Johnny Carson
Birth name	John William Carson
Born	October 23, 1925(1925-10-23) Corning, Iowa
Died	January 23, 2005 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California
Nationality	American
Spouse	Joan Morrill Wolcott (1949–1963) Joanne Copeland (1963–1972) Joanna Holland (1972–1985) Alexis Maas (1987–2005)
Notable works and roles	Host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Emmy Awards
Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement 1976 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1977 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1978 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1979 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Governor's Award 1980 Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (Series) 1992 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Personal Award 1986
American Comedy Awards
Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication 1987 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Lifetime Achievement Award 1992 Lifetime Achievement

John William “Johnny” Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host best known for his iconic status as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for thirty years. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Corning is a city in Quincy Township, Adams County, Iowa, United States. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of Comedy, with Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962

Before The Tonight Show

Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, to parents Homer "Kit" Lloyd Carson, a power company manager, and Ruth Hook Carson. Corning is a city in Quincy Township, Adams County, Iowa, United States. Johnny Carson grew up in southwest Iowa until the age of 8 years old when the family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska, where he learned to perform magic tricks, debuting as "The Great Carsoni" at age 14. Norfolk is a City in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha at the intersection of U He attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he received V-12 officer training, and then served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college in Jackson Mississippi, supported by the United Methodist Church. The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II. He served on the USS Pennsylvania in the final days of the war. Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Pennsylvania in honor of the second state. Carson then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he joined Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1949. The University of Nebraska is the public University system in the state of Nebraska, USA. Origins of Phi Gamma Delta Historical sketch of Jefferson College In 1803 only a small percentage of Americans attended college A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and The next year, Carson took a job at WOW radio and television in Omaha. WOWT-TV, channel 6 is the NBC affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska. With its strong signal it also serves the state capital 52 miles (84 km away in Lincoln Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic He appeared on radio with Ken Case, an Omaha native who was later a news anchorman and sports broadcaster in Monroe, Louisiana. Kenneth Craig "Ken" Case ( June 14, 1925 – May 10, 2007) was a News Anchorman, Meteorologist, and Monroe is a city in and the Parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. Carson soon hosted an early morning television program called The Squirrel's Nest; Carson then took a job at CBS-owned Los Angeles television station KNXT, which was his entry to the big time. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West KCBS-TV, channel 2 is an owned-and-operated station of the CBS Television Network, located in Los Angeles California.

In 1953, well-known comic Red Skelton – a fan of Carson's sketch comedy show, Carson's Cellar, which ran from 1951 to 1953 on KNXT – tapped Carson to join his show as a writer. Richard Bernard “Red” Skelton ( July 18, 1913 &ndash September 17, 1997) was an American comedian who was best known as a top In 1954, Skelton knocked himself unconscious just one hour before his live show went on the air; Carson filled in for him.

He hosted several TV shows before his run on The Tonight Show, including the game show Earn Your Vacation (1954), the variety show The Johnny Carson Show (1955-1956), a regular panelist gig on the first version of To Tell The Truth until 1962 and a five-year stint on the game show Who Do You Trust? (1957-1962), during which Carson met long-time sidekick Ed McMahon. A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and The Johnny Carson Show was a 1955-56 half hour Prime time Television Variety show starring Johnny Carson. To Tell the Truth is an American Television Game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson - Todman Who Do You Trust? was a fairly popular Game show during the 1950s and 1960s emceed by Johnny Carson. SideKick was an early Personal Information Manager (PIM Software application by Borland launched in 1983 under Philippe Kahn Edward "Ed" Leo Peter McMahon Jr (born March 6 1923 is an American Comedian, Game show host, Announcer, and Television personality

In 1960, Carson was a candidate to play the role of TV writer Rob Petrie in a new sitcom created by Carl Reiner entitled Head of the Family. Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American Actor, Film director, producer, Writer and Comedian At the suggestion of producer Sheldon Leonard, however, Dick Van Dyke was given the role and the series was subsequently retitled The Dick Van Dyke Show. Sheldon Leonard ( February 22 1907 – January 10, 1997) was a pioneering American Film and Television producer Richard Wayne “Dick” Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American Actor, Presenter and Entertainer, with a The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television Situation comedy which initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to ^[1]

The Tonight Show

Carson became the host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (taking over after Jack Paar quit) in October 1962. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 Jack Harold Paar ( May 1, 1918 &ndash January 27, 2004) was an American Radio and Television talk show host Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His announcer and sidekick was Ed McMahon throughout his entire tenure with the program. Edward "Ed" Leo Peter McMahon Jr (born March 6 1923 is an American Comedian, Game show host, Announcer, and Television personality His opening line, "Heeeere's Johnny" became a hallmark of the show.

