He Ruled Late Night TV
Johnny Carson ruled over late night TV and kept audiences rolling in laughter for 30 years as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. But, between the peals of laughter and practical jokes, there was a fair amount of controversy and scandal. The King of Late Night could sometimes be a tyrant.
1. He Emerged From Humble Beginnings
Carson would eventually become TV royalty—but his origins were far from regal. Born John William Carson on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, the future entertainment icon entered the world inauspiciously. He was the middle child of power company manager Homer Lloyd “Kit” Carson and Ruth Elizabeth Carson.
His ordinary Midwestern upbringing would soon give way to extraordinary stardom.
CBS-Gabor Rona, Wikimedia Commons
2. His Family Kept Moving West
Throughout his early years, Carson’s family relocated frequently, bouncing between tiny towns like Avoca and Clarinda in Iowa before settling in Norfolk, Nebraska. These constant moves would shape his adaptability—a trait that would serve him well in show business.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Broke The Family Mold
While many TV stars, past and present, can boast about proud Hollywood lineages, Carson’s family didn’t know the first thing about show business. Census records going back to the 1840s show that Caron’s ancestors were humble farmers. Not one relative had shown any inclination toward entertainment until a single event changed Carson’s whole life.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
4. He Felt The Magic
A chance discovery at a friend’s house altered Carson’s life forever—and set him on a path towards conquering late night TV. When he happened across Hoffman's Book of Magic, the 12-year-old Carson was enchanted. He immediately ordered a magician’s kit and began practicing card tricks on unsuspecting family members.
He had everyone under his spell.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Became “The Great Carsoni”
In a touching show of support, Carson’s mother sewed him a cape for his magic shows—and it helped his career take flight. At 14, he performed his first paid gig for the local Kiwanis Club, earning three dollars. Soon “The Great Carsoni”, as he had dubbed himself, was entertaining at firemen's picnics and county fairs throughout Nebraska.
His other talents were just as impressive.
Keystone Features, Getty Images
6. His Talents Expanded In School
At Norfolk High School, Carson discovered new creative outlets beyond magic. He tried his hand at acting and showcased his wit by writing a humor column for the school newspaper, slowly developing the comedic voice that would later captivate millions. But he almost never had the chance.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
7. He Answered His Country's Call
Fresh from high school graduation in 1943, Carson made an unexpected move for a would-be magician when he enlisted in the United States Navy. Commissioned as an ensign, he served aboard the USS Pennsylvania as a communications officer, “decoding encrypted messages” in the Pacific Theater.
He might have cracked a few more skulls than codes, though.
U.S. Navy photographer, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Had Fists Of Fury
While serving on the USS Pennsylvania, Carson spent as much time working on his magic tricks as he did in the boxing ring. His best illusion was pulling off a 15-0-1 amateur boxing record. Fortunately, that was all the action he saw as WWII came to a close before he ever saw active combat. Nevertheless, he impressed his superiors.
9. He Stood Up To The Brass
Carson’s Navy highlight wasn’t cracking codes—it was cracking jokes. Then US Secretary of the Navy, James V Forrestal, asked Carson about his post-Navy plans. Carson boldly declared that he wanted to become a magician, not a career sailor. Forrestal, however, wasn’t convinced.
10. His Card Trick Changed Everything
Intrigued, Forrestal challenged Carson to perform a magic trick on the spot. Gleefully, the young ensign responded with a card trick that delighted the notoriously “cranky” and high-brow secretary. This pivotal moment proved to Carson that he could entertain even the toughest audiences. He just needed the right stage.
Photographer: Rollyn Puterbaugh, Dayton, Ohio, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Was A Funny Frat Guy
After exiting the Navy, Carson enrolled at the University of Nebraska where he joined Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and, more importantly, continued performing magic. By that time, Carson had come a long way from “The Great Carsoni”, commanding as much as $25 per appearance. Still, he was beginning to see that his real talent was making people laugh.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
12. His Thesis Predicted His Future
Carson's college thesis, “How to Write Comedy for Radio”, wasn't your typical academic paper. He compiled taped skits from popular radio shows and explained comedic techniques through voice-over commentary. His thesis was so compelling that he graduated in just three years. Still, it was a long way to the late night throne.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
13. He Started At The Bottom
While still at university, Carson had landed his first broadcast gig at the radio station KFAB. So, following his university career, in 1950 he worked as a disc jockey, weather reporter, and commercial reader for WOW-AM and WOW-TV in Omaha. It wasn’t exactly a New York or Hollywood stage—but his sound did travel.
