN
1106
00:52:36,253 --> 00:52:39,499
HAD COMMENTED ON THE TOPICS
AND AFFAIRS OF HIS DAY,
1107
00:52:39,523 --> 00:52:42,535
JOHNNY WAS THE ONE WHO HAD
THE DEFINITIVE JOKES
1108
00:52:42,559 --> 00:52:45,705
ABOUT NEWS EVENTS OF OUR DAY,
AND ACTUALLY
1109
00:52:45,729 --> 00:52:47,140
HE WAS LIKE A MARK TWAIN,
1110
00:52:47,164 --> 00:52:49,809
AN ELECTRONIC MARK TWAIN
OR WILL ROGERS.
1111
00:52:49,833 --> 00:52:53,413
IT'S THE VIETNAM FLU,
IT'S A STRANGE BUG.
1112
00:52:53,437 --> 00:52:54,714
IT DRAGS ON FOR YEARS
1113
00:52:54,738 --> 00:52:58,385
AND GOES AWAY JUST TWO WEEKS
BEFORE ELECTION.
1114
00:52:58,409 --> 00:53:03,089
HE COULD CHANGE PEOPLE'S OUTLOOK
ON POLITICS OVERNIGHT.
1115
00:53:03,113 --> 00:53:08,461
SO, HE HAD THIS ENORMOUS POWER
OVER THE AIRWAVES.
1116
00:53:08,485 --> 00:53:11,898
IT IS COMMONLY ASSUMED IN
WASHINGTON THAT ONCE SOMEBODY
1117
00:53:11,922 --> 00:53:15,902
REACHES THE POINT WHERE YOU USE
THEM IN YOUR MONOLOGUE,
1118
00:53:15,926 --> 00:53:17,070
THEY ARE THROUGH.
1119
00:53:17,094 --> 00:53:18,138
OOH, I HOPE NOT.
1120
00:53:18,162 --> 00:53:21,608
TONIGHT'S MONOLOGUE IS...
1121
00:53:21,632 --> 00:53:23,410
IS DEDICATED
TO PRESIDENT NIXON.
1122
00:53:23,434 --> 00:53:26,613
I'VE GOT A MONOLOGUE
THAT JUST WON'T QUIT.
1123
00:53:26,637 --> 00:53:27,214
McMahon: HO!
1124
00:53:27,238 --> 00:53:31,317
Steinberg: THE TRUTH OF IT IS,
IS WHEN HE WENT AT NIXON,
1125
00:53:31,341 --> 00:53:34,320
IT WAS EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME
TO DO IT.
1126
00:53:34,344 --> 00:53:35,289
HE HAD PERFECT PITCH.
1127
00:53:35,313 --> 00:53:39,292
HE KNEW WHERE THE AUDIENCE WAS
AT ALL TIMES.
1128
00:53:39,316 --> 00:53:41,695
YOU NEVER KNEW JOHNNY'S
POLITICS.
1129
00:53:41,719 --> 00:53:42,696
JOHNNY WOULD COME OUT
1130
00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:44,664
AND EQUALLY MAKE FUN
OF EVERYBODY
1131
00:53:44,688 --> 00:53:47,400
AND NEVER QUESTIONED
ANYBODY'S PATRIOTISM.
1132
00:53:47,424 --> 00:53:50,070
IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT THEY
SAID OR DID.
1133
00:53:50,094 --> 00:53:53,339
Man: IN FACT, IN 30 YEARS,
YOU'D BE HARD PRESSED
1134
00:53:53,363 --> 00:53:55,442
TO GUESS WHO JOHNNY EVER
VOTED FOR,
1135
00:53:55,466 --> 00:53:57,644
AND THAT'S THE WAY
IT SHOULD BE.
1136
00:53:57,668 --> 00:53:58,845
WHY ALIENATE HALF YOUR AUDIENCE?
1137
00:53:58,869 --> 00:54:02,549
PRESIDENT FORD IS CONSIDERING
AN INCOME TAX CUT
1138
00:54:02,573 --> 00:54:05,485
FOR PEOPLE IN LOWER TAX
BRACKETS.
1139
00:54:05,509 --> 00:54:07,854
THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.
1140
00:54:07,878 --> 00:54:08,756
NOW...
1141
00:54:08,780 --> 00:54:11,891
THE BAD NEWS IS, HE STILL
HASN'T FIGURED OUT
1142
00:54:11,915 --> 00:54:14,828
HOW THEY CAN GET AN INCOME.
1143
00:54:14,852 --> 00:54:17,497
FINALLY, SOME GOOD
POLITICAL NEWS.
1144
00:54:17,521 --> 00:54:20,734
BILL CLINTON HAS LARYNGITIS,
LOST HIS VOICE.
1145
00:54:20,758 --> 00:54:24,204
AND I DO HAVE A LATE BREAKING
NEWS BULLETIN FOR YOU.
1146
00:54:24,228 --> 00:54:27,640
WORLD WAR III WAS
JUST DECLARED.
1147
00:54:27,664 --> 00:54:30,477
NO, I'M JUST KIDDING OF COURSE.
NOT REALLY.
1148
00:54:30,501 --> 00:54:35,248
I JUST WANTED TO GET REAGAN OUT
OF BED TO WATCH THE MONOLOGUE.
1149
00:54:37,708 --> 00:54:42,355
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE LOVED
NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.
1150
00:54:42,379 --> 00:54:43,157
EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL
1151
00:54:43,181 --> 00:54:45,658
THAT SOMEBODY LIKES THEM,
THEY'RE ACCEPTED.
1152
00:54:45,682 --> 00:54:48,161
IT'S AN ATTENTION-GETTING THING
AND THAT, IN EFFECT,
1153
00:54:48,185 --> 00:54:50,196
IS LIKE SAYING,
"HEY, LOOK AT ME, FOLKS,
1154
00:54:50,220 --> 00:54:51,331
I'M GETTING YOUR ACCEPTANCE."
1155
00:54:51,355 --> 00:54:52,899
SO IT IS A FORM OF LOVE,
I THINK,
1156
00:54:52,923 --> 00:54:54,868
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
FROM THE AUDIENCE.
1157
00:54:54,892 --> 00:54:56,469
I'M SURE THAT THAT'S
PART OF IT,
1158
00:54:56,493 --> 00:55:01,056
TO ANY PERFORMER, IS THAT...
"THEY LIKE ME."
1159
00:55:04,902 --> 00:55:06,479
Zehme: IT WAS AN ILLUSION.
1160
00:55:06,503 --> 00:55:07,847
HE CREATED AN ILLUSION.
1161
00:55:07,871 --> 00:55:09,249
NOW, BENEATH THE ILLUSION,
1162
00:55:09,273 --> 00:55:10,817
THERE WAS THIS VERY
DECENT,
1163
00:55:10,841 --> 00:55:13,153
MIDWESTERN GUY WITH ALL
THOSE SENSIBILITIES
1164
00:55:13,177 --> 00:55:15,221
THAT YOU SAW... EVERYTHING
YOU SAW WAS TRUE.
1165
00:55:15,245 --> 00:55:19,959
THAT WASN'T A FAKE GUY.
HE WASN'T LYING, THAT WAS HIM.
1166
00:55:19,983 --> 00:55:21,361
BUT IT WASN'T ALL OF HIM.
1167
00:55:21,385 --> 00:55:24,264
Leamer:
LOOK AT HIM ON THE CAMERA.
1168
00:55:24,288 --> 00:55:26,199
HE'S SMILING, HE'S FRIENDLY.
1169
00:55:26,223 --> 00:55:30,069
BUT LOOK AGAIN.
HE'S STANDING BACKWARD.
1170
00:55:30,093 --> 00:55:30,871
HE'S PUSHED BACK.
1171
00:55:30,895 --> 00:55:33,273
HE DOESN'T WANT YOU
TO GET NEAR TO HIM.
1172
00:55:33,297 --> 00:55:35,842
HIS WHOLE LIFE IS TO KEEP YOU
AWAY FROM HIM
1173
00:55:35,866 --> 00:55:38,878
AND TO CREATE THIS ILLUSION,
THE ILLUSION THAT
1174
00:55:38,902 --> 00:55:40,380
WAS PART OF HIS MAGIC TRICKS.
1175
00:55:40,404 --> 00:55:42,482
Carter: YOU'RE OUT THERE
EVERY NIGHT,
1176
00:55:42,506 --> 00:55:44,684
AND IT'S EITHER ACCEPTANCE
OR REJECTION,
1177
00:55:44,708 --> 00:55:47,020
AND I THINK THAT IT'S
A PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN.
1178
00:55:47,044 --> 00:55:50,723
AND EVEN IF YOU'RE GREAT AND
YOU'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY GREAT,
1179
00:55:50,747 --> 00:55:53,259
YOU KNOW, THERE COULD COME
A TIME WHEN THE AUDIENCE
1180
00:55:53,283 --> 00:55:55,962
JUST DOESN'T LAUGH,
AND IF THEY DON'T LAUGH,
1181
00:55:55,986 --> 00:55:58,251
YOU'VE FAILED.
1182
00:55:59,056 --> 00:56:02,669
IT'S AMAZINGLY STRESSFUL.
IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
1183
00:56:02,693 --> 00:56:05,738
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU'RE VERY TIRED
1184
00:56:05,762 --> 00:56:10,598
AND YOU GO TO BED
AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
1185
00:56:11,435 --> 00:56:14,714
Newhart: HE LOVED THE DANGER
OF IT.
1186
00:56:14,738 --> 00:56:15,915
IT'S RUSSIAN ROULETTE.
1187
00:56:15,939 --> 00:56:19,285
YOU GO OUT AND YOU HOPE
THE BULLET ISN'T IN THE CHAMBER.
1188
00:56:19,309 --> 00:56:22,155
AND WHEN YOU GET THROUGH,
YOU GO "WHEW,
1189
00:56:22,179 --> 00:56:25,024
THE BULLET WASN'T
IN THE CHAMBER THIS TIME."
1190
00:56:25,048 --> 00:56:27,168
Carson, falsetto: KEEP YOUR
HANDS OFF ME, YOU PERVERT.
1191
00:56:29,620 --> 00:56:30,264
I'M SPOKEN FOR.
1192
00:56:30,288 --> 00:56:32,699
AUNT BLABBY, IT'S VERY NICE
TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
1193
00:56:32,723 --> 00:56:33,367
THANK YOU, BOZO.
1194
00:56:33,391 --> 00:56:35,768
DO YOU MIND BREATHING IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION?
1195
00:56:35,792 --> 00:56:37,203
YOU'RE MELTING
MY CAR KEYS.
1196
00:56:37,227 --> 00:56:40,373
Narrator: IN ADDITION TO
HOSTING THE SHOW,
1197
00:56:40,397 --> 00:56:42,508
JOHNNY APPEARED IN SKETCHES
AND ALSO CREATED
1198
00:56:42,532 --> 00:56:45,945
A STABLE OF
UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS...
1199
00:56:45,969 --> 00:56:46,614
CHARACTERS THROUGH WHICH
1200
00:56:46,638 --> 00:56:51,384
HE COULD DISAPPEAR AND ENGAGE IN
A MORE DARING BRAND OF HUMOR.
1201
00:56:51,408 --> 00:56:55,154
FRIENDS, WHILE YOUR CAR
IS BEING SERVICED,
1202
00:56:55,178 --> 00:56:58,858
WE PROVIDE YOU WITH A SET
OF WHEELS.
1203
00:56:58,882 --> 00:57:00,627
I'M JUST TALKING... HOLY.
1204
00:57:00,651 --> 00:57:03,463
AT TUNE-UP MANGLERS,
WE ADJUST YOUR GAP,
1205
00:57:03,487 --> 00:57:04,530
STEAM-CLEAN YOUR CHASSIS,
1206
00:57:04,554 --> 00:57:06,866
LUBE YOUR JOINTS,
AND CLEAN YOUR POINTS.
1207
00:57:06,890 --> 00:57:10,436
AND IF YOU LIKE OUR WORK,
BRING IN YOUR CAR.
1208
00:57:11,862 --> 00:57:13,506
Carter: THE THING ABOUT
JOHNNY WAS,
1209
00:57:13,530 --> 00:57:17,043
HE MANAGED TO BE SORT OF
AN EVERYMAN KIND OF A CHARACTER,
1210
00:57:17,067 --> 00:57:18,244
BUT HE ALSO WAS REALLY HIP.
1211
00:57:18,268 --> 00:57:19,913
THERE WAS A HIPNESS
TO HIS APPROACH
1212
00:57:19,937 --> 00:57:23,883
AND HIS HUMOR THAT APPEALED EVEN
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO COMEDY,
1213
00:57:23,907 --> 00:57:25,852
YOU KNOW, REALLY INTO
SERIOUS COMEDY.
1214
00:57:25,876 --> 00:57:30,490
THEY ALSO WATCHED JOHNNY AND
MARVELED AT HOW HE COULD DO IT.
1215
00:57:30,514 --> 00:57:32,792
A LOSING STREAK.
1216
00:57:32,816 --> 00:57:35,251
McMahon:
A LOSING STREAK.
1217
00:57:37,487 --> 00:57:42,335
"DESCRIBE A MAN RUNNING NAKED
AFTER CHUGGING PRUNE JUICE."
1218
00:57:42,359 --> 00:57:43,536
OOOH!
1219
00:57:43,560 --> 00:57:46,172
O'Brien: THAT IS TO ME
THE GREATEST SLEIGHT OF HAND
1220
00:57:46,196 --> 00:57:48,775
THAT JOHNNY CARSON PERFORMED
IN HIS CAREER,
1221
00:57:48,799 --> 00:57:52,845
WAS APPEARING TO BE BROAD
AND SILLY
1222
00:57:52,869 --> 00:57:56,249
AND SOMEHOW COMING OFF
AS THE COOLEST GUY IN THE ROOM.
1223
00:57:56,273 --> 00:57:58,071
NO IDEA HOW HE DOES IT.
1224
00:57:59,376 --> 00:58:01,354
Narrator: SINCE HIS DIVORCE
FROM JOANNE,
1225
00:58:01,378 --> 00:58:06,292
JOHNNY BEGAN DATING 31-YEAR-OLD
EX-MODEL JOANNA HOLLAND.
1226
00:58:06,316 --> 00:58:10,630
A WELL-TRAVELED
AND SOPHISTICATED DIVORCEE
1227
00:58:10,654 --> 00:58:12,298
WHO ENJOYED
A JET-SET LIFESTYLE,
1228
00:58:12,322 --> 00:58:14,801
SHE DREW THE PRIVATE CARSON
OUT IN THE WORLD.
1229
00:58:14,825 --> 00:58:17,337
BUT JOHNNY DID NOT
SEE HER EXCLUSIVELY,
1230
00:58:17,361 --> 00:58:18,805
CONTINUING TO PLAY THE FIELD.
1231
00:58:18,829 --> 00:58:23,142
HIS ATTRACTION TO WOMEN WAS ALSO
PART OF HIS ON-CAMERA PERSONA.
1232
00:58:23,166 --> 00:58:25,845
AND THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL.
1233
00:58:25,869 --> 00:58:27,780
Zehme: HE WOULD GET MAIL,
1234
00:58:27,804 --> 00:58:29,015
AS OFTEN THESE GUYS DO,
1235
00:58:29,039 --> 00:58:32,585
ALL KINDS OF NUDE POLAROIDS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
1236
00:58:32,609 --> 00:58:33,487
HE WAS A SEX SYMBOL.
1237
00:58:33,511 --> 00:58:35,088
AND HE WOULD FIND
THE DOUBLE-ENTENDRE
1238
00:58:35,112 --> 00:58:38,591
AND HE WOULD WINK AT YOU,
AND HE WOULDN'T OVERSELL IT,
1239
00:58:38,615 --> 00:58:40,426
BUT HE WAS DOING SOMETHING
1240
00:58:40,450 --> 00:58:42,028
NOBODY ELSE WAS DOING
ON TELEVISION.
1241
00:58:42,052 --> 00:58:43,830
JUST LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE
OR YOUR SHRUBS,
1242
00:58:43,854 --> 00:58:45,631
IT'S SOMETIMES RATHER
EMBARRASSING.
1243
00:58:45,655 --> 00:58:47,900
Carson: I'D LOVE TO SEE
YOUR SHRUBS.
1244
00:58:49,092 --> 00:58:50,670
I KNEW IT.
I'M SORRY.
1245
00:58:50,694 --> 00:58:54,440
WITHOUT ANY OPENING AT ALL,
I JUMP RIGHT IN.
1246
00:58:54,464 --> 00:58:56,642
UH-OH.
1247
00:58:56,666 --> 00:58:57,977
NOW WAIT A MINUTE.
1248
00:58:58,001 --> 00:58:59,712
Leno: SO THERE WAS ALWAYS
THIS AURA
1249
00:58:59,736 --> 00:59:00,713
OF, "OOH, SOMETHING KINDA COOL,
1250
00:59:00,737 --> 00:59:05,018
KINDA NAUGHTY, SOMETHING WE'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT
1251
00:59:05,042 --> 00:59:06,753
IS HAPPENING AT 11:30."
1252
00:59:06,777 --> 00:59:08,688
COME ON NOW.
1253
00:59:08,712 --> 00:59:10,590
DINNER FOR TWO!
1254
00:59:12,716 --> 00:59:13,360
Man: HIS LOOK,
1255
00:59:13,384 --> 00:59:17,530
HIS INNOCENCE ALLOWED HIM TO GET
AWAY WITH A GREAT DEAL.
1256
00:59:17,554 --> 00:59:20,133
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING
IF THEY'RE REAL.
1257
00:59:20,157 --> 00:59:22,668
OH, I WOULD NEVER,
YOU SEE.
1258
00:59:22,692 --> 00:59:23,936
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK.
1259
00:59:23,960 --> 00:59:26,139
I TELL YOU WHAT,
THESE ARE MINE.
