The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show program that at the time was hosted by Johnny Carson and this icon franchise and host spanned 3o years from 1962 to 1992. Though recorded, the late night interviews with the stars of the time were not scripted, which made for what some may consider some of the first original reality television.

The Tonight Show was filmed in New York City for it’s first 10 years, but moved to Burbank California in May of 1972. Burbank became the permanent address of the filming and operations of the show from that point forward. The Tonight Show developed the fundamental structure of current talk shows, with it’s seating arrangement and the introduction of its guests.

You can still see the basic influence of The Tonight Show on most modern talk show studios today.

Ed McMahon was considered Carson’s side kick who’s classic announcement of  Carson with a “Heeeeeere’s Johnny!” should forever go down as one of the most recognizable trademarks of any talk show franchise. If Ed McMahon’s actual role on the show was ever defined, I personally never heard an official announcement of what that was, yet it just wouldn’t be  The Tonight Show without Ed standing by.

I recall the live performances as being one of the top draws of The Tonight Show and every entertainer and his agent wrangled for their 15 minutes of fame on the show. Johnny Carson was always considered a class act and during his final speech Carson said he hoped to return with a new show. Carson hinted in a December 1993 interview with the Washington Post that he did not believe he could top what he had already accomplished in television. Perhaps that is the ultimate reason why Mr. Carson chose not to return to television.

In our home, there wasn’t a night that went by that I couldn’t hear my parents watching the show.  It was like a tradition. I suppose that after some 20 years with the same person coming into your living room its almost as if they become family. I personally recall the jokes being good and Johnny had a particular flare for turning even bad jokes into a laughing matter.

I remember the mood in our home when it was announced that Johnny Carson would be leaving. Even years before his eventual death, it already felt as if we’d lost a relative.