David Letterman's Tribute to Johnny Carson 2

[muscatinemusk]

A history lesson.  Read Bill Carter's books

[danbeatless]

I love Letterman for giving such a great tribute

[TomBBrady12]

I was rewatching this....and noticed that Dave has a two-eraser pencil in his hand. That's a tribute to Johnny. Johnny had two-eraser pencils on his desk all through the years. That's what he used to tap, etc.....

[TomBBrady12]

Dave is a class act. I'm surprised he was able to get through talking about JC.

[Mr1958louief]

I remember watching that show with the truck! It is still funny after all of these years:)

[TomTrix99]

Johnny Carson was a pioneer. A true legend of late night. But I must say Letterman is doing a pretty good job too. Johnny was on for thirty years and Dave has been on for thirty years as well, and still running. The day Dave retires will be a hugh loss for television.

[TheGlowtom]

Wow! Thanks Johnny, for all the memories!

[kylemcgrath14]

Howard Stern HATES Jay Leno. But he likes David letterman.

[1Legendsrule]

The last thing Johnny said on TV was "Goodnight" back in 1994 on David's show. People say he couldn't say a word, but at the end, he does say "Goodnight".

[inrwizards]

Dave went from being a funny anarquist type host 2 the also funny kind of public utility he refered 2 Carson as. conan's walking down the same road. craig's still anarquic as fuck. leno's just a big chinned unfunny douche.

[abehammy]

@inrwizards Conan's show is now more like a regular talk show but in recent days he's been trying harder. Plus, his new show is looser than his Tonight Show but still not as edgy as Late Night. Kinda in between those two shows.

[ineedausernamenow999]

always wanted to watch the clips of when dave's truck was stolen, dave later sued johnny over it. they broke a taillight or headlight during the 'theft'

[ironpirites]

Watching clips of Johnny Carson with Martin Short I realized how much Johnny loved impressionists and got the impression that he might have been something of a frustrated impressionist himself. He was far and away the greatest at this type of show. Dave is great too but Johnny had a razor sharp wit and was quick on the draw. Dave is no slouch by any means but Carson was king.

[obiwanobiwan13]

I LOVE Johnny carson, though I was just two or three when he retired, so I know him only through clips and reruns of old shows...

But as heretical as it sounds--when Dave says what a luxury it was to be tucked in by Johnny every night...

That's how I feel about Dave! Johnny did it for 30 years, Dave's now done it nearly the same amount of time, 1982-present on first Late Night and then The LAte Show...

And when it's a rerun I'll be MAD--but not at DAVE--mad at CBS for depriving me! :)

[snoozer998]

@obiwanobiwan13 I'm about the same age as you, 22 now, and I feel the exact same way.

[ninau1]

Happy Holidays to all the great sleep nite talk show hosts LAUGH!!!!!!

[daisypeachy]

I loved Johnny and agree with Dave, but Dave has been my comfort since. David Letterman is a great host too. I will lose my marbles when he passes. (Hopefully not for a long time)

[Settis1]

@daisypeachy he retires in 2012, i bet that ferguson will take on late show

[BigKCunningham]

@Settis1 I believe Ferguson does have that clause in his contract.

[birdy289]

letterman is a class act , we need more people like him

[Joe007ofrockk]

this is the list of best late night hosts

1. Johnny Carson

2. Nobody

3.Nobody

4.Nobody

5. David Letterman

6.Conan O'Brien

[ninau1]

@Joe007ofrockk i agree add ellen

[springloadedchicken]

hey! that's a fine auto-MOBILE! sturdy, handles rusting rather well... even in timelapse! :D he he! yep, GMC! (sorry, hadda make fun) what a great paint job! pumpkin primer halloween rust?

[title789]

Fantastic. Thanks.

[JerrySpringerisCool]

the best carson severinson clpi was the thanks giving show.

Johnny:"Well I feel bad that your gonna be alone, would you like to come over to the house and have dinner with the family?"

Doc:"Well what Im I gonna say when you ask that infront of millions of people. I say 'yes Mr. Carson, I'd love to!."

Johnny:"Can you come?"

Doc:"No."

[lukeallyn]

@JerrySpringerisCool

You'll never see Johnny laugh as hard as he did during this routine. It's the shear defenition of comedy.