14. His Spoke From The Cellar
In 1951, a college connection helped Carson land his big break: an announcing job at CBS affiliate, KNXT in Los Angeles. With a shoestring of a production budget, Carson created “Carson's Cellar”, a Sunday afternoon show of radio sketch comedy. He had no idea that legends were some of his biggest fans.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Caught Red Skelton’s Attention
“Carson's Cellar” quickly earned a cult following. But even Carson couldn’t have imagined that comedy giants Fred Allen, Jack Benny, and Red Skelton were among his biggest fans. In fact, Skelton was so impressed with Carson that, in 1953, he hired him as a writer for his show. Then fate thrust Carson into the spotlight.
16. He Stepped In And Stepped Up
Carson's breakthrough came courtesy of a backstage mishap in 1954. When Skelton accidentally knocked himself unconscious just one hour before showtime, Carson stepped in to fill the comedy legend’s shoes with barely any notice. Relying on his natural instincts, Carson lit up the stage and had the audience rolling in laughter.
The network took notice.
17. His First Show Flopped Hard
CBS rewarded Carson’s fill-in performance with The Johnny Carson Show in 1955. But the magic wasn’t there. The half-hour program burned through directors and writers faster than punchlines. After just 39 painful weeks, the network pulled the plug on the program. Carson thought he had missed his big opportunity.
CBS, The Johnny Carson Show (1955–1956)
18. He Borrowed His Way Back
After his CBS disaster, Carson refused to surrender. Borrowing money from his father, Carson relocated to New York, where he joined the prestigious Friars Club. There, his rapid-fire one-liners quickly impressed the show business elite and proved that his show’s failure wasn’t all his fault. Bigger things were still ahead.
19. He Aced The Quiz (Show)
In 1957, ABC threw Carson a lifeline when they hired him to host the quiz show Who Do You Trust?. The five-year gig wiped off the stain of his failed variety show and reestablished him as a unique and entertaining television personality. More importantly, it brought him together with a crucial collaborator.
Who Do You Trust? (TV Series 1956–1963), ABC
20. He Met His Perfect Partner
At the height of his fame, Carson had one thing every good late night host needs: a sidekick. And it all began on Who Do You Trust? when Carson discovered his ideal straight man, Ed McMahon. Their chemistry transformed the quiz show into “the hottest item on daytime television”. But it was the primetime TV crown that Carson really wanted.
21. He Almost Turned Down History
When The Tonight Show host Jack Paar announced that he would be stepping back, NBC approached Carson with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Or, rather, one that he could—very easily. When NBC initially offered Carson the host position that would make him famous, he turned it down. But he had good reasons.
The Tonight Show (1962–1992), NBC
22. He Was Starstruck
Carson’s initial hesitance in taking over The Tonight Show stemmed from a deep fear. Allegedly, the eventual King of Late Night was a little starstruck, and worried that he wouldn’t be able to fill 105 minutes of air time interviewing celebrities. Thankfully, NBC was persistent and, on October 1, 1962, Carson stepped into the spotlight.
His reign got off to a rough start.
23. He Opened Big—And Flopped Hard
To help kick things off, some of Carson’s first guests on The Tonight Show were the biggest stars of their day. A-listers like Rudy Vallée, Tony Bennett, Mel Brooks, and Joan Crawford lent Carson their starpower…to no avail. The first year’s ratings were middling at best—then Carson found his magic.
24. He Had Famous Introduction
When Carson signed on to host The Tonight Show, he brought Ed McMahon along with him as his announcer. And it’s a good thing he did. McMahon’s booming introduction, “Heeeeere's Johnny!” instantly became one of television's most iconic catchphrases—a nightly herald announcing the arrival of late-night royalty.
25. He Set The Standard
Carson opened every one of his shows with a monologue, packed with 16 to 22 one-liners (never more than three on the same topic, by his specific instructions), followed by some sketch comedy, then guest interviews, and, finally, musical performances. If that sounds familiar it’s because Carson pioneered the format that every late night show since has followed.
But no one quite had his flair.
26. His Characters Became Comedy Gold
In addition to pioneering a new format for late night TV, Carson had some quirks and gimmicks that no one else could follow. His phantom golf swing after monologues became his signature move, while recurring characters such as Carnac the Magnificent and Art Fern revealed Carson’s comedic versatility. His conquest of late night was almost complete.
