"Late-night talk shows are a uniquely American invention that blend humor, the news of the day, and celebrity guests. While Johnny Carson was not the first late-night host, he perfected the genre through trial and error during his 30-year tenure on NBC's The Tonight Show, setting the standard for years to come. As the longest-running host in the show's 70-year history, he became a permanent fixture in the culture zeitgeist and a kingmaker and queenmaker,"
"Recently, late-night talk shows have been making headlines for unexpected-and possibly politically motivated-reasons, calling into question freedom of speech and media monopolies. The announced ending of CBS's offering The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and the temporary suspension of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! were both controversial moves. (CBS maintains its decision was financial not political.) All this off-stage drama is nothing new. Carson faced his own dilemmas-including a mobster putting a hit out for him."
Johnny Carson perfected late-night television during his 30-year run on NBC's The Tonight Show, setting the template for humor, topical commentary, and celebrity interviews. He became a cultural fixture and kingmaker, launching comedians like Joan Rivers, Drew Carey, and Ellen DeGeneres. Recent moves affecting late-night programs — the announced ending of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! — raised questions about free speech and media consolidation. Carson also faced personal dangers, including a mobster putting a hit out for him. Mark Malkoff, a longtime superfan, released Love Johnny Carson (Dutton, 2025) shortly before what would have been Carson's 100th birthday.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]