[MegaObserver1]

Dave would know about being a guest host. He was a fairly regular guest host from 1979-80 and again in 1981. Once in 1981 when a series of jokes bombed, Johnny quipped "Let's just end this show now and turn it over to Letterman" . Even then, people were speculating that Dave would eventually replace Johnny. 

[ALEckel]

The "Tea For Two" routine Dave talks about is on youtube too. It's labelled "Johnny Carson - Monologue with big moth joke"

[hariseldon59]

What Dave failed to mention was that a couple months after the "trucknapping" incident, Johnny invited Dave back on the show, along with Judge Wapner of The People's Court to arbitrate a dispute over a broken headlight on the truck (Dave alleged it was broken while in Johnny's care). The arbitration was one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV. In the end the judge ruled in Dave's favor, and Johnny was forced to pay Dave $24.95 for the broken headlight.

[kydink1]

i agree david, johnny was the best, but your the only one who has enough class to be number two.

[Arnabas315]

Johnny was magic. Pure and simple. There is nobody like him today.

[newman20072008]

johnny is/was/ and will remain KING of talk shows

[flenif2247]

Carson was so uniquely qualified for that job. Love Letterman but still doesn't compare.

[kens054]

I DO NOT like David Letterman, but I applaud his tribute to Johnny Carson... You go Dave!!!!

[WarsawBlues]

Haha check out Dave's kicks.

[TheBigDickInYourAss]

conan was my johnny carson

[chomsky88]

"I brought nothing to the table...it was all Johnny." Those who accuse Letterman of being a jerk should watch this clip; his humility, love and adoration for Johnny is very moving and shows what kind of a person he really is.

[dranwang]

Yeah.. I understand. I probably will feel the same way when you do Dave.

[spurrier07]

i saw that show live...i was 15

[flugel76]

People don't laugh at Leno's jokes. They laugh at Kevin Eubanks laughing at everything Leno says. But not any more...

[Papman]

You can tell how genuine is whenever Dave talks about Johnny. He truly idolized him. He always seemed like a kid who just met his hero for the first time any time they interacted.

[flugel76]

Everything Dave is saying about Johnny reflects what the "I'm with CoCo" folks feel about Conan, and that's why such a stink has been made about LenoGate.

[DarkridesDisney]

@flugel76 Johnny Carson had more talent in his fingernails than Conan O'Brien has in his whole body... I'm sorry.... That's my opinion and I'm sure thousands if not -millions feel the same way....

[XxcaptonfalconxX]

@DarkridesDisney u should say leno if you want thumbs up

[DarkridesDisney]

@XxcaptonfalconxX whatever

[vegasrobbie]

alau......I am with you....I haven't watched the tonight show since johnny left in 1992. Leno was ok when he was younger, but he's morphed into some cyber phony who's not really that funny now.

[dltodd1966]

@vegasrobbie

I agree. Leno is not funny. I did watch is a few times, and it seemed to me that he kept stealing bits from Letterman. I honestly haven't seen Leno's show in 15 years.

[proken58]

What made the truck pit great was that Dave was actually PISSED! But he knew he couldn't get pissed off at Johnny, on his show, so he tried to laugh it off, but was angry inside. Johnny KNEW that's how Dave would react, so he used it for the full comedy effect, at Dave's expense. After Dave calmed down, he realized that it was pure comedy magic.

[proken58]

Dave should be glad he didn't get the Tonight Show. He got much more money from CBS and complete control not only of his show, but also the 12:35 show on CBS.

[alau18]

you guys whining about leno and conan.

Who cares.

Dave was the personal choice for the tonight show.

If he had been chosen by NBC then, this would not be an issue. Is it me or is NBC inept??? Anyway, I have watched dave at cbs for nearly 20 years. I haven't watched the tonight show since johnny left.

So to me, this NBC Jay, Conan brew haha is just a another big overblown story.

[DejaWho7]

Well you're a fan of Dave and that's all a matter of taste. But just so you know, other people are entitled to their opinion as well. Doesn't make you any more right than the rest of us Conan/Leno fans.

Though I do agree with your statement about NBC's ineptness. They really screwed up late night and killed the Tonight Show. Whether you're a fan of Jay, Conan (or Dave) you have to admit that's true.