For millions of people, watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson at the end of the evening became a ritual, and Carson, with his quick wit and natural charm, became a well-known entertainer loved by many. Most of the later shows began with music and the announcement by Ed McMahon "Heeeeeere's Johnny!", followed by a brief comedic monologue by Carson. This was often followed by comedy sketches, interviews, and music. Carson's trademark was a phantom golf swing at the end of his Tonight Show monologues, aimed at stage left where the Tonight Show Band was located. Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television Variety show, the Tonight Show. Guest hosts would sometimes parody that gesture. Bob Newhart, for example, would finish by simulating rolling a bowling ball toward the audience. George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor.

Paul Anka wrote the theme song ("Johnny's Theme"), a reworking of an earlier Anka song called "Toot Sweet" that had been given lyrics, renamed "It's Really Love," and recorded by Annette Funicello in 1959. Paul Mustapha Abdi Anka, ( Arabic: بول مصطفى عبدي أنكا OC (born 30 July 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Annette Joanne Funicello (born October 22, 1942) is an American Singer and Actress. Anka gave Carson co-authorship credit and they split the royalties for the next three decades. For years, the theme opened with a memorable drum riff that was later dropped.

The show was originally produced in New York City, with occasional stints in California. The City of New York California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It was not broadcast live in its early years, although during the 1970s, NBC fed the live taping from Burbank to New York via satellite for editing (see below). The program had been done "live on tape" (uninterrupted unless a serious problem occurred) since the Jack Paar days. Jack Harold Paar ( May 1, 1918 &ndash January 27, 2004) was an American Radio and Television talk show host In May 1972 the show permanently moved from New York to Burbank, California. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County California, United States. Carson often joked about "beautiful downtown Burbank" and also referred to "beautiful downtown Bakersfield," a comment which prompted then Mayor Mary K. Shell to chide Carson and to invite him to her city to see the improvements made during the early 1980s. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell, previously Mary Hosking, usually known as Mary K The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989.

After the move, Carson stopped doing shows five days a week. Instead, on Monday nights there was a "guest host" (leaving Carson to do the other four each week). Shows were taped in Burbank at 5:30 p. m. local time (8:30 pm Eastern time) to be shown later that evening at 11:30 pm Eastern time. On September 8, 1980, at Carson's request, the show cut its traditional 90-minute format to 60 minutes; Tom Snyder's Tomorrow added a half hour to fill the vacant time slot. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Tom Snyder ( May 12, 1936 - July 29, 2007) was an American television personality, News anchor and Tomorrow (also known as The Tomorrow Show and after 1980, Tomorrow Coast to Coast) was an American Joan Rivers became the "permanent" guest host from September 1983 until 1986, when she was fired for accepting a competing show on the startup Fox network without consulting Carson first. Joan Rivers (born Joan Alexandra Molinsky; June 8, 1933) is an American Comedian, Actress, Talk show Not to be confused with Guest presenter. A guest host is a host usually of a Talk show, that substitutes for the regular host Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Thereafter, The Tonight Show returned to using various guest hosts, including legendary standup comic George Carlin. George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12 1937 – June 22 2008 was an American stand-up comedian, often considered one of the best of all time Jay Leno then became the exclusive guest host in the fall of 1987. James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host Eventually, the pattern became relatively set. Monday night was for Jay Leno. Tuesday night was for the Best of Carson, which were rebroadcasts of earlier episodes (usually of a year previous but occasionally back into the 1970s with edited episodes).

Carson had a talent for coming up with quick quips to deal with unexpected problems. If the opening monologue fared poorly, the band would start playing the song "Tea for Two" and Carson would start to dance, which invariably earned laughs from the studio audience. Alternately, Carson might pull down the boom mike close to his face and announce "Attention K-Mart shoppers!"

