The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

	Full Cast and Crew
Actor Credits Mary Tyler Moore Jerry Lewis Guest Host Freda Payne Musical Guest David Zucker Frank Oz Fozzie Bear McLean Stevenson Guest Host John Gielgud Rob Reiner Guest Host Mel Blanc Bob Newhart Guest Host Bill Cosby Guest Host Richard Dawson Guest Host Julie London Musical Guest Jim Henson Guest Host Jay Leno Guest Host Richard Anderson Johnny Carson `Hurricane` Smith Musical Guest Freddie Prinze Guest Host Dick Cavett Guest Host Flip Wilson Guest Host Bobby Troup Musical Guest Joan Rivers Hostess Valerie Harper Jerry Zucker Alan King Substitute Host Jim Abrahams John Denver Guest Host Della Reese Musical Guest Gloria Estefan Musical Guest France Nuyen Teresa Ganzel Art Fern`s Tea Time Movie Lady Ben Vereen Musical Guest Paul Williams Musical Guest George Segal Guest Host Non Actor Credits Jay Leno Writer Johnny Carson Writer Judith Light Herself Judith Hoag Herself Judge Reinhold Himself Jonathan Winters Himself John Lithgow Himself John Larroquette Himself Julia Duffy Herself Julie Newmar Herself Karl Malden Himself Kathryn Grant Herself Lainie Kazan Herself Lauren Tewes Herself Laurence Harvey Himself Lee Marvin Himself John Landis Himself John Cassavetes Himself James Belushi Himself James Coburn Himself Janet Leigh Herself Jason Robards Himself Jean Marsh Herself Jennifer O`Neill Herself Jerry Orbach Himself Jerry Stiller Himself Jim Backus Himself Jimmy Dean Himself Joan Blondell Herself Joe Mantegna Himself Joel Grey Himself Joey Heatherton Herself Lindsay Wagner Herself Lorenzo Lamas Himself Loretta Swit Herself Naomi Judd Herself Natalie Cole Herself Ned Beatty Himself Olivia Hussey Herself Olivia Newton-John Herself Pat Benatar Herself Pat Morita Himself Patty Duke Herself Paul Anka Himself Paul Sorvino Himself Paula Prentiss Herself Peter Fonda Himself Peter Ustinov Himself Mitzi Gaynor Herself Mike Farrell Himself Michele Lee Herself Lorna Luft Herself Lorne Greene Himself Luciano Pavarotti Himself Lucie Arnaz Herself Lucille Ball Herself Lynn Redgrave Herself Madeline Kahn Herself Marcia Wallace Herself Margaret O`Brien Herself Mary Masterson Herself Mel Blanc Himself Merle Oberon Herself Michael Nesmith Himself Ray Milland Himself Alexandra Paul Herself Carol Burnett Herself Carroll O`Connor Himself Charles S. Dutton Himself Cliff Robertson Himself Colleen Camp Herself Connie Francis Herself Connie Sellecca Herself Danny Kaye Himself David Hemmings Himself Davy Jones Himself Desi Arnaz Himself Diana Rigg Herself Diane Ladd Herself Buddy Hackett Himself Bruce Dern Himself Bob Newhart Himself Alice Faye Herself Andy Griffith Himself Angela Lansbury Herself Anne Lockhart Herself Anne Meara Herself Annette Funicello Herself Annie Potts Herself Barry Bostwick Himself Beau Bridges Himself Belinda Carlisle Herself Bette Midler Herself Bill Clinton Himself Bill Cosby Himself Dick Van Dyke Himself Dolly Parton Herself Dom DeLuise Himself Frankie Avalon Himself Fred Astaire Himself Gena Rowlands Herself Gene Barry Himself George Carlin Himself Gina Lollobrigida Herself Glenn Ford Himself Greer Garson Herself Gregory Hines Himself Groucho Marx Himself Harry Shearer Himself Hedda Hopper Herself Henry Fonda Himself Frank Capra Himself Fernando Lamas Himself Eva Marie Saint Herself Don Adams Himself Don Rickles Himself Donna Summer Herself Doris Day Herself Dorothy Stratten Herself E.G. Marshall Himself Ed Begley, Jr. Himself Edie Adams Herself Edy Williams Herself Eli Wallach Himself Elia Kazan Himself Elke Sommer Herself Ernest Borgnine Himself Henry Winkler Himself Robert Guillaume Himself Jaleel White Himself Charles Grodin Himself Barbara Feldon Herself Barbara Parkins Herself Mayim Bialik Herself Shelley Hack Herself Anna Chlumsky Herself Billy Dee Williams Himself