1260
00:59:26,163 --> 00:59:29,909
I HAVE CERTAIN GUIDELINES
ON THE SHOW.
1261
00:59:29,933 --> 00:59:33,613
BUT I WOULD GIVE ABOUT A YEAR'S
PAY TO PEEK UNDER THERE.
1262
00:59:38,075 --> 00:59:40,620
Angie Dickinson:
WE GOT TOO COMFORTABLE TOGETHER.
1263
00:59:40,644 --> 00:59:43,489
YOU GET TO FORGETTING THAT
THERE'S A CAMERA
1264
00:59:43,513 --> 00:59:44,624
AND AN AUDIENCE OUT THERE,
1265
00:59:44,648 --> 00:59:48,294
AND YOU GET COZY WITH EACH OTHER
AND SAY THINGS
1266
00:59:48,318 --> 00:59:51,731
YOU REALLY SHOULD
NOT BE SAYING.
1267
00:59:51,755 --> 00:59:53,232
BUT TOO LATE.
1268
00:59:53,256 --> 00:59:57,203
WANT TO GO TO A PARTY TONIGHT
WITH LOW LIGHTS AND...
1269
00:59:57,227 --> 01:00:00,239
I SHOULDN'T DO THAT,
WHY AM I FLIRTING WITH YOU?
1270
01:00:00,263 --> 01:00:00,941
I'M A MARRIED MAN.
1271
01:00:00,965 --> 01:00:03,709
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAYING,
I'M SITTING HERE FLIRTING.
1272
01:00:03,733 --> 01:00:06,879
YOU'RE NOT FLIRTING, YOU'RE
MAKING FUNNY STATEMENTS.
1273
01:00:06,903 --> 01:00:08,614
I WISH YOU WERE FLIRTING.
1274
01:00:08,638 --> 01:00:11,451
Audience: OOOOH!
1275
01:00:13,276 --> 01:00:16,289
Zehme: JOHNNY CARSON,
ALONG WITH HUGH HEFNER, I THINK,
1276
01:00:16,313 --> 01:00:19,759
ARE THE FOREFATHERS OF THE
SEXUAL REVOLUTION IN AMERICA.
1277
01:00:19,783 --> 01:00:24,097
JOHNNY WAS THE FIRST NAUGHTY BOY
ON TELEVISION.
1278
01:00:24,121 --> 01:00:25,264
HE WAS HANDSOME.
1279
01:00:25,288 --> 01:00:27,133
HOW MANY HANDSOME FUNNY GUYS
ARE THERE?
1280
01:00:27,157 --> 01:00:31,838
THIS GUY WAS LIKE A MATINEE IDOL
GOOD-LOOKING GUY.
1281
01:00:31,862 --> 01:00:33,873
JOHNNY CARSON HAD HIS OWN
CLOTHES.
1282
01:00:33,897 --> 01:00:34,441
I'D READ THAT.
1283
01:00:34,465 --> 01:00:37,009
WHEN YOU'D WATCH HIM EVERY
NIGHT, DIFFERENT SUIT.
1284
01:00:37,033 --> 01:00:40,847
IN THE GHETTO THAT'S IMPORTANT
THAT YOU'RE SHARP EVERY NIGHT.
1285
01:00:40,871 --> 01:00:44,817
JOHNNY WAS LIKE THE BOARD OF
HEALTH, EVERY NIGHT, CLEAN,
1286
01:00:44,841 --> 01:00:47,310
AND THAT EXCITED ME.
1287
01:00:50,981 --> 01:00:54,093
Carson: I SIMPLY BELIEVE,
WHEN A MAN IS WELL DRESSED,
1288
01:00:54,117 --> 01:00:55,828
YOU JUST AREN'T AWARE
OF HIS CLOTHES.
1289
01:00:55,852 --> 01:00:58,598
I WEAR THE SUIT,
IT DOESN'T WEAR ME.
1290
01:00:58,622 --> 01:01:00,433
IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS
PHILOSOPHY,
1291
01:01:00,457 --> 01:01:03,903
I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE TOTALLY COORDINATED
1292
01:01:03,927 --> 01:01:07,659
JOHNNY CARSON COLLECTION
FOR SPRING.
1293
01:01:08,031 --> 01:01:09,231
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
1294
01:01:10,667 --> 01:01:13,946
HEEEEERRRE'S JOHNNY!
1295
01:01:13,970 --> 01:01:16,382
Claudia McMahon: WELL,
THE "HERE'S JOHNNY" HAPPENED
1296
01:01:16,406 --> 01:01:17,917
BECAUSE DAD WAS THINKING
AND THINKING
1297
01:01:17,941 --> 01:01:20,486
WHAT HE COULD DO TO MAKE IT
DIFFERENT,
1298
01:01:20,510 --> 01:01:21,554
HOW COULD HE ANNOUNCE HIM
1299
01:01:21,578 --> 01:01:24,190
TO REALLY PUT A MARK
ON THAT SHOW.
1300
01:01:24,214 --> 01:01:25,424
AND IT JUST CAME OUT.
1301
01:01:25,448 --> 01:01:27,360
HE THOUGHT OF IT
AND HE TRIED IT,
1302
01:01:27,384 --> 01:01:30,463
AND IT BECAME A PIECE
OF HISTORY, AS THEY SAY.
1303
01:01:30,487 --> 01:01:32,565
Letterman: IF YOU COULDN'T
FIGURE OUT
1304
01:01:32,589 --> 01:01:36,035
HOW TO BE AN ADULT MALE
IN THIS COUNTRY IN THOSE YEARS
1305
01:01:36,059 --> 01:01:39,438
BY WATCHING THOSE TWO GUYS,
YOU WERE HOPELESS.
1306
01:01:39,462 --> 01:01:40,107
I MEAN THAT WAS IT.
1307
01:01:40,131 --> 01:01:43,009
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TWO
GUYS YOU AND YOUR BUDDY
1308
01:01:43,033 --> 01:01:46,412
WANTED TO BE IF YOU EVER GOT
TO GO TO A COCKTAIL PARTY.
1309
01:01:46,436 --> 01:01:49,115
I MEAN THAT RELATIONSHIP,
YOU KNOW, BIG ED,
1310
01:01:49,139 --> 01:01:51,651
WHO OUGHTA KNOW BETTER AND IS
PRETENDING HE DOESN'T,
1311
01:01:51,675 --> 01:01:56,889
AND JOHNNY, THE SMARTER, BETTER
LOOKING, FUNNIER OF THE TWO.
1312
01:01:56,913 --> 01:01:58,457
I GUESS IT'S CLASSIC,
1313
01:01:58,481 --> 01:02:01,961
SIMILAR LAUREL AND HARDY
KIND OF A THING.
1314
01:02:01,985 --> 01:02:03,329
EVERYBODY BOUGHT INTO THEM.
1315
01:02:03,353 --> 01:02:06,265
"THAT'S MY FAVORITE GUY
AND THERE'S HIS BEST FRIEND,
1316
01:02:06,289 --> 01:02:08,167
AND THEY'RE HANGING
OUT TOGETHER."
1317
01:02:08,191 --> 01:02:09,769
I DO BELIEVE
I'LL DRINK TO THAT.
1318
01:02:09,793 --> 01:02:11,337
YES, I THOUGHT
YOU WOULD.
1319
01:02:11,361 --> 01:02:12,371
Claudia: ONCE DAD AND JOHNNY
1320
01:02:12,395 --> 01:02:15,741
GOT THIS REPUTATION,
"OH, WE'RE DRINKING BUDDIES,"
1321
01:02:15,765 --> 01:02:18,344
PEOPLE SENT DRINKS
OVER ALL NIGHT LONG.
1322
01:02:18,368 --> 01:02:20,546
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE DRINKING.
1323
01:02:20,570 --> 01:02:23,482
THEY'RE JUST THERE
HAVING A GOOD TIME, EATING,
1324
01:02:23,506 --> 01:02:24,984
LAUGHING, TALKING TO PEOPLE,
1325
01:02:25,008 --> 01:02:26,819
AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT BUYING
YOUR OWN DRINK,
1326
01:02:26,843 --> 01:02:29,922
YOU COULD HAVE TEN DRINKS
AND THINK YOU'RE HAVING TWO.
1327
01:02:29,946 --> 01:02:30,591
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
1328
01:02:30,615 --> 01:02:36,952
WELL, IF HE HAD A FEW, I THINK
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A COP AROUND.
1329
01:02:37,787 --> 01:02:40,399
Leamer: IT WASN'T ED THAT
HAD THE DRINKING PROBLEM,
1330
01:02:40,423 --> 01:02:43,603
IT WAS JOHNNY, AND IT WAS ED
THAT WOULD GO OUT WITH JOHNNY
1331
01:02:43,627 --> 01:02:46,606
AT NIGHT AND WHEN HE WOULD
BECOME BELLIGERENT AND VIOLENT,
1332
01:02:46,630 --> 01:02:47,873
AS HE DID
AFTER TOO MANY DRINKS,
1333
01:02:47,897 --> 01:02:49,742
ED WOULD BE THE ONE WHO
WOULD TAKE HIM HOME.
1334
01:02:49,766 --> 01:02:53,179
Stan Irwin: THE NEXT DAY,
HE WOULD SHOW UP, NO HANGOVER,
1335
01:02:53,203 --> 01:02:58,017
BRIGHT, CHEERY, GUNG-HO,
READY TO GO.
1336
01:02:58,041 --> 01:03:00,519
WHY DON'T WE, UH...
1337
01:03:00,543 --> 01:03:02,221
DON'T DO THAT.
1338
01:03:02,245 --> 01:03:03,823
STOP THAT!
1339
01:03:03,847 --> 01:03:07,026
Tennis: THEY HAD A LOVE/HATE
RELATIONSHIP.
1340
01:03:07,050 --> 01:03:08,761
THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT
1341
01:03:08,785 --> 01:03:11,998
EACH OF THEM WAS
TO THE OTHER ON THE SHOW,
1342
01:03:12,022 --> 01:03:15,668
BUT JOHNNY SOMETIMES FELT THAT
ED WAS TOO INTRUSIVE
1343
01:03:15,692 --> 01:03:18,671
WHEN JOHNNY
WAS DOING A PIECE OF MATERIAL.
1344
01:03:18,695 --> 01:03:21,774
Irwin: ED WAS ALMOST DROPPED
MORE THAN ONCE.
1345
01:03:21,798 --> 01:03:26,445
IN FACT, I HAD TO GO TO ED
AT ONE TIME AND SAY,
1346
01:03:26,469 --> 01:03:33,219
"YOUR HUMOR IS GOOD, BUT DON'T
OVERSHADOW JOHNNY'S HUMOR."
1347
01:03:33,243 --> 01:03:35,855
MY NEXT GUEST DOESN'T NEED
AN INTRODUCTION.
1348
01:03:35,879 --> 01:03:38,257
YOUR FIRST GUEST.
MY WHAT?
1349
01:03:38,281 --> 01:03:39,258
WHAT DID I SAY?
1350
01:03:39,282 --> 01:03:39,893
"MY NEXT GUEST."
1351
01:03:39,917 --> 01:03:42,428
WELL, HE IS
MY NEXT GUEST.
1352
01:03:42,452 --> 01:03:44,330
HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE
YOUR FIRST GUEST.
1353
01:03:44,354 --> 01:03:47,867
THAT'S RIGHT, IT COULD BE
EITHER ONE, FIRST AND NEXT.
1354
01:03:47,891 --> 01:03:48,635
WHICH IS IT?
1355
01:03:48,659 --> 01:03:50,069
HE'S MY FIRST NEXT...
1356
01:03:50,093 --> 01:03:53,205
ACTUALLY, IT'S MY FIRST
AND NEXT GUEST.
1357
01:03:53,229 --> 01:03:56,442
McMahon: YOU HAD TO BE GOOD,
BUT NOT TOO GOOD.
1358
01:03:56,466 --> 01:03:58,377
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK
LIKE YOU WERE TRYING
1359
01:03:58,401 --> 01:04:00,546
TO GET THE BOSS'S JOB,
SO I BITE MY LIP MANY NIGHTS
1360
01:04:00,570 --> 01:04:03,482
ON THE SHOW BECAUSE I THINK OF
SOMETHING AND I DON'T SAY IT,
1361
01:04:03,506 --> 01:04:05,751
AND JOHNNY SAYS IT,
SO WE'RE LINKED TOGETHER,
1362
01:04:05,775 --> 01:04:07,253
BUT IT'S HIS JOB
TO SAY IT, NOT MINE.
1363
01:04:07,277 --> 01:04:10,856
Narrator: THOUGH JOHNNY
TEASED HIM INCESSANTLY,
1364
01:04:10,880 --> 01:04:12,992
ONLY ONCE
IN ALL THEIR YEARS TOGETHER
1365
01:04:13,016 --> 01:04:15,795
DID ED APPEAR
ON THE SHOW INTOXICATED.
1366
01:04:15,819 --> 01:04:20,900
AT A LUNCHEON EARLIER IN THE DAY
HE HAD ONE TOO MANY MARTINIS.
1367
01:04:20,924 --> 01:04:23,602
YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE FOOLING
EVERYBODY, DON'T YOU? HUH?
1368
01:04:23,626 --> 01:04:27,306
NO, NO. I'M JUST HERE
TO DO MY BEST TO HELP YOU.
1369
01:04:27,330 --> 01:04:30,576
I KNOW THAT, AND SHE DOES
HER THREE HORSE SHOWS A DAY,
1370
01:04:30,600 --> 01:04:33,579
DID YOU KNOW THAT,
AT THE ANIMAL PARK?
1371
01:04:33,603 --> 01:04:35,281
BOY.
WHAT?
1372
01:04:35,305 --> 01:04:37,116
WHAT AN EXCITING IDEA.
1373
01:04:39,943 --> 01:04:42,388
WOULD YOU LIKE AN ARMY COT
OR SOMETHING?
1374
01:04:42,412 --> 01:04:44,724
MAYBE CATCH UP ON A LITTLE
NAPPY-POO?
1375
01:04:44,748 --> 01:04:46,359
MIGHT SNAP YOU RIGHT
OUT OF IT.
1376
01:04:46,383 --> 01:04:49,929
NO, I LOVE JOAN. I'M THE ONLY
ONE WHO WENT DOWN TO SEE JOAN.
1377
01:04:49,953 --> 01:04:53,265
DOC HAS NEVER SEEN HER,
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HER.
1378
01:04:53,289 --> 01:04:53,967
I WENT...
1379
01:04:53,991 --> 01:04:56,602
IT'S ALL RIGHT,
IT'S ALL RIGHT, IT'S OKAY.
1380
01:04:56,626 --> 01:04:58,738
BUT YOU'RE
UPSETTING ME.
1381
01:04:58,762 --> 01:05:00,539
NO, NO, I DON'T WANT
TO UPSET YOU.
1382
01:05:00,563 --> 01:05:01,774
I WENT DOWN
WITH JOAN AND...
1383
01:05:01,798 --> 01:05:04,310
I KNOW YOU DID,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
1384
01:05:04,334 --> 01:05:06,412
DON'T SAY...
1385
01:05:06,436 --> 01:05:06,913
WHAT?
1386
01:05:06,937 --> 01:05:10,116
THAT I DON'T... I KNOW HER,
I WENT DOWN AND...
1387
01:05:10,140 --> 01:05:11,317
I KNOW YOU DID.
1388
01:05:11,341 --> 01:05:13,886
I KNOW YOU WENT
DOWN THERE.
1389
01:05:13,910 --> 01:05:14,755
I HELD A BABY GORILLA.
1390
01:05:14,779 --> 01:05:16,856
I COULDN'T GO WITH YOU
THAT WEEK.
1391
01:05:16,880 --> 01:05:19,291
YOU HELD A BABY GORILLA?
GOOD, ALL RIGHT.
1392
01:05:19,315 --> 01:05:23,529
LET'S GET HER OUT HERE QUICKLY.
WOULD YOU WELCOME JOAN EMBERY.
1393
01:05:24,488 --> 01:05:29,301
Claudia: JOHNNY WAS FAR MORE
REFINED IN A WAY,
1394
01:05:29,325 --> 01:05:32,438
AND HAD SPECIAL FRIENDS THAT HE
WOULD PLAY CARDS WITH,
1395
01:05:32,462 --> 01:05:35,641
AND MAYBE THEY JUST OUTGREW
EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT,
1396
01:05:35,665 --> 01:05:38,477
BECAUSE IN THE BEGINNING
THEY HUNG OUT SO MUCH TOGETHER
1397
01:05:38,501 --> 01:05:41,514
THAT IT'S LIKE HAVING
A BEST FRIEND IN GRADE SCHOOL,
1398
01:05:41,538 --> 01:05:43,949
AND AS YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL
AND COLLEGE, YOU KNOW,
1399
01:05:43,973 --> 01:05:48,604
YOU MEET OTHER FRIENDS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH.
1400
01:05:50,814 --> 01:05:53,025
Narrator: JOHNNY GREW UP
LOVING BIG-BAND MUSIC
1401
01:05:53,049 --> 01:05:55,528
AND THE "TONIGHT SHOW" ENSEMBLE
WAS CONSIDERED
1402
01:05:55,552 --> 01:05:57,196
ONE OF THE BEST IN
THE BUSINESS.
1403
01:05:57,220 --> 01:05:59,398
LEADER DOC SEVERINSEN
BEGAN HIS TENURE
1404
01:05:59,422 --> 01:06:02,835
QUIETLY AND CONSERVATIVELY.
1405
01:06:02,859 --> 01:06:04,503
OVER TIME, THAT CHANGED.
1406
01:06:04,527 --> 01:06:06,439
Severinsen: AND JOHNNY HAD A WAY
1407
01:06:06,463 --> 01:06:09,408
OF PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
1408
01:06:09,432 --> 01:06:13,813
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HE COULD START
UP A CONVERSATION WITH YOU...