Carson's show was the launching pad for many talented performers, notably comedians. A boom operator is an assistant of the Production sound mixer. Kmart (sometimes spelled as " K-Mart " is a chain of department stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U Many got their "big break" by appearing on the show, and it was considered the crowning achievement to not only get Johnny to laugh out loud, but also to be called over to the guest chair. In many ways, Carson was the successor to The Ed Sullivan Show as a showcase for all kinds of talent, as well as continuing the Vaudeville variety-show tradition. The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television Variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s

In 1973, Carson had a legendary run-in with popular psychic Uri Geller when he invited Geller to appear on his show. The word psychic (ˈsaɪkɨk from the Greek psychikos—"of the soul mental" refers to the claimed ability to perceive things hidden from the normal senses Uri Geller (אורי גלר born György Gellér ( Hungarian name December 20, 1946) is an Israeli British performer Carson, an experienced stage magician, wanted a neutral demonstration of Geller's alleged abilities, so, at the advice of his friend and fellow magician James Randi, he gave Geller several spoons out of his desk drawer and asked him to bend them with his psychic powers. James Randi (born August 7 1928 (stage name The Amazing Randi) is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of Paranormal Geller proved unable, and his appearance on The Tonight Show has since been regarded as the beginning of Geller's fall from glory.

Carson once successfully sued a manufacturer of portable toilets who wanted to call his product "Here's Johnny". ^[2]

On December 13, 1976, comedian Don Rickles was a guest on a night when comedian Bob Newhart guest-hosted while Carson was on vacation. For the radio and television announcer see Donald Rickles (announcer. George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor. While poking fun at Newhart and improvising an "immigration" bit, Rickles stamped an imaginary passport, slamming the cigarette box Carson kept on his desk and breaking it. When Carson returned to the show the next night and discovered this, he took a camera crew to the studio next door where CPO Sharkey, a sitcom starring Rickles, was being taped. CPO Sharkey was an American Sitcom which aired from 1976 to 1978 on NBC. Carson barged into the studio, shouting, "RICKLES!" He disrupted the taping, berating the embarrassed Rickles with a barrage of insults, in imitation of Rickles's act. Carson also teased CPO Sharkey's African-American actor Harrison Page by speaking to him in an exaggerated southern dialect. CPO Sharkey was an American Sitcom which aired from 1976 to 1978 on NBC. The entire incident appeared to be spontaneous, but comedy writer Mark Evanier published an opinion: "Carson's show was taped in Studio 1 at NBC Burbank. The Rickles sitcom was in Studio 3, where Leno now tapes. . . While Johnny did his best to make it all look spontaneous and unarranged, it had to have been carefully planned. Rickles probably was not in on it and may have been genuinely surprised, but Johnny's producers and director must have been prepared for what transpired, and the producers of CPO Sharkey almost certainly knew. At the moment Johnny entered, Don just 'happened' to be shooting on the set closest to that door. The surprise wouldn't have worked as well if they'd been on one of the other sets. It wouldn't have worked at all if they'd been between scenes or taping a portion of the show that Rickles wasn't in. "

An oft-repeated story—since dismissed as an "urban legend"—involved a guest appearance by Zsa Zsa Gabor carrying a white Persian cat. Zsa Zsa Gabor ( born February 6 1917) is a Hungarian -born American Actress and Socialite. Gabor is said to have asked Johnny if he would like to "pet my pussy?" During a 1989 appearance, Jane Fonda noted that her son had repeated the claim, and "my son said that you said, uh, 'I'd love to, if you'd remove that damned cat!' Is it true?" Carson denied the episode on-air saying, "No, I think I would recall that. Jane Fonda (born December 21 1937 is an American Academy Award winning Actress, Writer, political activist, former Fashion . . "^[3] He and Gabor both responded to researchers stating the event "never happened. "^[4][5] Despite widespread insistence by people who claim to have seen the episode, no audio or video has ever been produced.

However, a bit of adult humor was not beyond Carson. During an interview with Dolly Parton, in reference to her large bust, she said, "People are always asking if they're real and . Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Country music Singer / Songwriter, Author, actress The breast is the upper Ventral region of an animal’s Torso, particularly that of Mammals including Human beings. . . . I'll tell you what, these are mine. " Carson replied, "I have certain guidelines on this show. But I would give about a year's pay to peek under there. "

In a 1980 Rolling Stone article, Carson caused quite a public backlash when he called the Brian Wilson penned (Beach Boys) song "Johnny Carson" (from 1977's Love You LP) "not a work of art". Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California) is an American Musician best known as the lead The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture Love You is the 1977 follow-up to The Beach Boys ' comeback album 15 Big Ones and their eighteenth studio Album overall Wilson wrote the song tribute citing the fact no such song had existed previously about the 'king of late night'.