Fred Willard Himself Kevin Pollak Himself Larry Miller Himself Mary Kay Place Herself Michael Palin Himself Garry Shandling Himself Carl Weathers Himself Tippi Hedren Herself Roddy McDowall Himself Scatman Crothers Himself Telly Savalas Himself Abbe Lane Herself Claudia Cardinale Herself Corinne Griffith Herself Eva Gabor Herself Joanna Cassidy Herself Julie Ege Herself Kathy Bates Herself Linda Blair Herself Tallulah Bankhead Herself Teri Garr Herself Laura Branigan Herself Linda Cristal Herself Barry Manilow Himself Tony Curtis Himself Peter Falk Himself Karen Black Herself Robert Conrad Himself Ronny Cox Himself Bob Hope Himself Jerry Lewis Himself Dean Martin Himself Vincent Price Himself Mickey Rooney Himself Chuck Connors Himself Patrick Wayne Himself Betty White Herself Gene Kelly Himself William Holden Himself Judy Garland Herself Michael Crichton Himself Dana Hill Herself James Whitmore Himself Lisa Eilbacher Herself Sage Stallone Himself Sandahl Bergman Herself Aileen Quinn Herself Cleavon Little Himself Richard Crenna Himself Thomas Wilson Himself Timothy Busfield Himself Freda Payne Herself Patti Austin Herself JoBeth Williams Herself Redd Foxx Himself Ruth Gordon Herself Sally Struthers Herself Sammy Davis, Jr. Himself Sharon Gless Herself Shirley Jones Herself Sissy Spacek Herself Sterling Hayden Himself Suzanne Pleshette Herself Suzanne Somers Herself Troy Donahue Himself Wally Cox Himself Wynonna Judd Herself Yvonne De Carlo Herself Rue McClanahan Herself Ruby Keeler Herself Roseanne Barr Herself Ricardo Montalban Himself Richard Benjamin Himself Richard Dreyfuss Himself Ricky Nelson Himself Rise Stevens Herself Rob Reiner Himself Robert Blake Himself Robert Mitchum Himself Robert Shaw Himself Rod Steiger Himself Rodney Dangerfield Himself Roger Moore Himself Rosalind Russell Herself Katherine Helmond Herself Tim Reid Himself Tina Turner Herself Jack Klugman Himself Armand Assante Himself Ben Johnson Himself Brian Keith Himself Charles Durning Himself Danny Pintauro Himself Garry Marshall Himself George Kennedy Himself Lloyd Bridges Himself Martin Short Himself McLean Stevenson Himself Oliver Reed Himself Peter Boyle Himself Patrick Duffy Himself Drew Carey Himself Keshia Pulliam Herself Morgan Fairchild Herself Maria Alonso Herself Sylvia Kristel Herself Tanya Roberts Herself Shelley Long Herself Craig T. Nelson Himself Richard Chamberlain Himself Robert Young Himself Lily Tomlin Herself Ernie Hudson Himself Joe Penny Himself Erin Gray Herself Buddy Ebsen Himself Richard Roundtree Himself Helen Slater Herself John Candy Himself John Ritter Himself John Stamos Himself John Travolta Himself John Wayne Himself Jon Voight Himself Julia Louis-Dreyfus Herself Kate Jackson Herself Kevin Costner Himself Kirk Douglas Himself Kirstie Alley Herself Lana Turner Herself Lara Boyle Herself Joey Lawrence Himself Joe Pantoliano Himself Joan Crawford Herself Isabella Rossellini Herself Jack Lemmon Himself Jacqueline Bisset Herself James Caan Himself James Garner Himself Jamie Curtis Herself Jane Fonda Herself Jason Bateman Himself Jason Priestley Himself Jeff Daniels Himself Jim Carrey Himself Jimmy Stewart Himself Joan Collins Herself Lena Horne Herself Leslie Caron Herself Liza Minnelli Herself Natalie Wood Herself Neil Harris Himself Nicollette Sheridan Herself Orson Welles Himself Paul Reubens Himself Phil Hartman Himself Pierce Brosnan Himself Priscilla Presley Herself Raquel Welch Herself Raven-Symone Herself Richard Anderson Himself Richard Harris Himself Rita Hayworth Herself Nancy McKeon Herself Mike Myers Himself Michelle Phillips Herself Loni Anderson Herself Luke Perry Himself Madonna Ciccone Herself Mamie Van Doren Herself Margot Kidder Herself Marlo Thomas Herself Mary Tyler Moore Herself Maureen O`Hara Herself Mel Brooks Himself Mel Gibson