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January 23, 2005
Johnny Carson - class act
Another beloved celebrity of my youth, Johnny Carson, has passed away. I grew up with him as a fixture on late-night TV .. at first only getting a glimpse or two of his opening monologue if I snuck out of bed and tip-toed down the hall. My husband and I still toss our favorite bits back and forth ... the great Carnack, the shows with Joan Embry (and some zoo creature that would startle Johnny, if not pee on him), the skits where no one could keep a straight face. I saw Steve Martin for the first time on Johnny's Tonight Show and a host of other acts got their first big boost on his show.
For me, the Tonight Show ended when he retired. Leno, Lettermen, et al, just do not measure up to the King of Late Night. They'll always be mere Poseur Princes.
When Johnny retired, it was still class all the way. It wasn't a faux retirement where he had to figure out ways to get his mug in the media spotlight on a regular basis. He did, indeed, become Private Citizen Carson.
They took the boy out of Nebraska, but never Nebraska out of the boy.
We've missed you for a long time, Johnny. We'll miss you even more now. Peace be with you.
also noting his passing:
Smoking Gun
A Small Victory
Digger's Realm
The Shape of Days
LGF
Posted by Darleen at January 23, 2005 01:31 PM