Carson made several routine jokes at the expense of other celebrities, like Wayne Newton (after Newton had performed on Carson's show several times). Carson Wayne Newton' (born April 3, 1942) is an American Singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas Nevada. Newton claimed in his 1991 autobiography, among other times including a 1989 interview with Phil Donahue, that the circumstances led to a confrontation in Carson's dressing room where Newton threatened a physical altercation if Carson didn't cease the barrage of jokes with homosexual connotations. In a November 29, 2007 interview on Larry King Live, Wayne Newton said, "I'm going to say something I've never said on television, Mr. King. Johnny Carson was a mean-spirited human being. And there are people that he has hurt that people will never know about. And for some reason at some point, he decided to turn that kind of negative attention toward me. And I refused to have it. "^[6]

Johnny Carson's comic characters

Carson played several continuing characters on sketches during the show, including

• Art Fern, the "Tea Time Movie" announcer (always selling strange or shoddy merchandise). The character was based on late-show TV hosts who would deliver commercials throughout the movie. Carson originally played the fast-talking huckster in his own voice (as Honest Bernie Schlock or Ralph Willie), and finally settled on a nasal, high-pitched, smarmy drone reminiscent of Jackie Gleason's "Reginald Van Gleason III" character. Herbert Walton Gleason Jr, baptized John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason ( February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an The character, now permanently known as Art Fern, wore a lavish toupee, loud jackets, and a pencil mustache. Actress Carol Wayne became famous for her 100+ appearances (1971–1982) as Art's buxom assistant, the Matinée Lady. Carol Wayne ( September 6, 1942 – January 13, 1985) was an American Television and Film Actress While Art gave his spiel, she would enter the stage behind him. Art would react to her attractive body, wincing loudly, "Ho. . . . leeeee!". After Carol Wayne's death, Carson kept Art Fern off the air for most of the next year, and finally hired Danuta Wesley and then Teresa Ganzel to play the Matinée Lady. Carson also used these sketches to poke fun at the intricate Los Angeles interstate system, using a pointer and map to give confusing directions to shoppers (often including points where he would unfold the cardboard map to point out, via the appropriate picture, when the shopper would arrive at "the fork in the road").
• Carnac the Magnificent, a turbaned psychic who could answer questions before seeing them. Carnac the Magnificent was a role played by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and later (This same routine had been done by Carson's predecessor, Steve Allen, as "The Question Man. ") Carnac had a trademark entrance in which he always "tripped" going up the step to Carson's desk. (In one episode, technicians rigged Carson's desk to fall apart when Carnac fell into it. ) Ed McMahon would hand Carnac a series of envelopes, containing questions. Carnac would place each envelope against his forehead and predict the answer, such as "Gatorade. " Then he would read the question: "What does an alligator get on welfare?" Some of the jokes were feeble, and McMahon used pauses after terrible puns and audience groans to make light of Carnac's lack of comic success ("Carnac must be used to quiet surroundings"), prompting Carson to return an equal insult. McMahon would always announce near the end, "I hold in my hand the last envelope," at which the audience would applaud wildly, prompting Carnac to pronounce a comedic "curse" on the audience, such as "May your sister elope with a camel!" (In fact, "Carnac the Magnificent" was the stage name Johnny used in his magic act as a youth. )
• Floyd R. Turbo American (with no pause between words). A stereotypical right-wing extremist wearing a plaid hunting coat and cap, who offered "editorial responses" to progressive causes or news events. Railing against women's rights in the workplace, for example, Turbo would shout, "This raises the question: kiss my Dictaphone!"
• Aunt Blabby, a cantankerous and sometimes amorous old lady, invariably being interviewed by straight man Ed McMahon about elder affairs. McMahon would innocently use a common expression like "check out," only to have Aunt Blabby warn him, "Don't say 'check out' to an old person!" Aunt Blabby was an obvious copy of Jonathan Winters’ most famous creation, Maude Frickert, including her black spinster dress and wig. Jonathan Harshman Winters III (born November 11 1925 is an American comedian and actor
• El Mouldo, mentalist, who ventured into the audience to perform mind-reading and mind-over-matter feats, all of which failed.