Himself Melanie Griffith Herself Michael Caine Himself Michael Douglas Himself Rita Moreno Herself Tom Cruise Himself Bob Saget Himself Brad Garrett Himself Brenda Vaccaro Herself Brooke Shields Herself Burt Reynolds Himself Candice Bergen Herself Carol Alt Herself Carrie Fisher Herself Charlie Sheen Himself Chevy Chase Himself Christopher Plummer Himself Chuck Norris Himself Clint Eastwood Himself Billy Crystal Himself Bernadette Peters Herself Ben Gazzara Himself Cher Herself Michael Landon Himself Emilio Estevez Himself Lenny Kravitz Himself Alan Thicke Himself Ali MacGraw Herself Alyssa Milano Herself Amy Irving Herself Anjelica Huston Herself Ann Margret Herself Arnold Schwarzenegger Himself Audrey Hepburn Herself Barbra Streisand Herself Cloris Leachman Herself Corbin Bernsen Himself Cybill Shepherd Herself Emma Thompson Herself Farrah Fawcett Herself Faye Dunaway Herself Fran Drescher Herself Francesca Annis Herself Fred Savage Himself Gary Coleman Himself Geena Davis Herself Gene Hackman Himself Glenn Close Herself Goldie Hawn Herself Gregory Peck Himself Halle Berry Herself Ellen DeGeneres Herself Ellen Burstyn Herself Elizabeth Taylor Herself Danny DeVito Himself David Lynch Himself Denzel Washington Himself Diana Ross Herself Diane Keaton Herself Diane Lane Herself Dinah Shore Herself Donna Dixon Herself Drew Barrymore Herself Dustin Hoffman Himself Dwight Yoakam Himself Dyan Cannon Herself Eddie Murphy Himself Helen Hunt Herself Barbara Walters Herself Gig Young Himself Ginger Rogers Herself Griffin Dunne Himself Hal Holbrook Himself Jack Palance Himself Jack Warden Himself Jamie Farr Himself Jane Wyman Herself Jill St. John Herself Jim Henson Himself John Carradine Himself John Forsythe Himself John Lennon Himself George Peppard Himself Elliott Gould Himself Dolph Lundgren Himself Bill Bixby Himself Billy Wilder Himself Bing Crosby Himself Burt Lancaster Himself Catherine Hicks Herself Cindy Williams Herself Dana Delany Herself Danny Glover Himself David Carradine Himself David Niven Himself Debbie Reynolds Herself Deborah Kerr Herself Desi Arnaz, Jr. Himself Juliet Prowse Herself Karen Carpenter Herself Kris Kristofferson Himself Richard Pryor Himself Robert Vaughn Himself Rock Hudson Himself Ronald Reagan Himself Sheena Easton Herself Susan George Herself Tatum O`Neal Herself Victoria Principal Herself Zsa Zsa Gabor Herself Angie Dickinson Herself Shirley MacLaine Herself Bette Davis Herself Agnes Moorehead Herself Richard Dawson Himself Rex Harrison Himself Peter Lawford Himself Lauren Bacall Herself Lauren Hutton Herself Lea Salonga Herself Lesley Warren Herself Lynda Carter Herself Muhammad Ali Himself Norman Mailer Himself OJ Simpson Himself Pam Grier Herself Paul McCartney Himself Penny Marshall Herself Peter Bogdanovich Himself Peter Finch Himself Alex Rocco Himself Robert Duvall Himself Tim Allen Himself Tom Hanks Himself Tuesday Weld Herself Ursula Andress Herself Valerie Bertinelli Herself Walter Matthau Himself Whitney Houston Herself Whoopi Goldberg Herself Will Smith Himself William Shatner Himself Woody Allen Himself Woody Harrelson Himself Charlton Heston Himself Ted Knight Himself Sylvester Stallone Himself Susan Sarandon Herself Robin Williams Himself Ron Howard Himself Ryan O`Neal Himself Sally Field Herself Sarah Parker Herself Sean Astin Himself Sean Penn Himself Seth Green Himself Sharon Stone Herself Shelley Winters Herself Sherilyn Fenn Herself Steve Martin Himself Stockard Channing Herself Cheryl Ladd Herself David Bowie Himself Barbara Eden Herself Vanessa Williams Herself Vanna White Herself Yul Brynner Himself Twiggy Herself Adrienne Barbeau Herself Albert Brooks Himself Andrea Martin Herself Andy Kaufman Himself Ann Sheridan Herself Anne Baxter Herself Anthony Perkins Himself Anthony Quinn Himself Arlene Dahl