[rumpole33]

carson's truck joke is something conan would do, but never leno.

goes to show you that leno should have retired gracefully instead of stealing back the 11:35p spot.

[puresickmermaid]

@rumpole33 I agree.

[hwoods01]

But Leno did retire gracefully.. Now hes being an 'indian giver'..

[Tekneek74]

I can remember, as a kid, turning off The Tonight Show when there was a guest host. I'd turn back to NBC when Letterman would come on.

[Mozzer232]

@Tekneek74 I was the same way. I was 12 when Johnny retired, and Dave was my favorite show in all of the world. But I always admired Johnny, but would turn it off if it were Alan Thicke of Leno.

[hwoods01]

@Tekneek74

and often, that host, for me, was Leno!

[zarkbot88]

Honestly, I'm imagining a world where Letterman inherited The Tonight Show. He'd still have that anarchic humor from Late Night, not toned down in any way, and it would be at the top of the ratings, not to mention a great segue into Conan, who would still keep the Late Night show. It would be a fun week of TV all around!

[rawissphinx]

it would be a lot different let me tell you. he should have been the guy to take the show to begin with. Johnny Carson was a great man. just te best!!!

[Mozzer232]

Letterman is a legend. The 2nd greatest in the history of the late night talk show biz. He should've been the heir to the Tonight Show.

[zyxquark]

@Mozzer232 you got that right.

[leroyinc]

As opposed to an hour of mediocrity, then another hour of mediocrity only with an all-black band, followed by a half-hour of mediocrity.

[zarkbot88]

@leroyinc Jimmy Fallon's certainly not mediocre to me.

[leroyinc]

He is compared to the competition, namely Craig Ferguson.

[sweuhl1]

@leroyinc amazing how some of you can squeeze race into anything lol.and the roots are literally the best band in late night.

[spxmet]

@zarkbot88 And CBS would be stuck with Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson lol.

[thegiftedmedia]

@zarkbot88 Leno is the best after Carson.

[KellyGreen5555]

@zarkbot88 Leno and Conan do not belong behind the Tonight Show desk...Johnny Carson personally groomed Letterman for the job, but the NBC suit weasels prevented it.

[unicronrocks]

I remember Letterman's old NBC show, with Larry Bud and the other wacky skits. I miss that.

[smldfw]

Is that one of Johnny's pencils? They had erasers on both ends.

[at1212b]

You would never hear Leno ever give a tribute like this (nor is he capable of eloquently conveying it like this). If there is one thing Letterman is just amazing at is giving a tribute to someone.

[newktrane]

Wow....................I remember both the whole show from 1986 of the clip that Dave played & this tribute show to him. Aside from that mid-west cool both of this gentlemen share-both broke grounds. JC defined late-night tv for 30 years and since 1982 DL has been the gold standard for EVERY late night show since. Thanks for posting this!

[AdamStabelli777]

When Dave leaves Late Night TV, It will be like when Johnny retired. An emotional time.

[noozilander]

I don't know much about Carson, but I have a new respect for him because of Letterman. Letterman has class and is 'old school cool' like Carson.

Both have an effortless class about them, which is cool because they aren't trying to 'be cool' they just 'are cool'!

The late night baton has now been passed on and Letterman is now the public utility he described Carson as being. Good on ya, Dave, long may you reign.

[skrason]

I don't know. Back in the day, Letterman was new school. In the '80s, when you watched Letterman, you felt like you were the only person on Earth watching him. It felt like you were in on a fun, late-night TV secret.

"Old school", at least to me, meant Jack Parr, Ernie Kovacs, Steve Allen, Jack Benny and Johnny Carson. :)

[mdumas43073]

Very well put.

I felt the same way about Conan a decade ago.

[ric24actor]

Iam glad i went to a few of his shows in Burbank.

[Deke1]

there will NEVER be another Johnny Carson. He was in a league by himself

[AutobotLover]

amen to that

[johnissoevil]

@Deke1 You're right about that, there will never be another Johnny.  But Dave, Craig, Conan, and Jimmy are doing a great job keeping Johnny looking down, smiling. Leno insisted on making Johnny roll over in his grave when he stole the Tonight Show back from Conan.

