- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
How famous was Johnny Carson?
Posted on 5/17/15 at 4:39 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 4:39 pm
I ask this because I am only 27. I know that's not young but he retired when I was 4.
I grew up watching recordings of episodes my dad had. I've always viewed him as perhaps the most famous/reconizeable person in America, not including the President, during his run.
How far from the truth is that?
I grew up watching recordings of episodes my dad had. I've always viewed him as perhaps the most famous/reconizeable person in America, not including the President, during his run.
How far from the truth is that?
35
Posted on 5/17/15 at 4:41 pm to AlbertMeansWell
quote:
How far from the truth is that?
about the length of this period.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 4:50 pm to AlbertMeansWell
You know the current culture of celebrity that the Internet has nurtured? In Carson's day, he was about the equivalent of every major celebrity site combined. He made and broke careers just by choosing who he invited to sit on his couch.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 4:57 pm to AlbertMeansWell
quote:
How famous was Johnny Carson?
He was the best ever. Period. He didn't have to try, he just was.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:05 pm to AlbertMeansWell
quote:maybe even including
I've always viewed him as perhaps the most famous/reconizeable person in America, not including the President
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:13 pm to randomways
We have him to thank for many of the comedians of our lifetime. He gave us Ellen - invited her to the couch her first time out. Letterman, of course. Leno. Seinfeld. Those come immediately to mind because I have heard them all talk about it.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:19 pm to AlbertMeansWell
It would have been a close run between he and Muhammad Ali as the most recognizable.
At the time there were only three national networks and Carson was the King of Late Night.
A comedian could become a household name overnight by appearing on the Tonight Show.
He was a big deal, for sure.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 5:22 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:23 pm to AlbertMeansWell
It's difficult to comprehend the power he had in the 3 network era. Hell, a lot of markets didn't even have all three. If Carson said it was good, it WAS good.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:24 pm to AlbertMeansWell
He was up there but John Wayne, Elvis, Bob Hope, Muhammad Ali were probably all slightly more recognizable.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:27 pm to AlbertMeansWell
Imagine a world with three networks. Everybody in America had the same exact point of reference. Everybody. We all watched the same stuff. It didn't matter where you lived everybody watched Johnny. Meanwhile in 1978 I told my grandma I wanted a taco and she didn't know what that was. But she watched Johnny every night.
Carson was as big as it gets and there really can never be anybody like that again.
Carson was as big as it gets and there really can never be anybody like that again.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:27 pm to Tigris
Walter Cronkite was huge as well, most trusted man in America and al
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:32 pm to LeonPhelps
quote:nobody's perfect
He gave us Ellen
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:34 pm to Mizz-SEC
quote:more than that -- a comic could become a star by being invited to sit on the couch
A comedian could become a household name overnight by appearing on the Tonight Show
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:36 pm to AlbertMeansWell
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:36 pm to AlbertMeansWell
quote:
I ask this because I am only 27.
put it this way, depending on how old they are,, to either your parents or gparents he was one of THE household names of the generation. Almost everyone liked him and you weren't a star in hollywood unless you had done the Tonight Show.
put it this way, for almost 10 years ABC and CBS didnt even attempt to compete with him he was so far off the hook.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 5:43 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:42 pm to AlbertMeansWell
He was the undisputed King of late night. People would sit up to "watch Carson" not "watch The Tonight Show". Everybody on late night TV today owes it all to Carson, including guys like Letterman, who literally got his start on Tonight Show,
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 5:43 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:52 pm to Godfather1
theres a kind of fun made for tv movie called The Late Shift that is about Lettermans leaving NBC for CBS back when he got passed over to take over the Tonight Show..
Theres a scene where Letterman is asking his agent what to do and he tells him, "there's only one guy that can advise you on this, call him"..
next thing you see he's calling up Johnny Carson (played by Rich Little),, it's a great scene, of course Little got his start on none other than the Tonight Show.
Theres a scene where Letterman is asking his agent what to do and he tells him, "there's only one guy that can advise you on this, call him"..
next thing you see he's calling up Johnny Carson (played by Rich Little),, it's a great scene, of course Little got his start on none other than the Tonight Show.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 5:53 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:54 pm to AlbertMeansWell
Some of us remember when there were only three channels to watch, a ton of babies were made with Carson on the TV.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 5:58 pm to Lsupimp
quote:
n 1978 I told my grandma I wanted a taco and she didn't know what that was.
taco was a new thing in 1978?
Posted on 5/17/15 at 6:07 pm to LeonPhelps
He had a huge dong
Page 1 of 6
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News