Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Johnny Carson and Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon
After 1980, I rarely watched Carson past the monologue. Contrary to what every big comic who got the "O.K." sign from Johnny says, The Tonight Show wasn't very hip by that point. Ed's guffaws at the worst jokes, Doc's cornball suits (Paul Shaffer channels both men), the annoying "Hey Yo," the museum of a big band featuring first rate middle aged session cats. Most nights The Tonight Show looked & sounded on automatic pilot; guest hosts were often an improvement. In fact, the show never was really hip to me, representing as is did my parents' generation. Carson's hipness was in his craft, the timing, the tics & gestures, the many influences one could see & hear (Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Stan Laurel, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Groucho Marx, Jonathan Winters among others) yet not quite sort out. Carson was an excellent interviewer when he felt like it, with a special touch for non-celebrities. So it comes down to "The Monologue," in which Johnny was not always so gentle as he's being made out.
Johnny Carson ruined Nixon, not only in his monologues but in what he led others to say in the guest seat, especially the more erudite humorists such as David Steinberg. From the time Watergate broke, it was Carson who prepared middle America for Nixon's exit, escorting Dick, soft joke by soft poke, toward the helicopter on the White House lawn. Nixon was a rotten apple politician who, I believe, offended Johnny's root Nebraskan middle class sensibilities. FDR, Truman, Ike, even a rascal with a war record & a few ideals like JFK, were alright. But not a vulgar, black-listing, lying no-class s.o.b.
There's a telling photo of Johnny accepting his 1993 Kennedy Center medal from Bill & Hillary. Lined up are beaming gospel singer Marion Williams, salt & pepper bearded Stephen Sondheim, conductor George Solti slouching, relaxed choreographer Arthur Miller; but Johnny is stiff straight like he's standing for inspection in the Navy, chest thrust out, only a hint of a smile, the man is definitely very proud of the award, certainly humbled to be included with four authentic creative geniuses yet knowing inside that he was just as deserving of the award in his own way.
I wouldn't describe any of the current late shows as "adult entertainment," which was the New York City Tonight Show as Jack Paar & Johnny refined it. I never admire the current hosts' suits or envy their good looks. It's hard to imagine Jay, Dave, Conant or Jimmy spending their Sundays off by reading a stack of guality magazines followed by a long walk on the Malibu beach & dinner out in a quiet restaurant. That's how I imagined Carson spent his.
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"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
Johnny Carson ruined Nixon, not only in his monologues but in what he led others to say in the guest seat, especially the more erudite humorists such as David Steinberg. From the time Watergate broke, it was Carson who prepared middle America for Nixon's exit, escorting Dick, soft joke by soft poke, toward the helicopter on the White House lawn. Nixon was a rotten apple politician who, I believe, offended Johnny's root Nebraskan middle class sensibilities. FDR, Truman, Ike, even a rascal with a war record & a few ideals like JFK, were alright. But not a vulgar, black-listing, lying no-class s.o.b.
There's a telling photo of Johnny accepting his 1993 Kennedy Center medal from Bill & Hillary. Lined up are beaming gospel singer Marion Williams, salt & pepper bearded Stephen Sondheim, conductor George Solti slouching, relaxed choreographer Arthur Miller; but Johnny is stiff straight like he's standing for inspection in the Navy, chest thrust out, only a hint of a smile, the man is definitely very proud of the award, certainly humbled to be included with four authentic creative geniuses yet knowing inside that he was just as deserving of the award in his own way.
I wouldn't describe any of the current late shows as "adult entertainment," which was the New York City Tonight Show as Jack Paar & Johnny refined it. I never admire the current hosts' suits or envy their good looks. It's hard to imagine Jay, Dave, Conant or Jimmy spending their Sundays off by reading a stack of guality magazines followed by a long walk on the Malibu beach & dinner out in a quiet restaurant. That's how I imagined Carson spent his.
Add YOUR comments here