Herself Tony Danza Himself Susan Lucci Herself Robert Wagner Himself David Letterman Himself Elton John Himself Frank Sinatra Himself Howie Mandel Himself Hugh Hefner Himself Jay Leno Himself Jerry Seinfeld Himself Johnny Cash Himself Regis Philbin Himself Reba McEntire Herself Ray Romano Himself Malcolm-Jamal Warner Himself Kevin Nealon Himself Katie Couric Herself Freddie Prinze Himself Richard Nixon Himself Wilt Chamberlain Himself Ken Wahl Himself Liberace Himself Mama Cass Elliot Herself Al Martino Himself Brian Bosworth Himself Jake LaMotta Himself Demond Wilson Himself Minnie Riperton Herself Jack LaLanne Himself Gallagher Himself Eddie Fisher Himself Cynthia Geary Herself Beth Howland Herself Joey Bishop Himself Sam Kinison Himself Truman Capote Himself Tony Darrow Himself Marcel Marceau Himself Sammi Davis Herself Gloria Loring Herself Fannie Flagg Herself Harold Sakata Himself Flip Wilson Himself Loudon Wainwright III Himself Trish Van Devere Herself Brian Haley Himself Jan Hooks Herself Peter Allen Himself Randall "Tex" Cobb Himself Johnny Carson Himself - Host Frank Sinatra, Jr. Himself Bob Crane Himself Barbara Anderson Herself Rita Coolidge Herself Lorraine Gary Herself Sarah Miles Herself Judy Carne Herself Barbi Benton Herself Jimmy Osmond Himself Park Overall Herself Gordon MacRae Himself Dweezil Zappa Himself George Lindsey Himself Pearl Bailey Herself Janis Joplin Herself Gabe Kaplan Himself Richard Marx Himself Bonnie Franklin Herself Rachel Roberts Herself Meredith Vieira Herself Clint Walker Himself Ellen Greene Herself Dan Blocker Himself Don Grady Himself Judith Anderson Herself Susan Saint James Herself Dody Goodman Herself Sylvia Miles Herself Charo NULL Herself Judith Ivey Herself Harry Anderson Himself Nancy Reagan Herself Rick Rossovich Himself Parker Stevenson Himself Alex Karras Himself Vincente Minnelli Himself Bob Einstein Himself Susan Seaforth Hayes Herself Sandy Duncan Herself Jo Ann Pflug Herself Barry Newman Himself Gil Gerard Himself Louise Lasser Herself Karen Valentine Herself Jack Benny Himself Steve Earle Himself Dave Coulier Himself Jerry Van Dyke Himself John Phillips Himself Ricky Jay Himself Kirk Cameron Himself Ron Leibman Himself Jim Nabors Himself Bob Barker Himself - Substitute Host Jerry Reed Himself Marsha Mason Herself Fess Parker Himself Joe Piscopo Himself Hope Lange Herself Ted Wass Himself Jill Ireland Herself Dinah Manoff Herself Tammy Grimes Herself June Havoc Herself Christina Pickles Herself Betty Thomas Herself Dick Shawn Himself Carrie Snodgress Herself Denise Nicholas Herself Helen Hayes Herself John Denver Himself Teresa Ganzel Herself Christopher Mitchum Himself Cab Calloway Himself Stephanie Faracy Herself Lana Wood Herself William Redfield Himself Marty Feldman Himself Magic Johnson Himself Maya Angelou Herself George Maharis Himself Ann Jillian Herself Emma Samms Herself Richard Egan Himself - Guest Loretta Lynn Herself Betty Buckley Herself Mimi Kennedy Herself Shirley Field Herself Jo Anne Worley Herself Robert Walker Himself Marie Osmond Herself Susan Sullivan Herself Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Himself Kent McCord Himself Kathy Garver Herself Nancy Sinatra Herself Paul Lynde Himself Roger Ebert Himself Jimmie Walker Himself Dick Cavett Himself Valerie Harper Herself Richard Simmons Himself Richard Boone Himself James Drury Himself Steven Wright Himself Sal Mineo Himself Jack Cassidy Himself Michael Bolton Himself Valerie Perrine Herself Sam Peckinpah Himself Peter Strauss Himself Harry Hamlin Himself Betsy Palmer Herself Maureen Stapleton Herself Linda Gray Herself Dennis Farina Himself Stewart Granger Himself Eddie Bracken Himself Renee Taylor Herself Rosemary Clooney Herself Jack Haley, Jr. Himself Bernie Casey Himself Carly Simon Herself Roger Vadim