Top 10 Johnny Carson Trivia
Born October 23rd, 1925 in Iowa, Johnny Carson came of age during the golden era of television, and hosted several shows as a young man. However, it was on October 1st, 1962 that Carson took over hosting duties of "The Tonight Show" from Jack Paar, and it was that gig that gave him nationwide recognition. Carson’s "Tonight Show" format has gone on to influence all late night talk show hosts that followed him, which is just one reason he’s such a legend. In this video, WatchMojo.com takes a look back at ten of the reasons Johnny Carson was the greatest late night talk show host of all time.
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Top 10 Johnny Carson Trivia
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: Trivia Top 10
“Heeeeeeeeeeeere’s Johnny!” Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be taking a look at ten reasons Johnny Carson was the greatest late night talk show host of all time.
#1 – He Was Good at Everything
Kicking off our list is one thing that set Carson apart from other late night talk show hosts of his generation. Like most, Carson got the monologue down to a science and excelled as an interviewer. But unlike many, he was not afraid to don crazy costumes or a silly voice as part of a skit or impersonation. Whether it was political satire or just plain ridiculousness, Carson was game and he didn’t mind lampooning a range of celebs like Ronald Reagan and Willie Nelson.#2 – He Knew How to Talk to Celebrities
First and foremost, a late night talk show host must be a great interviewer, and Carson had the uncanny ability to get his celebrity guests to open up. Most importantly, Carson’s ego didn’t get in the way of his guests’, and he let them have their moments in the spotlight. But he was always ready with a quip or a joke to lighten the mood and keep things moving.#3 – You Didn’t Have to Be Famous to Sit on His Couch
It wasn’t all glamour and celebs for Carson: he often had ordinary people with extraordinary talents or collections come on the show to show their stuff. Johnny never put them down, no matter how strange the topic. But, he wasn’t afraid of a little prank every now and then: he once memorably made a chip collector believe he had eaten one of her prized potatoes, and the result was priceless.#4 – He Gave Many Beloved Comedians Their Starts
Stand-up comics everywhere vied for a spot on “The Tonight Show” where they could appeal to Johnny’s vast audience. He helped launch the careers of numerous comedians who went on to lasting careers, including the likes of Roseanne Barr, Drew Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Carrey and Jerry Seinfeld. Johnny’s body language revealed whether or not he liked your set. But if you got called over to his couch, you were on easy street.#5 – His Show Was Packed with Memorable Moments
Some “Tonight Show” memories were just one-of-a-kind. For example: millions watched Tiny Tim’s 1969 wedding to Miss Vicki. A young Bill Clinton rejuvenated his political career by playing the sax after blowing an important speech. Michael Landon visited his friend and neighbor Carson in the last months of his life, and gave Johnny some of the best ratings of his later years. But, nothing beats nudity, and even Carson could get caught off guard.#6 – He Loved Magic
Carson was such a huge fan of the mystical and slight-of-hand that he started his career as the Great Carsoni at age 14. When he became the most powerful man in television, he promoted magic at every possible opportunity by having performers on to do tricks. But watch out if you were faking it: Carson did not take phonies lightly.#7 – He Was Also a Mystic from the East
One of Carson’s most enduring and popular characters was Carnac the Magnificent. This psychic would predict the answers to questions he held within a sealed envelope. The result was inevitably a well-constructed pun, which the audience would meet with groans or wild applause. Johnny’s right-hand man Ed McMahon would get in on the action too, and crowds would get to see their great chemistry at work.#8 – He Had A Way with Animals
Carson was a charmer on camera, and not only with humans. He often had animal guests on the show, and as you might expect, live animals meant hijinks. Whether it was a singing parrot, a coyote relieving himself on set, or an overly friendly python, Johnny was always the consummate professional.#9 – He Was Full of Unexpected One-Liners
Johnny was blessed with a quick mind and an even quicker mouth. You couldn’t get through an unscripted bit on “The Tonight Show” without getting an example of his skills, and you probably would see at least one one-liner per night in his monologues, his banter with Ed, or his friendly chitchat with the ladies.#10 – He Left ‘Em Wanting More
Taking the top spot on our list is one of the most memorable sign-offs in TV history. When Carson finally signed off as host of “The Tonight Show” after thirty years, everyone wanted to say goodbye, and his second-to-last show featured guest appearances by Robin Williams and Bette Midler. She sent Johnny off with a song, but nothing beat his low-key and heartfelt farewell the next night.Were you a huge “Tonight Show” fan? What do you think made Johnny Carson the greatest late-night host in history? For more entertaining trivia videos, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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