Johnny Carson, the famed NBC "Tonight Show" host of almost 30 years, died Sunday. His death was the top story of news broadcasts for most, if not all, of Sunday afternoon.
Citing the date of his retirement (many of us were still in elementary school), some may argue how much his death actually affects this generation.
"More than you think," we respond.
It is likely that few, if any, of us knew Carson's work personally; even then, how many people in this youthful, college crowd could recall a "favorite" moment they saw on Carson's show?
Not many, we bet. Carson passed off the "Tonight Show" laugh-master duties to current host Jay Leno in the spring of 1992. To put things in perspective, at the time "Seinfeld" was nearing the end its third season, airing the now well-known episode "The PEZ Dispenser." (Many fans may recall the episode, but probably because of the show's now widespread syndication.)
We might not be able to recall any personal memories of Carson's stint, but his effect on late-night can still be felt to this day. As for Carson the man: we were not alone in our oblivion.
In actuality, few people knew Carson well. He was known as a good man who led a private life. Joan Rivers, who often filled in for Carson, told CNN that, "Nobody got to know him ... He was very private."
Rivers, much like Jerry Seinfeld and others, got her career break from Carson during his run on "Tonight." Many others, including Leno, Ball State alumnus and CBS "Late Night" host David Letterman, Robin Williams and George Carlin, got their big breaks while Carson was at the helm, according to Reuters.
Had it not been for his treasured wave over to the guest couch, many of us may be sans a lot of laughs from these entertainers today.
Although Carson has been in mild seclusion since his retirement, making just a handful of public appearances, his jokes were still making their way to late-night viewers up until his death, we learned just last week. Reuters reported that Carson still occasionally sent jokes to Letterman for a creative outlet. Every now and then, CBS' vice president Peter Lassally said, Letterman managed to weave them into his monologue.
"It is a sad day for his family and for the country," Letterman said in a statement to CNN on Sunday. "He was the best -- a star and a gentleman."
We may not remember Johnny Carson well, but his work and subsequent effects on late-night television will forever be remembered. Carson did not affect on our generation directly; yet, if it were not for him, many of the stand-up comics and actors whom this generation has grown to love would not exist in the entity they do today. Carson has always had modern late-night television and comedy's debt and gratitude; he deserved it.
And for that, we bid
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