1409
01:06:13,837 --> 01:06:15,614
NOW I'VE SEEN BLUE COATS,
1410
01:06:15,638 --> 01:06:18,250
BUT THAT THING IS ALIVE.
1411
01:06:18,274 --> 01:06:20,653
WITH SALMON PANTS.
1412
01:06:20,677 --> 01:06:24,890
AND THEY'RE SWIMMING UPSTREAM,
I MIGHT ADD.
1413
01:06:29,018 --> 01:06:32,331
AND WHEN THEY GET THERE,
THEY GONNA DIE.
1414
01:06:32,355 --> 01:06:35,468
Severinsen: WE THOUGHT WE WERE
DEVELOPING OURSELVES,
1415
01:06:35,492 --> 01:06:38,938
BUT JOHNNY WAS DEVELOPING US.
1416
01:06:38,962 --> 01:06:42,408
JOHNNY MADE US
WHO WE WERE.
1417
01:06:42,432 --> 01:06:44,543
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME
TO THE HOUSE?
1418
01:06:44,567 --> 01:06:49,014
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
YOU'VE EVER ASKED ME.
1419
01:06:49,038 --> 01:06:52,518
WELL, YOU MADE ME
FEEL SO GUILTY.
1420
01:06:52,542 --> 01:06:53,619
WHEN YOU ASK AN EMPLOYEE
1421
01:06:53,643 --> 01:06:56,422
IN FRONT OF FIFTEEN
MILLION PEOPLE,
1422
01:06:56,446 --> 01:06:57,257
"DO YOU WANT TO COME
1423
01:06:57,281 --> 01:06:59,892
TO THE HOUSE
FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER?"
1424
01:06:59,916 --> 01:07:02,461
WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY?
"NOOOO"?
1425
01:07:04,554 --> 01:07:05,598
YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY,
1426
01:07:05,622 --> 01:07:09,101
I SAY, "YES, MR. CARSON,
I'D LOVE IT."
1427
01:07:09,125 --> 01:07:10,503
CAN YOU COME?
1428
01:07:10,527 --> 01:07:12,257
NO.
1429
01:07:15,965 --> 01:07:19,979
Man: WE ARE VERY PLEASED
TO WELCOME YOU HERE
1430
01:07:20,003 --> 01:07:22,481
AS OUR VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
TO CELEBRATE
1431
01:07:22,505 --> 01:07:27,353
JOHNNY CARSON'S COMPLETION
OF 10 CONSECUTIVE YEARS
1432
01:07:27,377 --> 01:07:31,490
AS THE STAR OF
"THE TONIGHT SHOW" ON NBC.
1433
01:07:34,584 --> 01:07:38,130
Narrator: IN A RARE DISPLAY
OF NETWORK RESPECT
1434
01:07:38,154 --> 01:07:39,065
FOR ITS BIGGEST ASSET,
1435
01:07:39,089 --> 01:07:41,901
JOHNNY TOOK THE OCCASION
TO MAKE A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT.
1436
01:07:41,925 --> 01:07:46,372
Carson: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO HIDE THINGS
1437
01:07:46,396 --> 01:07:48,173
IN THIS TOWN.
1438
01:07:48,197 --> 01:07:52,044
SO, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR
TO TELL YOU TONIGHT
1439
01:07:52,068 --> 01:07:55,347
THAT WE WERE MARRIED
AT 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON.
1440
01:07:59,509 --> 01:08:02,221
MY APOLOGIES TO THE PRESS
1441
01:08:02,245 --> 01:08:04,890
FOR NOT INFORMING YOU
BEFOREHAND...
1442
01:08:04,914 --> 01:08:07,159
Man:
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!
1443
01:08:07,183 --> 01:08:11,163
BUT SOMETIMES YOU LIKE TO DO
THOSE THINGS KINDA QUIETLY.
1444
01:08:11,187 --> 01:08:14,233
Leamer: AND SHE CERTAINLY
COULD'VE BEEN
1445
01:08:14,257 --> 01:08:16,101
ONE OF THE GREAT LADIES
OF LOS ANGELES,
1446
01:08:16,125 --> 01:08:18,604
AND THEY COULD'VE BEEN
THE KIND OF KING AND QUEEN
1447
01:08:18,628 --> 01:08:21,206
OF LOS ANGELES SOCIAL LIFE
IF THEY WANTED TO,
1448
01:08:21,230 --> 01:08:25,759
IF JOHNNY HAD ALLOWED IT,
BUT HE DIDN'T WANT THAT.
1449
01:08:26,636 --> 01:08:28,514
Claudia: EVERYBODY WANTED
A PIECE OF HIM,
1450
01:08:28,538 --> 01:08:32,751
AND I THINK THAT HE JUST
COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE,
1451
01:08:32,775 --> 01:08:35,821
AND HE JUST HAD TO SHUT HIMSELF
OFF TO SURVIVE.
1452
01:08:35,845 --> 01:08:39,725
YOU JUST CAN'T SAY YES
TO EVERYONE.
1453
01:08:39,749 --> 01:08:41,427
Martin: IMAGINE YOURSELF BEING
1454
01:08:41,451 --> 01:08:45,197
THE FISH IN THE FISHBOWL
AT THE PARTY.
1455
01:08:45,221 --> 01:08:46,532
WHICH JOHNNY WAS.
1456
01:08:46,556 --> 01:08:49,201
GO UP TO JOHNNY, SEE WHAT
JOHNNY'S LIKE,
1457
01:08:49,225 --> 01:08:50,402
GO UP TO JOHNNY,
YOU KNOW.
1458
01:08:50,426 --> 01:08:56,742
SO, I FEEL LIKE IT'S UNFAIR
TO JUDGE HIM AT A PARTY.
1459
01:08:56,766 --> 01:09:00,746
BY THE WAY, I'M
NO FUN AT A PARTY...
1460
01:09:00,770 --> 01:09:03,638
AND I'M REALLY LIKABLE.
1461
01:09:04,540 --> 01:09:07,286
Mike Wallace:
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN...
1462
01:09:07,310 --> 01:09:08,721
I USED TO HAVE A LITTLE POP?
1463
01:09:08,745 --> 01:09:11,357
I SURE DID.
I DON'T HANDLE IT WELL.
1464
01:09:11,381 --> 01:09:12,325
Wallace: REALLY, YOU DON'T?
1465
01:09:12,349 --> 01:09:15,527
I DON'T HANDLE ALCOHOL WELL
AT ALL, NO, REALLY DON'T.
1466
01:09:15,551 --> 01:09:18,631
OH, ED AND I HAVE HAD SOME
WONDERFUL TIMES IN THE PAST.
1467
01:09:18,655 --> 01:09:20,766
Wallace:
YOU KNOW WHAT ED TOLD US?
1468
01:09:20,790 --> 01:09:21,534
WHAT DID ED TELL YOU?
1469
01:09:21,558 --> 01:09:24,269
Wallace, chuckling: HE TOLD US
THAT FROM TIME TO TIME,
1470
01:09:24,293 --> 01:09:26,872
YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE
ON THE WHOLE RUSSIAN ARMY.
1471
01:09:26,896 --> 01:09:29,008
AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE
THE BAZOOKAS TO DO IT.
1472
01:09:29,032 --> 01:09:31,343
Carson: THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S ONE REASON I FOUND
1473
01:09:31,367 --> 01:09:34,246
IT'S PROBABLY BEST FOR ME
TO NOT REALLY ENTANGLE WITH IT.
1474
01:09:34,270 --> 01:09:37,850
RATHER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO BECOME FUN-LOVING
1475
01:09:37,874 --> 01:09:40,152
AND GREGARIOUS
AND LOVE EVERYBODY,
1476
01:09:40,176 --> 01:09:41,453
I WOULD GO THE OPPOSITE.
1477
01:09:41,477 --> 01:09:43,789
AND IT WOULD HAPPEN JUST
LIKE THAT.
1478
01:09:43,813 --> 01:09:47,226
WHEN WE'D BE OUT, I WOULD GO OUT
WITH ONE PERSON
1479
01:09:47,250 --> 01:09:48,494
AND COME HOME WITH SOMEONE
1480
01:09:48,518 --> 01:09:51,630
WHO WAS COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT IN TEMPERAMENT.
1481
01:09:51,654 --> 01:09:54,066
AND IT GOT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
1482
01:09:54,090 --> 01:09:55,467
AND WE DISCUSSED IT,
WE WORKED IT OUT
1483
01:09:55,491 --> 01:09:59,138
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT
HE'S FINALLY SAID TO HIMSELF,
1484
01:09:59,162 --> 01:09:59,873
"I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT
1485
01:09:59,897 --> 01:10:02,374
GET THE BETTER OF ME
OR MY LIFE OR MY MARRIAGE."
1486
01:10:02,398 --> 01:10:07,279
Narrator: BUT DRINKING WOULD
REMAIN AN ISSUE OFF AND ON
1487
01:10:07,303 --> 01:10:08,914
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
1488
01:10:08,938 --> 01:10:11,750
IN 1982, CARSON WAS
ARRESTED FOR DRIVING
1489
01:10:11,774 --> 01:10:12,951
UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
1490
01:10:12,975 --> 01:10:13,620
A BREATH TEST SHOWED
1491
01:10:13,644 --> 01:10:19,425
AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF .16,
WELL ABOVE THE LEGAL LIMIT.
1492
01:10:19,449 --> 01:10:23,529
HERE'S SOME SAD
SHOW BUSINESS NEWS.
1493
01:10:23,553 --> 01:10:25,998
IT WAS ANNOUNCED...
1494
01:10:26,623 --> 01:10:30,469
YOU LIKE IT WHEN I STRUGGLE,
DON'T YOU?
1495
01:10:30,493 --> 01:10:31,637
YOU REALLY LOVE THAT.
1496
01:10:31,661 --> 01:10:32,905
Martin: THE GENERAL RULE IS,
1497
01:10:32,929 --> 01:10:36,108
NEVER ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT A JOKE BOMBED.
1498
01:10:36,132 --> 01:10:40,512
BUT HE DEVELOPED A CERTAIN
ARTISTRY ABOUT IT,
1499
01:10:40,536 --> 01:10:45,017
AND PEOPLE REALLY STARTED LIKING
THE JOKES MORE WHEN THEY BOMBED.
1500
01:10:45,041 --> 01:10:48,654
EXACTLY WHAT TIME WAS IT
I WENT BAD?
1501
01:10:48,678 --> 01:10:50,923
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COME
TO ONE OF THESE NIGHTS
1502
01:10:50,947 --> 01:10:54,059
WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO TURN
AGAINST ME, SO...
1503
01:10:54,083 --> 01:10:56,484
I CAME PREPARED.
1504
01:11:02,058 --> 01:11:05,995
THERE'S A LITTLE FLY
FLYING AROUND.
1505
01:11:08,197 --> 01:11:11,643
PROBABLY FROM THE MOLD OFF
OF ONE OF THOSE JOKES I TOLD.
1506
01:11:11,667 --> 01:11:12,878
Letterman:
AND WHAT HE DID,
1507
01:11:12,902 --> 01:11:15,114
THE TOOL THAT HE HAD THAT I
DON'T HAVE
1508
01:11:15,138 --> 01:11:18,183
AND I'VE NOT SEEN ANYBODY ELSE
COME CLOSE TO IS...
1509
01:11:18,207 --> 01:11:22,488
WHEN THINGS WERE NOT GOING WELL,
HE WOULD RISE ABOVE THAT
1510
01:11:22,512 --> 01:11:27,960
AND BECOME A WHOLE OTHER
ENTERTAINING ENTITY.
1511
01:11:27,984 --> 01:11:28,928
YOU SEE, KIDS OUT HERE,
1512
01:11:28,952 --> 01:11:32,531
ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA,
BEVERLY HILLS, HAVE IT ROUGH.
1513
01:11:32,555 --> 01:11:36,959
FATHER'S DAY COULD MEAN WHAT,
FOUR OR FIVE GIFTS?
1514
01:11:40,329 --> 01:11:42,941
SEE, MOST BEVERLY HILLS...
1515
01:11:42,965 --> 01:11:50,749
ATTENTION, K-MART SHOPPERS!
AISLE 34 SALE ON SNOW TIRES.
1516
01:11:52,408 --> 01:11:55,320
Carson: YOU'RE RAISED AS A KID
THAT YOU SHOULD BE MODEST.
1517
01:11:55,344 --> 01:11:58,490
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS,
1518
01:11:58,514 --> 01:11:59,225
THAT DOES NOT WORK.
1519
01:11:59,249 --> 01:12:01,160
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF EGO...
1520
01:12:01,184 --> 01:12:03,762
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN
A COCKSURENESS,
1521
01:12:03,786 --> 01:12:05,697
IT MEANS A CONFIDENCE IN YOUR
OWN ABILITY.
1522
01:12:05,721 --> 01:12:09,101
I KNOW WHAT I DO, I DO IT WELL
AND WHEN I WALK IN FRONT
1523
01:12:09,125 --> 01:12:11,470
OF AN AUDIENCE,
I KNOW THAT I AM GOOD.
1524
01:12:11,494 --> 01:12:13,806
IF YOU DON'T HAVE
THAT ATTITUDE,
1525
01:12:13,830 --> 01:12:15,507
YOU SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE.
1526
01:12:16,266 --> 01:12:20,979
Narrator: BY THE LATE 1970s,
NBC LANGUISHED IN THE RATINGS.
1527
01:12:21,003 --> 01:12:23,348
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
WAS A RARE BRIGHT SPOT,
1528
01:12:23,372 --> 01:12:28,320
BRINGING IN NEARLY 20%
OF THE NETWORK'S TOTAL INCOME.
1529
01:12:28,344 --> 01:12:30,322
BUT NEWLY INSTALLED PRESIDENT
FRED SILVERMAN
1530
01:12:30,346 --> 01:12:33,659
CHASTISED JOHNNY CARSON
PUBLICLY.
1531
01:12:33,683 --> 01:12:36,895
Man: HE TARGETED JOHNNY, WHICH
HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
1532
01:12:36,919 --> 01:12:40,132
BASICALLY HE FELT LIKE JOHNNY,
ALTHOUGH STILL DOING WELL
1533
01:12:40,156 --> 01:12:43,001
AND BRINGING IN A LOT OF MONEY,
WAS TAKING OFF SO MUCH TIME.
1534
01:12:43,025 --> 01:12:45,737
HE DIDN'T WORK ON MONDAYS,
HE TOOK SO MANY WEEKS OFF,
1535
01:12:45,761 --> 01:12:47,606
THAT HE TRIED
TO PRESSURE JOHNNY,
1536
01:12:47,630 --> 01:12:51,109
WHICH THROUGHOUT JOHNNY'S
HISTORY WAS A MAJOR MISTAKE.
1537
01:12:51,133 --> 01:12:53,445
YOU JUST DIDN'T TAKE
THIS GUY ON.
1538
01:12:53,469 --> 01:12:54,113
HE HAD A STEEL BACKBONE.
1539
01:12:54,137 --> 01:12:58,450
THERE WAS ONE SCENE IN "JAWS"
WHERE A NETWORK EXECUTIVE
1540
01:12:58,474 --> 01:13:02,588
WENT SWIMMING AND THE SHARK
CIRCLED AROUND HIM
1541
01:13:02,612 --> 01:13:04,656
AND THEN LEFT HIM ALONE...
1542
01:13:04,680 --> 01:13:07,326
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.
1543
01:13:07,350 --> 01:13:11,563
Man: AND SO THERE WAS
A CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP
1544
01:13:11,587 --> 01:13:12,764
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.
1545
01:13:12,788 --> 01:13:16,735
ONCE AGAIN, JOHNNY WAS WARY
OF NETWORK EXECUTIVES
1546
01:13:16,759 --> 01:13:19,171
AND NETWORK EXECUTIVES
COME AND GO,
1547
01:13:19,195 --> 01:13:22,441
AND JOHNNY DIDN'T WANT SOMEONE
ELSE TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO.
1548
01:13:22,465 --> 01:13:25,410
JOHNNY CARSON ASKING TO GET OFF
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
1549
01:13:25,434 --> 01:13:27,512
IS ROUGHLY EQUAL TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON
1550
01:13:27,536 --> 01:13:29,248
ASKING TO GET OFF
THE ONE DOLLAR BILL.
1551
01:13:29,272 --> 01:13:32,584
AFTER 17 YEARS, I'M GETTING
A LITTLE TIRED OF IT.
1552
01:13:32,608 --> 01:13:35,654
AND I FEEL I DON'T THINK I CAN
BRING ANYTHING NEW TO IT
1553
01:13:35,678 --> 01:13:38,557
AND IT GETS A LITTLE TOUGHER
ALL THE TIME TO DO IT.
1554
01:13:38,581 --> 01:13:41,159
AND I WANT TO KEEP
THE STANDARDS OF THE SHOW UP.
1555
01:13:41,183 --> 01:13:44,930
AND I FEEL IF I GO TOO LONG,
I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
1556
01:13:44,954 --> 01:13:46,698
"WHAT IS YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?"
1557
01:13:46,722 --> 01:13:48,934
McMahon:
YEAH. WANT TO TELL THEM?
1558
01:13:48,958 --> 01:13:51,870
TO BE A GOOD PERSON,
A WORTHY CITIZEN,
1559
01:13:51,894 --> 01:13:55,540
AND TO RIP NBC OFF
FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT.
1560
01:13:55,564 --> 01:13:58,343
O'Brien: IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE
A TRICKY MARRIAGE,
1561
01:13:58,367 --> 01:13:59,645
ART AND COMMERCE.
1562
01:13:59,669 --> 01:14:01,546
IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
1563
01:14:01,570 --> 01:14:02,614
FRAUGHT WITH TENSION.
1564
01:14:02,638 --> 01:14:05,717
IT JUST IS, IT'S BUILT INTO
THE SYSTEM.
1565
01:14:05,741 --> 01:14:07,986
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW.