NBC, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
27. He Was Basically Like Valium
Billy Wilder, the American screenwriter and filmmaker, heaped praise on Carson. “By the simple law of survival,” he wrote, “Carson is the best. He enchants the invalids and the insomniacs as well as the people who have to get up at dawn. He is the Valium and the Nembutal of a nation”. Unfortunately for his millions of fawning fans, Carson was already a taken man.
28. His First Marriage Crumbled
Long before his meteoric rise to late night dominance, Carson had married his college sweetheart, Jody Wolcott. Even before their marriage in 1948, Walcott had served as Carson’s magic assistant. Their best trick? Raising three sons. Sadly, their happy family was just an illusion.
29. His Marriage Was Just An Illusion
Carson’s marriage to Walcott had more surprises than one of his episodes of The Tonight Show. Throughout their marriage, both Carson and Walcott carried on affairs. Eventually, by 1963, they gave up pretending and called it quits. Carson, however, had not given up on love altogether.
30. His Second Marriage Cost Millions
Before the ink on his divorce papers from Walcott had even dried, later that same year, he tied the knot with Joanne Copeland, a 30-year-old model and occasional actress. Their relationship lasted seven years before ending in 1972. Copeland took the King of Late Night to cleaners, walking away with nearly half a million dollars, $100,000 annually in alimony, and “a pretty nice little art collection”.
Carson could more than afford it.
31. He Became Television's Richest Star
By the mid-1970s, Carson commanded one of the TV’s biggest audiences—and one of its heftiest salaries. At the time, Carson was earning the equivalent of almost $20 million in today’s money just from The Tonight Show. However, this king had to fight for his kingdom.
The Tonight Show (1962–1992), NBC
32. He Bit The Hand That Paid Him
By 1979, Carson was the undisputed King of Late Night TV—except, he didn’t actually own his own kingdom. A heated legal battle between Carson and NBC broke out over the issues of pay and ownership. Even rival networks ABC stepped in, hoping to snag the TV-ratings juggernaut away from NBC.
Carson was about to prove that he was, truly, the rightful ruler of The Tonight Show.
The Tonight Show (1962–1992), NBC
33. He Owned The Night
After a heated and protracted dispute, Carson won his battle against NBC—and he did so in dramatic fashion. In addition to getting a massive pay raise and reduced hours, Carson managed to negotiate “ownership of the show, as well as its back catalog”. Once he had his kingdom, he just needed his queen.
The Tonight Show (1962–1992), NBC
34. He Had A Surprise Announcement
On September 30, 1972, during a glitzy celebration for the tenth anniversary of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Carson stunned guests with a bit of news. Simply put: he’d gotten married earlier that day—no one even knew he had been dating! The lucky lady? Joanna Holland, a 32-year-old model of Italian descent.
The collapse of the surprise marriage was even more spectacular.
NBC, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
35. His Divorce Was Expensive
Carson’s marriage to Holland lasted for more than a decade—an eternity by show business standards. But the lengthy (and expensive) divorce proceedings proved that there was no love lost between the two. When the dust finally settled on their two-year long divorce proceedings, Holland walked away with the equivalent of nearly $60 million in today’s money.
It was a small price to pay to find true love.
36. He Finally Found A Long-Term Partner
If Carson’s previous marriages were brief guest spots, Alexis Maas was the featured act. The two wed on June 20, 1987, and stayed together until Carson’s passing in 2005. For all of his personal romantic troubles, Carson never lost his sense of humor. “My giving advice on marriage,” he once quipped, “is like the captain of the Titanic giving lessons on navigation”.
He wasn’t quite as simple as he let on, though.
37. He Took On A “Psychic”
In 1973, Carson caused a controversy when he invited Uri Geller—a flamboyant performer who claimed to have psychic powers—onto The Tonight Show. But Geller wasn’t just there to bend spoons; he was walking into a carefully laid trap, courtesy of Carson and famed skeptic James Randi.
38. He Left Geller Flustered
To make sure Geller couldn’t pull any fast ones on him or his audience, Carson secretly had Randi prepare all the props that Geller planned to use. The result? An uncomfortable and controversial hour of TV. As the props failed to work, Geller squirmed under the studio lights, muttering that he didn’t “feel strong” and claiming the pressure was throwing off his powers.
The audience smelled something fishy—and it wasn’t the catering.
