Thanks, Johnny.

[jlh]

For about two hours now I've been sitting here trying to write something to let the majority of you who are not old enough to remember the man in this icon know what it meant when he was here and what it means now that he is gone. But I find that I cannot do it. I can't even put down a joke here and have you understand; I realize that his voice is in my head even as I read them.

Johnny Carson's monologue was like David Letterman's top ten list—you stayed up late enough to watch that bit and then maybe went to bed. (You especially went to bed if any of Johnny's cronies, like Buddy Hackett or Don Rickles, were guests. Watching them on the Tonight Show was like watching your parents talk to their friends, full of unfunny jokes and obscure references to people or places you've never heard of, and was to be avoided.) It was a well-formed ritual: the theme by Paul Anka played by Doc and the orchestra, Ed reading off the guests, "Here's Johnny", the curtain parts, the jokes are told and when they aren't funny it's even funnier as no one could milk a dead audience like Johnny, then he did the little golf swing and was off to his desk, and you more often than not were off to sleep. Guests? That was just a bonus.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a Letterman watcher from way back and think he's close to the best, ever. But just that I think of myself as a Dave fan, and think that Leno is a lantern-jawed freak, shows the change. Late night tv, like tv itself, used to be unified, with a standard that others might rail against or try to beat but that everyone at least agreed was the standard. But no more.

So thanks again, Johnny. You are missed.

Comments

[hermorrine.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I thought maybe I was the only one.

[eibbil-libbie.livejournal.com]

You know what I find myself remembering? When several jokes would fall flat and he's start a little soft shoe and the band would play "Tea for Two".

What an amazing man..to have us still remembering his presence so vividly when he's been off the air for so many years.

Rest in Peace, Johnny. And thanks for making me laugh.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Ed came on the Tonight Show last night and man, he looks like hell. Rail thin.

On various shows they've played that last Bette Midler segment and tears well up again.

But mostly, yeah, there are all these jokes sprinkled through everyone's memories and I have just been laughing. Since I was a kid Carnac was my favorite and reading through those old jokes was just perfect. (As is the story that toward the end of his life Johnny was writing monologue jokes for Dave.)

[phoenixsong]

I love Dave. I thought Johnny was sweet and funny -- I was in high school when he went off the air. Leno is a pompus jerk who doesn't know the value of understatement (not to mention, being able to make fun of yourself instead of simply mocking everyone else).

Thank you for posting, however inadequate it feels. I think I was a little disappointed that so few people on my flist said anything -- so far, only you and nmalfoy. I want to go rent some episodes now or something...

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

I'll second the others - thanks for this. There's so much to say and there won't be anything or anyone quite like him again and it's a piece of ourselves and our childhood that's gone forever. Maudlin and nostalgic or not, I'm sad to see him go.

But just that I think of myself as a Dave fan, and think that Leno is a lantern-jawed freak

:D Yes. Exactly.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Can you believe that the NBC brass simply didn't ask Johnny his opinion on his successor? They didn't ask him. I think he meant to do some specials and things but after that was just like, you know, screw you, I'm playing tennis. And with the current ratings swing it's pretty clear that Leno's lead had a lot more to do with NBC primetime strength than anything else. But what I love the most is that lately Johnny was sending jokes to Dave. How cool is that?

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

Yes. Lovely thoughts, Clio.

I have Johnny's last episode on VHS; I should pull it out and watch it. But I specifically remember thinking that the day would come where he would die, and someone and something that had been there for as long as I was alive would be gone. And for some reason I found that profoundly sad.

I kind of felt the same way when Lucille Ball died.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, or Jim Henson, that was pretty rough. And I remember being incredibly sad when Cary Grant died, because I'd had such a crush on him as a girl.

Such a class act, that Johnny.

[adjudicated.livejournal.com]

He really was a class act. Truly.

I felt the same way when Rock Hudson died. He was a lovely actor in his time. I'm still a Doris Day fangirl, totally.

[black-and-bloom.livejournal.com]

Johnny is missed, indeed. Thanks for the remembrance.

When I saw your icon of the Great Carnac, one of his jokes popped into my head. Use the Great Carnac voice when reading!

GC: Labor Day weekend, goldfish, tequila hangovers.
Ed: ????
GC: Things that last three days.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Ed: These ENVELOPES have been SEALED in a MAYONNAISE jar on Funk & Wagnall's BACK PORCH!
GC: Clean air, a virgin, and a gas station open on Sunday.
Ed: CLEAN AIR! A VIRGIN! A GAS STATION OPEN ON SUNDAY!
GC: *glares, opens envelope* Three things you won't find in Los Angeles.
Ed: HAW HAW HAW!

Oh, and now I'm remembering the way he would tear the end of the envelope and blow into it. It was so ritualized!