1566
01:14:08,010 --> 01:14:11,023
WE HAVEN'T ALL BEEN THERE,
BUT...
1567
01:14:12,148 --> 01:14:13,125
I THINK WE HAVE.
1568
01:14:13,149 --> 01:14:15,360
Narrator: TO DO BATTLE WITH
THE NETWORK,
1569
01:14:15,384 --> 01:14:19,264
CARSON ENLISTED HIS LONGTIME
ATTORNEY HENRY BUSHKIN.
1570
01:14:19,288 --> 01:14:23,435
HE HAD BECOME JOHNNY'S MOST
TRUSTED ADVISOR AND FRIEND,
1571
01:14:23,459 --> 01:14:27,572
SERVING ALSO AS HIS TENNIS
PARTNER AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST.
1572
01:14:27,596 --> 01:14:31,476
BUSHKIN AND NBC ENGAGED IN ONE
OF THE MOST PROTRACTED
1573
01:14:31,500 --> 01:14:35,013
AND EXPENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS
IN TELEVISION HISTORY.
1574
01:14:35,037 --> 01:14:38,083
A THREE-YEAR DEAL
WHERE JOHNNY WOULD DO
1575
01:14:38,107 --> 01:14:42,387
FOUR SHOWS A WEEK, BE PAID WELL
OVER $5 MILLION A YEAR,
1576
01:14:42,411 --> 01:14:44,856
AND OWN "THE TONIGHT SHOW"
LIBRARY.
1577
01:14:44,880 --> 01:14:46,458
HE'D PRODUCE ALL FUTURE
EPISODES,
1578
01:14:46,482 --> 01:14:49,461
WHICH WOULD BE CUT FROM NINETY
MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.
1579
01:14:49,485 --> 01:14:52,197
THE MOST POWERFUL STAR
IN TELEVISION
1580
01:14:52,221 --> 01:14:54,399
GOT EVERYTHING HE WANTED.
1581
01:14:54,423 --> 01:14:58,870
WE HAVE A SIGN THAT RIVALS
THE SIGN ON THE GOODYEAR BLIMP
1582
01:14:58,894 --> 01:15:00,472
THAT SAYS, "APPLAUSE."
1583
01:15:00,496 --> 01:15:01,940
THAT'S ON THE AUDIENCE SIDE.
1584
01:15:01,964 --> 01:15:05,610
OVER HERE, I HAVE ONE THAT
SAYS, "FAKE HUMILITY."
1585
01:15:05,634 --> 01:15:09,448
Tennis: JOHNNY WAS AN ANARCHIST
IN MANY WAYS.
1586
01:15:09,472 --> 01:15:13,051
THERE'S THE WONDERFUL STORY OF
HIS GOING TO THE POLO LOUNGE
1587
01:15:13,075 --> 01:15:15,721
AT THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL
AND BEING ASKED
1588
01:15:15,745 --> 01:15:17,522
BY THE MAITRE D'
TO PUT ON A NECKTIE.
1589
01:15:17,546 --> 01:15:22,494
JOHNNY PUT ON A USED NECKTIE
THAT WAS THERE FOR THAT PURPOSE
1590
01:15:22,518 --> 01:15:24,396
BUT TOOK OFF HIS SHOES AND SOCKS
1591
01:15:24,420 --> 01:15:26,865
SINCE THERE WAS NO REGULATION
ABOUT GOING
1592
01:15:26,889 --> 01:15:28,967
INTO THE POLO LOUNGE
BAREFOOTED.
1593
01:15:28,991 --> 01:15:30,969
UNTIL HE, OF COURSE, DID IT.
1594
01:15:30,993 --> 01:15:32,753
Narrator: THOUGH SOME CRITICS
HAD GROWN TIRED
1595
01:15:34,463 --> 01:15:35,974
OF JOHNNY'S FORMULA JOKES,
1596
01:15:35,998 --> 01:15:38,377
CARSON CONTINUED TO REIGN
SUPREME
1597
01:15:38,401 --> 01:15:40,178
OVER THE
LATE-NIGHT LANDSCAPE,
1598
01:15:40,202 --> 01:15:44,249
ANOINTING THE NEXT STARS
IN THE WORLD OF STAND-UP COMEDY.
1599
01:15:44,273 --> 01:15:46,218
I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE ALL
IN A GOOD MOOD TONIGHT,
1600
01:15:46,242 --> 01:15:48,120
BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE
1601
01:15:48,144 --> 01:15:49,788
A NEW COMEDIAN
TO "THE TONIGHT SHOW."
1602
01:15:49,812 --> 01:15:51,056
THIS YOUNG MAN'S NAME
IS JAY LENO.
1603
01:15:51,080 --> 01:15:53,692
YOUR FIRST "TONIGHT SHOW" IS
LIKE YOUR FIRST GIRLFRIEND,
1604
01:15:53,716 --> 01:15:55,527
YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD,
IT'S OVER VERY QUICKLY,
1605
01:15:55,551 --> 01:15:58,797
AND YOU JUST WANT TO DO IT
AGAIN, IT'S THAT KIND OF THING.
1606
01:16:00,423 --> 01:16:03,769
BUT I REMEMBER BEING MORE
NERVOUS WATCHING IT AT NIGHT
1607
01:16:03,793 --> 01:16:05,470
THAN I WAS AT THE TIME DOING IT.
1608
01:16:05,494 --> 01:16:08,306
EVER SEE THAT COMMERCIAL WHERE
THE HUSBAND IS SO INSECURE,
1609
01:16:08,330 --> 01:16:12,511
CAN'T EVEN TELL HIS WIFE SHE
MAKES A TERRIBLE CUP OF COFFEE?
1610
01:16:12,535 --> 01:16:14,913
MORE COFFEE, HONEY?
1611
01:16:14,937 --> 01:16:15,748
"NO THANKS, DEAR,
1612
01:16:15,772 --> 01:16:19,618
I THINK I'LL JUST GET
AN APARTMENT DOWNTOWN."
1613
01:16:19,642 --> 01:16:21,319
Shandling:
IT WAS A TESTING GROUND,
1614
01:16:21,343 --> 01:16:25,390
IT WAS A FIRING RANGE,
AND IF YOU COULD GO IN THERE...
1615
01:16:25,414 --> 01:16:28,460
AND I REMEMBER BEING
NERVOUS AS HELL.
1616
01:16:28,484 --> 01:16:32,330
THE BABY'S CRAWLING AROUND ON
THE CARPET AND THIS BABY, UH,
1617
01:16:32,354 --> 01:16:35,667
LOADS UP HIS DIAPER, YOU KNOW,
AND I'M SITTING THERE
1618
01:16:35,691 --> 01:16:40,305
AND THE MOTHER COMES OVER
AND SAYS, "ISN'T THAT ADORABLE,
1619
01:16:40,329 --> 01:16:41,940
BRANDON MADE A GIFT FOR DADDY."
1620
01:16:41,964 --> 01:16:46,244
NOW, I'M FIGURING,
THIS GUY'S GOTTA BE REAL EASY
1621
01:16:46,268 --> 01:16:48,380
TO SHOP FOR ON FATHER'S DAY.
1622
01:16:48,404 --> 01:16:49,681
Drew Carey:
CURTAIN OPENS.
1623
01:16:49,705 --> 01:16:51,850
YOU KNOW, JOHNNY CARSON
INTRODUCES ME.
1624
01:16:51,874 --> 01:16:55,053
THE CURTAIN OPENS AND IT'S JUST
LIKE I DREAMED IT.
1625
01:16:55,077 --> 01:16:57,456
IT'S JUST EXACTLY LIKE
I DREAMED IT.
1626
01:16:57,480 --> 01:16:59,458
I GO OUT ON STAGE,
I HIT THE MARK.
1627
01:16:59,482 --> 01:17:01,593
DENNY'S HAS MY FAVORITE THING
ON THE MENU,
1628
01:17:01,617 --> 01:17:03,428
IT'S A HOT DOG WITH CHEESE
AND BACON.
1629
01:17:03,452 --> 01:17:05,163
NOT ENOUGH NITRATES
IN A HOT DOG,
1630
01:17:05,187 --> 01:17:07,399
YOU GOTTA PUT SOME BACON
ON TOP OF THERE.
1631
01:17:07,423 --> 01:17:08,134
AND FOR AN EXTRA DOLLAR,
1632
01:17:08,158 --> 01:17:10,402
THEY'LL PUT CHILI ON TOP
OF THE WHOLE THING.
1633
01:17:10,426 --> 01:17:12,504
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE
ANYMORE.
1634
01:17:12,528 --> 01:17:15,574
Carey;: AND I REMEMBER SEEING
JOHNNY CARSON
1635
01:17:15,598 --> 01:17:16,476
HOLDING ONTO THE DESK.
1636
01:17:16,500 --> 01:17:19,811
HE'S HOLDING ONTO THE DESK
BECAUSE HE'S LAUGHING SO HARD,
1637
01:17:19,835 --> 01:17:23,615
SO HE DOESN'T FALL OFF THE CHAIR
BECAUSE HE'S LIKE CONVULSING.
1638
01:17:23,639 --> 01:17:25,450
THAT'S THE KIND OF FOOD THAT
JUST MARCHES
1639
01:17:25,474 --> 01:17:26,651
RIGHT DOWN YOUR THROAT,
YOU KNOW.
1640
01:17:26,675 --> 01:17:30,722
"FOLLOW ME, BOYS,
WE'RE GOING TO THE HEART."
1641
01:17:30,746 --> 01:17:32,057
AND HE GOES LIKE THIS.
1642
01:17:32,081 --> 01:17:35,026
AND I GO, "WHO, ME?"
AND HE GOES, "YEAH, YOU."
1643
01:17:35,050 --> 01:17:38,330
AND I'M LIKE, NOBODY GETS CALLED
OVER FOR "THE TONIGHT SHOW."
1644
01:17:38,354 --> 01:17:38,998
THAT'S A BIG THING.
1645
01:17:39,022 --> 01:17:42,634
IT'S LIKE A RELIGIOUS
EXPERIENCE.
1646
01:17:42,658 --> 01:17:46,425
AND THEN AFTER THAT,
MY CAREER WAS MADE.
1647
01:17:47,329 --> 01:17:51,109
YOU'RE FUNNY AS HELL.
YOU REALLY ARE.
1648
01:17:51,133 --> 01:17:54,679
THANKS, I APPRECIATE THAT...
YOU TOO.
1649
01:17:54,703 --> 01:17:58,283
DeGeneres: IT WAS THE STAMP
OF APPROVAL.
1650
01:17:58,307 --> 01:18:01,019
IT WAS, JOHNNY CARSON SAYS
"YOU'RE FUNNY,"
1651
01:18:01,043 --> 01:18:02,921
JOHNNY CARSON SAYS
"YOU'RE GOOD."
1652
01:18:02,945 --> 01:18:05,290
A MILLION PEOPLE COULD TELL YOU
THEY LIKE YOU,
1653
01:18:05,314 --> 01:18:08,727
BUT IF JOHNNY DIDN'T LIKE YOU,
I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE
1654
01:18:08,751 --> 01:18:09,728
A HUGE IMPACT ON YOUR EGO.
1655
01:18:09,752 --> 01:18:12,297
THAT'S VERY CLEVER
AND VERY FRESH.
1656
01:18:12,321 --> 01:18:14,499
WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL
HEARING THAT FROM YOU.
1657
01:18:14,523 --> 01:18:17,068
NO, I MEAN IT, THAT'SGOOD MATERIAL.THANK YOU.
1658
01:18:17,092 --> 01:18:21,106
AND SO THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF...
1659
01:18:21,130 --> 01:18:22,474
HE CHANGED MY LIFE.
1660
01:18:22,498 --> 01:18:26,411
YOU JUMP UP A NOTCH IN
THE BUSINESS AS FAR AS WORKING.
1661
01:18:26,435 --> 01:18:29,814
YOUR INCOME TRIPLED, YOU WERE
VALIDATED RIGHT AWAY.
1662
01:18:29,838 --> 01:18:32,617
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
I AM NOW
1663
01:18:32,641 --> 01:18:35,020
THE AUTOMATIC NOISE
CHECKER-OUTER.
1664
01:18:35,044 --> 01:18:37,923
EVERY LITTLE, "OH WHAT WAS
THAT?", "NOTHING, GO TO SLEEP",
1665
01:18:37,947 --> 01:18:40,425
"NO, CHECK IT OUT,
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SLEEP?"
1666
01:18:40,449 --> 01:18:42,327
GETTING ONE OF THESE
FROM JOHNNY
1667
01:18:42,351 --> 01:18:45,163
WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS
IN MY CAREER.
1668
01:18:45,187 --> 01:18:48,533
JERRY SEINFELD.
THANK YOU, JERRY.
1669
01:18:48,557 --> 01:18:49,135
TAKE A BOW.
1670
01:18:49,159 --> 01:18:52,971
Seinfeld: THE TRUTH IS, I STILL
THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE
1671
01:18:52,995 --> 01:18:55,373
YOU SAT THERE
AND YOU WENT,
1672
01:18:55,397 --> 01:18:58,476
"THIS IS SOME KIND
OF MAGIC PLACE."
1673
01:18:58,500 --> 01:19:00,212
MY FOLKS ARE MOVING TO FLORIDA.
1674
01:19:00,236 --> 01:19:01,646
THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE
TO FLORIDA,
1675
01:19:01,670 --> 01:19:03,815
BUT THEY'RE IN THEIR SIXTIES
AND THAT'S THE LAW.
1676
01:19:03,839 --> 01:19:08,420
I THINK YOU'RE EVICTED
FROM LONG ISLAND AT SIXTY?
1677
01:19:08,444 --> 01:19:10,655
THEY HAVE A LEISURE POLICE
OF SOME KIND...
1678
01:19:10,679 --> 01:19:13,091
"GET THE GOLF CLUBS
AND GET IN THE VAN, FOLKS."
1679
01:19:13,115 --> 01:19:15,594
Seinfeld: THERE'S JUST NOT THAT
MANY MOMENTS OF LIFE
1680
01:19:15,618 --> 01:19:21,399
THAT ARE THAT DEFINITIVE...
OF A "BEFORE" AND "AFTER" LIFE.
1681
01:19:21,423 --> 01:19:22,400
YOU KNOW.
1682
01:19:22,424 --> 01:19:25,503
BEFORE, YOU'RE WANTING TO BE
A COMEDIAN,
1683
01:19:25,527 --> 01:19:26,305
AND AFTER, YOU ARE ONE.
1684
01:19:26,329 --> 01:19:28,907
THE ONE THING I'LL NEVER...
THIS HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY,
1685
01:19:28,931 --> 01:19:32,310
BUT THE KINDA THING I'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER AS LONG AS I LIVE
1686
01:19:32,334 --> 01:19:33,045
GROWING UP IN INDIANA...
1687
01:19:33,069 --> 01:19:35,714
IS WHEN DAD USED TO TEASE ME
WITH THE POWER TOOLS.
1688
01:19:35,738 --> 01:19:40,051
HOW MANY OF YOU...
DID YOU HAVE THAT?
1689
01:19:40,075 --> 01:19:40,586
WHAT A GUY!
1690
01:19:40,610 --> 01:19:42,821
WHAT A GUY!
SENSE OF HUMOR, HUH?
1691
01:19:42,845 --> 01:19:45,190
Letterman: IT TAKES WEEKS
OR MONTHS FOR THE ADRENALINE
1692
01:19:45,214 --> 01:19:47,392
TO DRAIN OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM,
BECAUSE HERE IT IS,
1693
01:19:47,416 --> 01:19:49,894
IT'S "THE TONIGHT SHOW,"
AND YOU'VE GOTTEN LAUGHS,
1694
01:19:49,918 --> 01:19:52,697
AND YOU GET TO SIT DOWN
WITH JOHNNY CARSON.
1695
01:19:52,721 --> 01:19:55,667
THAT'S THE END OF THE WORLD,
THAT'S JUST IT.
1696
01:19:55,691 --> 01:19:58,236
I MEAN, IF NOTHING MORE HAD
HAPPENED FOR ME,
1697
01:19:58,260 --> 01:20:02,307
I COULD ALWAYS GET A FREE BEER
IN ANY BAR IN THE COUNTRY
1698
01:20:02,331 --> 01:20:04,926
TELLING THAT STORY.
1699
01:20:05,334 --> 01:20:08,480
Carson: THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING TO ME, I THINK,
1700
01:20:08,504 --> 01:20:10,882
IS THE EMPATHY THAT YOU HAVE
TO HAVE FOR THE PERFORMER.
1701
01:20:10,906 --> 01:20:14,052
I THINK THIS IS THE GREATEST
THING THAT A PERFORMER CAN HAVE
1702
01:20:14,076 --> 01:20:16,755
IF HE'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL
AS AN ENTERTAINER IS
1703
01:20:16,779 --> 01:20:20,025
AN EMPATHY WITH THE AUDIENCE...
THEY HAVE TO LIKE HIM.
1704
01:20:20,049 --> 01:20:21,359
THEY HAVE TO
LIKE HIM.
1705
01:20:21,383 --> 01:20:24,396
AND IF THEY LIKE THE PERFORMER,
THEN YOU'VE GOT
1706
01:20:24,420 --> 01:20:27,098
80% OF IT MADE.
1707
01:20:27,122 --> 01:20:30,468
Joan Embery: AND HE'LL LAUGH
IF YOU LAUGH AT HIM.
1708
01:20:30,492 --> 01:20:31,770
Seinfeld: I THINK THAT'S WHY
1709
01:20:31,794 --> 01:20:33,738
PEOPLE LIKED HIM WITH
THE ANIMALS,
1710
01:20:33,762 --> 01:20:36,441
IS BECAUSE IT WOULD SHOW
THIS DEEPLY SWEET,
1711
01:20:36,465 --> 01:20:40,779
ALMOST CHILDLIKE, PLAYFUL SIDE
THAT HE HAD,
1712
01:20:40,803 --> 01:20:43,281
AND THAT'S WHEN
IT WOULD PEEK OUT.