Himself Irene Cara Herself Carol Channing Herself Burl Ives Himself Lynda George Herself Shelley Berman Himself Victoria Jackson Herself George Raft Himself Kadeem Hardison Himself Wayne Newton Himself Red Skelton Himself James Franciscus Himself Nell Carter Herself Ron Moody Himself Joseph Bologna Himself Ethel Merman Herself Stanley Kramer Himself Charles Nelson Reilly Himself Bobby Darin Himself Phil Silvers Himself Alan Reed Himself John Phillip Law Himself Raymond Massey Himself Maurice Chevalier Himself Blake Clark Himself Della Reese Herself Joe Flynn Himself Robert Fuller Himself James Darren Himself Robert Ryan Himself Louis Prima Himself Otto Preminger Himself Victor Buono Himself Pete Seeger Himself Orson Bean Himself Jean Stapleton Herself Liv Ullmann Herself Hoyt Axton Himself Pat Boone Himself Stephanie Beacham Herself Jim Brown Himself Blair Brown Herself Ed McMahon Himself - Announcer Robert Goulet Himself Gore Vidal Himself Efrem Zimbalist Himself Polly Bergen Herself Rosalind Chao Herself Rudy Vallee Himself Kd Lang Herself Jack Webb Himself Art Carney Himself Sonny Bono Himself Glen Campbell Himself Elsa Lanchester Herself Elaine Stritch Herself Rose Marie Herself David Janssen Himself Doug McClure Himself June Allyson Herself John McGiver Himself Glynis Johns Herself Judy Garland Herself Diahann Carroll Herself Connie Stevens Herself Liz Torres Herself Abe Vigoda Himself Peggy Lee Herself Buck Henry Himself Don Murray Himself Will Geer Himself Elizabeth Ashley Herself Carol Lynley Herself Ruth Buzzi Herself Susan Strasberg Herself Beatrice Arthur Herself Sid Caesar Himself Neil Simon Himself Sebastian Cabot Himself Ross Martin Himself Dennis Miller Himself Andy Williams Himself Madlyn Rhue Herself Tom Baker Himself Earl Holliman Himself Robert Townsend Himself Martin Milner Himself Trevor Howard Himself George Segal Himself Tyne Daly Herself Harry Belafonte Himself Hugh O`Brian Himself Eartha Kitt Herself Ben Vereen Himself Mike Connors Himself Red Buttons Himself George Burns Himself Harvey Korman Himself Eileen Brennan Herself Oprah Winfrey Herself Alan King Himself Cicely Tyson Herself Steve Allen Himself Richard Thomas Himself Milton Berle Himself Joyce Van Patten Herself Dennis Weaver Himself Dave Thomas Himself Lionel Stander Himself Weird Yankovic Himself Celeste Holm Herself Kenny Rogers Himself Florence Henderson Herself Arte Johnson Himself Louis Armstrong Himself David Huddleston Himself Bill Maher Himself Broderick Crawford Himself Kim Hunter Herself Vittorio Gassman Himself John Marley Himself Phyllis Diller Herself Simon Oakland Himself Martin Mull Himself - Guest Host Tony Randall Himself Maximilian Schell Himself Micky Dolenz Himself Alice Cooper Himself Strother Martin Himself Paul Simon Himself Burt Mustin Himself Frank Gorshin Himself Lee Grant Herself Norman Fell Himself Stella Stevens Herself Randy Newman Himself Paul Williams Himself Michael Constantine Himself William Demarest Himself Joan Rivers Herself Jim Davis Himself Sally Kellerman Herself Pete Townshend Himself Jack Albertson Himself Richard Deacon Himself Roy Rogers Himself Ray Charles Himself Dick Van Patten Himself Aretha Franklin Herself Isaac Hayes Himself Beverly Garland Herself Tom Jones Himself Lon Chaney, Jr. Himself Jackie Cooper Himself Jeanne Moreau Herself Dino De Laurentiis Himself Hans Conried Himself Darren McGavin Himself Carl Reiner Himself Dub Taylor Himself James Brown Himself Stevie Wonder Himself Larry Storch Himself William Windom Himself Ed Asner Himself Dolly Parton Soundtrack Bette Midler Soundtrack Billy Joel Soundtrack Liza Minnelli Soundtrack Burt Reynolds Soundtrack Jerry Reed Soundtrack James Taylor Soundtrack Peggy Lee Soundtrack Steve Allen Soundtrack Paul Simon Soundtrack Roy Orbison Soundtrack Stephen Sondheim Soundtrack

