Good-bye Johnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
He is quoted as having said "Married men live longer than single men. But married men are a lot more willing to die." Johnny Carson, king of late night television died today at the age of 79 and I feel like a small part of me died with him.
He was the best when it comes to hosting a late night talk-show and no one before or since has managed to approach his brilliance. He was the master of the monologue, the sultan of the skit, and while Leno and Letterman attempt to carry on in his stead, it just hasn't been the same since Ed McMahon last said those famous words "Here's Johnny."
The characters that Carson and his brilliant staff of writers created never failed to make me laugh, no matter how bad my day had been, no matter how depressing the news was on the newscast that always preceded Carson's Tonight Show. Take Carson's redneck everyman, "Floyd R. Turbo", who once said of nuclear reactors "And what's all this fuss about plutonium: How can something named after a Disney character be dangerous?" Or that turban-wearing know-it-all Carnac the Magnificent who could spout off the answers to questions hermetically sealed in envelopes held by Ed and then opened by Carnac after giving the answer. An example: Answer - Ovaltine. Question: Describe Oprah Winfrey in high school. Another: Answer: - The Moonies. Question - What religion requires members to drop their pants?. You didn't dare boo Carnac either, or he might come back with something like "May the bluebird of paradise molt in your cornflakes". I won't even go near Art Fern or the Mighty Carson Art Players.
Johnny, you may have reached that fork in the road where we part ways, but know that we will miss you, your humor and your mastery of the microphone. You were unique.
He was the best when it comes to hosting a late night talk-show and no one before or since has managed to approach his brilliance. He was the master of the monologue, the sultan of the skit, and while Leno and Letterman attempt to carry on in his stead, it just hasn't been the same since Ed McMahon last said those famous words "Here's Johnny."
The characters that Carson and his brilliant staff of writers created never failed to make me laugh, no matter how bad my day had been, no matter how depressing the news was on the newscast that always preceded Carson's Tonight Show. Take Carson's redneck everyman, "Floyd R. Turbo", who once said of nuclear reactors "And what's all this fuss about plutonium: How can something named after a Disney character be dangerous?" Or that turban-wearing know-it-all Carnac the Magnificent who could spout off the answers to questions hermetically sealed in envelopes held by Ed and then opened by Carnac after giving the answer. An example: Answer - Ovaltine. Question: Describe Oprah Winfrey in high school. Another: Answer: - The Moonies. Question - What religion requires members to drop their pants?. You didn't dare boo Carnac either, or he might come back with something like "May the bluebird of paradise molt in your cornflakes". I won't even go near Art Fern or the Mighty Carson Art Players.
Johnny, you may have reached that fork in the road where we part ways, but know that we will miss you, your humor and your mastery of the microphone. You were unique.
posted by me at 3:29 PM
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