1713
01:20:43,305 --> 01:20:49,087
AND THIS IS A THING THAT REALLY
MAKES YOU LOVE A PERFORMER.
1714
01:20:51,280 --> 01:20:53,325
THE SAY IF YOU LOOK
AN ANIMAL RIGHT IN THE FACE
1715
01:20:53,349 --> 01:20:56,528
AND TALK TO THEM, THEN
THEY KNOW YOU'RE NOT SCARED.
1716
01:20:56,552 --> 01:20:57,396
AAAH!
1717
01:20:57,420 --> 01:20:58,663
Embery: THE VIEWERS REALLY
1718
01:20:58,687 --> 01:21:00,598
WERE EXPERIENCING
THROUGH JOHNNY,
1719
01:21:00,622 --> 01:21:03,201
VICARIOUSLY,
WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE
1720
01:21:03,225 --> 01:21:07,672
TO BE IN HIS SHOES, TO BE,
YOU KNOW, STANDING THERE
1721
01:21:07,696 --> 01:21:09,074
NEXT TO THAT ANIMAL,
1722
01:21:09,098 --> 01:21:12,466
AND HE BECAME PART OF THEM.
1723
01:21:16,205 --> 01:21:20,318
SO I REACHED UP TO PICK UP
THE MARMOSET.
1724
01:21:20,342 --> 01:21:21,653
THEY MARK THEIR TERRITORY.
1725
01:21:21,677 --> 01:21:25,056
SO, THEY LEAVE URINE
SCENT ON THE BRANCHES
1726
01:21:25,080 --> 01:21:26,558
AND IT MARKED ITS TERRITORY.
1727
01:21:26,582 --> 01:21:29,728
WAS THAT... WAS HE SPITTING?
WAS THAT SALIVA?
1728
01:21:30,886 --> 01:21:31,886
HE WAS...
1729
01:21:36,392 --> 01:21:38,636
Embery: IN THE SAME SCENARIO,
1730
01:21:38,660 --> 01:21:40,939
PROBABLY WITH OTHER HOSTS,
1731
01:21:40,963 --> 01:21:42,574
NOTHING WOULD'VE COME OF IT.
1732
01:21:42,598 --> 01:21:46,778
IT WAS NOT JUST THE ANIMAL,
BUT IT WAS THE SPONTANEITY
1733
01:21:46,802 --> 01:21:51,866
IN HIS RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION
THAT MADE THAT SEGMENT.
1734
01:21:55,844 --> 01:21:57,722
C-T-O-R-Y!
1735
01:21:57,746 --> 01:22:00,625
Narrator: JOHNNY SPENT
HIS 56th BIRTHDAY
1736
01:22:00,649 --> 01:22:02,694
FILMING A TV SPECIAL
WHERE HE RETURNED
1737
01:22:02,718 --> 01:22:04,629
TO HIS HOMETOWN OF NORFOLK,
NEBRASKA.
1738
01:22:04,653 --> 01:22:08,133
SURPRISING HIM
WERE HIS SISTER CATHERINE,
1739
01:22:08,157 --> 01:22:09,968
BROTHER DICK AND WIFE JOANNA.
1740
01:22:09,992 --> 01:22:11,836
THOUGH THEY HAD ALL SMILES
FOR THE CAMERA,
1741
01:22:11,860 --> 01:22:17,075
BY NOW HE AND JOANNA HAD ALREADY
SEPARATED ONCE.
1742
01:22:17,099 --> 01:22:20,745
BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU'VE GONE
THROUGH DIVORCE ONCE,
1743
01:22:20,769 --> 01:22:23,915
I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE GO
THROUGH IT MORE THAN ONCE.
1744
01:22:24,607 --> 01:22:29,521
Zehme: HE WAS THE FIRST GUY
TO SORT OF NORMALIZE DIVORCE,
1745
01:22:29,545 --> 01:22:30,755
BECAUSE HE WAS DIVORCED
1746
01:22:30,779 --> 01:22:35,794
THREE TIMES IN THE COURSE
OF HIS TENURE.
1747
01:22:35,818 --> 01:22:38,096
Narrator: IN 1983, FOR REASONS
INCLUDING
1748
01:22:38,120 --> 01:22:41,599
IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES
AND ADULTERY, JOANNA CARSON
1749
01:22:41,623 --> 01:22:43,935
SOUGHT ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PAYDAYS IN THE HISTORY
1750
01:22:43,959 --> 01:22:46,771
OF AMERICAN DIVORCE COURT
TO DATE.
1751
01:22:46,795 --> 01:22:49,874
AFTER A TWO-YEAR BATTLE PLAYED
OUT IN THE TABLOID PRESS,
1752
01:22:49,898 --> 01:22:54,679
SHE RECEIVED A SETTLEMENT
UPWARDS OF $20 MILLION.
1753
01:22:54,703 --> 01:22:58,383
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS
A TEENY KID, 7 OR 8.
1754
01:22:58,407 --> 01:22:59,151
BABE RUTH, MY HERO.
1755
01:22:59,175 --> 01:23:03,288
AND WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO
SHOW BUSINESS, JACK BENNY
1756
01:23:03,312 --> 01:23:04,256
WAS MY HERO.
1757
01:23:04,280 --> 01:23:05,957
YOU KNOW, THEY CHANGE.
1758
01:23:05,981 --> 01:23:08,960
NOW, MY HERO IS HENRY VIII.
1759
01:23:11,887 --> 01:23:17,202
JOHNNY BELIEVED JOANNA TO BE
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
1760
01:23:17,226 --> 01:23:19,637
I'VE HEARD THAT
FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
1761
01:23:19,661 --> 01:23:21,739
THERE WAS SOMETHING TO IT.
1762
01:23:21,763 --> 01:23:23,875
AGAIN, NOT A FAITHFUL HUSBAND
TO HER,
1763
01:23:23,899 --> 01:23:26,678
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY,
VERY DEEP THERE.
1764
01:23:26,702 --> 01:23:29,247
Newhart: SO I CALLED HIM UP AND,
YOU KNOW,
1765
01:23:29,271 --> 01:23:31,883
SAID, "HOW YOU DOING?"
AND, UH, HE SAID,
1766
01:23:31,907 --> 01:23:34,786
"WOULD YOU COME OVER AFTER
THE SHOW?"
1767
01:23:34,810 --> 01:23:36,855
HE SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO BE
ALONE,"
1768
01:23:36,879 --> 01:23:39,657
HE SAID, YOU KNOW,
'CAUSE THERE WERE,
1769
01:23:39,681 --> 01:23:43,127
UH, HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, THERE
WERE GOOD TIMES TOO," YOU KNOW?
1770
01:23:43,151 --> 01:23:46,564
NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE SAW
THAT SIDE OF JOHNNY,
1771
01:23:46,588 --> 01:23:51,049
BUT, YEAH, HE WAS HURT,
HE WAS HURTING.
1772
01:23:51,960 --> 01:23:55,273
Carson: YOU COULD PROBABLY FIND
SOMETHING UNPLEASANT
1773
01:23:55,297 --> 01:23:57,242
IN ALL HUMOR IF YOU DIG
FAR ENOUGH.
1774
01:23:57,266 --> 01:24:00,111
YOU DO A JOKE ABOUT DIVORCE,
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU DIG
1775
01:24:00,135 --> 01:24:03,348
UNDER THE SURFACE, DIVORCE IS
UNPLEASANT, IT'S PAINFUL.
1776
01:24:03,372 --> 01:24:07,051
BROKEN MARRIAGES. DRUNKENNESS.
ALCOHOLISM.
1777
01:24:07,075 --> 01:24:08,453
THERE'S PAIN AND TRAGEDY THERE.
1778
01:24:08,477 --> 01:24:10,889
I SUPPOSE IF YOU LAID
ANY JOKE OPEN,
1779
01:24:10,913 --> 01:24:14,726
YOU COULD FIND SOMETHING
UNPLEASANT UNDERNEATH.
1780
01:24:14,750 --> 01:24:15,427
MY PERSONAL LIFE
1781
01:24:15,451 --> 01:24:19,297
HAS BEEN EXACTLY LIKE THIS
YEAR'S ACADEMY AWARDS...
1782
01:24:19,321 --> 01:24:21,699
IT STARTED OFF WITH TERMS
OF ENDEARMENT.
1783
01:24:21,723 --> 01:24:24,469
I THOUGHT I HAD
THE RIGHT STUFF;
1784
01:24:24,493 --> 01:24:27,772
IT COST A LOT TO DRESS HER;
THEN CAME THE BIG CHILL;
1785
01:24:27,796 --> 01:24:28,541
AND IN THE PAST MONTH,
1786
01:24:28,565 --> 01:24:31,242
I'VE BEEN BEGGING
FOR TENDER MERCIES.
1787
01:24:32,501 --> 01:24:34,012
Narrator: AT THE PEAK
OF HIS POWER,
1788
01:24:34,036 --> 01:24:38,249
JOHNNY CARSON HOSTED
THE ACADEMY AWARDS FIVE TIMES,
1789
01:24:38,273 --> 01:24:41,386
MAKING HIM ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR EMCEES
1790
01:24:41,410 --> 01:24:42,921
IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHOW.
1791
01:24:42,945 --> 01:24:45,323
BUT THIS MOST PRIVATE
OF PUBLIC FIGURES
1792
01:24:45,347 --> 01:24:48,293
FELT THE PRESSURE
OF BEING ON THE WORLD STAGE.
1793
01:24:48,317 --> 01:24:51,629
Man: IT WAS A VERY TOUGH
INDUSTRY AUDIENCE.
1794
01:24:51,653 --> 01:24:55,633
HE WAS FROM TELEVISION,
HE WASN'T FROM THE MOVIES.
1795
01:24:55,657 --> 01:24:58,303
HE DIDN'T WANT TO FORCE COMEDY
ON PEOPLE
1796
01:24:58,327 --> 01:25:02,822
RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST MINUTE
OF THE FOUR HOURS.
1797
01:25:03,699 --> 01:25:05,243
Martin: I THINK HE WAS
THE GREATEST,
1798
01:25:05,267 --> 01:25:10,415
AND WHEN I HOSTED THE FIRST
TIME, I COMPLETELY
1799
01:25:10,439 --> 01:25:13,918
MODELED MY PERFORMANCE ON HIS.
1800
01:25:13,942 --> 01:25:14,753
WHICH WAS THIS...
1801
01:25:14,777 --> 01:25:18,790
OPEN UP, YOU DO TEN MINUTES
OF THE BEST JOKES YOU CAN FIND,
1802
01:25:18,814 --> 01:25:19,525
AND GET OUT OF THE WAY.
1803
01:25:19,549 --> 01:25:23,328
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO
THESE AFFAIRS TRY TO ACT BLASE.
1804
01:25:23,352 --> 01:25:26,631
I'LL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU,
I'M VERY THRILLED
1805
01:25:26,655 --> 01:25:28,933
TO STAND UP HERE TONIGHT
AND GAZE OUT
1806
01:25:28,957 --> 01:25:31,603
ON THIS GLORIOUS THRONG OF
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
1807
01:25:31,627 --> 01:25:38,076
I SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES...
ESPECIALLY ON THE OLD FACES.
1808
01:25:40,669 --> 01:25:43,047
Narrator: IN 1983,
JOAN RIVERS WAS NAMED
1809
01:25:43,071 --> 01:25:46,317
THE FIRST PERMANENT GUEST HOST
OF THE TONIGHT SHOW.
1810
01:25:46,341 --> 01:25:49,153
THE APPOINTMENT REFLECTED
HOW MUCH JOHNNY CARSON
1811
01:25:49,177 --> 01:25:53,725
LOVED THE WOMAN HE HAD LONG
CONSIDERED A CLOSE FRIEND,
1812
01:25:53,749 --> 01:25:57,161
AMONG THE FEW WHO
HAD EARNED HIS TRUST.
1813
01:25:57,185 --> 01:25:58,963
YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
YOU AND ME.
1814
01:25:58,987 --> 01:26:00,698
YES, AND PEOPLE
ARE STARTING TO TALK.
1815
01:26:00,722 --> 01:26:03,601
YOU LOOK JUST AS GOOD
AS EVER.
1816
01:26:03,625 --> 01:26:04,702
SO DO YOU.
1817
01:26:04,726 --> 01:26:05,671
THANK YOU.
1818
01:26:05,695 --> 01:26:07,238
I MUST SAY PUBLICLY
1819
01:26:07,262 --> 01:26:09,741
YOU ALWAYS COMPLIMENT ME
ON THE SHOW, TELLING ME
1820
01:26:09,765 --> 01:26:12,243
THAT YOU OWE SO MUCH TO
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"...
1821
01:26:12,267 --> 01:26:14,379
TO YOU. NOT THE TONIGHT SHOW.
TO YOU.
1822
01:26:14,403 --> 01:26:18,116
Narrator: BUT IN 1986,
JOAN RIVERS KNEW
1823
01:26:18,140 --> 01:26:21,219
THIS WOULD BE HER LAST
APPEARANCE WITH THE MAN
1824
01:26:21,243 --> 01:26:22,121
THAT LAUNCHED HER CAREER.
1825
01:26:22,145 --> 01:26:24,355
THAT NIGHT,
SHE WORE THE SAME DRESS
1826
01:26:24,379 --> 01:26:27,158
FROM HER 1965 DEBUT.
1827
01:26:27,182 --> 01:26:31,195
I SAVED IT ALWAYS BECAUSE IT
WAS SUCH A BIG NIGHT FOR ME.
1828
01:26:31,219 --> 01:26:32,797
I'M WEARING THE SAME UNDERWEAR,
1829
01:26:32,821 --> 01:26:34,699
WHICH EVERYONE BACKSTAGE
REMEMBERS.
1830
01:26:34,723 --> 01:26:37,502
Zehme: AT THAT POINT, SHE HAD
ALREADY BEEN TALKING WITH FOX
1831
01:26:37,526 --> 01:26:41,406
AND ALREADY HAD A DEAL
FOR A SHOW OF HER OWN.
1832
01:26:41,430 --> 01:26:45,710
BUT WHAT SHE DIDN'T DO
WAS TELL HIM LONG BEFORE.
1833
01:26:45,734 --> 01:26:47,812
Lassally: THE NIGHT BEFORE
SHE ANNOUNCED
1834
01:26:47,836 --> 01:26:50,815
THAT SHE WAS STARTING A SHOW
ON FOX
1835
01:26:50,839 --> 01:26:51,883
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE,
1836
01:26:51,907 --> 01:26:55,386
JOHNNY GOT WIND OF THAT BECAUSE
SHE NEVER
1837
01:26:55,410 --> 01:26:57,188
WENT TO JOHNNY AND SAID,
1838
01:26:57,212 --> 01:27:01,359
"HEY, I'VE GOT THIS
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
1839
01:27:01,383 --> 01:27:03,227
AND I HOPE I HAVE YOUR
BLESSINGS,
1840
01:27:03,251 --> 01:27:06,397
BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW,"
SHE NEVER DID THAT.
1841
01:27:06,421 --> 01:27:08,132
SHE NEVER, EVER MENTIONED IT.
1842
01:27:08,156 --> 01:27:11,569
Rivers: AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY
DOUBLE-CROSSES EVERYBODY
1843
01:27:11,593 --> 01:27:14,739
IN THIS BUSINESS, AND SOMEHOW
IT WAS LEAKED... I CALLED HIM.
1844
01:27:14,763 --> 01:27:17,241
FIRST PHONE CALL,
AND I SAID, "JOHNNY,"
1845
01:27:17,265 --> 01:27:20,611
AND HE HAD OBVIOUSLY HEARD,
AND HE HUNG UP ON ME.
1846
01:27:20,635 --> 01:27:24,248
HE WAS FURIOUS WITH HER,
AND I THINK RIGHTFULLY SO.
1847
01:27:24,272 --> 01:27:28,352
Rivers: AND THAT WAS IT,
HE NEVER SPOKE TO ME AGAIN.
1848
01:27:28,376 --> 01:27:31,489
HE TOOK IT AS A COMPLETE
BETRAYAL.
1849
01:27:31,513 --> 01:27:32,690
AND I LOOK BACK AND I THINK,
1850
01:27:32,714 --> 01:27:35,226
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE JUST GONE
AND ASKED HIM.
1851
01:27:35,250 --> 01:27:38,796
IT WAS THAT SIMPLE, BUT SHE
JUST DIDN'T DO IT.
1852
01:27:38,820 --> 01:27:42,900
AFTER ALL THE LOYALTY
1853
01:27:42,924 --> 01:27:46,370
HE SHOWED HER, IT WAS
A TERRIBLE DECISION.
1854
01:27:46,394 --> 01:27:49,240
I DON'T SAY THIS SO YOU FEEL
LIKE I'M BRAGGING,
1855
01:27:49,264 --> 01:27:52,710
I DON'T WORRY ABOUT MONEY
ANYMORE BECAUSE I HAVE
1856
01:27:52,734 --> 01:27:54,212
A FANTASTIC BUSINESS ADVISOR,
1857
01:27:54,236 --> 01:27:56,214
A SHREWD MAN,
BOMBASTIC BUSHKIN.
1858
01:27:56,238 --> 01:27:59,584
HE'S GOTTEN ME INTO SOME
SHREWD BUSINESS DEALS.
1859
01:27:59,608 --> 01:28:02,353
I HAVE AN ALL NIGHT
LIQUOR STORE
1860
01:28:02,377 --> 01:28:03,155
IN A MORMON TEMPLE.
1861
01:28:03,179 --> 01:28:07,458
I OWN A FREDERICK'S
OF HOLLYWOOD IN IRAN.
1862
01:28:07,482 --> 01:28:10,428
I'M NOT INTO GOLD
OR PRECIOUS METALS.