[WA5CVI]

@Deke1 Boy!!! Isn't that the truth!!! I was really really affected when I heard about Johnny's passing. I almost cried. He was such a part of every evening..he was a part of my growing up and getting older.

[waltandrus]

I Like Dave and Jay too. If you are talking about Johnny and comparing what you do to what Johnny. Why don't you have a sidekick? Why don't you have a FULL Big Band like Johnny had ( insisted on) ii understand being "hip" but if it's just $. I'd sacrifice $ as a host to have a REAL orchestra. I enjoy the Late Night programs until the "musical guest" comes on with dumb names like " welcome HOLE"...

[EwkRocks]

RIP Johnny Carson! WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU!

[ChampAustin]

I'll never know, but I was always under the impression that Carson was a much bigger fan of Letterman than Leno

[natedog1025]

johnny was the one that told dave to "walk" when nbc gave him such bs

[naitch4life]

well after dave left nbc johnny did his show on cbs 3 times he never appeared on the leno show

[Taube82]

why did he make a tribute show? Do you know it?

[utgraddad56]

It is true - you had no internet and maybe ten channels. Work hard all day - watch Johnny Carson - fall asleep

[rugbynimbus]

I love that Johnny preemptively did something to Dave that is EXACTLY the type of thing Letterman would later do to someone on his own show. Brilliant.

[STEPcoach]

Hey, I like the truck! Kuddos to Letterman owning an automobile with character instead of some new crap-car. Bet he doesn't still drive it, though.

[rockymountainsunrise]

I love the oblique swipe Letterman takes at Leno at 3:47...

[icetyrant]

It's a true shame I was born, I think, right after Carson retired. If not, I was less then a year old when he retired, not sure on the date honestly. Letterman and Carson seem like a perfect team, much like Colbert and Conan (and Stewart too, I guess). Carson really looks like somebody I would've enjoyed.

[TheSweetwaterJones]

May, 1992

[WhiteBoy41]

Johnny was a class act.

Dave shows he is as well and with a heavy heart you can tell he lost a mentor/friend...

Did jay Leno ever even do anything half as nice as this?...The ans, is no.

What a hack,

Never showing Johnny's Fan's-freinds and Family the respect is and was a scumbag move.

That is why I never watch him and will be glad when he is off the late night TV.

Johny Carson was & is The King of Late Night TV.

Seeing Leno sitting on his throne for all these yrs made me sick.

Thanx Dave.

JC#1

[chawk111]

Leno dose get higher ratings, so you can probably direct some of your rage towards the American Public.

[WhiteBoy41]

No thanx.

They are all old goats in old age homes and I don't think their on You Tube ? They are asleep with the TV on while Jay is on. .

And Years back they were screwing thier husband or wife..while The TV was on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

You like Jay ..I like Dave.

Its Americe....Watch what yaaa like.

Vote for who you lie....? You see how that worked out.

Yikes.

[chawk111]

no no no no no! I'm a fellow traveler. I hate Leno w/ the fire a 1000 suns. Just making the point that a lot of people are idiots.

btw, notice how Obama chose to go on Leno recently. I wonder why? Is it because his show has a more populist (read "philistine") sensibility to it? Was Letterman seen as smacking to much of clever NYC ironic liberal educated elitists (read "non-idiots") for a fire side chat? I honestly think that he went on the show, in part, b/c it was bad.

[WhiteBoy41]

Yes .. I agree.

and Dave made anti Rep.Bush. Jokes over and over. Every night .

I was getting sick of it.( I know Bush was an easy Mark ) ( Chaney = Target ).!!

I even emailed his writers and told them to get some new material. Larry King and Regis jokes every single night .

The Media is 99% Liberals.

Peace

Fellow Hater of Leno.

[youlittlepieceofshit]

"I even emailed his writers and told them to get some new material" hahah what a dumb fuck

[Petethesnowdog]

I remember Johnny Carson's last episode like people who remember where they were when Kennedy was assassinated. There will never be another one like him.

[cubantoro]

I grew up watching Johnny Carson in the 70's until he retired in '92. When he died.. I cried... and so did America. Thanks for all those wonderful moments on the Tonight Show. Letterman summed it best here... thanks Dave, and God Bless you, Johnny!