Via Satellite: Carson Live and Uncensored

Even though Carson's program was based in Burbank, NBC's editing and production services for the program were located in New York, resulting in the requirement that Carson's program be transmitted from Burbank to New York. Beginning in 1976 NBC utilized the Satcom 2 satellite to do this, feeding the live taping (which usually took place in the early evening) directly to New York, where it would be edited prior to the normal broadcast. SATCOM or Satcom may refer to Short for Sat ellite Com munications and used frequenty in the context of VSAT (Very Small Aperture This live feed lasted usually from two to two-and-a-half hours a night, and was uncensored and commercial-free. During the commercial breaks the audio and picture would be left on, capturing at times risque language and other events that would certainly be edited out later going out over the feed.

At the same time, however, satellite earth stations owned by private individuals began to appear, and some managed to find the live feed. Satellite dish owners began to document their sightings in technical journals, giving viewers knowledge of things they were not meant to see. Carson and his production staff grew concerned about this, and pressured NBC into ceasing the satellite transmissions of the live taping in the early 1980s. The satellite link was replaced by microwave landline transmission until the show's editing facilities were finally moved to Burbank. ^[7]

Critical acclaim

Carson was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. The Television Academy Hall of Fame was founded by a former president of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the late John H His other awards include six Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award. The George Foster Peabody Awards, better known as simply the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards for excellence in Radio and Television broadcasting He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is along with the equivalent Congressional Gold Medal bestowed The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to artists in the performing arts

Marriages

Joan "Jody" Wolcott

Carson married his college sweetheart Joan "Jody" Wolcott on October 1, 1949. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The marriage was volatile, with infidelities by both parties, finally ending in divorce. They had three sons. Their son Richard died in a car accident on June 21, 1991. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar.

Joanne Copeland

In 1963, Carson got a "quickie" Mexican divorce from Joan and married Joanne Copeland on August 17, 1963. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After a protracted divorce in 1972, Copeland received nearly half a million dollars in cash and art and US$100,000 a year in alimony for life. Alimony, maintenance or spousal support is an obligation established by Law in many countries that is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute

Joanne recently discovered 39 episodes of the debut season of the "The Johnny Carson Show" which were originally telecast in 1955 and 1956. She recently made an arrangement with the Shout Factory to produce and distribute selected programs on DVD. The two-disk DVD set contains Johnny's "top 10" episodes. ^[8] Johnny's first wife Joan and the couple's three sons appear in the first episode on the DVD.

Joanna Holland

At the Carson Tonight Show's 10th anniversary party on September 30, 1972, Carson announced that he and former model Joanna Holland had been secretly married that afternoon, shocking his friends and associates. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Carson kidded that he had married three similarly named women to avoid "having to change the monogram on the towels. " A similar joke was made by Bob Newhart during Carson's Roast by Dean Martin. George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor. Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7 1917 &ndash December 25 1995 was an American Singer, Film Actor, television personality On March 8, 1983, Holland filed for divorce. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Under California's community property laws, she was entitled to 50 percent of all the assets accumulated during the marriage even though Carson earned virtually 100 percent of the couple's income. During this period, he joked on The Tonight Show, "My producer, Freddy de Cordova, really gave me something I needed for Christmas. Frederick "Fred" Timmins de Cordova ( October 27, 1910 - September 15, 2001) was an American motion picture and television director He gave me a gift certificate to the Law Offices of Jacoby & Meyers. " The divorce case finally ended in 1985 with an 80-page settlement, Holland receiving $20 million in cash and property.

Alexis Maas

Carson married Alexis Maas, on June 20, 1987; Johnny was 61, Alexis 35. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The story of their meeting given to the press was that Alexis was strolling along the Malibu beach holding an empty wine glass. Johnny noticed this beautiful woman and offered to fill the glass. In truth, Maas had talked a beachfront guard into letting her trespass onto Carson's Malibu property. The marriage was Johnny's longest, and items given to the press reported that the union was a happy one.

