On Friday (10:35 p.m., Ch. 2), Ed McMahon will announce "Heeere's Johnny!" for the final time.
Johnny Carson, a television institution - no, an American institution - will tell a few jokes, do that golf swing and slip behind the desk, just as he's been doing since Oct. 1, 1962.No guests are scheduled. Carson will reminisce with McMahon and bandleader Doc Severinson and show clips from his nearly three decades as the King of Late Night TV. He's calling it a "minidiary of the last 30 years."
Although NBC would have loved a three-hour, prime-time, star-studded extravaganza, that's not the way Carson wanted to go out. His finale promises to be an altogether low-key farewell.
It's not only a classy exit but an appropriate way to go. Carson didn't become a part of Americana with stunts, pyrotechnics and gimmicks. (Although his biggest stunt - the marriage of Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki - did produce his highest ratings ever.)
Carson has been welcomed into millions of American homes through the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush administrations because of his blend of wit and intelligence. His ability to be funny (never more so than when his monologue jokes were bombing) and his knack for bringing out the best in his guests.
He's been called the nation's barometer, and it's an apt appellation. Carson has joked about what's been on America's mind, whether it's current events or politics.
Although he's always tried to shield his private life, he's nonetheless become perhaps America's best friend. A comfortable, familiar presence invited into millions and millions of American homes (and American bedrooms) for a few laughs and a bit of light entertainment.
It's highly doubtful anyone else will ever become so friendly with American viewers again. It's even more doubtful that anyone will remain a presence on the tube for even half as long as Johnny has been there.
Mark that date well - May 22, 1992. The end of an institution . . . and the end of a beautiful friendship.
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Carson's top 5
These are the five highest-rated installments of the "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson."
One: Year: 1969, Homes, 21.4 million, Guest, Tinny Tim and Miss Vicki's wedding
Two: Year: 1976, Homes: 9.4 million, Guest: Glen Campbell, Dom Deluise, Susan Anton
Three: Year: 1980, Homes: 9.3 million, Guest Don Rickles
Four: Year 1985: Homes: 9.2 million, Guest: Barry Manilow, Chevy Chase, Dany Aykroyd, Davide Letterman
Five: Year 1977, Homes: 9.2 million, Guests: Bob Hope, Angie Dickinson
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1962: Show debuts from New York City, with Skitch Henderson leading the orchestra. Length of broadcast - one hour, 45 minutes. Groucho Marx introduces Johnny Carson. Guests are Mel Brooks, Joan Crawford, Rudy Vallee and Tony Bennett.
1963: Carson is divorced from his first wife, Joan "Jody" Wolcott Carson, after 14 years of marriage. Later that year, he marries Joanne Copeland.
1964: Debut of Carson characters Carnac the Magnificent and Aunt Blabby. Ed Ames' errant tomahawk throw elicits the longest laugh in "Tonight Show" history.
1965: Joan Rivers makes her first appearance on "The Tonight Show."
1966: Debut of The Mighty Carson Art Players. Milton Delugg becomes music conductor - briefly.
1967: Angry when NBC reruns old "Tonight Shows" during an AFTRA strike, Carson quits - and ends up wresting control of the show away from the network when he agrees to return. The show is reduced to 90 minutes. Doc Severinsen is promoted to music conductor. Debut of Carson characters Carswell the Psychic and The Great Carsoni.
1968: Tommy Newsom named assistant music director. Debut of Carson character Faharishi, an Indian yogi.
1969: Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki are married on the show on Dec. 17, attracting "The Tonight's Show's" largest audience ever - 45 million viewers.
1970: Johnny is divorced from his second wife, Joanne. Fred de Cordova joins the show as producer.
1971: Debut of Carson character Art Fern and his "Tea Time Movie."
1972: "The Tonight Show" moves from New York to Burbank, Calif., and airs its first anniversary special, this one celebrating Johnny's first decade as host. On that same day, Johnny marries his third wife, Joanna Holland. Johnny jokes that there's a toilet paper shortage, prompting a run on the item at grocery stores.
1973: Jack Benny actually plays his violin on the show.
1974: Comedian/writer Pat McCormack streaks across the stage.
1976: Fred Astaire sings "Life Is Beautiful."
1977: Debut of Carson character Floyd R. Turbo. Alex Haley presents Johnny with the Carson genealogical records.
1980: Johnny threatens to quit, prompting NBC to reduce the show to 60 minutes, give Carson a three-day work week and pay him $5 million per year.
1983: In September, Joan Rivers is named as permanent guest host, a position she holds until 1986. Johnny is divorced from his third wife, Joanna.
1984: Fred de Cordova is named executive producer.
1986: Joan Rivers quits "The Tonight Show" to host her own show on Fox. In September, Jay Leno is named as one of several guest hosts.
1987: Jay Leno is named permanent guest host. "The Tonight Show" orchestra receives a Grammy Award. Johnny marries his fourth wife, Alexis Maas.
1990: Producer Peter Lassally is named executive producer.
1991: In May, Carson announces that he will retire as host of "The Tonight Show" on May 22, 1992. On June 6, Jay Leno is named as his successor.
*****
(Chart)
Tonight show trivia
QUESTIONS
1. Who introduced Johnny Carson on his debut show Oct. 1, 1962?
2. What is the name of the Carson character known for his super-patriotic rebuttals?
3. Who is the only guest in the history of the program who is provided with his own inscribed coffee mug when he appears?
4. What former "Tonight Show" writer went on to challenge Carson as host of his own late-night talk show?
5. How many set changes has the show undergone?
6. While Carson has hosted the show (Oct. 1, 1962-May 22, 1992), how many total episodes of "Tonight" will have been broadcast?
7. What former president has Carson both impersonated and hosted on the show?
8. According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., about how many viewers currently tune in each night?
9. What is the audience seating capacity on NBC's Studio One, where "The Tonight Show" is taped? What is the seating capacity of the interview area on stage?
10. What kind of animal once perched on Johnny's head during a telecast?
11. What kind of animal once picked Johnny up during a telecast?
12. Approximately how many guests have appeared on the show since 1962?
13. How many Emmy Awards has the show received?
14. Who is the oldest guest to appear on the show?
15. Who is the youngest guest to appear on the show?
16. Who has made 16 annual appearances on the show to introduce some of his most accomplished students? What skill did they exhibit on the show?
17. Who was the first guest host?
18. How many guest hosts have there been in the last 30 years?
19. Which of the following has never been a guest host - Groucho Marx, Diana Ross, Sonny Bono, Kermit the Frog or Frank Sinatra?
20. How many musicians are there in "The Tonight Show Band?"1. Groucho Marx
2. Floyd R. Turbo
3. Don Rickles, who first received his mug as guest host.
4. Dick Cavett
5. Five
6. 8,564 broadcasts, of which 6,583 were original and 4,531 were hosted by Carson.
7. Ronald Reagan
8. Nearly 12 million
9. The studio seats 500 audience members. The normal on-stage seating capacity is five, including Carson's chair behind the desk.
10. A marmoset
11. An elephant
12. More then 22,000
13. Five
14. Lotti Hicks, 103, who appeared on June 24, 1988.
15. "Kindergarten Cop" co-star Miko Hughes, 4, who appeared on Dec. 20, 1990.
16. High school teacher Leonard J. Waxdeck of Piedmont, Calif. Bird calling.
17. Singer/actor Jimmy Dean, Jan. 14-18, 1963.
18. 124
19. Sonny Bono
20. According to NBC, "The Tonight Show Band" is a 17-piece band with 25 members, including Doc Severinsen.