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May 18, 2006
A reminder of kinder, gentler days
Politics has me down (see Michelle Malkin for the 411), but I found myself smiling none-the-less as I watched Johnny Carson just being nice, chatting with Kermit the Frog in an utterly unaffected way, as the late, great Jim Henson gave voice to the muppet while in plain view of the audience.
It's a pleasure to see again why staying up late to watch Johnny was such a treat -- and how Leno (obsequious) and Letterman (snarky) suffer by comparison to Carson.
Even better is the glimpse of Jack Benny at the end of the clip.
Perhaps tomorrow will be better, but at least I can end Thursday with Johnny and friends, just like I did when the world was young and my beloved grandparents were still alive.
Jeez, that sounds awfully maudlin, but that's just the mood tonight, so you're stuck with it.
Posted by Mike Lief at May 18, 2006 11:23 PM
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Comments
That's actually good ... we all need to step away from the issues for a minute. And anyone who didn't spend time with Johnny in the golden years definitely has some catching up to do!
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at May 18, 2006 11:53 PM
I agree with Vermont Neighbor. The other clip I adore watching is Johnny and Jack Webb.
Posted by: Thin Ice at May 20, 2006 10:11 AM
That Klapper clip was vintage.
I always loved seeing Johnny just walk out on stage with those big technicolor curtains. Adjusting his cuff links, biting his lip and doing that golf swing. He just laughed and brought us all together. "Well, we're here ... can you believe we made it!"
If somebody could rerun those shows in full every night, from monologue to closing credits, I bet it would steal its timeslot.
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at May 20, 2006 06:28 PM
It would be a stroke of genius, airing vintage Carson shows in direct competition with Leno and Letterman.
I think Johnny would crush the competition.
Posted by: Mike Lief at May 20, 2006 09:51 PM
I agree. Old Carson shows right now would soothe this crazy country and make viewers so happy. After a quick google, I found this great Johnny site which has a lot of things to watch and listen to. Very addictive!
My favorite: find your favorite guest at Search and read the entire line up of that night's show including writing staff, monologue topics and guest highlights.
Listen to podcasts of Johnny's monologue excerpts here.
For an outrageous 5-second blast from the past, choose a Carnac clip and experience some decadent deja vu!
Massive butterflies!! On his first show, Carson was introduced by Groucho Marx; Johnny's first words, reacting to applause as he walked onstage for the first time: "Boy, you would think it was Vice President Nixon."
And finally, the press clipping section includes great stories about where the old tapes are stored and memories from fans who wrote to Johnny.
"One of the more poignant communications came from June Johnson, 80, of Sun City, Calif. Johnson related in an e-mail to the Web site her memory of Sept. 7, 1983.
Johnson's husband, who had returned earlier in the day from a visit to the doctor, told her he wanted to stay up and watch Carson before going to bed. She awoke the next morning to find her husband on the couch. She realized moments later that he had died during the night.
"He just looked like he had had a good night's sleep," said Johnson in an interview. "I always wondered what he saw that night, what show did he see. I wrote to Johnny asking him if I could get a copy of the show." Carson personally sent her a video of that night's program, along with other tapes and a signed letter.
Said Johnson: "He's such a sweetheart of a guy that he would do that for an old lady who just asked him a little favor."
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at May 22, 2006 07:59 PM