Personal

Carson was a major investor in the ultimately failed De Lorean Motor Company. (Manufacturer John DeLorean was involved in a drug scandal, causing Carson's guest Red Skelton to quip, "The DeLorean, is that a hopped-up car?") Carson was cited in a 1982 drunk driving incident while driving a De Lorean DMC-12 sportscar in Beverly Hills. John Zachary DeLorean ( January 6 1925  &ndash March 19 2005) was an American engineer and executive in the U Richard Bernard “Red” Skelton ( July 18, 1913 &ndash September 17, 1997) was an American comedian who was best known as a top Driving under the influence of alcohol ( driving while intoxicated, drunk driving, drinking and driving, drink-driving) or other drugs Represented by Robert Shapiro, he pleaded no contest to the charges, and played off the incident by having a uniformed police officer escort him on to the Tonight Show stage. See also Robert Shapiro (film producer Robert Leslie Shapiro (born 2 September 1942) is a high-profile attorney la Nolo contendere is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I will not contend it Other business ventures included a successful clothing line, through which his turtlenecks became a fashion trend, and a failed restaurant franchise. ^[9]

Carson was close friends with astronomer Carl Sagan, who often appeared on The Tonight Show to give presentations on astronomy. Carl Edward Sagan ( November 9 1934 &ndash December 20 1996) was an American Astronomer, astrochemist, author Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study (Carson himself was an amateur astronomer). The unique way Sagan had of saying certain words, like "billions" of galaxies, would lead to Carson ribbing his friend, imitating his voice and saying "BILL-ions and BILL-ions", a phrase soon erroneously attributed to Sagan himself. According to Sagan's biographer, Keay Davidson, Carson was the first person to contact Sagan's wife with condolences when the scientist died in 1996. Also a talented amateur drummer, Carson was shown on a segment of 60 Minutes practicing at home on a drum set given to him by close friend jazz legend Buddy Rich who was the most frequent jazz musician to appear on The Tonight Show. Not to be confused with the BBC news magazine program Sixty Minutes (TV series. Bernard "Buddy" Rich ( September 30 1917 &ndash April 2 1987) was an American jazz drummer and Bandleader Writer Gore Vidal, another frequent "Tonight Show" guest and personal friend, writes about Carson's personality in his 2006 memoirs. Gore Vidal (born October 3 1925 ˌgɔər vɪˈdɑːl or /vɪˈdæl/ is an American Novelist, Screenwriter, Playwright,

Carson's son from his first marriage, Richard, was killed on June 21, 1991, when his car plunged down a steep embankment along a paved service road off Highway 1 near Cayucos, a small town north of San Luis Obispo. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. San Luis Obispo (sænˈluːɪs əˈbɪspoʊ Spanish for St Louis the Bishop) is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco Apparently, Richard had been taking photographs when the accident occurred. Carson was deeply shaken by his son's death. On his first show after Ricky's death, he gave a stirring tribute in the final minutes of his show as samples of his son's photographic work (and images of Ricky, himself) were displayed with the music accompaniment of "Riviera Paradise" by blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan (himself the victim of an accidental death less than one year earlier). Stephen "Stevie" Ray Vaughan ( October 3, 1954 August 27, 1990) was an American Blues-rock Guitarist Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) In addition, the final image of Carson's last show in May 1992 featured a photo Richard had taken. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar)

He had a Mercedez-Benz with the license plate "360GUY".

Retirement

Carson retired from show business on May 22, 1992, when he stepped down as host of The Tonight Show. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as appropriate --> The Tonight Show is a long-running His farewell was a major media event, and stretched over several nights. It was often emotional for Carson, his colleagues, and the audiences, particularly the farewell statement he delivered on his final show. NBC gave the role of host to the show's then-current permanent guest host, Jay Leno. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host Leno and David Letterman were soon competing on separate networks. David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late-night Talk show host and Comedian and the host since 1993