1863
01:28:10,452 --> 01:28:12,196
BUSHKIN TOLD ME TO BUY FLINT.
1864
01:28:12,220 --> 01:28:14,832
Narrator: CARSON MAY HAVE JOKED
ABOUT IT
1865
01:28:14,856 --> 01:28:17,602
BUT THE FACT WAS THAT
BY THE LATE 1980s,
1866
01:28:17,626 --> 01:28:21,272
HE BELIEVED HENRY BUSHKIN HAD
INDEED GOTTEN HIM
1867
01:28:21,296 --> 01:28:22,673
INTO SOME BAD INVESTMENTS.
1868
01:28:22,697 --> 01:28:27,044
MOREOVER, HE FELT BUSHKIN HAD
ENRICHED HIMSELF
1869
01:28:27,068 --> 01:28:29,914
AT JOHNNY'S EXPENSE.
1870
01:28:29,938 --> 01:28:32,550
JOHNNY ENJOYED LOYALTY
AND GAVE LOYALTY.
1871
01:28:32,574 --> 01:28:37,388
BUT ONCE YOU CROSSED HIM
AND YOU WERE NOT THE PERSON
1872
01:28:37,412 --> 01:28:41,692
YOU PROPOSED TO BE,
THAT WAS IT, FINISHED.
1873
01:28:41,716 --> 01:28:43,995
Woman: HE FELT BETRAYED
BY MR. BUSHKIN.
1874
01:28:44,019 --> 01:28:49,233
AND IF HE FELT BETRAYED AND THAT
THERE WAS NO LOYALTY,
1875
01:28:49,257 --> 01:28:51,803
THEN IT WAS OVER.
1876
01:28:51,827 --> 01:28:53,771
SO, HE CUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY.
1877
01:28:53,795 --> 01:28:56,941
HE'D HAD PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE
HE TRUSTED
1878
01:28:56,965 --> 01:28:59,844
THAT WERE ULTIMATELY
UNTRUSTWORTHY.
1879
01:28:59,868 --> 01:29:03,214
HIS WORLD BECAME
NARROWER AND NARROWER
1880
01:29:03,238 --> 01:29:05,516
AS HE WENT ALONG
"THE TONIGHT SHOW"
1881
01:29:05,540 --> 01:29:08,052
AND GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER
AND BIGGER.
1882
01:29:08,076 --> 01:29:09,887
Carson:
NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT
1883
01:29:09,911 --> 01:29:13,791
YOU THINK YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH
PRESS YOU GET, MOTHERS,
1884
01:29:13,815 --> 01:29:16,928
ESPECIALLY, ARE ALWAYS ABLE TO
KIND OF LEVEL IT REAL GOOD.
1885
01:29:16,952 --> 01:29:20,231
I GOT THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FROM
THE TELEVISION ACADEMY IN 1980,
1886
01:29:20,255 --> 01:29:22,300
AND I CALLED MY MOTHER,
AND I SAID, "MOM,
1887
01:29:22,324 --> 01:29:24,869
THEY'RE GIVING ME THE
GOVERNOR'S AWARD, YOU KNOW,
1888
01:29:24,893 --> 01:29:28,139
IT'S FOR YOUR BODY OF WORK
IN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY."
1889
01:29:28,163 --> 01:29:33,644
AND MY MOTHER SAID, "I GUESS
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING."
1890
01:29:37,405 --> 01:29:42,520
Narrator: RUTH CARSON DIED
IN 1985 AT THE AGE OF 84.
1891
01:29:42,544 --> 01:29:46,424
WORKERS CLEARING OUT HER
ARIZONA HOME DISCOVERED A BOX
1892
01:29:46,448 --> 01:29:49,660
FILLED WITH HUNDREDS OF
NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE CLIPPINGS
1893
01:29:49,684 --> 01:29:53,898
DATING BACK TO THE BEGINNING
OF HER SON'S CAREER.
1894
01:29:53,922 --> 01:29:55,299
JOHNNY KEPT THE BOX
1895
01:29:55,323 --> 01:29:58,402
IN HIS BEDROOM CLOSET
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
1896
01:29:58,426 --> 01:30:02,173
Zehme: HE REMAINED ANGRY
AT HIS MOTHER IN WAYS
1897
01:30:02,197 --> 01:30:07,144
AND ALSO ADORED HER AND SOUGHT
HER LOVE AND APPROVAL
1898
01:30:07,168 --> 01:30:09,313
UNTIL THE DAY SHE DIED.
1899
01:30:09,337 --> 01:30:12,650
BUT IT'S VERY CONFLICTING
AND I DON'T KNOW
1900
01:30:12,674 --> 01:30:17,088
HOW MUCH OF THAT TRANSFERRED
INTO HIS INABILITY
1901
01:30:17,112 --> 01:30:18,856
TO BE A FAITHFUL HUSBAND.
1902
01:30:18,880 --> 01:30:22,393
Joanne: IT DID AFFECT
HIS RELATIONSHIP
1903
01:30:22,417 --> 01:30:23,861
WITH WOMEN TREMENDOUSLY.
1904
01:30:23,885 --> 01:30:26,697
I DON'T THINK HE HATED WOMEN,
BUT I THINK
1905
01:30:26,721 --> 01:30:32,270
HE WAS CAREFUL TO TRUST THEM,
AND WHEN HE DID,
1906
01:30:32,294 --> 01:30:34,672
THEY GOT HIS ENTIRE TRUST.
1907
01:30:34,696 --> 01:30:37,441
EVERYBODY KNOWS I LOVE YOU
AND THAT'S NICE.
1908
01:30:37,465 --> 01:30:39,610
WHEN YOU SAY "LOVE,"
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
1909
01:30:39,634 --> 01:30:41,746
YOU HAVE
AN AFFECTION FOR ME?
1910
01:30:41,770 --> 01:30:45,349
I HAVE MORE THAN AN AFFECTION
FOR YOU, I LOVE YOU,
1911
01:30:45,373 --> 01:30:48,152
AND I LIKE YOU A LOT.
1912
01:30:51,012 --> 01:30:53,157
Dickinson: HE WAS JUST TERRIFIC.
1913
01:30:53,181 --> 01:30:57,495
WE JUST NEVER GOT IN
THE RIGHT SLOT, YOU KNOW?
1914
01:30:57,519 --> 01:31:01,065
MISSED BEING
FREE AT THE SAME TIME.
1915
01:31:01,089 --> 01:31:03,334
BY THE TIME WE CAUGHT UP
WITH EACH OTHER,
1916
01:31:03,358 --> 01:31:05,202
WE WERE RE-INVOLVED
OR SOMETHING
1917
01:31:05,226 --> 01:31:07,538
AND NEVER GOT
REALLY SERIOUS.
1918
01:31:07,562 --> 01:31:12,576
Narrator: JOHNNY APPROACHED
33-YEAR-OLD ALEXIS MASS
1919
01:31:12,600 --> 01:31:13,844
AS SHE WALKED ON THE SAND
1920
01:31:13,868 --> 01:31:16,180
IN FRONT OF HIS
CARBON BEACH HOME.
1921
01:31:16,204 --> 01:31:18,916
HE INVITED HER IN FOR A GLASS
OF WINE.
1922
01:31:18,940 --> 01:31:21,385
SOON, SHE TRAVELED WITH HIM
TO WIMBLEDON
1923
01:31:21,409 --> 01:31:23,888
AND THE SOUTH OF FRANCE,
HIS CONSTANT COMPANION.
1924
01:31:23,912 --> 01:31:27,291
LOOK, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, I JUST
KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE.
1925
01:31:27,315 --> 01:31:29,994
AS I SAID TO THE JUSTICE OF
THE PEACE.
1926
01:31:32,287 --> 01:31:35,299
Narrator: THOUGH HE TOLD HER
NUMEROUS TIMES
1927
01:31:35,323 --> 01:31:37,768
DURING THEIR THREE YEAR
COURTSHIP
1928
01:31:37,792 --> 01:31:39,070
THAT HE'D NEVER MARRY AGAIN,
1929
01:31:39,094 --> 01:31:42,573
IN 1987, IN A PRIVATE CEREMONY
AT HIS MALIBU HOME,
1930
01:31:42,597 --> 01:31:46,043
ALEX BECAME THE FOURTH
MRS. CARSON.
1931
01:31:46,067 --> 01:31:48,579
Lassally: JOHNNY ALWAYS FELT,
1932
01:31:48,603 --> 01:31:52,083
I THINK BECAUSE OF HIS NEBRASKA
UPBRINGING,
1933
01:31:52,107 --> 01:31:54,085
THAT HE NEEDED TO BE MARRIED.
1934
01:31:54,109 --> 01:31:56,587
AND I KNOW THAT THEY WERE MADLY
IN LOVE,
1935
01:31:56,611 --> 01:31:58,756
AND THEY WERE MEANT
FOR EACH OTHER,
1936
01:31:58,780 --> 01:32:01,892
AND SO I THINK THAT SHE FILLED
A MISSING PIECE.
1937
01:32:01,916 --> 01:32:04,228
I DON'T THINK HE
FELT SO ISOLATED.
1938
01:32:04,252 --> 01:32:06,931
I THINK HE
FELT A TRUE PARTNER IN ALEX,
1939
01:32:06,955 --> 01:32:09,467
AND HE SEEMED
TO BE EXTREMELY HAPPY.
1940
01:32:09,491 --> 01:32:11,702
Zehme: I THINK WHAT HE FOUND,
1941
01:32:11,726 --> 01:32:16,207
AS SOMETIMES OLDER, POWERFUL MEN
FIND WITH YOUNGER WIVES,
1942
01:32:16,231 --> 01:32:19,210
HE CAME TO HER FULLY FORMED
1943
01:32:19,234 --> 01:32:22,413
AND SHE HAD TO ACCEPT HIM
AS HE WAS.
1944
01:32:22,437 --> 01:32:25,750
HE WAS VERY MUCH NOT
A PUBLIC PERSONA
1945
01:32:25,774 --> 01:32:27,985
IN HIS PRIVATE TIME,
AND SHE SEEMED
1946
01:32:28,009 --> 01:32:30,187
TO ACCEPT ALL THAT IN HIM,
AND I THINK
1947
01:32:30,211 --> 01:32:33,958
THEIR MARRIAGE THRIVED TO SOME
DEGREE BECAUSE OF THAT,
1948
01:32:33,982 --> 01:32:38,682
FOR A WHILE, UNTIL I
BELIEVE EVEN THAT WORE ON HER.
1949
01:32:43,124 --> 01:32:45,503
Sanders: I THINK HE REGRETTED
HE DIDN'T HAVE
1950
01:32:45,527 --> 01:32:48,205
A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH
HIS SONS THAN HE DID.
1951
01:32:48,229 --> 01:32:50,841
AND I THINK HIS SONS PROBABLY
FELT THAT, TOO,
1952
01:32:50,865 --> 01:32:51,543
BUT HE REALLY LOVED THEM.
1953
01:32:51,567 --> 01:32:54,311
EVERY TIME HE TALKED ABOUT
ANY OF THEM, HE WOULD WELL UP
1954
01:32:54,335 --> 01:32:59,417
WITH EMOTION, AND HE WAS VERY
PROUD OF ALL OF THEM.
1955
01:32:59,441 --> 01:33:04,288
Narrator: JOHNNY'S RELATIONSHIP
TO HIS THREE ADULT SONS
1956
01:33:04,312 --> 01:33:05,523
REMAINED DISTANT.
1957
01:33:05,547 --> 01:33:06,391
HE SUPPORTED THEM ALL,
1958
01:33:06,415 --> 01:33:09,727
GIVING THEM
JUST ENOUGH TO LIVE COMFORTABLY.
1959
01:33:09,751 --> 01:33:13,464
IN 1991, MIDDLE SON RICK WAS
KILLED WHEN HIS CAR
1960
01:33:13,488 --> 01:33:18,324
PLUNGED OFF A CLIFF
ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST.
1961
01:33:19,427 --> 01:33:22,106
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF YOU WHO WERE SO VERY
1962
01:33:22,130 --> 01:33:25,643
THOUGHTFUL, COMPASSIONATE AND
SYMPATHETIC WITH YOUR LETTERS,
1963
01:33:25,667 --> 01:33:26,511
IT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME.
1964
01:33:26,535 --> 01:33:29,580
AND I KNOW IT MEANT A GREAT
DEAL TO RICK'S BROTHERS,
1965
01:33:29,604 --> 01:33:32,216
CHRIS AND CORY,
AND OUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
1966
01:33:32,240 --> 01:33:34,051
Severinsen: AND JOHNNY,
1967
01:33:34,075 --> 01:33:34,786
INCIDENTALLY,
1968
01:33:34,810 --> 01:33:40,424
WAS NEVER THE SAME...
EVER, AFTER THAT.
1969
01:33:40,448 --> 01:33:41,448
THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.
1970
01:33:41,649 --> 01:33:46,697
Narrator: BUT FOR JOHNNY, CAREER
HAD REMAINED HIS TOP PRIORITY.
1971
01:33:46,721 --> 01:33:47,399
AT THE AGE OF 63,
1972
01:33:47,423 --> 01:33:51,035
HE WOULD BE CHALLENGED
BY A NEW LATE-NIGHT HOST
1973
01:33:51,059 --> 01:33:55,339
THAT HIS NETWORK SAW
AS A REAL THREAT.
1974
01:33:55,363 --> 01:33:58,242
I THINK ARSENIO HALL WAS
THE FIRST COMPETITOR
1975
01:33:58,266 --> 01:34:01,445
WHO CAME ON THE HORIZON THAT
GAVE NBC THE SHAKES.
1976
01:34:01,469 --> 01:34:03,981
AND I THINK IT REALLY
WORRIED THEM, IT SHOOK THEM,
1977
01:34:04,005 --> 01:34:07,384
BECAUSE THERE WAS A SENSE THAT
THERE'S A PARTY GOING ON
1978
01:34:07,408 --> 01:34:10,054
AT THE ARSENIO SHOW
YOU CAN'T MISS.
1979
01:34:10,078 --> 01:34:13,090
Hall: THE BEST WAY TO COMPETE
AGAINST JOHNNY IS TO FIND
1980
01:34:13,114 --> 01:34:15,693
YOUR OWN NICHE,
FIND YOUR OWN GENRE
1981
01:34:15,717 --> 01:34:17,528
AND TRY TO COEXIST WITH HIM.
1982
01:34:17,552 --> 01:34:18,396
MY IDEA WAS
1983
01:34:18,420 --> 01:34:20,531
JOHNNY HAS THIS THING
1984
01:34:20,555 --> 01:34:22,299
THAT NO ONE CAN TOUCH.
1985
01:34:22,323 --> 01:34:24,702
MAYBE I CAN HAVE THE KIDS
OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.
1986
01:34:24,726 --> 01:34:28,305
MAYBE I CAN HAVE THE CHILDREN
OF JOHNNY'S AUDIENCE.
1987
01:34:28,329 --> 01:34:28,907
THAT'S THE KEY...
1988
01:34:28,931 --> 01:34:33,595
DON'T COMPETE; FIND WHAT'S
UNIQUELY YOURS.
1989
01:34:34,102 --> 01:34:35,846
Carson: AND EVENTUALLY
IT'S GONNA END,
1990
01:34:35,870 --> 01:34:38,482
LIKE EVERYTHING ENDS,
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER,
1991
01:34:38,506 --> 01:34:40,684
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR TIME
ON TELEVISION
1992
01:34:40,708 --> 01:34:42,820
AND YOU GO ON
TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
1993
01:34:42,844 --> 01:34:45,022
IT'S NEVER BEEN CHISELED
IN STONE TABLETS
1994
01:34:45,046 --> 01:34:48,092
THAT I'VE GOT TO DO THIS
UNTIL I DIE AT THE DESK.
1995
01:34:48,116 --> 01:34:51,450
I DON'T WANT TO END THAT WAY.
1996
01:34:52,921 --> 01:34:56,333
Narrator: IN 1991,
WELL INTO HIS 29th YEAR
1997
01:34:56,357 --> 01:34:58,202
AS HOST OF "THE TONIGHT SHOW,"
1998
01:34:58,226 --> 01:35:00,037
JOHNNY REALIZED HIS WORLD
WAS CHANGING.
1999
01:35:00,061 --> 01:35:04,742
GUEST HOST JAY LENO'S MANAGER
PLANTED A STORY IN THE PRESS
2000
01:35:04,766 --> 01:35:08,045
THAT NBC WANTED LENO
TO REPLACE CARSON
2001
01:35:08,069 --> 01:35:10,080
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
2002
01:35:10,104 --> 01:35:12,349
JOHNNY WAS FURIOUS.
2003
01:35:12,373 --> 01:35:17,087
Zehme: THERE WAS A SENSE I THINK
THAT HE GOT A FEELING
2004
01:35:17,111 --> 01:35:19,023
NBC WAS MANIPULATING HIM OUT.
2005
01:35:19,047 --> 01:35:22,960
Man: THERE HAD BEEN A LOT
OF NEGATIVITY IN THE AIR.
2006
01:35:22,984 --> 01:35:24,662
IT JUST
WORE HIM DOWN.
2007
01:35:24,686 --> 01:35:26,931
AND HE FELT THAT HE WAS
BECOMING,
2008
01:35:26,955 --> 01:35:30,634
THAT NBC WASN'T DOING ENOUGH
TO PROTECT HIM.
2009
01:35:30,658 --> 01:35:34,104
Rivers: I DON'T THINK HE TRUSTED
ANYBODY AT THE END.
2010
01:35:34,128 --> 01:35:39,109
MAYBE FOUR PEOPLE WERE ABLE
TO COME INTO HIS WORLD.
2011
01:35:39,133 --> 01:35:42,379
BUT HE GOT SO,
2012
01:35:42,403 --> 01:35:44,248
EVERYBODY WANTED A PIECE OF HIM
2013
01:35:44,272 --> 01:35:49,486
AND HE JUST BECAME MORE AND MORE
AND MORE REMOTE.