39. He Hosted A Live Debunking
According to journalist Adam Higginbotham, Geller’s Tonight Show appearance turned into “a legendary immolation,” as trick after trick failed on live television. With each failed attempt, Carson’s smirk grew—he didn’t need psychic powers to see this crash coming.
40. He Humiliated His Guest
Looking back, Geller admitted that what Carson did had left an impression on him. “I sat there for 22 minutes, humiliated,” Geller later recalled. He returned to his hotel devastated and nearly fled the country, believing that Carson had destroyed his career (and his reputation). But Carson’s plan backfired.
NBC, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
41. He Made Uri Geller
In a strange twist that only late night TV could pull off, Carson’s attempted takedown of Geller didn’t ruin him—it made him! Geller’s apparent struggles on The Tonight Show lent credibility to his claims and, the very next day, Geller booked a spot on The Merv Griffin Show. Even Geller had to confess, “That Johnny Carson show made Uri Geller”.
Carson’s jokes often had unintended consequences.
42. He Caused A National Panic—With A Joke
Following the Geller controversy, Carson made an offhand joke about a toilet paper shortage. There was just one problem: no one knew he was joking. Carson’s millions of viewers took him seriously and raced to the stores in a frenzied search for toilet paper. He would need more than two-ply tissues to mop up his next scandal.
NBC, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
43. He Took Aim At Wayne Newton
In 1980, Carson set his sights on the Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. However, at the last minute, Wayne Newton swooped in with a competing bid and won. Legend has it that Carson didn’t take the “loss” well. So, when media reports portrayed him as the “loser” in the deal, Carson unleashed a flurry of scathing jokes about Newton live on his show.
Newton was not laughing.
44. He Sparked A Feud
Carson may have thought his barbs were all in good fun, but Newton wasn’t laughing. The lounge legend didn’t just take offense—he went on offense. Years later, in a fiery appearance on Larry King Live, Newton let the world know exactly how he felt, calling Carson “a mean-spirited human being”. And that was just his opener.
45. He Hurt People
Once the gloves were off, Newton didn’t stop swinging. He blasted Carson for allegedly targeting him without provocation, declaring, “There are people that he has hurt that people will never know about. And for some reason at some point, he decided to turn that kind of negative attention toward me. And I refused to have it”.
Newton’s attempted overthrow of the King of Late Night only escalated from there.
46. He Got A Not-So-Friendly Visit
Newton didn’t just air his grievances against Carson on TV. Reportedly, when Carson continued mocking the crooner, a still-irate Newton marched right into Carson’s NBC office and threatened to settle things the old-fashioned way. According to Newton, he warned Carson that if the jokes didn’t stop, fists might fly. Unsurprisingly, the jokes stopped.
Jason C. Winn, Wikimedia Commons
47. He Took Betrayal Personally
Newton wasn’t the only celebrity to end up in Carson’s comedic crosshairs. With a fierce sense of loyalty, the late night TV star took any perceived slights personally. So, when former guest hosts like John Davidson and Joan Rivers branched out into their own talk shows, Carson saw it as treason. In fact, after Rivers launched her show on Fox in 1986, Carson never spoke to her again. Ever.
Perhaps he had lost his touch.
48. He Knew When To Walk Away
In 1992, after 30 legendary years filled with laughs and scandals, Carson stunned his audience with a heartfelt goodbye. “Everything comes to an end,” he said. “Nothing lasts forever. Thirty years is enough”. Always the class act, Carson left while still on top—before anyone could ask him to.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
49. He Signed Off With Grace
On his final night, Carson offered a touching farewell that brought millions to tears. “I am one of the lucky people in the world,” he said. “I found something I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it”. His voice cracked as he finished: “It has been an honor and a privilege to come into your homes all these years and entertain you”.
In fact, he wasn’t quite retired, though.
The Tonight Show (1962–1992), NBC
50. He Kept The Jokes Coming
Carson might have stepped away from the spotlight, but he never lost his comic timing. After retiring, he secretly faxed (yes, faxed) jokes to David Letterman, some of which made it into Letterman’s monologues. Even in retirement, Carson was still the King of Late Night TV—even if only as the power behind the camera.
51. He Fell For Good
Following his retirement, Carson made very few public appearances and often turned down offers for cameos, interviews, and film roles. Then, quietly and peacefully from atop his Late Night TV throne, on January 23, 2005, Johnny Carson succumbed to emphysema at the age of 79. The King of Late Night was gone—but his legacy still takes center stage.
The Opening of the Academy Awards 1984 Oscars, Oscars
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