[RealTime88]

It was a Sunday morning. I was in my office and my mom told me to turn on the news and I heard that he had passed away. I just cried. Cried for days. I wouldn't have gone into broadcasting had it not been for Johnny Carson. So thanks for everything Mr. Carson!!!

[newman20072008]

good old days GREAT TV

[VimisiDigitalMedia]

It's hard to watch this. Johnny is missed. I don't like watching Dave look less than joyful either. I can see how hard he took this, and through him I think we all shared the grief. Life sucks... and so did that TRUCK! What a piece of CRAP! LOL

[AmyKay01]

Letterman's commentary about Mr. Carson is spot on-- and perhaps the most excellent tribute of Carson that I've heard.

[svengoolie007]

This stuff makes me cry every time I watch it.

[quietapplause]

thanks, Johnny Carson tribute is great Dave........Dave keeps up his legacy on the Late Show! Dave is the next best to Johnny! ;-)

[gooffbball]

exactly, well said

[vonerichfan]

Beautiful. Thanks so much for posting.

[tragic1Kingdom]

"...we all want to be a little bit more like Johnny."

[Tunnel51]

Thanks for posting!

[eaglesfan102005]

"If you're not Johnny you're wasting your time"

[BMan100]

GOT EM!!!!! LOL!!!!7:10 !!! LOL!!

[lapuentematthew]

my mom & pops would let me stay up till he told his opening jokes then bed. this is when i was in the 4th 5th grade. just loved his voice,and style. for all the youngster who dont understand this...may ur kids grow up to have a dog bite as a hicky.

[allbu849]

at 3.55... he was talkin abt leno lol

[iAMcooooooool]

@allbu: no, he wasn't.

[Captmiloman]

I recorded this and Leno's tribute show with Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, and Drew Carey.

[gooffbball]

Jay's tribute wasn't near as good as Dave's.

[dougalmac54]

No one can touch Johnny Carson. Leno is shit and Dave can be pretty lame, but Carson was the best, and moments like this is why-America loved Johnny. i miss him a lot.

[allbu849]

Dave is just another era in the history of talk show :)

[evh5150316]

Sorry guys...but if there was a true replacement of Carson (which there never really was)...it would be Letterman.

Dave's show s MUCH more in the vein of Carson's...way more than Leno's.

Plus Dave is a lot like Carson. His comedy, his timing, his monologue. IT's very similar.

I wish I was old enough to remember The Tonight Show, though.

[solord]

If you check out some of the Jack Paar Tonight Shows, I think Letterman is more in-line w/Parr than Carson. Both were funny & intelligent; Both were wise-asses (sharp & sarcastic as hell); Both spoke their minds & didn't give a shit what anybody thought (especially NBC Brass!); & both were extremely innovative in developing the late-night chat show. Carson perfected & enhanced most of Paar's innovations on The Tonight Show & kicked ass for 30 years. YouTube some of Jack Paar's work & compare.

[kjsellers]

Leno sucks big smelly donkey balls. He isn't even funny, his timing sucks, he's fake, he can't come up with jokes on the fly, and he is a giant turd. Dave is the man!

[bus11]

Johnny was a true class act. It seems like comedians today like Conan O'Brien and Steven Colbert are always putting on a show-- they're always acting. Carson was the real thing. Letterman comes close, but nowhere near Johnny. Interesting also to note that Letterman really isn't the cynical old guy he appears to be on TV. This show, and the show following 9/11 you can see the real Dave.

[bigrickjr57]

Remembering JOHNNY CARSON - May 17, 2008...Saturday..God Bless you, Johnny Carson..thanks for the memories!!

[Aladdin7796]

FOR JOHNNY!!!

[namk19]

raise your glasses to a true legend y'all (raisees glass) TO JOHNNY!!!

[volksrepair]

This was one of the funniest shows I remember when Dave was on the Tonight Show. These guys were great friends and it always made for wonderful comedy.  THX so much for posting all these awesome memories...

[newman20072008]

MR CARSON thanks for every single seconds of yur comedy. R.I.P

[newman20072008]

R.I.P BIG J

[rootykazooty]

DT-Those clips are Manna from Heaven ~ Truely. I, also missed this show. I feel like I came to better-know an old friend. Thanks is *not* enough for the reminder of JC's brilliance. RED

[hifithepanda]

I've never seen Dave like this. Just an outpouring of intense joy remembering his friend... as if he's at a wake with close friends and family, eulogising a loved one. You can tell the sentiment is genuine.