2014
01:35:49,510 --> 01:35:52,523
Man: WE'LL PICK IT UP FROM,
"I'M NOT FOOLING AROUND."
2015
01:35:52,547 --> 01:35:57,428
Narrator: IN MAY OF 1991, BEFORE
A MEETING OF NETWORK AFFILIATES,
2016
01:35:57,452 --> 01:36:00,331
JOHNNY CARSON SURPRISED EVERYONE
BY ANNOUNCING
2017
01:36:00,355 --> 01:36:02,866
THAT HE'D RETIRE
THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
2018
01:36:02,890 --> 01:36:04,735
THIS TIME, HE MEANT IT.
2019
01:36:04,759 --> 01:36:09,640
Lassally: NBC NEVER, EVER
CONSULTED JOHNNY
2020
01:36:09,664 --> 01:36:13,577
AS TO WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT
HOST AFTER HIM.
2021
01:36:13,601 --> 01:36:16,013
THAT REALLY HURT HIM
BECAUSE HE HAD
2022
01:36:16,037 --> 01:36:19,883
A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP
WITH BOB WRIGHT.
2023
01:36:19,907 --> 01:36:21,652
Wright: I TALKED TO HIM
2024
01:36:21,676 --> 01:36:24,455
A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT IT.
2025
01:36:24,479 --> 01:36:26,123
HE DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED
2026
01:36:26,147 --> 01:36:27,891
IN A DIRECT MANNER
IN THAT ISSUE.
2027
01:36:27,915 --> 01:36:31,729
HE SAID, "LISTEN, I'VE HAD
THIS SHOW, I DO THIS SHOW,
2028
01:36:31,753 --> 01:36:36,166
I DON'T MANAGE NBC'S AFFAIRS,
I JUST MANAGE MY OWN.
2029
01:36:36,190 --> 01:36:39,470
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE TO MAKE
THE RIGHT DECISION YOURSELF.
2030
01:36:39,494 --> 01:36:42,172
I THINK THAT DAVID
IS A TERRIFIC COMIC,
2031
01:36:42,196 --> 01:36:45,409
I THINK HE WOULD DO VERY WELL
IN THE POSITION,
2032
01:36:45,433 --> 01:36:47,544
AND IF YOU'RE GONNA GET HIM
TO GO THERE,
2033
01:36:47,568 --> 01:36:48,380
THAT'S GONNA WORK JUST FINE."
2034
01:36:48,404 --> 01:36:51,315
I FELT STRONGLY THAT JAY LENO
WAS THE APPROPRIATE PERSON.
2035
01:36:51,339 --> 01:36:53,484
JAY LENO HAD AT THAT POINT BEEN
THE PERMANENT GUEST HOST
2036
01:36:53,508 --> 01:36:54,952
OF "THE TONIGHT SHOW
STARRING JOHNNY CARSON"
2037
01:36:54,976 --> 01:36:57,488
FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAD BEEN
DOING IT VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
2038
01:36:57,512 --> 01:36:58,290
BEEN DOING IT VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
2039
01:36:58,314 --> 01:37:02,393
BEFORE WE START TONIGHT,
I WANT TO TELL YOUNG JAY LENO
2040
01:37:02,417 --> 01:37:04,695
I'VE CHANGED MY MIND,
I'M GONNA STAY.
2041
01:37:05,621 --> 01:37:08,365
Leno: JOHNNY WAS ALWAYS
VERY GRACIOUS,
2042
01:37:08,389 --> 01:37:09,600
HE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE.
2043
01:37:09,624 --> 01:37:12,836
THERE WAS TENSION,
AND THEN OVER THE YEARS,
2044
01:37:12,860 --> 01:37:14,605
WE GOT TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN,
2045
01:37:14,629 --> 01:37:15,573
AND WE WOULD TALK OCCASIONALLY.
2046
01:37:15,597 --> 01:37:18,676
NOT A WHOLE LOT, 'CAUSE JOHNNY
WAS A PRIVATE PERSON,
2047
01:37:18,700 --> 01:37:21,278
PLUS YOU ALWAYS HAVE
THAT ODD SITUATION OF
2048
01:37:21,302 --> 01:37:23,113
ANYTIME YOU INVOKE
JOHNNY'S NAME,
2049
01:37:23,137 --> 01:37:26,517
ARE YOU DOING IT FOR YOUR OWN
SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT?
2050
01:37:26,541 --> 01:37:28,585
JUST HOW PISSED OFF ARE YOU?
2051
01:37:33,414 --> 01:37:36,593
YOU KEEP USING LANGUAGE
LIKE THAT,
2052
01:37:36,617 --> 01:37:40,731
AND YOU'RE GONNA FIND
YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB.
2053
01:37:40,755 --> 01:37:42,499
Letterman: I DO EVERYTHING
THE HARD WAY
2054
01:37:42,523 --> 01:37:45,402
AND THAT WAS HARD,
BUT I THINK, HONESTLY,
2055
01:37:45,426 --> 01:37:49,625
IT HAD THE BETTER
OUTCOME FOR ME, PERSONALLY.
2056
01:37:54,669 --> 01:37:58,916
ANOTHER DAY,
ANOTHER TWO MILLION DOLLARS.
2057
01:37:58,940 --> 01:38:00,918
Man: THE BUILD-UP TO
THE FINAL SHOW,
2058
01:38:00,942 --> 01:38:02,286
DURING THE LAST FOUR WEEKS,
2059
01:38:02,310 --> 01:38:04,188
WAS NOT TO BE BELIEVED.
2060
01:38:04,212 --> 01:38:05,489
Man: MONOLOGUE, OF COURSE.
2061
01:38:05,513 --> 01:38:08,592
Man: ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
YOU HAVE WITH A TALK SHOW
2062
01:38:08,616 --> 01:38:10,961
LIKE THIS IS TRYING
TO BOOK PEOPLE.
2063
01:38:10,985 --> 01:38:12,296
WELL, WE
HAD TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY.
2064
01:38:12,320 --> 01:38:15,299
EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO
"THE TONIGHT SHOW" WITH JOHNNY.
2065
01:38:15,323 --> 01:38:17,101
EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE ON
ONE MORE TIME.
2066
01:38:17,125 --> 01:38:21,038
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO QUIT?
2067
01:38:24,966 --> 01:38:27,411
DON'T GO!
2068
01:38:27,435 --> 01:38:28,213
THE SET,
2069
01:38:28,237 --> 01:38:31,648
WHICH I ASSUME YOU'RE
DISMANTLING AND SETTING UP
2070
01:38:31,672 --> 01:38:32,250
AT YOUR HOUSE...
2071
01:38:32,274 --> 01:38:35,686
IT'S EASIER TO TALK TO PEOPLE
LIKE THIS, ISN'T IT?
2072
01:38:35,710 --> 01:38:38,288
DON'T YOU WISH WHEN YOU HAD
A GUEST OVER,
2073
01:38:38,312 --> 01:38:41,492
YOU COULD JUST SAY,
"WE'RE OUT OF TIME"?
2074
01:38:42,784 --> 01:38:46,830
Severinsen: AND I SAID, "JOHNNY,
WHEN I GO OUT DOING CONCERTS,
2075
01:38:46,854 --> 01:38:48,599
IT'S LIKE... HUGE,
2076
01:38:48,623 --> 01:38:50,734
THE RESPONSE...
PEOPLE ARE NOT READY
2077
01:38:50,758 --> 01:38:52,169
FOR YOU TO LEAVE,"
AND HE SAID,
2078
01:38:52,193 --> 01:38:58,809
"YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS PRIDED
MYSELF ON MY SENSE OF TIMING,
2079
01:38:58,833 --> 01:39:00,644
AND THIS IS
THE TIME TO GO."
2080
01:39:00,668 --> 01:39:04,047
RAISE OUR GOBLETS,
HOIST OUR GLASSES,
2081
01:39:04,071 --> 01:39:08,218
ON MAY 22nd,
WE'RE OUT ON OUR ASSES.
2082
01:39:10,678 --> 01:39:11,688
HELLO, HELLO.
2083
01:39:11,712 --> 01:39:15,025
Sotzing: HE HAD SEEN PEOPLE
WHO STAYED TOO LONG,
2084
01:39:15,049 --> 01:39:17,227
AND HE MADE THE DECISION
TO LEAVE
2085
01:39:17,251 --> 01:39:20,464
WHEN HE WAS ON TOP AND HE DID.
2086
01:39:20,488 --> 01:39:23,801
HE NEVER LOOKED BACK
AND NEVER REALLY REGRETTED IT.
2087
01:39:23,825 --> 01:39:26,370
I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT LATER
AND HE SAID,
2088
01:39:26,394 --> 01:39:28,071
"I JUST DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY
2089
01:39:28,095 --> 01:39:30,441
THAT I USED TO HAVE
FOR THIS SHOW."
2090
01:39:30,465 --> 01:39:34,778
Seinfeld: IT'S A VERY HARD THING
FOR A COMEDIAN,
2091
01:39:34,802 --> 01:39:36,180
WHO LIVES ON APPLAUSE
2092
01:39:36,204 --> 01:39:39,349
AND LAUGHTER MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
2093
01:39:39,373 --> 01:39:42,553
THAT IS YOUR NUTRITION,
THAT IS YOUR DIET.
2094
01:39:42,577 --> 01:39:44,822
THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS
LOOKING FORWARD TO,
2095
01:39:44,846 --> 01:39:48,283
WHEN AM I GOING
TO GET MY NEXT FEEDING?
2096
01:39:49,650 --> 01:39:51,328
Sanders: BUT HE DIDN'T NEED
2097
01:39:51,352 --> 01:39:53,864
TO BE IN FRONT
OF THE AUDIENCE ANYMORE.
2098
01:39:53,888 --> 01:39:55,632
HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT NEED.
2099
01:39:55,656 --> 01:39:56,568
HE REALLY WANTED
2100
01:39:56,592 --> 01:39:57,901
A QUIET, PRIVATE LIFE.
2101
01:39:57,925 --> 01:40:01,191
HE WANTED
TO MAKE HIS LIFE SIMPLE.
2102
01:40:04,332 --> 01:40:07,144
Man: JOHNNY TOLD ME THAT HE
DIDN'T WANT TO BE
2103
01:40:07,168 --> 01:40:10,013
LIKE GEORGE BURNS WHOSE MANAGER
PROPPED HIM UP IN A CHAIR
2104
01:40:10,037 --> 01:40:10,715
IN HIS LATE NINETIES.
2105
01:40:10,739 --> 01:40:14,585
HE SAID, "WHY NOT BE REMEMBERED
FOR YOUR WORK IN THE OLD DAYS?"
2106
01:40:14,609 --> 01:40:17,221
HE FELT HE HAD DONE HIS 30 YEARS
2107
01:40:17,245 --> 01:40:18,822
AND THAT WAS ENOUGH.
2108
01:40:18,846 --> 01:40:20,324
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
2109
01:40:21,415 --> 01:40:24,528
Carter: MORE THAN ANYTHING,
I THINK PEOPLE ACCEPTED THE FACT
2110
01:40:24,552 --> 01:40:27,764
THAT IT WAS THE END OF AN ERA,
BUT I ALSO THINK THEY FELT LIKE
2111
01:40:27,788 --> 01:40:31,702
THIS IS A FRIEND OF OURS THAT
WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE ANYMORE.
2112
01:40:31,726 --> 01:40:32,136
YOU KNOW?
2113
01:40:32,160 --> 01:40:34,104
THIS IS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN
IN OUR LIVES
2114
01:40:34,128 --> 01:40:36,807
THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE
ANYMORE, AND SO IT WAS MOVING.
2115
01:40:36,831 --> 01:40:40,878
YOU PEOPLE WATCHING, I CAN ONLY
TELL YOU THAT IT HAS BEEN
2116
01:40:40,902 --> 01:40:43,714
AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE
TO COME INTO YOUR HOMES
2117
01:40:43,738 --> 01:40:45,215
ALL THESE
YEARS AND ENTERTAIN YOU.
2118
01:40:45,239 --> 01:40:48,585
AND I HOPE WHEN I FIND
SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO DO
2119
01:40:48,609 --> 01:40:49,887
AND I THINK YOU
WILL LIKE AND COME BACK,
2120
01:40:49,911 --> 01:40:53,190
THAT YOU'LL BE AS GRACIOUS
INVITING ME INTO YOUR HOME
2121
01:40:53,214 --> 01:40:54,092
AS YOU HAVE BEEN.
2122
01:40:54,116 --> 01:40:56,927
I BID YOU A VERY HEARTFELT
GOODNIGHT.
2123
01:41:00,154 --> 01:41:01,431
Letterman: AND WHEN IT WAS OVER,
2124
01:41:01,455 --> 01:41:05,202
IT WAS... AND FORGIVE ME
IF THIS IS MELODRAMATIC...
2125
01:41:05,226 --> 01:41:08,805
BUT IT'S LIKE WATCHING
A RELATIVE FADE OFF
2126
01:41:08,829 --> 01:41:10,841
FROM A COMA TO THE OTHER WORLD.
2127
01:41:10,865 --> 01:41:13,243
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE SCREEN
GOES BLACK
2128
01:41:13,267 --> 01:41:17,034
AND THE TELEVISION'S
OFF AND JOHNNY'S GONE.
2129
01:41:18,472 --> 01:41:20,717
Seinfeld: YOU KNOW,
FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER,
2130
01:41:20,741 --> 01:41:22,853
I'VE HEARD COMEDIANS IN BARS
DEBATE OVER,
2131
01:41:22,877 --> 01:41:26,023
"WHO DO YOU THINK IS GONNA GET
'THE TONIGHT SHOW'
2132
01:41:26,047 --> 01:41:26,724
AFTER JOHNNY LEAVES?"
2133
01:41:26,748 --> 01:41:30,694
WHAT NOBODY REALIZED IS THAT
WHEN YOU LEFT,
2134
01:41:30,718 --> 01:41:34,097
YOU WERE GOING TO PACK IT UP
AND TAKE IT WITH YOU,
2135
01:41:34,121 --> 01:41:35,198
WHICH IS WHAT HE DID.
2136
01:41:35,222 --> 01:41:40,337
BECAUSE THAT SHOW NEVER
EXISTED AGAIN.
2137
01:41:40,361 --> 01:41:43,907
THERE NEVER WAS
A "TONIGHT SHOW."
2138
01:41:43,931 --> 01:41:46,196
IT WAS CARSON.
2139
01:41:49,003 --> 01:41:53,951
Sotzing: AND PEOPLE WOULD COME
UP TO HIM ON A WEEKLY BASIS
2140
01:41:53,975 --> 01:41:58,789
AND SAY, "WE MISS YOU SO MUCH.
YOU WERE SO IMPORTANT TO US."
2141
01:41:58,813 --> 01:42:02,526
AND HE WOULD SAY, "CAN'T GET
ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
2142
01:42:02,550 --> 01:42:05,295
CAN'T BEAT THAT."
2143
01:42:05,319 --> 01:42:05,581
Announcer: ONE OF AMERICA'S
2144
01:42:06,187 --> 01:42:08,298
GREATEST TELEVISION
PERSONALITIES, JOHNNY CARSON,
2145
01:42:08,322 --> 01:42:11,468
LEFT THE NEBRASKA PLAINS TO
PRESIDE OVER LATE-NIGHT TV
2146
01:42:11,492 --> 01:42:12,536
FOR ALMOST THIRTY YEARS.
2147
01:42:12,560 --> 01:42:14,371
THE UNITED STATES HONORS
JOHNNY CARSON,
2148
01:42:14,395 --> 01:42:17,107
WHO PERSONIFIES THE HEART
AND HUMOR OF AMERICA.
2149
01:42:17,131 --> 01:42:22,245
Narrator: JOHNNY WAS PITCHED
NUMEROUS PROJECTS IN RETIREMENT
2150
01:42:22,269 --> 01:42:23,513
BUT DIDN'T PURSUE ANY OF THEM.
2151
01:42:23,537 --> 01:42:26,083
HE KNEW HE COULD NEVER TOP
WHAT HE'D DONE
2152
01:42:26,107 --> 01:42:27,250
AND THAT WAS JUST FINE WITH HIM.
2153
01:42:27,274 --> 01:42:32,155
THOUGH OFFERED COUNTLESS AWARDS,
HE ACCEPTED ONLY THOSE
2154
01:42:32,179 --> 01:42:33,124
HE COULD NOT REFUSE.
2155
01:42:33,148 --> 01:42:36,560
THE CLOSEST HE CAME TO WORKING
AGAIN WAS TO FAX JOKES
2156
01:42:36,584 --> 01:42:39,997
TO HIS FRIEND DAVID LETTERMAN.
2157
01:42:40,021 --> 01:42:42,566
JOHNNY WAS SO PROUD,
HE WOULD CALL ME AND SAY,
2158
01:42:42,590 --> 01:42:45,636
"DID YOU SEE? HE USED THREE
OF MY JOKES LAST NIGHT,"
2159
01:42:45,660 --> 01:42:49,306
AND HE WAS LIKE A KID
ALL OVER AGAIN, SAYING,
2160
01:42:49,330 --> 01:42:52,843
"I LOVE HEARING MY JOKES
ON THE AIR AGAIN."
2161
01:42:52,867 --> 01:42:56,346
Narrator: JOHNNY CARSON
MADE HIS LAST APPEARANCE
2162
01:42:56,370 --> 01:43:00,917
ON TELEVISION WHEN HE DELIVERED
A TOP TEN LIST TO LETTERMAN.
2163
01:43:00,941 --> 01:43:06,456
HE RECEIVED A 90-SECOND
STANDING OVATION.
2164
01:43:16,123 --> 01:43:18,502
OHH!
2165
01:43:18,526 --> 01:43:21,018
THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT.