At the end of his final Tonight Show appearance, Carson indicated that he might, if so inspired, return with a new project, but instead chose to go into full retirement, rarely giving interviews and declining to participate in NBC's 75th Anniversary celebrations. He made the occasional cameo appearance, most notably voicing himself on an episode of The Simpsons ("Krusty Gets Kancelled"). " Krusty Gets Kancelled " is the twenty-second and final episode of The Simpsons ' fourth season. Carson's most famous post-retirement appearance came on Letterman's late-night CBS talk show, The Late Show with David Letterman, on May 13, 1994. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The Late Show with David Letterman is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) During a week of shows from Los Angeles, Letterman was having Larry "Bud" Melman (Calvert DeForest) deliver his "Top Ten Lists" under the guise that a famous personality would be delivering the list instead. Calvert DeForest ( July 23, 1921 – March 19, 2007) also known by his character Larry "Bud" Melman, was an American On the last show of the week, Letterman indicated that Carson would be delivering the list. Instead, DeForest delivered the list, insulted the audience (in keeping with the gag), and walked off to polite applause. Letterman then indicated that the card he was given did not have the proper list on it and asked that the "real" list be brought out. On that cue, the real Johnny Carson emerged from behind the curtain, an appearance which prompted a standing ovation from the audience. Carson then requested to sit behind Letterman's desk; Letterman obliged.

Just days before Carson's death, it was revealed that the retired "King of Late Night" still kept up with current events and late-night TV, and that he occasionally sent jokes to Letterman. ^[10] Letterman would then use these jokes in the monologue of his show, which Carson got "a big kick out of" according to Worldwide Pants, Inc. Worldwide Pants Incorporated is a Peabody Award -winning American television production and Film production company owned by Comedian Senior Vice-President Peter Lassally, who formerly produced both men's programs also claimed that Carson had always believed Letterman, not Leno, to be his "rightful successor". Peter Lassally is a former Carson Productions executive who served as the executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late ^[11] Letterman frequently employs some of Carson's trademark bits on his show, including "Carnac" (with band leader Paul Shaffer as Carnac), "Stump the Band," and the "Week in Review. Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William, now Thunder Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian "

In November 2004, Carson announced a $5. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 3 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts' Department of Theatre Arts, which created the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts is the fine and Performing arts college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Another $5 million donation was announced by the estate of Carson to the University of Nebraska following his death. Carson also donated to causes in his hometown of Norfolk, including the Carson Cancer Center at Faith Regional Health Services, The Elkhorn Valley Museum, and the Johnny Carson Theater at Norfolk Senior High School.

Death and aftermath

Johnny Carson's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

On March 19, 1999, Carson suffered a severe heart attack at his home in Malibu, California. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Carson was sleeping when he suddenly awoke with severe chest pains. He was rushed to a hospital in nearby Santa Monica where he underwent a quadruple-bypass surgery.

At 6:50 AM PST on January 23, 2005, Carson died at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, of respiratory arrest arising from emphysema. The Pacific Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-8) Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a Hospital located in Los Angeles California. Respiratory arrest is the cessation of Breathing. It is a Medical emergency and it usually is related to or coincides with a Cardiac arrest. Emphysema is a chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease ( COPD) formerly termed a chronic obstructive Lung disease (COLD He was 79 years old. Carson had revealed his illness to the public in September 2002. Following Carson's death his body was cremated, and the ashes were given to his wife. Cremation is the act of reducing a Corpse by burning, generally in a crematorium furnace or crematory fire In accordance with his family's wishes, no public memorial service was held. There were countless tributes paid to Carson upon his death, including a statement by President George W. Bush, all recognizing the deep and enduring affection held for him. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States.

Tributes published after his death confirmed that he had been a chain-smoker. Tobacco Smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the Tobacco plant most often in the form of a Cigarette. While The Tonight Show was broadcast live, he would frequently smoke cigarettes on the air; it was reported that Carson had said "these things are killing me" as far back as the 1970s. "Live TV" redirects here For the British TV station formerly known by this name see L!VE TV.

On January 24, 2005, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno paid tribute to Carson with guests Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Drew Carey and K.D. Lang. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Edward "Ed" Leo Peter McMahon Jr (born March 6 1923 is an American Comedian, Game show host, Announcer, and Television personality George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor. For the radio and television announcer see Donald Rickles (announcer. Drew Allison Carey (born May 23 1958 is an American Comedian, Actor and Game show host. kd lang, OC (born Kathryn Dawn Lang, November 2, 1961) is a Grammy Award -winning Canadian Singer and Letterman followed suit on January 31 with former Tonight Show executive producer Peter Lassally and bandleader Doc Severinsen. Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes Peter Lassally is a former Carson Productions executive who served as the executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927) is an American pop and Jazz Trumpeter. During the beginning of this show, Letterman said that for 30 years no matter what was going on in the world, no matter whether people had a good or bad day, they wanted to end the day by being "tucked in by Johnny. " Letterman also told his viewers that the monologue he had just given had consisted entirely of jokes sent to him by Carson in the last few months of his life. Doc Severinsen ended the Letterman show that night by playing one of Carson's two favorite songs, "Here's that Rainy Day" (the other was "I'll Be Seeing You"). "I'll Be Seeing You" is a popular Song from the Broadway musical Right This Way. It had been reported over the decades of Carson's fame that he was, off-camera, so intensely private that he had never once invited McMahon to his home. True to McMahon's generous nature, after Carson's death, he disputed those rumors and claimed that a close friendship existed.