[belchmelch]

Leno, iʻve heard is a nice guy, as a previous comment mentioned how Leno went behind Carson and Lettermanʻs back. I do think Dave should have got the Tonight Show gig. Dave is much more creative and witty than Leno. I think Conan has surpassed Leno a few years ago. Letterman is the best at late night talk right now.

[SalSter19]

Such a wonderful tribute. You can just tell how much Letterman respected and admired Carson. Next to Carson, I think Letterman is the best of the late night hosts. He has that same charming Midwestern sensibility as Johnny Carson.

[Briannyc77]

David had trouble keeping his composure there for a second

[RealTime88]

Johnny told Dave to take the gig on CBS. I think it was a wonderful tribute. I think Johnny wouldn't want us to cry. Even though I did. He would want us to celebrate his life. Johnny Carson is the greatest and always will be. RIP Johnny we miss you man!

[sweetguy9002]

God bless Johnny Carson.

[RealTime88]

Carson is the reason I want to be a comedian! I miss him a lot. I cried so much when he died. It's like an uncle that made you laugh. It's like losing a wonderful uncle. Thanks for the memories Johnny.

[redheadeddude]

Thank you for posting this. Great!

[jeffcdo]

Leno has squandered the legacy of the Tonight Show, and Dave is wayyyyy underrated.

[taurnguard]

Jay Leno did next to nothing for a tribute. At least Dave shows thanks and respect for Johnny.

[testingtesting44106]

carson didnt like the fact that leno took his spot instead of dave. Carson liked dave over leno. it torn leno and letterman apart from each other, and carson never really give leno the welcome for taking over the show, so it's a big friction.

[foxx1525]

Johnny Carson thought of Dave like a son. He was so proud of him. It showed whenever Dave guested on the show. Dave was the biggest guest host before Joan Rivers and Jay Leno got the gig. If Carson had any pull, he would have given his show to Dave. Notice how Carson contributed jokes to Dave and not Leno. Read the Late Night Wars and you'll see Leno went behind Carson and Dave's back to get the job. And Dave is right, when there was a guest host, it wasn't as good. Nobody had Carson's wit.

[PC3900]

I don't really like Jay, but in fairness his tribute show to Carson was quite moving - it included Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, and Don Rickles.

[silverlaketrece]

someone should post that up here

[flugel76]

It was avaialbe on Youtube up until a few months ago. Not sure if they took it down or the uploader deleted it.

[redlion83]

out of obligation to johnny. Leno was not the successor. Letterman was. Network wanted Leno, and Leno was stupid enough to go for it. When Leno retires he will find out he has no friends in tinsel town. He went for the dream job, got it, and money will make up for the lack of friends. Once Jay leaves, no one will give a darn. We all celebrate an idiot who cared nothing bout what should have been but how he could screw it up because he could.

[kfdave]

Huge mistake,Dave should have gotten the Tonight Show,but what's done is done.I rarely watch the late night shows anymore at my age,but damn,Dave,Conan,and even Jimmy Kimmel,are funnier and more natural than Jay.

[meanwiddlekid]

@PC3900

Jay's "tribute" to Johnny was a disgrace. He read writer's words off of a teleprompter with the emotion of a cookie cutter network newsreader. This show was one of Dave's finest moments. His thoughts on how and why we miss Johnny so much and how Johnny's retiring was similar to this were perfect.

[gameshowguy2000]

@meanwiddlekid

He may have read words off of a teleprompter, but as he pointed out in Part 1, all the jokes he did (or read) were written by Carson himself.

[meanwiddlekid]

@gameshowguy2000

Maybe you should reread what I wrote and pay a little more attention?

[gameshowguy2000]

@meanwiddlekid

Maybe I should. But the jokes he did were indeed written by Carson himself (as I pointed out), and he remembered to give Carson credit where credit was due.

[meanwiddlekid]

@gameshowguy2000

Obviously you didn't.

[sevenyearhawk]

wow ... what a fitting way to pay tribute!

Carson speaks from beyond the grave ... poignant, for sure!

[AussieEvil]

Nice to see Carson's "MORE TO COME" graphic.