LOS ANGELES (AP) - Johnny Carson, the quick-witted "Tonight Show" host who became a national institution putting his viewers to bed for 30 years with a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter and heartland charm, died Sunday. He was 79.
Carson died early Sunday morning, according to his nephew, Jeff Sotzing. "He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable," Sotzing told The Associated Press.
For at least two decades Johnny Carson defined America and American culture about as well, if not better than any other single image or institution: government included. Enigmatic until the end, he died very much unlike the way he lived as regards the public eye.
Unlike many today, when it was time to get off the stage he simply went and rarely if ever came back to visit. He defined wit and humor for America and his influence reached far beyond late night TV. There really wasn't a "late night TV" before Carson, and there was only Carson during his tenure. His niche became a genre after he left because it had to in order to include multiple talents to barely meat out Carson's talent and range.
Now seemingly almost dismissed in highlight reels as a man who generated great laughter by have an animal have an accident in his arms, or a host benefitting from an errant albeit fortunate hurl of an axe by Ed Ames, a mostly forgotten TV character. The fact is Carson was at least two things: magic and America.
There was a time when those two things were one. In some of our minds they still are; unfortunately, in some American minds today, there is not the connection between America and magic there once was. Carson's legacy survives as proof that it was so and can be so again. All it requires is talent and consistency. Johnny had both.
It's hard to say the society will miss him as he already left the scene some time ago. But as for what he was and what he established, there can be no doubt that America misses him just that much more everyday. The sixties and seventies saw headlong assaults on many of our institutions - community, government, the church all took their knocks. But the fuckers never could put a glove on Carson: he was far too much larger than them in a most noble way. Now that's the sign of a true champ. RIP Johnny
"Johnny" piece worth reading - thanks :|
Posted by: chrys | Monday, January 24, 2005 at 12:53 AM