2166
01:43:24,465 --> 01:43:29,413
Wright: HE WENT TO AFRICA AND HE
LEARNED TO SPEAK SWAHILI.
2167
01:43:29,437 --> 01:43:31,748
WE GOT OVER THERE,
WE WERE IN TANZANIA,
2168
01:43:31,772 --> 01:43:35,185
THERE'S JOHNNY TALKING TO
THE GUY DRIVING THE TRUCK,
2169
01:43:35,209 --> 01:43:37,054
TALKING TO THE GUY
AT THE AIRPORT,
2170
01:43:37,078 --> 01:43:41,124
TRYING TO SEE IF IT'S REALLY
GOOD, DO THEY UNDERSTAND ME?
2171
01:43:41,148 --> 01:43:42,592
GETTING MORE CONFIDENT.
2172
01:43:42,616 --> 01:43:44,061
WE'RE WAY OUT IN THE SERENGETI
2173
01:43:44,085 --> 01:43:47,164
AND HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT
ELEPHANTS OR SOMETHING
2174
01:43:47,188 --> 01:43:50,167
AND THEY'D BE LAUGHING
AND DARING HIM TO DO THINGS.
2175
01:43:50,191 --> 01:43:52,969
ALL I KNOW IS HE WAS TALKING
AND THEY WERE LAUGHING.
2176
01:43:52,993 --> 01:43:57,658
AMAZING. THAT'S A GIFT.
2177
01:43:58,699 --> 01:43:59,976
Narrator: MORE AND MORE,
2178
01:44:00,000 --> 01:44:03,847
JOHNNY RETREATED BEHIND
THE GATES OF HIS MALIBU HOME
2179
01:44:03,871 --> 01:44:05,449
OVERLOOKING THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
2180
01:44:05,473 --> 01:44:09,786
HE CONTINUED TO PLAY TENNIS,
REMAINED AN AVID READER,
2181
01:44:09,810 --> 01:44:12,789
AND SPENT LONG HOURS
SITTING OUTSIDE
2182
01:44:12,813 --> 01:44:15,225
GAZING AT THE SEA.
2183
01:44:15,249 --> 01:44:18,395
FRIENDS SAID THAT JOHNNY WAS
NEVER MORE CONTENT
2184
01:44:18,419 --> 01:44:20,630
THAN WHEN HE WAS ALONE
ON THE WATER,
2185
01:44:20,654 --> 01:44:24,701
AS FAR AWAY FROM
HUMANITY AS POSSIBLE.
2186
01:44:24,725 --> 01:44:25,836
IN LATER YEARS,
2187
01:44:25,860 --> 01:44:29,539
HE EVEN SAW LESS
OF HIS WIFE, ALEX.
2188
01:44:29,563 --> 01:44:32,008
Zehme: AND THERE WAS ALMOST
AN UNDERSTANDING
2189
01:44:32,032 --> 01:44:35,345
THAT THEY WERE KIND OF LIVING
A SLIGHTLY SEPARATE LIFE.
2190
01:44:35,369 --> 01:44:38,515
BUT SHE UNDERSTOOD HIM
AND HE UNDERSTOOD HER,
2191
01:44:38,539 --> 01:44:41,351
AND I GUESS THEY WERE JUST FINE
WITH THAT.
2192
01:44:41,375 --> 01:44:43,386
I THINK I ALSO
HEARD THAT HE SAID,
2193
01:44:43,410 --> 01:44:45,822
"I DON'T WANNA BE KNOWN
AS THE GUY
2194
01:44:45,846 --> 01:44:48,338
WHO GOT DIVORCED FOUR TIMES."
2195
01:44:49,150 --> 01:44:51,161
Severinsen: WE WENT OUT,
DROPPED ANCHOR
2196
01:44:51,185 --> 01:44:53,497
AND THOUGHT IT'D BE A NICE TIME
FOR A SWIM.
2197
01:44:53,521 --> 01:44:58,568
AND JOHNNY WAS A VERY
ATHLETIC, VERY STRONG GUY,
2198
01:44:58,592 --> 01:45:02,506
AND HE DIDN'T SWIM ANY MORE
THAN A FEW STROKES,
2199
01:45:02,530 --> 01:45:05,475
AND HE CAME UP
FOR AIR AND HE SAID,
2200
01:45:05,499 --> 01:45:07,811
"WOW, I'M OUT OF BREATH
ALREADY,"
2201
01:45:07,835 --> 01:45:10,580
AND YOU COULD SEE HE WAS
ALARMED ABOUT IT.
2202
01:45:10,604 --> 01:45:13,984
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST
TIME THAT HE HAD
2203
01:45:14,008 --> 01:45:16,686
A WAKE-UP
CALL THAT HE HAD EMPHYSEMA.
2204
01:45:16,710 --> 01:45:19,589
Tennis: JOHNNY WAS ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE
2205
01:45:19,613 --> 01:45:20,891
WHO SINCERELY BELIEVED
2206
01:45:20,915 --> 01:45:23,493
THAT HE HAD AN IMMUNITY AGAINST
2207
01:45:23,517 --> 01:45:24,528
THE ILLS OF SMOKING,
2208
01:45:24,552 --> 01:45:27,130
AND THAT HE HAD FOOLED HIMSELF
INTO BELIEVING THAT
2209
01:45:27,154 --> 01:45:30,400
HE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT SMOKING WOULD NEVER HARM.
2210
01:45:30,424 --> 01:45:32,903
Sotzing: HE HAD STOPPED SMOKING
AT THAT TIME,
2211
01:45:32,927 --> 01:45:35,639
BUT I DON'T THINK HE WAS
TOO THRILLED ABOUT THE FACT
2212
01:45:35,663 --> 01:45:40,310
THAT HE CAUSED THE SITUATION
AND KNEW THAT HE DID THAT.
2213
01:45:40,334 --> 01:45:43,513
BUT I THINK HE WAS,
HE WAS COVERING UP.
2214
01:45:43,537 --> 01:45:48,051
HE WASN'T LETTING US KNOW
JUST HOW SICK HE WAS.
2215
01:45:48,075 --> 01:45:50,253
Kaye: AND WHEN HE GOT ILL,
2216
01:45:50,277 --> 01:45:55,192
HE CALLED ME BECAUSE HE KNEW
I WAS A SMOKER
2217
01:45:55,216 --> 01:45:57,227
AND THE LAST THING
2218
01:45:57,251 --> 01:45:59,262
HE SAID TO ME WAS,
2219
01:45:59,286 --> 01:46:01,798
"THESE DAMN CIGARETTES."
2220
01:46:01,822 --> 01:46:04,501
AND I SAID, "I KNOW, JOHN."
2221
01:46:04,525 --> 01:46:09,072
♪ HERE'S THAT RAINY DAY ♪
2222
01:46:09,096 --> 01:46:15,512
♪ THEY TOLD ME ABOUT ♪
2223
01:46:15,536 --> 01:46:19,282
♪ AND I LAUGHED AT THE THOUGHT ♪
2224
01:46:19,306 --> 01:46:27,057
♪ THAT IT MIGHT TURN OUT
THIS WAY ♪
2225
01:46:27,081 --> 01:46:30,227
Zehme: I THINK JOHNNY HIMSELF
2226
01:46:30,251 --> 01:46:33,930
WAS CONTENT AND AT PEACE
WITH IT.
2227
01:46:33,954 --> 01:46:38,168
HE DIDN'T WANNA LIVE
A COMPROMISED LIFE
2228
01:46:38,192 --> 01:46:39,569
ON OXYGEN TANKS.
2229
01:46:39,593 --> 01:46:41,972
THAT WASN'T WHO HE WAS.
2230
01:46:41,996 --> 01:46:46,643
BUT HE DID WISH TO GO
AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW?
2231
01:46:46,667 --> 01:46:50,814
HE DIDN'T WANNA FIGHT.
2232
01:46:50,838 --> 01:46:54,217
♪ FUNNY ♪
2233
01:46:54,241 --> 01:46:58,321
♪ HOW LOVE BECOMES ♪
2234
01:46:58,345 --> 01:47:01,958
♪ A COLD ♪
2235
01:47:01,982 --> 01:47:05,783
♪ RAINY DAY ♪
2236
01:47:08,122 --> 01:47:10,033
♪ FUNNY ♪
2237
01:47:10,057 --> 01:47:12,769
♪ THAT RAINY DAY ♪
2238
01:47:12,793 --> 01:47:18,528
♪ IS HERE ♪♪
2239
01:47:28,142 --> 01:47:29,286
Severinsen: AND SO,
2240
01:47:29,310 --> 01:47:32,508
"WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM..."
2241
01:47:38,585 --> 01:47:40,713
THAT WAS IT.
2242
01:47:41,855 --> 01:47:45,035
Narrator: JOHNNY CARSON DIED
2243
01:47:45,059 --> 01:47:48,271
ON JANUARY 23rd, 2005.
2244
01:47:48,295 --> 01:47:51,074
HE WAS 79 YEARS OLD.
2245
01:47:51,098 --> 01:47:53,743
Shandling: I COULD NOT BELIEVE
2246
01:47:53,767 --> 01:47:56,613
HOW STUNNED I WAS THE DAY
JOHNNY DIED.
2247
01:47:56,637 --> 01:48:00,216
AND I HAPPENED TO BE RENTING
A PLACE IN MALIBU,
2248
01:48:00,240 --> 01:48:03,520
FROM WHICH I COULD LOOK
RIGHT ACROSS
2249
01:48:03,544 --> 01:48:07,457
WHAT IS ACTUALLY CALLED
"PARADISE COVE"
2250
01:48:07,481 --> 01:48:10,694
TO WHERE JOHNNY'S HOUSE WAS.
2251
01:48:10,718 --> 01:48:11,995
I... I...
2252
01:48:12,019 --> 01:48:14,864
I JUST SAT OUT THERE...
2253
01:48:14,888 --> 01:48:18,601
I SAT OUT THERE FOR LIKE
AN HOUR.
2254
01:48:18,625 --> 01:48:22,472
AND YOU GO, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
2255
01:48:22,496 --> 01:48:26,710
"I'M NOT THAT, I'M NOT THAT
CLOSE TO THAT GUY."
2256
01:48:26,734 --> 01:48:30,694
AND THEN I REALIZE
HOW CLOSE I WAS.
2257
01:48:32,306 --> 01:48:36,953
Sotzing: IN FACT, WHEN HE
PASSED AWAY, I READ A STORY
2258
01:48:36,977 --> 01:48:37,755
IN THE OMAHA HERALD.
2259
01:48:37,779 --> 01:48:39,956
THEY HAD A LISTING OF ALL
THE THINGS
2260
01:48:39,980 --> 01:48:40,691
THAT HE HAD DONATED TO,
2261
01:48:40,715 --> 01:48:43,660
AND I ONLY KNEW A FEW OF THEM,
IT WAS AMAZING.
2262
01:48:43,684 --> 01:48:45,328
HE WOULD JUST DO IT.
2263
01:48:45,352 --> 01:48:48,665
HE WOULD SEE A STORY ABOUT
SOMEONE IN NEED
2264
01:48:48,689 --> 01:48:50,300
AND PICK UP THE PHONE
AND WRITE A CHECK...
2265
01:48:50,324 --> 01:48:55,888
ALL THE TIME, AND HE NEVER SAID
ANYTHING TO ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
2266
01:49:00,901 --> 01:49:04,714
Wright: SO, THERE HE IS IN
THE END, WITH THE LARGEST
2267
01:49:04,738 --> 01:49:06,750
CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
OF PROBABLY ANYBODY
2268
01:49:06,774 --> 01:49:10,420
THAT'S EVER BEEN IN
THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
2269
01:49:10,444 --> 01:49:11,855
AND NOBODY KNEW.
2270
01:49:14,481 --> 01:49:17,761
Zehme: AND THAT WAS THE MOST
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
2271
01:49:17,785 --> 01:49:19,629
PROBABLY BETWEEN VIEWER AND STAR
2272
01:49:19,653 --> 01:49:21,765
IN ALL OF TELEVISION,
2273
01:49:21,789 --> 01:49:24,100
BECAUSE OF THAT HOUR
AND HIS ROLE
2274
01:49:24,124 --> 01:49:27,971
IN SOOTHING YOU AT THE END
OF YOUR DAY,
2275
01:49:27,995 --> 01:49:30,573
AND WE CAN GO ON AND GET UP
IN THE MORNING,
2276
01:49:30,597 --> 01:49:33,910
AND IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT,
AND HERE WE GO AGAIN.
2277
01:49:33,934 --> 01:49:34,845
AND IT WAS SO IMPORTANT,
2278
01:49:34,869 --> 01:49:38,048
AND WHAT HE DID THERE,
NOBODY HAS EVER TOUCHED.
2279
01:49:38,072 --> 01:49:40,050
Leno: YOU'RE A POLICEMAN,
2280
01:49:40,074 --> 01:49:41,751
YOU'RE A NURSE,
YOU'RE A FIREMAN,
2281
01:49:41,775 --> 01:49:44,087
YOU'RE SOMEONE
WHO DEALS WITH TRAGEDY.
2282
01:49:44,111 --> 01:49:44,822
YOU COME HOME AT NIGHT,
2283
01:49:44,846 --> 01:49:48,391
YOU TURN ON THE TV, YOU JUST
WANT TO HAVE A LAUGH.
2284
01:49:48,415 --> 01:49:49,492
HE NEVER BROUGHT YOU DOWN...
2285
01:49:49,516 --> 01:49:51,728
"HERE'S WHAT'S GOING ON,
MY LIFE IS SO HORRIBLE."
2286
01:49:51,752 --> 01:49:54,731
HE ALWAYS ELEVATED EVERYBODY UP,
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE KEY.
2287
01:49:54,755 --> 01:49:56,499
YOU FELT GOOD AFTER
WATCHING THE SHOW.
2288
01:49:56,523 --> 01:49:58,802
O'Brien: I SAID, "JOHNNY,
I'M MAD AT YOU.
2289
01:49:58,826 --> 01:50:00,637
I THINK A LOT OF US ARE MAD
AT YOU
2290
01:50:00,661 --> 01:50:02,972
WHO HAVE TO DO THIS FOR
A LIVING NOW,
2291
01:50:02,996 --> 01:50:05,442
BECAUSE YOU LULLED US
INTO DOING IT
2292
01:50:05,466 --> 01:50:06,743
BY MAKING IT LOOK SO EASY."
2293
01:50:06,767 --> 01:50:10,246
Letterman: JOHNNY CARSON
COALESCED MY LIFE.
2294
01:50:10,270 --> 01:50:13,316
HE GAVE ME SOMETHING TO AIM FOR,
SOMETHING TO EMULATE.
2295
01:50:13,340 --> 01:50:14,584
WELL, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN,
2296
01:50:14,608 --> 01:50:16,586
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA HAVE
A TARGET,
2297
01:50:16,610 --> 01:50:18,388
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING
TO SHOOT FOR.
2298
01:50:18,412 --> 01:50:21,124
AND HE PUT ME TOGETHER
AS A PERSON, HONESTLY.
2299
01:50:21,148 --> 01:50:27,197
SO, I FORGET THE QUESTION,
BUT THAT'S THE ANSWER.
2300
01:50:27,221 --> 01:50:30,433
♪ WE'RE DRINKING, MY FRIEND ♪
2301
01:50:30,457 --> 01:50:31,968
♪ TO THE END ♪
2302
01:50:31,992 --> 01:50:38,074
♪ OF A SWEET EPISODE ♪
2303
01:50:38,098 --> 01:50:40,810
Zehme: I WOULD SAY IT WOULD
PROBABLY BE
2304
01:50:40,834 --> 01:50:43,847
PROFESSOR HOFFMANN'S BOOK
OF MAGIC.
2305
01:50:43,871 --> 01:50:45,181
THAT WOULD BE THE "ROSEBUD,"
2306
01:50:45,205 --> 01:50:47,283
THE FIRST MAGIC BOOK
HE EVER PICKED UP,
2307
01:50:47,307 --> 01:50:51,154
AND HE DECIDED,
"WHAT'S THIS?"
2308
01:50:51,178 --> 01:50:54,224
A WAY TO TRANSFORM HIMSELF
INTO SOMETHING ELSE,
2309
01:50:54,248 --> 01:50:57,494
SOMETHING BIGGER, SOMETHING
THAT WOULD IMPRESS
2310
01:50:57,518 --> 01:51:00,897
AND YET QUIETLY DO IT,
ELEGANTLY DO IT.
2311
01:51:00,921 --> 01:51:06,402
MAGIC...
MAGIC IS HIS ROSEBUD.
2312
01:51:06,426 --> 01:51:08,938
♪ FOR ALL OF THE YEARS ♪
2313
01:51:08,962 --> 01:51:12,709
♪ FOR THE LAUGHS,
FOR THE TEARS ♪
2314
01:51:12,733 --> 01:51:20,733
♪ FOR THE CLASS
THAT YOU SHOWED ♪
2315
01:51:20,841 --> 01:51:26,356
♪ MAKE IT ONE FOR MY BABY ♪
2316
01:51:26,380 --> 01:51:30,660
♪ AND ONE MORE FOR ♪
2317
01:51:30,684 --> 01:51:36,766
♪ THE ROAD ♪
2318
01:51:36,790 --> 01:51:41,337
♪ THAT LONG ♪
2319
01:51:41,361 --> 01:51:44,107
♪ LONG ♪
2320
01:51:44,131 --> 01:51:51,402
♪ ROAD ♪♪
2321
01:52:44,958 --> 01:52:46,603
SISS-BOOM-BAH!
2322
01:52:46,627 --> 01:52:49,187
McMahon:
SISS-BOOM-BAH!
2323
01:52:50,063 --> 01:52:53,643
"DESCRIBE THE SOUND MADE
WHEN A SHEEP EXPLODES."
2324
01:53:15,389 --> 01:53:17,153
WHOOO!
190270
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