History of Late Night TV

Johnny Carson: The King of Late Night 

Before Johnny

From his early days growing up in Norfolk, Nebraska, Johnny Carson had an interest in performing for others. As a kid he enjoyed performing magic tricks. He said that he liked performing since it gave him a chance to be the center of attention, and get praise from others. When he was performing, he was in control. He said he enjoyed performing since he could be the center of attention while not having to be himself. Before hosting The Tonight Show, he wrote for Red Skelton's show and had a short-lived primetime program on CBS. He was not an overnight sensation. There were times in the 1950s where he wondered if show business was the right choice for him. He was the host of game shows like Earn Your Vacation (CBS) and Who Do You Trust? (ABC)  In 1955, Johnny appeared on the show of his idol, Jack Benny, who predicted big things ahead for the young comedian.

He hosted The Tonight Show on NBC from 1962 to 1992. Previous to 1962, the show had been hosted by Steve Allen and then Jack Paar. After the departure of Paar, NBC considered many hosts for the Tonight Show, including Bob Newhart, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx, and Joey Bishop. Johnny was hesitant to leave his ABC gig hosting game shows but he ultimately made the jump to NBC late night TV. 

Johnny enjoyed discovering new comedians and giving them thier "big break". He is credited for launching the careers of comedy giants like Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne, Drew Carey, Ray Romano and Ellen Degeneres. A successful appearance on Johnny's Tonight Show would translate into a significant career boost. Ray Romano said that his income tripled immediately after a successful appearance with Johnny.