Many other talk show hosts came and went during Carson's 30 years. A week or so after the tributes, Dennis Miller was on the Tonight Show and told Jay Leno about the first time he tried to do a talk show, and how miserably it went. Dennis Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American Stand-up comedian, political/sports commentator, and television/radio personality James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host He said that he got a call right after the first show, from Carson, telling him, "It's not as easy as it looks, is it, kid?"

The 2005 film The Aristocrats was dedicated to Johnny, who apparently was a fan of the joke (and also a fan of Aristocrats co-director Penn & Teller's TV show Bullshit!)

References

Further reading

• Bart, Peter (1992-05-18). Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. "We Hardly Knew Ye. ". Los Angeles: Variety. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Variety is a weekly entertainment trade newspaper founded in New York in 1905 by Sime Silverman  
• cordova, Fred De (1988-03-15). Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Johnny Came Lately. Simon & Schuster. Simon & Schuster Inc, a division of CBS Corporation, is a Publisher founded in New York in 1924 by Richard L ISBN 0671558498.  
• Corkery, Paul (August 1987). Carson: The Unauthorized Biography. Randt & Co. ISBN 0942101006.  
• Cox, Stephen (2002-08-15). See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Here's Johnny: Thirty Years of Americas Favorite Late Night Entertainer. Cumberland House Publishing. ISBN 1581822650.  
• Hise, James Van (1992). 40 Years at Night: the Story of the Tonight Show. Movie Publisher Services. ISBN 1556983085.  
• Knutzen, Erik (1992-05-21). Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Celebs Say Thanks, Johnny. . Herald.  
• Leamer, Laurence (2005-03-29). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King King of the Night: The Life of Johnny Carson. Avon. Avon Publications was an American paperback book and Comic book publisher ISBN 0060840994.  
• McMahon, Ed (2005-10-18). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Here's Johnny!: My Memories of Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show, and 46 Years of Friendship. Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder ISBN 1401602363.  
• Smith, Ronald L. (October 1987). Johnny Carson: An Unauthorized Biography. St. Martin's Press. St Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the iconic Flatiron Building in New York City. ISBN 0312010516.  
• Zoglin, Richard (1992-03-16). Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king And What A Reign It Was: In His 30 Years, Carson Was The Best. . Time. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and  

External links

• Johnny Carson at Find A Grave
• Johnny Carson at the Internet Movie Database
• The Johnny Carson Show at the Internet Movie Database

• The Official Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson web site
• Johnny Carson Podcasts from The Official Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson web site
• Article on Johnny Carson at Salon
• 1991 firsthand backstage account of Tonight Show tapings by Mark Evanier
• CNN obituary
• MSNBC obituary
• News and articles about Johnny Carson
• "Johnny Carson, Low-Key King of Late-Night TV, Dies at 79", The New York Times, January 24, 2005. Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records Saloncom, part of Salon Media Group ( often just called Salon, is an online Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.  
• Johnny Carson writes jokes for Letterman
• 2002 profile by Bill Zehme (with Carson's last major interview) in Esquire magazine
• Johnny Carson obituary by James Wolcott
• On Carson's contribution to Late Night at The New Republic
• 1978 profile from The New Yorker by Kenneth Tynan
• The Johnny Carson Show USA Today article

• The Johnny Carson Show at DVDVerdict
• The Johnny Carson Show Shout Factory 2007 DVD Press Release
• Johnny Carson biography at Film Reference
• Letter to Carson from Steve Martin published in The New York Times
• A tribute to Johnny Carson by James Randi
• Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Brief Biography of Johnny Carson and the "Tonight Show."