Trivia

`The (1962) Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson` programs from September 1980 onward are owned by Carson Productions. Johnny Carson got the rights as part of a contract signed following a 1979 battle with NBC president Fred Silverman.

From at least the early 1980s onward, rather than bleeping offensive language, gibberish words were usually overdubbed instead. For example, one night when a Carnack the Magnificent sketch bombed, Carson was seen to exclaim "Holy sh*t!" Viewers heard him proclaim "Holy palooga!"

Over the years, a number of traditions were introduced into the opening of the show and Johnny Carson`s monologue. These included (among many): Ed McMahon`s call "Heeeeerrrre`s Johnny!", Carson swinging an imaginary golf club at the end of the monologue, Carson pulling down the boom mike to announce "Attention K-Mart shoppers!", and Carson breaking into a soft-shoe dance as the band plays "Tea for Two." These last two examples were usually reserved for use when jokes failed.

One of the few occasions in which the program did not feature an opening monologue happened in January 1986 when guest-host Joan Rivers chose not to deliver one out of respect for the victims of the Challenger disaster, which had occurred that morning.

The longstanding ninety-minute format was shortened to sixty minutes, at Johnny Carson`s request, beginning September 16, 1980.

One of the most hilarious and best-remembered (purely unplanned) moments was when guest Ed Ames demonstrated his tomahawk-throwing technique, aiming for a cowboy sketched onto a prop wall. The tomahawk struck the drawing right in its crotch, and the whole set broke into pandemonium. Johnny Carson remarked as the laughter began to subside, "I didn`t even know you were Jewish!" setting off more laughs.

`The (1962) Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson` remained a fixture on NBC through the administrations of seven U.S. Presidents (John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush).

# # Johnny Carson regularly played with pencils at his "Tonight Show" desk. These pencils were specially made with erasers at both ends in order to avoid on set "accidents".

On 28 March 1974 rumors that `The (1962) Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson` was to be assaulted by a "streaker" became a reality when show writer Pat McCormick dashed across the stage naked at the end of Johnny Carson`s monologue. Johnny was completely taken by surprise by the sight of the 300lb McCormick running naked in front of the audience.

Hosts of rival late-night attempting to take the "late night crown" from Johnny Carson include David Susskind, Ross Shafer, Merv Griffin, Pat Sajak, Dick Cavett, Robert Klein, Alan Thicke, David Brenner, Joan Rivers, Jimmy Breslin, Ron Reagan, Steve Allen, Chevy Chase, and Arsenio Hall.

After `The (1962) Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson` moved from New York to California in May 1972, Johnny Carson took Monday nights off and the show would be hosted by a guest performer. Until Joan Rivers became "permanent guest host" in September 1983, the most frequent of these "guest hosts" were: `Joey Bishop` (177 times) Joan Rivers (93 times) Bob Newhart (87 times) John Davidson (87 times) David Brenner (70 times) McLean Stevenson (58 times) Jerry Lewis (52 times) David Letterman (51 times)

Five years after the final `The (1962) Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson` broadcast aired, 10,000 "Tonight Show" tapes were transported to a working salt mine in Kansas, 54 stories underground, to protect them from deterioration. The average temperature of the salt mine is 68 degrees, with 40% humidity.

To the right of Johnny Carson`s desk were the controls to a weather machine that made the back drop rain, snow or cast a bolt of lightning.

