Johnny Carson Talk Show Host The Tonight Show

Johnny Carson is considered an icon as far as hosting talk shows are concerned. He achieved this status while hosting The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson for thirty long years.

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925 at Corning, Iowa to Homer Llyod Carson and Ruth Hook Carson. He grew up in Southwest Iowa Norfolk, Nebraska. He learned performing magic tricks and debuted as The Great Carsoni at the age of 14. He got admitted to the Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

Johnny Carson received a V-12 officers training and joined the Navy in 1943. In the final days of the War he was posted on the USS Pennsylvania. After leaving the Navy he attended the University of Nebraska and received his bachelors degree in 1949.

Johnny Carson took up a job at the WOWT radio and television in Omaha. On the radio he appeared with Ken Case who later went on to become a sports and news broadcaster. He moved onto KNXT after having a stint with hosting the morning TV show, The Squirrels Nest.

From 1951 to 1953 Johnny Carson was given a show, Carsons Cellar and comedian Red Skelton became a fan of this show. He invited Carson to join him as a writer and due to a freak accident in 1954 Carson filled in for Skelton.

Johnny Carson ran several shows like the game show, Earn Your Vacation; the variety show, The Johnny Carson Show; the first version of Tell The Truth and for five years he hosted the game show, Who Do You Trust? He was slated to play the role of a TV writer Rob Petrie in a sitcom but later the part went to Dick Van Dyke and the show was called The Dick Van Dyke Show.

In October 1962 Johnny Carson took over as the host of The Tonight Show with the program re-titled The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon as his announcer and sidekick for the entire tenure of the program. The show became almost like a ritual for million of viewers who sat in front of the television sets at the end of evening.

Johnny Carson was well accepted by the viewers for his quick wit and natural charm. The show started with Ed announcing, Heeeeeeeres Johnny! Carson followed it with a brief comic monologue. The show then continued with comedy sketches, interviews and music.

Johnny Carson marked his retirement from show business by stepping down from The Tonight Show on May 22, 1992. His farewell stretched over several episodes and was a major media event. His farewell statement in the final episode was an emotional one and all including his colleagues and audiences were emotionally moved by it. The baton passed on to Jay Leno who is the present guest host. Johnny Carson