When it was first announced that Johnny Carson was joining "The Tonight Show," he was relentlessly pursued by the press for interviews. Carson eventually provided the journalists with the following list of answers that they could use with the questions of their choosing. Yes, I did. Not a bit of truth in that rumor. Only twice in my life, both times on Saturday. I can do either, but prefer the first. NO. Kumquats. I can`t answer that question. Toads and tarantulas. Turkestan, Denmark, Chile, and the Komandorskie Islands. As often as possible, but I`m not very good at it yet. I need much more practice. It happened to some old friends of mine, and it`s a story I`ll never forget.

# # Around 10 A.M. every morning before a show, Johnny Carson would call producer Frederick De Cordova and chat for a few minutes about what guests were to appear on the show that night and discuss a sketch rehearsal, if necessary. The telephone conversation would last about ten minutes, and that was the only contact Carson and De Cordova had before each show.

# # When `The (1962 Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson`) first aired, virtually everyone - including Johnny Carson - smoked on-camera during the show. Over the years, however, smoking on television became unfashionable. By the mid-80s, smoking openly on television was a thing of the past, but Carson`s sentimental cigarette box remained on his desk until his final broadcast.

There was a six month period when Jack Paar left "The Tonight Show" in 1962 and Johnny Carson replaced him as the show`s host. In the interim, NBC had various celebrities guest host. It was during this time that musician Tommy Newsom was a hired to play the alto sax in The Tonight Show Band and he remained with the band, occasionally taking over band leader duties when Doc Severinsen was away, until Carson retired in 1992. Therefore, Newsom`s tenure on "The Tonight Show" was three months longer than Carson`s.

A soundtrack album issued in the 1970s (including highlights with Tom Smothers and Dick Smothers, George Carlin, Pearl Bailey duetting with Johnny, and even former President Richard Nixon appearing on the show) sold over half a million copies.

In 1987, performer Juliet Prowse was mauled by a 80-pound leopard while preparing to go on the show to promote the broadcast of the Circus of the Stars #12 (1987) (TV), requiring 30-40 stitches to reattach part of her left ear. A few months earlier in September 1987, she was mauled by the same animal while rehearsing for the show Circus of the Stars #12 (1987) (TV). This time, she required five stitches.

# # At exactly one minute before midnight on 1 January 1971, this show broadcast the very last television commercial for cigarettes in the USA (Virginia Slims) before the Federal ban went into effect.

Many taped episodes (including appearances by Ayn Rand, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney) were lost in a fire at NBC`s archive, and only clips made for other programs (show "best-of"s, promotion, news) have survived. NBC also recycled the original tapes of many episodes, without Johnny Carson`s knowledge or approval. It was only once he learned of this that it was stopped.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) Photos

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Cast

TV Show Highlights

Full Cast and Crew

Actor Credits

Non Actor Credits

Awards

Emmy Awards

American Comedy Awards, USA

Comments

Submit a Comment

Featured Profiles

Snapshot

Photo Gallery

Fans

Trivia

Top Contributors

Related Links

Do you have a The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Fansite?

Featured Titles

	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Who's Dated Who feature on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson including trivia, quotes, cast, crew, photos, pics, news, reviews, soundtracks, commentary, fans and pictures. Upload Poster upload photos

	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Cast
Mary Tyler Moore Jerry Lewis Guest Host Freda Payne Musical Guest David Zucker Frank Oz Fozzie Bear McLean Stevenson Guest Host John Gielgud Rob Reiner Guest Host Mel Blanc Bob Newhart Guest Host View full cast

	TV Show Highlights
See also Biography Index (T) :: Filmography Index (T) :: Discography Index (T)

	Featured Profiles
Ben Stiller Ellen Barkin Marques Houston Liam Neeson Yasmine Bleeth Kirk Douglas David Lynch Robin Givens Virginia Madsen

	Photo Gallery
No photos have been posted. Please upload a photo of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson!

	Top Contributors
Top editors for this profile: MandyLovesVi - 30 points (3 edits) Who's Dated Who content is contributed and edited by our readers. Please report errors or omissions on this page. Signup Here

	Related Links
IMDB.com Wikipedia Do you have a The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Fansite? Exchange links with this page.

	Featured Titles
Beavis and Butt-Head The Match Game Duel Masters

	Comments
Be the first person to add a comment!